The fatal accident to M. Severe, the Brazilian member of Parliament who imagined he had solved the problem of aerial navigation, shows how many dificulties and dangers have to be overcome in this branch of knowledge. M. Severe thought he could safely place his oil motor close under his balloon full of hydrogen gas. He would have made a short. cut towards securing stability, if he had been right, but unfortunately he was not, 'The' hot vapours from the escape-pipe set fire to the balloon, the gas exploded, and the airship, two tons in weight, fell to the ground from about the height of the Eiffel Tower, killing the unfortunate Brazilian and his engineer. M. Severe had only made two or three ascents in his life, He was enthusiastic Int not practical.
The saddest part of the affair is th he staked the whole of his fortune ati s idea. His wife and five chil ren are now almost destitute.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.