Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-15

of greater capacity than fifty thousand cubic feet
Compared to these the Nassau balloon constructed
by Charles Green aerial eviathan possessing
a content of more than eighty five thousand cubic
feet and having height OF sixty feet and diameter
of fifty. The elliptical in form. measuring
nine feet by four. This balloon had lifting power
of not less than two tons.
The Mammoth, built by Coxwell, still larger,
being capable of containing ninety-three thousand
cubic feet of gas and measuring about sixty feet in
diameter.
Still larger the Giant constructed by Nadar
OF Paris 1t was about two hundred feet high,
nearly eighty feet in diameter and had capacity
of two hundred and fifteen thousand cubic feet. Its
lifting power about five tons.
But balloons much larger than these have been
constructed In 1871, number of ascensions were
captive balloon the capacity of which was no less
than three hundred and fifty thousand cubic feet
which, when inflated, capable of lifting into the
air load of eleven tons.
In 1864 Eugene Gordon. famous French aero
naut, built balloon of the Montgolfer hot air.
type, the capacity of which nearly half million
cubic feet. This, far as | know, the largest
balloon made.
Time and Distance Records
A ND now come to the longest journeys through
4 the air, and the fastest
Henry Coxwell, the English aeronaut once made
ascension from Berlin and was carried one hun
at the rate of nearly ffty-seven miles an hour.
Still another rapid flight that of Jules Arbon,
who in 1S4o sailed from Marseles to Turin, the
Alps distance of four hundred miles in eight hours.
Some years later, Coxwell, then in England made
voyage of two hundred and fifty miles in five hours
During March of this year, Leo Stevens, the well
Hampton Falls, New York and landed three hours
later hundred and thirty miles away, making
over forty-three miles hour.
On June 2, the big balloon Chicago, owned by
Charles A Coey and in charge of Captain c. L.
Bumbaugh made fight of eight hundred miles in
eleven hours.
The Greatest Speed
DROBABLY the most rapid balloon fight ever
1 made was that of Jansen, French scientist.
To this flight there is attached quite story. 1t
along a track crossing Spain and Algeria a GER
tain date. Jansen, who was noted astronomer
commissioned by the Academy of Sciences to
attend and make observations of this eclipse. But
it was during the siege of Paris. ansen in the
beleaguered city, and the eclipse track lay nearly
a thousand miles away The only possible chance
of fulfilling his obligations was by making balloon
voyage the roof tops and walls of the city And
this at last he decided to do.
Taking with him the essential parts of a rejecting
telescope and such other instruments he needed,
acted as his assistant left Paris in small balloon
during the early morning hours. The balloon rose
to altitude of over seven thousand feet; from
which elevation Jansen made slow and steady
descent until he came to earth at point not far
from the Loire This voyage was one of the fastest
record. the distance covered being over three
hundred miles the time, three hours
In 1000 there were two balloon races in connec-
ton with the Paris Exposition In the first race
the winner was Count de la Vaulx. The distance
traversed was seven hundred and six miles; the
time, twenty-one hours and thirty-four minutes.
In later race Count de la Vau1x again
a winner, making record of eleven hundred and
ninety-three miles in thirty-fve hours and forty
five minutes In this fight the Count attained
altitude of eighteen thousand eight hundred and
ten feet.
Balson, starting at the time, gained greater