Year: 1879

PROFESSOR KINGS CAPTIVE" AT CoNEY ISLAND


THE FIRST ASCENT TO BE MADE TO-DAY.


As the voyager steams into Rome through dry and
sandy tracks the first monument that catches his
eye rising high above the city. is the dome of St.
Peters So, from to-day, the excursionist arriving
at Manhattan Beach will see, towering pavlions
and pagodas. huge painted dome, and will learn
with satisfaction that this is captive balloon sixty
five feet IN diameter. containing 100000 feet OF
gas, costing $4,000 and capable of carry
ing twelve persons to height OF quar-
ter Of mile, into regions which even
the blare of Levy's cornet shall be powerless to
penetrate. That such srship would prove an
attraction at any place OF popular.resor demon
strated at the Paris Exhibition. where captive bal
loon netted small fortune for its proprietor.
Every visitor used to patronize it. In its the
commonplace tourist could joste against digntaries
of State. Sarah Bernhsrdt tho actress, rode in it
every day. and was silly enough to publish book
about her musings in the clouds Two vaudevillists
put it. with great success. upon the stage. 1t was
the sensation of the summer.


THE BALLOON WAS BORN.


But Professor Samuel A. King the aeronaut. abhors
sensation. Professor King is practical man. He
speaks seldom. thinks much. acts quickly. and re-
sembles the generality Of his fellows only in this
that he rides q hobby. This hobby is to cross the
Atlantic in balloon. He hopes to emancipate the
balloon from its slavery to the wind He considers
that it still remains what it in the days of the
Montgolhers-a machine that all the skill of
not been able to prevent from floating with the
wind from being controlled BY it abso-
lutely from the moment it is launched The power of
sustaining itself is gradually impaired by leakage.
1t has been able to maintain the same eleva-
ton avoid the fluctuations of the atmosphere in
its course. The moisture which it absorbs night
being suddenly dried by the morning causes it
to rise, aud thus by incessant changes Of level its
progress is forclby terminated But the professor.
who has already made air voyage OF over a
hundred miles, believes that he will yet be able to
sail for whole month. He purposes to send
pioneer balloon across the Atlantic. carrying bal
last suspended from ropes of different lengths.
that when the longest touches the water the ballast
will be lifted aud the balloon will rise again; and
this process will be repeated till it is landed safely
European shores. To effect this revolution he
wishes to make experiments at the altitude of
thousand feet and therefore the present balloon
has been constructed at Manhattan Beach, the
capital being furnished by number of gcntlcnen
Society.


LOOKS.


The balloon Is to rise to-day There great
gas conveying artery OF India rubber throbbing at
its base last evening. The car with its network of
ropes waiting to be attached. The mercury in
the dynamomcter. which is to indicate the strain.
was weary of long idleness. The workmen in sailor
costume of blue hannel directed by superintendent
Vincent. were hauling ut ropes and fastening stays.
The vast balloon rose In the centre. The equa-
torial line was marked on 1t by broad
band OF coloring in gay figures. Columbus
painted the dome seated his cabin. with chart
III hand and cannon beside him. The rest was
rough medley of tints black and yellow and green
coarsely laid on Round the balloon was a netting
of pink and white bands. Canvas bags of sand,
stamped with the monogram OF the American Aero
naut Society. held 1t to the ground Its stays
securely fastened to iron winches Its coating OF
closely woven Irish linen doubled and sewn with
silk, and firmly stayed that the stays form
barred check. 1t stands In enclosure Of
wood 200 feet in diameter. 30 teet in height painted
outside in subdued gray. with border OF bright
color. and furnished inside with gallery looking
down on a wooden pavement, surrounding al inner
circle of sand double tier of seats. and in their
midst. tuggng at the winches. the balloon with its
name. Pioneer. blazoned upon 1t.


HOSTING APPARATUS.


The gas Is manufactured on tho spot by simple
water process which produces pure hydrogen at the
rate OF 6O00O,cubc feet hour. Beside the engine
stands immense wndlass furnished with double
independent gearing arbrakes and automatic clock.
and round IL IL coed heavy cable one and one-half
inches in diameter aud l.2U0 feet in length.
The cable passes through trough built in
the sand in boat form to protect 1t
from the rising tide then round pulley
with universal joint and connects with the
dynamometer and the balloon. 1t is considered
capable of bearing strain of 10000 pounds. Into it
q double telephone wire, which will add to
the amusement of the aerunauts. The workmen
have their meals and sleep within the enclosure.
They have taken the greatest pride in their labors.
and both the Professor and Mr.. Vincent now pro-
nounce the balloon to be absolutely safe, complete
in all its equipment and las pretty as picture"