The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1920-04-08


hop to Mars in a rocket
This statement was jocularly maze
by Claude R. Collins, president OF the
Aviators' Club of Pennsylvania ano
captain of the New York City all
police.
But the newspapers took his letter
making the astounding offer serious
ly and now Captain Collins says ne
will have to make good-provlded ne
is asked to do so, and it can be proved
that a rocket can actually be sent 10
M.rs-or the moon, as Prof. Robert
n Goddard, of Clark College alleges
is possible.
Moreover, at least two enthusiastic
kindred spirits have expressed WILL
ingness to make the trip with Captain
Collins. among them being a woman,
Miss Ruth Phillips, of Kansas City,
Ma.
Sharp featured, square jawed, with
a wide, intelligent brow, from beneath
which peer pair Of expressive blue
eyes, round which a smile is inces-
sanity breaking, Captain Collins pre-
sents that type of clean cut young
American manhood which composed
the American air service during the
world war.
Captain Collins said:
81 made this statement to news
paper man few days before the re-
port was published that I was ready
to leap to Mars. 1t was said on the
spur of the moment to denote the
earnestness of my desire to make a
national tour, by airplane, to arouse
an interest in the dire condition OF
aeronautics in America. No one was
more astounded than myself when l
discovered the sta atements played up
so vividly in the newspapers.
'sThat I have been forced to swal-
low unlimited chiding and even we'll
. meant insults need not be said, but
as ] made the statement it is one OF
the golden rules of life to keep ones
word-if it can be done.
"Therefore, in answer to the sew
eraI scientists who have questioned
me can only say that am prepared
to carry out my part of the agree
ment should the stipulations be full
filed and should scientists summon
me. ..s . .''
81 have been flooded with letters,
Manv want to learn how l intended
to prepare for the hop, what l was
going to do when I arrived on Mars
and how I intended to get back.
"Young ladies, mothers, and old
men have sent letters urging me not
to sacrifice my life. Most of these
appeals we're certainly sincere. How
ever, am far from being tired of
living. and don't intend to sacrifice
my life needlessly.
Ready to Take Risk.
MANY persons have wanted to
know whether or not l have CORE
sponded with Prof Robert H. Cod
dard, the Clark College scientist, who
has invented the super-rocket, which
the Smithsonian Institution declares
can be shot to the moon, and which
others believe may be able to reach
Mars, carrying within it a human be-
ing. I have not.
eff, when this rocket is tested, it
landed on the moon or on Mars and
communication is established with
the planet, it will be up to me to live
up to my word.
'.The rocket which Prof. Goddard
has prepared, understand is con-
structed on the theory of the toy
rockets with which every boy is &C
quainted. However, it is SO arranged
that the bases, caused by the explos-
i've mixture within, would escape
through a nozzle at the bottom, at the
rate of 5000 feet per second. The
rocket would contain a series of ex-
plosive charges.
t'To carry the rocket to the moon,
233,819 miles from the earth, at least
1874 pounds of explosives are need
ed. The Smithsonian Institutions
bulletin points to the possibility of
filing the pose of one of those
rockets with a charge of brilliant
fash powder and a percussion cap,
so that when it struck We should be
able to see the flash.
ITO my mind nothing is impossible.
BY this l do not mean that I believe
a. rocket can be shot to Mars, but l
can not say it is impossible.
An Uncomfortable Speed.
II have been forced to consider
what might prove the outstanding
features CT such a leap. Speeding at