Omaha daily bee., 1914-07-24
How 1t Feels Up Sky High
In an Airship Of zeppelin's


sailor on the back OF the roc have longed to ny
once more or course, we all fly in our dreams,
which science says Is inherited memory OF the
time when we were birds. but I solid
little white summer cloud sailing overhead OF a hot
afternoon but wish might tour the blue sky IT,
Now II came about in the pleasant land OF Yep
pelin one day in June ! under my favorte
bronze beech In Nauhelms lovely park that heard
Just above my head the pleasant humming Of
smooth running automobile engine wondering what
buzzng beetle made such sound. booked UP where,
just above the tree tops cruising in majestic spendor
in full flight flags fyling and passengers waving,
was the Victoria Luise." Count Zeppen's Flying
Dutohman" Of the air As 1 looked. fascinated at
the sight Of the great airship sailing perfectly
level keel like some great "Imperator' Of the
saw the bow slowly incline upward and soar like a
bird toward the zenith. Maneuvering in turn. when
at the desired height. the prov depressed, and
the ship turned pivot, presenting the least re-
sistance to atmosphere. IL done with remark
able neatness and dispatch. AS day aSer day. out
Of the quiet evening air that great bird beckoned
to fly. I felt the lure OF adventure draw until
temptation. encouraged by many soject surrender
in my past, overcame the last resistance. T. e.. 100
marks S25), the cost Of a two-hour flight. Surely
the days Of enchsntment come again, for
gazed upon that OO-mark note To- It became the
magic carpet Of Bsgdad ready to carry me through
the air over the cities Of earth.
What danger do we run, was naturally first
concern. The Victoria Luise, of the four Yep
pellns operated by the Hamburg American Steamship
three sister ships fully 0 ascensons, carrying over
So.0o0 passengers. without a single accident There
must be dozen odd dirigibes Of all kinds that have
carried some 5000 passengers without mshap-a
record OF safety Of per cen-that challenges
parson with any form of mundane transportation.
The fatherly German government that fuses over
its people old hen over its chickens burdening
itself and them with thousand "verbotens (restrc
tons) pacarding mail boxes with stamp and address
your letters" will not allow any one to take the
slightest risk a passenger airship. So after
successfully qetng the last apprehension of bet
ter half by assuring her that il she fell overheard
that would jump out and rescue her. were ready
to start.
An auto ride OF fifteen minutes from the Keiser-
hoff hotel at Frankfort brought to the iron and
concrete airshed where found the Victoria Luise
moored with and tackle to a miniature railroad
extending several hundred feet outside the shed The
pilot is taking the with a sextant. We see being
posted reports Of the velocity of the wind and cond
OF the atmosphere being constantly received by
wireless from meteorologic stations aloEg the we'll
charted route to travel Unless the weather
conditions entirely favorable ascension is per-
mitted.
Fortunately the weather conditions perfect.
The pilot in the forward gondola tests the steering
gear which, by the way, is the same as on yacht;
the powerful gasoline automobile engines Of l45-
horsepower each, in the forward and two in the
rear are started, to see that they are running
smoothly. The wireless operator from his cabin on
board his first message. and invited to
come hoard. We mount the aluminium ladder to
the mahogany finished cabin amidshp, which is built
into the keel OF the airship instead OF being sus-
pended below the two (or gondoas, as
they called) which contain the engines and crew
of eight. The comfortable wicker chairs will accom-
modate twenty -four passengers. AS the passengers
embark enough water to counterbaance their weight
let Of reservoirs situated in the keel OF the
ship, the engines started and we back slowly out
Of the air shed "a small army of hold onto the
that dangle from the ship to control it when
cables that attach it to the railroad cast OFF
When free Of everything we pause just long
enough for the photographer to get In his work-the
CAPTAIN calls out cast off," the floor sants upward
at anything but alarming angle the earth slips
gently away from under YOU and In the twinkle of
an eye you sailing 500 feet the spire of the
cathedral with not the slightest feeling OF fear or
dizziness Should your heart come up into your mouth
the walter stands ready to liquid refreshment
our trip avalled herself Of this excuse to take
a nip OF that Justly celebrated German apricot
"schnapps' for ladies' a sort of spirits of the air
The predominant sensation Of flying is buoyancy-
YOU are soap bubble in the air-you are swimming
again on inflated bladders when ooy in the old
swimming hole-you have lost gravitation-welsht is
annihIated-your fear is not that you may drop to
earth but that you are never going to light again
YOU don't care a darn The air you breathe is sei-
rated champasne-it makes you do-you can hardly
want to talk all the tme-and you do-you can hardly
keep from singing, l didn't humnied an old song;
Up in a balloon, boys;
lip in q balloon
Up among the little stars,
A sailing round the moon.
Of the VINTAGE OF '7S-you remember It?
You gaze down the most fascinating kaleido-