Mount Shasta

By Fred Klein

Edgar raised his goggles and looked over the valley, and it appeared the wind was taking his new sausage-shaped balloon to the east nearer to the mountains. He was at the helm of his open gondola.

“Hans, open the hydrogen gas valve and lower us down slowly to 200 feet according to the barometer,” said Edgar.

“Yes, sir. Should I signal our wagon that has been following us that we will land soon?” Han remarked.

“Correct, we will try to land in that flat spot to the east. The new balloon seems airworthy. We will attempt to marry up the new modified steam engine and propeller assembly to the gondola tomorrow.”

“Very well, sir.”

They slowly brought the balloon down close to the ground and dropped the tie lines over the gondola so the ground crew could tie the balloon down. Then they could slowly release the hydrogen gas from the cow gut gas cells so they could pack up the balloon and transport it back to the Brannon ranch. Edgar had inherited his fortune from his father, millionaire Samuel Brannon, who had made his money years ago supplying the 49er’s gold rush. Since then, the two had mostly gone separate ways. Samuel went into land speculation, while Edgar went into ranching and inventing.

Edgar was totally enthralled by the new technologies. He had gas lighting and a forced air furnace installed in his huge ranch house in Northern California. Edgar was one of the first owners of a telephone and a phonograph. He had purchased steam-powered tractors for tilling and harvesting his crops. He even had a steam-powered road vehicle for ground transport when he was not using a horse and carriage. His latest goal was to use a new lighter-weight steam engine to power the balloon and to fly it over Mount Shasta. It was amazing what money could buy! The ground crew gathered up the balloon and gondola into several wagons for transport.

Edgar and Hans, his assistant, got into his steam-powered vehicle, which the ground crew had heated up for them for the drive back to the ranch. Edgar grabbed the steering tiller and put the vehicle in gear.

”Hans, how did the engine and propeller assembly tests work out?”

“Sir, the lightweight aluminum engine worked much better with the cast-iron cylinders and cast iron bearings.”

“So it did not seize up due to thermal expansion now?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What about the propellers assembly?”

“The flexible connecting rod did not break this time, and the propeller assembly was moveable to 30 degrees in the up, down, and left, right configurations.”

“Excellent that, along with the rudder, should give us good maneuvering ability.”  

“We can install those items over the next couple of days.”

“Then we can do a test flight Friday?”

“Yes.”

“Have you told your wife yet?”

“Not yet.”

Edgar got out of the vehicle and walked towards the house. Then he noticed trouble. His father, Samuel, was waiting on the front porch for him. Samuel, in his sixties with a full beard, contrasted against his son thirty-year-old son, who was clean-shaven. Samuel had the mileage of many a land deal and swindle on his face.

“Still playing with your flying cigar, I see,” said Samuel.

“What do you want, father?” Edgar replied.

“I want you to stop trying to kill yourself with stupid inventions and partner with me in good land investment in Calistoga and Yuba City.”

“I don’t believe in land speculation.”

“But you do believe in flying cigars and steam-mobiles instead of a horse. You know, since my divorce, your mother got half my money, much of which went to you, so I need more cash backing for these investments.”

“I’m not interested.”

“Instead, you waste your money on a hair-brained scheme to fly over Mount Shasta. If it doesn’t kill you, it will bring the wrath of John Muir and the tree huggers and the Indians down on you. Even the government is casting an evil eye on you, wondering what you will really do with this device of yours.”

I’m doing it anyway!”

“Alright, I wash my hands of you. Have you told your wife that she is about to become a widow?”

“I will tell her, and no, she won’t be a widow. Just leave!” 

Samuel puffed a cloud of smoke from his cigar in Edgar’s face and got into his carriage, and left. Edgar opened the door and walked into the house. He turned on the gaslight and then walked towards the phonograph. He found the cylinder with his wife’s favorite music on it and started it playing. Edgar wanted his wife, Emma, in a good mood when he told her his plan.

Emma, in her twenties with a full-length gown, floated down the broad staircase into the library where the phonograph was playing and spoke to her husband.

“Edgar, how did experiments go today?”

“Excellent, tomorrow we put the engine in.”

“What will you do then?”

“Test fly it.”

“But what are you hoping to accomplish?”

“Invent a new form of transportation.”

“How will you prove that?”

Edgar hesitated, then came out with, “Fly over Mount Shasta.”

“Isn’t that very dangerous?”

“No, I don’t think so, not any more than just flying in it.”

“When would you attempt this?”

“In a week or two.”

“I prefer you did not go, but if you attempt this, I am going with you.”

“Out of the question!”

“So it is not too dangerous for you, but it is too dangerous for me?”

“Yes.”

“Either I go with you, or I won’t let you go either. I will not be parted from you!”

“If you insist.”

“I do.”

Edgar could see she was determined and would not let the matter drop until either he canceled the trip or she went with him. 

Edgar and Hans attached the engine and propeller assembly to the gondola on the balloon. They did some successful ground tests. Then they inflated the balloon with hydrogen and did some static tests. Finally, they tested the balloon with flights in the local area and at a height up to 15,000 feet. 

So the day finally arrived for the launch. Edgar was dressed in a woolen shirt, sweater, trousers, a heavy overcoat, his goggles, and a flat cap. Hans was dressed in a woolen shirt, sweater, trousers, a heavy overcoat, his goggles, and a bowler hat. Emma was dressed in a woolen dress, sweater, heavy overcoat, goggles, and a flat bonnet. They put all the gear in the gondola and had the engine started without engaging the propeller.

“We have a long way to go, and it will take a while to get to altitude. We will steer a course of North by Northwest. Castaway all lines,” shouted Edgar.

There were low clouds in the local area that day, so they decided to stay around 2000 feet until closer to Mount Shasta, which they heard was clear.

“Engage the propeller,” said Edgar.

The air was cold and biting as it hit their faces but was exhilarating. Everything was working correctly. All three of them smiled at each other.

They were traveling about around two hours when they came upon an Indian encampment about twenty miles south of the mountain. The Indians looked at the balloon and started shouting. Then they started shooting at the balloon.

“Why are they shooting at us?” Emma inquired.

“John Muir, who was against our flight, told them we were going to fly over Mount Shasta, which would disturb their Great Spirit, and bring settlers into the area. Prepare to gain altitude,” replied Edgar.

Unfortunately, it was too late. The Indian shots were puncturing the gas envelopes in the balloon. They also got a lucky shot on the rudder and propeller.

Han said, “They hit the propeller and rudder, and they are frozen, so we cannot change course. Also, the balloon is leaking hydrogen gas, so it will be hard to climb.”

“Release all our water ballast,” commanded Edgar.

They climbed very slowly out of range of the rifles but not enough to go over the mountain.

“At the present rate, we will not be the first airship to fly over Mount Shasta but will be the first airship to crash into it. We cannot change course, and we are leaking too much gas. Throw everything overboard.”

They threw everything that was not attached overboard, but it was not enough as the balloon was now descending rapidly.

“This does not look good!” cried Emma.

“The gondola is too heavy. We need to climb up into the balloon rigging and cut the gondola loose. Now!” commanded Edgar.

They got up in the rigging, which held the gondola to the balloon, and Hans cut away the gondola. That arrested their descent, and since they no longer had the frozen rudder and propeller assembly, the wind could steer the balloon. The wind blew them over the foot of the mountain instead of directly into it.

“There is a flat spot over to the west. Slowly release more hydrogen until we are over it and then release most of it so we can land. We will have to jump once we get near the ground, so the balloon doesn’t fall on us. Get ready –go! Release the gas! Now Jump! said Edgar.

 They jumped just as a gust of wind picked up the balloon again and sent it off in another direction. They tumbled for a few feet and then got up off the ground.

Hans stated for the first time, “Well, any landing that we can walk away from must be a good one.”

“Now all we have to do is walk down the foot of the mountain and then miles to the nearest town,” said Edgar.

“What do we report to the newspapers? Hans said.

“We report nothing until we do it again successfully, replied Edgar.

“You can leave me at home next time, said Emma.

“Me too,” said Hans.

“So we have a mutiny on the first airship flight?” Edgar said.

“Yes,” Emma and Hans said.

“Well, I suppose I could work on my steam-mobile. Who wouldn’t want a vehicle that is big, heavy, expensive, needs to be heated up, travels at only five miles per hour, can’t travel over rough terrain, and has to carry a trailer with fuel and water?”

Emma said, “Hans speak to him!