Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 November 1893 — Balloons for War. [ARTICLE]

Balloons for War.

Mr. Samuel A. KiDg, the aeronaut, who had so narrow an escape front drowning in Lake Michigan recently, has for a long time turned his knowledge to the use of aeronautics in the science of war. During the threatened hostilities with Chili, he tendered his services to ex-Secretary Tracy, of the navy, for a balloon service, In which compressed hydrogen was to be used as the inflating gas. His system included a group of ■even balloons, the car being a metal boat built in sections; each of which was to be air-tight. For observation purposes the group was to be what is known us.captive and telephonic communication established with the flagship of the fleet, The casks of compresst-d hydrogen were to be stored on the metal boat and used when necessary for further inflation. The professor has an autograph letter from ex-Secretary Tracy, in which his system is highly commended. The professor said that from an altitude of 6,000 feet he could make observations over the area of aoircle whose radius is 100 miles. If it was deemed necessary to use the group for offensive purposes, jt could be made a most destructive agency. Whdb the winds were favorable it could hover over an enemy’s fleet, fortifications or city, and by dropping bombs loaded with dynamite or other explosive material, prove an ugly customer. During the laie imbroglio with Great Britain mrardiDg the Bering Sea, King visited Washington and tendered his ideas to Secretary Herbert. He was to establish a signal service on eifch of the great lake 3. It was aocepted contingently upon the event of hostilities being declared. — [Boston Transcript.