Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1901 — As the World Revolves [ARTICLE]

A s the World Revolves

THE PERILS OF BALLOONING. The perilous journey of seven men and one woman in Professor Baldwin’s air ship, near San Franeisco the other day merely emphasizes what has already been demonstrated by M. SantosDumont in his experiment at Paris, and by other aeronauts, that man will never be able to successfully steer through the air in a balloon. In that incomparable calm that rests upon the French capital in the autumn dayß Santos-Dumont was able to steer his dirigible balloon in a fixed circle upon several occasions, but it was noted that when he encountered atmospheric disturbances he lost control of his air ship to such an extent as to place his life in great peril and upon one or two occasions was rescued with much difficulty. In the thrilling ride at San Francisco, in which the occupants of the balloon were swept over a distance of a hundred miles in less than two hours, a mile above the earth, the machine was completely at the mercy of the breezes. At one time they were swept out Over the ocean, dipping at times so close to the surface of the water that all occupants expected to be drowned, and then rising to great altitudes, finally being carried back over the land by a breeze from the sea, dragged through the tops of a forest and dropped on a hillside near Pescadeero. The most powerful motor and steering mechanism that can be devised cannot resist the elements when attached to a balloon. It is not possible to propel a great bag of air against the upper currents or to control its course when opposed by the slightest breezes. The problem of navigating the air must be solved without balloons. How? With wings—if ever.