THE WRECK OF THE AIRY JANE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1748, 6 September 1905, Page 49

THE WRECK OF THE AIRY JANE

(From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, July 28. The disasters which have fropi time to time attended man's “httempt to solve the problem of aerial navigation do not appear to have affected his desires in that direction. Every year sees fresh efforts to conquer the difficulties which present themselves to those who study their fascinating subject and sooner or later mo doubt, something sufficiently trustworthy in the nature of an airship will be evolved to justify us in- committing our persons to their tender mercies as an alternative to motors or trains. That day, however, seems yet afar off. Last Saturday Londoners had the opportunity of S2eing the trial trip of the much “boomed” Barton-Rawson airship, which for a couple of years or more has absorbed the joint ingenuity of Dr El. A. Barton and Mi* F. L. Rawson, a Avellknown engineer, in its construction. The ship consists of a baloon, on the deck of which, at either end, are placed the two 50 horse-power Bucket motors capable of driving the seven feet propellers at 1000 revolutions a minute. At the centre of, the airship is the .aeronaut's deck, and between this deck and the stern motor stands the helmsman at a wheel which manipulates! a rudder 18ft high and 12ft Gin wide. In front of both motors are the movable aeroplanes designed to cause the ship to rise or fall at will. The total tveight of the structure is about 14,0001b5. The trial commenced at the Alexandra Palace, where the airship Avas built, and Avlren she Avas finally ready to let go Dr Barton, Mr RaAVSO-n and a couple of other gentleman boarded the craft. Five minutes later came the order to “let go” and to the accompaniment of a shower of sand the airship rose gracefully in the air. That she- had little margin of buoyancy Avas clear from the sloAA r ness with which she ascended. A couple of hundred feet up the- motors were set going and a noise as of a firework display in the distance saluted +he Avatchers' ears. Then those on board turned the nose of the ship to the wind by means of the rudder, but it was soon apparent that the Avind Avas the master, and a little later the ship made a half circle and scudded, now endAvays) and noAV broadside on before the breeze in a north ■easterly direction until the- evening haze hid it. That Avas the last Ave saAV of the air-' ship in its perfect form. From the narrative of those on board it appears that they rose- to a height of 2400 feet, and at times found it possible to make headway against the prevailing currents. But for the most part they drifted very rapidly toAvards Epping forest. Then they stopped the motors and decided to bring the journey to an end, e'glit of the lines connecting the car with the balloon having parted and one of the motor carburettors having failed through freezing. A potato field Avas chosen for the descent and by means of trailing ropes and grappTing irons the ship Avas at length safeiy moored. At least the voyagers thought it Avas. But they had only ono anchor really fixed, namely at the bows, and thither the crew congregated to exchange congratulations on having reached “terra firma” once more. The stern, relieved of four and twentystone or thereabouts of flesh and bones, at once reared up skyward and the volatile craft was in danger.. of capsizing. With great presence of mind one of the ereAV sprang to the cord of the- ripping valve and threAV all his weight on it. With a report like the explosion of a powder-mill the 200,000 feel of gas rushed out, and deafened and jarred through all their bones, but otherAvise uninjured, the intrepid voyagers' troubles were at an end. But the good ship “Airy Jane l ” (or whatever her name was) Avill sail no more the ethereal waves of the aerial main. She was not built for such rude contact Avith Mother earth—wen in the softened guise of a potato patch—as was her portion Avhen the balloon burst, and a. badly broken propeller and shattered rudder completed her discomfiture. Dr Barton is, however, satisfied Avith the results of the trip and intends shortly to make trials with a neAv airship which he has practically completed. In this ship more dependence will be placed on aeroplanes and the baloon portion Avill be a very minor affair. The trials of this airship are to take place at the Isle of Wight in a seaAvard direction. Evidently the Alexandra Palace trial Iras taught Dr Barton and his colleagues something.