Airship Adventures.

Manawatu Herald, 11 December 1902, Page 3

Airship Adventures.

A few days ago Mr Stanley Spencer made an ascent in his airship from Blackpool, and during hia trip had some exciting experiences. On leaving the enclosure at the gasworks a gust of wind struck the airship, and for a moment heeled her over. She waa soon righted, however, and dragged to the other side of the field, when Mr Spencer, after kissing hia wife, set the motor going signalled to hia assistants, to let go, and moved upwards. The trail rope was the cause of all the mischief, A second after the ascent it knocked a man over, and a minute later nearly brought the £eronaut to grief. Catching on the overhead wires of the electric trams it brought the airship to a standstill. For the moment there waa great excitement but luckily the rope did not get entangled in the wires. Mr Spencer quickly moved hia airship upwards, and continued to until the ropea were quite clear. When about five hundred feet high Mr Spencer described several circles, but finding the north-easterly wind too strong he sailed off in the direction of Preston. The airship was taken over the sea at the estuary of the River Kibble, near Lytham, and there Mr Spencer made several circles and figure B’s. The weather was somewhat tempestuous, but the airship rode steadily and behaved well. Mr Speecer descended at Aimes Walton, near Preston, and immediately returned to Blackpool. Mr Spencer had an exciting landing. He waa just coming down when he found himself over a railway line, with hia trailing rope dangling over the telegraph wires. Juat then an express train was coming along, and Mr Spencer shouted below to a railway man to stop the train. “ Stop you airship ” was the reply. Mr Spencer had not time to ai’gue, and obeyed. In being moved away from the railway the airship rammed a tree, but without serious consequences. Mr Spencer landed safely, after having covered about 36 miles in a little over an hour. Mr Spencer characterised the ascent aa the best he had ever accomplished with his airship. He considered it wonderful that with the wind going at 20 miles an hour he was able to describe circles and B’s.