M. SANTOS DUMQNT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10131, 24 August 1904, Page 4

M. SANTOS DUMQNT.

DENIAL OF THE CHARGE OF COWARDICE. CHALLENGE TO HIS TRADUCERS. ST. LOUIS, July 1. M. Santos Duniont is indignant at the statement made by Colonel Kingsbury, of the Exposition police, that he himself disabled his airship because he was afraid to fly m it, and describes the accusation as outrageous and absurd. He believer that the balloon here and the one at (he Crystal Palace, sonic time ago Mere injured by some malicious or irresponsible "crank.'' He lias decided to go to Paris to have ihe mutilated gas bug repaired as speedily as possible, and hurry back so that he can sail at the Exposition over the heads of the accusing police, and make them ridiculous m the eyes of the public. In an interview M. Oumont said, "I have devoted my whole life and income to the conquest of the air, and. have j gained numerous prizes, but I had the ambition to win the great races lwre. I constructed my airship with great puns and at considerable cost, and brought it here with three mechanics. 1 was shocked when I learned that some miserahle, unknown malefactor had destroyed the gas bag at night. "Is it conceivable that I .should thus destroy the balloon which I adore? The assertion is supremely ridicukus. Why should I shirk an ascent here? I have made 3000, and met every disaster, except death. Nor am I afraid of failure, for 1 have failed many times before. Failure m aeronautics is no disgrace, because the atmospheric conditions are uncertain, and no hard and fast rules are laid down. The prizes ottered at the Exposition races are princely, but if 1 won I would give them to charity, desiring only the glory and triumph. OFFER BY JAPAN. "I frankly confess that I desire fame, and I recently hod a chance to earn it. I was invited by Japan to join the forces m Korea as head of the balloon service, and offered a fabulous sum to take mv airship to the front to try to drop high explosives on Port Arthur. I was sorely tempted, -but many of my best friends ire Russians, aud' while admiring the Japanese, I was compelled to decline the offer, because the ties of Caucasian kinship prevented my aiding tlie yellow man. "France has adopted my plans for a military balloon, and will* use them m the next war. Mr Francis, president of the Exposition, strongly resents the charge made against me by his employee and has so assured me m a private letter. My assistants are as indignant as myself over the insulting accusation. "It has been reported that I had a grievance, because the Exposition authorities refused to allow me to exhibit my airship and cliarge for adaviission. That is another bit of imbecility. I liave an ample income, and am not seeking the public's money. As a matter of fact, I was asked to allow the balloon to be exhibited at the Exposition for an admission fee, but refused." It will be remembered tliat a very similar mishap occurred to the airship sent by M. Santos Duniont to the Crystal Palace m May, 1902. Only a few days 'before the date fixed for the public ascent the balloon, which had been m perfect order the previous evening, was found to have been cut with a knife. It had been guarded m a large shed with the aeronaut's two assistants . sleeping near it. and although police and detectives did their best, the author of the nivslerious outrage- was never discovered. MORE VANDALISM. Some excitement was caused by an attempt made to wreck the great 'organ just being" completed m the Festival Hall at the Exposition. Several gashes made with a knife Mere discovered m the secondary bellows. The Exposition auUtorities are taking great precautions to prevent further acts of vandalism.