The Washington herald., 1908-08-06
BALDWIN HAS SHIP
AT HIS COMMAND
Continued from Page One.

the work OF guiding the diriglbIe into the
tent for the night When this had been
done he held a reception inside. while he
washed the Crime OF the steering ropes
from his hands.
How long were we Up there7-- he quer-
led only nine minutes7 Why. Il
seemed Ike an hour But one loses the
sense Of time up In the air And we've
got 20 stay Up two hours he finished
with a srin that betokened anything but
dislike Of the obligation. referring 20 the
conditions Of the Official trial trip
I m -ickled 20 Death he replied when
asked about the results OF the trial
Nothing could have worked better You
see, this machine IS ike a new toy
we re got 20 learn how IL works and what
it VIII DO by trying. And every time We
90 up We learn something new. SIr Cur
uss learns some things. and I learn 9th
ers- And 50 each night after the fight
We get together and compare notes Then
we draw our conclusions and apply them
on The next tlip. To-day our object was
70 learn ali there was 10 know about the
balance OF the ship. and I think our ex-
Qer-meuts fully justified our expectations
Tomorrow we can devote our attention 10
testing her speed"
Official Date Not Determined.
No date has as yet been set for the
Official trial trip Of the dirigible. II is
Up 20 Capt. Baldwin, and he intends 60
be certain OF every detail OF the airship
before be gives the word for the Official
board 20 Eatier and pass upon the ability
Of the vessel 10 meet the government re-
qUireuleuts- II was said yesterday that
TIE Official trial might take place tO-mor-
row or Saturday but that & might be
found desirable 10 defer II until Monday.
Baldwin sorry for Zeppelin.
Discussing the accident 70 Count vo1
ZeppeIa's balloon, Capt Baldwin said.
I am very sorry 20 hear OF the acci-
dent ASIDE from the financial loss 70
him. il is q great blow 10 ae-onauticaI
science. for which he has done such
great work Ny only fear IS that Il viii
-etard the general movement 20 stimu- /
late interest in aerial navigation I do +
rot believe that his airship was struck B
by lightning That IS what they always Z
iay when an accident destroys a balloon I
have been up in balloons many times ]
Turing severe IhuEderstorms. and danger /
II lightning has seemed 10 ne remote
At Philadelphia some years ago light 1
ling played around my balloon for sew
raj hours. but did no damage Balloons. /
iowever. may attract lightning If in con-
act with the earth
Among the visitors 10 Inspect Cant.
3aldwin's balloon yesterday was Prof.
samuel A King. OF Philadelphia, an old
ime aeronaut and an intimate friend Of
apt. Baldwin Prof. King Is eighty-one
ears old and IS stiu engaged IN the bal
1ou business He made his first flight IN I
81. and is still interested in aerOnautcs.
Not Due to Lightning
The accident 10 Count Won Zeppelin's
suoon.' said Prof King. is a great mis-
ortune. especially as It has occurred
-hen he is on the eve Of recUperating his
ortune by selling his airship TO the Ger
ian government do not believe that
he explosion Of his airship can be at
-ibuted 10 lightning. II was more prob
bly, due TO a collapse Of the gas bag.
aused by a sudden change OF pressure {
rom the outside After a thunderstorm
here is much sudden shifting Of wind
UTrents. and in some places partial
acuums are formed Other air currents
lsh into these partial vacuuus. causing :
.her localities TO be almost denuded OF
,mosphere- II a balloon happens 10 be
the vicinity OF one Of these areas OF I
.duced atmosphere. the sudden rush OF
z away from the gas bag viii tend 70
low the inner gas to burst the bag. 7
lille I do not know the details Of the {
,cideut &c Count Won zePpeliE's balloon.
Is, I think. IS the most probable ex- '
anatioa-"