578 CIRCLING EIFFEL TOWER IN AIR SHIP. 



ground or aught else in the meantime, and all within the maximum 

 time limit of a half hour. Although this offered a definite incentive 

 to plunge into what was one of the most fascinating impossibilities of 

 the future, only the flying-machine inventors— the synonym of a disor- 

 dered mind regarded flying machines with any respect. This fascina- 

 tion had long enslaved the rich young Brazilian, when one da}' the 

 Grand Prix was founded, and he constructed his Santos- Duniont IV 

 to win it. seeking thereby the official recording of a definite triumph. 

 For him the $20,000 would be merely a little purse for the building o! 

 more air ships. " Hut before he housed his aerial pet, Santos- Dumont V, 

 in the balloon shed at the park that morning of July li!, he announced 

 to his friends that he would try again for the Grand Prix. 



A SECOND FLIGHT TO THE TOWER BEFORE THE PRIZE COMMITTEE. 



At 4 o'clock the next morning, July 13, the sky was mottled with 

 clouds, while a choppy wind blew from the west; but as there was no 

 change for the worse by 5 o'clock, Santos-Dumont began making 

 preparations for his flight. Long before he was through with testing 

 the parts of his machine, a crowd had begun to gather in the park — 

 wheelmen, chauffeurs, photographers, and correspondents. At 6.^0 

 the great sliding doors of the balloon house were pushed open, and 

 the massive inflated occupant was towed out into the open space of the 

 park. The big, pointed nose of the balloon and its fish-like belly 

 resembled a shark gliding with lazy craft from a shadow into light 

 waters. In the basket of the car stood the coatless aeronaut, who 

 laughed and chatted like a boy with the crowd around him. The prize 

 committee was there and expressed its hopes for a successful trial. 

 This committee is composed of Count Henri de la Vaulx, the vice-pres- 

 ident of the Aero Club, who intends shortly to cross the Mediterra- 

 nean in a balloon ; Prince Roland Bonaparte; Henry Deutsch, and two 

 members of the National Institute, MM. Bouquet de la Grye and 

 Cailletet. 



From the very first the conditions did not show themselves favor- 

 able for the attempt. The wind was blowing at the rate of (3 or 

 7 yards a second. The change of temperature from the balloon 

 house to the cool morning air had somewhat condensed the hydrogen 

 gas of the balloon, so that one end flapped about in a sadly flabby 

 manner. Air was pumped into the air reservoir, or ballonet, inside 

 the balloon, but still the desired rigidity was not attained. But, more 

 discouraging yet. when the motor was started, its continuous explo- 

 sions gave to the practiced ear signs of mechanical discord. It should 

 be stated that this motor can be started only from the ground, by the 

 strap twisted around the wheel, as already mentioned. Once the 

 motor stops while in air, there is no way to set it going again without 

 coming down to earth. 



