etseven； a peak over 5；000 feet high； the plateau on which the voyagers landed being described as only 50 yards square； surrounded by precipices。
On the 10th of September following the writer was fortunate in carrying out some wireless telegraphy experiments in a balloon； the success of which is entirely due to the unrivalled skill of Mr。 Nevil Maskelyne； F。R。A。S。； and to his clever adaptation of the special apparatus of his own invention to the exigencies of a free balloon。 The occasion was the garden party at the Bradford meeting of the British Association； Admiral Sir Edmund Fremantle taking part in the voyage； with Mr。 Percival Spencer in charge。 The experiment was to include the firing of a mine in the grounds two minutes after the balloon had left； and this item was entirely successful。 The main idea was to attempt to establish communication between a base and a free balloon retreating through space at a height beyond practicable gun shot。 The wind was fast and squally； and the unavoidable rough jolting which the car received at the start put the transmitting instrument out of action。 The messages； however； which were sent from the grounds at Lister Park were received and watched by the occupants of the car up to a distance of twenty miles； at which point the voyage terminated。
On September 30th； and also on October 9th； of this year； took place two principal balloon races from Vincennes in connection with the Paris Exposition。 In the first race； among those who competed were M。 Jacques Faure； the Count de la Vaulx； and M。 Jacques Balsan。 The Count was the winner； reaching Wocawek； in Russian Poland； a travel of 706 miles； in 21 hours 34 minutes。 M。 Balsan was second； descending near Dantzig in East Prussia； 757 miles； in 22 hours。 M。 Jacques Faure reached Mamlitz； in East Prussia； a distance of 753 miles。
In the final race the Count de la Vaulx made a record voyage of 1；193 miles； reaching Korosticheff； in Russia； in 35 hours 45 minutes； attaining a maximum altitude of 18；810 feet。 M。 J。 Balsan reached a greater height； namely； 21；582 feet； travelling to Rodom； in Russia； a distance of 843 miles； in 27 hours 25 minutes。
Some phenomenal altitudes were attained at this time。 In September； 1898； Dr。 Berson； of Berlin； ascended from the Crystal Palace in a balloon inflated with hydrogen； under the management of Mr。 Stanley Spencer； oxygen being an essential part of the equipment。 The start was made at 5 p。m。； and the balloon at first drifted south…east； out over the mouth of the Thames； until at an altitude of 10；000 feet an upper current changed the course to southwest； the balloon mounting rapidly till 23；000 feet was reached； at which height the coast of France was plainly seen。 At 25；000 feet both voyagers were gasping； and compelled to inhale oxygen。 At 27；500 feet； only four bags of ballast being left； the descent was commenced； and a safe landing was effected at Romford。
Subsequently Dr。 Berson； in company with Dr。 Suring； ascending from Berlin； attained an altitude of 34；000 feet。 At 30；000 feet the aeronauts were inhaling oxygen； and before reaching their highest point both had for a considerable time remained unconscious。
In 1901 a new aeroplane flying machine began to attract attention； the invention of Herr Kress。 A novel feature of the machine was a device to render it of avail for Arctic travel。 In shape it might be compared to an iceboat with two keels and a long stem； the keels being adapted to run on ice or snow； while the boat would float on water。 Power was to be derived from a petrol motor。
At the same period M。 Henry Sutor was busy on Lake Constance with an air ship designed also to float on water。 Then Mr。 Buchanan followed with a fish…shaped vessel； one of the most important specialities of which consisted in side propellers； the surfaces of which were roughened with minute diagonal grooves to effect a greater grip on the air。
No less original was the air ship； 100 feet long； and carrying 18；000 cubic feet of gas； which Mr。 W。 Beedle was engaged upon。 In this machine； besides the propellers for controlling the horizontal motion； there was one to regulate vertical motion； with a view of obviating expenditure of gas or ballast。
But by this time M。 Santos Dumont； pursuing his hobby with unparalleled perseverance； had built in succession no less than six air ships； meeting with no mean success； profiting by every lesson taught by failures； and making light of all accidents； great or small。 On July 15th； 1901； he made a famous try for the Deutsch prize in a cigar…shaped balloon； 110 feet long； 19；000 cubic feet capacity； carrying a Daimler oil motor of 15…horse power。 The day was not favourable； but； starting from the Parc d'Aerostation； he was abreast of the Eiffel Tower in thirteen minutes； circling round which； and battling against a head wind； he reached the grounds of the Aero Club in 41 minutes from the start； or 11 minutes late by the conditions of the prize。 A cylinder had broken down； and the balance of the vessel had become upset。
Within a fortnightJuly 29thin favourable weather； he made another flight； lasting fifteen minutes； at the end of which he had returned to his starting ground。 Then on August 8th a more momentous attempt came off。 Sailing up with a rapid ascent； and flying with the wind； Santos Dumont covered the distance to the Tower in five minutes only； and gracefully swung round； but； immediately after； the wind played havoc； slowing down the motor； at the same time damaging the balloon； and causing an escape of gas。 On this Santos Dumont； ascending higher into the sky； quitted the car； and climbed along the keel to inspect； and； if possible； rectify the motor； but with little success。 The balloon was emptying； and the machine pitched badly； till a further rent occurred； when it commenced falling hopelessly and with a speed momentarily increasing。
Slanting over a roof； the balloon caught a chimney and tore asunder； but the wreck； also catching； held fast； while the car hung helplessly down a blank wall。 In this perilous predicament great coolness and agility alone averted disaster； till firemen were able to come to the rescue。
The air ship was damaged beyond repair； but by September 6th another was completed； and on trial appeared to work well until； while travelling at speed； it was brought up and badly strained by the trail rope catching in trees。
Early in the next month the young Brazilian was aloft again； with weather conditions entirely in his favour； but again certain minor mishaps prevented his next struggle for the prize； which did not take place till the 19th。 On this day a light cross wind was blowing； not sufficient； however； seriously to influence the first stage of the time race； and the outward journey was accomplished with a direct flight in nine minutes。 On rounding the tower； however； the wind began to tell prejudicially； and the propeller became deranged。 On this； letting his vessel fall off from the wind； Santos Dumont crawled along the framework till he reached the motor； which he succeeded in again setting in working order； though not without a delay of several minutes and some loss of ground。 From that point the return journey was accomplished in eight minutes； and the race was； at the time； declared lost by 40 seconds only。
The most important and novel feature in the air ships constructed by Santos Dumont was the internal ballonet； inflated automatically by a ventilator； the expedient being designed to preserve the shape of the main balloon itself while meeting the wind。 On the whole； it answered well； and took the place of the heavy wire cage used by Zeppelin。
M。 de Fonvielle； commenting on the achievements of Santos Dumont； wrote：〃It does not appear that he has navigated his balloon against more than very light winds； but in his machinery he has shown such attention to detail that it may reasonably be expected that if he continues to increase his motive power he will； ere long； exceed past performances。〃
Mr。 Chanute has a further word to say about the possibility of making balloons navigable。 He considers that their size will have to be great to the verge of impracticability and the power of the motor enormous in proportion to its weight。 As to flying machines； properly so called； he calculates the best that has been done to be the sustaining of from 27 lbs。 to 55 lbs。 per horse power by impact upon the air。 But Mr。 Chanute also argues that the equilibrium is of prime importance； and on this point there could scarcely be a greater authority。 No one of living men has given more attention to the problem of 〃soaring；〃 and it is stated that he has had about a thousand 〃slides〃 made by assistants； with different types of machine； and all without the slightest accident。
Many other aerial vessels might be mentioned。 Mr。 T。 H。 Bastin； of Clapham； has been engaged for many years on a machine which should imitate bird flight as nearly as this may be practicable。
Baron Bradsky aims at a navigable balloon on an ambitious scale。 M。 Tatin is another candidate for the Deutsch prize。 Of Dr。 Barton's air ship more is looked for； as being designed for the War Office。 It is understood that the o