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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/899-0.txt b/899-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..35a1db4 --- /dev/null +++ b/899-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5367 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Wonderful Balloon Ascents, by Fulgence Marion + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Wonderful Balloon Ascents + or, the Conquest of the Skies + +Author: Fulgence Marion + +Posting Date: August 10, 2008 [EBook #899] +Release Date: May, 1997 +Last Updated: November 11, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WONDERFUL BALLOON ASCENTS *** + + + + +Produced by Dianne Bean + + + + + +WONDERFUL BALLOON ASCENTS + +or, the Conquest of the Skies + +A History of Balloons and Balloon Voyages. + +By F. Marion + +1870 + + + + +PREFACE + +“Let posterity know, and knowing be astonished, that on the fifteenth +day of September, 1784, Vincent Lunardi of Lucca, in Tuscany, the first +aerial traveller in Britain, mounting from the Artillery Ground in +London, and traversing the regions of the air for two hours and fifteen +minutes, on this spot revisited the earth. In this rude monument for +ages be recorded this wondrous enterprise successfully achieved by +the powers of chemistry and the fortitude of man, this improvement in +science which the great Author of all Knowledge, patronising by his +Providence the inventions of mankind, hath graciously permitted, to +their benefit and his own eternal glory.” + +The stone upon which the above inscription was carved, stands, or stood +recently, near Collier’s End, in the parish of Standon, Hertfordshire; +and it will possibly afford the English reader a more accurate idea of +the feelings with which the world hailed the discovery of the balloon +than any incident or illustration drawn from the annals of a foreign +country. + +The work which we now introduce to our readers does not exaggerate the +case when it declares that no discovery of modern times has aroused so +large an amount of enthusiasm, has excited so many hopes, has appeared +to the human race to open up so many vistas of enterprise and research, +as that for which we are mainly indebted to the Brothers Montgolfier. +The discovery or the invention of the balloon, however, was one of those +efforts of genius and enterprise which have no infancy. It had reached +its full growth when it burst upon the world, and the ninety years which +have since elapsed have witnessed no development of the original idea. +The balloon of to-day--the balloon in which Coxwell and Glaisher have +made their perilous trips into the remote regions of the air--is in +almost every respect the same as the balloon with which “the physician +Charles,” following in the footsteps of the Montgolfiers, astonished +Paris in 1783. There are few more tantalising stories in the annals of +invention than this. So much had been accomplished when Roziers made his +first aerial voyage above the astonished capital of France that all the +rest seemed easy. The new highway appeared to have been thrown open +to the world, and the dullest imagination saw the air thronged with +colossal chariots, bearing travellers in perfect safety, and with more +than the speed of the eagle, from city to city, from country to +country, reckless of all the obstacles--the seas, and rivers, and +mountains--which Nature might have placed in the path of the wayfarer. +But from that moment to the present the prospect which was thus opened +up has remained a vision and nothing more. There are--as those who +visited the Crystal Palace two years ago have reason to know--not a few +men who still believe in the practicability of journeying by air. But, +with hardly an exception, those few have abandoned all idea of utilising +the balloon for this purpose. The graceful “machine” which astonished +the world at its birth remains to this day as beautiful, and as useless +for the purposes of travel, as in the first hour of its history. The day +may come when some one more fortunate than the Montgolfiers may earn the +Duke of Sutherland’s offered reward by a successful flight from the Mall +to the top of Stafford House; but when this comes to pass the balloon +will have no share in the honour of the achievement. Not the less, +however, is the story of this wonderful invention worthy of being +recorded. It deserves a place in the history of human enterprise--if +for nothing else--because of the daring courage which it has in so +many cases brought to light. From the days of Roziers down to those of +Coxwell, our aeronauts have fearlessly tempted dangers not less terrible +than those which face the soldier as he enters the imminent deadly +breach; and, as one of the chapters in this volume mournfully proves, +not a few of their number have paid the penalty of their rash courage +with their lives. All the more is it to be regretted that so little +practical good has resulted from their labours and their sacrifices; and +that so many of those who have perished in balloon voyages have done +so whilst serving to better end than the amusement of a holiday crowd. +There is, however, another aspect which makes at least the earlier +history of the balloon well worth preserving. This is the influence +which the invention had upon the generation which witnessed it. As +these pages show, the people of Europe seem to have been absolutely +intoxicated by the success of the Montgolfiers’ discovery. There is +something bitterly suggestive in our knowledge of this fact. Whilst +pensions and honours and popular applause were being showered upon +the inventors of the balloon, Watt was labouring unnoticed at his +improvements of the steam-engine--a very prosaic affair compared with +the gilded globe which Montgolfier had caused to rise from earth amidst +the acclamations of a hundred thousand spectators, but one which had +before it a somewhat different history to that of the more startling +invention. England, when it remembers the story of the steam-engine, +has little need to grudge France the honour of discovering the balloon. +After all, however, Great Britain had its share in that discovery. The +early observations of Francis Bacon and Bishop Wilkins paved the way for +the later achievement, whilst it was our own Cavendish who discovered +that hydrogen gas was lighter than air; and Dr. Black of Edinburgh, who +first employed that gas to raise a globe in which it was contained from +the earth. The Scotch professor, we are told, thought that the discovery +which he made when he sent his little tissue-paper balloon from his +lecture-table to the ceiling of his classroom, was of no use except as +affording the means of making an interesting experiment. Possibly our +readers, after they have perused this volume, may think that Dr Black +was not after all so far wrong as people once imagined. Be this as it +may, however, in these pages is the history of the balloon, and of +the most memorable balloon voyages, and we comprehend the story to our +readers not the less cordially that it comes from the land where the +balloon had its birth. + +London, January, 1870. + + + + +BALLOONS AND AIR JOURNEYS. + + + + +PART I. THE CONQUEST OF THE SKIES.--1783. + + + +Chapter I. Introduction. + +The title of our introduction to aeronautics may appear ambitious to +astronomers, and to those who know that the infinite space we call the +heavens is for ever inaccessible to travellers from the earth; but +it was not so considered by those who witnessed the ardent enthusiasm +evoked at the ascension of the first balloon. No discovery, in the +whole range of history, has elicited an equal degree of applause and +admiration--never has the genius of man won a triumph which at first +blush seemed more glorious. The mathematical and physical sciences +had in aeronautics achieved apparently their greatest honours, and +inaugurated a new era in the progress of knowledge. After having +subjected the earth to their power; after having made the waves of the +sea stoop in submission under the keels of their ships; after having +caught the lightning of heaven and made it subservient to the ordinary +purposes of life, the genius of man undertook to conquer the regions of +the air. Imagination, intoxicated with past successes, could descry no +limit to human power; the gates of the infinite seemed to be swinging +back before man’s advancing step, and the last was believed to be the +greatest of his achievements. + +In order to comprehend the frenzy of the enthusiasm which the first +aeronautic triumphs called forth, it is necessary to recall the +appearance of Montgolfier at Versailles, on the 19th of September, 1783, +before Louis XVI, or of the earliest aeronauts at the Tuileries. Paris +hailed the first of these men with the greatest acclaim, “and then, as +now,” says a French writer, “the voice of Paris gave the cue to France, +and France to the world!” Nobles and artisans, scientific men and +badauds, great and small, were moved with one universal impulse. In the +streets the praises of the balloon were sung; in the libraries models +of it abounded; and in the salons the one universal topic was the great +“machine.” In anticipation, the poet delighted himself with bird’s-eye +views of the scenery of strange countries; the prisoner mused on what +might be a new way of escape; the physicist visited the laboratory in +which the lightning and the meteors were manufactured; the geometrician +beheld the plans of cities and the outlines of kingdoms; the general +discovered the position of the enemy or rained shells on the besieged +town; the police beheld a new mode in which to carry on the secret +service; Hope heralded a new conquest from the domain of nature, and the +historian registered a new chapter in the annals of human knowledge. + +“Scientific discoveries in general,” says Arago, “even those from +which men expect the most advantage, like those of the compass and the +steam-engine, were greeted at first with contempt, or at the best with +indifference. Political events, and the fortunes of armies monopolised +almost entirely the attention of the people. But to this rule there +are two exceptions--the discoveries of America and of aerostatics, the +advents of Columbus and of Montgolfier.” It is not here our duty +to inquire how it happened that the discoveries made by these two +personages are classed together. Air-travelling may be as unproductive +of actual good to society as filling the belly with the “east wind” is +to the body, while every one knows something of the extent to which the +discovery of Columbus has influenced the character, the civilisation, +the destinies, in short, of the human race. We are speaking at present +of the known and well-attested fact, that the discovery of America +and the discovery of the method of traversing space by means of +balloons--however they may differ in respect of results to man--rank +equally in this, that of all other discoveries these two have attracted +the greatest amount of attention, and given, in their respective eras, +the greatest impulse to popular feeling. Let the reader recall the marks +of enthusiasm which the discovery of the islands on the east coast of +America excited in Andalusia, in Catalonia, in Aragon and Castile--let +him read the narrative of the honours paid by town and village, not only +to the hero of the enterprise, but even to his commonest sailors, and +then let him search the records of the epoch for the degree of sensation +produced by the discovery of aeronautics in France, which stands in the +same relationship to this event as that in which Spain stands to the +other. The processions of Seville and Barcelona are the exact prototypes +of the fetes of Lyons and Paris. In France, in 1783, as in Spain two +centuries previously, the popular imagination was so greatly excited by +the deeds performed, that it began to believe in possibilities of +the most unlikely description. In Spain, the conquestadores and their +followers believed that in a few days after they had landed on American +soil, they would have gathered as much gold and precious stones, as were +then possessed by the richest European Sovereigns. In France, each one +following his own notions, made out for himself special benefits to flow +from the discovery of balloons. Every discovery then appeared to be only +the precursor of other and greater discoveries, and nothing after that +time seemed to be impossible to him who attempted the conquest of the +atmosphere. This idea clothed itself in every form. The young embraced +it with enthusiasm, the old made it the subject of endless regrets. When +one of the first aeronautic ascents was made, the old Marechal Villeroi, +an octogenarian and an invalid, was conducted to one of the windows of +the Tuileries, almost by force, for he did not believe in balloons. The +balloon, meanwhile, detached itself from its moorings; the physician +Charles, seated in the car, gaily saluted the public, and was then +majestically launched into space in his air-boat; and at once the old +Marechal, beholding this, passed suddenly from unbelief to perfect faith +in aerostatics and in the capacity of the human mind, fell on his knees, +and, with his eyes bathed in tears, moaned out pitifully the words, +“Yes, it is fixed! It is certain! They will find out the secret of +avoiding death; but it will be after I am gone!” + +If we recall the impressions which the first air-journeys made, we shall +find that, among people of enthusiastic temperament, it was believed +that it was not merely the blue sky above us, not merely the terrestrial +atmosphere, but the vast spaces through which the worlds move, that +were to become the domain of man--the sea of the balloon. The moon, +the mysterious dwelling-place of men unknown, would no longer be an +inaccessible place. Space no longer contained regions which man could +not cross! Indeed, certain expeditions attempted the crossing of the +heavens, and brought back news of the moon. The planets that revolve +round the sun, the far-flying comets, the most distant stars--these +formed the field which from that time was to lie open to the +investigations of man. + +This enthusiasm one can well enough understand. There is in the simple +fact of an aerial ascent something so bold and so astonishing, that the +human spirit cannot fail to be profoundly stirred by it. And if this is +the feeling of men at the present day, when, after having been witnesses +of ascents for the last eighty years, they see men confiding themselves +in a swinging car into the immensities of space, what must have been the +astonishment of those who, for the first time since the commencement +of the world, beheld one of their fellow-creatures rolling in space, +without any other assurance of safety than what his still dim perception +of the laws of nature gave him? + +Why should we be obliged here to state that the great discovery that +stirred the spirits of men from the one end of Europe to the other, +and gave rise to hopes of such vast discoveries, should have failed +in realising the expectations which seemed so clearly justified by the +first experiments? It is now eighty-six years since the first aerial +journey astonished the world, and yet, in 1870, we are but little +more advanced in the science than we were in 1783. Our age is the most +renowned for its discoveries of any that the world has seen. Man is +borne over the surface of the earth by steam; he is as familiar as the +fish with the liquid element; he transmits his words instantaneously +from London to New York; he draws pictures without pencil or brush, and +has made the sun his slave. The air alone remains to him unsubdued. The +proper management of balloons has not yet been discovered. More +than that, it appears that balloons are unmanageable, and it is to +air-vessels, constructed more nearly upon the model of birds, that we +must go to find out the secret of aerial navigation. At present, as in +former times, we are at the mercy of balloons--globes lighter than the +air, and therefore the sport and the prey of tempests and currents. +And aeronauts, instead of showing themselves now as the benefactors of +mankind, exhibit themselves mainly to gratify a frivolous curiosity, or +to crown with eclat a public fete. + + + +Chapter II. Attempts in Ancient Times to Fly in the Air. + +Before contemplating the sudden conquest of the aerial kingdom, as +accomplished and proclaimed at the end of the last century, it is at +once curious and instructive to cast a glance backward, and to examine, +by the glimmering of ancient traditions, the attempts which have been +made or imagined by man to enfranchise himself from the attraction of +the earth. + +“The greater number of the arts and sciences can be traced along a +chronological ladder of great length: some, indeed, lose themselves in +the night of time.” The accomplishment of raising oneself in the air, +however, had no actual professors in antiquity, and the discovery +of Montgolfier seems to have come into the world, so to speak, +spontaneously. By this it is to be understood that, unlike Copernicus +and Columbus, Montgolfier could not read in history of any similar +discovery, containing the germ of his own feat. At least, we have no +proof that the ancient nations practiced the art of aerial navigation +to any extent whatever. The attempts which we are about to cite do not +strictly belong to the history of aerostatics. + +Classic mythology tells us of Daedalus, who, escaping with his son +Icarus from the anger of Minos, in the Isle of Crete, saved himself from +the immediate evil by the aid of wings, which he made for himself and +his son, and by means of which they were enabled to fly in the air. The +wings, it appears, were soldered with wax, and Icarus, flying too high, +was struck by a ray of the sun, which melted the wax. The youth fell +into the sea, which from him derived its name of Icarian. It is possible +that this fable only symbolisms the introduction of sails in navigation. + +Coming down through ancient history, we note a certain Archytas, of +Tarentum, who, in the fourth century B. C., is said to have launched +into the air the first “flying stag,” and who, according to the Greek +writers, “made a pigeon of wood, which flew, but which could not +raise itself again after having fallen.” Its flight, it is said, “was +accomplished by means of a mechanical contrivance, by the vibrations of +which it was sustained in the air.” + +In the year 66 A.D., in the time of Nero, Simon, the magician--who +called himself “the mechanician”--made certain experiments at Rome of +flying at a certain height. In the eyes of the early Christians this +power was attributed to the devil, and St. Peter, the namesake of this +flying man, is said to have prayed fervently while Simon was amusing +himself in space. It was possibly in answer to his prayers that the +magician failed in his flight, fell upon the Forum, and broke his neck +on the spot. + +From the summit of the tower of the hippodrome at Constantinople, a +certain Saracen met the same fate as Simon, in the reign of the Emperor +Comnenus. His experiments were conducted on the principle of the +inclined plane. He descended in an oblique course, using the resistance +of the air as a support. His robe, very long and very large, and of +which the flaps were extended on an osier frame, preserved him from +suddenly falling. + +The inclined plane probably suggested to Milton the flight of the angel +Uriel, in “Paradise Lost,” who descended in the morning from heaven to +earth upon a ray of the sun, and ascended in the evening from earth to +heaven by the same means. But we cannot quote here the fancies of +pure imagination, and we will not speak of Medeus the magician, of the +enchantress Armida, of the witches of the Brocken, of the hippogriff +of Zephyrus with the rosy wings, or of the diabolical inventions of the +middle ages, for many of which the stake was the only reward. + +Roger Bacon, in the thirteenth century, inaugurated a more scientific +era. In his “Treaty of the Admirable Power of Art and Nature,” he puts +forth the idea that it is possible “to make flying-machines in which the +man, being seated or suspended in the middle, might turn some winch or +crank, which would put in motion a suit of wings made to strike the +air like those of a bird.” In the same treatise he sketches a +flying-machine, to which that of Blanchard, who lived in the eighteenth +century, bears a certain resemblance. The monk, Roger Bacon, was worthy +of entering the temple of fame before his great namesake the Lord +Chancellor, who in the seventeenth century inaugurated the era of +experimental science. + +Jean Baptiste Dante, a mathematician of Perugia, who lived in the latter +part of the fifteenth century, constructed artificial wings, by means of +which, when applied to thin bodies, men might raise themselves off +the ground into the air. It is recorded that on many occasions he +experimented with his wings on the Lake Thrasymenus. These experiments, +however, had a sad end. At a fete, given for the celebration of the +marriage of Bartholomew d’Alvani, Dante, who must not be confounded with +the poet, whose flights were of quite another kind--offered to exhibit +the wonder of his wings to the people of Perugia. He managed to raise +himself to a great height, and flew above the square; but the iron +with which he moved one of his wings having been bent, he fell upon the +church of the Virgin, and broke his thigh. + +A similar accident befell a learned English Benedictine Oliver of +Malmesbury. This ecclesiastic was considered gifted with the power of +foretelling events; but, like other similarly circumstanced, he does +not seem to have beer able to divine the fate which awaited himself. +He constructed wings after the model of those which according to Ovid, +Daedalus made use of. These he attached to his arms and his feet, and, +thus furnished, he threw himself from the height of a tower. But the +wings bore him up for little more than a distance of 120 paces. He fell +at the foot of the tower, broke his legs, and from that moment led a +languishing life. He consoled himself, however, in his misfortune +by saying that his attempt must certainly have succeeded had he only +provided himself with a tail. + +Before going further, let us take notice that the seventeenth century +is, par excellence, the century distinguished for narratives of +imaginary travels. It was then that astronomy opened up its world of +marvels. The knowledge of observers was vastly increased, and from that +time it became possible to distinguish the surface of the moon and of +other celestial bodies. Thus a new world, as it were, was revealed for +human thought and speculation. We learned that our globe was not, as we +had supposed, the centre of the universe. It was assigned its place far +from that centre, and was known to be no more than a mere atom, lost +amid an incalculable number of other globes. The revelations of the +telescope proved that those who formerly were considered wise actually +knew nothing. Quickly following these discoveries, extraordinary +narratives of excursions through space began to be given to the world. + +Those scientific romances were simply wild exaggerations, based upon the +thinnest foundation of scientific facts. In order, however, to describe +a journey among the stars, it was necessary to invent some mode of +locomotion in these distant regions. In former times Lucian had been +content with a ship which ascended to the rising moon upon a waterspout; +but it was now necessary to improve upon this very primitive mode, as +people began to know something more of the forces of nature. One of the +first of these travellers in imagination to the moon in modern times was +Godwin (1638), and his plan was more ingenious than that of Lucian. He +trained a great number of the wild swans of St. Helena to fly constantly +upward toward a white object, and, having succeeded in thus training +them, one fine night he threw himself off the Peak of Teneriffe, poised +upon a piece of board, which was borne upward to the white moon by a +great team of the gigantic swans. At the end of twelve days he arrived, +according to his story, at his destination. A little later another +writer of this peculiar kind of fiction, Wilkins, an Englishman, +professed to have made the same ascent, borne up by an eagle. Alexandre +Dumas, who recently wrote a short romance upon the same subject, only +made a translation of an English work by that author. Wilkins’ work is +entitled, “The Discovery of a New World.” One chapter of the book bears +the title, “That ‘tis possible for some of our posterity to find out a +conveyance to this other world; and, if there be inhabitants there, to +have commerce with them.” It is thus that the right reverend philosopher +reasons:-- + +“If it be here inquired what means there may be conjectured for our +ascending beyond the sphere of the earth’s mathematical vigour, I +answer.--1. ‘Tis not possible that a man may be able to fly by the +application of wings to his own body, as angels are pictured, as +Mercury and Daedalus are feigned, and as hath been attempted by divers, +particularly by a Turk in Constantinople, a Busbequius relates. 2. If +there be such a great duck in Madagascar as Marcus Polus, the Venetian, +mentions, the feathers of whose wings are twelve feet long, which can +scoop up a horse and his rider, or an elephant, as our kites do a mouse; +why, then, ‘Tis but teaching one of these to carry a man, and he may +ride up thither, as Ganymede does upon an eagle. 3. Or if neither of +these ways will serve yet I do seriously, and upon good grounds, affirm +it is possible to make a flying chariot, in which a man may sit and +give such a motion to it as shall convey him through the air. And this, +perhaps, might be made large enough to carry divers men at the same +time, together with food for their viaticum, and commodities for +traffic. It is not the bigness of anything in this kind that can hinder +its motion if the motive faculty be answerable “hereunto. We see that; +great ship swims as well as a small cork, and an eagle flies in the air +as well as a little gnat. This engine may be contrived from the same +principles by which Archytas made a wooden dove, and Regiomontanus +a wooden eagle. I conceive it were no difficult matter (if a man had +leisure) to show more particularly the means of composing it. The +perfecting of such an invention would be of such excellent use that it +were enough, not only to make a man famous but the age wherein he lives. +For, besides the strange discoveries that it might occasion in this +other world, it would be also of inconceivable advantage for travelling, +above any other conveyance that is now in use. So that, notwithstanding +all these seeming impossibilities, it is likely enough that there may be +a means invented of journeying to the moon; and how happy shall they be +that are first successful in this attempt!” + +Afterwards comes Cyrano of Bergerac, who promulgates five different +means of flying in the air. First, by means of phials filled with dew, +which would attract and cause to mount up. Secondly, by a great bird +made of wood, the wings of which should be kept in motion. Thirdly, by +rockets, which, going off successively, would drive up the balloon by +the force of projection. Fourthly, by an octahedron of glass, heated by +the sun, and of which the lower part should be allowed to penetrate the +dense cold air, which, pressing up against the rarefied hot air, would +raise the balloon. Fifthly, by a car of iron and a ball of magnetised +iron, which the aeronaut would keep throwing up in the air, and which +would attract and draw up the balloon. The wiseacre who invented these +modes of flying in the air seems, some would say, to have been more in +want of very strict confinement on the earth than of the freedom of the +skies. + +In 1670 Francis Lana constructed the flying-machine shown on the next +page. The specific lightness of heated air and of hydrogen gas not +having yet been discovered, his only idea for making his globes rise was +to take all the air out of them. But even supposing that the globes were +thus rendered light enough to rise, they must inevitably have collapsed +under the atmospheric pressure. + +As for the idea of making use of a sail to direct the balloon, as one +directs a vessel, that also was a delusion; for the whole machine, +globes and sails, being freely thrown into the air, would infallibly +follow the direction of the wind, whatever that might be. When a ship +lies in the sea, and its sails are inflated with the wind, we must +remember that there are two forces in operation--the active force of +the wind and the passive force of the resistance of the water; and in +working these forces the one against the other, the sailor can turn +within a point of any direction he pleases. But when we are subjected +wholly to a single force, and have no point of support by the use of +which to turn that force to our own purposes, as is the case with the +aeronaut, we are entirely at the mercy of that force, and must obey it. + +After the flying-machine of Lana there was constructed by Galien (who, +like the former, was an ecclesiastic) an air-boat, less chimerical in +its form, looked at in view of the conditions of aerial navigation, +but much more singular. Galien describes his air-boat, in 1755, in his +little work entitled, “The Art of Sailing in the Air.” His project was +a most extraordinary one, and its boldness is only equalled by the +seriousness of the narrative. According to him, the atmosphere is +divided into two horizontal layers, the upper of which is much lighter +than the lower. “But,” says Galien, “a ship keeps its place in the water +because it is full of air, and air is much lighter than water. Suppose, +then, that there was the same difference of weight between the upper and +the lower layer of air as there is between the lower stratum and water; +and suppose, also, a boat which rested upon the lower layer of air, with +its bulk in the lighter upper layer--like a ship which has its keel in +the water but its bulk in the air--the same thing would happen with the +air-ship as with the water-ship--it would float in the denser layer of +air.” + +Galien adds that in the region of hail there was in the air a separation +into two layers, the weights of which respectively are as 1 to 2. +“Then,” says he, “in placing an air-boat in the region of hail, with its +sides rising eighty-three fathoms into the upper region, which is much +more light, one could sail perfectly.” + +But how to get this enormous air-boat up to the region of hail? This is +a minor detail, respecting which Galien is not clear. + +From the labours of Lana and Galien, with their impossible flying +machines, the inventor of the balloon could derive no benefit whatever; +nor is his fame to be in the least diminished because many had laboured +in the same field before him. Nor can the story of the ovoador, +or flying man, a legend very confused, and of which there are many +versions, have given to Montgolfier any valuable hints. It appears that +a certain Laurent de Guzman, a monk of Rio Janeiro, performed at Lisbon +before the king, John V., raising himself in a balloon to a considerable +height. Other versions of the story give a different date, and assign +the pretended ascent to 1709. The above engraving, extracted from the +“Bibliotheque de la Rue de Richelieu,” is an exact copy of Guzman’s +supposed balloon. + +In 1678 a mechanician of Salle, in Maine, named Besnier invented a +flying-machine. The machine consisted of four great wings, or paddles, +mounted at the extremities of levers, which rested on the shoulders of +the man who guided it, and who could move them alternately by means of +his hands and feet. The following description of the machine is given in +the Journal de Paris by an eye-witness: + +“The ‘wings’ are oblong frames, covered with taffeta, and attached to +the ends of two rods, adjusted on the shoulders The wings work up and +down. Those in front are worked by the hands; those behind by the feet, +which are connected with the ends of the rods by strings. The movements +were such that when the right hand made the right wing descend in front, +the left foot made the left wing descend behind; and in like manner +the left hand in front and the right foot behind acted together +simultaneously. This diagonal action appeared very well contrived; it +was the action of most quadrupeds as well as of man when walking; but +the contrivance, like others of the same kind, failed in not being +fitted with gearing to enable the air traveller to proceed in any other +direction than that in which the wind blew him. The inventor first flew +down from a stool, then from a table, afterwards from a window, and +finally from a garret, from which he passed above the houses in the +neighbourhood, and then, moderating the working of his machine, he +descended slowly to the earth.” + +Tradition records that under Louis XIV. a certain rope-dancer, named +Alard, announced that on a certain day he would perform the feat of +flying in the air. We have no description of his wings. It is recorded, +however, that he set out on his adventurous flight; but he had not +calculated all the necessities of the case, and, falling to the ground, +he was dangerously hurt. + +Leonardo da Vinci might have known the art of flying in the air, and +might even have practiced it. A statement to this effect, at least, is +found in several historians. We have, however, no direct proof of the +fact. + +The Abbe Deforges, of Etampes, announced in the journals in 1772 that +he would perform the great feat. On the appointed day multitudes of the +curious flocked to Etampes. The abbe’s machine was a sort of gondola, +seven feet long and about two feet deep. Gondola conductor, and baggage +weighed in all 213 pounds. The pious man believed that he had provided +against everything. Neither tempest nor rain should mar his flight, +and there was no chance of his being upset; whilst the machine, he had +decided, was to go at the rate of thirty leagues an hour. + +The great day came, and the abbe, entering his air-boat amidst the +applause of the spectators, began to work the wings with which it was +provided with great rapidity. “But,” says one who witnessed the feat, +“the more he worked, the more his machine cleaved to the earth, as if it +were part and parcel of it.” + +Retif de la Bretonne, in his work upon this subject, gives the +accompanying picture of a flying man, furnished with very artistically +designed wings, fitting exactly to the shoulders, and carrying a basket +of provisions, suspended from his waist; and the frontispiece of the +“Philosophic sans Pretention” is a view of a flying-machine. In the +midst of a frame of light wood sits the operator, steadying himself with +one hand, and with the other fuming a cremaillere, which appears to +give a very quick rotatory movement to two glass globes revolving upon +a vertical axis. The friction of the globes is supposed to develop +electricity to which his power of ascending is ascribed. + +To wings, however, aerial adventurers mostly adhered. The Marquis de +Racqueville flew from a window of his hotel, on the banks of the +Seine, and fell into a boat full of washerwomen on the river. All +these unfortunate attempts were lampooned, burlesqued on the stage, and +pursued with the mockery of the public. + +Up to this time, therefore, the efforts of man to conquer the air had +miscarried. They were conducted on a wrong principle, the machinery +employed being heavier than the air itself But, even before the time +of Montgolfier, the principles of aerostation began to be recognised, +though nothing was actually done in the way of acting upon them. Thus, +in 1767, Professor Black, of Edinburgh, announced in his class that a +vessel, filled with hydrogen, would rise naturally in the air; but +he never made the experiment, regarding the fact as capable of being +employed only for amusement. Finally, Cavallo, in 1782, communicated +to the Royal Society of London the experiments he had made, and which +consisted in filling soap-bubbles with hydrogen. The bubbles rose in the +atmosphere, the gas which filled them being lighter than air. + + + +Chapter III. The Theory of Balloons. + +A certain proposition in physics, known as the “Principle of +Archimedes,” runs to the following effect:--“Every body plunged into a +liquid loses a portion of its weight equal to the weight of the fluid +which it displaces.” Everybody has verified this principle, and knows +that objects are much lighter in water than out of it; a body plunged +into water being acted upon by two forces--its own weight, which tends +to sink it, and resistance from below, which tends to bear it up. But +this principle applies to gas as well as to liquids--to air as well as +to water. When we weigh a body in the air, we do not find its absolute +weight, but that weight minus the weight of the air which the body +displaces. In order to know the exact weight of an object, it would be +necessary to weigh it in a vacuum. + +If an object thrown into the air is heavier than the air which it +displaces, it descends, and falls upon the earth; if it is of equal +weight, it floats without rising or falling; if it is lighter, it +rises until it comes to a stratum of air of less weight or density than +itself. We all know, of course, that the higher you rise from the earth +the density of the air diminishes. The stratum of air that lies upon the +surface of the earth is the heaviest, because it supports the pressure +of all the other strata that lie above. Thus the lightest strata are the +highest. + +The principle of the construction of balloons is, therefore, in perfect +harmony with physical laws. Balloons are simply globes, made of a light, +air-tight material, filled with hot air or hydrogen gas which rise in +the air because (they are lighter than the air they displace). + +The application of this principle appeared so simple, that at the time +when the news of the invention of the balloon was spread abroad the +astronomer Lalande wrote--“At this news we all cry, ‘This must be! Why +did we not think of it before?’” It had been thought of before, as we +have seen in the last chapter, but it is often long after an idea is +conceived that it is practically realised. + +The first balloon, Montgolfier’s, was simply filled with hot air; and it +was because Montgolfier exclusively made use of hot air that balloons +so filled were named Montgolfiers. Of course we see at a glance that +hot air is lighter than cold air, because it has become expanded and +occupies more space--that is to say, a volume of hot air contains +actually less air than a volume of the same size of air that has not +been heated. The difference between the weight of the hot air and the +cold which it displaced was greater than the weight of tire covering of +the balloon. Therefore the balloon mounted. + +And, seeing that air diminishes in density the higher we ascend, the +balloon can rise only to that stratum of air of the same density as the +air it contains. As the warm air cools it gently descends. Again, as the +atmosphere is always moving in currents more or less strong, the balloon +follows the direction of the current of the stratum of air in which it +finds itself. + +Thus we see how simply the ascent of Montgolfiers, and their motions, +are explained. It is the same with gas-balloons. A balloon, filled with +hydrogen gas, displaces an equal volume of atmospheric air; but as the +gas is much lighter than the air, it is pushed up by a force equal to +the difference of the density of air and hydrogen gas. The balloon then +rises in the atmosphere to where it reaches layers of air of a density +exactly equal to its own, and when it gets there it remains poised in +its place. In order that it may descend, it is necessary to let out a +portion of the hydrogen gas, and admit an equal quantity of atmospheric +air; and the balloon does not come to the ground till all, or nearly +all, the gas has been expelled and common air taken in. Balloons +inflated with hydrogen gas are almost the only ones in use at the +present day. Scarcely ever is a Montgolfier sent up. There are +aeronauts, however, who prefer a journey in a Montgolfier to one in a +gas-balloon. The air voyager in this description of balloon had formerly +many difficulties to contend with. The quantity of combustible material +which he was bound to carry with him; the very little difference that +there is between the density of heated and of cold air; the necessity +of feeding the fire, and watching it without a moment’s cessation, as it +hangs in the rechaud over the middle of the car, rendered this sort of +air travelling subject to many dangers and difficulties. Recently, M. +Eugene Godard has obviated a portion of this difficulty by fitting a +chimney, like that which is found of such incalculable service in the +case of the Davy lamp. It is principally on account of this improvement +that the Montgolfiere has risen so highly in popular esteem. + +Generally it is not pure hydrogen that is made use of in the inflation +of balloons. Aeronauts content themselves with the gas which we burn in +our streets and houses, and thus it suffices, in inflating the balloon, +to obtain from the nearest gas-works the quantity of gas necessary, and +to lead it, by means of a pipe or tube, from the gasometer to the mouth +or neck of the machine. + +The balloon is made of long strips of silk, sewn together, and rendered +air-tight by means of a coating of caoutchouc. A valve is fitted to the +top, and by means of it the aeronaut can descend to the earth at will, +by allowing some quantity of the gas to escape. The car in which he +sits is suspended to the balloon by a network, which covers the whole +structure. Sacks of sand are carried in this car as ballast, so +that, when descending, if the aeronaut sees that he is likely to be +precipitated into the sea or into a lake, he throws over the sand, and +his air-carriage, being thus lightened, mounts again and travels away to +a more desirable resting-place. The idea of the valve, as well as that +of the sand ballast, is due to the physician Charles. They enable the +aeronaut to ascend or descend with facility. When he wishes to mount, +he throws over his ballast; when he wants to come down, he lets the gas +escape by the valve at the roof of the balloon. This valve is worked by +means of a spring, having a long rope attached to it, which hangs down +through the neck to the car, where the aeronaut sits. + +The operation of inflating a balloon with pure hydrogen is represented +in the engraving on the next page. + +Shavings of iron and zinc, water, and sulphuric acid, occupy a number of +casks, which communicate, by means of tubes, with a central cask, which +is open at the bottom, and is plunged in a copper full of water. The gas +is produced by the action of the water and the sulphuric acid upon the +zinc and the iron this is hydrogen mixed with sulphuric acid. In passing +through the central copper, or vat, full of water, the gas throws off +all impurities, and comes, unalloyed with any other matter, into the +balloon by a long tube, leading from the central vats. In order to +facilitate the entrance of the gas into the balloon two long poles +are erected. These are furnished with pulleys, through which a rope, +attached also to a ring at the top of the balloon, passes. By means +of this contrivance the balloon can be at once lightly raised from the +ground, and the gas tubes easily joined to it. When it is half full it +is no longer necessary to suspend the balloon; on the contrary, it has +to be secured, lest it should fly off. A number of men hold it back by +ropes; but as the force of ascension is every moment increasing, the +work of restraining the balloon is most difficult and exciting. At +length, all preparations being complete, the car is suspended, the +aeronaut takes his seat, the words “Let go all!” are shouted, and away +goes the silken globe into space. + +The balloon is never entirely filled, for the atmospheric pressure +diminishing as it ascends, allows the hydrogen gas to dilate, in virtue +of its expansive force, and, unless there is space for this expansion, +the balloon is sure to explode in the air. + +An ordinary balloon, with a lifting power sufficient to carry up three +persons, with necessary ballast and materiel, is about fifty feet high, +thirty-five feet in diameter’ and 2,250 cubic feet in capacity. Of such +a balloon, the accessories--the skin, the network, the car--would weigh +about 335 lbs. + +To find out the height at which he has arrived, the aeronaut consults +his barometer. We know that it is the pressure of the air upon the cup +of the barometer that raises the mercury in the tube. The heavier the +air is, the higher is the barometer. At the level of the sea the column +of mercury stands at 32 inches; at 3,250 feet--the air being at this +elevation lighter--the mercury stands at 28 inches; at 6,500 feet above +sea level it stands at 25 inches; at 10,000 feet it falls to 22 inches; +at 20,000 feet to 15 inches. These, however, are merely the theoretic +results, and are subject to some slight variation, according to +locality, &c. + +Sometimes the aeronaut makes his descent by means of the parachute, +a separate and distinct contrivance. If, from any cause, it appears +impracticable to effect a descent from the balloon itself, the parachute +may be of the greatest service to the voyager at the present day it is +chiefly used to astonish the public, by showing them the spectacle of +a man who, from a great elevation in the air, precipitates himself into +space, not to escape dangers which threaten him in his balloon, but +simply to exhibit his courage and skill. Nevertheless, parachutes are +often of great actual use, and aeronauts frequently attach them to their +balloons as a precautionary measure before setting out on an aerial +excursion. + +The shape of a parachute, shown on the previous page, very much +resembles that of the well-known all serviceable umbrella. The strips of +silk of which it is formed are sewn together, and are bound at the top +around a circular piece of wood. A number of cords, stretching away from +this piece of wood, support the car in which the aeronaut is carried. At +the summit is contrived an opening, which permits the air compressed +by the rapidity of the descent to escape without causing damage to the +parachute from the stress to which it is subjected. + +The rapidity of the descent is arrested by the large surface which the +parachute presents to the air. When the aeronaut wishes to descend by +the parachute, all that is required is, after he has slipped down from +the car of the balloon to that of the parachute, to loosen the rope +which binds the latter to the former, which is done by means of a +pulley. In an instant the aeronaut is launched into space with a +rapidity in comparison with which the wild flights of the balloon are +but gentle oscillations. But in a few moments, the air rushing into +the folds of the parachute, forces them open like an umbrella, and +immediately, owing to the wide surface which this contrivance presents +to the atmosphere, the violence of the descent is arrested, and the +aeronaut falls gently to the ground, without receiving too rude a shock. + +The virtues of the parachute were first tried upon animals. Thus, +Blanchard allowed his dog to fall in one from a height of 6,500 feet. +A gust of wind caught the falling parachute, and swept it away up above +the clouds. Afterwards, the aeronaut in his balloon fell in with the dog +in the parachute, both of them high up in the cloudy reaches of the +sky, and the poor animal manifested by his barking his joy at seeing his +master. A new current separated the aerial voyagers, but the parachute, +with its canine passenger, reached the ground safely a short time after +Blanchard had landed from his balloon. + +Experience has proved that, in the case of a descending parachute, if +the rapidity of the descent is doubled the resistance of the air is +quadrupled; if the rapidity is triple the resistance is increased +ninefold; or, to speak in language of science, the resistance of the air +is increased by the square of the swiftness of the body in motion. This +resistance increases in proportion as the parachute spreads, and thus +the uniformity of its fall is established a minute after it has been +disengaged from the balloon. We can, therefore, check the descent of a +body by giving it a surface capable of distension by the action of the +air. + +Garnerin, in the year 1802, conceived the bold design of letting himself +fall from a height of 1,200 feet, and he accomplished the exploit before +the Parisians. When he had reached the height he had fixed beforehand, +he cut the rope which connected the parachute with the balloon. At first +the fall was terribly rapid; but as soon as the parachute spread out +the rapidity was considerably diminished. The machine made, however, +enormous oscillations. The air, gathering end compressed under it, would +sometimes escape by one side sometimes by the other, thus shaking and +whirling the parachute about with a violence which, however great, had +happily no unfortunate effect. + +The origin of the parachute is more remote than is generally supposed, +as there was a figure of one which appeared among a collection of +machines at Venice, in 1617. + +Another species of parachute, less perfect, to be sure; than that of +Garnerin, but still a practical machine, was described 189 years before +the great aeronaut’s feat at Paris. We read in the narrative of the +ambassador of Louis XIV at Siam, at the end of the seventeenth century, +the following passage--“A mountebank at the court of the King of Siam +climbed to the top of a high bamboo-tree, and threw himself into the air +without any other support than two parasols. Thus equipped, he abandoned +himself to the winds, which carried him, as by chance, sometimes to +the earth, sometimes on trees or houses, and sometimes into the river, +without any harm happening to him.” + +Is not this the idea of our parachutes? + + + +Chapter IV. First Public Trial of the Balloon. + +(Montgolfier’s Balloon Annonay, 5th of June of 1783.) + +We are accustomed to rank the brothers Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier +as equally distinguished in the field of science. The reason for thus +associating these two names seems to have been the fraternal friendship +which subsisted in an extraordinary degree in the Montgolfier family, +rather than any equality of claim which they had to the notice of +posterity. After special investigation, we find that Joseph Montgolfier +was very superior to his brother, and that it is to him principally, if +not exclusively, that we owe the invention of aerostation. Nevertheless, +we shall not insist upon this fact; and seeing that a sacred amity +always cemented a perfect union in the Montgolfier family, we will +regard that union as unbroken in any sense, and will not insinuate that +the brother of Montgolfier was undeserving of the honoured rank which in +his lifetime he held. + +In 1783, the sons of Pierre Montgolfier, a rich papermaker at Annonay +department of Ardeche, were already in the prime of life, and it is +related of them that their principal occupation was experimenting in the +physical sciences. Joseph Montgolfier, after being convinced by a number +of minor experiments made in 1782 and 1783, that a heat of 180 degrees +rarefied the air and made it occupy a space of TWICE the extent it +occupied before being heated--or, in other words, that this degree of +heat diminished the weight of air by one half--began to speculate on +what might be the shape and the material of a structure which being +filled with air thus heated, would be able to raise itself from the +earth in spite of the weight of its own covering. + +His first balloon was a small parallelopiped in very thin taffeta, +containing less than seventy-eight cubic inches of air. He made it rise +to the roof of his apartment in November, 1782--at Avignon, where he +then happened to be. Having returned some little time after to Annonay, +Joseph and his brother performed the same experiment, together in the +open air with perfect success. Certain, then, of the new principle, they +made a balloon of considerable size, containing upwards of sixty-five +feet of heated air. + +This machine likewise rose, tore away the cords by which it was at first +held down, and mounting in the air to the height of from two to three +hundred feet, fell upon the neighbouring hills after a considerable +flight. The brothers Montgolfier then made a very large and strong +balloon, with which they wished to bring their discovery before the +public. + +The appointed day was the 5th of June, 1783 and the nobility of the +vicinity were invited to be present at the experiment. Faujas de +Saint Fond, author of “La Description des Experiences de la Machine +Aerostatique,” published the same year, gives the following account of +it:-- + +“What,” says Saint Fond, “was the general astonishment when the +inventors of the machine announced that immediately it should be full +of gas, which they had the means of producing at will by the most simple +process, it would raise itself to the clouds. It must be granted that, +in spite of the confidence in the ingenuity and experience of the +Montgolfiers, this feat seemed so incredible to those who came to +witness it, that the persons who knew most about it--who were, at the +same time, the most favourably predisposed in its favour--doubted of its +success. + +“At last the brothers Montgolfier commenced their work. They first +of all began to make the smoke necessary for their experiment. The +machine--which at first seemed only a covering of cloth, lined with +paper, a sort of sack thirty-five feet high--became inflated, and grew +large even under the eyes of the spectator, took consistence, assumed a +beautiful form, stretched itself on all sides, and struggled to escape. +Meanwhile, strong arms were holding it down until the signal was given, +when it loosened itself, and with a rush rose to the height of 1,000 +fathoms in less than ten minutes.” It then described a horizontal line +of 7,200 feet, and as it had lost a considerable amount of gas, it began +to descend quietly. It reached the ground in safety; and this first +attempt, crowned with such decisive success, secured for ever to +the brothers Montgolfier the glory of one of the most astonishing +discoveries. + +“When we reflect for a moment upon the numberless difficulties which +such a bold attempt entailed, upon the bitter criticism to which it +would have exposed its projectors had it failed through any accident, +and upon the sums that must have been spent in carrying it out, we +cannot withhold the highest admiration for the men who conceived the +idea and carried it out to such a successful issue.” + +Etienne Montgolfier has left us a description of this first balloon. +“The aerostatic machine,” he says, “was constructed of cloth lined with +paper, fastened together on a network of strings fixed to the cloth. +It was spherical; its circumference was 110 feet, and a wooden frame +sixteen feet square held it fixed at the bottom. Its contents were about +22,000 cubic feet, and it accordingly displaced a volume of air weighing +1,980 1bs. The weight of the gas was nearly half the weight of the air, +for it weighed 990 lbs., and the machine itself, with the frame, weighed +500: it was, therefore, impelled upwards with the force of 490 lbs. Two +men sufficed to raise it and to fill it with gas, but it took eight +to hold it down till the signal was given. The different pieces of +the covering were fastened together with buttons and button-holes. +It remained ten minutes in the air, but the loss of gas by the +button-holes, and by other imperfections, did not permit it to continue +longer. The wind at the moment of the ascent was from the north. The +machine came down so lightly that no part of it was broken.” + + + +Chapter V. Second Experiment. + +(Charles’s Balloon, Paris, Champ de Mars, 27th of August, 1783.) + +The indescribable enthusiasm caused by the ascent of the first balloon +at Annonay, spread in all directions, and excited the wondering +curiosity of the savants of the capital. An official report had been +prepared, and sent to the Academy of Sciences in Paris, and the result +was that the Academy named a commission of inquiry. But fame, more rapid +than scientific commissions, and more enthusiastic than academies, +had, at a single flight, passed from Annonay to Paris, and kindled the +anxious ardour of the lovers of science in that city. The great desire +was to rival Montgolfier, although neither the report nor the +letters from Annonay had made mention of the kind of gas used by that +experimenter to inflate his balloon. By one of the frequent coincidences +in the history of the sciences, hydrogen gas had been discovered six +years previously by the great English physician Cavendish, and it had +hardly even been tested in the laboratories of the chemists when it all +at once became famous. A young man well versed in physics, Professor +Charles, assisted by two practical men, the brothers Robert, threw +himself ardently into the investigation of the modes of inflating +balloons with this gas, which was then called INFLAMMABLE AIR. Guessing +that it was much lighter than that which Montgolfier had been obliged to +make use of in his third-rate provincial town, Charles leagued himself +with his two assistants to constrict a balloon of taffeta, twelve feet +in diameter, covered with india-rubber, and to inflate it with hydrogen. + +The thing thus arranged, a subscription was opened. The projected +experiment having been talked of all over Paris, every one was struck +with the idea, and subscriptions poured in. Even the most illustrious +names are to be found in the list, which may be called the first +national subscription in France. Nothing had been written of the +forthcoming event in any public paper, yet all Paris seemed to flock to +contribute to the curious experiment. + +The inflation with hydrogen was effected in a very curious manner. As +much as 1,125 lbs. of iron and 560 lbs. of sulphuric acid were found +necessary to inflate a balloon which had scarcely a lifting power of +22 lbs., and the process of filling took no less than four hours. At +length, however, at the end of the fourth hour, the balloon, composed of +strips of silk, coated with varnish, floated, two-thirds full, from the +workshop of the brothers Robert. + +On the morning of the 26th of August, the day before the ascent was +to be made, the balloon was visited at daybreak, and found to be in +a promising state. At two o’clock on the following morning its +constructors began to make preparations to transport it to the Champ +de Mars, from which place it was to be let loose. Skilled workmen were +employed in its removal, and every precaution was taken that the gas +with which it was charged should not be allowed to escape. In the +meantime the excitement of the people about this wonderful structure +was rising to the highest pitch. The wagon on which it was placed +for removal was surrounded on all sides by eager multitudes, and the +night-patrols, both of horse and foot, which were set to guard the +avenues leading to where it lay, were quite unable to stem the tide of +human beings that poured along to get a glimpse of it. + +The conveyance of the balloon to the Champ de Mars was a most singular +spectacle. A vanguard, with lighted torches, preceded it; it was +surrounded by special attendants, and was followed by detachments of +night-patrols on foot and mounted. The size and shape of this structure, +which was escorted with such pomp and precaution--the silence that +prevailed--the unearthly hour, all helped to give an air of mystery +to the proceedings. At last, having passed through the principal +thoroughfares, it arrived at the Champ de Mars, where it was placed in +an enclosure prepared for its reception. + +When the dawn came, and the balloon had been fixed in its place by +cords, attached around its middle and fixed to iron rings planted in the +earth, the final process of inflation began. + +The Champ de Mars was guarded by troops, and the avenues were also +guarded on all sides. As the day wore on an immense crowd covered the +open space, and every advantageous spot in the neighborhood was crowded +with people. At five o’clock the report of a cannon announced to the +multitudes, and to scientific men who were posted on elevations to make +observations of the great event, that the grand moment had come. The +cords were withdrawn, and, to the vast delight and wonder of the crowd +assembled, the balloon shot up with such rapidity that in two minutes it +had ascended 488 fathoms. At this height it was lost in a cloud for an +instant, and, reappearing, rose to a great height, and was again lost +in higher clouds. The ascent was a splendid success. The rain that fell +damped neither the balloon nor the ardor of the spectators. + +This balloon was 12 feet in diameter, 38 feet in circumference, and had +a capacity of 943 cubic feet. The weight of the materials of which it +was constructed was 25 lbs., and the force of ascension was that of 35 +lbs. + +The fall of the balloon was caused by the expansion and consequent +explosion of the hydrogen gas. This event took place some distance out +in the country, close to a number of peasants, whose terror at the +sight and the sound of this strange monster from the skies was beyond +description. The people assembled, and two monks having told them that +the burst balloon was the hide of a monstrous animal, they immediately +began to assail it vigorously with stones, flails, and pitchforks. The +cure of the parish was obliged to walk up to the balloon to reassure his +terrified flock. They finally attached the burst envelope to a horse’s +tail, and dragged it far across the fields. + +Many drawings and engravings of the period represent the peasants armed +with pitchforks, flails, and scythes, assailing it, a dog snapping at +it, a garde-champetre firing at it, a fat priest preaching at it, and a +troop of young people throwing stones at the unfortunate machine. + +The news of this fiasco came to Paris, but too late. When search was +made for the covering, scarcely a fragment could be found. + +A somewhat humorous result of all this was the issue of a communication +from government to the people, entitled, “Warning to the People on +kidnapping Air-balloons.” This document, duly signed and approved of, +describes the ascents at Annonay and at Paris, explains the nature and +the causes of the phenomena, and warns the people not to be alarmed when +they see something like a “black moon” in the sky, nor to give way to +fear, as the seeming monster is nothing more than a bag of silk filled +with gas. + +This first ascent in Paris was an important event. Every one, from the +smallest to the greatest, was deeply interested in it, while to the man +of science it was one of the most exciting of incidents. For the purpose +of observing the altitude to which the balloon rose, and the course it +took, Le Gentil was on the observatory, Prevost was on one of the towers +of Notre Dame, Jeaurat was on La Place Louis XV., and d’Agelet was on +the Champ de Mars. It was only Lalande that frowned as he witnessed +the success of the experiment. He had predicted the year before that +air-navigation was impossible. + + + +Chapter VI. Third Experiment. + +(Montgolfier’s Balloon, Paris, Faubourg St. Antoine.) + +As we have seen, the triumph of aerostation was sudden and complete. The +young Montgolfier had arrived in Paris prior to the experiment of the +27th of August, and was present as a simple spectator on that occasion. +immediately afterwards he set to work upon a balloon, which was to +be made use of when the Academy should investigate the phenomenon at +Versailles in presence of the king, Louis XVI. + +It was at this time (September, 1783) that those small balloons, made +of gold-beaters’ skin, which are used as children’s toys to the present +day, were first made. The whole of Paris amused itself with them, +repeating in little the phenomenon of the great ascent. The sky of the +capital found itself all at once traversed by a multitude of small rosy +clouds, formed by the hand of man. + +Faujas de Saint Fond says that at first an attempt was made to construct +balloons of fine, light paper; but this material being permeable, and +the gas being inflammable, balloons thus made did not succeed. It +was necessary to seek a material less porous, and, if possible, still +lighter. + +The Journal de Paris, of the 11th of September, 1783, informed the +public that the Baron de Beaumanoir, “who cultivated the sciences and +the fine arts with as much success as zeal,” would send up a balloon +eighteen inches in diameter. At noon of the same day he made this +experiment in presence of a numerous assembly in the garden in front of +the Hotel de Surgeres.. The little balloon mounted freely, but was held +in, like a kite, by means of a silk thread. In the course of the same +afternoon, the baron took down the balloon and filled it anew with +hydrogen, and then let it off. The spectators had the pleasure of seeing +it rise to a great height, and pass away in the direction of Neuilly, +and it is said to have been found at a distance of several leagues, by +peasants. + +However trifling this experiment may appear at first sight, it added +a new fact to the science of aerostation. The material employed by +the baron was lighter and better than paper. It was what is called +gold-beaters’ skin. This skin is simply the interior lining of the +large bowel of the ox. It is carefully prepared, is relieved of the fat, +stringy and uneven parts, is dried, and is afterwards softened. Little +balloons of this material came to be the fashion, and they are still +frequently seen. + +At the same time, Montgolfier was busy constructing, at the request +of the Academy of Sciences, a balloon seventy feet high and forty +in diameter, with which it was proposed to repeat the experiment of +Annonay. He took up his quarters in the magnificent gardens of his +friend Reveillon, proprietor of the royal manufactory of stained paper +in the Faubourg St. Antoine. The new balloon was of a very singular +shape: the upper part represented a prism, twenty-four feet high the top +was a pyramid of the same height; the lower part was a truncated cone, +twenty feet in depth. It was made of packing-cloth, lined with good +paper, both inside and out. + +The gossipping and prolix Faujas de Saint Fond thus describes this +machine:--“It was painted blue, represented a sort of tent, and was +richly ornamented with gold Its height was seventy feet; its weight +1,000 lbs.; the air which it displaced was 4,500 lbs. in volume, and the +vapor with which it was filled was half the weight of ordinary air. The +approach of the equinox having brought rain, all the conditions under +which this balloon was constructed and exhibited were unfavourable. The +structure was so large that it was impossible to get it together +and stitch it, except in the open air--in the garden, in fact, where +Montgolfier commenced its construction. It was a great labour to turn +and fold this heavy covering, while the liability of the thick paper +to crack was an additional difficulty. Not less than twenty men were +required to move it, and they were obliged to use all their skill, and +every precaution, not to destroy it. No balloon had ever given so much +trouble. On the 11th of September the weather improved, and the balloon +was entirely completed and prepared for the first experiment. In the +evening the attempt was made. It was with admiration that the beholders +saw the beautiful machine filling itself in the short space of nine +minutes, swelling out on all sides and showing the full symmetry of its +artistic form. It was firmly held in hand, or it would have risen to a +great height. On the following day the actual ascent was to take place, +and the commissioners of the Academy of Sciences were invited to be +present. In the morning thick clouds covered the horizon, and a tempest +was expected; but as there was an ardent desire that the ascent should +take place without delay, and as all the gearing was in order, it was +resolved to proceed. + +“Fifty pounds of dry straw were fired in parcels under the balloon, and +upon the fire were thrown at intervals several pounds of wool. This fuel +produced in ten minutes such a volume of smoke that the huge balloon was +speedily filled. It rose, with a weight of 500 lbs. holding it down, to +some height above the ground, and had the ropes by which it was attached +to the ground been cut, it would have mounted to a great height. +Meantime the storm broke, rain descended, and the wind blew with great +force. The most likely means of saving the balloon was to let it fly +but as it was to ascend again on another occasion, at Versailles, the +greatest efforts were made to bring it down, and these, together with +the damage caused by the storm, eventually rent it into numberless +fragments and tatters. It withstood the storm for twenty-four hours; +then, however, the paper came peeling off, and this beautiful structure +was a wreck.” + + + +Chapter VII. Fourth Experiment. + +(Versailles, 19th September, 1783, in presence of Louis of XVI.) + +Of course another balloon was wanted for the fete at Versailles. The +king had demanded an ascent for the 19th, a week after the disaster at +the Faubourg St. Antoine. Already the possibility of a man going up with +the balloon was discussed, and people indulged in visions of splendid +aerial trips; but the king would not hear of the proposal. Balloons were +novelties, not offering sufficient security, and he was unwilling that +any of his subjects should risk their lives in attempting the unknown. +He consented, however, to a proposal that animals might be sent up in +the first instance, by way of experiment, suspended in an osier cage +attached to the neck of the balloon. + +Montgolfier at once began a new balloon. A few days only were at his +disposal; but, assisted by friends, he worked with such ardour +and success that he was able, on the date appointed, to produce +a magnificent spherical balloon, much stronger than the former, +constructed of good strong cotton cloth, and painted in distemper. + +It is proper here to remark that the first balloons were much more +elegant in appearance than those afterwards made. The coloured prints +and engravings of the period enable us to form an opinion of the +splendour of their ornamentation and the beauty of their design. +Sometimes the figures painted upon them represented scenes from +the heathen mythology, and sometimes historical scenes; while rich +embroideries, royal insignia, and gaily-coloured draperies added much +to the general effect. The Versailles balloon was painted blue, with +ornaments of gold, and it presented the form of a richly decorated tent. +It was fifty-seven feet in height, and sixty-seven in diameter. + +It was first tried at Paris, and succeeded perfectly. On the morning of +the 19th it was carried to Versailles, where due preparation had been +made for its reception In the great court of the castle a sort of +theatre had been temporarily erected with a scaffolding, covered +throughout with tapestry In the middle was an opening more than fifteen +feet in diameter, in which was spread a banquet for those who had +constructed the balloon. A numerous guard formed a double cordon around +the structure. A raised platform was used for the fire by means of which +the balloon was to be inflated; a covered funnel or chimney of strong +cloth, painted, was suspended over the fire-place, and received the hot +smoke as it arose. Through this funnel the heated air ascended straight +up into the balloon. + +At six in the morning, the road from Paris to Versailles was covered +with carriages. Crowds came from all parts, and at noon the avenues, +the square of the castle, the windows, and even the roofs of the houses, +were crowded with spectators. The noblest, the most illustrious, and +most learned men in France were present, and the splendour of the scene +was complete when their majesties and the royal family entered within +the enclosure, and went forward to inspect the balloon, and to make +themselves familiar with the preparations for the ascent. + +In a short time the fire was lit, the funnel extended over it, and the +smoke rose inside, while the balloon, unfolding, gradually swelled to +its full size, and then, drawing after it the cage, in which a sheep +and some pigeons were enclosed, rose majestically into the air. Without +interreruption, it ascended to a vast height, where, inclining toward +the north, it seemed to remain stationary for a few seconds, showing +all the beauty of its form, and then, as though possessed of life, it +descended gently upon the wood of Vaucresson, 10,200 feet from the point +of its departure. Its highest elevation, as estimated by the astronomers +Le Gentil and M. Jeaurat, Jeaurat, was about 1,700 feet. + + + +Chapter VIII. Men and Balloons. + +It is not natural that the human mind should stop upon the way to the +solution of a problem, especially when it seems to be on the point of +arriving at a satisfactory conclusion to its labours. The osier cage +of Versailles very soon transformed itself into a car, bearing human +passengers, and the age of the “Thousand and One Nights” was expected +to come back again. It was resolved to continue experiments, with the +direct object of finding out whether it was impossible or desperately +dangerous for man to travel in balloons. Montgolfier returned from +Versailles, and constructed a new machine in the gardens of the Faubourg +St. Antoine. It was completed on the 10th of October Its form was oval, +its height 70 feet, its diameter 46 feet and its capacity 60,000 cubic +feet. The upper part, embroidered with fleurs-de-lis, was further +ornamented with the twelve signs of the zodiac, worked in gold. The +middle part bore the monogram of the king, alternating with figures of +the sun, while the lower part was garnished with masks, garlands, and +spread eagles. A circular gallery made of osiers and festooned with +draperies and other ornaments, was attached by a set of cords to the +bottom of the structure. The gallery was three feet wide, and was +protected by a parapet over three feet in height. It did not in any way +interfere with the opening at the neck of the balloon, under which +was suspended a grating of iron wire upon which the occupants of the +gallery, who were to be provided with dried straw and wool, could in +a few minutes kindle a fire and create fresh smoke, when that in the +balloon began to be exhausted. The machine weighed, in all, 1,600 lbs. +The public had previously been warned, in the Journal de Paris de Paris, +that the approaching experiments were to be of a strictly scientific +character; and as they would be only interesting to savants, they would +not afford amusement for the merely curious. This announcement was +necessary, to abate in some degree the excitement of the people until +some satisfactory results should be obtained; it was also necessary for +those engaged in the work, whose firmness of nerve might have suffered +from the enthusiastic cries of excited spectators. On Wednesday, the +15th of October, Pilatre des Roziers, who had on other occasions given +proofs of his intelligence and courage in performing dangerous feats, +and who had already signalised himself in connection with balloons, +offered to go up in the new machine. His offer was accepted; the balloon +was inflated; stout ropes, more than eighty feet long, were attached +to it, and it rose from the ground to the height to which this tackle +allowed it. At this elevation it remained four minutes twenty-five +seconds; and it is not surprising to hear that Roziers suffered no +inconvenience from the ascent. What was really the interesting thing in +this experiment was, that it showed how a balloon would fall when the +hot air became exhausted, this being the point which caused the greatest +amount of disquietude among men of science. In this instance the balloon +fell gently; its form distended at the same time, and, after touching +the ground, it rose again a foot or two, when its human passenger had +jumped out. + +On Friday, the 17th of October, this experiment was repeated, and the +excitement of the public on this occasion was unbounded. “All the world” + came to see. Roziers was again lifted up in the balloon, to the height +of eighty feet; but so strong was the wind, and the strain on the ropes +was so great, that the balloon was somewhat unsteady, and the exhibition +was not on the whole such a splendid success as that of the preceding +Wednesday. + +On Sunday, Montgolfier chose a fine day for the following +ascents:--“First Ascent: On the 19th of October, 1783, at half-past +four, in presence of two thousand spectators, ‘the machine’ was filled +with gas in five minutes, and Roziers, being placed in the gallery with +a counterbalancing weight of 110 lbs. in the other side of the gallery, +was carried up to the height of 200 feet. The machine remained six +minutes at this elevation without any fire in the grating. Second +Ascent: The machine carried Roziers and the counterbalancing +weight--fire being in the grating--to the height of 700 feet. At this +height it remained stationary eight and a half minutes As it was drawn +back, a wind from the east bore it against a tuft of very tall trees in +a neighbouring garden, where it got entangled, without, however, losing +its equilibrium. The gas was renewed by Roziers, and the balloon +again rising, extricated itself from among the branches, and soared +majestically into the air, followed by the acclamations of the public. +This second ascent was very instructive, for it had been often asserted +that if ever a balloon fell upon a forest it would be destroyed, and +would place those who travelled in it in the greatest peril. This +experiment proved that the balloon does not FALL it DESCENDS; that it +does not overturn; that it does not destroy itself on trees; that it +neither causes death, nor even damage, to its passengers; that, on the +contrary, the latter, by making new gas, give it the power of detaching +itself from the trees; and that it can resume its course after such an +event. The intrepid Roziers gave in this ascent a further proof of the +facility he had in descending and ascending at will. When the machine +had risen to the height of 200 feet it began to descend lightly, and +just before it came to the earth the aeronaut very cleverly and quickly +threw on more fuel and produced more smoke, at which the balloon, to +the astonishment of every one, suddenly soared away again to its +former elevation. Third Ascent: The balloon rose again with Roziers, +accompanied this time by another aeronaut, Gerond de Villette; and as +the cords had been lengthened, the adventurers were carried up to the +height of 324 feet. At this elevation the balloon rested in perfect +equilibrium for nine minutes. It was the first time that human beings +had ever been carried to an equal elevation, and the spectators were +astonished to find that they could remain there without danger and +without alarm. The balloon had a superb effect at this elevation; it +looked down upon the whole town, and was seen from all the suburbs. Its +size seemed hardly diminished in the least, though the men themselves +were barely visible. By the aid of glasses, Roziers could be seen calmly +and industriously making new gas. When the balloon descended the two men +declared that they had not experienced the slightest inconvenience from +the elevation. They received the universal applause which their zeal and +courage so well deserved. The Marquis d’Arlandes, a major of infantry, +afterwards went up with Roziers, and this latter experiment was as +successful as the former.” + +Some days after these experiments the conductors of the Journal de Paris +who described them, received a letter from Montgolfier, and also one +from Gerond de Villette. The latter only is of interest here. Gerond +de Villette says: “I found myself in the space of a quarter of a minute +raised 400 feet above the surface of the earth. Here we remained six +minutes. My first employment was to watch with admiration my intelligent +companion. His intelligence, his courage and agility in attending to the +fire, enchanted me. Turning round, I could behold the Boulevards, from +the gate of St. Antoine to that of St. Martin, all covered with people, +who seemed to me a flat band of flowers of various colours. Glancing at +the distance, I beheld the summit of Montmartre, which seemed to me much +below our level. I could easily distinguish Neuilly, St. Cloud, Sevres, +Issy, Ivry, Charenton, and Choisy. At once I was convinced that this +machine, though a somewhat expensive one, might be very useful in war +to enable one to discover the position of the enemy, his manoeuvres, +and his marches; and to announce these by signals to one’s own army. 1 +believe that at sea it is equally possible to make use of this machine. +These prove the usefulness of the balloon, which time will perfect +for us. All that I regret is that I did not provide myself with a +telescope.” + + + +Chapter IX. The First Aerial Voyage--Roziers and Arlandes. + + These experiments had only one aim--the application of + Montgolfier’s discovery to aerial navigation. The knowledge + gained in the Faubourg St. Antoine having led to the most + favourable conclusions, it was resolved that a first aerial + voyage should be attempted. + +“If,” says Linguet, “there existed an autograph journal, written by +Columbus, descriptive of his first great voyage with what jealous care +it would be preserved, with what confidence it would be quoted! We +should delight to follow the candid account which he gave of his +thoughts, his hopes, his fears; of the complaints of his followers, of +his attempts to calm them, and, finally, of his joy in the moment +which, ratifying his word and justifying his boldness, declared him the +discoverer of a new world All these details have been transmitted to us, +but by stranger hands; and, however interesting they may be, one cannot +help feeling that this circumstance makes them lose part of their +value.” + +The narrative of the first aerial voyage, written by one of the two +first aeronauts, exists, and we are in a position to place it before our +readers. Such an enterprise certainly demanded great courage in him who +was the first to dare to confide himself to the unknown currents of the +atmosphere It threatened him with dangers, perhaps with death by a fill, +by fire, by cold, or by straying into the mysterious cloud-land. Two men +opposed the first attempt. Montgolfier temporised, the king forbade it, +or rather only gave his permission on the condition that two condemned +criminals should be placed in the balloon! “What!” cried Roziers, in +indignation at the king’s proposal, “allow two vile criminals to have +the first glory of rising into the sky! No, no; that will never do!” + Roziers conjured, supplicated, agitated in a hundred ways for permission +to try the first voyage. He moved the town and the court; he addressed +himself to those who were most in favour at Versailles; he pleaded with +the Duchess de Polignac, who was all-powerful with the king. She +warmly supported his cause before Louis. Roziers dispatched the Marquis +d’Arlandes, who had been up with him, to the king. Arlandes asserted +that there was no danger, and, as proof of his conviction, he offered +himself to accompany Roziers. Solicited on all sides, Louis at last +yielded. + +The gardens of La Muette, near Paris, were fixed upon as the spot from +which this aerial expedition should start. The Dauphin and his suite +were present on the occasion. It was on the 21st of October, 1783, at +one o’clock p.m., that Roziers and Irelands took their leave of the +earth for the first time. The following is Arlandes’ narrative of the +expedition, given in the form of a letter, addressed by the marquis to +Faujas de Saint Fond:--“You wish, my dear Faujas, and I consent most +willingly to your desires, that, owing to the number of questions +continually addressed to me, and for other reasons, I should gratify +public curiosity and fix public opinion upon the subject of our aerial +voyage. + +“I wish to describe as well as I can the first journey which men have +attempted through an element which, prior to the discovery of MM. +Montgolfier, seemed so little fitted to support them. + +“We went up on the 21st of October, 1783, at near two o’clock, M. +Roziers on the west side of the balloon, I on the east. The wind was +nearly north-west. The machine, say the public, rose with majesty; but +really the position of the balloon altered so that M. Roziers was in the +advance of our position, I in the rear. + +“I was surprised at the silence and the absence of movement which +our departure caused among the spectators, and believed them to be +astonished and perhaps awed at the strange spectacle; they might well +have reassured themselves I was still gazing, when M. Roziers cried to +me-- + +“‘You are doing nothing, and the balloon is scarcely rising a fathom.’ + +“‘Pardon me,’ I answered, as I placed a bundle of straw upon the fire +and slightly stirred it. Then I turned quickly, but already we had +passed out of sight of La Muette. Astonished, I cast a glance towards +the river. I perceived the confluence of the Oise. And naming the +principal bends of the river by the places nearest them, I cried, +‘Passy, St. Germain, St. Denis, Sevres!’ + +“‘If you look at the river in that fashion you will be likely to bathe +in it soon,’ cried Roziers. ‘Some fire, my dear friend, some fire!’ + +“We travelled on; but instead of crossing the river, as our direction +seemed to indicate, we bore towards the Invalides, then returned upon +the principal bed of the river, and travelled to above the barrier of La +Conference, thus dodging about the river, but not crossing it. + +“‘That river is very difficult to cross,’ I remarked to my companion. + +“‘So it seems,’ he answered; ‘but you are doing nothing I suppose it is +because you are braver than I, and don’t fear a tumble.’ + +“I stirred the fire, I seized a truss of straw with my fork; I raised +it and threw it in the midst of the flames. An instant afterwards I felt +myself lifted as it were into the heavens. + +“‘For once we move,’ said I. + +“‘Yes, we move,’ answered my companion. + +“At the same instant I heard from the top of the balloon a sound which +made me believe that it had burst. I watched, yet I saw nothing. +My companion had gone into the interior, no doubt to make some +observations. As my eyes were fixed on the top of the machine I +experienced a shock, and it was the only one I had yet felt. The +direction of the movement was from above downwards I then said-- + +“‘What are you doing? Are you having a dance to yourself?’ + +“‘I’m not moving.’ + +“‘So much the better. It is only a new current which I hope will carry +us from the river,’ I answered. + +“I turned to see where we were, and found we were between the Ecole +Militaire and the Invalides. + +“‘We are getting on.’ said Roziers. + +“‘Yes, we are travelling.’ + +“‘Let us work, let us work,’ said he. + +“I now heard another report in the machine, which I believed was +produced by the cracking of a cord. This new intimation made me +carefully examine the inside of our habitation. I saw that the part that +was turned towards the south was full of holes, of which some were of a +considerable size. + +“‘It must descend,’ I then cried. + +“‘Why?’ + +“‘Look!’ I said. At the same time I took my sponge and quietly +extinguished the little fire that was burning some of the holes within +my reach; but at the same moment I perceived that the bottom of the +cloth was coming away from the circle which surrounded it. + +“‘We must descend,’ I repeated to my companion. + +“He looked below. + +“‘We are upon Paris,’ he said. + +“‘It does not matter,’ I answered ‘Only look! Is there no danger? Are +you holding on well?’ + +“‘Yes.’ + +“I examined from my side, and saw that we had nothing to fear. I then +tried with my sponge the ropes which were within my reach. All of them +held firm. Only two of the cords had broken. + +“I then said, ‘We can cross Paris.’ + +“During this operation we were rapidly getting down to the roofs. We +made more fire, and rose again with the greatest ease. I looked down, +and it seemed to me we were going towards the towers of St. Sulpice; +but, on rising, a new current made us quit this direction and bear more +to the south. I looked to the left, and beheld a wood, which I believed +to be that of Luxembourg. We were traversing the boulevard, and I cried +all at once-- + +“‘Get to ground!’ + +“But the intrepid Roziers, who never lost his head, and who judged more +surely than I, prevented me from attempting to descend. I then threw a +bundle of straw on the fire. We rose again, and another current bore us +to were now close to the ground, between two mills. As soon to the +left. We as we came near the earth I raised myself over the gallery, +and leaning there with my two hands, I felt the balloon pressing softly +against my head. I pushed it back, and leaped down to the ground. +Looking round and expecting to see the balloon still distended, I was +astonished to find it quite empty and flattened. On looking for Roziers +I saw him in his shirt-sleeves creeping out from under the mass of +canvas that had fallen over him. Before attempting to descend he had +put off his coat and placed it in the basket. After a deal of trouble we +were at last all right. + +“As Roziers was without a coat I besought him to go to the nearest +house. On his way thither he encountered the Duke of Chartres, who +had followed us, as we saw, very closely, for I had had the honour of +conversing with him the moment before we set out.” + +The following report of this first aerial voyage was drawn up by +scientific observers, among other signatures to it being that of +Benjamin Franklin. + +“Today 21st of October, 1783, at the Chateau de la Muette, an experiment +was made with the aerostatic machine of M. Montgolfier. The sky was +clouded in many parts, clear in others--the wind north-west. At mid-day +a signal was given, which announced that the balloon was being filled. +Soon after, in spite of the wind, it was inflated in all its parts, and +the ascent was made. The Marquis d’Arlandes and M. Pilatre des Roziers +were in the gallery. The first intention was to raise the machine and +pull it back with ropes, to test it, to find out the exact weight which +it could carry, and to see if everything was properly arranged before +the actual ascent was attempted. But the machine, driven by the wind, +far from rising vertically, was directed upon one of the walks of +a garden, and the cords which held it shook with so much force that +several rents were made in the balloon. The machine, being brought back +to its place, was repaired in less than two hours. Being again inflated, +it rose once more, bearing the same persons, and when it had risen +to the height of 250 feet, the intrepid voyagers, bowing their heads, +saluted the spectators. One could not resist a feeling of mingled fear +and admiration. Soon the aeronauts were lost to view, but the balloon +itself, displaying its very beautiful shape, mounted to the height of +3,000 feet, and still remained visible. The voyagers, satisfied with +their experience, and not wishing to make a longer course, agreed to +descend, but, perceiving that the wind was driving them upon the houses +of the Rue de Sevres, preserved their self-possession, renewed the hot +air, rose anew and continued their course till they had passed Paris. + +“They then descended tranquilly in the country, beyond the new +boulevard, without having experienced the slightest inconvenience, +having still the greater part of their fuel untouched. They could, had +they desired, have cleared a distance three times as great as that which +they traversed. Their flight was nearly 30,000 feet, and the time it +occupied was from twenty to twenty-five minutes. This machine was 70 +feet high, 46 feet in diameter, and had a capacity of 60,000 cubic +feet.” + +It is reported that Franklin, more illustrious in his humility than the +most brilliant among the lords of the court, when consulted respecting +the possible use of balloons, answered simply, “C’est l’enfant qui vient +de naitre?” + + + +Chapter X. The Second Arial Voyage. + +(1st December 1783.--Charles and Robert at the Tuileries.) + +The first ascent of Roziers and Arlandes was a feat of hardihood almost +unique. The men’s courage was, so to speak, their only guarantee. Thanks +to the balloon, however, they accomplished one of the most extraordinary +enterprises ever achieved by our race. + +On the day after the experiment of the Champ de Mars (27th of August), +Professor Charles--who had already acquired celebrity at the Louvre, by +his scientific collection and by his rank as an official instructor--and +the Brothers Robert, mechanicians, were engaged in the construction of +a balloon, to be inflated with hydrogen gas, and destined to carry a car +and one or two passengers. For this ascent Charles may be said to have +created all at once the art of aerostation as now practiced, for he +brought it at one bound to such perfection that since his day scarcely +any advance has been made upon his arrangements. His simple yet complete +invention was that of the valve which gives escape to the hydrogen gas, +and thus renders the descent of the balloon gentle and gradual; the car +that carries the travellers; the ballast of sand, by which the ascent is +regulated and the fall is moderated; the coating of caoutchouc, by means +of which the material of the balloon is rendered airtight and prevents +loss of gas; and, finally, the use of the barometer, which marks at +every instant, by the elevation or the depression of the mercury, the +position in which the aeronaut finds himself in the atmosphere. Charles +created all the contrivances, or, in other words, all the ingenious +precautions which make up the art of aerostation. + +On the 26th of November, the balloon, fitted with its network, and +having the car attached to it, was sent away from the hall of the +Tuileries, where it had been exhibited. The ascent was fixed for the 1st +of December, 1783, a memorable day for the Parisians. + +At noon upon that day, the subscribers, who had paid four louis for +their seats, took their places within the enclosure outside the circle, +in which stood the casks employed for making the gas. The humbler +subscribers, at three francs a-head, occupied the rest of the garden. +The number of spectators, as we read underneath the numerous coloured +prints which represent this spectacle, was 600,000; but though, without +doubt, the gardens of the Tuileries are very large, it is probable this +figure is a considerable overstatement, for this number would have been +three-fourths of the whole population of Paris. + +The roofs and windows of the houses were crowded, whilst the Pont Royal +and the square of Louis XV. were covered by an immense multitude. About +mid-day a rumour was spread to the effect that the king forbade the +ascent. Charles ran to the Chief Minister of State, and plainly told him +that his life was the king’s, but his honour was his own: his word was +pledged to the country and he would ascend. Taking this high ground, +the bold professor gained an unwilling permission to carry out his +undertaking. + +A little afterwards the sound of cannon was heard. This was the signal +which announced the last arrangements and thus dissipated all doubt as +to the rising of the balloon, There had during the day been considerable +disturbance among the crowd, between the partisans of Charles and +Montgolfier; each party extolled its hero, and did everything possible +to detract from the merits of the rival inventor. But whatever +ill-feeling might have existed was swept away by Professor Charles with +a compliment. When he was ready to ascend, he walked up to Montgolfier, +and, with the true instinct of French politeness, presented him with a +little balloon, saying at the same time-- + +“It is for you, monsieur, to show us the way to the skies.” + +The exquisite taste and delicacy of this incident touched the bystanders +as with an electric shock, and the place at once rang out with the most +genuine and hearty applause The little balloon thrown up by Montgolfier +sped away to the north-east, its beautiful emerald colour showing to +fine effect in the sun. + +From this point let us follow the narrative of Professor Charles +himself. + +“The balloon,” he says, “which escaped from the hands of M. Montgolfier, +rose into the air, and seemed to carry with it the testimony of +friendship and regard between that gentleman and myself, while +acclamations followed it. Meanwhile, we hastily prepared for departure. +The stormy weather did not permit us to have at our command all the +arrangements which we had contemplated the previous evening; to do so +would have detained us too long upon the earth. After the balloon and +the car were in equilibrium, we threw over 19 lbs. of ballast, and we +rose in the midst of silence, arising from the emotion and surprise felt +on all sides. + +“Nothing will ever equal that moment of joyous excitement which filled +my whole being when I felt myself flying away from the earth. It was not +mere pleasure; it was perfect bliss. Escaped from the frightful torments +of persecution and of calumny, I felt that I was answering all in rising +above all. + +“To this sentiment succeeded one more lively still--the admiration of +the majestic spectacle that spread itself out before us. On whatever +side we looked, all was glorious; a cloudless sky above, a most +delicious view around. ‘Oh, my friend,’ said I to M. Robert, ‘how great +is our good fortune! I care not what may be the condition of the earth; +it is the sky that is for me now. What serenity! what a ravishing scene! +Would that I could bring here the last of our detractors, and say to the +wretch, Behold what you would have lost had you arrested the progress of +science.’ + +“Whilst we were rising with a progressively increasing speed, we +waved our bannerets in token of our cheerfulness, and in order to give +confidence to those below who took an interest in our fate. M. +Robert made an inventory of our stores; our friends had stocked our +commissariat as for a long voyage--champagne and other wines, garments +of fur and other articles of clothing. + +“‘Good,’ I said; ‘throw that out of the window.’ He took a blanket and +launched it into the air, through which it floated down slowly, and fell +upon the dome of l’Assomption. + +“When the barometer had fallen 26 inches, we ceased to ascend. We were +up at an elevation of 1,800 feet. This was the height to which I had +promised myself to ascend; and, in fact, from this moment to the time +when we disappeared from the eyes of our friends, we always kept a +horizontal course, the barometer registering 26 inches to 26 inches 8 +lines. + +“We required to throw over ballast in proportion as the almost +insensible escape of the hydrogen gas caused us to descend, in order to +remain as nearly as possible at the same elevation. If circumstances had +permitted us to measure the amount of ballast we threw over, our course +would have been almost absolutely horizontal. + +“After remaining for a few moments stationary, our car I changed its +course, and we were carried on at the will of the wind. Soon we passed +the Seine, between St. Ouen and Asnieres. We traversed the river a +second time, leaving Argenteuil upon the left. We passed Sannois, +Franconville, Eau-Bonne, St. Leu-Taverny, Villiers, and finally, Nesles. +This was about twenty-seven miles from Paris, and we had I reached this +distance in two hours, although there was so little wind that the air +scarcely stirred. + +“During the whole course of this delightful voyage, not the slightest +apprehension for our fate or that of our machine entered my head for a +moment. The globe did not suffer any alteration beyond the successive +changes of dilatation and compression, which enabled us to mount and +descend at will. The thermometer was, during more than an hour, between +ten and twelve degrees above zero; this being to some extent accounted +for by the fact that the interior of the car was warmed by the rays of +the sun. + +“At the end of fifty-six minutes, we heard the report of the cannon +which informed us that we had, at that moment, disappeared from view at +Paris. We rejoiced that we had escaped, as we were no longer obliged +to observe a horizontal course, and to regulate the balloon for that +purpose. + +“We gave ourselves up to the contemplation of the views which the +immense stretch of country beneath us presented. From that time, though +we had no opportunity of conversing with the inhabitants, we saw +them running after us from all parts; we heard their cries, their +exclamations of solicitude, and knew their alarm and admiration. + +“We cried, ‘Vive le Roi!’ and the people responded. We heard, very +distinctly--‘My good friends, have you no fear? Are you not sick? How +beautiful it is! Heaven preserve you! Adieu, my friends.’ + +“I was touched to tears by this tender and true interest which our +appearance had called forth. + +“We continued to wave our flags without cessation, and we perceived +that these signals greatly increased the cheerfulness and calmed the +solicitude of the people below. Often we descended sufficiently low to +hear what they shouted to us. They asked us where we came from, and at +what hour we had started. + +“We threw over successively frock-coats, muffs, and habits. Sailing on +above the Ile d’Adam, after having admired the splendid view, we made +signals with our flags, and demanded news of the Prince of Conti. One +cried up to us, in a very powerful voice, that he was at Paris, and +that he was ill. We regretted missing such an opportunity of paying our +respects, for we could have descended into the prince’s gardens, if we +had wished, but we preferred to pursue our course, and we re-ascended. +Finally, we arrived at the plain of Nesles. + +“We saw from the distance groups of peasants, who ran on before us +across the fields. ‘Let us go,’ I said, and we descended towards a vast +meadow. + +“Some shrubs and trees stood round its border. Our car advanced +majestically in a long inclined plane. On arriving near the trees, I +feared that their branches might damage the car, so I threw over two +pounds of ballast, and we rose again. We ran along more than 120 feet, +at a distance of one or two feet from the ground, and had the appearance +of travelling in a sledge. The peasants ran after us without being able +to catch us, like children pursuing a butterfly in the fields. + +“Finally, we stopped, and were instantly surrounded. Nothing could equal +the simple and tender regard of the country people, their admiration, +and their lively emotion. + +“I called at once for the cures and the magistrates. They came round +me on all sides: there was quite a fete on the spot. I prepared a short +report, which the cures and the syndics signed. Then arrived a company +of horsemen at a gallop. These were the Duke of Chartres, the Duke of +Fitzjames, and M. Farrer. By a very singular chance, we had come down +close by the hunting-lodge of the latter. He leaped from his horse and +threw himself into my arms, crying, ‘Monsieur Charles, I was first!’ + +“Charles adds that they were covered with the caresses of the prince, +who embraced both of them. He briefly narrated to the Duke of Chartres +some incidents of the voyage. + +“‘But this is not all, monseigneur. I am going away again,’ added +Charles. + +“‘What! Going away!’ exclaimed the duke. + +“‘Monseigneur, you will see. When do you wish me to come back again?’ I +said. + +“‘In half an hour.’ + +“‘Very well: be it so. In half an hour I shall be with you again.’ + +“M. Robert descended from the car, and I was alone in the balloon. + +“I said to the duke, ‘Monseigneur, I go.’ I said to the peasants who +held down the balloon, ‘My friends, go away, all of you, from the car +at the moment I give the signal.’ I then rose like a bird, and in +ten minutes I was more than 3,000 feet above the ground. I no longer +perceived terrestrial objects; I only saw the great masses of nature. + +“In going away, Charles had taken his precautions against the possible +explosion of the balloon, and made himself ready to make certain +observations. In order to observe the barometer and the thermometer, +placed at different extremities of the car, without endangering the +equilibrium, he sat down in the middle, a watch and paper in his left +hand, a pen and the cord of the safety-valve in his right. + +“I waited for what should happen,” continues he. “The balloon, which +was quite flabby and soft when I ascended, was now taut, and fully +distended. Soon the hydrogen gas began to escape in considerable +quantities by the neck of the balloon, and then, from time to time, I +pulled open the valve to give it two issues at once; and I continued +thus to mount upwards, all the time losing the inflammable air, which, +rushing past me from the neck of the balloon, felt like a warm cloud. + +“I passed in ten minutes from the temperature of spring to that of +winter; the cold was keen and dry, but not insupportable. I examined all +my sensations calmly; _I_ COULD HEAR MYSELF LIVE, so to speak, and I am +certain that at first I experienced nothing disagreeable in this sudden +passage from one temperature to another. + +“When the barometer ceased to move I noted very exactly eighteen inches +ten lines. This observation is perfectly accurate The mercury did not +suffer any sensible movement. + +“At the end of some minutes the cold caught my fingers; I could hardly +hold the pen, but I no longer had need to do so. I was stationary, or +rather moved only in a horizontal direction. + +“I raised myself in the middle of the car, and abandoned myself to the +spectacle before me. At my departure from the meadow the sun had sunk to +the people of the valleys; soon he shone for me alone, and came again to +pour his rays upon the balloon and the car. I was the only creature in +the horizon in sunshine--all the rest of nature was in shade. Ere long, +however, the sun disappeared, and thus I had the pleasure of seeing him +set twice in the same day. I contemplated for some moments the mists and +vapours that rose from the valley and the rivers The clouds seemed to +come forth from the earth, and to accumulate the one upon the other. +Their colour was a monotonous grey--a natural effect, for there was no +light save that of the moon. + +“I observed that I had tacked round twice, and I felt currents which +called me to my senses. I found with surprise the effect of the wind, +and saw the cloth of my flag: extended horizontally. + +“In the midst of the inexpressible pleasure of this state of ecstatic +contemplation, I was recalled to myself by a most extraordinary pain +which I felt in the interior of the ears and in the maxillary glands. +This I attributed to the dilation of the air contained in the cellular +tissue of the organ as much as to the cold outside. I was in my vest, +with my head uncovered. I immediately covered my head with a bonnet of +wool which was at my feet, but the pain only disappeared with my descent +to the ground. + +“It was now seven or eight minutes since I had arrived at this +elevation, and I now commenced to descend. I remembered the promise I +had made to the Duke of Chartres, to return in half an hour. I quickened +my descent by opening the valve from time to time. Soon the balloon, +empty now to one half, presented the appearance of a hemisphere. + +“Arrived at twenty-three fathoms from the earth, I suddenly threw over +two or three pounds of ballast, which arrested my descent, and which I +had carefully kept for this purpose. I then slowly descended upon the +ground, which I had, so to speak, chosen.” + +Such is the narrative of the second aerial voyage. After such a +memorable ascent one is astonished to learn that Professor Charles never +repeated his experiment. It has been said that, in descending from +his car, he had vowed that he would never again expose himself to such +perils, so strong had been the alarm he felt when the peasants ceasing +to hold him down he shot up into the sky with the rapidity of an arrow. +But after him a thousand others have followed the daring example he set. +With this ascent the memorable year 1783 closed, and the seed which had +been sown soon began to be productive. + + + + +PART II. + + + +Chapter I. The History of Aerostation from the Year 1783. + + + The Open Route--Travels and Travellers--Great Increase in + the Number of Air Voyages--Lyons, Ascent of “Le Flesselles-- + Milan, Ascent of Adriani--Flight of a Balloon from London-- + Lost Balloons in the Chief Towns of Europe + +From the year 1783, in which aerostation had its birth, and in which +it was carried to a degree of perfection, beside which the progress +of aeronauts in our days seems small, a new route was opened up for +travellers. The science of Montgolfier, the practical art of Professor +Charles, and the courage of Roziers, subdued the scepticism of those who +had not yet given in their adhesion to the possible value of the great +discovery, and throughout the whole of France a feverish degree of +enthusiasm in the art manifested itself Aerial excursions now became +quite fashionable. Let it be understood that we do not here refer to +ascents in fixed balloons, that is, in balloons which were attached to +the earth by means of ropes more or less long. + +M. Biot narrates that, in his young days, when aeronautic ascents were +less known than they are in these times, there was in the plain of +Grenelle, at the mill of Javelle, an establishment where balloons were +constantly maintained for the accommodation of amateurs of both sexes +who wished to make ascents in what were called “ballons captifs,” or +balloons anchored, so to speak, to the earth by means of long ropes They +were for a considerable time the rage of fashionable society, and it is +not recorded that any accidents resulted from the practice. Of course +it may be easily understood with these safe balloons the adventurous +aeronauts never ascended to any great height. The reader will find this +subject treated under the chapter of military aerostation. + +We are at present specially engaged with the narrative of the first +attempts in aerostation--the first experiments in the new discovery. +We have followed with interest the exciting details of the first +adventurous ascents, in which the genius of man first essayed the +unexplored paths of the heavens. Yet a continued record of aerial +voyages would not be of the same interest. The results of subsequent +expeditions, and the impressions of subsequent aeronauts are the same +as those already described, or differ from them only in minor points. No +important advance is recorded in the art. We shall therefore endeavour +not to confine ourselves to the narrative of a dry and monotonous +chronology, but to select from the number of ascents that have taken +place within the last eighty years, only those whose special character +renders them worthy of more detailed and severe investigation. + +In order to give an idea of the rapid multiplication of aeronautic +experiments, it will suffice to state that the only aeronauts of +1783 are Roziers, the Marquis d’Arlandes, Professor Charles, his +collaborateur the younger Robert, and a carpenter, named Wilcox, who +made ascents at Philadelphia and London. + +A number of balloons were remarkable for the beauty and elegance which +we have already spoken of. Among the most beautiful we may mention the +“Flesselles” balloon and Bagnolet’s balloon. + +Of the ascents which immediately succeeded those that have been treated +in the first part of our volume, and which are the most memorable in +the early annals of aerostation, that of the 17th of January, 1784, is +remarkable. It took place at Lyons. Seven persons went into the car on +this occasion--Joseph Montgolfier, Roziers, the Comte de Laurencin, the +Comte de Dampierre, the Prince Charles de Ligne, the Comte de Laporte +d’Anglifort, and Fontaine, who threw himself into the car when it had +already begun to move. + +A most minute account of this experiment is given in a letter of Mathon +de la Cour, director of the Academy of Sciences at Lyons:--“After the +experiments of the Champ de Mars and Versailles had become known,” + he says, “the citizens of this town proposed to repeat them and a +subscription was opened for this purpose. On the arrival of the elder +Montgolfier, about the end of September, M. de Flesselles, our director, +always zealous in promoting whatever might be for the welfare of the +province and the advancement of science and art, persuaded him to +organise the subscription. The aim of the experiment proposed by +Montgolfier was not the ascent of any human being in the balloon. The +prospectus only announced that a balloon of a much larger size than any +that had been made would ascend--that it would rise to several thousand +feet, and that, including the animals that it was proposed it should +carry, it would weigh 8,000 lbs. The subscription was fixed at L12, and +the number of subscribers was 360.” + +It was on these conditions that Montgolfier commenced his balloon of 126 +feet high and 100 feet in diameter, made of a double envelope of cotton +cloth, with a lining of paper between. A strength and consistency was +given to the structure by means of ribbons and cords. + +The work was nearly finished when Roziers went up in his fire-balloon +from La Muette. Immediately the Comte de Laurencin pressed Montgolfier +to allow him to go up in the new machine. Montgolfier was only too glad +of the opportunity--refused up to this time by the king--of going up +himself. From thirty to forty people made application to go with the +aeronauts; and on the 26th of December, 1678, Roziers, the Comte de +Dampierre, and the Comte de Laporte, arrived in Lyons with the same +intention. Prince Charles also arrived; and as his father had taken one +hundred subscriptions, his claim to go up could not be refused. + +But while the public papers were full of ascents at Avignon, Marseilles, +and Paris, it is impossible to describe the vexation of Roziers, when +he discovered that Montgolfier’s new balloon was not intended to carry +passengers, and had not been, from the first, constructed with that +view. He suggested a number of alterations, which Montgolfier adopted at +once. + +On the 7th of January, 1784, all the pieces of which the balloon was +composed were carried out to the field called Les Brotteaux, outside the +town, from which the ascent was to be made. This event was announced to +take place on the 10th and at five o’clock on the morning of that day; +but unexpected delays occurred, and in the necessary operations the +covering was torn in many places. + +On the 15th the balloon was inflated in seventeen minutes, and the +gallery was attached in an hour--the fire from which the heated air was +obtained requiring to be fed at the rate of 5 lbs. of alder-wood per +minute; but the preparations had occupied so much time, that it was +found, when everything was complete, that the afternoon was too far +advanced for the ascent to be made. This machine was destined to suffer +from endless misfortunes. It took fire while being inflated, and, +several days afterwards, it was damaged by snow and rain. Put nothing +discouraged Roziers and his companions. Places had been arranged in the +gallery for six persons. After the balloon was at last inflated, +Prince Charles and the Comes de Laurencin, Dampierre, and Laporte threw +themselves into the gallery. They were all armed, and were determined +not to quit their places to whoever might come. Roziers, who wished at +the last to enjoy a high ascent, proposed to reduce the number to three, +and to draw lots for the purpose. But the gentlemen would not descend. +The debate became animated. The four voyagers cried to cut the ropes. +The director of the Academy, to whom application was made in this +emergency, admiring the resolution and the courage of the four +gentlemen, wished to satisfy them in their desire. Accordingly the ropes +were cut; but at that moment M. Montgolfier and Roziers threw themselves +into the gallery. At the same time a certain M. Fontaine, who had +had much to do in the construction of the machine, threw himself in, +although it had not previously been arranged that he should be of the +party. His boldness in jumping in was pardoned, on the ground of his +services and his zeal. + +In going away the machine turned to the south-west, and bent a little. +A rope which dragged along the ground seemed to retard its ascent; but +some intelligent person having cut this with a hatchet, it began to +right itself and ascend. At a certain height it turned to the north +east. The wind was feeble, and the progress was slow, but the imposing +effect was indescribable. The immense machine rose into the air as by +some effect of magic. Nearly 100,000 spectators were present, and they +were greatly excited at the view. They clapped their hands and stretched +their arms towards the sky; women fainted away, or (for some reasons +best known to themselves) found relief for their excitement in tears; +while the men, uttering cries of joy, waved their handkerchiefs, and +threw their hats into the air. + +The form of the machine was that of a globe, rising from a reversed and +truncated cone, to which the gallery was attached. The upper part was +white, the lower part grey; and the cone was composed of strips of stuff +of different colours. On the sides of the balloon were two paintings, +one of which represented History, the other Fame. The flag bore the arms +of the director of the Academy, and above it were inscribed the words +“Le Flesselles.” + +The voyagers observed that they did not consume a fourth of the quantity +of combustibles after they had risen into the air, which they consumed +when attached to the earth. They were in the gayest humour, and they +calculated that the fuel they had would keep them floating till late +in the evening. Unfortunately, however, after throwing more wood on the +fire, in order to get up to a greater altitude, it was discovered that +a rent had been made in the covering, caused by the fire by which the +balloon had been damaged two or three days previously. The rent was four +feet in length; and as the heated air escaped very rapidly by it, the +balloon fell, after having sailed above the earth for barely fifteen +minutes. + +The descent only occupied two or three minutes, and yet the shock was +supportable. It was observed that as soon as the machine had touched the +earth all the cloth became unfolded in a few seconds, which seemed to +confirm the opinion of Montgolfier, who believed that electricity had +much to do in the ascent of balloons. The voyagers were got out of the +balloon without accident, and were greeted with the most enthusiastic +applause. + +On the day of the ascent, the opera of “Iphigenia in Aulis” was given, +and the theatre was thronged by a vast assemblage, attracted thither +in the hope of seeing the illustrious experimentalists. The curtain had +risen when M. and Madame de Flesselles entered their box, accompanied +by Montgolfier and Roziers. At sight of them the enthusiasm of the house +rose to fever pitch. The other voyagers also entered, and were greeted +with the same demonstrations. Cries arose from the pit to begin the +opera again, in honour of the visitors. The curtain then fell, and when +it again rose, after a few moments, the actor who filled the role of +Agamemnon advanced with crowns, which he handed to Madame de Flesselles, +who distributed them to the aeronauts. Roziers placed the crown that had +been given to him upon Montgolfier’s head. + +When the actress who played the part of Clytemnestra, sung the passage +beginning-- + +“I love to see these flattering honours paid.” + +The audience at once applied her song to the circumstances, and +re-demanded it, which request the actress complied with, addressing +herself to the box in which the distinguished visitors sat. The +demonstrations of admiration were continued after the opera was over; +and during the whole of the night the gentlemen of the balloon ascent +were serenaded. + +Two days afterwards, Roziers having appeared at a ball, received further +proofs of admiration and honours; and when, on the 22nd of January, he +departed for Dijon on his return to Paris, he was accompanied as in a +triumph by a numerous cavalcade of the most distinguished young men of +the city. + +There was, however, at Paris, much discontent with the ascent of +“Le Flesselles;” and the Journal de Paris de Paris, which notices so +enthusiastically the other ascents of that epoch, speaks slightingly of +that at Lyons. + +The next great ascent took place at Milan, on the 25th of February, +1784, under the direction of the Chevalier Paul Andriani, who had a +balloon constructed by the Brothers Gerli, at his own expense. We read +that this balloon was 66 feet in diameter, and that the envelope was +composed of cloth, lined in the interior with fine paper. + +The balloon was not in all respects constructed like that which rose at +Lyons. The grating which supported the fire that kept up the supply of +hot air was placed at the mouth of the opening. It was made of copper, +was six feet in diameter, and was secured by a number of transverse +beams of wood. M. Andriani thought it best to place his fire--contrary +to general usage--a little way above the mouth of the opening, and he +found out that the activity of the fire was in proportion with that of +the air which entered and fed it. + +In place of making use of a gallery like that employed by Montgolfier, +as much to manage the fire as to carry the traveller and the fuel, he +substituted a wide basket, suspended by cords to the edge of the opening +of the balloon, at such a distance that fuel could be thrown on with the +hand without being inconvenienced by the heat. + +Everything being in readiness, the machine was carried to Moncuco, the +splendid domain of Andriani, where the first experiments were made; for +this gentlemen knew that as the populace are impatient, they are also +often un-reasonable, and jump to the hastiest and most inconsiderate +conclusion when, in witnessing scientific experiments, any of the +arrangements happen to be imperfect, and the results in any respect +prove unsuccessful. + +Andriani did not deceive himself, for, sure enough, his first attempt +did not come up to expectation. The reasons for this failure were the +too great quantity of air which the fire drew in, and the unsuitable +character of the fuel used. + +On the 25th of February, 1784, a second attempt was made. The fire was +lighted under the machine, at first with dry birch-wood and afterwards +with a bituminous composition, ingeniously concocted by one of the +Brothers Gerli. In less than four minutes the balloon was completely +inflated, and the men employed to hold it down with ropes perceived that +it was on the point of rising. The aeronauts then gave the order to +let go. Scarcely was the balloon let off, when it gently rose a short +distance, and then flew in a horizontal direction towards a palace in +the neighbourhood. In order that the structure should not be destroyed +on the walls and the roof of the palace, the voyagers heaped on the +fuel, and the spectators, who had gathered together from the surrounding +villages, then saw this strange vessel of the air rising with rapidity +to a surprising height. Such a phenomenon was so astonishing, that those +who beheld it could hardly believe their own eyes; and when the balloon +disappeared from view, the delight they had manifested was dashed with +fear for the fate of the bold aeronauts. The latter, seeing that the +balloon was driving through the air towards a range of rocky hills in +the neighbourhood, and perceiving, on the other hand, that their stock +of combustibles was nearly exhausted, judged it prudent to descend. They +diminished their fire, and came gradually down, warning the multitude +below of their intention by means of a speaking-trumpet. + +In the course of the descent the balloon alighted upon a large tree, to +the great peril of the travellers; but as soon as the fire was increased +it again mounted and got clear from the branches while the people below, +grasping the cords that were hung out to them, guided the machine to the +spot which the voyagers indicated. To descend to terra firma was then +a comparatively easy matter, and it was safely accomplished. The fire, +which in the case of the French balloons had dried, calcined, and almost +consumed the upper part of the balloon, had no evil effect upon that of +Andriani, which came down looking as fresh as if it had never been used. + +The new idea had now passed the frontiers of France, in which it was +originally conceived, and among the other nations, as at first in +France, the power of the inflated balloon came to be tested everywhere +by the construction of small toy globes. + +It was just about five months after the first experiment at +Annonay--viz., on the 25th of November, 1783--that the first balloon +ascended in London. We are informed, in the History of Aerostation by +Tiberius Cavallo, that an Italian, Count Zambeccari, who was staying in +the English capital, made a balloon of silk, covered with a varnish of +oil. Its diameter was ten feet, and its weight eleven pounds. It was +gilded for the double purpose of enhancing its appearance and preventing +the escape of air. After having been exposed to public inspection for +several days, it was filled three parts full of hydrogen gas, a tin +bottle was suspended from it, containing an address to whoever might +find it when it should fall, and it was let off from the Artillery +Ground, in presence of a vast assembly. + +On the 11th of December, 1783, a little balloon, made of gold-beaters’ +skin, was let off publicly at Turin. This was an experiment similar to +that which had been tried at Paris in September. The balloon was seen +to penetrate the clouds, then to mount still higher, and finally to +disappear entirely in five minutes fifty-four seconds from the time when +it was set free. + +It was natural, after the experiments made long before with electric +paper kites, to employ the balloon in the investigation of the electric +conditions of the atmosphere. The first to use it for this purpose was +the Abbe Berthelon de Montpellier. He sent up a number of balloons, to +which he had attached pieces of metal, long and narrow, and terminating +in a cylinder of glass, or other substance suitable for the purpose +of isolation, and he obtained sufficient electricity by these means +to demonstrate the phenomena of attraction and repulsion, as well as +electric sparks. + +Cavallo mentions an accident which took place in England about this +time, and which served as a warning to all who had to do with balloons +filled with hydrogen gas. A balloon thus inflated had been sent up +at Hopton, near Matlock, and was found by two men near Cheadle, in +Staffordshire. These ingenious persons carried it within doors, and +having wished to fully inflate it--half the gas having by this time +escaped--they applied a pair of bellows to its mouth. By this means they +only forced out the volume of the hydrogen gas that was left; and this +gas, coming in contact with a candle that had been placed too near, +exploded. The report was louder than that of a cannon, and so powerful +was the shock that the men were thrown down, the glass blown out of the +windows, and the house otherwise damaged. The men suffered severely, +their hair, beards, and eyebrows being completely burnt away, and their +faces severely scorched. + +At Grenoble, in Dauphine, De Baron let off a balloon on the 13th of +January, 1784. It rose, and at first took a northern direction; +but, having encountered a current of air, it was carried away in a +south-easterly direction, and after flying a distance of three-quarters +of a mile, it fell, having traversed this distance in fifteen minutes. + +A society, under the presidency of the Abbe de Mably, having constructed +a balloon thirty-seven feet high and twenty feet in diameter, sent it +off from the court of the Castle of Pisancon, near Romano, on the same +day, the 13th of February. At first it was carried to the south by +a strong north wind, but after it had risen to 1,000 feet above the +surface, its course was changed towards the north. It was calculated +that, in less than five minutes, this balloon rose to the height of +6,000 feet. + +On the 16th of the same month the Count d’Albon threw off from his +gardens at Franconville a balloon inflated with gas, and made of silk, +rendered air-tight by a solution of gum-arabic. It was oblong, and +measured twenty-five feet in height, and seventeen feet in diameter. +To this balloon a cage, containing two guinea-pigs and a rabbit, +was suspended. The cords were cut, and the inflated globe rose to an +enormous height with the greatest rapidity. Five days afterwards it was +found at the distance of eighteen miles, and it is remarkable that, in +spite of the cold of the season, and particularly of the elevated region +through which the balloon had been passing, the animals were not only +living, but in good condition. + +On the 3rd of February, 1784, the Marquis de Bullion sent up a paper +balloon, of about fifteen feet in diameter. A flat sponge, about a foot +square, placed in a tin dish and drenched with a pint of spirits of +wine, was the only apparatus made use of to create a supply of heated +air. It rose at Paris, and three hours afterwards it was found near +Basville, about thirty miles from the capital. + +On the 15th of the same month Cellard de Chastelais sent up a paper +balloon. Heated air was supplied on this occasion by a paper roll, +enclosing a sponge, and soaked in oil, spirits of wine, and grease. +A cage, which contained a cat, was attached to this air globe. In +thirty-five minutes it had mounted so high that it looked but like the +smallest star, and in two hours it had flown a distance of forty-six +miles from the place where it was thrown off. The cat was dead, but it +was not discovered from what cause. + +The first balloon that traversed the English channel was sent off at +Sandwich, in Kent, on the 22nd of February, 1784. It was five feet in +diameter, and was inflated with hydrogen gas. It rose rapidly, and was +carried toward France by a north-west wind. Two hours and a half after +it had been let off it was found in a field about nine miles from Lille. +The balloon carried a letter, instructing the finder of the balloon to +communicate with William Boys, Esq., Sandwich, and to state where and at +what time it was found. This request was complied with. + +On the 19th of February a similar balloon, five feet in diameter, was +sent up from Queen’s College, Oxford. It was spherical, and was made of +Persian silk, coated with varnish. It was the first balloon sent up from +that city. + +De Saussure makes mention, in a letter dated from Geneva, the 26th +of March, 1784, of certain experiments made in that town with the +electricity of the atmosphere by means of fixed balloons--i.e., balloons +attached to the earth by ropes, which gave forth sparks and positive +electricity. + +Mention is also made of a certain M. Argand, of Geneva, who had the +honour of making balloon experiments at Windsor in the presence of King +George III., Queen Charlotte, and the royal family. About this time +(1784) balloons became “the fashion,” and frequent instances occur of +their being raised by day and night, by means of spirit-lamps, to the +great delight of multitudes of spectators. + +A letter from Watt to Dr. Lind, of Windsor, dated from Birmingham, 25th +December, 1784, narrates an experiment made the summer preceding with +a balloon inflated with hydrogen. The balloon was made of fine paper +covered with a varnish of oil and filled two-thirds with hydrogen gas, +and one-third common air. To the neck of the balloon was attached a sort +of squib two feet long, the fuse of which was ignited when the balloon +was inflated. The night was calm and dark, and a great multitude was +assembled to witness the ascent, which was accomplished with a success +that gave delight to all; for, at the end of six minutes the fuse +communicated with the squib, and the explosion was like the sound of +thunder. The men who saw it from a distance, but were not present at +its ascent, took it for a meteor. “Our intention,” says Watt, “was, if +possible, to discover whether the reverberating sound of thunder was +due to echoes or to successive explosions. The sound occasioned by the +detonation of the hydrogen gas of the balloon in this experiment, does +not enable us to form a definite judgment; all that we can do is to +refer to those who were near the balloon, and-who affirm that the sound +was like that of thunder.” + + + +Chapter II. Experiments and Studies--Blanchard at Paris--Guyton de +Morveau at Dijon. + +The most popular name in aerostation during the Revolution and the +Consulate in France is, without doubt, that of Blanchard. We have +already referred to him in the chapter which treats of experiments made +prior to the discovery of Montgolfier, and we now have to speak of his +famous ascent from the Champ de Mars, on the 2nd of March 1784, and of +the ascents which followed. + +We have seen that he constructed a sort of flying boat, a machine +furnished with oars and rigging, with which he managed to sustain +himself some moments in the air at the height of eighty feet. This +curious machine was exhibited in 1782 in the gardens of the great +hotel of the Rue Taranne. But a little time afterwards Montgolfier’s +discoveries quite altered the conditions under which the aerostatic art +was to be pursued. It had no sooner become known than it became public +property. The idea was too simple in its grandeur, and was of too easy +a kind not to call up a host of imitators. Of these Blanchard was one +of the first; but this mechanician was anxious to incorporate his own +invention with that of Montgolfier, and he arranged that on the 2nd +of March, 1784, he should make an ascent in what he still called his +“flying vessel,” which he furnished with four wings. + +Blanchard and his companion, Pesch, a Benedictine priest, were prevented +from going up in the balloon, as represented in our illustration, which +was drawn before the event it was intended to commemorate. A certain +Dupont de Chambon persisted in accompanying the voyagers. Pushed back by +them, he drew his sword, leaped into the car or boat, wounded Blanchard, +cut the rigging, and broke the oars or wings. The aeronaut was +consequently compelled to have his machine partly re-fitted in great +haste, and in the course of a few hours he made the ascent alone in the +usual way. Blanchard should have known the uselessness of oars, though +he did not abandon their employment in subsequent ascents. The Brothers +Montgolfier had dreamed of the employment of oars as a means of +guidance, but had ultimately rejected the idea. Joseph wrote to his +brother Etienne, about the end of the year 1783: + +“For my sake, my good friend, reflect; calculate well before you employ +oars. Oars must either be great or small; if great, they will be heavy; +if small, it will be necessary to move them with great rapidity. I +know no sufficient means of guidance, except in the knowledge of the +different currents of air, of which it is necessary to make a study; and +these are generally regulated by the elevation.” The two brothers often +recurred to this idea. + +The pictures of the first ascent of Blanchard from the Champ de Mars on +the 2nd of March, 1784, in the presence of a vast multitude, show us the +oars and the mechanism of his flying-machine fitted to a balloon. The +design which we here give seems to us deserving of being considered only +as one of the caricatures of the time, especially when we look at +the personage dressed in the fool’s head-gear, who sits behind and +accompanies the triumphant ascent of the aeronaut with music. + +It was not with this apparatus that Blanchard effected his ascent, for +we have seen that the gearing of his vessel was broken by the infuriated +Dupont de Chambon. Yet the aeronaut pretends to have been, to some +extent, assisted by his mechanical contrivances. The following is his +narrative:-- + +“I rose to a certain height over Plassy, and perceiving Villette, +which I did not despair of reaching in spite of the misfortune that had +happened to me, I attached a rope of my rigging to my leg, not being +able to make use of my left hand, which I had wrapped in my handkerchief +on account of the sword-wound it had received. I fixed up a piece of +cloth, and thus made a sort of sail with which I hugged the wind. But +the rays of the sun had so heated and rarefied the inflammable air +that soon I forgot my rigging in thinking of the terrible danger that +threatened me.” + +Going on to narrate the dangers that beset him, Blanchard describes a +number of most extraordinary experiences, which would be better worthy +of a place here if they were more like the truth. His curious narrative +is thus brought to a close:-- + +“Escaped from these impetuous and contrary winds, during which I had +felt a great degree of cold, I mounted perpendicularly. The cold became +excessive. Being hungry I ate a morsel of cake. I wished to drink, but +in searching the car nothing was to be seen but the debris of bottles +and glasses, which my assailant had left behind him when we were about +to depart. Afterwards all was so calm that nothing could be seen or +heard. The silence became appalling, and to add to my alarm I began to +lose consciousness. I now wished to take snuff, but found I had left my +box behind me. I changed my seat many times; I went from prow to stern, +but the drowsiness only ceased to assail me when I was struck by two +furious winds, which compressed my balloon to such an extent that its +size became sensibly diminished to the eye. I was not sorry when I began +to descend rapidly upon the river, which at first seemed to me a white +thread, afterwards a ribbon, and then a piece of cloth. As I followed +the course of the river, the fear that I should have to descend into +it, made me agitate the oars very rapidly. I believe that it is to these +movements that I owe my being able to cross the river transversely, and +get above dry land. When I saw myself upon the plain of Billancourt, I +recognised the bridge of Sevres, and the road to Versailles. I was then +about as high as the towers above the plain, and I could hear the words +and the cries of joy of the people who were following me below. At +length I came to a plain about 200 feet in extent. The people then +assisted me and brought my vessel to anchor. Immediately I was +surrounded by gentlemen and foot passengers who had run together from +all parts.” + +This voyage lasted one hour and a quarter. The most important incident +of it was that the balloon was very nearly burst by the expansion of the +hydrogen gas. No balloon, as we have already seen, should be entirely +inflated at the beginning of a journey. Blanchard had a narrow escape +from being the victim of his ignorance of physics, and it is a wonder +he was not left to the mercy of fate in a burst balloon, at several +thousand feet above the earth. + +Biot, the savant, who had watched the experiment, declared that +Blanchard did not stir himself, and that the variations of his course +are alone to be attributed to the currents of air that he encountered. +As he had inscribed upon his flags, his balloons, and his entrance +tickets, from which he realised a considerable sum, the ambitious +legend, Sic itur ad astra, the following epigram was produced respecting +him:-- + + From the Field of Mars he took his flight: + In a field close by he tumbled; + But our money having taken + He smiled though sadly shaken, + As Sic itur ad astra he mumbled. + +What is most important to examine in each of the great aerial voyages +that have been made, is the special character which distinguishes them +from average experiments. All our great voyages are rendered special +and particular by the ideas of the men who undertook them, and the aims +which they severally meant to achieve by them. The early ascents of +Montgolfier had for their aim the establishment of the fact that any +body lighter than the volume of air which it displaces will rise in the +atmosphere; those of Roziers were undertaken to prove that man can apply +this principle for the purpose of making actual aerial voyages; those +of Robertson, Gay-Lussac, &c., were undertaken for the purpose of +ascertaining certain meteorological phenomena; those of Conte Coutelle +applied aerostation to military uses. A considerable number were made +with the view of organising a system of aerial navigation analogous +to that of the sea-steerage in a certain direction by means of oars or +sails--in a word, to investigate the possibility of sailing through +the air to any point fixed upon. It was with this object that the +experiments at Dijon took place, and these were the most serious +attempts down to our times that have been made to steer balloons. + +At the middle of the globe of the balloon were placed four oars, two +sails, and a helm and these were under the management of the voyagers, +who sat in the car and worked them by means of ropes. The car was also +furnished with oars. The report of Guyton de Morveau to the Academy at +Dijon informs us that these different paraphernalia were not altogether +useless. The following extracts are from this report:-- + +“The very strong wind which arose immediately before our departure, had +driven us down to tee ground many times, making us fear for the safety +of our oars, &c., when we resolved to throw over as much ballast as +would enable us to rise against the wind. The ballast, including from 70 +to 80 lbs. of provisions, was thrown over, and then we rose so rapidly +that all the objects around were instantly passed and were very soon +lost to view. The swelling form of our balloon told us that the gas +inside had expanded under the heat of the sun and the lessening density +of the surrounding air. We opened the two valves, but even this outlet +was insufficient, and we had to cut a hole about seven or eight inches +long in the lower part of the balloon, through which the gas might +escape. At five minutes past five we passed above a village which we did +not know, and here we let fall a bag filled with bran, and carrying with +it a flag and a written message to the effect that we were all well, and +that the barometer was recording 20 inches 9 lines, and the thermometer +one degree and a half below zero.” + +Very keen cold attacked the ears, but this was the only inconvenience +experienced, until the voyagers were lost in a sea of clouds that shut +them out from the view of the earth. The sun at length began to descend, +and they then perceived, by a slackening in the lower part of the +balloon, that it was time for them to think of returning to the earth. +Judging from the compass that they were not far from the town of +Auxonne, they resolved to use all their endeavours to reach that place. +The sailing appliances had been considerably damaged by the rough +weather at starting. The rigging being disarranged, one of the oars had +got broken, another had become entangled in the rigging, so that there +remained only two of the four oars, and these, being on the same side, +were absolutely useless during the greatest part of the voyage. The +adventurers, however, assert that they made them work from eight to +nine minutes with the greatest ease, making use of them to tack to the +south-east. + +“We hoped then to be able to descend near where we judged Auxonne to +be,” the writer continues, “but we lost much gas by the opening in +the balloon, and descended more rapidly than we expected or wished. We +looked to our small stock of ballast with anxiety, but there was no need +of it, and we came very softly down upon a slope.” + +When the aeronauts arrived at Magny-les-Auxonne, the inhabitants gazed +upon them in terror, and two men and three women fell down on their +knees before them. + +Here is an extract from the report of the experiment of the 12th of +June, the principal object of which was the attempt to discover the +means of steering in a certain direction:-- + +“M. de Verley and myself mounted in the balloon,” says Guyton +de Morveau, “at seven o’clock. We rose rapidly and in an almost +perpendicular direction. The fall of the mercury in the barometer +was scarcely perceptible when the dilation of the hydrogen gas in the +balloon had become considerable. The globe swelled out, and a light +vapour around the mouth announced to us that the gas was commencing +to escape by the safety-valve. We assisted its escape by pulling the +valve-string. + +“Having reduced the dilation sufficiently for our purposes, we resolved +to attempt the working of the balloon before the whole town and to turn +it from the east to the north. We saw with pleasure that our machinery +answered By the working of the helm, the prow of our air-boat was +turned in the direction we desired. The oars, working only on one side, +supported the helm, and altogether we got on as we wished. We described +a curve, crossing the road from Dijon to Langres. The mercury had +descended to 24 inches 8 lines, which announced that we were gradually +rising. We attempted for some time to follow the route to I Langres, but +the wind drove us off our course in spite of all our efforts. At nine +o’clock our barometer informed us that we had ascended to the height of +6,000 feet. M. de Verley took advantage of this elevation to put some +touch wood to a burning-glass 18 lines in diameter, and the touch wood +lighted immediately.” + +The aeronauts decided to direct their course for Dijon. After re-setting +the helm with this intention, they worked their oars, and proceeded in +that direction more than 1,000 feet. But heat and fatigue obliged them +to suspend their endeavours, and the current drove them upon Mirebeau, +where, throwing out the last of their ballast and regulating their +descent, they came softly down upon a corn-field. + +The adventurers were cordially welcomed by the ecclesiastics and the +magistrates of the place, and after a time they, with their balloon, +were carried back on men’s shoulders to Dijon. + + + +Chapter III. + + Experiment in Montgolfiers--Roziers and Proust--The Duke of + Chartres--The Comte d’Artois--Voyage of the Abbe Carnus to + Rodez. + +The longest course travelled by Montgolfiere balloons, and the highest +elevation reached by them, were achieved by Roziers and Proust with the +Montgolfiere la Marie Antoinette, at Versailles, on the 23rd of June, +1784. Roziers himself has left us a picturesque narrative of this +excursion from Versailles to Compiegne. He says:-- + +“The Montgolfiere rose at first very gently in a diagonal line, +presenting an imposing spectacle. Like a vessel which has just been +precipitated from the stocks, this astonishing machine hung balanced +in the air for some time, and seemed to have got beyond human control. +These irregular movements intimidated a portion of the spectators, who, +fearing that, should there be a fall, their lives would be in danger, +scattered away with great speed from under us. After having fed my fire, +I saluted the people, who answered me in the most cordial manner. I +had time to remark some faces, in which there was a mixed expression +of apprehension and joy. In continuing our upward progress, I perceived +that an upper current of air made the Montgolfiere bend, but on +increasing the heat, we rose above the current. The size of objects on +the earth now began perceptibly to diminish, which gave us an idea of +the distance at which we were from them. It was then that we became +visible to Paris and its suburbs, and so great was our elevation that +many in the capital thought we were directly over their heads. + +“When we had arrived among the clouds, the earth disappeared from our +view. Now a thick mist would envelop us, then a clear space showed us +where we were, and again we rose through a mass of snow, portions of +which stuck to our gallery. Curious to know how high we could ascend, we +resolved to increase our fire and raise the heat to the highest degree, +by raising our grating, and holding up our fagots suspended on the ends +of our forks. + +“Having gained these snowy elevations, and not being able to mount +higher, we wandered about for some time in regions which we felt were +now visited by man for the first time. Isolated and separated entirely +from nature, we perceived beneath us only enormous masses of snow, +which, reflecting the sunshine, filled the firmament with a glorious +light. We remained eight minutes at this elevation, 11,732 feet above +the earth. This situation, however agreeable it might have been to the +painter or the poet, promised little to the man of science in the way +of acquiring knowledge; and so we determined, eighteen minutes after our +departure, to return through the clouds to the earth. We had hardly left +this snowy abyss, when the most pleasant scene succeeded the most +dreary one. The broad plains appeared before our view in all their +magnificence. No snow, no clouds were now to be seen, except around the +horizon, where a few clouds seemed to rest on the earth. We passed in a +minute from winter to spring. We saw the immeasurable earth covered +with towns and villages, which at that distance appeared only so many +isolated mansions surrounded with gardens. The rivers which wound about +in all directions seemed no more than rills for the adornment of these +mansions; the largest forests looked mere clumps or groves, and the +meadows and broad fields seemed no more than garden plots. These +marvellous tableaux, which no painter could render, reminded us of the +fairy metamorphoses; only with this difference, that we were beholding +upon a mighty scale what imagination could only picture in little. It is +in such a situation that the soul rises to the loftiest height, that the +thoughts are exalted and succeed each other with the greatest rapidity. +Travelling at this elevation, our fire did not demand continual +attention, and we could easily walk about the gallery. We were as much +at peace upon our lofty balcony as we should have been upon the terrace +of a mansion, enjoying all the pictures which unrolled themselves before +us continually, without experiencing any of the giddiness which has +disturbed so many persons. Having broken my fork in my exertions to +raise the balloon, I went to obtain another one. On my way to get it, I +encountered my companion, M. Proust. We ought never to have been on +the same side of the balloon, for a capsize and the escape of all our +hydrogen gas might have been the result. As it was, so well was the +machine ballasted, that the only effect of our being on the one side +made the balloon incline a little in that direction. The winds, although +very considerable, caused us no uneasiness, and we only knew the +swiftness of our progress through the air by the rapidity with which the +villages seemed to fly away from under our feet; so that it seemed, from +the tranquillity with which we moved, that we were borne along by the +diurnal movement of the globe. Often we wished to descend, in order +to learn what the people were crying to us the simplicity of our +arrangements enabled us to rise, to descend, to move in horizontal or +oblique lines, as we pleased and as often as we considered necessary, +without altogether landing.” + +When they came to Luzarche, the delighted aeronauts resolved to land. +Already the people were testifying their pleasure at seeing them. Men +came running together from all directions, while all the animals rushed +away with equal precipitation, no doubt taking the balloon for some +wild beast. Finding that their course would lead them straight against +certain houses, the aeronauts again increased their fire, and, slightly +rising, escaped the buildings that had been in their way. Shortly +afterwards they safely landed forty miles from the spot from which they +had started. + +It was not only the man of science or the mechanician that devoted +himself to the task of taking possession of the new empire, but the +nobles gave their hands to the aeronauts, and humbly asked the favour of +an ascent. The king had addressed letters to the Brothers Montgolfier, +and the marvellous invention had become an affair of state. The princes +of the blood and the nobles of the court considered it an honour to +count among the number of their friends a celebrated aeronaut. + +The Count d’Artois, afterwards Charles X., and the Duke de Chartres, +father of Louis Philippe, made experiments in aerial navigation. The +chemists Alban and Vallet made a magnificent balloon for the Count, who +went up many times in it, with several persons of all ranks. + +Already at St. Cloud, the Duke of Chartres, afterwards Philippe Egalite, +had, on the 15th of July, 1784, made, with the Brothers Robert, an +ascent which put their courage to terrible tests. The hydrogen gas +balloon was oblong, sixty feet high and forty feet in diameter, and +it had been constructed upon a plan supplied by Meunier. In order to +obviate the use of the valve, he had placed inside the balloon a smaller +globe, filled with ordinary air. This was done on the supposition that, +when the balloon rose high, the hydrogen being rarefied would compress +the little globe within, and press out of it a quantity of ordinary air +equal to the amount of its dilation. + +At eight o’clock, the Brothers Robert--Collin and Hullin--and the Duke +of Chartres, ascended in presence of an immense multitude. The nearest +ranks kneeled down to allow those behind to have a view of the departure +of the balloon, which disappeared among the clouds amid the acclamations +of the prostrate multitude. The machine, obedient to the stormy and +contrary winds which it met, turned several times completely round. The +helm, which had been fitted to the machine, and the two oars, gave such +a purchase to the winds that the voyagers, already surrounded by the +clouds, cut them away. But the oscillations continued, and the little +globe inside not being suspended with cords, fell down in such an +unfortunate manner as to close up the opening of the large balloon, by +means of which provision had been made for the egress of the gas now +dilated by the heat of the sun, which poured down its rays, a sudden +gust having cleared the space of the clouds. It was feared that the case +of the balloon would crack, and the whole thing collapse, in spite of +the efforts of the aeronauts to push back the smaller balloon from the +opening. Then the Duke of Chartres seized one of the flags they carried, +and with the lance-head pierced the balloon in two places. A rent of +about nine feet was the consequence, and the balloon began to descend +with amazing rapidity. They would have fallen into a lake had they not +thrown over 60 lbs. of ballast, which caused them to rise a little, and +pass over to the shore, where they got safely to the earth. + +The expedition lasted only a few minutes. The Duke of Chartres was +rallied by his enemies, who accused him of cowardice; and Monjoie, his +historian, making allusion to the combat of Ouessant, says that he had +given proofs of his cowardice in the three elements--earth, air, and +water. + +M. Gray, professor at the seminary of Rodez, presented us some years ago +with the following letter from the Abbe Carnus, upon the aerial voyage +which he undertook, August 6th, 1784:-- + +“The progress of the Montgolfiere was so sudden that one might almost +have believed that it arose all inflated and furnished out of some chasm +in the earth The air was calm, the sky without clouds, the sun +very strong. Our fuel and instruments were put into the gallery, my +companion, M. Louchet, was at his post, and I took mine. At twenty +minutes past eight the cords were loosened, we waved a farewell to the +spectators, and while two cannon-shots announced our departure, we were +already high above the loftiest buildings. + +“To the general acclamations of the crowd succeeded a profound silence. +The spectators, half in fear, half in admiration, stood motionless, with +eyes fixed, and gazing eagerly at the superb machine, which rose almost +vertically with rapidity and also with grandeur. Some women, and even +some men, fainted away; others raised their hands to heaven; others shed +tears; all grew pale at the sight of our bright fire. + +“‘We have quitted the earth,’ said I to my companion. + +“‘I compliment you on the fact,’ he answered; ‘keep up the fire!’ + +“A truss of hay, steeped in spirits of wine accelerated the swiftness of +our ascent. I cast my glance upon the town, which seemed to flee rapidly +from under our feet. Terrestrial objects had already lost their shape +and size. The burning heat which I felt at first now gave place to a +temperature of the most agreeable kind, and the air which we breathed +seemed to contain healthful elements unknown to dwellers on the lower +earth. + +“‘How well I am!’ I said to Louchet; ‘how are you?’ + +“‘As well as can be. Would that I could dispatch a message to the +earth!’ + +“Immediately I threw over a roll of paper on which I had written the +words, ‘All well on board the City of Rodez.’ + +“At thirty-two minutes past eight our elevation was at least 6,000 feet +above sea level. A flame from our fire, rising from eighteen to twenty +feet, sent us up another 1,000 feet. It was then that our machine was +seen by every spectator within a circuit of nine miles, and it appeared +to be right over the heads of all of them. + +“‘Send us up out of sight,’ said my adventurous confrere. + +“I had to moderate his ardour--a larger fire would have burnt our +balloon. + +“From our moving observatory the most splendid view developed itself. +The boundaries of the horizon were vastly extended. The capital of the +Rouergue appeared to be no more than a group of stones, one of which +seemed to rise to the height of two or three feet. This was no other +than the superb tower of the cathedral. Fertile slopes, agreeable +valleys, lofty precipices, waste lands, ancient castles perched upon +frowning rocks, these form the endlessly varied spectacle which the +Rouergue and the neighbouring provinces present to the view of those who +traverse the surface of the earth. But how different is the scene to the +aerial voyager! We could perceive only a vast country, perfectly round, +and seemingly a little elevated in the middle, irregularly marked with +verdure, but without inhabitants, without towns, valleys, rivers, or +mountains. Living beings no longer existed for us; the forests were +changed into what looked like grassy plains; the ranges of the +Cantal and the Cevennes had disappeared; we looked in vain for the +Mediterranean, and the Pyrenees seemed only a long series of piles +of snow, connected at their bases. Our own balloon, which from Rodez +appeared about the size of a marble, was the only object that for us +retained its natural dimensions. What wonderful sensations then arose +within us! I had often reflected upon the works of nature; their +magnificence had always filled me with admiration. In this soul-stirring +moment how beautiful did nature seem--how grand! With what majesty did +it strike my imagination. Never did man appear to me before such an +excellent being His latest triumph over the elements recalled to my mind +his other conquests of nature. My companion was animated with the same +sentiments, and more than once we cried out, ‘Vive Montgolfier! Vive +Roziers! Vivent ceux qui ont du courage et de la constance!’ + +“In the meantime our fuel was getting near the end. In eighteen minutes +we had run a distance of 12,000 feet. ‘Make your observations while I +attend to the fire,’ said my companion to me. I examined the barometer, +the thermometer, and the compass, and having sealed up a small bottle of +the air at this elevation, I asked my companion to reduce the fire. We +descended 1,800 feet, and at this height I filled another bottle with +air. + +“Afterwards we felt the refreshing breath of a slight breeze, which +carried us gently toward the south-east. In six minutes we had run +18,000 feet. Then, having only sufficient fuel to enable us to choose +the place of our descent, we considered whether we should not bring our +aerial voyage to a termination. We had neither lake nor forest to fear, +and we were secure against danger from fire, as we could detach the +grating at some distance from the earth. At fifty-eight minutes past +eight all our fuel was exhausted, except two bundles of straw, of +four pounds each, which we reserved for our descent. The balloon came +gradually down, and terrestrial objects began again to resume their +proper forms and dimensions. The animals fled at the sight of our +balloon, which seemed likely to crush them in its fall. Horsemen were +obliged to dismount and lead their frightened horses. Terrified by such +an unwonted sight, the labourers in the fields abandoned their work. We +were not more than 600 feet from the earth. We threw on the two bundles +of straw, but still gradually descended. The grating was then detached, +and I had no difficulty in leaping to the ground. But now a most +surprising and unlooked-for event happened. M. Louchet had not been able +to descend at the same moment as myself, and the balloon, now free from +my weight, immediately re-ascended with the speed of a bird, bearing +away my companion. I followed him with my eyes, and it was to my +agreeable surprise that I heard him crying to me, ‘All is well; fear +not!’ though it was not without a species of jealousy that I saw him +mounting up to the height of 1,400 or 1,500 feet. The balloon, after +having run a distance of 3,600 feet in a horizontal direction, began +gently to descend at four minutes past nine, at the village of Inieres, +after having travelled 42,000 feet from the point of departure. When it +had touched the ground it bumped up again two or three feet. M. Louchet +jumped out, and seized one of the ropes, but had much difficulty in +holding the balloon in hand. He cried to the frightened peasants to come +and help him. But they seemed to regard him as a dangerous magician, +or as a monster, and they feared to touch the ropes lest they might be +swallowed up by the balloon. Soon afterwards I came to the rescue. The +balloon was in as thorough repair as when we began our journey. We then +pressed out the hot air, folded up the envelope, placed it upon a small +cart drawn by two oxen, and drove off with it.” + + + +Chapter IV. + + Serio-Comic Aspect of the Subject--The Public Duped--The + Abbes Miolan and Janninet at the Luxembourg--Caricatures-- + The “Minerva” of Robertson, and its Voyage Round the World. + +The discovery like that of balloons could not be made public in France +without being travestied, and without offering some comic side for +the amusement of the wits of the day. Under some old coloured prints, +designed with the intention of satirising such unfortunate aeronauts +as had collected their money from the spectators, but had failed in +inflating their balloons, is written, “The Infallible Means of Raising +Balloons”--the infallible means consisting of ropes and pulleys. + +While caricature was thus turning its irony upon the efforts of +believers in the new idea, serious pamphlets were being written and +published with the same object. One of these declares that the discovery +is IMMORAL, I. Because since God has not given wings to man, it is +impious to try to improve his works, and to encroach upon his rights as +a Creator; 2. Because honour and virtue would be in continual danger, +if balloons were permitted to descend, at all hours of the night, into +gardens and close to windows; 3. Because, if the highway of the air were +to remain open to all and sundry, the frontiers of nations would vanish, +and property national and personal would be invaded, &c. We do not wish +to gather together here the stones which critics threw against the new +discovery, unaware all the time that these stones were falling upon +their own heads. + +It is only fair to state that after the first ascents the public were +often duped by pretending aeronauts, whose single aim was to sell their +tickets, and who disappeared when the time came for ascending. The +result of these frauds was that sometimes honest men were made to suffer +as rogues. Even in our own day, when an ascent, seriously intended, +fails to succeed, owing to some unforeseen circumstances, the public +frequently manifests a decided ill-will to the aeronaut, who is +perfectly honest, and only unfortunate. + +The famous ascent of the Abbes Miolan and Janninet, at the Luxembourg, +may be cited as among the failures which suffered most from the satire +of the time. Their immense balloon, constructed at great expense at the +observatory, was expected to rise beyond the clouds, and a multitude, +each of whom had paid dearly for his ticket, had assembled at the +Luxembourg. The morning had been occupied in removing the balloon from +the observatory to the place of ascent, and at midday the inflation of +it began. The rays of a burning July sun--and one knows what that is in +the Luxembourg in Paris--streamed down on the heads of the thousands of +spectators. From six in the morning till four in the evening they had +waited to see the unheard-of wonder; the ascent, however, was to be so +imposing, that nothing could be lost by waiting for it. + +But at five in the afternoon the heavy machine was still +motionless--inert upon the ground. We need not attempt to describe the +scene which took place as the impatience of the multitude increased. +Sneers of derision made themselves heard on all sides. A universal +murmur, rapidly developing into a clamour, arose amongst the multitude; +then, wild with disappointment, the frenzied populace threw themselves +upon the barricade, broke it, attacked the gallery of the balloon, the +instruments, the apparatus, trampling them under foot, and smashing them +in bits. They then rushed upon the balloon and fired it. There was then +a general melee. Far from fleeing the fire, every one struggled to seize +and carry off a bit of the balloon, to preserve as a relic. The two +abbes escaped as they best could, under protection of a number of +friends. + +After this there fell a perfect shower of lampoons and caricatures. The +Abbe Miolan was represented as a cat with a band round its neck, while +Janninet appeared as a donkey; and in a coloured print the cat and +the ass are shown arriving in triumph upon their famous balloon at the +Academy of Montmartre, and are received at the hill of Moulins-a-Vent +by a solemn assembly of turkey-cocks and geese in different attitudes. +Numerous songs and epigrams, of which the unfortunate abbes were the +subjects, also appeared at this time. The letters which composed the +words “l’Abbe Miolan” were found to form the anagram, Ballon abime--“the +balloon swallowed up.” + +The most extravagant balloon project was that of Robertson, who +published a scheme for making a tour of the world. He called it “La +Minerva, an aerial vessel destined for discoveries, and proposed to +all the Academies of Europe, by Robertson, physicist” (Vienna, 1804; +reprinted at Paris, 1820), Robertson dedicated his project to Volta, and +in his dedication he does not scruple to say: “In our age, my friendship +seeks only one gratification, that we should both live a sufficiently +long time together to enable you to calculate and utilise the results +of this great machine, while I take the practical direction of it.” The +following is this aeronaut’s prospectus:-- + +“There is no limit to the sciences and the arts, which cultivation does +not overstep. We have everything to hope and to expect from time, +from chance, and from the genius of man. The difference which there +is between the canoe of the savage and the man-of-war of 124 guns is +perhaps as great as that of balloons as they now are and as they will +be in the course of a century. If you ask of an aeronaut why he cannot +command the motions of his balloon, he will ask of you in his turn why +the inventor of the canoe did not immediately afterwards construct a +man-of-war. It must be recollected that there have not yet elapsed forty +years since the discovery of the balloon, and that to perfect it would +be a work of difficulty, as much from the increased knowledge which such +a work would demand, as from the pecuniary sacrifices and the personal +devotion which it would involve. + +“Thus this invention, after having at first electrified all savants +from the one end of the world to the other, has suffered the fate of all +discoveries--it was all at once arrested. Did not astronomy wait long +for Newton, and chemistry for Lavoisier, to raise them to something like +the splendour they now enjoy? Was not the magnet a long time a toy +in the hands of the Chinese, without giving birth to the idea of the +compass? The electric fluid was known in the time of Thales, but +how many ages did we wait for the discovery of galvanism? Yet these +sciences, which may be studied in silent retreats, were more likely to +yield fruit to the discoverer than aerostatics, which demand courage +and skill, and of which the experiments, which are always public, are +attended with great cost.” + +Robertson’s proposed machine was to be 150 feet in diameter, and would +be capable of carrying 150,000 lbs. Every precaution was to be taken in +order to make the great structure perfect. It was to accommodate sixty +persons to be chosen by the academics, who should stay in it for several +months should rise to all possible elevations, pass through all +climates in all seasons, make scientific observations, &c. This balloon, +penetrating deserts inaccessible by other means of travel, and visiting +places which travellers have never penetrated, would be of immense use +in the science of geography: and when under the line, if the heat near +the earth should be inconvenient, the aeronauts would, of course, easily +rise to elevations where the temperature is equal and agreeable. When +their observations, their needs, or their pleasures demanded it, they +could descend to within a short distance of the earth, say ninety feet, +and fix themselves in their position by means of an anchor. It might, +perhaps, be possible, by taking the advantage of favourable winds, to +make the tour of the world. “Experience will perhaps demonstrate that +aerial navigation presents less inconvenience and less dangers than the +navigation of the seas.” + +The immensity of the seas seemed to be the only source of insurmountable +difficulties; “but,” says Robertson, “over what a vast space might +not one travel in six months with a balloon fully furnished with the +necessaries of life, and all the appliances necessary for safety? +Besides, if, through the natural imperfection attaching to all the works +of man, or either through accident or age, the balloon, borne above the +sea, became incapable of sustaining the travellers, it is provided with +a boat, which can withstand the waters and guarantee the return of the +voyagers.” + +Such were the ideas promulgated regarding the “Minerva.” The following +is the serious description given of the machine. The numbers correspond +with those on the illustration. + +“The cock (3) is the symbol of watchfulness; it is also the highest +point of the balloon. An observer, getting up through the interior to +the point at which the watchful fowl is placed, will be able to command +the best view to be had in the ‘Minerva.’ The wings at the side (1 and +2) are to be regarded as ornamental. The balloon will be 150 feet in +diameter, made expressly at Lyons of unbleached silk, coated within and +without with indict-rubber. This globe sustains a ship, which contains +or has attached to it all the things necessary for the convenience, the +observations, and even the pleasures of the voyagers. + +“(a) A small boat, in which the passengers might take refuge in case +of necessity, in the event of the larger vessel falling on the sea in a +disabled state. + +“(b) A large store for keeping the water, wine, and all the provisions +of the expedition. + +“(cc) Ladders of silk, to enable the passengers to go to all parts of +the balloon. + +“(e) Closets. + +“(h) Pilot’s room. + +“(1) An observatory, containing the compasses and other scientific +instruments for taking the latitude. + +“(g) A room fitted up for recreations, walking, and gymnastics. + +“(m) The kitchen, far removed from the balloon. It is the only place +where a fire shall be permitted. + +“(p) Medicine room. + +“(v) A theatre, music room, &c. + +“--The study. + +“(x) The tents of the air-marines, &c. &c.” + +This balloon is certainly the most marvellous that has ever been +imagined--quite a town, with its forts, ramparts, cannon, boulevards, +and galleries. One can understand the many squibs and satires which so +Utopian a notion provoked. + + + +Chapter V. First Aerial Voyage in England--Blanchard Crosses the Sea in +a Balloon. + +In spite of their known powers of industry and perseverance, the English +did not throw themselves with any great ardour into the exploration +of the atmosphere. From one cause or another it is the French and the +Italians that have chiefly distinguished themselves in this art. The +English historian of aerostation gives some details of the first aerial +voyage made in this country by the Italian, Vincent Lunardy. + +The balloon was made of silk covered with a varnish of oil, and painted +in alternate stripes--blue and red. It was three feet in diameter. Cords +fixed upon it hung down and were attached to a hoop at the bottom, from +which a gallery was suspended. This balloon had no safety-valve--its +neck was the only opening by which the hydrogen gas was introduced, and +by which it was allowed to escape. + +In September, 1784, it was carried to the Artillery Ground and filled +with gas. After being two-thirds filled, the gallery was attached with +its two oars or wings, and Lunardy, accompanied by Biggin and Madame +Sage, took his place; but it was found that the balloon had not +sufficient lifting power to carry up the whole three, and Lunardy went +up alone, with the exception of the pigeon, the cat, and the dog, that +were with him. + +The balloon rose to the height of about twenty feet, then followed a +horizontal line, and descended. But the gallery had no sooner touched +the earth than Lunardy threw over the sand that served as ballast, and +mounted triumphantly, amid the applause of a considerable multitude of +spectators. After a time he descended upon a common, where he left the +cat nearly dead with cold, ascended, and continued his voyage. He says, +in the narrative which he has left, that he descended by means of the +one oar which was left to him, the other having fallen over; but, as he +states that, in order to rise again, he threw over the remainder of his +ballast, it is natural to believe that the descent of the balloon was +caused by the loss of gas, because, if he descended by the use of the +oar, he must have re-ascended when he stopped using it. He landed in the +parish of Standon, where he was assisted by the peasants. + +He assures us again that he came down the second time by means of the +oar. He says:--“I took my oar to descend, and in from fifteen to twenty +minutes I arrived at the earth after much fatigue, my strength being +nearly exhausted. My chief desire was to escape a shock on reaching +the earth, and fortune favoured me.” The fear of a concussion seems to +indicate that he descended more because of the weight of the balloon +than by the action of the oar. + +It appears that the only scientific instrument he had was a thermometer +which fell to 29 degrees. The drops of water which had attached +themselves to the balloon were frozen. + +The second aerial journey in England was undertaken by Blanchard and +Sheldon. The latter, a professor of anatomy in the Royal Academy, is +the first Englishman who ever went up in a balloon. This ascent was made +from Chelsea on the 16th October, 1784. + +The same balloon which Blanchard had used in France served him on this +occasion, with the difference that the hoop which went round the +middle of it, and the parasol above the car, were dispensed with. At the +extremity of his car he had fitted a sort of ventilator, which he was +able to move about by means of a winch. This ventilator, together with +the wings and the helm, were to serve especially the purpose of steering +at will, which he had often said was quite practicable as soon as a +certain elevation had been reached. + +The two aeronauts ascended, having with them a number of scientific and +musical instruments, some refreshments, ballast, &c. Twice the ascent +failed, and eventually Sheldon got out, and Blanchard went up again +alone. + +Blanchard says that, on this second ascent, he was carried first +north-east, then east-south-east of Sunbury in Middlesex. He rose so +high that he had great difficulty in breathing, the pigeon he had with +him escaped, but could hardly maintain itself in the rarefied air of +such an elevated region, and finding no place to rest, came back +and perched on the side of the car. After a time, the cold becoming +excessive, Blanchard descended until he could distinguish men on the +earth, and hear their shouting. After many vicissitudes he landed upon +a plain in Hampshire, about seventy-five miles from the point of +departure. It was observed that, so long as he could be clearly seen, he +executed none of the feats with his wings, ventilator, &c., which he had +promised to exhibit. + +Enthusiasm about aerial voyages was now at its climax; the most +wonderful deeds were spoken of as commonplace, and the word “impossible” + was erased from the language. Emboldened by his success, Blanchard one +day announced in the newspapers that he would cross from England to +France in a balloon--a marvellous journey, the success of which depended +altogether upon the course of the wind, to the mercy of which the bold +aeronaut committed himself. + +A certain Dr. Jeffries offered to accompany Blanchard. On the 7th of +January the sky was calm, in consequence of a strong frost during +the preceding night, the wind which was very light, being from the +north-north-west. The arranged meets were made above the cliffs of +Dover. When the balloon rose, there were only three sacks of sand of 10 +lbs. each in it. They had not been long above ground when the barometer +sank from 29.7 to 27.3. Dr. Jeffries, in a letter addressed to the +president of the Royal Society, describes with enthusiasm the spectacle +spread out before him: the broad country lying behind Dover, sown with +numerous towns and villages, formed a charming view; while the rocks on +the other side, against which the waves dashed, offered a prospect that +was rather trying. + +They had already passed one-third of the distance across the Channel +when the balloon descended for the second time, and they threw over +the last of their ballast; and that not sufficing, they threw over some +books, and found themselves rising again. After having got more than +half way, they found to their dismay, from the rising of the barometer, +that they were again descending, and the remainder of their books were +thrown over. At twenty-five minutes past two o’clock they had passed +three-quarters of their journey, and they perceived ahead the inviting +coasts of France. But, in consequence either of the loss or the +condensation of the inflammable gas, they found themselves once more +descending. They then threw over their provisions, the wings of the car, +and other objects. “We were obliged,” says Jeffries, “to throw out the +only bottle we had, which fell on the water with a loud sound, and sent +up spray like smoke.” + +They were now near the water themselves, and certain death seemed to +stare them in the face. It is said that at this critical moment Jeffries +offered to throw himself into the sea, in order to save the life of his +companion. + +“We are lost, both of us,” said he; “and if you believe that it will +save you to be lightened of my weight, I am willing to sacrifice my +life.” + +This story has certainly the appearance of romance, and belief in it is +not positively demanded. + +One desperate resource only remained--they could detach the car and hang +on themselves to the ropes of the balloon. They were preparing to carry +out this idea, when they imagined they felt themselves beginning to +ascend again. It was indeed so. The balloon mounted once more; they were +only four miles from the coast of France, and their progress through the +air was rapid. All fear was now banished. Their exciting situation, and +the idea that they were the first who had ever traversed the Channel in +such a manner, rendered them careless about the want of certain articles +of dress which they had discarded. At three o’clock they passed over the +shore half-way between Cape Blanc and Calais. Then the balloon, rising +rapidly, described a great arc, and they found themselves at a greater +elevation than at any part of their course. The wind increased in +strength, and changed a little in its direction. Having descended to the +tops of the trees of the forest of Guines, Dr. Jeffries seized a branch, +and by this means arrested their advance. The valve was then opened, the +gas rushed out, and the aeronauts safely reached the ground after the +successful accomplishment of this daring and memorable enterprise. + +A number of horsemen, who had watched the recent course of the balloon, +now rode up, and gave the adventurers the most cordial reception. On the +following day a splendid fete was celebrated in their honour at Calais. +Blanchard was presented with the freedom of the city in a box of gold, +and the municipal body purchased the balloon, with the intention of +placing it in one of the churches as a memorial of this experiment, it +being also resolved to erect a marble monument on the spot where the +famous aeronauts landed. + +Some days afterwards Blanchard was summoned before the king, who +conferred upon him an annual pension of 1,200 livres. The queen, who +was at play at the gambling table, placed a sum for him upon a card, and +presented him with the purse which she won. + + + +Chapter VI. Zambeccari’s Perilous Trip Across the Adriatic Sea. + +There is not in the whole annals of aerostation a more moving +catastrophe than that of the unfortunate Comte Zambeccari, who, during +an aerial journey on October the 7th, 1804, was cast away on the waves +of the Adriatic. + +The history of Zambeccari is dramatic throughout. After having been +taken by the Turks and thrown into the Bay of Constantinople, from which +he with difficulty escaped, he devoted himself to the study and practice +of aerial navigation. He fancied he could make use of a lamp supplied +with spirits of wine, the flame of which he could direct at will, in the +hope of thus being able to steer the balloon in whatever direction he +chose. One day his balloon damaged itself against a tree at Boulogne, +and the spirits of wine set his clothes on fire. The flames with which +the aeronaut was covered only served to increase the ascending power of +the balloon, and the frightened spectators, among whom were Zambeccari’s +young wife and children, saw him carried up into the clouds out of +sight. He succeeded, however, in extinguishing the fire which surrounded +him. + +In 1804, he organised a series of experiments at Milan, for which he +received, in advance, the sum of 8,000 crowns; but the experiments +failed, in consequence of the inclemency of the weather, the treachery +of his assistants, and the malice of his rivals. + +At length, on the 7th of October, after a fall of rain which lasted +forty-eight hours, and which had delayed the announced ascent, he +resolved, whatever might happen, to carry it out, though all the chances +were against him. Eight young men whom he had instructed, and who had +promised him their assistance in filling the balloon, failed him at the +critical moment. Still, however, he continued his labours, with the +help of two companions, Andreoli and Grassetti. Wearied with his +long-continued efforts, dis-appointed and hungry, he took his place in +the car. + +The two companions whom we have named went with him. They rose gently at +first, and hovered over the town of Bologna. Zambeccari says, “The lamp, +which was intended to increase our ascending force, became useless. We +could not observe the state of the barometer by the feeble light of a +lantern. The insupportable cold that prevailed in the high region to +which we had ascended, the weariness and hunger arising from my having +neglected to take nourishment for twenty-four hours, the vexation +that embittered my spirit--all these combined produced in me a total +prostration, and I fell upon the floor of the gallery in a profound +sleep that was like death. ‘The same misfortune overtook my companion +Grassetti. Andreoli was the only one who remained awake and able for +duty--no doubt because he had taken plenty of food and a large quantity +of rum. Still he suffered from the cold, which was excessive, and his +endeavours to wake me were for a long time vain. Finally, however, he +succeeded in getting me to my feet, but my ideas were confused, and I +demanded of him, like one newly awaking from a dream, ‘What is the news? +Where are we? What time is it? How is the wind?’ + +“It was two o’clock. The compass had been broken, and was useless; the +wax light in the lantern would not burn in such a rarefied atmosphere. +We descended gently across a thick layer of whitish clouds, and when +we had got below them, Andreoli heard a sound, muffled and almost +inaudible, which he immediately recognised as the breaking of waves in +the distance. Instantly he announced to me this new and fearful danger. +I listened, and had not long to wait before I was convinced that he was +speaking the truth. It was necessary to have light to examine the state +of the barometer, and thus ascertain what was our elevation above the +sea level, and to take our measures in consequence. Andreoli broke five +phosphoric matches, without getting a spark of fire. Nevertheless, we +succeeded, after very great difficulty, by the help of the flint +and steel, in lighting the lantern. It was now three o’clock in the +morning--we had started at midnight. The sound of the waves, tossing +with wild uproar, became louder and louder, and I suddenly saw the +surface of the sea violently agitated just below us. I immediately +seized a large sack of sand, but had not time to throw it over before we +were all in the water, gallery and all. In the first moment of fright, +we threw into the sea everything that would lighten the balloon--our +ballast, all our instruments, a portion of our clothing, our money, and +the oars. As, in spite of all this, the balloon did not rise, we threw +over our lamp also. After having torn and cut away everything that did +not appear to us to be of indispensable necessity, the balloon, thus +very much lightened, rose all at once, but with such rapidity and to +such a prodigious elevation, that we had difficulty in hearing each +other, even when shouting at the top of our voices. I was ill, and +vomited severely. Grassetti was bleeding at the nose; we were both +breathing short and hard, and felt oppression on the chest. As we were +thrown upon our backs at the moment when the balloon took such a sudden +start out of the water and bore us with such swiftness to those high +regions, the cold seized us suddenly, and we found ourselves covered all +at once with a coating of ice. I could not account for the reason why +the moon, which was in its last quarter, appeared on a parallel line +with us, and looked red as blood. + +“After having traversed these regions for half an hour, at an +immeasurable elevation, the balloon slowly began to descend, and at +last we fell again into the sea, at about four in the morning I cannot +determine at what distance we were from land when we fell the second +time. The night was very dark, the sea rolling heavily, and we were in +no condition to make observations. But it must have been in the middle +of the Adriatic that we fell. Although we descended gently, the gallery +was sunk, and we were often entirely covered with water. The balloon +being now more than half empty, in consequence of the vicissitudes +through, which we had passed, gave a purchase to the wind, which pressed +against it as against a sail, so that by means of it we were dragged +and beaten about at the mercy of the storm and the waves. At daybreak +we looked out and found ourselves opposite Pesaro, four miles from the +shore. We were comforting ourselves with the prospect of a safe landing, +when a wind from the land drove us with violence away over the open sea. +It was now full day, but all we could see were the sea, the sky, and the +death that threatened us. Certainly some boats happened to come within +sight; but no sooner did they see the balloon floating and striping upon +the water than they made all sail to get away from it. No hope was then +left to us but the very small one of making the coasts of Dalmatia, +which were opposite, but at a great distance from us. Without the +slightest doubt we should have been drowned if heaven had not mercifully +directed towards us a navigator who, better informed than those we had +seen before, recognised our machine to be a balloon and quickly sent his +long-boat to our rescue. The sailors threw us a stout cable, which we +attached to the gallery, and by means of which they rescued us when +fainting with exposure. The balloon thus lightened, immediately rose +into the air, in spite of all the efforts of the sailors who wished to +capture it. The long boat received a severe shock from its escape, +as the rope was still attached to it, and the sailors hastened to cut +themselves free. At once the balloon mounted with incredible rapidity, +and was lost in the clouds, where it disappeared for ever from our view. +It was eight in the morning when we got on board. Grassetti was so ill +that he hardly showed any signs of life. His hands were sadly mutilated. +Cold, hunger, and the dreadful anxiety had completely prostrated me. The +brave captain of the vessel did everything in his power to restore us. +He conducted us safely to Ferrara, whence we were carried to Pola, where +we were received with the greatest kindness, and where I was compelled +to have my fingers amputated.” + + + +Chapter VII. Garnerin--Parachutes--Aerostation at Public Fetes. + +“On the 22nd October, 1797,” says the astronomer Lalande, “at +twenty-eight minutes past five, Citizen Garnerin rose in a balloon from +the park of Monceau. Silence reigned in the assembly, anxiety and fear +being painted on the visages of all. When he had ascended upwards of +2,000 feet, he cut the cord that connected his parachute and car +with the balloon. The latter exploded, and Garnerin descended in his +parachute very rapidly. He made a dreadful lurch in the air, that forced +a sudden cry of fear from the whole multitude, and made a number of +women faint. Meanwhile Citizen Garnerin descended into the plain of +Monceau; he mounted his horse upon the spot, and rode back to the park, +attended by an immense multitude, who gave vent to their admiration for +the skill and talent of the young aeronaut. Garnerin was the first to +undertake this most daring and dangerous venture. He had conceived the +idea of this feat while lying a prisoner of state in Buda, Hungary.” + Lalande adds that he went and announced his success at the Institute +National, which was assembled at the time, and which listened to him +with the greatest interest. + +Robertson conducted an experiment of descending by means of a parachute +at Vienna, in 1804, in which he received all the glory, without +partaking of any of the danger. He made the public preparations for an +ascent in the balloon, his pupil, Michaud, however, took his place in +the car, and made the ascent. + +Robertson says that on this occasion he yielded to the entreaties of a +young man who was his pupil, and had begged to be allowed to make his +debut before such a great multitude. In this case a slight improvement +was made in the parachute. The car was surrounded by a cloth of silk, +which, when the aeronaut cut himself away from the balloon, spread +itself out in such a way as to form a second parachute. + +Robertson made all the preparations, and Michaud had no more to do than +place himself in the car. Loud applause arose on all sides. Michaud +had ascended 900 feet above the earth when the signal for his cutting +himself clear of the balloon was given, by the firing of a cannon. He +at once cut the two strings, and the balloon soared away into the upper +regions, whilst he was left for one terrible moment to fate. The fall +was at first rapid, but the two parachutes soon opened themselves +simultaneously, and presented a majestic appearance. In a few seconds +the aeronaut had traversed the space that intervened between him and +the assembly, and found himself safely landed on the ground, at a short +distance from the place whence he had set out, while the whole air +was rent with shouts of applause. This experiment was deemed a most +extraordinary one. Compliments were showered upon Robertson from all +sides, and the court presented him with rich presents. + +Balloons have always formed a prominent feature at the fetes of +Paris, for the celebration of the chief events of the Revolution, the +Consulate, and the Empire--the first of these epochs being that in which +these aerial vessels were held in highest esteem. + +Jacques Garnerin had played a brilliant role as aeronaut under the +Directory, the Consulate, and the Empire; and it was he who after the +coronation of the Emperor Napoleon I., was charged with the raising of a +monster balloon, which was arranged to ascend, with the accompaniment of +fireworks, on the evening of the 16th of December, 1804. + +An uncommon incident connected with this event serves to show us the +spirit of fatalism with which the character of Napoleon I. was infected. +“The Man of Destiny” believed in the destiny of man; he had faith in +his star alone; and from the height of his greatness the new ruler, +consecrated emperor and king by the Pope, beheld a presage of misfortune +in a chance circumstance, insignificant to all but himself, in the +experiment of which we are about to recount the history. + +The fete given by the city of Paris to their majesties embraced the +whole town, from the Champs Elysees to the Barriere du Trone, on the +square of the Hotel de Ville. Upon the river throughout its length +between the Isle of St. Louis and the bridge of Notre Dame, an immense +display of fireworks was to take place. The scene to be represented was +the passage of Mont St. Bernard. Garnerin was stationed with his balloon +in front of the gate of the church of Notre Dame. At eleven o’clock in +the evening, at the moment when the first discharge of fireworks made +the air luminous with a hundred thousand stars, Garnerin threw off his +immense balloon. The chief feature of it was the device of a crown, +designed in coloured lanterns arranged round the globe. It rose +splendidly, and with the most perfect success. + +On the following morning the inhabitants of Rome were astounded to +behold advancing toward them from the horizon a luminous globe, which +threatened to descend upon their city. The excitement was intense. +The balloon passed the cupola of St. Peter’s and the Vatican; then +descending, it touched the ground, but rose again, and finally it sank +into the wafers of Lake Bracciano. + +It was drawn from the water, and the following inscription, emblazoned +in letters of gold upon its vast circumference, was printed, published, +and read throughout the whole of Italy--“Paris, 25eme Primaire, an +XIII., couronnement de l’empereur Napoleon, 1er par S.S. Pie VII.” + +In touching the earth, the balloon happened to strike against the tomb +of the Emperor Nero, and, owing to the concussion, a portion of the +crown was left upon this ancient monument. The Italian journals, which +were not so strictly under the supervision of the government as were the +journals of France, gave the full particulars of these minor events; and +certain of them, connecting the names of Nero and Napoleon, indulged in +malicious remarks at the expense of the French emperor. These facts +came to the ear of the great general, who manifested much indignation, +dismissed the innocent Garnerin from his post, and appointed Madame +Blanchard to the supervision of all the balloon ascents which took place +at the public fetes. + +The balloon was preserved in the vaults of the Vatican in Rome, +accompanied with an inscription narrating its travels and wonderful +descent--minus the circumstance of the tomb. It was removed, as might be +supposed, in 1814. From this time the ascents of balloons took place +for the most part only on the occasions of coronations and other great +public fetes. + + + +Chapter VIII. Green’s Great Journey Across Europe. + +It is probable that at the origin of navigation, man, before he had +invented oars and sails, made use of trunks of trees upon which he +trusted himself, leaving the rest to the winds and the currents of +the water, whether these were known or unknown. There is some analogy +between such rude rafts, the first discovered means of navigation on +water, and balloons, the first discovered means of navigation in air. +But unquestionably the advantage is with the latter. No means have yet +been found of directly steering balloons, but by allowing the gas to +escape the aeronaut can descend at will, and by lightening his car of +part of the ballast he carries he can ascend as readily. It must also be +remembered that the currents of air vary in their directions, according +to their elevation, and were the aeronaut perfectly acquainted with +aerial currents, he might, by raising or lowering himself, find a wind +blowing in the direction in which he wished to proceed, and the last +problem of aerostation would be solved. That any such knowledge can ever +be acquired it is impossible to say; but this much may with safety be +advanced, that distant journeys may frequently be taken with balloons +for useful purposes. + +One of the most remarkable excursions of this kind was that +superintended by Green, in 1836, from London to Germany. This journey, +1,200 miles in length, is the longest that has been yet accomplished. +Green set out from London on the 7th of November, 1836, accompanied by +two friends--Monk-Mason, the historian of the journey, and a gentleman +named Molland. Not knowing to what quarter of the globe he might be +blown, Green provided himself with passports to all the states of +Europe, and with a quantity of provisions sufficient to last him for +some time, should he be driven by the wind over the sea. Shortly after +mid-day the balloon rose with great grandeur, and, urged by a light +breeze, floated to the south-east, over the plains of Kent. At four +o’clock the voyagers sighted the sea. + +“It was forty-eight minutes past four,” says Monk-Mason, “that we first +saw the line of waves breaking on the shores beneath us. It would +have been impossible to have remained unmoved by the grandeur of the +spectacle that spread out before us. Behind us were the coasts of +England, with their white cliffs half lost in the coming darkness. +Beneath us on both sides the ocean spread out far end wide to where the +darkness closed in the scene. Opposite us a barrier of thick clouds +like a wall, surmounted all along its line with projections like so many +towers, bastions, and battlements, rose up from the sea as if to stop +our advance. A few minutes afterwards we were in the midst of this +cloudy barrier, surrounded with darkness, which the vapours of the night +increased. We heard no sound. The noise of the waves breaking on the +shores of England had ceased, and our position had for some time cut us +off from all the sounds of earth.” + +In an hour the Straits of Dover were cleared, the lights of Calais shone +out toward the voyagers, and the sound of the town drums rose up toward +them. “Darkness was now complete,” continues the writer, “and it was +only by the lights, sometimes isolated, sometimes seen in masses, and +showing themselves far down on the earth beneath us, that we could form +a guess of the countries we traversed, or of the towns and villages +which appeared before us every moment. The whole surface of the earth +for many leagues round showed nothing but scattered lights, and the +face of the earth seemed to rival the vault of heaven with starry fires. +Every moment in the earlier part of the night before men had betaken +themselves to repose, clusters of lights appeared indicating large +centres of population. + +“Those on the horizon gave us the notion of a distant conflagration. In +proportion as we approached them, these masses of lights appeared to +increase, and to cover a greater space, until, when right over them, +they seemed to divide themselves into different parts, to stretch out in +long streets, and to shine in starry quadrangles round the squares, so +that we could see the exact plan of each city, given as on a small map. +It would be difficult to give an idea of what sort of effect such a +scene in such circumstances produces. To find oneself transported in +the darkness of night, in the midst of vast solitudes of air, unknown, +unperceived, in secret and in silence, exploring territories, traversing +kingdoms, watching towns which come into view, and pass out of it +before one can examine them in detail--these circumstances are enough +in themselves to render sublime a science which, independent of these +adjuncts, would be so interesting. If you add to this the uncertainty +which, increasing as we went on into the night, began to assail us +respecting our voyage, our ignorance of where we were, and what were the +objects we were attempting to discover, you may form some idea of our +singular position.” + +About midnight, the travellers found themselves above Liege. Situated +in the midst of a thickly-peopled country, full of foundries, smelting +works, and forges, this town was quite a blaze of light. The gas-lamps +with which this town is so well lighted, clearly marked out for our +travellers the main streets, the squares, and the public buildings. But +after midnight, at which time the lamps in continental towns are mostly +put out, the whole of the under world disappeared from the view of the +aeronauts. + +“After the turn of the night,” says Mason, “the moon did not show +itself, and the heavens, always more sombre when regarded from great +altitudes, seemed to us to intensify the natural darkness. On the +other hand, by a singular contrast, the stars shone out with unusual +brilliancy, and seemed like living sparks sown upon the ebony vault that +surrounded us. In fact, nothing could exceed the intensity of the night +which prevailed during this part of our voyage. A black profound abyss +surrounded us on all sides, and, as we attempted to penetrate into the +mysterious deeps, it was with difficulty we could beat back the idea and +the apprehension that we were making a passage through an immense mass +of black marble, in which we were enclosed, and which, solid to within a +few inches of us, appeared to open up at our approach.” + +Until three o’clock the voyagers were in this state. The height of the +balloon, as calculated by the barometer, was 2,000 feet. They had not +then anything to fear from a disastrous encounter, when all at once a +sudden explosion was heard, the silk of the balloon quivered, the car +received a violent shock, and seemed to be shot suddenly into the gloomy +abyss. A second explosion and a third succeeded, accompanied each time +by this fearful shock to the car. The travellers soon found out that, +owing to the great altitude, the gas had expanded, and the rope which +surrounded it, saturated with water, and frozen with the intense cold, +had yielded to the pressure, in jerks which caused the report and the +shock. + +“From time to time,” continues Mason, “vast masses of clouds covered the +lower regions of the atmosphere, and spread a thick, whitish veil over +the earth, intercepting our view, and leaving us for some time uncertain +if this was not a continuation of the same plains covered with snow +which we had already noticed. From these masses of vapour, there seemed +more than once during the night to come a sound as of a great fall of +water, or the contending waves of the sea; and it required all the force +of our reason, joined to our knowledge--such as it was--of the direction +of our route, to repress the idea that we were approaching the sea, and +that, driven by the wind, we had, been carried along the coasts of +the North Sea or the Baltic. As the day advanced these apprehensions +disappeared. In place of the unbroken surface of the sea, we gradually +made out the varied features of a cultivated country, in the midst of +which flowed a majestic river, which lost itself, at both extremities, +in the mist that still lay on the horizon.” + +This river was the Rhine, and as the neighbourhood seemed suitable for +a descent, and as the travellers did not wish to be carried too far into +the heart of Europe, they allowed a portion of the gas to escape, came +gradually down, and dropped their anchor. + +It was then half-past seven in the morning. It was only then that +the inhabitants, who had hitherto held themselves aloof, watching the +movements of the strangers from under the brushwood, began to assemble +from all sides. A few words in German spoken from the balloon dissipated +their fears, and, recovering from their mistrust, they hastened +immediately to lend assistance to the aeronauts The latter were now +informed that the place they had selected for their descent was in the +Duchy of Nassau. The town of Wiberg, where Blanchard had descended, +after his ascent at Frankfort in 1785 was, by a singular chance, only +two leagues distant. The three aeronauts received a most flattering +reception, and, in memory of the event, they placed the flag which they +had borne in their car during their adventurous excursion in the ducal +palace, side by side with that of Blanchard. + +“Thus,” says Mason, “terminated an expedition which, whether we regard +the extent of the journey, the length of time occupied in it, or +the results which were the objects of the experiment, may justly be +considered as one of the most interesting and most important ever +undertaken. The best answer which one could give to those who would be +disposed to criticise the employment of the peculiar means which we +made use of, or to doubt their efficiency, would be to state that, after +having traversed without hindrance, without either danger or difficulty, +so large a portion of the European continent, we arrived at our +destination still in possession of as much force as, had we wished it, +might have carried us round the whole world.” + + + +Chapter IX. The “Geant” Balloon. + +Not a few of our readers will remember the ascent of Nadar’s colossal +balloon from Paris, on Sunday, the 18th of October, 1863. This balloon +was remarkable as having attached to it a regular two-story house for a +car. Its ascent was witnessed by nearly half a million of persons. The +balloon, after passing over the eastern part of France, Belgium, and +Holland, suffered a disastrous descent in Hanover the day after it +started on its perilous journey. It was a fool-hardy enterprise to +construct such a gigantic and unmanageable balloon, presenting such an +immense surface to the atmosphere, and being so susceptible to adverse +aerial currents as to become the helpless prey of the elements; and it +was still more fool-hardy to place the lives of its passengers at the +mercy of such terrible and ungovernable forces. A large section of the +public laboured under the delusion that Nadar’s balloon was one capable +of being steered. In reality, however, the ‘Geant’ was unquestionably +the most rebellious and unruly specimen of its class that has been made +since the days of Montgolfier. The object in view when this formidable +monster was designed and constructed was to create the means to collect +sufficient funds to form a “Free Association for Aerial Navigation +by means of MACHINES HEAVIER THAN AIR,” and for the construction of +machines on this principle. The receipts from the exhibition of the +“Geant” were intended to form the first capital of the association. The +hopes, however, of the promoters have not been realised in this respect; +for while the expenses of the construction of the balloon have amounted, +directly and indirectly, to the sum of L8,300, its two ascents in Paris +and its exhibition in London produced only L3,300. + +Space forbids us to enter at length on the various stages of the idea of +aerial navigation by means of an apparatus heavier than the atmosphere. +The idea is not, however, by any means so absurd as it appears at first +sight. Those who, like Arago, declare that the word “impossible” + does not exist, except in the higher mathematics, and those who look +hopefully to the future instead of resting content with the past, will +join in applauding the spirit which dictated the manifesto of aerial +locomotion to the founder of the association which we are about to +describe. M. Babinet, speaking on this subject before the French +Polytechnic Association, said: “It is absurd to talk of guiding +balloons. How will you set about it? How is it possible that a +balloon--say, for instance, like the Flesselles, whose diameter measures +120 feet--can resist and manoeuvre against opposing winds or currents +of air? It would require a power equal to 400 horses for the sails of a +ship to struggle on equal terms with the wind. Suppose an impossibility, +namely, that a balloon could carry with it a force equal to 400 +horse-power; this result would be of little use, for under the immense +weight the fragile covering of the balloon would instantly collapse. If +all the horses of a regiment were harnessed to the car of a balloon by +means of a long rope, the result would be that the balloon would fly +into shivers, being too fragile to withstand these two opposing forces. +Man must seek to raise himself in the air by another mode of operation +altogether, if he wish to guide himself at the same time. Some time +ago I bought a play thing, very much in vogue at that time, called a +Stropheor. This toy was composed of a small rotating screw propeller, +which revolved on its own support when the piece of string wound round +it was pulled sharply. The screw was rather heavy, weighing nearly a +quarter of a pound, and the wings were of tin, very broad and thick. +This machine, however, was rather too eccentric for parlour use, for its +flight was so violent that it was continually breaking the pier glass, +if there was one in the room; and, failing this, it next attacked the +windows. The ascending force of this machine is so great that I have +seen one of them fly over Antwerp Cathedral, which is one of the highest +edifices in the world. The air from underneath the machine is exhausted +by the action of the screw, which, passing under the wings, causes a +vacuum, while the air above it replenishes and fills this void, and +under the influence of these two causes the apparatus mounts from the +earth. But the problem is not solved by means of this plaything, whose +motive power is exterior to it. Messrs. Nadar, Ponton, D’Amecourt, and +De la Landelle teach us better than this, although the wings of their +different models are entirely unworthy of men who desire to demonstrate +a truth to short-lived mortals. We have only arrived as yet at the +infancy of the process, but we have made a good beginning, for, having +once proved that a machine capable of raising itself in the air, wholly +unaided from without, can be made, we have overcome with this apparently +small result the whole difficulty. The principle of propulsion by means +of a screw is by no means a novelty. It was first utilised in windmills, +whose sails are nothing more nor less than an immense screw which is +turned by the action of the wind on its surface. In the case of turbine +water-wheels, where perhaps 970 cubic feet of water are utilised by +means of a mechanism not larger than a hat, we see another illustration +of it, with this difference, that water takes the place of wind as the +motive power. + +“The aerial screw is beset with great difficulties, but if we can +succeed through its agency in raising even the smallest weight, we may +be confident of being able to raise a heavier one, for a large machine +is always more powerful in proportion to its size than a small one. + +“Mlle. Garnerin once made a bet that she would guide herself in her +descent from a considerable altitude towards a fixed spot on the earth +at some distance, with no other help than the parachute; and she was +really able to guide herself to within a few feet of the specified spot, +by simply altering the inclination of the parachute. + +“From observations in mountainous districts, where large birds of prey +may be seen to the best advantage hovering with outstretched wings, I +have come to the conclusion that they first of all attain the requisite +height and then, extending their wings in the form of a parachute, +let themselves glide gradually towards the desired spot. Marshal Niel +confirms this opinion by his experience in the mountains of Algeria. +It is, therefore, clear from these examples that we should possess the +power of transporting ourselves from place to place if we could only +discover a means of raising a weight perpendicularly in the air, which +would then act as a capital of power, only requiring to be expended at +will.” + +From the foregoing remarks we may gather an idea of the importance which +may be attached to aerial locomotion notwithstanding the successive +failures of all those who have hitherto taken up the subject. We come +now to the description of the memorable ascent of the ‘Geant.’ + +We learn from the very interesting account of the ‘Geant,’ published at +the time, all the mishaps and adventures it outlived from the time of +the first stitch in its covering to its final inflation with gas. We +must, however, be content to take up the narrative at the point at which +the ‘Geant,’ with thirteen passengers on board, had, in obedience to +the order to “let go,” been released from the bonds which held it to +the earth. The narrative is, as our readers will perceive, written in +somewhat exaggerated language:-- + +“The ‘Geant’ gave an almost imperceptible shake on finding itself +free, and then commenced to rise. The ascent was slow and gradual at +first--the monster seemed to be feeling its way. An immense shout rose +with it from the assembled multitude. We ascended grandly, whilst the +deafening clamour of two hundred thousand voices seemed to increase. +We leant over the edge of the car, and gazed at the thousands of faces +which were turned towards us from every point of the vast plain, in +every conceivable angle of which we were the common apex. We still +ascended. The summits of the double row of trees which surround the +Champ de Mars were already under us. We reached the level of the cupola +of the Military School. The tremendous uproar still reached us. We +glided over Paris in an easterly direction, at the height of about six +hundred feet. Every one took up the best possible position on the six +light cane stools, and on the two long bunks at either end of the car, +and contemplated the marvellous panorama spread out under us, of which +we never grew weary. + +“There is never any dizziness in a balloon, as is often erroneously +supposed, for in it you are the only point in space without any +possibility of comparison with another, and therefore the means of +becoming giddy are not at hand.” + +A very experienced aeronaut, who numbers his ascents by hundreds, has +assured me that he never knew of a single case of dizziness. + +“The earth seems to unfold itself to our view like an immense and +variegated map, the predominant colour of which is green in all its +shades and tints. The irregular division of the country into fields made +it resemble a patchwork counterpane. The size of the houses, churches, +fortresses, was so considerably diminished as to make them resemble +nothing so much as those playthings manufactured at Carlsruhe. This was +the effect produced by a microscopic train, which whistled very faintly +to attract our attention, and which seemed to creep along at a snail’s +pace, though doubtless going at the rate of thirty miles an hour, and +was enveloped in a minute cloud of smoke. What a lasting impression this +microscopic neatness makes on us! What is that white puff I see down +there? the smoke of a cigar? No: it is a cloud of mist. It must be a +perfect plain that we are looking at, for we cannot distinguish between +the different altitudes of a bramble-bush and an oak a hundred years +old! + +“It is one of the delights of an aeronaut to gaze on the familiar scenes +of earth from the immense height of the car of a balloon! What earthly +pleasure can compare with this! Free, calm, silent, roving through this +immense and hospitable space, where no human form can harm me, I despise +every evil power; I can feel the pleasure of existence for the first +time, for I am in full possession, as on no other occasion, of perfect +health of mind and body. The aeronauts of the ‘Geant’ will scarcely +condescend to pity those miserable mortals whom they can only faintly +recognise by their gigantic works, which appear to them not more +dignified than ant-hills! + +“The sun had already set behind the purple horizon in our rear. The +atmosphere was still quite clear round the ‘Geant,’ although there was +a thick haze underneath, through which we could occasionally see lights +glimmering from the earth. We had attained a sufficient altitude to be +only just able to hear noises from villages that we left beneath us, and +were beginning to enjoy the delicious calm and repose peculiar to aerial +ascents. + +“There is, however, a talk about dinner, or rather supper, and night is +now fast approaching. Every one eats with the best possible appetite. +Hams, fowls and dessert only appear to disappear with an equal +promptitude, and we quench our thirst with bordeaux and champagne. I +remind our companions of the pigeons we brought with us, and which are +hanging in a cage outside the railing. I knew there was no danger of +their flying away, so fearlessly opened the cage. The three or four +birds I had put in the car seemed struck with terror. They flew +awkwardly towards the centre of our party, tumbling among the plates and +dishes and under our feet. It was not a case of hunger with them, and I +ought to have remembered that their feeding time was long since past. I +replaced them in their cage. + +“Meanwhile, the sun has left us for some time. Our longing gaze followed +it behind the dark clouds in the horizon, whose edges it tipped with a +glorious purple. Its last rays shone on us, and then came a bluish-grey +twilight. Suddenly we are enveloped in a dense fog. We look around, +above us. Everything has disappeared in the mist. The balloon itself is +no longer visible. We can see nothing except the ropes which suspend +us, and these are only visible for a few feet above our heads, when they +lose themselves in the fog. We are alone with our wickerwork house in an +unfathomable vault. + +“We still ascend, however, through the compact and terrible fog, which +is so solid-looking as to seem capable of being carved into forms with +a knife. As we were without a moon, and had no light at all, in fact, +we were unable to distinguish nicely the different shades of colour in +these thick clouds. Now and then, when the clouds seemed to be +lighter, they had a bluish tinge; but the thicker ones were dirty and +muddy-looking. Dante must have seen some like these. + +“Water trickled down our faces, hands, and clothes, and the ropes and +sides of our car. + +“The water did not fall in rain-drops or in flakes, as it sometimes +does in the tropics; but we were as completely saturated by this heavy, +penetrating mist as if we had been under a waterfall. We still continued +to traverse these rainy regions. The thick fog which the balloon +dislodged in forcing a passage closed immediately after it. At one +moment I thought I felt something press against my cheek, which could +only be compared to the points of a thousand needles, or to floating +particles of ice. We were all of us too much absorbed with our situation +to think of the hour or of the height to which we had attained. Suddenly +the Prince of Wittgenstein, who was standing at my left hand, cried out +under his breath-- + +“‘Look at the balloon, sir! look at the balloon!’ + +“I raised my eyes, in company with several others, and shall never +forget the magnificent sight which awaited them. I saw the balloon, +for which I had been searching in vain a few minutes before. It had +undergone a transformation. It looked now as if coated with silver, +and floating in a pale phosphorescent glimmer. All the ropes and cords +seemed to be of new, bright, and liquid silver, like mercury, caused +by the mist which had rested on them becoming suddenly congealed. Two +luminous arcs intervened between us, in a sea of mother-of-pearl and +opal, the lower one being the colour of red ochre and the upper one +orange. Both of them, blinding in their brilliancy, seemed about to +embrace one another. + +“‘How far are they off?’ thought I to myself. ‘Can I touch them with +my hand, or are they separated from me by an immense space?’ We are not +capable of forming ideas of perspective, floating as we are in the midst +of such a glimmering splendour. + +“Above and around us are nothing but thick fogs and enormous black +clouds, whose ragged edges and backs are relieved by a pale silver +coating. They undulate ceaselessly to and fro, and either usurp +quietly the place of others, or disappear only to be superseded by more +formidable ones. But the last ray of reflected light has died out, and +we plunge into this chaos of dreadful forms. Monsters seem to wish to +approach us, and to envelop us in their dark embraces. One of them, on +my right hand, looks like a deformed human arm in a menacing attitude, +writhing its jagged top like a blind serpent feeling its way. The vague +monster has disappeared; but the momentary splendour being followed +by the original gloom, we plunge once more into a darkness that can be +felt. + +“The water which had collected on the balloon during its ascent now +began to take effect, and caused it to descend with such rapidity into +the dark abyss that the ballast, which was immediately thrown overboard, +was overtaken in its descent and fell on our heads again. + +“I hear exclamations and voices near me. My companions are evidently +agitated, and with good reason, too; for the lights which we could see a +long way below us approach with terrible rapidity. We reached the earth +rather quicker than we left it. + +“Suddenly we feel a dreadful shock, followed by ominous crackings. The +car has grounded. The ‘Geant’ has made its descent. But in what part of +the habitable globe, and under what zone? At Meaux!” + +To employ an expression of M. Nadar’s it seems that these gentlemen +never before experienced such a “knock-down blow.” + +After all these preparations, all this trouble, all the energy employed +in the undertaking--sufficient, indeed, wherewith to attempt to cross +the Atlantic--to “descend at Meaux!” + +The ‘Geant,’ however, had its revenge. Its second ascent gave it this +revenge. We shall be as brief as possible in relating this voyage; but +the details are all so very interesting that we regret extremely our +being unable to give more than extracts from the narrative. + +Our travellers committed themselves again to the mercy of the air. +The Emperor, following the example of a former King of France, took +considerable interest in the construction of this aerial monster, and +wished the aeronaut “Bon voyage” at starting. The passengers endeavoured +to pass the night as comfortably as possible, having first instituted a +four hours’ watch, as on board ship. + +The aerial vessel glided rapidly through the air. “We repeatedly,” said +Nadar, “passed over some manufacturing centre, whose lights were not yet +extinguished. I either hailed them with my speaking-trumpet or rang our +two bells. Sometimes we received a reply from below, in the shape of a +shout, for, although we still had no moon, the night was occasionally +clear enough for people to distinguish us; and sometimes we heard a peal +of laughter from out of the atmosphere in which we were travelling. It +was another party of aeronauts in a smaller balloon, who left at the +same time as we did, and who would persist in keeping the ‘Geant’ +company. We are passing over a small town; we hear the usual shouting +and the report of a gun. Our first thoughts are--Was it loaded with shot +or ball? The inhuman brute who fired will say, ‘Certainly not;’ but as +balloons have often been damaged in this way, we may be confident there +was more than powder in this one. It would be satisfactory, at any rate, +if the name of the person could be ascertained who favoured us with this +welcome. But it is rather late to make inquiries on this subject. It was +between a quarter and half-past nine o’clock when this occurred. ‘The +sea!’ cried Jules; ‘look at the revolving lights of the lighthouses. +There: one has just disappeared: it will flash out again in a +moment!’ But what is this? Before us, as far as our eyes can reach, +we distinguish faint lights, which in this case are neither lamps nor +torches. As we continue to draw nearer we get a better view of these +numerous, violent, and smoking furnaces. Loud and ringing sounds strike +on our ear at the same time. Am I right in my conjectures? Is this not +that splendid country I love more than ever now? It must be Erquelines! +And the dignified Custom-house official, had it been possible, would +have added thereto ‘Belgium!’ + +“We still continue to pass over fires, forges, tall chimneys, and coal +mines at frequent intervals. Not long after we distinguish a large town +on our right hand, which, by its size and brilliant lighting by gas, +we recognise as Brussels. There could be no mistake, for close by, more +modest in size and appearance, we see Catholic Malines. We have left it +behind us. + +“Onward! Onward! Behind us the fires fade gradually away, and disappear +one after another. Before us nothing at present visible. We seemed to +drift on for about one hundred or one hundred and fifty yards more. We +cannot distinguish a single point in front of us on which to fix our +gaze. But we still continue our course in silence. + +“This mournful darkness, this endless shroud, in which we can discover +neither rent nor spangle, still continues. Where are we? Over what +strange country, possessing neither cities, towns, nor villages, are +we hovering in the tomb-like silence of this interminable darkness? We +seem, indeed, to have been carried by a puff of wind towards the west. + +“But something seems to approach us. What are those pale rays of light +which we can faintly see a long, long way before us--rays pale and soft, +quite unlike those flaming fires we have left behind us? Surely these +do not denote the presence of human activity! As we continue to advance, +these pale flakes of light--resembling nothing so much in appearance as +molten lead--which at first were scanty and isolated, gradually expand, +and leave only narrow strips of darkness to divide them into fantastic +shapes. By their help we discovered we were passing over the immense +marshes of Holland, which extended to and lost themselves in the hazy +horizon. On our right hand we hear a deep moan, still distant, but +rapidly approaching every moment. It is undoubtedly the rushing of the +wind. A fresh breeze for five minutes would bring us to the sea. + +“We experienced another shock not less formidable than the first. The +‘Geant’ is trembling from its effects. The cable of our first anchor +has just broken like a piece of thread. We could not hope for a better +result. The violence of the wind which is carrying us along seems to be +redoubled. A bump: another and another--then shock after shock. + +“‘The second dead men!’ + +“Our swift pace was shock after shock. + +“‘The anchor is lost,’ cries Jules; ‘we are all dead men! + +“This truth is too palpable to all of us to require expressing in so +many words, for we are just commencing that furious, tearing course +called ‘trailing.’ + +“Our swift pace was considerably accelerated by the lower part of +the balloon, which--limp, empty, and forming nearly a third of the +whole--had been set free at the first shock, and flapped against the +distended part, acting as a sail. The shocks continued to multiply so +fast that it was impossible to count them. The car continued to rebound +from these shocks to the height of five, ten, sometimes thirty, forty, +and even fifty feet, for all the world like an India-rubber ball from +the hands of an indefatigable player. Unfortunately, all our human +freight, terror stricken and without advice, had crowded into one side +of the car; and as this happened to be the side on which we invariably +bumped, we experienced all the worst effects of the joltings. + +“What a dizzy whirl! What a succession of breathless shocks! What a +strain on both muscles and nerves! By the least negligence or slip, +or by the loss of presence of mind for one moment, we should have been +thrown out and dashed to atoms. + +“Every collision tries our muscles and strains our wrists or our +shoulders; and every rebound dashes us one against the other, +constituting each individual a tormentor and victim at the same time. +Our flight is so rapid that we can only distinguish an occasional +glimpse of anything. Far, far in the distance we distinguish an isolated +tree. We approach it like lightning, and we break it as though it were a +straw. + +“Two terrified horses, with manes and tails erect, endeavour to fly from +us. But we consume distances; we leave them behind immediately. We skip +over a flock of affrighted sheep in one of our bounds. But now comes the +real danger. + +“At this moment, when we were perfectly benumbed with fear, and had lost +all power of articulation, we saw a locomotive, drawing two carriages, +running along an embankment at right angles to our course. A few more +revolutions of the wheels, and it will be all over with us, for we seem +to be fated to meet with geometrical precision at one spot! + +“What will happen? + +“Travelling at our present hurricane pace, we shall undoubtedly lift +up and overturn the machine and what it is drawing. But shall we not be +crushed ourselves? A few paces still intervene between us and our foe, +and we give vent to a shout of terror. + +“It is heard, and the locomotive answers it by a whistle, then slackens +its pace, and after seeming to hesitate an instant backs quickly and +only just in time to give us a free passage, whilst the driver, waving +his cap, salutes us with-- + +“‘Look out for the wires!’ + +“The caution was well timed, for we had not noticed the four telegraph +wires which we rapidly approached. We energetically ducked our heads on +seeing them, but fortunately we escaped any more damage than having two +or three of our ropes cut. These we continued to drag after us like the +tail of a ragged comet, having the telegraph-wires and the posts which +lately supported them attached to us.” + +After having been dragged thus for some time at the mercy of a hurricane +which they ought to have been able to avoid, these aerial navigators at +last got entangled in the outskirts of a wood near Rethem, in Hanover. +A few broken arms and legs paid for their temerity in meddling with this +monster, and one and all of the passengers have reason to be thankful +that it will be unnecessary for us to proclaim their virtues and their +fate in our next chapter. + + + +Chapter X. The Necrology of Aeronautic + +We will conclude this second part by giving a brief notice of some +of those who, in the early days of aerostation, fell martyrs to their +devotion to the new cause, and sometimes victims to their own want of +foresight and their inexperience. + +First among these is Pilatre des Roziers, with whose courage and +ingenuity our readers are already familiar. After the passage of +Blanchard from England over to France this hero, who was the first to +trust himself to the wide space of the sky, resolved to undertake the +return voyage from France to England--a more difficult feat, owing to +the generally adverse character of the winds and currents. In vain did +Roziers’ friends attempt to make him understand the perils to which this +enterprise must expose him; his only reply was that he had discovered +a new balloon which united in itself all the necessary conditions of +security, and would permit the voyager to remain an unusually long time +in the air. He asked and obtained from government the sum of 40,000 +livres, in order to construct his machine. It then became clear what +sort of balloon he had contrived. He united in one machine the two modes +previously made use of in aerostation. Underneath a balloon filled with +hydrogen gas, he suspended a Montgolfiere, or a balloon filled with +hot air from a fire. It is difficult to understand what was his precise +object in making this combination, for his ideas seem to have been +confused upon the subject. It is probable that, by the addition of a +Montgolfiere, he wished to free himself from the necessity of having to +throw over ballast when he wished to ascend and to let off this gas when +he wished to descend. The fire of the Montgolfiere might, he probably +supposed, be so regulated as to enable him to rise or fall at will. + +This mixed system has been justly blamed. It was simply “putting fire +beside powder,” said Professor Charles to Roziers; but the latter would +not listen, and depended for everything on his own intrepidity and +scientific skill of which he had already given so many proofs. There +were, perhaps, other reasons for his unyielding obstinacy. The court +that had furnished him with the funds for the construction of the +balloon pressed him, and he himself was most ambitious to equal the +achievement of Blanchard, who was the first to cross the Channel, on the +7th of January, 1785. + +The fact was that at this time the prevailing fear in France was, that +Great Britain should bear off all the honours and profits of aerostation +before any of these had been won by France. It was thus that with an +untried machine, and under conditions the most unfavourable for his +enterprise, Roziers prepared to risk his life in this undertaking, which +was equally dangerous and useless. + +The double balloon was alternately inflated and emptied. While under +cover it was assailed by the rats that gnawed holes in it, and when +brought out of its place it was exposed to the tempests, so that the +longer the experiment was delayed, the worse chance there was of +getting through it successfully. At length Roziers went to Boulogne, and +announced the day of his departure; but, as if by a special Providence, +his attempt was delayed by unfavourable weather. For many weeks in +succession the little trial balloons thrown up to show the course of the +wind were driven back upon the shores of France. During all these trials +the impatient Roziers continued to chafe and torment himself. + +At last, on the 13th and 14th of June, 1785, the Aero-Montgolfiere +remained inflated, waiting a favourable moment for departure. On the +15th at four in the morning, a little pilot balloon that had been +thrown up fell back on the spot from which it had been thrown free, thus +showing that there was no wind. Seven hours later Roziers, accompanied +by his brother Romain, one of the constructors of the balloon, appeared +in the gallery. A nobleman present threw a purse of 200 louis into the +car, and was preparing to follow it and join in the adventure. Roziers +forbade him to enter, gently but firmly. + +“The experiment is too unsafe,” he said, “for me to expose to danger the +life of another.” + +“Finally,” says a narrative of the time, “the Aero-Montgolfiere rose in +an imposing manner. The sound of cannon signalised the departure, the +voyagers saluted the crowd, who responded with loud shouts. The balloon +advanced until it began to traverse the sea, and every one with eyes +fixed upon the fragile machine, regarded it with fear. It had traversed +upwards of a league of its journey, and had reached the height of 700 +feet above sea level, when a wind from the west drove it back toward the +shore, after having been twenty-seven minutes in the air. + +“At this moment the crowd beneath perceived that the voyagers were +showing signs of alarm. They seemed suddenly to lower the grating of the +Montgolfiere. But it was too late. A violet flame appeared at the top +of the balloon, then spread over the whole globe, and enveloped the +Montgolfiere and the voyagers. “The unfortunate men were suddenly +precipitated from the clouds to the earth, in front of the Tour de Croy, +upwards of a league from Boulogne, and 300 feet from the sea beach. + +“The dead body of Roziers was found burnt in the gallery, many of the +bones being broken. His brother was still breathing, but he was not able +to speak, and in a few minutes he expired.” + +De Maisonfort, who, against his own will, was left on the earth, was +witness of this sad event. He has given the following explanation of +it:-- + +“Some minutes after their departure the voyagers were assailed by +contrary winds, which drove them back again upon the land. It is +probable that then, in order to descend and seek a more favourable +current of air, which would take them out again to sea, Roziers opened +the valve of the gas balloon; but the cord attached to this valve +was very long, it worked with difficulty, and the friction which it +occasioned tore the valve. The stuff of the balloon, which had suffered +much from many preliminary attempts, and from other causes, was torn to +the extent of several yards, and the valve fell down inside the balloon, +which at once emptied itself.” + +According to this narrative, there was no conflagration of the gas in +the middle of the atmosphere, nor is it stated precisely whether the +grating of the Montgolfiere was lighted. + +Maisonfort ran to the spot when the travellers fell, found them covered +with the cloth of the balloon, and occupying the same positions which +they had taken up on departing. + +By a sad chance, that seems like irony, they were thrown down only a few +paces from the monument which marks the spot where Blanchard descended. +At the present day Frenchmen going to England via Calais do not fail to +visit at the forest of Guines the monument consecrated to the expedition +of Blanchard. A few paces from this monument the cicerone will point out +with his finger the spot where his rivals expired. + +“Such was the end of the first of aeronauts, and the most courageous of +men,” says a contemporaneous historian. “He died a martyr to honour and +to zeal. His kindness, amiability, and modesty endeared him to all who +knew him. She who was dearest to him--a young English lady, who boarded +at a convent at Boulogne, and whom he had first met only a few days +prior to his last ascent--could not support the news of his death. +Horrible convulsions seized her and she expired, it is said, eight days +after the dreadful catastrophe. Roziers died at the age of twenty-eight +and a half years.” + +Olivari perished at Orleans on the 25th of November, 1802. He had +ascended in a Montgolfiere made of paper, strengthened only by some +bands of cloth. His car, made of osiers, and loaded with combustible +matter, was suspended below the grating; and when at a great elevation +it became the prey of the flames. The aeronaut, thus deprived of his +support, fell, at the distance of a league from the spot from which he +had risen. + +Mosment made his last ascent at Lille on the 7th of April, 1806. His +balloon was made of silk, and was filled with hydrogen gas. Ten minutes +after his departure he threw into the air a parachute with which he had +provided himself. It is supposed that the oscillations consequent on the +throwing off of the parachute were the cause of they aeronaut’s fall. +Some pretend that Mosment had foretold his death, and that it was caused +by a willful carelessness. However this may be, the balloon continued +its flight alone, and the body of the aeronaut was found partly buried +in the sand of the fosse which surrounds the town. + +Bittorff made a great many successful ascents. He never used any machine +but the Montgolfiere. At Manheim, on the 17th of July, the day of his +death his balloon, which was of paper, sixteen metres in diameter, and +twenty in height, took fire in the air, and the aeronaut was thrown down +upon the town. His fall was mortal. + +Harris, an old officer of the English navy, together with another +English aeronaut, named Graham, had made a great many ascents. He +conceived the idea of constructing a balloon upon an original plan; but +his alterations do not seem to have been improvements. In May, 1824, he +attempted an ascent from London, which had much apparent success, but +which terminated fatally. When at a great elevation, it seems, the +aeronaut, wishing to descend, opened the valve. It had not been well +constructed, and after being opened it would not close again. The +consequent loss of gas brought the balloon down with great force. Harris +lost his life with the fall; but the young lady who had accompanied him +received only a trifling wound. + +Sadler, a celebrated English aeronaut, who, in one of his many +experiments, had crossed the Irish Channel between Dublin and Holyhead, +lost his life miserably near Bolton, on the 28th of September, 1824. +Deprived of his ballast, in consequence of his long sojourn in the air, +and forced at last to descend, at a late hour, upon a number of high +buildings, the wind drove him violently against a chimney. The force of +the shock threw him out of his car, and he fell to the earth and died. +His prudence and knowledge were unquestionable, and his death is to be +ascribed alone to accident. It was an aerial shipwreck. + +Cocking had gone up twice in Mr. Green’s balloon as a simple amateur. +He took it into his head to go up a third time. He wished to attempt a +descent in a parachute of his own construction, which he believed was +vastly superior to the ordinary one. He altered the form altogether, +though that form had been proved to be satisfactory. In place of a +concave surface, supporting itself on a volume of air, Cocking used +an inverted cone, of an elaborate construction, which, instead of +supporting him in the air, only accelerated his fall. Unhappily, Green +participated in this experiment. The two made an ascent from Vauxhall, +on the 27th of September, 1836, Green having suspended Cocking’s +wretched contrivance from the car of his balloon. Cocking held on by a +rope, and at the height of from 1,000 to 1,200 feet the amateur, +with his patent parachute, were thrown off from the balloon. A moment +afterwards Green was soaring away safely in his machine, but Cocking was +launched into eternity. + +“The descent was so rapid,” says one who witnessed it, “that the mean +rate of the fall was not less than twenty yards a second. In less than a +minute and a half the unfortunate aeronaut was thrown to the earth, and +killed by the fall.” + +Madame Blanchard, thinking to improve upon Garnerin, who had decorated +the balloon which ascended in celebration of the coronation of Napoleon +I. with coloured lights, fixed fireworks instead to hers. A wire rope +ten yards long was suspended to her car; at the bottom of this wire +rope was suspended a broad disc of wood, around which the fireworks were +ranged. These consisted of Bengal and coloured lights. On the 6th +of July, 1819, there was a great fete at Tivoli, and a multitude had +assembled around the balloon of Madame Blanchard. Cannon gave the signal +of departure, and soon the fireworks began to show themselves. The +balloon rose splendidly, to the sound of music and the shoutings of the +people. A rain of gold and thousands of stars fell from the car as +it ascended. A moment of calm succeeded, and then to the eyes of the +spectators, still fixed on the balloon, an unexpected light appeared. +This light did not come from under the balloon, where the crown of +fireworks was already extinguished, but shone in the car itself. It +was evident that the lady aeronaut, although now so high above the +spectators, was busy about something. The light increased, then +disappeared suddenly; then appeared again, and showed itself finally at +the summit of the balloon, in the form of an immense jet of gas. The +gas with which the balloon was inflated had taken fire, and the terrible +glare which the light threw around was perceived from the boulevards, +and all the Quartier Montmartre. + +It was at this moment--a frightful one for those who perceived what had +taken place--that a general sentiment of satisfaction and admiration +among the spectators found vent in cries of “Brava! Vive Madame +Blanchard!” &c. The people thought the lady was giving them an +unexpected treat. Meantime, by the light of the flame, the balloon was +seen gradually to descend. It disappeared when it reached the houses, +like a passing meteor, or a train of fire which a blast of wind suddenly +extinguishes. A number of workmen and other persons, who had perceived +that some accident had taken place, ran in the direction in which the +balloon appeared to descend. They arrived at a house in the Rue de +Provence. On the roof of this house the balloon had fallen, and the +unfortunate Madame Blanchard, thrown out of the car by the shock, was +killed by her fall to the earth. + +This news spread rapidly from Tivoli, where it occasioned a stupefying +surprise. It was the first time that a fall of the kind had taken place +from the sky at Paris. Fireworks were from this time discontinued, the +fete came to an end, and a subscription was rapidly organised, producing +some thousands of francs, which shortly afterwards were employed in +erecting a monument to the lady, which is now to be seen in the cemetery +of Pere-la-Chaise. + +Madame Blanchard had wished to surpass the ordinary spectacle of an +aerial ascent; she had really prepared a SURPRISE for the spectators. +She had prepared and she took with her a small parachute of about +two yards in diameter. After the extinction of the crown or star of +fireworks, she intended to throw this little parachute loose; and as it +was terminated by another supply of fireworks, it was supposed that the +effect would be as beautiful as surprising. + +The unhappy lady was small in stature, and very light, and unfortunately +made use of a very small balloon. That of the 6th of July, 1819, was +only seven metres in diameter; and to make it ascend with the weight +it carried it had to be filled to the neck with inflammable air. In +quitting the earth some of this gas escaped, and rising above the +balloon, formed a train like one of powder, which would certainly flash +into a blaze the moment it came in contact with the fire. But on this +day it was she who with her own hand fired this train. At the moment +when, detaching the little parachute from her car, she took the light +for the fireworks in her other hand, she crossed this train with the +light and set it on fire. Then the brave woman, throwing away the +parachute and the match, strove to close the mouth of the balloon, and +to stifle the fire. These efforts being unavailing, Madame Blanchard was +distinctly seen to sit down in her car and await her fate. + +The burning of the hydrogen lasted several minutes, during which time +the balloon gradually descended. Had it not been that it struck on the +roof of the house Madame Blanchard would have been saved. At the moment +of the shock she was heard to cry out, “A moi.” These were her last +words. The car, going along the roof of the house, was caught by an +iron bar and overturned, and the lady was thrown head foremost upon the +pavement. + +When she reached the ground she immediately expired. Her head and +shoulders were slightly burnt, otherwise she exhibited no marks of the +fire which had destroyed the balloon. + + + + +PART III. Scientific Experiments--Applications of Ballooning. + + + +Chapter I. Experiments of Robertson, Lhoest, Saccarof, &c. + +Robertson is regarded by many as a sort of mountebank; yet such men as +Arago have put themselves to the trouble of examining the aerostatic +feats of this aeronaut, and of examining the results of his +observations. + +“The savant Robertson,” says Arago, “performed at Hamburg on the 18th +of July, 1803, with his countryman, Lhoest, the first aeronautic voyage +from which science has been able to draw useful deductions. The two +aeronauts remained suspended in the air during five hours, and came +down near Hanover, twenty-five leagues from the spot from which they set +off.” + +The first time that Robertson appears in the annals of aerostation is in +1802, on the occasion of the sale of the balloon used at the battle +of Fleurus, of which mention will be made in the chapter on military +aerostation. But three years previously he had been instructed to make +a balloon of an original form, which should ascend in honour of the +Turkish ambassador at the garden of Tivoli. The fete was completely +successful. Turks, Chinese, Persians, and Bedouins will always be +welcome, as on this occasion, at Paris, appearing as they do only at +rare intervals, and for a short time. + +The fete took place on the 2nd of July. Robertson presented himself at +the house of Esseid-Ali, to obtain his autograph. The Turkish ambassador +willingly granted the request, and wrote his name in letters, each of +which was two inches in height, on a sheet of paper. He then offered the +aeronaut coffee and comfits, and promised to be present to witness the +balloon ascent. His name was painted in large characters on a balloon +fifteen feet in diameter, and on the form of which was the figure of a +crescent. The experiment delighted the ambassador, and was well received +by the public. + +Jacques Garnerin, when he came to make his debut as an aeronaut, made an +attempt with the parachute, the following August, at the garden of the +Hotel de Biron. The ambassador was asked to honour the fete, but he +declined, saying that he had “made up his mind that man was not intended +for flying--Mahomet had not so willed it.” + +Of one of Robertson’s more interesting ascents he himself has left us +the following sketch:-- + +“I rose in the balloon at nine a.m., accompanied by my fellow-student +and countryman, M. Lhoest. We had 140 lbs. of ballast. The barometer +marked twenty-eight inches; the thermometer sixteen degrees Reaumur. In +spite of some slight wind from the north-west, the balloon mounted so +perpendicularly that in all the streets each of the spectators believed +we were mounting straight up above his head. In order to quicken our +ascent I discharged a parachute made of silk, and weighted in a way to +prevent oscillations. The parachute descended at the rate of two feet +per second, and its descent was uniform. From the moment when the +barometer began to sink we became very careful of our ballast, as we +wished to test from experience the different temperatures through which +we were about to pass. + +“At 10.15, the barometer was at nineteen inches, and the thermometer +at three above zero. We now felt all the inconvenience of an extremely +rarefied atmosphere coming upon us, and we commenced to arrange some +experiments in atmospheric electricity. Our first attempts did not +succeed. We threw over part of our ballast, and mounted up till the +cold and the rarefaction of the air became very troublesome. During +our experiments we experienced an illness throughout our whole system. +Buzzing in the cars commenced, and went on increasing. The pain we felt +was like that which one feels when he plunges his head in water. Our +chests seemed to be dilated, and failed in elasticity. My pulse was +quickened, M. Lhoest’s became slower; he had, like me, swelled lips and +bleeding eyes; the veins seemed to come out more strongly on the hands. +The blood ran to the head, and occasioned a feeling as if our hats were +too tight. The thermometer continued to descend, and, as we ascended, +our illness increased, and we could with difficulty keep awake. Fearing +that my travelling companion might go to sleep, I attached a cord to my +thigh and to his, and we held the extremities of the cord in our hands. +Thus trammelled, we had to commence the experiments which I had proposed +to make. + +“At this elevation, the glass, the brimstone, and the Spanish wax were +not electrified in a manner to show any signs under friction--at least, +I obtained no electricity from the conductors or the electrometer. + +“I had in my car a voltaic pile, consisting of sixty couples--silver +and zinc. It worked very well on the occasion of our departure from the +earth, and gave, without the condenser, one degree to the electrometer. +At our great elevation, the pile gave only five-sixths of a degree to +the same electrometer. The galvanic flame seemed more active at this +elevation than on the earth. + +“I took two birds with me on coming into the balloon--one of these was +now dead, the other appeared stupefied. After having placed it upon the +brink of the gondola, I tried to frighten it to make it take to flight. +It moved its wings, but did not leave the spot; then I left it to +itself, and it fell perpendicularly and with great rapidity. Birds are +certainly not able to maintain themselves at such elevations. + +“It is notable that the atmosphere, which was of a perfect purity near +the earth, was grey and misty above our heads, and the beautiful blue +sky seen from the surface did not exist for us, although the weather was +calm and serene, and the day the most beautiful that could be. The sun +did not seem dazzling to us, and its heat was diminished owing to our +elevation. + +“At half-past eleven, the balloon was no longer visible from Hamburg. +The heavens were so pure beneath us that everything was distinctly seen +by us, though very much diminished by distance. At 11.40, the town of +Hamburg seemed only a red point in our eyes; the Elbe looked like +a straight ribbon. I wished to make use of an opera-glass, but what +surprised me was that when I lifted it up it was so cold that I had to +wrap my handkerchief around it to enable me to hold it. + +“Not being able to support our position any longer, we descended, after +having used up much gas and ballast. Our descent caused that degree +of terror among the inhabitants which the size of our balloon was +calculated to inspire in a country where such machines had never before +been seen. We descended above a poor village called Radenburg, a place +amid the heaths of Hanover. Our appearance caused great alarm, and even +the beasts of the field fled from us. + +“While our balloon rapidly approached the earth, we waved our hats and +flags, and shouted to the inhabitants, but our voices only increased +their terror. The villagers rushed away with cries of terror, leaving +their herds, whose bellowings increased the general alarm. When the +balloon touched the ground, every man had shut himself up in his own +house. Having appealed in vain, and fearing that the villagers might do +us some injury, we resolved to re-ascend. + +“In making this second ascent, we threw over all our ballast; but in +this we were imprudent, for after sailing about at a great height, and +having lost much gas, I perceived that our descent would be very +rapid, and to provide against accident, I gathered together all the +instruments, the bread, the ropes, and even such money as we had with +us, and placed them in three sacks, to which I attached a rope of a +hundred feet in length. This precaution saved us a shock. The weight, +amounting to thirty pounds, reached the ground before us, and the +balloon, thus lightened, came softly to the ground between Wichtenbech +and Hanover, after having run twenty-five leagues in five and a half +hours.” + +After this ascent Robertson became acquainted with some savants of +Hamburg, and amongst others with Professor Pfaff, who was interested +in aerial travelling as a means of settling certain meteorological +problems. Some days after Robertson’s ascent, the professor wrote to +him-- + +“You speak of a certain height at which the hydrogen gas will find +itself in equilibrium in the air of the atmosphere. I believe that this +height is the extremity of the atmosphere itself; for as the gas has an +elasticity much greater than that of the air, it will go on dilating as +it mounts into the higher regions of the atmosphere, and its specific +weight will diminish as the weight of atmospheric air diminishes; and it +will not cease to mount until it rises above the atmosphere itself, if +two conditions be completely fulfilled--1, the condition that the gas +may be allowed to dilate without leaving the balloon as it rises; 2, +the condition that the gas shall not be allowed to mix at all with the +atmospheric air.” + +Another ascent was arranged for the 14th of August, in which Robertson +was to be accompanied by the professor, but the latter, yielding to the +entreaties of his family, did not go. “I went up with my friend Lhoest,” + says Robertson, “at forty-two minutes past twelve midday. In a minute or +two we rose up between two masses of cloud, which seemed to open up and +offer us a passage. The upper surfaces of these clouds are not uniformly +level, like the under sides seen from the earth, but they are of a +conical or pyramidal shape. These imposing masses seem to precipitate +themselves upon the earth, as if to engulf it, but this optical illusion +was due to the apparent immobility of the balloon, which at the moment +was rising at the rate of about twenty feet per second. + +“The fear of losing the view of the Baltic, which we perceived between +the clouds at intervals, obliged us to renounce the project of rising as +high as on the last occasion. The barometer was at fifteen inches, and +the thermometer one degree below zero, when I let off two pigeons. + +“One descended in a diagonal direction, its wings half open but not +moving, with a swiftness which seemed that of a fall. The other flew +for an instant, and then placed itself upon the car, and did not wish to +quit us. Acting on the hint of Dr. Reimarus, I tried the same experiment +with butterflies, but the air was too much rarefied for them; they +attempted in vain to raise themselves by their wings, but they did not +forsake the car. + +“The wind continuing to carry me towards the sea, I resolved to bring +my observations to an end. I effected my descent in a meadow, near the +village of Rehorst, in Holstein, after having run sixteen leagues from +France in sixty-five minutes.” + +At the commencement of the year 1804, Laplace, at the Institute, +proposed to take advantage of the means offered by aerostation to verify +at great heights certain scientific points--as, for example, those which +concern magnetism. This proposition was made at a favourable time, and +was, so far, carried out in the best possible way. The aeronauts who +were appointed to carry out the expedition were Biot and Gay-Lussac, the +most enthusiastic aeronauts of the period. + +The following is their report:-- + +“We observed the animals we had with us at all the different heights, +and they did not appear to suffer in any manner. For ourselves, we +perceived no effect any more then a quickening of the pulse. At 10,000 +feet above the ground we set a little green-finch at liberty. He flew +out at once, but immediately returning, settled upon our cordage; +afterwards, setting out again, he flew to the earth, describing a very +tortuous line in his passage. We followed him with our eyes till he was +lost in the clouds. A pigeon, which we set free at the same elevation, +presented a very curious spectacle. Placed at liberty on the edge of the +car, he remained at rest for a number of instants, as if measuring the +length of his flight; then he launched himself into space, flying about +irregularly, as if to try his wings. Afterwards he began his descent +regularly, sweeping round and round in great circles, ever reaching +lower, until he also was lost in the clouds.” + +As to the voyagers themselves, this is how they speak of their situation +at the height of 3,000 yards:-- + +“About this elevation we observed our animals. They did not appear +to suffer from the rarity of the air, yet the barometer was at twenty +inches eight lines.. We were much surprised that we did not suffer from +the cold; on the contrary, the sun warmed us much. We had thrown aside +the gloves which had been put on board, and which were of no use to us. +Our pulses were very quick; that of M. Gay-Lussac, which is 62 in the +minute on ordinary occasions, now gave 80; and mine, which is ordinarily +89, gave 111. This acceleration was felt by both of us in nearly the +same proportion. Nevertheless, our respiration was in no way interfered +with, we experienced no illness, and our situation seemed to us +extremely agreeable.” + +The following is their report to the Galvanic Society-- + +“We have known for a long time that no animal can with safety pass into +an atmosphere much more dense or much more rare than that to which it +has been accustomed. In the first case it suffers from the outer air, +which presses upon it severely; in the second case there are liquids or +fluids in the animal’s body which, being less pressed against than +they should be, become dilated, and press against their coverings or +channels. In both cases the symptoms are nearly the same--pain, general +illness, buzzing in the ears, and even haemorrhage. The experience of +the diving-bell has long made us familiar with what aeronauts suffer. +Our colleague (Robertson), and his companion, have experienced these +effects in great intensity. They had swelled lips, their eyes bled, +their veins were dilated, and, what is very remarkable, they both +preserved a brown or red tinge which astonished those that had seen them +before they made the ascent. This distension of the blood-vessels would +necessarily produce an inconvenience and a difficulty in the muscular +action.” + + + +Chapter II. Ascent of M. Gay-Lussac Alone--Excursions of MM. Barral and +Bixio. + +Respecting this ascent, Arago states that M. Gay-Lussac has reduced to +their proper value the narratives of the physical pains which aeronauts +say they suffer in lofty aerial ascents. + +M. Gay-Lussac says:--“Having arrived at the most elevated point of +my ascent, 21,000 feet above sea level, my respiration was rendered +sensibly difficult, but I was far from experiencing any illness of a +kind to make me descend. My pulse and my breathing were very quick; +breathing very frequently in an extremely dry atmosphere, I should not +have been surprised if my throat had been so dry as to make it painful +to swallow bread.” + +After having finished his observations, which referred chiefly to the +magnetic needle, with all the tranquillity of a doctor in his study, +Gay-Lussac descended to the earth between Rouen and Dieppe, eighty +leagues from Paris. + +After the names of Robertson, Gay-Lussac, and Biot, science has +registered those of Barral and Bixio, two men whose aeronautic +achievements have enriched meteorology with more important discoveries, +perhaps, than any we have yet mentioned. + +These gentlemen had conceived the project of rising by means of a +balloon to a great height, in order to study, with the assistance of the +very best instruments in use in their day, a multitude of phenomena then +imperfectly known. The subjects to which they were specially to direct +their attention, were the law of the decrease of temperature in progress +upwards, the discovery of whether the chemical composition of the +atmosphere is the same throughout all its parts, the comparison of the +strength of the solar rays in the higher regions of the atmosphere +and on the surface of the earth, the ascertaining whether the light +reflected and transmitted by the clouds is or is not polarised, &c. + +All the preparations having been made in the garden of the Observatory +at Paris, the ascent took place on the 29th of June, 1850, at 10.27 +a.m., the balloon being filled with hydrogen gas. The first ascent was a +signal failure. It was found that the weather being bad, the envelope +of the balloon was torn in several places, and had to be mended in all +haste. Immediately preceding the moment of ascent, a torrent of rain +fell. But the voyagers were determined to ascend. They placed themselves +in the car, and, when thrown off from the fastenings, they rose through +the air with the speed of an arrow. The height to which the balloon +reached made it suddenly dilate, and the network, which was much too +small, was stretched to the utmost. The balloon was forced down upon +them by the dilation, and one of them, in the endeavour to work the +valve, made a rent in the lower part of the globe, from which the gas +escaping almost over the heads of the travellers, nearly choked them. +The escape of the gas had the usual result--the balloon descended +rapidly, and fell in a vineyard near Lugny, where they were found by +the peasants holding on to the trees by their legs and arms, and thus +attempting to stop the horizontal advance of the car. They had risen to +the height of over 17,000 feet, and they had descended from this height +in from four to five minutes. + +For all practical purposes, the ascent was a failure, and the aeronauts +immediately commenced preparations for a new voyage, which took place a +month afterwards. They rose to very great altitudes, but experienced no +illness from the rarefied air. M. Bixio did not feel the sharp pains in +the ears from which he had suffered on the former occasion. They passed +through a mass of cloud 15,000 feet in thickness, and they had not yet +passed quite through it, when at the height of over 21,000 feet from the +ground, they began to descend, their descent being caused by a rent in +the envelope of the balloon, from which the gas escaped. They might, in +throwing out the last of their ballast, have, perhaps, prolonged for a +little their sojourn in space, but the circumstances in which they were +placed did not permit them to make many more scientific observations +than those they had made, and thus they were obliged to submit to their +fate. When they had reached their greatest height, there seemed to open +up in the midst of the vaporous mass a brilliant space, from which they +could see the blue of heaven. The polariscope, directed towards this +region, showed an internal polarisation, but, when pointed to the side +where the mist still prevailed, there was no polarisation. + +An optical phenomenon of a remarkable kind was witnessed when the +voyagers had attained their highest point. They saw the sun through the +upper mists, looking quite white, as if shorn of its strength; and, at +the same time, below the horizontal plane, below their horizon, and at +an angular distance from the plane equal to that of the sun above it, +they saw a second sun, which resembled the reflection of the actual sun +in a sheet of water. It is natural to suppose that the second sun was +formed by the reflection of the sun’s rays upon the horizontal faces of +the ice crystals floating in this high cloud. + + + +Chapter III. Ascents of the Mssrs. Welsh, Glaisher and Coxwell. + +The most recent balloon ascents in England deserving attention have been +undertaken for scientific objects, and in this country, more than in +any other, it may be said that the conquest of the air has been made to +serve a practical end. + +In July, 1852, the Committee of the Kew Observatory resolved to +undertake a number of balloon voyages. This resolution was approved +of by the British Association for the Advancement of Science, and the +necessary instruments for making a number of meteorological observations +were prepared. The balloon employed was that of Mr. Green, who was +accompanied in his ascents by Mr. Welsh. The greatest height to which +Mr. Welsh rose was on the fourth ascent which took place on the 10th of +November, 1852. The balloon rose 22,930 feet, and the lowest temperature +observed was 26 degrees below zero. + +It is to Mr. Glaisher and Mr. Coxwell, however, that the highest +honours of scientific aerostation belong. The ascents made by these +gentlemen--Mr. Glaisher being the scientific observer, and Mr. Coxwell +the practical aeronaut--have become matters of history. Not only did +they, in the course of a large number of ascents undertaken under the +auspices of the British Association, succeed in gathering much valuable +meteorological information, but they reached a greater height than that +ever gained on any previous or subsequent occasion, and penetrated into +that distant region of the skies in which it has been satisfactorily +proved that no life can be long maintained. It was on the 5th of +September, 1862, that Mr. Glaisher and Mr. Coxwell made the famous +ascent in which they reached the greatest height ever attained by an +aeronaut, and were so nearly sacrificed to their unselfish daring. Mr. +Glaisher has given an admirable account of this ascent, which took place +from Wolverhampton. He says:--“Our ascent had been delayed, owing to the +unfavourable state of the weather. It commenced at three minutes past +one p.m., the temperature of the air being 59 degrees, and the dew-point +48 degrees. At the height of one mile the temperature was 41 degrees +and the dew-point 38 degrees. Shortly after wards clouds were entered +of about 1,100 feet in thickness. Upon emerging from them at seventeen +minutes past one, I tried to take a view of their surface with the +camera, but the balloon was ascending too rapidly and spiraling too +quickly to allow me to do so. The height of two miles was reached at +twenty-one minutes past one. The temperature of the air had fallen to +32 degrees and the dew-point to 26 degrees. The third mile was passed +at twenty-eight minutes past one, with an air temperature of 18 degrees, +and a dew-point of 13 degrees. The fourth mile was passed at thirty-nine +minutes past one, with an air temperature of 8 degrees, and a dew-point +of minus 6 degrees and the fifth mile about ten minutes later, with an +air temperature minus 5 degrees, and a dew-point minus 36 degrees. + +“Up to this time I had experienced no particular inconvenience. When at +the height of 26,000 feet I could not see the fine column of the mercury +in the tube; then the fine divisions on the scale of the instrument +became invisible. At that time I asked Mr. Coxwell to help me to read +the instruments, as I experienced a difficulty in seeing them. In +consequence of the rotary motion of the balloon, which had continued +without ceasing since the earth was left, the valve line had become +twisted, and he had to leave the car, and to mount into the ring above +to adjust it. At that time I had no suspicion of other than temporary +inconvenience in seeing. Shortly afterwards I laid my arm upon the +table, possessed of its full vigour; but directly after, being +desirous of using it, I found it powerless. It must have lost its power +momentarily. I then tried to move the other arm, but found it powerless +also. I next tried to shake myself, and succeeded in shaking my body. I +seemed to have no legs. I could only shake my body. I then looked at the +barometer, and whilst I was doing so my head fell on my left shoulder. I +struggled, and shook my body again, but could not move my arms. I got +my head upright, but for an instant only, when it fell on my right +shoulder; and then I fell backwards, my back resting against the side of +the car, and my head on its edge. In that position my eyes were directed +towards Mr. Coxwell in the ring. When I shook my body I seemed to have +full power over the muscles of the back, and considerable power over +those of the neck, but none over my limbs. As in the case of the arms, +all muscular power was lost in an instant from my back and neck. I dimly +saw Mr. Coxwell in the ring, and endeavoured to speak, but could not +do so; when in an instant intense black darkness came over me, and the +optic nerve lost power suddenly. I was still conscious, with as active a +brain as whilst writing this. I thought I had been seized with asphyxia, +and that I should experience no more, as death would come unless we +speedily descended. Other thoughts were actively entering my mind when I +suddenly became unconscious, as though going to sleep. I could not +tell anything about the sense of hearing: the perfect stillness of the +regions six miles from the earth--and at that time we were between six +and seven miles high--is such that no sound reaches the ear. My last +observation was made at 29,000 feet, about fifty-four minutes past +one. I suppose two or three minutes elapsed between my eyes becoming +insensible to seeing the fine divisions and fifty-four minutes past one, +and that other two or three minutes elapsed before I became unconscious; +therefore I think that took place about fifty-six or fifty-seven +minutes past one. Whilst powerless I heard the words ‘temperature,’ and +‘observation,’ and I knew Mr. Coxwell was in the car, speaking to me, +and endeavouring to rouse me; and therefore consciousness and hearing +had returned. I then heard him speak more emphatically, but I could not +speak or move. Then I heard him say, ‘Do try; now do!’ Then I saw the +instruments dimly, next Mr. Coxwell, and very shortly I saw clearly. I +rose in my seat and looked round, as though waking from sleep, and said +to Mr. Coxwell, ‘I have been insensible.’ He said, ‘Yes; and I too, very +nearly.’ I then drew up my legs, which had been extended out before +me, and took a pencil in my hand to note my observations. Mr. Coxwell +informed me that he had lost the use of his hands, which were black, and +I poured brandy over them. I resumed my observations at seven minutes +past two. I suppose three or four minutes were occupied from the time of +my hearing the words ‘temperature’ and ‘observation,’ until I began to +observe. If so, then returning consciousness came at four minutes past +two, and that gives about seven minutes of total insensibility. Mr. +Coxwell told me that in coming from the ring he thought for a moment +that I had laid back to rest myself; that he spoke to me without +eliciting a reply; that he then noticed that my legs projected, and my +arms hung down by my side. That my countenance was serene and placid, +without earnestness or anxiety, he had noticed before going into the +ring. It then struck him that I was insensible. He wished then to +approach me, but could not, and he felt insensibility coming over +himself. He became anxious to open the valve, but, in consequence of +having lost the use of his hands, he could not; and ultimately he did +so by seizing the cord with his teeth and dipping his head two or three +times. No inconvenience followed our insensibility. When we dropped it +was in a country where no accommodation of any kind could be obtained, +so that we had to walk between seven and eight miles. At the time of +ceasing our observations the ascent was at the rate of 1,000 feet per +minute, and on resuming observations the descent was at the rate of +2,000 feet per minute. These two positions must be connected, having +relation to the interval of time which elapsed between them; and they +can scarcely be connected at a point less than 36,000 or 37,000 feet +high. Again, a very delicate minimum thermometer was found to read +minus 12 degrees, and that reading would indicate an elevation exceeding +36,000 feet. There cannot be any doubt that the balloon attained the +great height of seven miles--the greatest ever reached. In this ascent +six pigeons were taken up. One was thrown out at three miles. It +extended its wings, and dropped like a piece of paper. A second at four +miles, and it flew with vigour. A third between four and five miles, and +it fell downwards. A fourth was thrown out at four miles in descending, +and it alighted on the top of the balloon. Two were brought to the +ground. One was dead, and the other was ill, but recovered so as to fly +away in a quarter of an hour.” + +The results gathered by Mr. Glaisher from his numerous ascents are very +interesting. He found that in no instance did the temperature of the air +decrease uniformly with the increase of height. In fact, the decrease +in the first mile is double that in the second, and nearly four times as +great as the change of temperature in the fifth mile. The distribution +of aqueous vapour in the air is no less remarkable. The temperature +of the dew-point on leaving the earth decreases less rapidly than +the temperature of the air; so that the difference between the two +temperatures becomes less and less, till the vapour or cloud plane is +reached, when they are usually together, and always most nearly approach +each other, and that point is usually at about the height of one mile. +On leaving the upper surface of cloud, the dew point decreases more +rapidly than the air, and at extremely high situations the difference +between the two temperatures is wonderfully great, indicating an +extraordinary degree of dryness, and an almost entire absence of water. +Under these circumstances, the presence of cirrus clouds far above this +dry region, apparently as much above as when viewed from the earth, is +very remarkable, and leads to the conclusion that they are not composed +of water. + +In the propagation of sound, M. Glaisher made many curious experiments. +In one ascent (July 17th) he found, when at a distance of 11,800 feet +above the earth, that a band was heard; at a height of 22,000 feet, a +clap of thunder was heard; and at a height of 10,070 feet, the report of +a gun was heard. On one occasion, he heard the dull hum of London at +a height of 9,000 feet above the city, and on another occasion, the +shouting of many thousands of persons could not be heard at the height +of 4,000 feet. + + + +Chapter IV. Balloons Made Useful in Warfare. + + Wars of the French Republic--Company of “Ballooneers”-- + Battle of Fleurus--The Balloons of Egypt--Napoleon--Modern + Services War in Italy--War in America--Conclusion. + +We will conclude our work with a glance at aerostation as applied to +warfare. Scarcely had the first ascents astonished the world, than the +more adventurous spirits began to use the new discovery for a thousand +purposes directly useful to man. The first point of view in which +aerostation was regarded, was in that of its practical utility If one +refers to the pre-occupations of the time--to the great events then +occurring in the history of France, one will easily understand that the +Committee of Public Safety soon thought of employing balloons in the +observation of the forces and the movements of hostile troops. In +1794, the idea was practically carried out, and the French armies were +provided with two companies of aeronauts. The command of one of these +companies was given to Captain Coutelle, a young physicist of great +talent, who rendered memorable services at the battle of Fleurus. The +balloons were not thrown free, but were retained attached by means +of long cords. In this way they took up, so to speak, aerial posts of +observation. Placed in his car, the captain transmitted his instructions +to his men below by means of coloured flags. Coutelle has left us a +lively narrative of certain incidents connected with one of the grand +days of the old Republic. He had been commissioned by the Committee of +Public Safety to go to Maubeuge, where Jourdan’s army was encamped, +and to offer him the use of his balloon. The representative to whom the +young doctor presented his commission, knew nothing about balloons, +and not being able to understand the order of the Committee of Public +Safety, it suddenly dawned upon him that Coutelle, with his trumpery +forgery about balloons, was nothing else than a spy, and he was about to +have him shot. The genuineness of the order from the Committee, however, +was proved, and Coutelle’s case was listened to. + +“The army was at Beaumont,” says Coutelle, “and the enemy, placed at a +distance of only three miles, could attack at any moment. The general +told me this fact, and engaged me to return and communicate it to the +Committee. This I did. The Commission then felt the necessity of making +an experiment with a balloon that could raise two persons, and the +minister placed at my service the garden and the little mansion of +Meudon. Many of the members of the Commission came to witness the first +ascent of a balloon held in hand, like a kite, by means of two cords. +The Commissioners ordered me to place myself in the car, and instructed +me as to a number of signals which I must repeat, and observations which +I must make. I raised myself to the full length of the cord, a height +of 1,500 feet, and at this height, with the help of a glass, I could +distinctly see the seven bends of the river Seine. On returning to the +earth, I received the compliments of the Commission. + +“Arrived at Maubeuge, my first care was to find a suitable spot to erect +my furnace, and to make every preparation for the arrival of my balloon +from Meudon. Each day my observations contained something new either in +the works which the Austrians had thrown up during the night, or in the +arrangement of their forces. On the fifth day a piece of cannon had been +brought to bear upon the balloon, and shots were fired at me as soon as +I appeared above the ramparts. None of the shots took effect, and on the +following day the piece was no longer in position. Experience enforced +upon me the necessity of forming some provision against these unexpected +attacks. I employed the night in fixing cords all round the middle of my +balloon. Each of the aerostiers had charge of one of the ropes, and +by means of them I could easily move about, and thus get myself out +of range of any gun that had been trained to bear against me. I was +afterwards ordered to make a reconnaissance at Mayence, and I posted +myself between our lines and the enemy at half range of cannon. When the +wind, which was tempestuous at first, became calmer, I was able to count +the number of cannon on the ramparts, as well as the troops that marched +through the streets and in the squares. + +“Generally the soldiers of the enemy, all who saw the observer watching +them and taking notes, came to the idea that they could do nothing +without being seen. Our soldiers were of the same opinion, and +consequently they regarded us with great admiration and trust. On the +heavy marches they brought us prepared food and wine, which my men were +hardly able to get for themselves, so closely did they require to attend +to the ropes. We were encamped upon the banks of the Rhine at Manheim +when our general sent me to the opposite bank to parley. As soon as the +Austrian officers were made aware that I commanded the balloon, I was +overwhelmed with questions and compliments. + +“What causes an impression which, till one is accustomed to it, is very +alarming, is the noise which the balloon makes when it is struck by +successive gales of wind. When the wind has passed, the balloon, which +has been pressed into a concave form by the wind, suddenly resumes its +globular form with a loud noise heard at a great distance. The silk of +the balloon would often burst in a case of this kind, were it not for +the restraining power of the network.” + +After the days of Coutelle we do not read that balloons were made much +use of in warfare. The only ascent in the Egypt campaign was that of +a tricolor balloon thrown up to commemorate a fete. That Napoleon knew +full well the value of the scientific discoveries of his time is clear +from the following conversation with a learned Mohammedan, which took +place in the great pyramid of Cheops:-- + +Mussamed. “Noble successor of Alexander, honour to shine invincible +arms, and to the unexpected lightning with which your warriors are +furnished.” + +Bonaparte. “Do you believe that that lightning is the work of the +children of men? Allah has placed it in our hands by means of the genius +of war.” + +Mussamed. “We recognised by your arms that it is Allah that has sent +you--the Delta and all the neighbouring countries are full of thy +miracles. But would you be a conqueror if Allah did not permit you?” + +Bonaparte. “A celestial body will point by my orders to the dwelling of +the clouds, and lightning will descend towards the earth, along a rod of +metal from which I can call it forth.” + +Napoleon did not favour the use of balloons in war. Perhaps it was +because he himself had such a splendid genius for war that he depended +alone upon himself, and scorned assistance. Perhaps it was because if +balloons were discovered to be of real utility, his enemies might make +use of them as well as himself, and France retain no special advantage +in them. But however this may be, on his return from Egypt he sold +the balloon of Fleurus to Robertson. The company of ballooneers was +dissolved, and the balloons themselves disappeared in smoke. + +During the war in America, the role which the balloon played was a more +important one. The Government of the United States conferred the title +of aeronautic engineer upon Mr. Allan, of Rhode Island, who originated +the idea of communicating by a telegraphic wire from the balloon to +the camp. The first telegraphic message which was transmitted from +the aerial regions is that of Professor Love, at Washington, to the +President of the United States. The following is this despatch:-- + +“WASHINGTON, Balloon the ‘Enterprise.’ + +“SIR,--The point of observation commands an extent of nearly fifty miles +in diameter. The city, with its girdle of encampments, presents a superb +scene. I have great pleasure in sending you this despatch--the first +that has been telegraphed from an aerial station--and to know that I +should be so much encouraged, from having given the first proof that the +aeronautic science can render great assistance in these countries.” + +In the month of September, 1861, one of the most hardy aeronauts (La +Mountain) furnished important information to General M’Clellan. The +balloon of La Mountain, which arose from the northern camp upon the +Potomac, passed above Washington. La Mountain then cut the cord that +connected his balloon with the earth, and rising rapidly to the height +of a mile and a half, he found himself directly above his enemies’ +lines. There he was able to observe perfectly their position and their +movements. He then threw over ballast, and ascended to the height of +three miles. At this height he encountered a current which carried him +in the direction of Maryland, where he descended in safety. General +M’Clellan was so much satisfied with the observations taken in the +balloon, that, at his request, the order was given to the War Department +to construct four new balloons. + +If this volume of “The Library of Wonders” had not had for its single +object “balloons and their history,” we would have devoted a chapter +to the numerous attempts made to steer balloons. We shall only say here +that aerial navigation should be divided into two kinds with balloons, +and without balloons. In the first case, it is limited to the study of +aerial currents, and to the art of rising to those currents which suit +the direction of the voyage undertaken. The balloon is not the master +of the atmosphere; on the contrary, it is its powerless slave. In the +second case, the discovery of Montgolfier is useless; and the question +is, to find out a new machine capable of flying in the air, and at +the same time heavier than the air. Birds are, without doubt, the best +models to study. But with what force shall we replace LIFE? The air-boat +of M. Pline seems to us one of the best ideas; but the working of it +presents many difficulties. Let us find a motive power at once light +and powerful (aluminium and electricity, for example), and we will have +definitively conquered the empire of the air. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg’s Wonderful Balloon Ascents, by Fulgence Marion + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WONDERFUL BALLOON ASCENTS *** + +***** This file should be named 899-0.txt or 899-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/9/899/ + +Produced by Dianne Bean + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Wonderful Balloon Ascents + or, the Conquest of the Skies + +Author: Fulgence Marion + +Release Date: August 10, 2008 [EBook #899] +Last Updated: November 11, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WONDERFUL BALLOON ASCENTS *** + + + + +Produced by Dianne Bean, and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + WONDERFUL BALLOON ASCENTS + </h1> + <h1> + or, the Conquest of the Skies + </h1> + <h2> + A History of Balloons and Balloon Voyages + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By F. Marion + </h2> + <h3> + 1870 + </h3> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img src="images/12darlandes.jpg" alt="12darlandes (107K)" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img alt="14firstaervoy (123K)" src="images/14firstaervoy.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + le <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PREF"> PREFACE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_LIST"> <big><b>List of Illustrations</b></big> </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> <big><b>BALLOONS AND AIR JOURNEYS.</b></big> + </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PART1"> <b>PART I. THE CONQUEST OF THE SKIES.—1783.</b> + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> Chapter I. Introduction. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> Chapter II. Attempts in Ancient Times to Fly in + the Air. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> Chapter III. The Theory of Balloons. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> Chapter IV. First Public Trial of the Balloon. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> Chapter V. Second Experiment. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> Chapter VI. Third Experiment. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> Chapter VII. Fourth Experiment. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> Chapter VIII. Men and Balloons. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> Chapter IX. The First Aerial Voyage—Roziers + and Arlandes. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> Chapter X. The Second Arial Voyage. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PART2"> <b>PART II.The History of Aerostation from the + Year 1783.</b> </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> Chapter I. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> Chapter II. Experiments and Studies—Blanchard + at Paris—Guyton de Morveau at Dijon. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> Chapter III. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> Chapter IV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> Chapter V. First Aerial Voyage in England—Blanchard + Crosses the Sea in a Balloon. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> Chapter VI. Zambeccari’s Perilous Trip Across + the Adriatic Sea. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0017"> Chapter VII. Garnerin—Parachutes—Aerostation + at Public Fetes. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> Chapter VIII. Green’s Great Journey Across + Europe. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0019"> Chapter IX. The “Geant” Balloon. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0020"> Chapter X. The Necrology of Aeronautic </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PART3"> <b>PART III. Scientific Experiments—Applications + of Ballooning.</b> </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0021"> Chapter I. Experiments of Robertson, Lhoest, + Saccarof, &c. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0022"> Chapter II. Ascent of M. Gay-Lussac Alone—Excursions + of MM. Barral and Bixio. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0023"> Chapter III. Ascents of the Mssrs. Welsh, + Glaisher and Coxwell. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0024"> Chapter IV. Balloons Made Useful in Warfare. + </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0031"> <b>Advertisements in the back of the book</b> + </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img alt="11versailles (107K)" src="images/11versailles.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img alt="21dijon (114K)" src="images/21dijon.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + Many other illustrations may be viewed in the List of Illustrations below + </h5> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_PREF" id="link2H_PREF"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PREFACE + </h2> + <p> + “Let posterity know, and knowing be astonished, that on the fifteenth day + of September, 1784, Vincent Lunardi of Lucca, in Tuscany, the first aerial + traveller in Britain, mounting from the Artillery Ground in London, and + traversing the regions of the air for two hours and fifteen minutes, on + this spot revisited the earth. In this rude monument for ages be recorded + this wondrous enterprise successfully achieved by the powers of chemistry + and the fortitude of man, this improvement in science which the great + Author of all Knowledge, patronising by his Providence the inventions of + mankind, hath graciously permitted, to their benefit and his own eternal + glory.” + </p> + <p> + The stone upon which the above inscription was carved, stands, or stood + recently, near Collier’s End, in the parish of Standon, Hertfordshire; and + it will possibly afford the English reader a more accurate idea of the + feelings with which the world hailed the discovery of the balloon than any + incident or illustration drawn from the annals of a foreign country. + </p> + <p> + The work which we now introduce to our readers does not exaggerate the + case when it declares that no discovery of modern times has aroused so + large an amount of enthusiasm, has excited so many hopes, has appeared to + the human race to open up so many vistas of enterprise and research, as + that for which we are mainly indebted to the Brothers Montgolfier. The + discovery or the invention of the balloon, however, was one of those + efforts of genius and enterprise which have no infancy. It had reached its + full growth when it burst upon the world, and the ninety years which have + since elapsed have witnessed no development of the original idea. The + balloon of to-day—the balloon in which Coxwell and Glaisher have + made their perilous trips into the remote regions of the air—is in + almost every respect the same as the balloon with which “the physician + Charles,” following in the footsteps of the Montgolfiers, astonished Paris + in 1783. There are few more tantalising stories in the annals of invention + than this. So much had been accomplished when Roziers made his first + aerial voyage above the astonished capital of France that all the rest + seemed easy. The new highway appeared to have been thrown open to the + world, and the dullest imagination saw the air thronged with colossal + chariots, bearing travellers in perfect safety, and with more than the + speed of the eagle, from city to city, from country to country, reckless + of all the obstacles—the seas, and rivers, and mountains—which + Nature might have placed in the path of the wayfarer. But from that moment + to the present the prospect which was thus opened up has remained a vision + and nothing more. There are—as those who visited the Crystal Palace + two years ago have reason to know—not a few men who still believe in + the practicability of journeying by air. But, with hardly an exception, + those few have abandoned all idea of utilising the balloon for this + purpose. The graceful “machine” which astonished the world at its birth + remains to this day as beautiful, and as useless for the purposes of + travel, as in the first hour of its history. The day may come when some + one more fortunate than the Montgolfiers may earn the Duke of Sutherland’s + offered reward by a successful flight from the Mall to the top of Stafford + House; but when this comes to pass the balloon will have no share in the + honour of the achievement. Not the less, however, is the story of this + wonderful invention worthy of being recorded. It deserves a place in the + history of human enterprise—if for nothing else—because of the + daring courage which it has in so many cases brought to light. From the + days of Roziers down to those of Coxwell, our aeronauts have fearlessly + tempted dangers not less terrible than those which face the soldier as he + enters the imminent deadly breach; and, as one of the chapters in this + volume mournfully proves, not a few of their number have paid the penalty + of their rash courage with their lives. All the more is it to be regretted + that so little practical good has resulted from their labours and their + sacrifices; and that so many of those who have perished in balloon voyages + have done so whilst serving to better end than the amusement of a holiday + crowd. There is, however, another aspect which makes at least the earlier + history of the balloon well worth preserving. This is the influence which + the invention had upon the generation which witnessed it. As these pages + show, the people of Europe seem to have been absolutely intoxicated by the + success of the Montgolfiers’ discovery. There is something bitterly + suggestive in our knowledge of this fact. Whilst pensions and honours and + popular applause were being showered upon the inventors of the balloon, + Watt was labouring unnoticed at his improvements of the steam-engine—a + very prosaic affair compared with the gilded globe which Montgolfier had + caused to rise from earth amidst the acclamations of a hundred thousand + spectators, but one which had before it a somewhat different history to + that of the more startling invention. England, when it remembers the story + of the steam-engine, has little need to grudge France the honour of + discovering the balloon. After all, however, Great Britain had its share + in that discovery. The early observations of Francis Bacon and Bishop + Wilkins paved the way for the later achievement, whilst it was our own + Cavendish who discovered that hydrogen gas was lighter than air; and Dr. + Black of Edinburgh, who first employed that gas to raise a globe in which + it was contained from the earth. The Scotch professor, we are told, + thought that the discovery which he made when he sent his little + tissue-paper balloon from his lecture-table to the ceiling of his + classroom, was of no use except as affording the means of making an + interesting experiment. Possibly our readers, after they have perused this + volume, may think that Dr Black was not after all so far wrong as people + once imagined. Be this as it may, however, in these pages is the history + of the balloon, and of the most memorable balloon voyages, and we + comprehend the story to our readers not the less cordially that it comes + from the land where the balloon had its birth. + </p> + <p> + London, January, 1870. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_LIST" id="link2H_LIST"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + List of Illustrations + </h2> + <h4> + Click on any of the Illustrations + </h4> +<pre xml:space="preserve"><b> + 01. <a href="images/01lana.jpg">Lana’s Flying Machine</a> + 02. <a href="images/02Guzman.jpg">Laurent de Guzman’s Balloon</a> + 03. <a href="images/03flyingman.jpg">The Flying Man</a> + 04. <a href="images/04inflating.jpg">Inflating Balloon with Hydrogen</a> + 05. <a href="images/05parachute.jpg">The Parachute</a> + 06. <a href="images/06garnerin.jpg">Garnerin’s Descent in a Parachute</a> + 07. <a href="images/07montgolfbros.jpg">The Brothers Montgolfier</a> + 08. <a href="images/08charles.jpg">Charles’s Balloon on its way to the Champ de Mars</a> + 09. <a href="images/09charles.jpg">The Ascent of Charles’s Balloon from the Champ de Mars</a> + 10. <a href="images/10charles.jpg">The Destruction of Charles’s Balloon</a> + 11. <a href="images/11versailles.jpg">Ascent of the 19th September, 1783, at Versailles</a> + 12. <a href="images/12darlandes.jpg">Balloon of the Marquis D’Arlandes</a> + 13. <a href="images/13darlandes.jpg">The Balloon of D’Arlandes crossing Paris</a> + 14. <a href="images/14firstaervoy.jpg">The First Aerial Voyage</a> + 15. <a href="images/15charles.jpg">Monsieur Charles and the Duke of Chartres</a> + 16. <a href="images/16bagnolet.jpg">Bagnolet’s Balloon</a> + 17. <a href="images/17flesselles.jpg">Le Flesselles</a> + 18. <a href="images/18blanchard.jpg">Blanchard’s Balloon</a> + 19. <a href="images/19blanchard.jpg">Blanchard’s Ascent, (Caricature)</a> + 20. <a href="images/20blanchard.jpg">Blanchard’s Descent</a> + 21. <a href="images/21dijon.jpg">Ascent from Dijon, 1784</a> + 22. <a href="images/22chartres.jpg">Ascent of the Duke of Chartres</a> + 23. <a href="images/23minerva.jpg">The “Minerva"</a> + 24. <a href="images/24england.jpg">The First Attempt to Ascend in England</a> + 25. <a href="images/25blanchard.jpg">Blanchard</a> + 26. <a href="images/26jeffries.jpg">Dr. Jeffries</a> + 27. <a href="images/27fete.jpg">Coronation fete at Paris</a> + 28. <a href="images/28geant.jpg">The Wreck of the “Geant"</a> + 29. <a href="images/29roziers.jpg">Pilatre des Roziers</a> + 30. <a href="images/30fleurus.jpg">Employment of a Balloon at the Battle of Fleurus</a></b> +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + BALLOONS AND AIR JOURNEYS. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2H_PART1" id="link2H_PART1"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img alt="28geant (126K)" src="images/28geant.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PART I. THE CONQUEST OF THE SKIES.—1783. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter I. Introduction. + </h2> + <p> + The title of our introduction to aeronautics may appear ambitious to + astronomers, and to those who know that the infinite space we call the + heavens is for ever inaccessible to travellers from the earth; but it was + not so considered by those who witnessed the ardent enthusiasm evoked at + the ascension of the first balloon. No discovery, in the whole range of + history, has elicited an equal degree of applause and admiration—never + has the genius of man won a triumph which at first blush seemed more + glorious. The mathematical and physical sciences had in aeronautics + achieved apparently their greatest honours, and inaugurated a new era in + the progress of knowledge. After having subjected the earth to their + power; after having made the waves of the sea stoop in submission under + the keels of their ships; after having caught the lightning of heaven and + made it subservient to the ordinary purposes of life, the genius of man + undertook to conquer the regions of the air. Imagination, intoxicated with + past successes, could descry no limit to human power; the gates of the + infinite seemed to be swinging back before man’s advancing step, and the + last was believed to be the greatest of his achievements. + </p> + <p> + In order to comprehend the frenzy of the enthusiasm which the first + aeronautic triumphs called forth, it is necessary to recall the appearance + of Montgolfier at Versailles, on the 19th of September, 1783, before Louis + XVI, or of the earliest aeronauts at the Tuileries. Paris hailed the first + of these men with the greatest acclaim, “and then, as now,” says a French + writer, “the voice of Paris gave the cue to France, and France to the + world!” Nobles and artisans, scientific men and badauds, great and small, + were moved with one universal impulse. In the streets the praises of the + balloon were sung; in the libraries models of it abounded; and in the + salons the one universal topic was the great “machine.” In anticipation, + the poet delighted himself with bird’s-eye views of the scenery of strange + countries; the prisoner mused on what might be a new way of escape; the + physicist visited the laboratory in which the lightning and the meteors + were manufactured; the geometrician beheld the plans of cities and the + outlines of kingdoms; the general discovered the position of the enemy or + rained shells on the besieged town; the police beheld a new mode in which + to carry on the secret service; Hope heralded a new conquest from the + domain of nature, and the historian registered a new chapter in the annals + of human knowledge. + </p> + <p> + “Scientific discoveries in general,” says Arago, “even those from which + men expect the most advantage, like those of the compass and the + steam-engine, were greeted at first with contempt, or at the best with + indifference. Political events, and the fortunes of armies monopolised + almost entirely the attention of the people. But to this rule there are + two exceptions—the discoveries of America and of aerostatics, the + advents of Columbus and of Montgolfier.” It is not here our duty to + inquire how it happened that the discoveries made by these two personages + are classed together. Air-travelling may be as unproductive of actual good + to society as filling the belly with the “east wind” is to the body, while + every one knows something of the extent to which the discovery of Columbus + has influenced the character, the civilisation, the destinies, in short, + of the human race. We are speaking at present of the known and + well-attested fact, that the discovery of America and the discovery of the + method of traversing space by means of balloons—however they may + differ in respect of results to man—rank equally in this, that of + all other discoveries these two have attracted the greatest amount of + attention, and given, in their respective eras, the greatest impulse to + popular feeling. Let the reader recall the marks of enthusiasm which the + discovery of the islands on the east coast of America excited in + Andalusia, in Catalonia, in Aragon and Castile—let him read the + narrative of the honours paid by town and village, not only to the hero of + the enterprise, but even to his commonest sailors, and then let him search + the records of the epoch for the degree of sensation produced by the + discovery of aeronautics in France, which stands in the same relationship + to this event as that in which Spain stands to the other. The processions + of Seville and Barcelona are the exact prototypes of the fetes of Lyons + and Paris. In France, in 1783, as in Spain two centuries previously, the + popular imagination was so greatly excited by the deeds performed, that it + began to believe in possibilities of the most unlikely description. In + Spain, the conquestadores and their followers believed that in a few days + after they had landed on American soil, they would have gathered as much + gold and precious stones, as were then possessed by the richest European + Sovereigns. In France, each one following his own notions, made out for + himself special benefits to flow from the discovery of balloons. Every + discovery then appeared to be only the precursor of other and greater + discoveries, and nothing after that time seemed to be impossible to him + who attempted the conquest of the atmosphere. This idea clothed itself in + every form. The young embraced it with enthusiasm, the old made it the + subject of endless regrets. When one of the first aeronautic ascents was + made, the old Marechal Villeroi, an octogenarian and an invalid, was + conducted to one of the windows of the Tuileries, almost by force, for he + did not believe in balloons. The balloon, meanwhile, detached itself from + its moorings; the physician Charles, seated in the car, gaily saluted the + public, and was then majestically launched into space in his air-boat; and + at once the old Marechal, beholding this, passed suddenly from unbelief to + perfect faith in aerostatics and in the capacity of the human mind, fell + on his knees, and, with his eyes bathed in tears, moaned out pitifully the + words, “Yes, it is fixed! It is certain! They will find out the secret of + avoiding death; but it will be after I am gone!” + </p> + <p> + If we recall the impressions which the first air-journeys made, we shall + find that, among people of enthusiastic temperament, it was believed that + it was not merely the blue sky above us, not merely the terrestrial + atmosphere, but the vast spaces through which the worlds move, that were + to become the domain of man—the sea of the balloon. The moon, the + mysterious dwelling-place of men unknown, would no longer be an + inaccessible place. Space no longer contained regions which man could not + cross! Indeed, certain expeditions attempted the crossing of the heavens, + and brought back news of the moon. The planets that revolve round the sun, + the far-flying comets, the most distant stars—these formed the field + which from that time was to lie open to the investigations of man. + </p> + <p> + This enthusiasm one can well enough understand. There is in the simple + fact of an aerial ascent something so bold and so astonishing, that the + human spirit cannot fail to be profoundly stirred by it. And if this is + the feeling of men at the present day, when, after having been witnesses + of ascents for the last eighty years, they see men confiding themselves in + a swinging car into the immensities of space, what must have been the + astonishment of those who, for the first time since the commencement of + the world, beheld one of their fellow-creatures rolling in space, without + any other assurance of safety than what his still dim perception of the + laws of nature gave him? + </p> + <p> + Why should we be obliged here to state that the great discovery that + stirred the spirits of men from the one end of Europe to the other, and + gave rise to hopes of such vast discoveries, should have failed in + realising the expectations which seemed so clearly justified by the first + experiments? It is now eighty-six years since the first aerial journey + astonished the world, and yet, in 1870, we are but little more advanced in + the science than we were in 1783. Our age is the most renowned for its + discoveries of any that the world has seen. Man is borne over the surface + of the earth by steam; he is as familiar as the fish with the liquid + element; he transmits his words instantaneously from London to New York; + he draws pictures without pencil or brush, and has made the sun his slave. + The air alone remains to him unsubdued. The proper management of balloons + has not yet been discovered. More than that, it appears that balloons are + unmanageable, and it is to air-vessels, constructed more nearly upon the + model of birds, that we must go to find out the secret of aerial + navigation. At present, as in former times, we are at the mercy of + balloons—globes lighter than the air, and therefore the sport and + the prey of tempests and currents. And aeronauts, instead of showing + themselves now as the benefactors of mankind, exhibit themselves mainly to + gratify a frivolous curiosity, or to crown with eclat a public fete. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter II. Attempts in Ancient Times to Fly in the Air. + </h2> + <p> + Before contemplating the sudden conquest of the aerial kingdom, as + accomplished and proclaimed at the end of the last century, it is at once + curious and instructive to cast a glance backward, and to examine, by the + glimmering of ancient traditions, the attempts which have been made or + imagined by man to enfranchise himself from the attraction of the earth. + </p> + <p> + “The greater number of the arts and sciences can be traced along a + chronological ladder of great length: some, indeed, lose themselves in the + night of time.” The accomplishment of raising oneself in the air, however, + had no actual professors in antiquity, and the discovery of Montgolfier + seems to have come into the world, so to speak, spontaneously. By this it + is to be understood that, unlike Copernicus and Columbus, Montgolfier + could not read in history of any similar discovery, containing the germ of + his own feat. At least, we have no proof that the ancient nations + practiced the art of aerial navigation to any extent whatever. The + attempts which we are about to cite do not strictly belong to the history + of aerostatics. + </p> + <p> + Classic mythology tells us of Daedalus, who, escaping with his son Icarus + from the anger of Minos, in the Isle of Crete, saved himself from the + immediate evil by the aid of wings, which he made for himself and his son, + and by means of which they were enabled to fly in the air. The wings, it + appears, were soldered with wax, and Icarus, flying too high, was struck + by a ray of the sun, which melted the wax. The youth fell into the sea, + which from him derived its name of Icarian. It is possible that this fable + only symbolisms the introduction of sails in navigation. + </p> + <p> + Coming down through ancient history, we note a certain Archytas, of + Tarentum, who, in the fourth century B. C., is said to have launched into + the air the first “flying stag,” and who, according to the Greek writers, + “made a pigeon of wood, which flew, but which could not raise itself again + after having fallen.” Its flight, it is said, “was accomplished by means + of a mechanical contrivance, by the vibrations of which it was sustained + in the air.” + </p> + <p> + In the year 66 A.D., in the time of Nero, Simon, the magician—who + called himself “the mechanician”—made certain experiments at Rome of + flying at a certain height. In the eyes of the early Christians this power + was attributed to the devil, and St. Peter, the namesake of this flying + man, is said to have prayed fervently while Simon was amusing himself in + space. It was possibly in answer to his prayers that the magician failed + in his flight, fell upon the Forum, and broke his neck on the spot. + </p> + <p> + From the summit of the tower of the hippodrome at Constantinople, a + certain Saracen met the same fate as Simon, in the reign of the Emperor + Comnenus. His experiments were conducted on the principle of the inclined + plane. He descended in an oblique course, using the resistance of the air + as a support. His robe, very long and very large, and of which the flaps + were extended on an osier frame, preserved him from suddenly falling. + </p> + <p> + The inclined plane probably suggested to Milton the flight of the angel + Uriel, in “Paradise Lost,” who descended in the morning from heaven to + earth upon a ray of the sun, and ascended in the evening from earth to + heaven by the same means. But we cannot quote here the fancies of pure + imagination, and we will not speak of Medeus the magician, of the + enchantress Armida, of the witches of the Brocken, of the hippogriff of + Zephyrus with the rosy wings, or of the diabolical inventions of the + middle ages, for many of which the stake was the only reward. + </p> + <p> + Roger Bacon, in the thirteenth century, inaugurated a more scientific era. + In his “Treaty of the Admirable Power of Art and Nature,” he puts forth + the idea that it is possible “to make flying-machines in which the man, + being seated or suspended in the middle, might turn some winch or crank, + which would put in motion a suit of wings made to strike the air like + those of a bird.” In the same treatise he sketches a flying-machine, to + which that of Blanchard, who lived in the eighteenth century, bears a + certain resemblance. The monk, Roger Bacon, was worthy of entering the + temple of fame before his great namesake the Lord Chancellor, who in the + seventeenth century inaugurated the era of experimental science. + </p> + <p> + Jean Baptiste Dante, a mathematician of Perugia, who lived in the latter + part of the fifteenth century, constructed artificial wings, by means of + which, when applied to thin bodies, men might raise themselves off the + ground into the air. It is recorded that on many occasions he experimented + with his wings on the Lake Thrasymenus. These experiments, however, had a + sad end. At a fete, given for the celebration of the marriage of + Bartholomew d’Alvani, Dante, who must not be confounded with the poet, + whose flights were of quite another kind—offered to exhibit the + wonder of his wings to the people of Perugia. He managed to raise himself + to a great height, and flew above the square; but the iron with which he + moved one of his wings having been bent, he fell upon the church of the + Virgin, and broke his thigh. + </p> + <p> + A similar accident befell a learned English Benedictine Oliver of + Malmesbury. This ecclesiastic was considered gifted with the power of + foretelling events; but, like other similarly circumstanced, he does not + seem to have beer able to divine the fate which awaited himself. He + constructed wings after the model of those which according to Ovid, + Daedalus made use of. These he attached to his arms and his feet, and, + thus furnished, he threw himself from the height of a tower. But the wings + bore him up for little more than a distance of 120 paces. He fell at the + foot of the tower, broke his legs, and from that moment led a languishing + life. He consoled himself, however, in his misfortune by saying that his + attempt must certainly have succeeded had he only provided himself with a + tail. + </p> + <p> + Before going further, let us take notice that the seventeenth century is, + par excellence, the century distinguished for narratives of imaginary + travels. It was then that astronomy opened up its world of marvels. The + knowledge of observers was vastly increased, and from that time it became + possible to distinguish the surface of the moon and of other celestial + bodies. Thus a new world, as it were, was revealed for human thought and + speculation. We learned that our globe was not, as we had supposed, the + centre of the universe. It was assigned its place far from that centre, + and was known to be no more than a mere atom, lost amid an incalculable + number of other globes. The revelations of the telescope proved that those + who formerly were considered wise actually knew nothing. Quickly following + these discoveries, extraordinary narratives of excursions through space + began to be given to the world. + </p> + <p> + Those scientific romances were simply wild exaggerations, based upon the + thinnest foundation of scientific facts. In order, however, to describe a + journey among the stars, it was necessary to invent some mode of + locomotion in these distant regions. In former times Lucian had been + content with a ship which ascended to the rising moon upon a waterspout; + but it was now necessary to improve upon this very primitive mode, as + people began to know something more of the forces of nature. One of the + first of these travellers in imagination to the moon in modern times was + Godwin (1638), and his plan was more ingenious than that of Lucian. He + trained a great number of the wild swans of St. Helena to fly constantly + upward toward a white object, and, having succeeded in thus training them, + one fine night he threw himself off the Peak of Teneriffe, poised upon a + piece of board, which was borne upward to the white moon by a great team + of the gigantic swans. At the end of twelve days he arrived, according to + his story, at his destination. A little later another writer of this + peculiar kind of fiction, Wilkins, an Englishman, professed to have made + the same ascent, borne up by an eagle. Alexandre Dumas, who recently wrote + a short romance upon the same subject, only made a translation of an + English work by that author. Wilkins’ work is entitled, “The Discovery of + a New World.” One chapter of the book bears the title, “That ‘tis possible + for some of our posterity to find out a conveyance to this other world; + and, if there be inhabitants there, to have commerce with them.” It is + thus that the right reverend philosopher reasons:— + </p> + <p> + “If it be here inquired what means there may be conjectured for our + ascending beyond the sphere of the earth’s mathematical vigour, I answer.—1. + ‘Tis not possible that a man may be able to fly by the application of + wings to his own body, as angels are pictured, as Mercury and Daedalus are + feigned, and as hath been attempted by divers, particularly by a Turk in + Constantinople, a Busbequius relates. 2. If there be such a great duck in + Madagascar as Marcus Polus, the Venetian, mentions, the feathers of whose + wings are twelve feet long, which can scoop up a horse and his rider, or + an elephant, as our kites do a mouse; why, then, ‘Tis but teaching one of + these to carry a man, and he may ride up thither, as Ganymede does upon an + eagle. 3. Or if neither of these ways will serve yet I do seriously, and + upon good grounds, affirm it is possible to make a flying chariot, in + which a man may sit and give such a motion to it as shall convey him + through the air. And this, perhaps, might be made large enough to carry + divers men at the same time, together with food for their viaticum, and + commodities for traffic. It is not the bigness of anything in this kind + that can hinder its motion if the motive faculty be answerable “hereunto. + We see that; great ship swims as well as a small cork, and an eagle flies + in the air as well as a little gnat. This engine may be contrived from the + same principles by which Archytas made a wooden dove, and Regiomontanus a + wooden eagle. I conceive it were no difficult matter (if a man had + leisure) to show more particularly the means of composing it. The + perfecting of such an invention would be of such excellent use that it + were enough, not only to make a man famous but the age wherein he lives. + For, besides the strange discoveries that it might occasion in this other + world, it would be also of inconceivable advantage for travelling, above + any other conveyance that is now in use. So that, notwithstanding all + these seeming impossibilities, it is likely enough that there may be a + means invented of journeying to the moon; and how happy shall they be that + are first successful in this attempt!” + </p> + <p> + Afterwards comes Cyrano of Bergerac, who promulgates five different means + of flying in the air. First, by means of phials filled with dew, which + would attract and cause to mount up. Secondly, by a great bird made of + wood, the wings of which should be kept in motion. Thirdly, by rockets, + which, going off successively, would drive up the balloon by the force of + projection. Fourthly, by an octahedron of glass, heated by the sun, and of + which the lower part should be allowed to penetrate the dense cold air, + which, pressing up against the rarefied hot air, would raise the balloon. + Fifthly, by a car of iron and a ball of magnetised iron, which the + aeronaut would keep throwing up in the air, and which would attract and + draw up the balloon. The wiseacre who invented these modes of flying in + the air seems, some would say, to have been more in want of very strict + confinement on the earth than of the freedom of the skies. + </p> + <p> + In 1670 Francis Lana constructed the flying-machine shown on the next + page. The specific lightness of heated air and of hydrogen gas not having + yet been discovered, his only idea for making his globes rise was to take + all the air out of them. But even supposing that the globes were thus + rendered light enough to rise, they must inevitably have collapsed under + the atmospheric pressure. + </p> + <p> + As for the idea of making use of a sail to direct the balloon, as one + directs a vessel, that also was a delusion; for the whole machine, globes + and sails, being freely thrown into the air, would infallibly follow the + direction of the wind, whatever that might be. When a ship lies in the + sea, and its sails are inflated with the wind, we must remember that there + are two forces in operation—the active force of the wind and the + passive force of the resistance of the water; and in working these forces + the one against the other, the sailor can turn within a point of any + direction he pleases. But when we are subjected wholly to a single force, + and have no point of support by the use of which to turn that force to our + own purposes, as is the case with the aeronaut, we are entirely at the + mercy of that force, and must obey it. + </p> + <p> + After the flying-machine of Lana there was constructed by Galien (who, + like the former, was an ecclesiastic) an air-boat, less chimerical in its + form, looked at in view of the conditions of aerial navigation, but much + more singular. Galien describes his air-boat, in 1755, in his little work + entitled, “The Art of Sailing in the Air.” His project was a most + extraordinary one, and its boldness is only equalled by the seriousness of + the narrative. According to him, the atmosphere is divided into two + horizontal layers, the upper of which is much lighter than the lower. + “But,” says Galien, “a ship keeps its place in the water because it is + full of air, and air is much lighter than water. Suppose, then, that there + was the same difference of weight between the upper and the lower layer of + air as there is between the lower stratum and water; and suppose, also, a + boat which rested upon the lower layer of air, with its bulk in the + lighter upper layer—like a ship which has its keel in the water but + its bulk in the air—the same thing would happen with the air-ship as + with the water-ship—it would float in the denser layer of air.” + </p> + <p> + Galien adds that in the region of hail there was in the air a separation + into two layers, the weights of which respectively are as 1 to 2. “Then,” + says he, “in placing an air-boat in the region of hail, with its sides + rising eighty-three fathoms into the upper region, which is much more + light, one could sail perfectly.” + </p> + <p> + But how to get this enormous air-boat up to the region of hail? This is a + minor detail, respecting which Galien is not clear. + </p> + <p> + From the labours of Lana and Galien, with their impossible flying + machines, the inventor of the balloon could derive no benefit whatever; + nor is his fame to be in the least diminished because many had laboured in + the same field before him. Nor can the story of the ovoador, or flying + man, a legend very confused, and of which there are many versions, have + given to Montgolfier any valuable hints. It appears that a certain Laurent + de Guzman, a monk of Rio Janeiro, performed at Lisbon before the king, + John V., raising himself in a balloon to a considerable height. Other + versions of the story give a different date, and assign the pretended + ascent to 1709. The above engraving, extracted from the “Bibliotheque de + la Rue de Richelieu,” is an exact copy of Guzman’s supposed balloon. + </p> + <p> + In 1678 a mechanician of Salle, in Maine, named Besnier invented a + flying-machine. The machine consisted of four great wings, or paddles, + mounted at the extremities of levers, which rested on the shoulders of the + man who guided it, and who could move them alternately by means of his + hands and feet. The following description of the machine is given in the + Journal de Paris by an eye-witness: + </p> + <p> + “The ‘wings’ are oblong frames, covered with taffeta, and attached to the + ends of two rods, adjusted on the shoulders The wings work up and down. + Those in front are worked by the hands; those behind by the feet, which + are connected with the ends of the rods by strings. The movements were + such that when the right hand made the right wing descend in front, the + left foot made the left wing descend behind; and in like manner the left + hand in front and the right foot behind acted together simultaneously. + This diagonal action appeared very well contrived; it was the action of + most quadrupeds as well as of man when walking; but the contrivance, like + others of the same kind, failed in not being fitted with gearing to enable + the air traveller to proceed in any other direction than that in which the + wind blew him. The inventor first flew down from a stool, then from a + table, afterwards from a window, and finally from a garret, from which he + passed above the houses in the neighbourhood, and then, moderating the + working of his machine, he descended slowly to the earth.” + </p> + <p> + Tradition records that under Louis XIV. a certain rope-dancer, named + Alard, announced that on a certain day he would perform the feat of flying + in the air. We have no description of his wings. It is recorded, however, + that he set out on his adventurous flight; but he had not calculated all + the necessities of the case, and, falling to the ground, he was + dangerously hurt. + </p> + <p> + Leonardo da Vinci might have known the art of flying in the air, and might + even have practiced it. A statement to this effect, at least, is found in + several historians. We have, however, no direct proof of the fact. + </p> + <p> + The Abbe Deforges, of Etampes, announced in the journals in 1772 that he + would perform the great feat. On the appointed day multitudes of the + curious flocked to Etampes. The abbe’s machine was a sort of gondola, + seven feet long and about two feet deep. Gondola conductor, and baggage + weighed in all 213 pounds. The pious man believed that he had provided + against everything. Neither tempest nor rain should mar his flight, and + there was no chance of his being upset; whilst the machine, he had + decided, was to go at the rate of thirty leagues an hour. + </p> + <p> + The great day came, and the abbe, entering his air-boat amidst the + applause of the spectators, began to work the wings with which it was + provided with great rapidity. “But,” says one who witnessed the feat, “the + more he worked, the more his machine cleaved to the earth, as if it were + part and parcel of it.” + </p> + <p> + Retif de la Bretonne, in his work upon this subject, gives the + accompanying picture of a flying man, furnished with very artistically + designed wings, fitting exactly to the shoulders, and carrying a basket of + provisions, suspended from his waist; and the frontispiece of the + “Philosophic sans Pretention” is a view of a flying-machine. In the midst + of a frame of light wood sits the operator, steadying himself with one + hand, and with the other fuming a cremaillere, which appears to give a + very quick rotatory movement to two glass globes revolving upon a vertical + axis. The friction of the globes is supposed to develop electricity to + which his power of ascending is ascribed. + </p> + <p> + To wings, however, aerial adventurers mostly adhered. The Marquis de + Racqueville flew from a window of his hotel, on the banks of the Seine, + and fell into a boat full of washerwomen on the river. All these + unfortunate attempts were lampooned, burlesqued on the stage, and pursued + with the mockery of the public. + </p> + <p> + Up to this time, therefore, the efforts of man to conquer the air had + miscarried. They were conducted on a wrong principle, the machinery + employed being heavier than the air itself But, even before the time of + Montgolfier, the principles of aerostation began to be recognised, though + nothing was actually done in the way of acting upon them. Thus, in 1767, + Professor Black, of Edinburgh, announced in his class that a vessel, + filled with hydrogen, would rise naturally in the air; but he never made + the experiment, regarding the fact as capable of being employed only for + amusement. Finally, Cavallo, in 1782, communicated to the Royal Society of + London the experiments he had made, and which consisted in filling + soap-bubbles with hydrogen. The bubbles rose in the atmosphere, the gas + which filled them being lighter than air. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter III. The Theory of Balloons. + </h2> + <p> + A certain proposition in physics, known as the “Principle of Archimedes,” + runs to the following effect:—“Every body plunged into a liquid + loses a portion of its weight equal to the weight of the fluid which it + displaces.” Everybody has verified this principle, and knows that objects + are much lighter in water than out of it; a body plunged into water being + acted upon by two forces—its own weight, which tends to sink it, and + resistance from below, which tends to bear it up. But this principle + applies to gas as well as to liquids—to air as well as to water. + When we weigh a body in the air, we do not find its absolute weight, but + that weight minus the weight of the air which the body displaces. In order + to know the exact weight of an object, it would be necessary to weigh it + in a vacuum. + </p> + <p> + If an object thrown into the air is heavier than the air which it + displaces, it descends, and falls upon the earth; if it is of equal + weight, it floats without rising or falling; if it is lighter, it rises + until it comes to a stratum of air of less weight or density than itself. + We all know, of course, that the higher you rise from the earth the + density of the air diminishes. The stratum of air that lies upon the + surface of the earth is the heaviest, because it supports the pressure of + all the other strata that lie above. Thus the lightest strata are the + highest. + </p> + <p> + The principle of the construction of balloons is, therefore, in perfect + harmony with physical laws. Balloons are simply globes, made of a light, + air-tight material, filled with hot air or hydrogen gas which rise in the + air because (they are lighter than the air they displace). + </p> + <p> + The application of this principle appeared so simple, that at the time + when the news of the invention of the balloon was spread abroad the + astronomer Lalande wrote—“At this news we all cry, ‘This must be! + Why did we not think of it before?’” It had been thought of before, as we + have seen in the last chapter, but it is often long after an idea is + conceived that it is practically realised. + </p> + <p> + The first balloon, Montgolfier’s, was simply filled with hot air; and it + was because Montgolfier exclusively made use of hot air that balloons so + filled were named Montgolfiers. Of course we see at a glance that hot air + is lighter than cold air, because it has become expanded and occupies more + space—that is to say, a volume of hot air contains actually less air + than a volume of the same size of air that has not been heated. The + difference between the weight of the hot air and the cold which it + displaced was greater than the weight of tire covering of the balloon. + Therefore the balloon mounted. + </p> + <p> + And, seeing that air diminishes in density the higher we ascend, the + balloon can rise only to that stratum of air of the same density as the + air it contains. As the warm air cools it gently descends. Again, as the + atmosphere is always moving in currents more or less strong, the balloon + follows the direction of the current of the stratum of air in which it + finds itself. + </p> + <p> + Thus we see how simply the ascent of Montgolfiers, and their motions, are + explained. It is the same with gas-balloons. A balloon, filled with + hydrogen gas, displaces an equal volume of atmospheric air; but as the gas + is much lighter than the air, it is pushed up by a force equal to the + difference of the density of air and hydrogen gas. The balloon then rises + in the atmosphere to where it reaches layers of air of a density exactly + equal to its own, and when it gets there it remains poised in its place. + In order that it may descend, it is necessary to let out a portion of the + hydrogen gas, and admit an equal quantity of atmospheric air; and the + balloon does not come to the ground till all, or nearly all, the gas has + been expelled and common air taken in. Balloons inflated with hydrogen gas + are almost the only ones in use at the present day. Scarcely ever is a + Montgolfier sent up. There are aeronauts, however, who prefer a journey in + a Montgolfier to one in a gas-balloon. The air voyager in this description + of balloon had formerly many difficulties to contend with. The quantity of + combustible material which he was bound to carry with him; the very little + difference that there is between the density of heated and of cold air; + the necessity of feeding the fire, and watching it without a moment’s + cessation, as it hangs in the rechaud over the middle of the car, rendered + this sort of air travelling subject to many dangers and difficulties. + Recently, M. Eugene Godard has obviated a portion of this difficulty by + fitting a chimney, like that which is found of such incalculable service + in the case of the Davy lamp. It is principally on account of this + improvement that the Montgolfiere has risen so highly in popular esteem. + </p> + <p> + Generally it is not pure hydrogen that is made use of in the inflation of + balloons. Aeronauts content themselves with the gas which we burn in our + streets and houses, and thus it suffices, in inflating the balloon, to + obtain from the nearest gas-works the quantity of gas necessary, and to + lead it, by means of a pipe or tube, from the gasometer to the mouth or + neck of the machine. + </p> + <p> + The balloon is made of long strips of silk, sewn together, and rendered + air-tight by means of a coating of caoutchouc. A valve is fitted to the + top, and by means of it the aeronaut can descend to the earth at will, by + allowing some quantity of the gas to escape. The car in which he sits is + suspended to the balloon by a network, which covers the whole structure. + Sacks of sand are carried in this car as ballast, so that, when + descending, if the aeronaut sees that he is likely to be precipitated into + the sea or into a lake, he throws over the sand, and his air-carriage, + being thus lightened, mounts again and travels away to a more desirable + resting-place. The idea of the valve, as well as that of the sand ballast, + is due to the physician Charles. They enable the aeronaut to ascend or + descend with facility. When he wishes to mount, he throws over his + ballast; when he wants to come down, he lets the gas escape by the valve + at the roof of the balloon. This valve is worked by means of a spring, + having a long rope attached to it, which hangs down through the neck to + the car, where the aeronaut sits. + </p> + <p> + The operation of inflating a balloon with pure hydrogen is represented in + the engraving on the next page. + </p> + <p> + Shavings of iron and zinc, water, and sulphuric acid, occupy a number of + casks, which communicate, by means of tubes, with a central cask, which is + open at the bottom, and is plunged in a copper full of water. The gas is + produced by the action of the water and the sulphuric acid upon the zinc + and the iron this is hydrogen mixed with sulphuric acid. In passing + through the central copper, or vat, full of water, the gas throws off all + impurities, and comes, unalloyed with any other matter, into the balloon + by a long tube, leading from the central vats. In order to facilitate the + entrance of the gas into the balloon two long poles are erected. These are + furnished with pulleys, through which a rope, attached also to a ring at + the top of the balloon, passes. By means of this contrivance the balloon + can be at once lightly raised from the ground, and the gas tubes easily + joined to it. When it is half full it is no longer necessary to suspend + the balloon; on the contrary, it has to be secured, lest it should fly + off. A number of men hold it back by ropes; but as the force of ascension + is every moment increasing, the work of restraining the balloon is most + difficult and exciting. At length, all preparations being complete, the + car is suspended, the aeronaut takes his seat, the words “Let go all!” are + shouted, and away goes the silken globe into space. + </p> + <p> + The balloon is never entirely filled, for the atmospheric pressure + diminishing as it ascends, allows the hydrogen gas to dilate, in virtue of + its expansive force, and, unless there is space for this expansion, the + balloon is sure to explode in the air. + </p> + <p> + An ordinary balloon, with a lifting power sufficient to carry up three + persons, with necessary ballast and materiel, is about fifty feet high, + thirty-five feet in diameter’ and 2,250 cubic feet in capacity. Of such a + balloon, the accessories—the skin, the network, the car—would + weigh about 335 lbs. + </p> + <p> + To find out the height at which he has arrived, the aeronaut consults his + barometer. We know that it is the pressure of the air upon the cup of the + barometer that raises the mercury in the tube. The heavier the air is, the + higher is the barometer. At the level of the sea the column of mercury + stands at 32 inches; at 3,250 feet—the air being at this elevation + lighter—the mercury stands at 28 inches; at 6,500 feet above sea + level it stands at 25 inches; at 10,000 feet it falls to 22 inches; at + 20,000 feet to 15 inches. These, however, are merely the theoretic + results, and are subject to some slight variation, according to locality, + &c. + </p> + <p> + Sometimes the aeronaut makes his descent by means of the parachute, a + separate and distinct contrivance. If, from any cause, it appears + impracticable to effect a descent from the balloon itself, the parachute + may be of the greatest service to the voyager at the present day it is + chiefly used to astonish the public, by showing them the spectacle of a + man who, from a great elevation in the air, precipitates himself into + space, not to escape dangers which threaten him in his balloon, but simply + to exhibit his courage and skill. Nevertheless, parachutes are often of + great actual use, and aeronauts frequently attach them to their balloons + as a precautionary measure before setting out on an aerial excursion. + </p> + <p> + The shape of a parachute, shown on the previous page, very much resembles + that of the well-known all serviceable umbrella. The strips of silk of + which it is formed are sewn together, and are bound at the top around a + circular piece of wood. A number of cords, stretching away from this piece + of wood, support the car in which the aeronaut is carried. At the summit + is contrived an opening, which permits the air compressed by the rapidity + of the descent to escape without causing damage to the parachute from the + stress to which it is subjected. + </p> + <p> + The rapidity of the descent is arrested by the large surface which the + parachute presents to the air. When the aeronaut wishes to descend by the + parachute, all that is required is, after he has slipped down from the car + of the balloon to that of the parachute, to loosen the rope which binds + the latter to the former, which is done by means of a pulley. In an + instant the aeronaut is launched into space with a rapidity in comparison + with which the wild flights of the balloon are but gentle oscillations. + But in a few moments, the air rushing into the folds of the parachute, + forces them open like an umbrella, and immediately, owing to the wide + surface which this contrivance presents to the atmosphere, the violence of + the descent is arrested, and the aeronaut falls gently to the ground, + without receiving too rude a shock. + </p> + <p> + The virtues of the parachute were first tried upon animals. Thus, + Blanchard allowed his dog to fall in one from a height of 6,500 feet. A + gust of wind caught the falling parachute, and swept it away up above the + clouds. Afterwards, the aeronaut in his balloon fell in with the dog in + the parachute, both of them high up in the cloudy reaches of the sky, and + the poor animal manifested by his barking his joy at seeing his master. A + new current separated the aerial voyagers, but the parachute, with its + canine passenger, reached the ground safely a short time after Blanchard + had landed from his balloon. + </p> + <p> + Experience has proved that, in the case of a descending parachute, if the + rapidity of the descent is doubled the resistance of the air is + quadrupled; if the rapidity is triple the resistance is increased + ninefold; or, to speak in language of science, the resistance of the air + is increased by the square of the swiftness of the body in motion. This + resistance increases in proportion as the parachute spreads, and thus the + uniformity of its fall is established a minute after it has been + disengaged from the balloon. We can, therefore, check the descent of a + body by giving it a surface capable of distension by the action of the + air. + </p> + <p> + Garnerin, in the year 1802, conceived the bold design of letting himself + fall from a height of 1,200 feet, and he accomplished the exploit before + the Parisians. When he had reached the height he had fixed beforehand, he + cut the rope which connected the parachute with the balloon. At first the + fall was terribly rapid; but as soon as the parachute spread out the + rapidity was considerably diminished. The machine made, however, enormous + oscillations. The air, gathering end compressed under it, would sometimes + escape by one side sometimes by the other, thus shaking and whirling the + parachute about with a violence which, however great, had happily no + unfortunate effect. + </p> + <p> + The origin of the parachute is more remote than is generally supposed, as + there was a figure of one which appeared among a collection of machines at + Venice, in 1617. + </p> + <p> + Another species of parachute, less perfect, to be sure; than that of + Garnerin, but still a practical machine, was described 189 years before + the great aeronaut’s feat at Paris. We read in the narrative of the + ambassador of Louis XIV at Siam, at the end of the seventeenth century, + the following passage—“A mountebank at the court of the King of Siam + climbed to the top of a high bamboo-tree, and threw himself into the air + without any other support than two parasols. Thus equipped, he abandoned + himself to the winds, which carried him, as by chance, sometimes to the + earth, sometimes on trees or houses, and sometimes into the river, without + any harm happening to him.” + </p> + <p> + Is not this the idea of our parachutes? + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter IV. First Public Trial of the Balloon. + </h2> + <h3> + (Montgolfier’s Balloon Annonay, 5th of June of 1783.) + </h3> + <p> + We are accustomed to rank the brothers Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier as + equally distinguished in the field of science. The reason for thus + associating these two names seems to have been the fraternal friendship + which subsisted in an extraordinary degree in the Montgolfier family, + rather than any equality of claim which they had to the notice of + posterity. After special investigation, we find that Joseph Montgolfier + was very superior to his brother, and that it is to him principally, if + not exclusively, that we owe the invention of aerostation. Nevertheless, + we shall not insist upon this fact; and seeing that a sacred amity always + cemented a perfect union in the Montgolfier family, we will regard that + union as unbroken in any sense, and will not insinuate that the brother of + Montgolfier was undeserving of the honoured rank which in his lifetime he + held. + </p> + <p> + In 1783, the sons of Pierre Montgolfier, a rich papermaker at Annonay + department of Ardeche, were already in the prime of life, and it is + related of them that their principal occupation was experimenting in the + physical sciences. Joseph Montgolfier, after being convinced by a number + of minor experiments made in 1782 and 1783, that a heat of 180 degrees + rarefied the air and made it occupy a space of TWICE the extent it + occupied before being heated—or, in other words, that this degree of + heat diminished the weight of air by one half—began to speculate on + what might be the shape and the material of a structure which being filled + with air thus heated, would be able to raise itself from the earth in + spite of the weight of its own covering. + </p> + <p> + His first balloon was a small parallelopiped in very thin taffeta, + containing less than seventy-eight cubic inches of air. He made it rise to + the roof of his apartment in November, 1782—at Avignon, where he + then happened to be. Having returned some little time after to Annonay, + Joseph and his brother performed the same experiment, together in the open + air with perfect success. Certain, then, of the new principle, they made a + balloon of considerable size, containing upwards of sixty-five feet of + heated air. + </p> + <p> + This machine likewise rose, tore away the cords by which it was at first + held down, and mounting in the air to the height of from two to three + hundred feet, fell upon the neighbouring hills after a considerable + flight. The brothers Montgolfier then made a very large and strong + balloon, with which they wished to bring their discovery before the + public. + </p> + <p> + The appointed day was the 5th of June, 1783 and the nobility of the + vicinity were invited to be present at the experiment. Faujas de Saint + Fond, author of “La Description des Experiences de la Machine + Aerostatique,” published the same year, gives the following account of it:— + </p> + <p> + “What,” says Saint Fond, “was the general astonishment when the inventors + of the machine announced that immediately it should be full of gas, which + they had the means of producing at will by the most simple process, it + would raise itself to the clouds. It must be granted that, in spite of the + confidence in the ingenuity and experience of the Montgolfiers, this feat + seemed so incredible to those who came to witness it, that the persons who + knew most about it—who were, at the same time, the most favourably + predisposed in its favour—doubted of its success. + </p> + <p> + “At last the brothers Montgolfier commenced their work. They first of all + began to make the smoke necessary for their experiment. The machine—which + at first seemed only a covering of cloth, lined with paper, a sort of sack + thirty-five feet high—became inflated, and grew large even under the + eyes of the spectator, took consistence, assumed a beautiful form, + stretched itself on all sides, and struggled to escape. Meanwhile, strong + arms were holding it down until the signal was given, when it loosened + itself, and with a rush rose to the height of 1,000 fathoms in less than + ten minutes.” It then described a horizontal line of 7,200 feet, and as it + had lost a considerable amount of gas, it began to descend quietly. It + reached the ground in safety; and this first attempt, crowned with such + decisive success, secured for ever to the brothers Montgolfier the glory + of one of the most astonishing discoveries. + </p> + <p> + “When we reflect for a moment upon the numberless difficulties which such + a bold attempt entailed, upon the bitter criticism to which it would have + exposed its projectors had it failed through any accident, and upon the + sums that must have been spent in carrying it out, we cannot withhold the + highest admiration for the men who conceived the idea and carried it out + to such a successful issue.” + </p> + <p> + Etienne Montgolfier has left us a description of this first balloon. “The + aerostatic machine,” he says, “was constructed of cloth lined with paper, + fastened together on a network of strings fixed to the cloth. It was + spherical; its circumference was 110 feet, and a wooden frame sixteen feet + square held it fixed at the bottom. Its contents were about 22,000 cubic + feet, and it accordingly displaced a volume of air weighing 1,980 1bs. The + weight of the gas was nearly half the weight of the air, for it weighed + 990 lbs., and the machine itself, with the frame, weighed 500: it was, + therefore, impelled upwards with the force of 490 lbs. Two men sufficed to + raise it and to fill it with gas, but it took eight to hold it down till + the signal was given. The different pieces of the covering were fastened + together with buttons and button-holes. It remained ten minutes in the + air, but the loss of gas by the button-holes, and by other imperfections, + did not permit it to continue longer. The wind at the moment of the ascent + was from the north. The machine came down so lightly that no part of it + was broken.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter V. Second Experiment. + </h2> + <h3> + (Charles’s Balloon, Paris, Champ de Mars, 27th of August, 1783.) + </h3> + <p> + The indescribable enthusiasm caused by the ascent of the first balloon at + Annonay, spread in all directions, and excited the wondering curiosity of + the savants of the capital. An official report had been prepared, and sent + to the Academy of Sciences in Paris, and the result was that the Academy + named a commission of inquiry. But fame, more rapid than scientific + commissions, and more enthusiastic than academies, had, at a single + flight, passed from Annonay to Paris, and kindled the anxious ardour of + the lovers of science in that city. The great desire was to rival + Montgolfier, although neither the report nor the letters from Annonay had + made mention of the kind of gas used by that experimenter to inflate his + balloon. By one of the frequent coincidences in the history of the + sciences, hydrogen gas had been discovered six years previously by the + great English physician Cavendish, and it had hardly even been tested in + the laboratories of the chemists when it all at once became famous. A + young man well versed in physics, Professor Charles, assisted by two + practical men, the brothers Robert, threw himself ardently into the + investigation of the modes of inflating balloons with this gas, which was + then called INFLAMMABLE AIR. Guessing that it was much lighter than that + which Montgolfier had been obliged to make use of in his third-rate + provincial town, Charles leagued himself with his two assistants to + constrict a balloon of taffeta, twelve feet in diameter, covered with + india-rubber, and to inflate it with hydrogen. + </p> + <p> + The thing thus arranged, a subscription was opened. The projected + experiment having been talked of all over Paris, every one was struck with + the idea, and subscriptions poured in. Even the most illustrious names are + to be found in the list, which may be called the first national + subscription in France. Nothing had been written of the forthcoming event + in any public paper, yet all Paris seemed to flock to contribute to the + curious experiment. + </p> + <p> + The inflation with hydrogen was effected in a very curious manner. As much + as 1,125 lbs. of iron and 560 lbs. of sulphuric acid were found necessary + to inflate a balloon which had scarcely a lifting power of 22 lbs., and + the process of filling took no less than four hours. At length, however, + at the end of the fourth hour, the balloon, composed of strips of silk, + coated with varnish, floated, two-thirds full, from the workshop of the + brothers Robert. + </p> + <p> + On the morning of the 26th of August, the day before the ascent was to be + made, the balloon was visited at daybreak, and found to be in a promising + state. At two o’clock on the following morning its constructors began to + make preparations to transport it to the Champ de Mars, from which place + it was to be let loose. Skilled workmen were employed in its removal, and + every precaution was taken that the gas with which it was charged should + not be allowed to escape. In the meantime the excitement of the people + about this wonderful structure was rising to the highest pitch. The wagon + on which it was placed for removal was surrounded on all sides by eager + multitudes, and the night-patrols, both of horse and foot, which were set + to guard the avenues leading to where it lay, were quite unable to stem + the tide of human beings that poured along to get a glimpse of it. + </p> + <p> + The conveyance of the balloon to the Champ de Mars was a most singular + spectacle. A vanguard, with lighted torches, preceded it; it was + surrounded by special attendants, and was followed by detachments of + night-patrols on foot and mounted. The size and shape of this structure, + which was escorted with such pomp and precaution—the silence that + prevailed—the unearthly hour, all helped to give an air of mystery + to the proceedings. At last, having passed through the principal + thoroughfares, it arrived at the Champ de Mars, where it was placed in an + enclosure prepared for its reception. + </p> + <p> + When the dawn came, and the balloon had been fixed in its place by cords, + attached around its middle and fixed to iron rings planted in the earth, + the final process of inflation began. + </p> + <p> + The Champ de Mars was guarded by troops, and the avenues were also guarded + on all sides. As the day wore on an immense crowd covered the open space, + and every advantageous spot in the neighborhood was crowded with people. + At five o’clock the report of a cannon announced to the multitudes, and to + scientific men who were posted on elevations to make observations of the + great event, that the grand moment had come. The cords were withdrawn, + and, to the vast delight and wonder of the crowd assembled, the balloon + shot up with such rapidity that in two minutes it had ascended 488 + fathoms. At this height it was lost in a cloud for an instant, and, + reappearing, rose to a great height, and was again lost in higher clouds. + The ascent was a splendid success. The rain that fell damped neither the + balloon nor the ardor of the spectators. + </p> + <p> + This balloon was 12 feet in diameter, 38 feet in circumference, and had a + capacity of 943 cubic feet. The weight of the materials of which it was + constructed was 25 lbs., and the force of ascension was that of 35 lbs. + </p> + <p> + The fall of the balloon was caused by the expansion and consequent + explosion of the hydrogen gas. This event took place some distance out in + the country, close to a number of peasants, whose terror at the sight and + the sound of this strange monster from the skies was beyond description. + The people assembled, and two monks having told them that the burst + balloon was the hide of a monstrous animal, they immediately began to + assail it vigorously with stones, flails, and pitchforks. The cure of the + parish was obliged to walk up to the balloon to reassure his terrified + flock. They finally attached the burst envelope to a horse’s tail, and + dragged it far across the fields. + </p> + <p> + Many drawings and engravings of the period represent the peasants armed + with pitchforks, flails, and scythes, assailing it, a dog snapping at it, + a garde-champetre firing at it, a fat priest preaching at it, and a troop + of young people throwing stones at the unfortunate machine. + </p> + <p> + The news of this fiasco came to Paris, but too late. When search was made + for the covering, scarcely a fragment could be found. + </p> + <p> + A somewhat humorous result of all this was the issue of a communication + from government to the people, entitled, “Warning to the People on + kidnapping Air-balloons.” This document, duly signed and approved of, + describes the ascents at Annonay and at Paris, explains the nature and the + causes of the phenomena, and warns the people not to be alarmed when they + see something like a “black moon” in the sky, nor to give way to fear, as + the seeming monster is nothing more than a bag of silk filled with gas. + </p> + <p> + This first ascent in Paris was an important event. Every one, from the + smallest to the greatest, was deeply interested in it, while to the man of + science it was one of the most exciting of incidents. For the purpose of + observing the altitude to which the balloon rose, and the course it took, + Le Gentil was on the observatory, Prevost was on one of the towers of + Notre Dame, Jeaurat was on La Place Louis XV., and d’Agelet was on the + Champ de Mars. It was only Lalande that frowned as he witnessed the + success of the experiment. He had predicted the year before that + air-navigation was impossible. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VI. Third Experiment. + </h2> + <h3> + (Montgolfier’s Balloon, Paris, Faubourg St. Antoine.) + </h3> + <p> + As we have seen, the triumph of aerostation was sudden and complete. The + young Montgolfier had arrived in Paris prior to the experiment of the 27th + of August, and was present as a simple spectator on that occasion. + immediately afterwards he set to work upon a balloon, which was to be made + use of when the Academy should investigate the phenomenon at Versailles in + presence of the king, Louis XVI. + </p> + <p> + It was at this time (September, 1783) that those small balloons, made of + gold-beaters’ skin, which are used as children’s toys to the present day, + were first made. The whole of Paris amused itself with them, repeating in + little the phenomenon of the great ascent. The sky of the capital found + itself all at once traversed by a multitude of small rosy clouds, formed + by the hand of man. + </p> + <p> + Faujas de Saint Fond says that at first an attempt was made to construct + balloons of fine, light paper; but this material being permeable, and the + gas being inflammable, balloons thus made did not succeed. It was + necessary to seek a material less porous, and, if possible, still lighter. + </p> + <p> + The Journal de Paris, of the 11th of September, 1783, informed the public + that the Baron de Beaumanoir, “who cultivated the sciences and the fine + arts with as much success as zeal,” would send up a balloon eighteen + inches in diameter. At noon of the same day he made this experiment in + presence of a numerous assembly in the garden in front of the Hotel de + Surgeres.. The little balloon mounted freely, but was held in, like a + kite, by means of a silk thread. In the course of the same afternoon, the + baron took down the balloon and filled it anew with hydrogen, and then let + it off. The spectators had the pleasure of seeing it rise to a great + height, and pass away in the direction of Neuilly, and it is said to have + been found at a distance of several leagues, by peasants. + </p> + <p> + However trifling this experiment may appear at first sight, it added a new + fact to the science of aerostation. The material employed by the baron was + lighter and better than paper. It was what is called gold-beaters’ skin. + This skin is simply the interior lining of the large bowel of the ox. It + is carefully prepared, is relieved of the fat, stringy and uneven parts, + is dried, and is afterwards softened. Little balloons of this material + came to be the fashion, and they are still frequently seen. + </p> + <p> + At the same time, Montgolfier was busy constructing, at the request of the + Academy of Sciences, a balloon seventy feet high and forty in diameter, + with which it was proposed to repeat the experiment of Annonay. He took up + his quarters in the magnificent gardens of his friend Reveillon, + proprietor of the royal manufactory of stained paper in the Faubourg St. + Antoine. The new balloon was of a very singular shape: the upper part + represented a prism, twenty-four feet high the top was a pyramid of the + same height; the lower part was a truncated cone, twenty feet in depth. It + was made of packing-cloth, lined with good paper, both inside and out. + </p> + <p> + The gossipping and prolix Faujas de Saint Fond thus describes this + machine:—“It was painted blue, represented a sort of tent, and was + richly ornamented with gold Its height was seventy feet; its weight 1,000 + lbs.; the air which it displaced was 4,500 lbs. in volume, and the vapor + with which it was filled was half the weight of ordinary air. The approach + of the equinox having brought rain, all the conditions under which this + balloon was constructed and exhibited were unfavourable. The structure was + so large that it was impossible to get it together and stitch it, except + in the open air—in the garden, in fact, where Montgolfier commenced + its construction. It was a great labour to turn and fold this heavy + covering, while the liability of the thick paper to crack was an + additional difficulty. Not less than twenty men were required to move it, + and they were obliged to use all their skill, and every precaution, not to + destroy it. No balloon had ever given so much trouble. On the 11th of + September the weather improved, and the balloon was entirely completed and + prepared for the first experiment. In the evening the attempt was made. It + was with admiration that the beholders saw the beautiful machine filling + itself in the short space of nine minutes, swelling out on all sides and + showing the full symmetry of its artistic form. It was firmly held in + hand, or it would have risen to a great height. On the following day the + actual ascent was to take place, and the commissioners of the Academy of + Sciences were invited to be present. In the morning thick clouds covered + the horizon, and a tempest was expected; but as there was an ardent desire + that the ascent should take place without delay, and as all the gearing + was in order, it was resolved to proceed. + </p> + <p> + “Fifty pounds of dry straw were fired in parcels under the balloon, and + upon the fire were thrown at intervals several pounds of wool. This fuel + produced in ten minutes such a volume of smoke that the huge balloon was + speedily filled. It rose, with a weight of 500 lbs. holding it down, to + some height above the ground, and had the ropes by which it was attached + to the ground been cut, it would have mounted to a great height. Meantime + the storm broke, rain descended, and the wind blew with great force. The + most likely means of saving the balloon was to let it fly but as it was to + ascend again on another occasion, at Versailles, the greatest efforts were + made to bring it down, and these, together with the damage caused by the + storm, eventually rent it into numberless fragments and tatters. It + withstood the storm for twenty-four hours; then, however, the paper came + peeling off, and this beautiful structure was a wreck.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VII. Fourth Experiment. + </h2> + <h3> + (Versailles, 19th September, 1783, in presence of Louis of XVI.) + </h3> + <p> + Of course another balloon was wanted for the fete at Versailles. The king + had demanded an ascent for the 19th, a week after the disaster at the + Faubourg St. Antoine. Already the possibility of a man going up with the + balloon was discussed, and people indulged in visions of splendid aerial + trips; but the king would not hear of the proposal. Balloons were + novelties, not offering sufficient security, and he was unwilling that any + of his subjects should risk their lives in attempting the unknown. He + consented, however, to a proposal that animals might be sent up in the + first instance, by way of experiment, suspended in an osier cage attached + to the neck of the balloon. + </p> + <p> + Montgolfier at once began a new balloon. A few days only were at his + disposal; but, assisted by friends, he worked with such ardour and success + that he was able, on the date appointed, to produce a magnificent + spherical balloon, much stronger than the former, constructed of good + strong cotton cloth, and painted in distemper. + </p> + <p> + It is proper here to remark that the first balloons were much more elegant + in appearance than those afterwards made. The coloured prints and + engravings of the period enable us to form an opinion of the splendour of + their ornamentation and the beauty of their design. Sometimes the figures + painted upon them represented scenes from the heathen mythology, and + sometimes historical scenes; while rich embroideries, royal insignia, and + gaily-coloured draperies added much to the general effect. The Versailles + balloon was painted blue, with ornaments of gold, and it presented the + form of a richly decorated tent. It was fifty-seven feet in height, and + sixty-seven in diameter. + </p> + <p> + It was first tried at Paris, and succeeded perfectly. On the morning of + the 19th it was carried to Versailles, where due preparation had been made + for its reception In the great court of the castle a sort of theatre had + been temporarily erected with a scaffolding, covered throughout with + tapestry In the middle was an opening more than fifteen feet in diameter, + in which was spread a banquet for those who had constructed the balloon. A + numerous guard formed a double cordon around the structure. A raised + platform was used for the fire by means of which the balloon was to be + inflated; a covered funnel or chimney of strong cloth, painted, was + suspended over the fire-place, and received the hot smoke as it arose. + Through this funnel the heated air ascended straight up into the balloon. + </p> + <p> + At six in the morning, the road from Paris to Versailles was covered with + carriages. Crowds came from all parts, and at noon the avenues, the square + of the castle, the windows, and even the roofs of the houses, were crowded + with spectators. The noblest, the most illustrious, and most learned men + in France were present, and the splendour of the scene was complete when + their majesties and the royal family entered within the enclosure, and + went forward to inspect the balloon, and to make themselves familiar with + the preparations for the ascent. + </p> + <p> + In a short time the fire was lit, the funnel extended over it, and the + smoke rose inside, while the balloon, unfolding, gradually swelled to its + full size, and then, drawing after it the cage, in which a sheep and some + pigeons were enclosed, rose majestically into the air. Without + interreruption, it ascended to a vast height, where, inclining toward the + north, it seemed to remain stationary for a few seconds, showing all the + beauty of its form, and then, as though possessed of life, it descended + gently upon the wood of Vaucresson, 10,200 feet from the point of its + departure. Its highest elevation, as estimated by the astronomers Le + Gentil and M. Jeaurat, Jeaurat, was about 1,700 feet. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VIII. Men and Balloons. + </h2> + <p> + It is not natural that the human mind should stop upon the way to the + solution of a problem, especially when it seems to be on the point of + arriving at a satisfactory conclusion to its labours. The osier cage of + Versailles very soon transformed itself into a car, bearing human + passengers, and the age of the “Thousand and One Nights” was expected to + come back again. It was resolved to continue experiments, with the direct + object of finding out whether it was impossible or desperately dangerous + for man to travel in balloons. Montgolfier returned from Versailles, and + constructed a new machine in the gardens of the Faubourg St. Antoine. It + was completed on the 10th of October Its form was oval, its height 70 + feet, its diameter 46 feet and its capacity 60,000 cubic feet. The upper + part, embroidered with fleurs-de-lis, was further ornamented with the + twelve signs of the zodiac, worked in gold. The middle part bore the + monogram of the king, alternating with figures of the sun, while the lower + part was garnished with masks, garlands, and spread eagles. A circular + gallery made of osiers and festooned with draperies and other ornaments, + was attached by a set of cords to the bottom of the structure. The gallery + was three feet wide, and was protected by a parapet over three feet in + height. It did not in any way interfere with the opening at the neck of + the balloon, under which was suspended a grating of iron wire upon which + the occupants of the gallery, who were to be provided with dried straw and + wool, could in a few minutes kindle a fire and create fresh smoke, when + that in the balloon began to be exhausted. The machine weighed, in all, + 1,600 lbs. The public had previously been warned, in the Journal de Paris + de Paris, that the approaching experiments were to be of a strictly + scientific character; and as they would be only interesting to savants, + they would not afford amusement for the merely curious. This announcement + was necessary, to abate in some degree the excitement of the people until + some satisfactory results should be obtained; it was also necessary for + those engaged in the work, whose firmness of nerve might have suffered + from the enthusiastic cries of excited spectators. On Wednesday, the 15th + of October, Pilatre des Roziers, who had on other occasions given proofs + of his intelligence and courage in performing dangerous feats, and who had + already signalised himself in connection with balloons, offered to go up + in the new machine. His offer was accepted; the balloon was inflated; + stout ropes, more than eighty feet long, were attached to it, and it rose + from the ground to the height to which this tackle allowed it. At this + elevation it remained four minutes twenty-five seconds; and it is not + surprising to hear that Roziers suffered no inconvenience from the ascent. + What was really the interesting thing in this experiment was, that it + showed how a balloon would fall when the hot air became exhausted, this + being the point which caused the greatest amount of disquietude among men + of science. In this instance the balloon fell gently; its form distended + at the same time, and, after touching the ground, it rose again a foot or + two, when its human passenger had jumped out. + </p> + <p> + On Friday, the 17th of October, this experiment was repeated, and the + excitement of the public on this occasion was unbounded. “All the world” + came to see. Roziers was again lifted up in the balloon, to the height of + eighty feet; but so strong was the wind, and the strain on the ropes was + so great, that the balloon was somewhat unsteady, and the exhibition was + not on the whole such a splendid success as that of the preceding + Wednesday. + </p> + <p> + On Sunday, Montgolfier chose a fine day for the following ascents:—“First + Ascent: On the 19th of October, 1783, at half-past four, in presence of + two thousand spectators, ‘the machine’ was filled with gas in five + minutes, and Roziers, being placed in the gallery with a counterbalancing + weight of 110 lbs. in the other side of the gallery, was carried up to the + height of 200 feet. The machine remained six minutes at this elevation + without any fire in the grating. Second Ascent: The machine carried + Roziers and the counterbalancing weight—fire being in the grating—to + the height of 700 feet. At this height it remained stationary eight and a + half minutes As it was drawn back, a wind from the east bore it against a + tuft of very tall trees in a neighbouring garden, where it got entangled, + without, however, losing its equilibrium. The gas was renewed by Roziers, + and the balloon again rising, extricated itself from among the branches, + and soared majestically into the air, followed by the acclamations of the + public. This second ascent was very instructive, for it had been often + asserted that if ever a balloon fell upon a forest it would be destroyed, + and would place those who travelled in it in the greatest peril. This + experiment proved that the balloon does not FALL it DESCENDS; that it does + not overturn; that it does not destroy itself on trees; that it neither + causes death, nor even damage, to its passengers; that, on the contrary, + the latter, by making new gas, give it the power of detaching itself from + the trees; and that it can resume its course after such an event. The + intrepid Roziers gave in this ascent a further proof of the facility he + had in descending and ascending at will. When the machine had risen to the + height of 200 feet it began to descend lightly, and just before it came to + the earth the aeronaut very cleverly and quickly threw on more fuel and + produced more smoke, at which the balloon, to the astonishment of every + one, suddenly soared away again to its former elevation. Third Ascent: The + balloon rose again with Roziers, accompanied this time by another + aeronaut, Gerond de Villette; and as the cords had been lengthened, the + adventurers were carried up to the height of 324 feet. At this elevation + the balloon rested in perfect equilibrium for nine minutes. It was the + first time that human beings had ever been carried to an equal elevation, + and the spectators were astonished to find that they could remain there + without danger and without alarm. The balloon had a superb effect at this + elevation; it looked down upon the whole town, and was seen from all the + suburbs. Its size seemed hardly diminished in the least, though the men + themselves were barely visible. By the aid of glasses, Roziers could be + seen calmly and industriously making new gas. When the balloon descended + the two men declared that they had not experienced the slightest + inconvenience from the elevation. They received the universal applause + which their zeal and courage so well deserved. The Marquis d’Arlandes, a + major of infantry, afterwards went up with Roziers, and this latter + experiment was as successful as the former.” + </p> + <p> + Some days after these experiments the conductors of the Journal de Paris + who described them, received a letter from Montgolfier, and also one from + Gerond de Villette. The latter only is of interest here. Gerond de + Villette says: “I found myself in the space of a quarter of a minute + raised 400 feet above the surface of the earth. Here we remained six + minutes. My first employment was to watch with admiration my intelligent + companion. His intelligence, his courage and agility in attending to the + fire, enchanted me. Turning round, I could behold the Boulevards, from the + gate of St. Antoine to that of St. Martin, all covered with people, who + seemed to me a flat band of flowers of various colours. Glancing at the + distance, I beheld the summit of Montmartre, which seemed to me much below + our level. I could easily distinguish Neuilly, St. Cloud, Sevres, Issy, + Ivry, Charenton, and Choisy. At once I was convinced that this machine, + though a somewhat expensive one, might be very useful in war to enable one + to discover the position of the enemy, his manoeuvres, and his marches; + and to announce these by signals to one’s own army. 1 believe that at sea + it is equally possible to make use of this machine. These prove the + usefulness of the balloon, which time will perfect for us. All that I + regret is that I did not provide myself with a telescope.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter IX. The First Aerial Voyage—Roziers and Arlandes. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + These experiments had only one aim—the application of + Montgolfier’s discovery to aerial navigation. The knowledge + gained in the Faubourg St. Antoine having led to the most + favourable conclusions, it was resolved that a first aerial + voyage should be attempted. +</pre> + <p> + “If,” says Linguet, “there existed an autograph journal, written by + Columbus, descriptive of his first great voyage with what jealous care it + would be preserved, with what confidence it would be quoted! We should + delight to follow the candid account which he gave of his thoughts, his + hopes, his fears; of the complaints of his followers, of his attempts to + calm them, and, finally, of his joy in the moment which, ratifying his + word and justifying his boldness, declared him the discoverer of a new + world All these details have been transmitted to us, but by stranger + hands; and, however interesting they may be, one cannot help feeling that + this circumstance makes them lose part of their value.” + </p> + <p> + The narrative of the first aerial voyage, written by one of the two first + aeronauts, exists, and we are in a position to place it before our + readers. Such an enterprise certainly demanded great courage in him who + was the first to dare to confide himself to the unknown currents of the + atmosphere It threatened him with dangers, perhaps with death by a fill, + by fire, by cold, or by straying into the mysterious cloud-land. Two men + opposed the first attempt. Montgolfier temporised, the king forbade it, or + rather only gave his permission on the condition that two condemned + criminals should be placed in the balloon! “What!” cried Roziers, in + indignation at the king’s proposal, “allow two vile criminals to have the + first glory of rising into the sky! No, no; that will never do!” Roziers + conjured, supplicated, agitated in a hundred ways for permission to try + the first voyage. He moved the town and the court; he addressed himself to + those who were most in favour at Versailles; he pleaded with the Duchess + de Polignac, who was all-powerful with the king. She warmly supported his + cause before Louis. Roziers dispatched the Marquis d’Arlandes, who had + been up with him, to the king. Arlandes asserted that there was no danger, + and, as proof of his conviction, he offered himself to accompany Roziers. + Solicited on all sides, Louis at last yielded. + </p> + <p> + The gardens of La Muette, near Paris, were fixed upon as the spot from + which this aerial expedition should start. The Dauphin and his suite were + present on the occasion. It was on the 21st of October, 1783, at one + o’clock p.m., that Roziers and Irelands took their leave of the earth for + the first time. The following is Arlandes’ narrative of the expedition, + given in the form of a letter, addressed by the marquis to Faujas de Saint + Fond:—“You wish, my dear Faujas, and I consent most willingly to + your desires, that, owing to the number of questions continually addressed + to me, and for other reasons, I should gratify public curiosity and fix + public opinion upon the subject of our aerial voyage. + </p> + <p> + “I wish to describe as well as I can the first journey which men have + attempted through an element which, prior to the discovery of MM. + Montgolfier, seemed so little fitted to support them. + </p> + <p> + “We went up on the 21st of October, 1783, at near two o’clock, M. Roziers + on the west side of the balloon, I on the east. The wind was nearly + north-west. The machine, say the public, rose with majesty; but really the + position of the balloon altered so that M. Roziers was in the advance of + our position, I in the rear. + </p> + <p> + “I was surprised at the silence and the absence of movement which our + departure caused among the spectators, and believed them to be astonished + and perhaps awed at the strange spectacle; they might well have reassured + themselves I was still gazing, when M. Roziers cried to me— + </p> + <p> + “‘You are doing nothing, and the balloon is scarcely rising a fathom.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Pardon me,’ I answered, as I placed a bundle of straw upon the fire and + slightly stirred it. Then I turned quickly, but already we had passed out + of sight of La Muette. Astonished, I cast a glance towards the river. I + perceived the confluence of the Oise. And naming the principal bends of + the river by the places nearest them, I cried, ‘Passy, St. Germain, St. + Denis, Sevres!’ + </p> + <p> + “‘If you look at the river in that fashion you will be likely to bathe in + it soon,’ cried Roziers. ‘Some fire, my dear friend, some fire!’ + </p> + <p> + “We travelled on; but instead of crossing the river, as our direction + seemed to indicate, we bore towards the Invalides, then returned upon the + principal bed of the river, and travelled to above the barrier of La + Conference, thus dodging about the river, but not crossing it. + </p> + <p> + “‘That river is very difficult to cross,’ I remarked to my companion. + </p> + <p> + “‘So it seems,’ he answered; ‘but you are doing nothing I suppose it is + because you are braver than I, and don’t fear a tumble.’ + </p> + <p> + “I stirred the fire, I seized a truss of straw with my fork; I raised it + and threw it in the midst of the flames. An instant afterwards I felt + myself lifted as it were into the heavens. + </p> + <p> + “‘For once we move,’ said I. + </p> + <p> + “‘Yes, we move,’ answered my companion. + </p> + <p> + “At the same instant I heard from the top of the balloon a sound which + made me believe that it had burst. I watched, yet I saw nothing. My + companion had gone into the interior, no doubt to make some observations. + As my eyes were fixed on the top of the machine I experienced a shock, and + it was the only one I had yet felt. The direction of the movement was from + above downwards I then said— + </p> + <p> + “‘What are you doing? Are you having a dance to yourself?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘I’m not moving.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘So much the better. It is only a new current which I hope will carry us + from the river,’ I answered. + </p> + <p> + “I turned to see where we were, and found we were between the Ecole + Militaire and the Invalides. + </p> + <p> + “‘We are getting on.’ said Roziers. + </p> + <p> + “‘Yes, we are travelling.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Let us work, let us work,’ said he. + </p> + <p> + “I now heard another report in the machine, which I believed was produced + by the cracking of a cord. This new intimation made me carefully examine + the inside of our habitation. I saw that the part that was turned towards + the south was full of holes, of which some were of a considerable size. + </p> + <p> + “‘It must descend,’ I then cried. + </p> + <p> + “‘Why?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Look!’ I said. At the same time I took my sponge and quietly + extinguished the little fire that was burning some of the holes within my + reach; but at the same moment I perceived that the bottom of the cloth was + coming away from the circle which surrounded it. + </p> + <p> + “‘We must descend,’ I repeated to my companion. + </p> + <p> + “He looked below. + </p> + <p> + “‘We are upon Paris,’ he said. + </p> + <p> + “‘It does not matter,’ I answered ‘Only look! Is there no danger? Are you + holding on well?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Yes.’ + </p> + <p> + “I examined from my side, and saw that we had nothing to fear. I then + tried with my sponge the ropes which were within my reach. All of them + held firm. Only two of the cords had broken. + </p> + <p> + “I then said, ‘We can cross Paris.’ + </p> + <p> + “During this operation we were rapidly getting down to the roofs. We made + more fire, and rose again with the greatest ease. I looked down, and it + seemed to me we were going towards the towers of St. Sulpice; but, on + rising, a new current made us quit this direction and bear more to the + south. I looked to the left, and beheld a wood, which I believed to be + that of Luxembourg. We were traversing the boulevard, and I cried all at + once— + </p> + <p> + “‘Get to ground!’ + </p> + <p> + “But the intrepid Roziers, who never lost his head, and who judged more + surely than I, prevented me from attempting to descend. I then threw a + bundle of straw on the fire. We rose again, and another current bore us to + were now close to the ground, between two mills. As soon to the left. We + as we came near the earth I raised myself over the gallery, and leaning + there with my two hands, I felt the balloon pressing softly against my + head. I pushed it back, and leaped down to the ground. Looking round and + expecting to see the balloon still distended, I was astonished to find it + quite empty and flattened. On looking for Roziers I saw him in his + shirt-sleeves creeping out from under the mass of canvas that had fallen + over him. Before attempting to descend he had put off his coat and placed + it in the basket. After a deal of trouble we were at last all right. + </p> + <p> + “As Roziers was without a coat I besought him to go to the nearest house. + On his way thither he encountered the Duke of Chartres, who had followed + us, as we saw, very closely, for I had had the honour of conversing with + him the moment before we set out.” + </p> + <p> + The following report of this first aerial voyage was drawn up by + scientific observers, among other signatures to it being that of Benjamin + Franklin. + </p> + <p> + “Today 21st of October, 1783, at the Chateau de la Muette, an experiment + was made with the aerostatic machine of M. Montgolfier. The sky was + clouded in many parts, clear in others—the wind north-west. At + mid-day a signal was given, which announced that the balloon was being + filled. Soon after, in spite of the wind, it was inflated in all its + parts, and the ascent was made. The Marquis d’Arlandes and M. Pilatre des + Roziers were in the gallery. The first intention was to raise the machine + and pull it back with ropes, to test it, to find out the exact weight + which it could carry, and to see if everything was properly arranged + before the actual ascent was attempted. But the machine, driven by the + wind, far from rising vertically, was directed upon one of the walks of a + garden, and the cords which held it shook with so much force that several + rents were made in the balloon. The machine, being brought back to its + place, was repaired in less than two hours. Being again inflated, it rose + once more, bearing the same persons, and when it had risen to the height + of 250 feet, the intrepid voyagers, bowing their heads, saluted the + spectators. One could not resist a feeling of mingled fear and admiration. + Soon the aeronauts were lost to view, but the balloon itself, displaying + its very beautiful shape, mounted to the height of 3,000 feet, and still + remained visible. The voyagers, satisfied with their experience, and not + wishing to make a longer course, agreed to descend, but, perceiving that + the wind was driving them upon the houses of the Rue de Sevres, preserved + their self-possession, renewed the hot air, rose anew and continued their + course till they had passed Paris. + </p> + <p> + “They then descended tranquilly in the country, beyond the new boulevard, + without having experienced the slightest inconvenience, having still the + greater part of their fuel untouched. They could, had they desired, have + cleared a distance three times as great as that which they traversed. + Their flight was nearly 30,000 feet, and the time it occupied was from + twenty to twenty-five minutes. This machine was 70 feet high, 46 feet in + diameter, and had a capacity of 60,000 cubic feet.” + </p> + <p> + It is reported that Franklin, more illustrious in his humility than the + most brilliant among the lords of the court, when consulted respecting the + possible use of balloons, answered simply, “C’est l’enfant qui vient de + naitre?” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter X. The Second Arial Voyage. + </h2> + <h3> + (1st December 1783.—Charles and Robert at the Tuileries.) + </h3> + <p> + The first ascent of Roziers and Arlandes was a feat of hardihood almost + unique. The men’s courage was, so to speak, their only guarantee. Thanks + to the balloon, however, they accomplished one of the most extraordinary + enterprises ever achieved by our race. + </p> + <p> + On the day after the experiment of the Champ de Mars (27th of August), + Professor Charles—who had already acquired celebrity at the Louvre, + by his scientific collection and by his rank as an official instructor—and + the Brothers Robert, mechanicians, were engaged in the construction of a + balloon, to be inflated with hydrogen gas, and destined to carry a car and + one or two passengers. For this ascent Charles may be said to have created + all at once the art of aerostation as now practiced, for he brought it at + one bound to such perfection that since his day scarcely any advance has + been made upon his arrangements. His simple yet complete invention was + that of the valve which gives escape to the hydrogen gas, and thus renders + the descent of the balloon gentle and gradual; the car that carries the + travellers; the ballast of sand, by which the ascent is regulated and the + fall is moderated; the coating of caoutchouc, by means of which the + material of the balloon is rendered airtight and prevents loss of gas; + and, finally, the use of the barometer, which marks at every instant, by + the elevation or the depression of the mercury, the position in which the + aeronaut finds himself in the atmosphere. Charles created all the + contrivances, or, in other words, all the ingenious precautions which make + up the art of aerostation. + </p> + <p> + On the 26th of November, the balloon, fitted with its network, and having + the car attached to it, was sent away from the hall of the Tuileries, + where it had been exhibited. The ascent was fixed for the 1st of December, + 1783, a memorable day for the Parisians. + </p> + <p> + At noon upon that day, the subscribers, who had paid four louis for their + seats, took their places within the enclosure outside the circle, in which + stood the casks employed for making the gas. The humbler subscribers, at + three francs a-head, occupied the rest of the garden. The number of + spectators, as we read underneath the numerous coloured prints which + represent this spectacle, was 600,000; but though, without doubt, the + gardens of the Tuileries are very large, it is probable this figure is a + considerable overstatement, for this number would have been three-fourths + of the whole population of Paris. + </p> + <p> + The roofs and windows of the houses were crowded, whilst the Pont Royal + and the square of Louis XV. were covered by an immense multitude. About + mid-day a rumour was spread to the effect that the king forbade the + ascent. Charles ran to the Chief Minister of State, and plainly told him + that his life was the king’s, but his honour was his own: his word was + pledged to the country and he would ascend. Taking this high ground, the + bold professor gained an unwilling permission to carry out his + undertaking. + </p> + <p> + A little afterwards the sound of cannon was heard. This was the signal + which announced the last arrangements and thus dissipated all doubt as to + the rising of the balloon, There had during the day been considerable + disturbance among the crowd, between the partisans of Charles and + Montgolfier; each party extolled its hero, and did everything possible to + detract from the merits of the rival inventor. But whatever ill-feeling + might have existed was swept away by Professor Charles with a compliment. + When he was ready to ascend, he walked up to Montgolfier, and, with the + true instinct of French politeness, presented him with a little balloon, + saying at the same time— + </p> + <p> + “It is for you, monsieur, to show us the way to the skies.” + </p> + <p> + The exquisite taste and delicacy of this incident touched the bystanders + as with an electric shock, and the place at once rang out with the most + genuine and hearty applause The little balloon thrown up by Montgolfier + sped away to the north-east, its beautiful emerald colour showing to fine + effect in the sun. + </p> + <p> + From this point let us follow the narrative of Professor Charles himself. + </p> + <p> + “The balloon,” he says, “which escaped from the hands of M. Montgolfier, + rose into the air, and seemed to carry with it the testimony of friendship + and regard between that gentleman and myself, while acclamations followed + it. Meanwhile, we hastily prepared for departure. The stormy weather did + not permit us to have at our command all the arrangements which we had + contemplated the previous evening; to do so would have detained us too + long upon the earth. After the balloon and the car were in equilibrium, we + threw over 19 lbs. of ballast, and we rose in the midst of silence, + arising from the emotion and surprise felt on all sides. + </p> + <p> + “Nothing will ever equal that moment of joyous excitement which filled my + whole being when I felt myself flying away from the earth. It was not mere + pleasure; it was perfect bliss. Escaped from the frightful torments of + persecution and of calumny, I felt that I was answering all in rising + above all. + </p> + <p> + “To this sentiment succeeded one more lively still—the admiration of + the majestic spectacle that spread itself out before us. On whatever side + we looked, all was glorious; a cloudless sky above, a most delicious view + around. ‘Oh, my friend,’ said I to M. Robert, ‘how great is our good + fortune! I care not what may be the condition of the earth; it is the sky + that is for me now. What serenity! what a ravishing scene! Would that I + could bring here the last of our detractors, and say to the wretch, Behold + what you would have lost had you arrested the progress of science.’ + </p> + <p> + “Whilst we were rising with a progressively increasing speed, we waved our + bannerets in token of our cheerfulness, and in order to give confidence to + those below who took an interest in our fate. M. Robert made an inventory + of our stores; our friends had stocked our commissariat as for a long + voyage—champagne and other wines, garments of fur and other articles + of clothing. + </p> + <p> + “‘Good,’ I said; ‘throw that out of the window.’ He took a blanket and + launched it into the air, through which it floated down slowly, and fell + upon the dome of l’Assomption. + </p> + <p> + “When the barometer had fallen 26 inches, we ceased to ascend. We were up + at an elevation of 1,800 feet. This was the height to which I had promised + myself to ascend; and, in fact, from this moment to the time when we + disappeared from the eyes of our friends, we always kept a horizontal + course, the barometer registering 26 inches to 26 inches 8 lines. + </p> + <p> + “We required to throw over ballast in proportion as the almost insensible + escape of the hydrogen gas caused us to descend, in order to remain as + nearly as possible at the same elevation. If circumstances had permitted + us to measure the amount of ballast we threw over, our course would have + been almost absolutely horizontal. + </p> + <p> + “After remaining for a few moments stationary, our car I changed its + course, and we were carried on at the will of the wind. Soon we passed the + Seine, between St. Ouen and Asnieres. We traversed the river a second + time, leaving Argenteuil upon the left. We passed Sannois, Franconville, + Eau-Bonne, St. Leu-Taverny, Villiers, and finally, Nesles. This was about + twenty-seven miles from Paris, and we had I reached this distance in two + hours, although there was so little wind that the air scarcely stirred. + </p> + <p> + “During the whole course of this delightful voyage, not the slightest + apprehension for our fate or that of our machine entered my head for a + moment. The globe did not suffer any alteration beyond the successive + changes of dilatation and compression, which enabled us to mount and + descend at will. The thermometer was, during more than an hour, between + ten and twelve degrees above zero; this being to some extent accounted for + by the fact that the interior of the car was warmed by the rays of the + sun. + </p> + <p> + “At the end of fifty-six minutes, we heard the report of the cannon which + informed us that we had, at that moment, disappeared from view at Paris. + We rejoiced that we had escaped, as we were no longer obliged to observe a + horizontal course, and to regulate the balloon for that purpose. + </p> + <p> + “We gave ourselves up to the contemplation of the views which the immense + stretch of country beneath us presented. From that time, though we had no + opportunity of conversing with the inhabitants, we saw them running after + us from all parts; we heard their cries, their exclamations of solicitude, + and knew their alarm and admiration. + </p> + <p> + “We cried, ‘Vive le Roi!’ and the people responded. We heard, very + distinctly—‘My good friends, have you no fear? Are you not sick? How + beautiful it is! Heaven preserve you! Adieu, my friends.’ + </p> + <p> + “I was touched to tears by this tender and true interest which our + appearance had called forth. + </p> + <p> + “We continued to wave our flags without cessation, and we perceived that + these signals greatly increased the cheerfulness and calmed the solicitude + of the people below. Often we descended sufficiently low to hear what they + shouted to us. They asked us where we came from, and at what hour we had + started. + </p> + <p> + “We threw over successively frock-coats, muffs, and habits. Sailing on + above the Ile d’Adam, after having admired the splendid view, we made + signals with our flags, and demanded news of the Prince of Conti. One + cried up to us, in a very powerful voice, that he was at Paris, and that + he was ill. We regretted missing such an opportunity of paying our + respects, for we could have descended into the prince’s gardens, if we had + wished, but we preferred to pursue our course, and we re-ascended. + Finally, we arrived at the plain of Nesles. + </p> + <p> + “We saw from the distance groups of peasants, who ran on before us across + the fields. ‘Let us go,’ I said, and we descended towards a vast meadow. + </p> + <p> + “Some shrubs and trees stood round its border. Our car advanced + majestically in a long inclined plane. On arriving near the trees, I + feared that their branches might damage the car, so I threw over two + pounds of ballast, and we rose again. We ran along more than 120 feet, at + a distance of one or two feet from the ground, and had the appearance of + travelling in a sledge. The peasants ran after us without being able to + catch us, like children pursuing a butterfly in the fields. + </p> + <p> + “Finally, we stopped, and were instantly surrounded. Nothing could equal + the simple and tender regard of the country people, their admiration, and + their lively emotion. + </p> + <p> + “I called at once for the cures and the magistrates. They came round me on + all sides: there was quite a fete on the spot. I prepared a short report, + which the cures and the syndics signed. Then arrived a company of horsemen + at a gallop. These were the Duke of Chartres, the Duke of Fitzjames, and + M. Farrer. By a very singular chance, we had come down close by the + hunting-lodge of the latter. He leaped from his horse and threw himself + into my arms, crying, ‘Monsieur Charles, I was first!’ + </p> + <p> + “Charles adds that they were covered with the caresses of the prince, who + embraced both of them. He briefly narrated to the Duke of Chartres some + incidents of the voyage. + </p> + <p> + “‘But this is not all, monseigneur. I am going away again,’ added Charles. + </p> + <p> + “‘What! Going away!’ exclaimed the duke. + </p> + <p> + “‘Monseigneur, you will see. When do you wish me to come back again?’ I + said. + </p> + <p> + “‘In half an hour.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Very well: be it so. In half an hour I shall be with you again.’ + </p> + <p> + “M. Robert descended from the car, and I was alone in the balloon. + </p> + <p> + “I said to the duke, ‘Monseigneur, I go.’ I said to the peasants who held + down the balloon, ‘My friends, go away, all of you, from the car at the + moment I give the signal.’ I then rose like a bird, and in ten minutes I + was more than 3,000 feet above the ground. I no longer perceived + terrestrial objects; I only saw the great masses of nature. + </p> + <p> + “In going away, Charles had taken his precautions against the possible + explosion of the balloon, and made himself ready to make certain + observations. In order to observe the barometer and the thermometer, + placed at different extremities of the car, without endangering the + equilibrium, he sat down in the middle, a watch and paper in his left + hand, a pen and the cord of the safety-valve in his right. + </p> + <p> + “I waited for what should happen,” continues he. “The balloon, which was + quite flabby and soft when I ascended, was now taut, and fully distended. + Soon the hydrogen gas began to escape in considerable quantities by the + neck of the balloon, and then, from time to time, I pulled open the valve + to give it two issues at once; and I continued thus to mount upwards, all + the time losing the inflammable air, which, rushing past me from the neck + of the balloon, felt like a warm cloud. + </p> + <p> + “I passed in ten minutes from the temperature of spring to that of winter; + the cold was keen and dry, but not insupportable. I examined all my + sensations calmly; <i>I</i> COULD HEAR MYSELF LIVE, so to speak, and I am + certain that at first I experienced nothing disagreeable in this sudden + passage from one temperature to another. + </p> + <p> + “When the barometer ceased to move I noted very exactly eighteen inches + ten lines. This observation is perfectly accurate The mercury did not + suffer any sensible movement. + </p> + <p> + “At the end of some minutes the cold caught my fingers; I could hardly + hold the pen, but I no longer had need to do so. I was stationary, or + rather moved only in a horizontal direction. + </p> + <p> + “I raised myself in the middle of the car, and abandoned myself to the + spectacle before me. At my departure from the meadow the sun had sunk to + the people of the valleys; soon he shone for me alone, and came again to + pour his rays upon the balloon and the car. I was the only creature in the + horizon in sunshine—all the rest of nature was in shade. Ere long, + however, the sun disappeared, and thus I had the pleasure of seeing him + set twice in the same day. I contemplated for some moments the mists and + vapours that rose from the valley and the rivers The clouds seemed to come + forth from the earth, and to accumulate the one upon the other. Their + colour was a monotonous grey—a natural effect, for there was no + light save that of the moon. + </p> + <p> + “I observed that I had tacked round twice, and I felt currents which + called me to my senses. I found with surprise the effect of the wind, and + saw the cloth of my flag: extended horizontally. + </p> + <p> + “In the midst of the inexpressible pleasure of this state of ecstatic + contemplation, I was recalled to myself by a most extraordinary pain which + I felt in the interior of the ears and in the maxillary glands. This I + attributed to the dilation of the air contained in the cellular tissue of + the organ as much as to the cold outside. I was in my vest, with my head + uncovered. I immediately covered my head with a bonnet of wool which was + at my feet, but the pain only disappeared with my descent to the ground. + </p> + <p> + “It was now seven or eight minutes since I had arrived at this elevation, + and I now commenced to descend. I remembered the promise I had made to the + Duke of Chartres, to return in half an hour. I quickened my descent by + opening the valve from time to time. Soon the balloon, empty now to one + half, presented the appearance of a hemisphere. + </p> + <p> + “Arrived at twenty-three fathoms from the earth, I suddenly threw over two + or three pounds of ballast, which arrested my descent, and which I had + carefully kept for this purpose. I then slowly descended upon the ground, + which I had, so to speak, chosen.” + </p> + <p> + Such is the narrative of the second aerial voyage. After such a memorable + ascent one is astonished to learn that Professor Charles never repeated + his experiment. It has been said that, in descending from his car, he had + vowed that he would never again expose himself to such perils, so strong + had been the alarm he felt when the peasants ceasing to hold him down he + shot up into the sky with the rapidity of an arrow. But after him a + thousand others have followed the daring example he set. With this ascent + the memorable year 1783 closed, and the seed which had been sown soon + began to be productive. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_PART2" id="link2H_PART2"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PART II. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter I. The History of Aerostation from the Year 1783. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + The Open Route—Travels and Travellers—Great Increase in + the Number of Air Voyages—Lyons, Ascent of “Le Flesselles— + Milan, Ascent of Adriani—Flight of a Balloon from London— + Lost Balloons in the Chief Towns of Europe +</pre> + <p> + From the year 1783, in which aerostation had its birth, and in which it + was carried to a degree of perfection, beside which the progress of + aeronauts in our days seems small, a new route was opened up for + travellers. The science of Montgolfier, the practical art of Professor + Charles, and the courage of Roziers, subdued the scepticism of those who + had not yet given in their adhesion to the possible value of the great + discovery, and throughout the whole of France a feverish degree of + enthusiasm in the art manifested itself Aerial excursions now became quite + fashionable. Let it be understood that we do not here refer to ascents in + fixed balloons, that is, in balloons which were attached to the earth by + means of ropes more or less long. + </p> + <p> + M. Biot narrates that, in his young days, when aeronautic ascents were + less known than they are in these times, there was in the plain of + Grenelle, at the mill of Javelle, an establishment where balloons were + constantly maintained for the accommodation of amateurs of both sexes who + wished to make ascents in what were called “ballons captifs,” or balloons + anchored, so to speak, to the earth by means of long ropes They were for a + considerable time the rage of fashionable society, and it is not recorded + that any accidents resulted from the practice. Of course it may be easily + understood with these safe balloons the adventurous aeronauts never + ascended to any great height. The reader will find this subject treated + under the chapter of military aerostation. + </p> + <p> + We are at present specially engaged with the narrative of the first + attempts in aerostation—the first experiments in the new discovery. + We have followed with interest the exciting details of the first + adventurous ascents, in which the genius of man first essayed the + unexplored paths of the heavens. Yet a continued record of aerial voyages + would not be of the same interest. The results of subsequent expeditions, + and the impressions of subsequent aeronauts are the same as those already + described, or differ from them only in minor points. No important advance + is recorded in the art. We shall therefore endeavour not to confine + ourselves to the narrative of a dry and monotonous chronology, but to + select from the number of ascents that have taken place within the last + eighty years, only those whose special character renders them worthy of + more detailed and severe investigation. + </p> + <p> + In order to give an idea of the rapid multiplication of aeronautic + experiments, it will suffice to state that the only aeronauts of 1783 are + Roziers, the Marquis d’Arlandes, Professor Charles, his collaborateur the + younger Robert, and a carpenter, named Wilcox, who made ascents at + Philadelphia and London. + </p> + <p> + A number of balloons were remarkable for the beauty and elegance which we + have already spoken of. Among the most beautiful we may mention the + “Flesselles” balloon and Bagnolet’s balloon. + </p> + <p> + Of the ascents which immediately succeeded those that have been treated in + the first part of our volume, and which are the most memorable in the + early annals of aerostation, that of the 17th of January, 1784, is + remarkable. It took place at Lyons. Seven persons went into the car on + this occasion—Joseph Montgolfier, Roziers, the Comte de Laurencin, + the Comte de Dampierre, the Prince Charles de Ligne, the Comte de Laporte + d’Anglifort, and Fontaine, who threw himself into the car when it had + already begun to move. + </p> + <p> + A most minute account of this experiment is given in a letter of Mathon de + la Cour, director of the Academy of Sciences at Lyons:—“After the + experiments of the Champ de Mars and Versailles had become known,” he + says, “the citizens of this town proposed to repeat them and a + subscription was opened for this purpose. On the arrival of the elder + Montgolfier, about the end of September, M. de Flesselles, our director, + always zealous in promoting whatever might be for the welfare of the + province and the advancement of science and art, persuaded him to organise + the subscription. The aim of the experiment proposed by Montgolfier was + not the ascent of any human being in the balloon. The prospectus only + announced that a balloon of a much larger size than any that had been made + would ascend—that it would rise to several thousand feet, and that, + including the animals that it was proposed it should carry, it would weigh + 8,000 lbs. The subscription was fixed at L12, and the number of + subscribers was 360.” + </p> + <p> + It was on these conditions that Montgolfier commenced his balloon of 126 + feet high and 100 feet in diameter, made of a double envelope of cotton + cloth, with a lining of paper between. A strength and consistency was + given to the structure by means of ribbons and cords. + </p> + <p> + The work was nearly finished when Roziers went up in his fire-balloon from + La Muette. Immediately the Comte de Laurencin pressed Montgolfier to allow + him to go up in the new machine. Montgolfier was only too glad of the + opportunity—refused up to this time by the king—of going up + himself. From thirty to forty people made application to go with the + aeronauts; and on the 26th of December, 1678, Roziers, the Comte de + Dampierre, and the Comte de Laporte, arrived in Lyons with the same + intention. Prince Charles also arrived; and as his father had taken one + hundred subscriptions, his claim to go up could not be refused. + </p> + <p> + But while the public papers were full of ascents at Avignon, Marseilles, + and Paris, it is impossible to describe the vexation of Roziers, when he + discovered that Montgolfier’s new balloon was not intended to carry + passengers, and had not been, from the first, constructed with that view. + He suggested a number of alterations, which Montgolfier adopted at once. + </p> + <p> + On the 7th of January, 1784, all the pieces of which the balloon was + composed were carried out to the field called Les Brotteaux, outside the + town, from which the ascent was to be made. This event was announced to + take place on the 10th and at five o’clock on the morning of that day; but + unexpected delays occurred, and in the necessary operations the covering + was torn in many places. + </p> + <p> + On the 15th the balloon was inflated in seventeen minutes, and the gallery + was attached in an hour—the fire from which the heated air was + obtained requiring to be fed at the rate of 5 lbs. of alder-wood per + minute; but the preparations had occupied so much time, that it was found, + when everything was complete, that the afternoon was too far advanced for + the ascent to be made. This machine was destined to suffer from endless + misfortunes. It took fire while being inflated, and, several days + afterwards, it was damaged by snow and rain. Put nothing discouraged + Roziers and his companions. Places had been arranged in the gallery for + six persons. After the balloon was at last inflated, Prince Charles and + the Comes de Laurencin, Dampierre, and Laporte threw themselves into the + gallery. They were all armed, and were determined not to quit their places + to whoever might come. Roziers, who wished at the last to enjoy a high + ascent, proposed to reduce the number to three, and to draw lots for the + purpose. But the gentlemen would not descend. The debate became animated. + The four voyagers cried to cut the ropes. The director of the Academy, to + whom application was made in this emergency, admiring the resolution and + the courage of the four gentlemen, wished to satisfy them in their desire. + Accordingly the ropes were cut; but at that moment M. Montgolfier and + Roziers threw themselves into the gallery. At the same time a certain M. + Fontaine, who had had much to do in the construction of the machine, threw + himself in, although it had not previously been arranged that he should be + of the party. His boldness in jumping in was pardoned, on the ground of + his services and his zeal. + </p> + <p> + In going away the machine turned to the south-west, and bent a little. A + rope which dragged along the ground seemed to retard its ascent; but some + intelligent person having cut this with a hatchet, it began to right + itself and ascend. At a certain height it turned to the north east. The + wind was feeble, and the progress was slow, but the imposing effect was + indescribable. The immense machine rose into the air as by some effect of + magic. Nearly 100,000 spectators were present, and they were greatly + excited at the view. They clapped their hands and stretched their arms + towards the sky; women fainted away, or (for some reasons best known to + themselves) found relief for their excitement in tears; while the men, + uttering cries of joy, waved their handkerchiefs, and threw their hats + into the air. + </p> + <p> + The form of the machine was that of a globe, rising from a reversed and + truncated cone, to which the gallery was attached. The upper part was + white, the lower part grey; and the cone was composed of strips of stuff + of different colours. On the sides of the balloon were two paintings, one + of which represented History, the other Fame. The flag bore the arms of + the director of the Academy, and above it were inscribed the words “Le + Flesselles.” + </p> + <p> + The voyagers observed that they did not consume a fourth of the quantity + of combustibles after they had risen into the air, which they consumed + when attached to the earth. They were in the gayest humour, and they + calculated that the fuel they had would keep them floating till late in + the evening. Unfortunately, however, after throwing more wood on the fire, + in order to get up to a greater altitude, it was discovered that a rent + had been made in the covering, caused by the fire by which the balloon had + been damaged two or three days previously. The rent was four feet in + length; and as the heated air escaped very rapidly by it, the balloon + fell, after having sailed above the earth for barely fifteen minutes. + </p> + <p> + The descent only occupied two or three minutes, and yet the shock was + supportable. It was observed that as soon as the machine had touched the + earth all the cloth became unfolded in a few seconds, which seemed to + confirm the opinion of Montgolfier, who believed that electricity had much + to do in the ascent of balloons. The voyagers were got out of the balloon + without accident, and were greeted with the most enthusiastic applause. + </p> + <p> + On the day of the ascent, the opera of “Iphigenia in Aulis” was given, and + the theatre was thronged by a vast assemblage, attracted thither in the + hope of seeing the illustrious experimentalists. The curtain had risen + when M. and Madame de Flesselles entered their box, accompanied by + Montgolfier and Roziers. At sight of them the enthusiasm of the house rose + to fever pitch. The other voyagers also entered, and were greeted with the + same demonstrations. Cries arose from the pit to begin the opera again, in + honour of the visitors. The curtain then fell, and when it again rose, + after a few moments, the actor who filled the role of Agamemnon advanced + with crowns, which he handed to Madame de Flesselles, who distributed them + to the aeronauts. Roziers placed the crown that had been given to him upon + Montgolfier’s head. + </p> + <p> + When the actress who played the part of Clytemnestra, sung the passage + beginning— + </p> + <p> + “I love to see these flattering honours paid.” + </p> + <p> + The audience at once applied her song to the circumstances, and + re-demanded it, which request the actress complied with, addressing + herself to the box in which the distinguished visitors sat. The + demonstrations of admiration were continued after the opera was over; and + during the whole of the night the gentlemen of the balloon ascent were + serenaded. + </p> + <p> + Two days afterwards, Roziers having appeared at a ball, received further + proofs of admiration and honours; and when, on the 22nd of January, he + departed for Dijon on his return to Paris, he was accompanied as in a + triumph by a numerous cavalcade of the most distinguished young men of the + city. + </p> + <p> + There was, however, at Paris, much discontent with the ascent of “Le + Flesselles;” and the Journal de Paris de Paris, which notices so + enthusiastically the other ascents of that epoch, speaks slightingly of + that at Lyons. + </p> + <p> + The next great ascent took place at Milan, on the 25th of February, 1784, + under the direction of the Chevalier Paul Andriani, who had a balloon + constructed by the Brothers Gerli, at his own expense. We read that this + balloon was 66 feet in diameter, and that the envelope was composed of + cloth, lined in the interior with fine paper. + </p> + <p> + The balloon was not in all respects constructed like that which rose at + Lyons. The grating which supported the fire that kept up the supply of hot + air was placed at the mouth of the opening. It was made of copper, was six + feet in diameter, and was secured by a number of transverse beams of wood. + M. Andriani thought it best to place his fire—contrary to general + usage—a little way above the mouth of the opening, and he found out + that the activity of the fire was in proportion with that of the air which + entered and fed it. + </p> + <p> + In place of making use of a gallery like that employed by Montgolfier, as + much to manage the fire as to carry the traveller and the fuel, he + substituted a wide basket, suspended by cords to the edge of the opening + of the balloon, at such a distance that fuel could be thrown on with the + hand without being inconvenienced by the heat. + </p> + <p> + Everything being in readiness, the machine was carried to Moncuco, the + splendid domain of Andriani, where the first experiments were made; for + this gentlemen knew that as the populace are impatient, they are also + often un-reasonable, and jump to the hastiest and most inconsiderate + conclusion when, in witnessing scientific experiments, any of the + arrangements happen to be imperfect, and the results in any respect prove + unsuccessful. + </p> + <p> + Andriani did not deceive himself, for, sure enough, his first attempt did + not come up to expectation. The reasons for this failure were the too + great quantity of air which the fire drew in, and the unsuitable character + of the fuel used. + </p> + <p> + On the 25th of February, 1784, a second attempt was made. The fire was + lighted under the machine, at first with dry birch-wood and afterwards + with a bituminous composition, ingeniously concocted by one of the + Brothers Gerli. In less than four minutes the balloon was completely + inflated, and the men employed to hold it down with ropes perceived that + it was on the point of rising. The aeronauts then gave the order to let + go. Scarcely was the balloon let off, when it gently rose a short + distance, and then flew in a horizontal direction towards a palace in the + neighbourhood. In order that the structure should not be destroyed on the + walls and the roof of the palace, the voyagers heaped on the fuel, and the + spectators, who had gathered together from the surrounding villages, then + saw this strange vessel of the air rising with rapidity to a surprising + height. Such a phenomenon was so astonishing, that those who beheld it + could hardly believe their own eyes; and when the balloon disappeared from + view, the delight they had manifested was dashed with fear for the fate of + the bold aeronauts. The latter, seeing that the balloon was driving + through the air towards a range of rocky hills in the neighbourhood, and + perceiving, on the other hand, that their stock of combustibles was nearly + exhausted, judged it prudent to descend. They diminished their fire, and + came gradually down, warning the multitude below of their intention by + means of a speaking-trumpet. + </p> + <p> + In the course of the descent the balloon alighted upon a large tree, to + the great peril of the travellers; but as soon as the fire was increased + it again mounted and got clear from the branches while the people below, + grasping the cords that were hung out to them, guided the machine to the + spot which the voyagers indicated. To descend to terra firma was then a + comparatively easy matter, and it was safely accomplished. The fire, which + in the case of the French balloons had dried, calcined, and almost + consumed the upper part of the balloon, had no evil effect upon that of + Andriani, which came down looking as fresh as if it had never been used. + </p> + <p> + The new idea had now passed the frontiers of France, in which it was + originally conceived, and among the other nations, as at first in France, + the power of the inflated balloon came to be tested everywhere by the + construction of small toy globes. + </p> + <p> + It was just about five months after the first experiment at Annonay—viz., + on the 25th of November, 1783—that the first balloon ascended in + London. We are informed, in the History of Aerostation by Tiberius + Cavallo, that an Italian, Count Zambeccari, who was staying in the English + capital, made a balloon of silk, covered with a varnish of oil. Its + diameter was ten feet, and its weight eleven pounds. It was gilded for the + double purpose of enhancing its appearance and preventing the escape of + air. After having been exposed to public inspection for several days, it + was filled three parts full of hydrogen gas, a tin bottle was suspended + from it, containing an address to whoever might find it when it should + fall, and it was let off from the Artillery Ground, in presence of a vast + assembly. + </p> + <p> + On the 11th of December, 1783, a little balloon, made of gold-beaters’ + skin, was let off publicly at Turin. This was an experiment similar to + that which had been tried at Paris in September. The balloon was seen to + penetrate the clouds, then to mount still higher, and finally to disappear + entirely in five minutes fifty-four seconds from the time when it was set + free. + </p> + <p> + It was natural, after the experiments made long before with electric paper + kites, to employ the balloon in the investigation of the electric + conditions of the atmosphere. The first to use it for this purpose was the + Abbe Berthelon de Montpellier. He sent up a number of balloons, to which + he had attached pieces of metal, long and narrow, and terminating in a + cylinder of glass, or other substance suitable for the purpose of + isolation, and he obtained sufficient electricity by these means to + demonstrate the phenomena of attraction and repulsion, as well as electric + sparks. + </p> + <p> + Cavallo mentions an accident which took place in England about this time, + and which served as a warning to all who had to do with balloons filled + with hydrogen gas. A balloon thus inflated had been sent up at Hopton, + near Matlock, and was found by two men near Cheadle, in Staffordshire. + These ingenious persons carried it within doors, and having wished to + fully inflate it—half the gas having by this time escaped—they + applied a pair of bellows to its mouth. By this means they only forced out + the volume of the hydrogen gas that was left; and this gas, coming in + contact with a candle that had been placed too near, exploded. The report + was louder than that of a cannon, and so powerful was the shock that the + men were thrown down, the glass blown out of the windows, and the house + otherwise damaged. The men suffered severely, their hair, beards, and + eyebrows being completely burnt away, and their faces severely scorched. + </p> + <p> + At Grenoble, in Dauphine, De Baron let off a balloon on the 13th of + January, 1784. It rose, and at first took a northern direction; but, + having encountered a current of air, it was carried away in a + south-easterly direction, and after flying a distance of three-quarters of + a mile, it fell, having traversed this distance in fifteen minutes. + </p> + <p> + A society, under the presidency of the Abbe de Mably, having constructed a + balloon thirty-seven feet high and twenty feet in diameter, sent it off + from the court of the Castle of Pisancon, near Romano, on the same day, + the 13th of February. At first it was carried to the south by a strong + north wind, but after it had risen to 1,000 feet above the surface, its + course was changed towards the north. It was calculated that, in less than + five minutes, this balloon rose to the height of 6,000 feet. + </p> + <p> + On the 16th of the same month the Count d’Albon threw off from his gardens + at Franconville a balloon inflated with gas, and made of silk, rendered + air-tight by a solution of gum-arabic. It was oblong, and measured + twenty-five feet in height, and seventeen feet in diameter. To this + balloon a cage, containing two guinea-pigs and a rabbit, was suspended. + The cords were cut, and the inflated globe rose to an enormous height with + the greatest rapidity. Five days afterwards it was found at the distance + of eighteen miles, and it is remarkable that, in spite of the cold of the + season, and particularly of the elevated region through which the balloon + had been passing, the animals were not only living, but in good condition. + </p> + <p> + On the 3rd of February, 1784, the Marquis de Bullion sent up a paper + balloon, of about fifteen feet in diameter. A flat sponge, about a foot + square, placed in a tin dish and drenched with a pint of spirits of wine, + was the only apparatus made use of to create a supply of heated air. It + rose at Paris, and three hours afterwards it was found near Basville, + about thirty miles from the capital. + </p> + <p> + On the 15th of the same month Cellard de Chastelais sent up a paper + balloon. Heated air was supplied on this occasion by a paper roll, + enclosing a sponge, and soaked in oil, spirits of wine, and grease. A + cage, which contained a cat, was attached to this air globe. In + thirty-five minutes it had mounted so high that it looked but like the + smallest star, and in two hours it had flown a distance of forty-six miles + from the place where it was thrown off. The cat was dead, but it was not + discovered from what cause. + </p> + <p> + The first balloon that traversed the English channel was sent off at + Sandwich, in Kent, on the 22nd of February, 1784. It was five feet in + diameter, and was inflated with hydrogen gas. It rose rapidly, and was + carried toward France by a north-west wind. Two hours and a half after it + had been let off it was found in a field about nine miles from Lille. The + balloon carried a letter, instructing the finder of the balloon to + communicate with William Boys, Esq., Sandwich, and to state where and at + what time it was found. This request was complied with. + </p> + <p> + On the 19th of February a similar balloon, five feet in diameter, was sent + up from Queen’s College, Oxford. It was spherical, and was made of Persian + silk, coated with varnish. It was the first balloon sent up from that + city. + </p> + <p> + De Saussure makes mention, in a letter dated from Geneva, the 26th of + March, 1784, of certain experiments made in that town with the electricity + of the atmosphere by means of fixed balloons—i.e., balloons attached + to the earth by ropes, which gave forth sparks and positive electricity. + </p> + <p> + Mention is also made of a certain M. Argand, of Geneva, who had the honour + of making balloon experiments at Windsor in the presence of King George + III., Queen Charlotte, and the royal family. About this time (1784) + balloons became “the fashion,” and frequent instances occur of their being + raised by day and night, by means of spirit-lamps, to the great delight of + multitudes of spectators. + </p> + <p> + A letter from Watt to Dr. Lind, of Windsor, dated from Birmingham, 25th + December, 1784, narrates an experiment made the summer preceding with a + balloon inflated with hydrogen. The balloon was made of fine paper covered + with a varnish of oil and filled two-thirds with hydrogen gas, and + one-third common air. To the neck of the balloon was attached a sort of + squib two feet long, the fuse of which was ignited when the balloon was + inflated. The night was calm and dark, and a great multitude was assembled + to witness the ascent, which was accomplished with a success that gave + delight to all; for, at the end of six minutes the fuse communicated with + the squib, and the explosion was like the sound of thunder. The men who + saw it from a distance, but were not present at its ascent, took it for a + meteor. “Our intention,” says Watt, “was, if possible, to discover whether + the reverberating sound of thunder was due to echoes or to successive + explosions. The sound occasioned by the detonation of the hydrogen gas of + the balloon in this experiment, does not enable us to form a definite + judgment; all that we can do is to refer to those who were near the + balloon, and-who affirm that the sound was like that of thunder.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter II. Experiments and Studies—Blanchard at Paris—Guyton + de Morveau at Dijon. + </h2> + <p> + The most popular name in aerostation during the Revolution and the + Consulate in France is, without doubt, that of Blanchard. We have already + referred to him in the chapter which treats of experiments made prior to + the discovery of Montgolfier, and we now have to speak of his famous + ascent from the Champ de Mars, on the 2nd of March 1784, and of the + ascents which followed. + </p> + <p> + We have seen that he constructed a sort of flying boat, a machine + furnished with oars and rigging, with which he managed to sustain himself + some moments in the air at the height of eighty feet. This curious machine + was exhibited in 1782 in the gardens of the great hotel of the Rue + Taranne. But a little time afterwards Montgolfier’s discoveries quite + altered the conditions under which the aerostatic art was to be pursued. + It had no sooner become known than it became public property. The idea was + too simple in its grandeur, and was of too easy a kind not to call up a + host of imitators. Of these Blanchard was one of the first; but this + mechanician was anxious to incorporate his own invention with that of + Montgolfier, and he arranged that on the 2nd of March, 1784, he should + make an ascent in what he still called his “flying vessel,” which he + furnished with four wings. + </p> + <p> + Blanchard and his companion, Pesch, a Benedictine priest, were prevented + from going up in the balloon, as represented in our illustration, which + was drawn before the event it was intended to commemorate. A certain + Dupont de Chambon persisted in accompanying the voyagers. Pushed back by + them, he drew his sword, leaped into the car or boat, wounded Blanchard, + cut the rigging, and broke the oars or wings. The aeronaut was + consequently compelled to have his machine partly re-fitted in great + haste, and in the course of a few hours he made the ascent alone in the + usual way. Blanchard should have known the uselessness of oars, though he + did not abandon their employment in subsequent ascents. The Brothers + Montgolfier had dreamed of the employment of oars as a means of guidance, + but had ultimately rejected the idea. Joseph wrote to his brother Etienne, + about the end of the year 1783: + </p> + <p> + “For my sake, my good friend, reflect; calculate well before you employ + oars. Oars must either be great or small; if great, they will be heavy; if + small, it will be necessary to move them with great rapidity. I know no + sufficient means of guidance, except in the knowledge of the different + currents of air, of which it is necessary to make a study; and these are + generally regulated by the elevation.” The two brothers often recurred to + this idea. + </p> + <p> + The pictures of the first ascent of Blanchard from the Champ de Mars on + the 2nd of March, 1784, in the presence of a vast multitude, show us the + oars and the mechanism of his flying-machine fitted to a balloon. The + design which we here give seems to us deserving of being considered only + as one of the caricatures of the time, especially when we look at the + personage dressed in the fool’s head-gear, who sits behind and accompanies + the triumphant ascent of the aeronaut with music. + </p> + <p> + It was not with this apparatus that Blanchard effected his ascent, for we + have seen that the gearing of his vessel was broken by the infuriated + Dupont de Chambon. Yet the aeronaut pretends to have been, to some extent, + assisted by his mechanical contrivances. The following is his narrative:— + </p> + <p> + “I rose to a certain height over Plassy, and perceiving Villette, which I + did not despair of reaching in spite of the misfortune that had happened + to me, I attached a rope of my rigging to my leg, not being able to make + use of my left hand, which I had wrapped in my handkerchief on account of + the sword-wound it had received. I fixed up a piece of cloth, and thus + made a sort of sail with which I hugged the wind. But the rays of the sun + had so heated and rarefied the inflammable air that soon I forgot my + rigging in thinking of the terrible danger that threatened me.” + </p> + <p> + Going on to narrate the dangers that beset him, Blanchard describes a + number of most extraordinary experiences, which would be better worthy of + a place here if they were more like the truth. His curious narrative is + thus brought to a close:— + </p> + <p> + “Escaped from these impetuous and contrary winds, during which I had felt + a great degree of cold, I mounted perpendicularly. The cold became + excessive. Being hungry I ate a morsel of cake. I wished to drink, but in + searching the car nothing was to be seen but the debris of bottles and + glasses, which my assailant had left behind him when we were about to + depart. Afterwards all was so calm that nothing could be seen or heard. + The silence became appalling, and to add to my alarm I began to lose + consciousness. I now wished to take snuff, but found I had left my box + behind me. I changed my seat many times; I went from prow to stern, but + the drowsiness only ceased to assail me when I was struck by two furious + winds, which compressed my balloon to such an extent that its size became + sensibly diminished to the eye. I was not sorry when I began to descend + rapidly upon the river, which at first seemed to me a white thread, + afterwards a ribbon, and then a piece of cloth. As I followed the course + of the river, the fear that I should have to descend into it, made me + agitate the oars very rapidly. I believe that it is to these movements + that I owe my being able to cross the river transversely, and get above + dry land. When I saw myself upon the plain of Billancourt, I recognised + the bridge of Sevres, and the road to Versailles. I was then about as high + as the towers above the plain, and I could hear the words and the cries of + joy of the people who were following me below. At length I came to a plain + about 200 feet in extent. The people then assisted me and brought my + vessel to anchor. Immediately I was surrounded by gentlemen and foot + passengers who had run together from all parts.” + </p> + <p> + This voyage lasted one hour and a quarter. The most important incident of + it was that the balloon was very nearly burst by the expansion of the + hydrogen gas. No balloon, as we have already seen, should be entirely + inflated at the beginning of a journey. Blanchard had a narrow escape from + being the victim of his ignorance of physics, and it is a wonder he was + not left to the mercy of fate in a burst balloon, at several thousand feet + above the earth. + </p> + <p> + Biot, the savant, who had watched the experiment, declared that Blanchard + did not stir himself, and that the variations of his course are alone to + be attributed to the currents of air that he encountered. As he had + inscribed upon his flags, his balloons, and his entrance tickets, from + which he realised a considerable sum, the ambitious legend, Sic itur ad + astra, the following epigram was produced respecting him:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + From the Field of Mars he took his flight: + In a field close by he tumbled; + But our money having taken + He smiled though sadly shaken, + As Sic itur ad astra he mumbled. +</pre> + <p> + What is most important to examine in each of the great aerial voyages that + have been made, is the special character which distinguishes them from + average experiments. All our great voyages are rendered special and + particular by the ideas of the men who undertook them, and the aims which + they severally meant to achieve by them. The early ascents of Montgolfier + had for their aim the establishment of the fact that any body lighter than + the volume of air which it displaces will rise in the atmosphere; those of + Roziers were undertaken to prove that man can apply this principle for the + purpose of making actual aerial voyages; those of Robertson, Gay-Lussac, + &c., were undertaken for the purpose of ascertaining certain + meteorological phenomena; those of Conte Coutelle applied aerostation to + military uses. A considerable number were made with the view of organising + a system of aerial navigation analogous to that of the sea-steerage in a + certain direction by means of oars or sails—in a word, to + investigate the possibility of sailing through the air to any point fixed + upon. It was with this object that the experiments at Dijon took place, + and these were the most serious attempts down to our times that have been + made to steer balloons. + </p> + <p> + At the middle of the globe of the balloon were placed four oars, two + sails, and a helm and these were under the management of the voyagers, who + sat in the car and worked them by means of ropes. The car was also + furnished with oars. The report of Guyton de Morveau to the Academy at + Dijon informs us that these different paraphernalia were not altogether + useless. The following extracts are from this report:— + </p> + <p> + “The very strong wind which arose immediately before our departure, had + driven us down to tee ground many times, making us fear for the safety of + our oars, &c., when we resolved to throw over as much ballast as would + enable us to rise against the wind. The ballast, including from 70 to 80 + lbs. of provisions, was thrown over, and then we rose so rapidly that all + the objects around were instantly passed and were very soon lost to view. + The swelling form of our balloon told us that the gas inside had expanded + under the heat of the sun and the lessening density of the surrounding + air. We opened the two valves, but even this outlet was insufficient, and + we had to cut a hole about seven or eight inches long in the lower part of + the balloon, through which the gas might escape. At five minutes past five + we passed above a village which we did not know, and here we let fall a + bag filled with bran, and carrying with it a flag and a written message to + the effect that we were all well, and that the barometer was recording 20 + inches 9 lines, and the thermometer one degree and a half below zero.” + </p> + <p> + Very keen cold attacked the ears, but this was the only inconvenience + experienced, until the voyagers were lost in a sea of clouds that shut + them out from the view of the earth. The sun at length began to descend, + and they then perceived, by a slackening in the lower part of the balloon, + that it was time for them to think of returning to the earth. Judging from + the compass that they were not far from the town of Auxonne, they resolved + to use all their endeavours to reach that place. The sailing appliances + had been considerably damaged by the rough weather at starting. The + rigging being disarranged, one of the oars had got broken, another had + become entangled in the rigging, so that there remained only two of the + four oars, and these, being on the same side, were absolutely useless + during the greatest part of the voyage. The adventurers, however, assert + that they made them work from eight to nine minutes with the greatest + ease, making use of them to tack to the south-east. + </p> + <p> + “We hoped then to be able to descend near where we judged Auxonne to be,” + the writer continues, “but we lost much gas by the opening in the balloon, + and descended more rapidly than we expected or wished. We looked to our + small stock of ballast with anxiety, but there was no need of it, and we + came very softly down upon a slope.” + </p> + <p> + When the aeronauts arrived at Magny-les-Auxonne, the inhabitants gazed + upon them in terror, and two men and three women fell down on their knees + before them. + </p> + <p> + Here is an extract from the report of the experiment of the 12th of June, + the principal object of which was the attempt to discover the means of + steering in a certain direction:— + </p> + <p> + “M. de Verley and myself mounted in the balloon,” says Guyton de Morveau, + “at seven o’clock. We rose rapidly and in an almost perpendicular + direction. The fall of the mercury in the barometer was scarcely + perceptible when the dilation of the hydrogen gas in the balloon had + become considerable. The globe swelled out, and a light vapour around the + mouth announced to us that the gas was commencing to escape by the + safety-valve. We assisted its escape by pulling the valve-string. + </p> + <p> + “Having reduced the dilation sufficiently for our purposes, we resolved to + attempt the working of the balloon before the whole town and to turn it + from the east to the north. We saw with pleasure that our machinery + answered By the working of the helm, the prow of our air-boat was turned + in the direction we desired. The oars, working only on one side, supported + the helm, and altogether we got on as we wished. We described a curve, + crossing the road from Dijon to Langres. The mercury had descended to 24 + inches 8 lines, which announced that we were gradually rising. We + attempted for some time to follow the route to I Langres, but the wind + drove us off our course in spite of all our efforts. At nine o’clock our + barometer informed us that we had ascended to the height of 6,000 feet. M. + de Verley took advantage of this elevation to put some touch wood to a + burning-glass 18 lines in diameter, and the touch wood lighted + immediately.” + </p> + <p> + The aeronauts decided to direct their course for Dijon. After re-setting + the helm with this intention, they worked their oars, and proceeded in + that direction more than 1,000 feet. But heat and fatigue obliged them to + suspend their endeavours, and the current drove them upon Mirebeau, where, + throwing out the last of their ballast and regulating their descent, they + came softly down upon a corn-field. + </p> + <p> + The adventurers were cordially welcomed by the ecclesiastics and the + magistrates of the place, and after a time they, with their balloon, were + carried back on men’s shoulders to Dijon. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter III. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Experiment in Montgolfiers—Roziers and Proust—The Duke of + Chartres—The Comte d’Artois—Voyage of the Abbe Carnus to + Rodez. +</pre> + <p> + The longest course travelled by Montgolfiere balloons, and the highest + elevation reached by them, were achieved by Roziers and Proust with the + Montgolfiere la Marie Antoinette, at Versailles, on the 23rd of June, + 1784. Roziers himself has left us a picturesque narrative of this + excursion from Versailles to Compiegne. He says:— + </p> + <p> + “The Montgolfiere rose at first very gently in a diagonal line, presenting + an imposing spectacle. Like a vessel which has just been precipitated from + the stocks, this astonishing machine hung balanced in the air for some + time, and seemed to have got beyond human control. These irregular + movements intimidated a portion of the spectators, who, fearing that, + should there be a fall, their lives would be in danger, scattered away + with great speed from under us. After having fed my fire, I saluted the + people, who answered me in the most cordial manner. I had time to remark + some faces, in which there was a mixed expression of apprehension and joy. + In continuing our upward progress, I perceived that an upper current of + air made the Montgolfiere bend, but on increasing the heat, we rose above + the current. The size of objects on the earth now began perceptibly to + diminish, which gave us an idea of the distance at which we were from + them. It was then that we became visible to Paris and its suburbs, and so + great was our elevation that many in the capital thought we were directly + over their heads. + </p> + <p> + “When we had arrived among the clouds, the earth disappeared from our + view. Now a thick mist would envelop us, then a clear space showed us + where we were, and again we rose through a mass of snow, portions of which + stuck to our gallery. Curious to know how high we could ascend, we + resolved to increase our fire and raise the heat to the highest degree, by + raising our grating, and holding up our fagots suspended on the ends of + our forks. + </p> + <p> + “Having gained these snowy elevations, and not being able to mount higher, + we wandered about for some time in regions which we felt were now visited + by man for the first time. Isolated and separated entirely from nature, we + perceived beneath us only enormous masses of snow, which, reflecting the + sunshine, filled the firmament with a glorious light. We remained eight + minutes at this elevation, 11,732 feet above the earth. This situation, + however agreeable it might have been to the painter or the poet, promised + little to the man of science in the way of acquiring knowledge; and so we + determined, eighteen minutes after our departure, to return through the + clouds to the earth. We had hardly left this snowy abyss, when the most + pleasant scene succeeded the most dreary one. The broad plains appeared + before our view in all their magnificence. No snow, no clouds were now to + be seen, except around the horizon, where a few clouds seemed to rest on + the earth. We passed in a minute from winter to spring. We saw the + immeasurable earth covered with towns and villages, which at that distance + appeared only so many isolated mansions surrounded with gardens. The + rivers which wound about in all directions seemed no more than rills for + the adornment of these mansions; the largest forests looked mere clumps or + groves, and the meadows and broad fields seemed no more than garden plots. + These marvellous tableaux, which no painter could render, reminded us of + the fairy metamorphoses; only with this difference, that we were beholding + upon a mighty scale what imagination could only picture in little. It is + in such a situation that the soul rises to the loftiest height, that the + thoughts are exalted and succeed each other with the greatest rapidity. + Travelling at this elevation, our fire did not demand continual attention, + and we could easily walk about the gallery. We were as much at peace upon + our lofty balcony as we should have been upon the terrace of a mansion, + enjoying all the pictures which unrolled themselves before us continually, + without experiencing any of the giddiness which has disturbed so many + persons. Having broken my fork in my exertions to raise the balloon, I + went to obtain another one. On my way to get it, I encountered my + companion, M. Proust. We ought never to have been on the same side of the + balloon, for a capsize and the escape of all our hydrogen gas might have + been the result. As it was, so well was the machine ballasted, that the + only effect of our being on the one side made the balloon incline a little + in that direction. The winds, although very considerable, caused us no + uneasiness, and we only knew the swiftness of our progress through the air + by the rapidity with which the villages seemed to fly away from under our + feet; so that it seemed, from the tranquillity with which we moved, that + we were borne along by the diurnal movement of the globe. Often we wished + to descend, in order to learn what the people were crying to us the + simplicity of our arrangements enabled us to rise, to descend, to move in + horizontal or oblique lines, as we pleased and as often as we considered + necessary, without altogether landing.” + </p> + <p> + When they came to Luzarche, the delighted aeronauts resolved to land. + Already the people were testifying their pleasure at seeing them. Men came + running together from all directions, while all the animals rushed away + with equal precipitation, no doubt taking the balloon for some wild beast. + Finding that their course would lead them straight against certain houses, + the aeronauts again increased their fire, and, slightly rising, escaped + the buildings that had been in their way. Shortly afterwards they safely + landed forty miles from the spot from which they had started. + </p> + <p> + It was not only the man of science or the mechanician that devoted himself + to the task of taking possession of the new empire, but the nobles gave + their hands to the aeronauts, and humbly asked the favour of an ascent. + The king had addressed letters to the Brothers Montgolfier, and the + marvellous invention had become an affair of state. The princes of the + blood and the nobles of the court considered it an honour to count among + the number of their friends a celebrated aeronaut. + </p> + <p> + The Count d’Artois, afterwards Charles X., and the Duke de Chartres, + father of Louis Philippe, made experiments in aerial navigation. The + chemists Alban and Vallet made a magnificent balloon for the Count, who + went up many times in it, with several persons of all ranks. + </p> + <p> + Already at St. Cloud, the Duke of Chartres, afterwards Philippe Egalite, + had, on the 15th of July, 1784, made, with the Brothers Robert, an ascent + which put their courage to terrible tests. The hydrogen gas balloon was + oblong, sixty feet high and forty feet in diameter, and it had been + constructed upon a plan supplied by Meunier. In order to obviate the use + of the valve, he had placed inside the balloon a smaller globe, filled + with ordinary air. This was done on the supposition that, when the balloon + rose high, the hydrogen being rarefied would compress the little globe + within, and press out of it a quantity of ordinary air equal to the amount + of its dilation. + </p> + <p> + At eight o’clock, the Brothers Robert—Collin and Hullin—and + the Duke of Chartres, ascended in presence of an immense multitude. The + nearest ranks kneeled down to allow those behind to have a view of the + departure of the balloon, which disappeared among the clouds amid the + acclamations of the prostrate multitude. The machine, obedient to the + stormy and contrary winds which it met, turned several times completely + round. The helm, which had been fitted to the machine, and the two oars, + gave such a purchase to the winds that the voyagers, already surrounded by + the clouds, cut them away. But the oscillations continued, and the little + globe inside not being suspended with cords, fell down in such an + unfortunate manner as to close up the opening of the large balloon, by + means of which provision had been made for the egress of the gas now + dilated by the heat of the sun, which poured down its rays, a sudden gust + having cleared the space of the clouds. It was feared that the case of the + balloon would crack, and the whole thing collapse, in spite of the efforts + of the aeronauts to push back the smaller balloon from the opening. Then + the Duke of Chartres seized one of the flags they carried, and with the + lance-head pierced the balloon in two places. A rent of about nine feet + was the consequence, and the balloon began to descend with amazing + rapidity. They would have fallen into a lake had they not thrown over 60 + lbs. of ballast, which caused them to rise a little, and pass over to the + shore, where they got safely to the earth. + </p> + <p> + The expedition lasted only a few minutes. The Duke of Chartres was rallied + by his enemies, who accused him of cowardice; and Monjoie, his historian, + making allusion to the combat of Ouessant, says that he had given proofs + of his cowardice in the three elements—earth, air, and water. + </p> + <p> + M. Gray, professor at the seminary of Rodez, presented us some years ago + with the following letter from the Abbe Carnus, upon the aerial voyage + which he undertook, August 6th, 1784:— + </p> + <p> + “The progress of the Montgolfiere was so sudden that one might almost have + believed that it arose all inflated and furnished out of some chasm in the + earth The air was calm, the sky without clouds, the sun very strong. Our + fuel and instruments were put into the gallery, my companion, M. Louchet, + was at his post, and I took mine. At twenty minutes past eight the cords + were loosened, we waved a farewell to the spectators, and while two + cannon-shots announced our departure, we were already high above the + loftiest buildings. + </p> + <p> + “To the general acclamations of the crowd succeeded a profound silence. + The spectators, half in fear, half in admiration, stood motionless, with + eyes fixed, and gazing eagerly at the superb machine, which rose almost + vertically with rapidity and also with grandeur. Some women, and even some + men, fainted away; others raised their hands to heaven; others shed tears; + all grew pale at the sight of our bright fire. + </p> + <p> + “‘We have quitted the earth,’ said I to my companion. + </p> + <p> + “‘I compliment you on the fact,’ he answered; ‘keep up the fire!’ + </p> + <p> + “A truss of hay, steeped in spirits of wine accelerated the swiftness of + our ascent. I cast my glance upon the town, which seemed to flee rapidly + from under our feet. Terrestrial objects had already lost their shape and + size. The burning heat which I felt at first now gave place to a + temperature of the most agreeable kind, and the air which we breathed + seemed to contain healthful elements unknown to dwellers on the lower + earth. + </p> + <p> + “‘How well I am!’ I said to Louchet; ‘how are you?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘As well as can be. Would that I could dispatch a message to the earth!’ + </p> + <p> + “Immediately I threw over a roll of paper on which I had written the + words, ‘All well on board the City of Rodez.’ + </p> + <p> + “At thirty-two minutes past eight our elevation was at least 6,000 feet + above sea level. A flame from our fire, rising from eighteen to twenty + feet, sent us up another 1,000 feet. It was then that our machine was seen + by every spectator within a circuit of nine miles, and it appeared to be + right over the heads of all of them. + </p> + <p> + “‘Send us up out of sight,’ said my adventurous confrere. + </p> + <p> + “I had to moderate his ardour—a larger fire would have burnt our + balloon. + </p> + <p> + “From our moving observatory the most splendid view developed itself. The + boundaries of the horizon were vastly extended. The capital of the + Rouergue appeared to be no more than a group of stones, one of which + seemed to rise to the height of two or three feet. This was no other than + the superb tower of the cathedral. Fertile slopes, agreeable valleys, + lofty precipices, waste lands, ancient castles perched upon frowning + rocks, these form the endlessly varied spectacle which the Rouergue and + the neighbouring provinces present to the view of those who traverse the + surface of the earth. But how different is the scene to the aerial + voyager! We could perceive only a vast country, perfectly round, and + seemingly a little elevated in the middle, irregularly marked with + verdure, but without inhabitants, without towns, valleys, rivers, or + mountains. Living beings no longer existed for us; the forests were + changed into what looked like grassy plains; the ranges of the Cantal and + the Cevennes had disappeared; we looked in vain for the Mediterranean, and + the Pyrenees seemed only a long series of piles of snow, connected at + their bases. Our own balloon, which from Rodez appeared about the size of + a marble, was the only object that for us retained its natural dimensions. + What wonderful sensations then arose within us! I had often reflected upon + the works of nature; their magnificence had always filled me with + admiration. In this soul-stirring moment how beautiful did nature seem—how + grand! With what majesty did it strike my imagination. Never did man + appear to me before such an excellent being His latest triumph over the + elements recalled to my mind his other conquests of nature. My companion + was animated with the same sentiments, and more than once we cried out, + ‘Vive Montgolfier! Vive Roziers! Vivent ceux qui ont du courage et de la + constance!’ + </p> + <p> + “In the meantime our fuel was getting near the end. In eighteen minutes we + had run a distance of 12,000 feet. ‘Make your observations while I attend + to the fire,’ said my companion to me. I examined the barometer, the + thermometer, and the compass, and having sealed up a small bottle of the + air at this elevation, I asked my companion to reduce the fire. We + descended 1,800 feet, and at this height I filled another bottle with air. + </p> + <p> + “Afterwards we felt the refreshing breath of a slight breeze, which + carried us gently toward the south-east. In six minutes we had run 18,000 + feet. Then, having only sufficient fuel to enable us to choose the place + of our descent, we considered whether we should not bring our aerial + voyage to a termination. We had neither lake nor forest to fear, and we + were secure against danger from fire, as we could detach the grating at + some distance from the earth. At fifty-eight minutes past eight all our + fuel was exhausted, except two bundles of straw, of four pounds each, + which we reserved for our descent. The balloon came gradually down, and + terrestrial objects began again to resume their proper forms and + dimensions. The animals fled at the sight of our balloon, which seemed + likely to crush them in its fall. Horsemen were obliged to dismount and + lead their frightened horses. Terrified by such an unwonted sight, the + labourers in the fields abandoned their work. We were not more than 600 + feet from the earth. We threw on the two bundles of straw, but still + gradually descended. The grating was then detached, and I had no + difficulty in leaping to the ground. But now a most surprising and + unlooked-for event happened. M. Louchet had not been able to descend at + the same moment as myself, and the balloon, now free from my weight, + immediately re-ascended with the speed of a bird, bearing away my + companion. I followed him with my eyes, and it was to my agreeable + surprise that I heard him crying to me, ‘All is well; fear not!’ though it + was not without a species of jealousy that I saw him mounting up to the + height of 1,400 or 1,500 feet. The balloon, after having run a distance of + 3,600 feet in a horizontal direction, began gently to descend at four + minutes past nine, at the village of Inieres, after having travelled + 42,000 feet from the point of departure. When it had touched the ground it + bumped up again two or three feet. M. Louchet jumped out, and seized one + of the ropes, but had much difficulty in holding the balloon in hand. He + cried to the frightened peasants to come and help him. But they seemed to + regard him as a dangerous magician, or as a monster, and they feared to + touch the ropes lest they might be swallowed up by the balloon. Soon + afterwards I came to the rescue. The balloon was in as thorough repair as + when we began our journey. We then pressed out the hot air, folded up the + envelope, placed it upon a small cart drawn by two oxen, and drove off + with it.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter IV. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Serio-Comic Aspect of the Subject—The Public Duped—The + Abbes Miolan and Janninet at the Luxembourg—Caricatures— + The “Minerva” of Robertson, and its Voyage Round the World. +</pre> + <p> + The discovery like that of balloons could not be made public in France + without being travestied, and without offering some comic side for the + amusement of the wits of the day. Under some old coloured prints, designed + with the intention of satirising such unfortunate aeronauts as had + collected their money from the spectators, but had failed in inflating + their balloons, is written, “The Infallible Means of Raising Balloons”—the + infallible means consisting of ropes and pulleys. + </p> + <p> + While caricature was thus turning its irony upon the efforts of believers + in the new idea, serious pamphlets were being written and published with + the same object. One of these declares that the discovery is IMMORAL, I. + Because since God has not given wings to man, it is impious to try to + improve his works, and to encroach upon his rights as a Creator; 2. + Because honour and virtue would be in continual danger, if balloons were + permitted to descend, at all hours of the night, into gardens and close to + windows; 3. Because, if the highway of the air were to remain open to all + and sundry, the frontiers of nations would vanish, and property national + and personal would be invaded, &c. We do not wish to gather together + here the stones which critics threw against the new discovery, unaware all + the time that these stones were falling upon their own heads. + </p> + <p> + It is only fair to state that after the first ascents the public were + often duped by pretending aeronauts, whose single aim was to sell their + tickets, and who disappeared when the time came for ascending. The result + of these frauds was that sometimes honest men were made to suffer as + rogues. Even in our own day, when an ascent, seriously intended, fails to + succeed, owing to some unforeseen circumstances, the public frequently + manifests a decided ill-will to the aeronaut, who is perfectly honest, and + only unfortunate. + </p> + <p> + The famous ascent of the Abbes Miolan and Janninet, at the Luxembourg, may + be cited as among the failures which suffered most from the satire of the + time. Their immense balloon, constructed at great expense at the + observatory, was expected to rise beyond the clouds, and a multitude, each + of whom had paid dearly for his ticket, had assembled at the Luxembourg. + The morning had been occupied in removing the balloon from the observatory + to the place of ascent, and at midday the inflation of it began. The rays + of a burning July sun—and one knows what that is in the Luxembourg + in Paris—streamed down on the heads of the thousands of spectators. + From six in the morning till four in the evening they had waited to see + the unheard-of wonder; the ascent, however, was to be so imposing, that + nothing could be lost by waiting for it. + </p> + <p> + But at five in the afternoon the heavy machine was still motionless—inert + upon the ground. We need not attempt to describe the scene which took + place as the impatience of the multitude increased. Sneers of derision + made themselves heard on all sides. A universal murmur, rapidly developing + into a clamour, arose amongst the multitude; then, wild with + disappointment, the frenzied populace threw themselves upon the barricade, + broke it, attacked the gallery of the balloon, the instruments, the + apparatus, trampling them under foot, and smashing them in bits. They then + rushed upon the balloon and fired it. There was then a general melee. Far + from fleeing the fire, every one struggled to seize and carry off a bit of + the balloon, to preserve as a relic. The two abbes escaped as they best + could, under protection of a number of friends. + </p> + <p> + After this there fell a perfect shower of lampoons and caricatures. The + Abbe Miolan was represented as a cat with a band round its neck, while + Janninet appeared as a donkey; and in a coloured print the cat and the ass + are shown arriving in triumph upon their famous balloon at the Academy of + Montmartre, and are received at the hill of Moulins-a-Vent by a solemn + assembly of turkey-cocks and geese in different attitudes. Numerous songs + and epigrams, of which the unfortunate abbes were the subjects, also + appeared at this time. The letters which composed the words “l’Abbe + Miolan” were found to form the anagram, Ballon abime—“the balloon + swallowed up.” + </p> + <p> + The most extravagant balloon project was that of Robertson, who published + a scheme for making a tour of the world. He called it “La Minerva, an + aerial vessel destined for discoveries, and proposed to all the Academies + of Europe, by Robertson, physicist” (Vienna, 1804; reprinted at Paris, + 1820), Robertson dedicated his project to Volta, and in his dedication he + does not scruple to say: “In our age, my friendship seeks only one + gratification, that we should both live a sufficiently long time together + to enable you to calculate and utilise the results of this great machine, + while I take the practical direction of it.” The following is this + aeronaut’s prospectus:— + </p> + <p> + “There is no limit to the sciences and the arts, which cultivation does + not overstep. We have everything to hope and to expect from time, from + chance, and from the genius of man. The difference which there is between + the canoe of the savage and the man-of-war of 124 guns is perhaps as great + as that of balloons as they now are and as they will be in the course of a + century. If you ask of an aeronaut why he cannot command the motions of + his balloon, he will ask of you in his turn why the inventor of the canoe + did not immediately afterwards construct a man-of-war. It must be + recollected that there have not yet elapsed forty years since the + discovery of the balloon, and that to perfect it would be a work of + difficulty, as much from the increased knowledge which such a work would + demand, as from the pecuniary sacrifices and the personal devotion which + it would involve. + </p> + <p> + “Thus this invention, after having at first electrified all savants from + the one end of the world to the other, has suffered the fate of all + discoveries—it was all at once arrested. Did not astronomy wait long + for Newton, and chemistry for Lavoisier, to raise them to something like + the splendour they now enjoy? Was not the magnet a long time a toy in the + hands of the Chinese, without giving birth to the idea of the compass? The + electric fluid was known in the time of Thales, but how many ages did we + wait for the discovery of galvanism? Yet these sciences, which may be + studied in silent retreats, were more likely to yield fruit to the + discoverer than aerostatics, which demand courage and skill, and of which + the experiments, which are always public, are attended with great cost.” + </p> + <p> + Robertson’s proposed machine was to be 150 feet in diameter, and would be + capable of carrying 150,000 lbs. Every precaution was to be taken in order + to make the great structure perfect. It was to accommodate sixty persons + to be chosen by the academics, who should stay in it for several months + should rise to all possible elevations, pass through all climates in all + seasons, make scientific observations, &c. This balloon, penetrating + deserts inaccessible by other means of travel, and visiting places which + travellers have never penetrated, would be of immense use in the science + of geography: and when under the line, if the heat near the earth should + be inconvenient, the aeronauts would, of course, easily rise to elevations + where the temperature is equal and agreeable. When their observations, + their needs, or their pleasures demanded it, they could descend to within + a short distance of the earth, say ninety feet, and fix themselves in + their position by means of an anchor. It might, perhaps, be possible, by + taking the advantage of favourable winds, to make the tour of the world. + “Experience will perhaps demonstrate that aerial navigation presents less + inconvenience and less dangers than the navigation of the seas.” + </p> + <p> + The immensity of the seas seemed to be the only source of insurmountable + difficulties; “but,” says Robertson, “over what a vast space might not one + travel in six months with a balloon fully furnished with the necessaries + of life, and all the appliances necessary for safety? Besides, if, through + the natural imperfection attaching to all the works of man, or either + through accident or age, the balloon, borne above the sea, became + incapable of sustaining the travellers, it is provided with a boat, which + can withstand the waters and guarantee the return of the voyagers.” + </p> + <p> + Such were the ideas promulgated regarding the “Minerva.” The following is + the serious description given of the machine. The numbers correspond with + those on the illustration. + </p> + <p> + “The cock (3) is the symbol of watchfulness; it is also the highest point + of the balloon. An observer, getting up through the interior to the point + at which the watchful fowl is placed, will be able to command the best + view to be had in the ‘Minerva.’ The wings at the side (1 and 2) are to be + regarded as ornamental. The balloon will be 150 feet in diameter, made + expressly at Lyons of unbleached silk, coated within and without with + indict-rubber. This globe sustains a ship, which contains or has attached + to it all the things necessary for the convenience, the observations, and + even the pleasures of the voyagers. + </p> + <p> + “(a) A small boat, in which the passengers might take refuge in case of + necessity, in the event of the larger vessel falling on the sea in a + disabled state. + </p> + <p> + “(b) A large store for keeping the water, wine, and all the provisions of + the expedition. + </p> + <p> + “(cc) Ladders of silk, to enable the passengers to go to all parts of the + balloon. + </p> + <p> + “(e) Closets. + </p> + <p> + “(h) Pilot’s room. + </p> + <p> + “(1) An observatory, containing the compasses and other scientific + instruments for taking the latitude. + </p> + <p> + “(g) A room fitted up for recreations, walking, and gymnastics. + </p> + <p> + “(m) The kitchen, far removed from the balloon. It is the only place where + a fire shall be permitted. + </p> + <p> + “(p) Medicine room. + </p> + <p> + “(v) A theatre, music room, &c. + </p> + <p> + “—The study. + </p> + <p> + “(x) The tents of the air-marines, &c. &c.” + </p> + <p> + This balloon is certainly the most marvellous that has ever been imagined—quite + a town, with its forts, ramparts, cannon, boulevards, and galleries. One + can understand the many squibs and satires which so Utopian a notion + provoked. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter V. First Aerial Voyage in England—Blanchard Crosses the Sea + in a Balloon. + </h2> + <p> + In spite of their known powers of industry and perseverance, the English + did not throw themselves with any great ardour into the exploration of the + atmosphere. From one cause or another it is the French and the Italians + that have chiefly distinguished themselves in this art. The English + historian of aerostation gives some details of the first aerial voyage + made in this country by the Italian, Vincent Lunardy. + </p> + <p> + The balloon was made of silk covered with a varnish of oil, and painted in + alternate stripes—blue and red. It was three feet in diameter. Cords + fixed upon it hung down and were attached to a hoop at the bottom, from + which a gallery was suspended. This balloon had no safety-valve—its + neck was the only opening by which the hydrogen gas was introduced, and by + which it was allowed to escape. + </p> + <p> + In September, 1784, it was carried to the Artillery Ground and filled with + gas. After being two-thirds filled, the gallery was attached with its two + oars or wings, and Lunardy, accompanied by Biggin and Madame Sage, took + his place; but it was found that the balloon had not sufficient lifting + power to carry up the whole three, and Lunardy went up alone, with the + exception of the pigeon, the cat, and the dog, that were with him. + </p> + <p> + The balloon rose to the height of about twenty feet, then followed a + horizontal line, and descended. But the gallery had no sooner touched the + earth than Lunardy threw over the sand that served as ballast, and mounted + triumphantly, amid the applause of a considerable multitude of spectators. + After a time he descended upon a common, where he left the cat nearly dead + with cold, ascended, and continued his voyage. He says, in the narrative + which he has left, that he descended by means of the one oar which was + left to him, the other having fallen over; but, as he states that, in + order to rise again, he threw over the remainder of his ballast, it is + natural to believe that the descent of the balloon was caused by the loss + of gas, because, if he descended by the use of the oar, he must have + re-ascended when he stopped using it. He landed in the parish of Standon, + where he was assisted by the peasants. + </p> + <p> + He assures us again that he came down the second time by means of the oar. + He says:—“I took my oar to descend, and in from fifteen to twenty + minutes I arrived at the earth after much fatigue, my strength being + nearly exhausted. My chief desire was to escape a shock on reaching the + earth, and fortune favoured me.” The fear of a concussion seems to + indicate that he descended more because of the weight of the balloon than + by the action of the oar. + </p> + <p> + It appears that the only scientific instrument he had was a thermometer + which fell to 29 degrees. The drops of water which had attached themselves + to the balloon were frozen. + </p> + <p> + The second aerial journey in England was undertaken by Blanchard and + Sheldon. The latter, a professor of anatomy in the Royal Academy, is the + first Englishman who ever went up in a balloon. This ascent was made from + Chelsea on the 16th October, 1784. + </p> + <p> + The same balloon which Blanchard had used in France served him on this + occasion, with the difference that the hoop which went round the middle of + it, and the parasol above the car, were dispensed with. At the extremity + of his car he had fitted a sort of ventilator, which he was able to move + about by means of a winch. This ventilator, together with the wings and + the helm, were to serve especially the purpose of steering at will, which + he had often said was quite practicable as soon as a certain elevation had + been reached. + </p> + <p> + The two aeronauts ascended, having with them a number of scientific and + musical instruments, some refreshments, ballast, &c. Twice the ascent + failed, and eventually Sheldon got out, and Blanchard went up again alone. + </p> + <p> + Blanchard says that, on this second ascent, he was carried first + north-east, then east-south-east of Sunbury in Middlesex. He rose so high + that he had great difficulty in breathing, the pigeon he had with him + escaped, but could hardly maintain itself in the rarefied air of such an + elevated region, and finding no place to rest, came back and perched on + the side of the car. After a time, the cold becoming excessive, Blanchard + descended until he could distinguish men on the earth, and hear their + shouting. After many vicissitudes he landed upon a plain in Hampshire, + about seventy-five miles from the point of departure. It was observed + that, so long as he could be clearly seen, he executed none of the feats + with his wings, ventilator, &c., which he had promised to exhibit. + </p> + <p> + Enthusiasm about aerial voyages was now at its climax; the most wonderful + deeds were spoken of as commonplace, and the word “impossible” was erased + from the language. Emboldened by his success, Blanchard one day announced + in the newspapers that he would cross from England to France in a balloon—a + marvellous journey, the success of which depended altogether upon the + course of the wind, to the mercy of which the bold aeronaut committed + himself. + </p> + <p> + A certain Dr. Jeffries offered to accompany Blanchard. On the 7th of + January the sky was calm, in consequence of a strong frost during the + preceding night, the wind which was very light, being from the + north-north-west. The arranged meets were made above the cliffs of Dover. + When the balloon rose, there were only three sacks of sand of 10 lbs. each + in it. They had not been long above ground when the barometer sank from + 29.7 to 27.3. Dr. Jeffries, in a letter addressed to the president of the + Royal Society, describes with enthusiasm the spectacle spread out before + him: the broad country lying behind Dover, sown with numerous towns and + villages, formed a charming view; while the rocks on the other side, + against which the waves dashed, offered a prospect that was rather trying. + </p> + <p> + They had already passed one-third of the distance across the Channel when + the balloon descended for the second time, and they threw over the last of + their ballast; and that not sufficing, they threw over some books, and + found themselves rising again. After having got more than half way, they + found to their dismay, from the rising of the barometer, that they were + again descending, and the remainder of their books were thrown over. At + twenty-five minutes past two o’clock they had passed three-quarters of + their journey, and they perceived ahead the inviting coasts of France. + But, in consequence either of the loss or the condensation of the + inflammable gas, they found themselves once more descending. They then + threw over their provisions, the wings of the car, and other objects. “We + were obliged,” says Jeffries, “to throw out the only bottle we had, which + fell on the water with a loud sound, and sent up spray like smoke.” + </p> + <p> + They were now near the water themselves, and certain death seemed to stare + them in the face. It is said that at this critical moment Jeffries offered + to throw himself into the sea, in order to save the life of his companion. + </p> + <p> + “We are lost, both of us,” said he; “and if you believe that it will save + you to be lightened of my weight, I am willing to sacrifice my life.” + </p> + <p> + This story has certainly the appearance of romance, and belief in it is + not positively demanded. + </p> + <p> + One desperate resource only remained—they could detach the car and + hang on themselves to the ropes of the balloon. They were preparing to + carry out this idea, when they imagined they felt themselves beginning to + ascend again. It was indeed so. The balloon mounted once more; they were + only four miles from the coast of France, and their progress through the + air was rapid. All fear was now banished. Their exciting situation, and + the idea that they were the first who had ever traversed the Channel in + such a manner, rendered them careless about the want of certain articles + of dress which they had discarded. At three o’clock they passed over the + shore half-way between Cape Blanc and Calais. Then the balloon, rising + rapidly, described a great arc, and they found themselves at a greater + elevation than at any part of their course. The wind increased in + strength, and changed a little in its direction. Having descended to the + tops of the trees of the forest of Guines, Dr. Jeffries seized a branch, + and by this means arrested their advance. The valve was then opened, the + gas rushed out, and the aeronauts safely reached the ground after the + successful accomplishment of this daring and memorable enterprise. + </p> + <p> + A number of horsemen, who had watched the recent course of the balloon, + now rode up, and gave the adventurers the most cordial reception. On the + following day a splendid fete was celebrated in their honour at Calais. + Blanchard was presented with the freedom of the city in a box of gold, and + the municipal body purchased the balloon, with the intention of placing it + in one of the churches as a memorial of this experiment, it being also + resolved to erect a marble monument on the spot where the famous aeronauts + landed. + </p> + <p> + Some days afterwards Blanchard was summoned before the king, who conferred + upon him an annual pension of 1,200 livres. The queen, who was at play at + the gambling table, placed a sum for him upon a card, and presented him + with the purse which she won. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VI. Zambeccari’s Perilous Trip Across the Adriatic Sea. + </h2> + <p> + There is not in the whole annals of aerostation a more moving catastrophe + than that of the unfortunate Comte Zambeccari, who, during an aerial + journey on October the 7th, 1804, was cast away on the waves of the + Adriatic. + </p> + <p> + The history of Zambeccari is dramatic throughout. After having been taken + by the Turks and thrown into the Bay of Constantinople, from which he with + difficulty escaped, he devoted himself to the study and practice of aerial + navigation. He fancied he could make use of a lamp supplied with spirits + of wine, the flame of which he could direct at will, in the hope of thus + being able to steer the balloon in whatever direction he chose. One day + his balloon damaged itself against a tree at Boulogne, and the spirits of + wine set his clothes on fire. The flames with which the aeronaut was + covered only served to increase the ascending power of the balloon, and + the frightened spectators, among whom were Zambeccari’s young wife and + children, saw him carried up into the clouds out of sight. He succeeded, + however, in extinguishing the fire which surrounded him. + </p> + <p> + In 1804, he organised a series of experiments at Milan, for which he + received, in advance, the sum of 8,000 crowns; but the experiments failed, + in consequence of the inclemency of the weather, the treachery of his + assistants, and the malice of his rivals. + </p> + <p> + At length, on the 7th of October, after a fall of rain which lasted + forty-eight hours, and which had delayed the announced ascent, he + resolved, whatever might happen, to carry it out, though all the chances + were against him. Eight young men whom he had instructed, and who had + promised him their assistance in filling the balloon, failed him at the + critical moment. Still, however, he continued his labours, with the help + of two companions, Andreoli and Grassetti. Wearied with his long-continued + efforts, dis-appointed and hungry, he took his place in the car. + </p> + <p> + The two companions whom we have named went with him. They rose gently at + first, and hovered over the town of Bologna. Zambeccari says, “The lamp, + which was intended to increase our ascending force, became useless. We + could not observe the state of the barometer by the feeble light of a + lantern. The insupportable cold that prevailed in the high region to which + we had ascended, the weariness and hunger arising from my having neglected + to take nourishment for twenty-four hours, the vexation that embittered my + spirit—all these combined produced in me a total prostration, and I + fell upon the floor of the gallery in a profound sleep that was like + death. ‘The same misfortune overtook my companion Grassetti. Andreoli was + the only one who remained awake and able for duty—no doubt because + he had taken plenty of food and a large quantity of rum. Still he suffered + from the cold, which was excessive, and his endeavours to wake me were for + a long time vain. Finally, however, he succeeded in getting me to my feet, + but my ideas were confused, and I demanded of him, like one newly awaking + from a dream, ‘What is the news? Where are we? What time is it? How is the + wind?’ + </p> + <p> + “It was two o’clock. The compass had been broken, and was useless; the wax + light in the lantern would not burn in such a rarefied atmosphere. We + descended gently across a thick layer of whitish clouds, and when we had + got below them, Andreoli heard a sound, muffled and almost inaudible, + which he immediately recognised as the breaking of waves in the distance. + Instantly he announced to me this new and fearful danger. I listened, and + had not long to wait before I was convinced that he was speaking the + truth. It was necessary to have light to examine the state of the + barometer, and thus ascertain what was our elevation above the sea level, + and to take our measures in consequence. Andreoli broke five phosphoric + matches, without getting a spark of fire. Nevertheless, we succeeded, + after very great difficulty, by the help of the flint and steel, in + lighting the lantern. It was now three o’clock in the morning—we had + started at midnight. The sound of the waves, tossing with wild uproar, + became louder and louder, and I suddenly saw the surface of the sea + violently agitated just below us. I immediately seized a large sack of + sand, but had not time to throw it over before we were all in the water, + gallery and all. In the first moment of fright, we threw into the sea + everything that would lighten the balloon—our ballast, all our + instruments, a portion of our clothing, our money, and the oars. As, in + spite of all this, the balloon did not rise, we threw over our lamp also. + After having torn and cut away everything that did not appear to us to be + of indispensable necessity, the balloon, thus very much lightened, rose + all at once, but with such rapidity and to such a prodigious elevation, + that we had difficulty in hearing each other, even when shouting at the + top of our voices. I was ill, and vomited severely. Grassetti was bleeding + at the nose; we were both breathing short and hard, and felt oppression on + the chest. As we were thrown upon our backs at the moment when the balloon + took such a sudden start out of the water and bore us with such swiftness + to those high regions, the cold seized us suddenly, and we found ourselves + covered all at once with a coating of ice. I could not account for the + reason why the moon, which was in its last quarter, appeared on a parallel + line with us, and looked red as blood. + </p> + <p> + “After having traversed these regions for half an hour, at an immeasurable + elevation, the balloon slowly began to descend, and at last we fell again + into the sea, at about four in the morning I cannot determine at what + distance we were from land when we fell the second time. The night was + very dark, the sea rolling heavily, and we were in no condition to make + observations. But it must have been in the middle of the Adriatic that we + fell. Although we descended gently, the gallery was sunk, and we were + often entirely covered with water. The balloon being now more than half + empty, in consequence of the vicissitudes through, which we had passed, + gave a purchase to the wind, which pressed against it as against a sail, + so that by means of it we were dragged and beaten about at the mercy of + the storm and the waves. At daybreak we looked out and found ourselves + opposite Pesaro, four miles from the shore. We were comforting ourselves + with the prospect of a safe landing, when a wind from the land drove us + with violence away over the open sea. It was now full day, but all we + could see were the sea, the sky, and the death that threatened us. + Certainly some boats happened to come within sight; but no sooner did they + see the balloon floating and striping upon the water than they made all + sail to get away from it. No hope was then left to us but the very small + one of making the coasts of Dalmatia, which were opposite, but at a great + distance from us. Without the slightest doubt we should have been drowned + if heaven had not mercifully directed towards us a navigator who, better + informed than those we had seen before, recognised our machine to be a + balloon and quickly sent his long-boat to our rescue. The sailors threw us + a stout cable, which we attached to the gallery, and by means of which + they rescued us when fainting with exposure. The balloon thus lightened, + immediately rose into the air, in spite of all the efforts of the sailors + who wished to capture it. The long boat received a severe shock from its + escape, as the rope was still attached to it, and the sailors hastened to + cut themselves free. At once the balloon mounted with incredible rapidity, + and was lost in the clouds, where it disappeared for ever from our view. + It was eight in the morning when we got on board. Grassetti was so ill + that he hardly showed any signs of life. His hands were sadly mutilated. + Cold, hunger, and the dreadful anxiety had completely prostrated me. The + brave captain of the vessel did everything in his power to restore us. He + conducted us safely to Ferrara, whence we were carried to Pola, where we + were received with the greatest kindness, and where I was compelled to + have my fingers amputated.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VII. Garnerin—Parachutes—Aerostation at Public Fetes. + </h2> + <p> + “On the 22nd October, 1797,” says the astronomer Lalande, “at twenty-eight + minutes past five, Citizen Garnerin rose in a balloon from the park of + Monceau. Silence reigned in the assembly, anxiety and fear being painted + on the visages of all. When he had ascended upwards of 2,000 feet, he cut + the cord that connected his parachute and car with the balloon. The latter + exploded, and Garnerin descended in his parachute very rapidly. He made a + dreadful lurch in the air, that forced a sudden cry of fear from the whole + multitude, and made a number of women faint. Meanwhile Citizen Garnerin + descended into the plain of Monceau; he mounted his horse upon the spot, + and rode back to the park, attended by an immense multitude, who gave vent + to their admiration for the skill and talent of the young aeronaut. + Garnerin was the first to undertake this most daring and dangerous + venture. He had conceived the idea of this feat while lying a prisoner of + state in Buda, Hungary.” Lalande adds that he went and announced his + success at the Institute National, which was assembled at the time, and + which listened to him with the greatest interest. + </p> + <p> + Robertson conducted an experiment of descending by means of a parachute at + Vienna, in 1804, in which he received all the glory, without partaking of + any of the danger. He made the public preparations for an ascent in the + balloon, his pupil, Michaud, however, took his place in the car, and made + the ascent. + </p> + <p> + Robertson says that on this occasion he yielded to the entreaties of a + young man who was his pupil, and had begged to be allowed to make his + debut before such a great multitude. In this case a slight improvement was + made in the parachute. The car was surrounded by a cloth of silk, which, + when the aeronaut cut himself away from the balloon, spread itself out in + such a way as to form a second parachute. + </p> + <p> + Robertson made all the preparations, and Michaud had no more to do than + place himself in the car. Loud applause arose on all sides. Michaud had + ascended 900 feet above the earth when the signal for his cutting himself + clear of the balloon was given, by the firing of a cannon. He at once cut + the two strings, and the balloon soared away into the upper regions, + whilst he was left for one terrible moment to fate. The fall was at first + rapid, but the two parachutes soon opened themselves simultaneously, and + presented a majestic appearance. In a few seconds the aeronaut had + traversed the space that intervened between him and the assembly, and + found himself safely landed on the ground, at a short distance from the + place whence he had set out, while the whole air was rent with shouts of + applause. This experiment was deemed a most extraordinary one. Compliments + were showered upon Robertson from all sides, and the court presented him + with rich presents. + </p> + <p> + Balloons have always formed a prominent feature at the fetes of Paris, for + the celebration of the chief events of the Revolution, the Consulate, and + the Empire—the first of these epochs being that in which these + aerial vessels were held in highest esteem. + </p> + <p> + Jacques Garnerin had played a brilliant role as aeronaut under the + Directory, the Consulate, and the Empire; and it was he who after the + coronation of the Emperor Napoleon I., was charged with the raising of a + monster balloon, which was arranged to ascend, with the accompaniment of + fireworks, on the evening of the 16th of December, 1804. + </p> + <p> + An uncommon incident connected with this event serves to show us the + spirit of fatalism with which the character of Napoleon I. was infected. + “The Man of Destiny” believed in the destiny of man; he had faith in his + star alone; and from the height of his greatness the new ruler, + consecrated emperor and king by the Pope, beheld a presage of misfortune + in a chance circumstance, insignificant to all but himself, in the + experiment of which we are about to recount the history. + </p> + <p> + The fete given by the city of Paris to their majesties embraced the whole + town, from the Champs Elysees to the Barriere du Trone, on the square of + the Hotel de Ville. Upon the river throughout its length between the Isle + of St. Louis and the bridge of Notre Dame, an immense display of fireworks + was to take place. The scene to be represented was the passage of Mont St. + Bernard. Garnerin was stationed with his balloon in front of the gate of + the church of Notre Dame. At eleven o’clock in the evening, at the moment + when the first discharge of fireworks made the air luminous with a hundred + thousand stars, Garnerin threw off his immense balloon. The chief feature + of it was the device of a crown, designed in coloured lanterns arranged + round the globe. It rose splendidly, and with the most perfect success. + </p> + <p> + On the following morning the inhabitants of Rome were astounded to behold + advancing toward them from the horizon a luminous globe, which threatened + to descend upon their city. The excitement was intense. The balloon passed + the cupola of St. Peter’s and the Vatican; then descending, it touched the + ground, but rose again, and finally it sank into the wafers of Lake + Bracciano. + </p> + <p> + It was drawn from the water, and the following inscription, emblazoned in + letters of gold upon its vast circumference, was printed, published, and + read throughout the whole of Italy—“Paris, 25eme Primaire, an XIII., + couronnement de l’empereur Napoleon, 1er par S.S. Pie VII.” + </p> + <p> + In touching the earth, the balloon happened to strike against the tomb of + the Emperor Nero, and, owing to the concussion, a portion of the crown was + left upon this ancient monument. The Italian journals, which were not so + strictly under the supervision of the government as were the journals of + France, gave the full particulars of these minor events; and certain of + them, connecting the names of Nero and Napoleon, indulged in malicious + remarks at the expense of the French emperor. These facts came to the ear + of the great general, who manifested much indignation, dismissed the + innocent Garnerin from his post, and appointed Madame Blanchard to the + supervision of all the balloon ascents which took place at the public + fetes. + </p> + <p> + The balloon was preserved in the vaults of the Vatican in Rome, + accompanied with an inscription narrating its travels and wonderful + descent—minus the circumstance of the tomb. It was removed, as might + be supposed, in 1814. From this time the ascents of balloons took place + for the most part only on the occasions of coronations and other great + public fetes. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VIII. Green’s Great Journey Across Europe. + </h2> + <p> + It is probable that at the origin of navigation, man, before he had + invented oars and sails, made use of trunks of trees upon which he trusted + himself, leaving the rest to the winds and the currents of the water, + whether these were known or unknown. There is some analogy between such + rude rafts, the first discovered means of navigation on water, and + balloons, the first discovered means of navigation in air. But + unquestionably the advantage is with the latter. No means have yet been + found of directly steering balloons, but by allowing the gas to escape the + aeronaut can descend at will, and by lightening his car of part of the + ballast he carries he can ascend as readily. It must also be remembered + that the currents of air vary in their directions, according to their + elevation, and were the aeronaut perfectly acquainted with aerial + currents, he might, by raising or lowering himself, find a wind blowing in + the direction in which he wished to proceed, and the last problem of + aerostation would be solved. That any such knowledge can ever be acquired + it is impossible to say; but this much may with safety be advanced, that + distant journeys may frequently be taken with balloons for useful + purposes. + </p> + <p> + One of the most remarkable excursions of this kind was that superintended + by Green, in 1836, from London to Germany. This journey, 1,200 miles in + length, is the longest that has been yet accomplished. Green set out from + London on the 7th of November, 1836, accompanied by two friends—Monk-Mason, + the historian of the journey, and a gentleman named Molland. Not knowing + to what quarter of the globe he might be blown, Green provided himself + with passports to all the states of Europe, and with a quantity of + provisions sufficient to last him for some time, should he be driven by + the wind over the sea. Shortly after mid-day the balloon rose with great + grandeur, and, urged by a light breeze, floated to the south-east, over + the plains of Kent. At four o’clock the voyagers sighted the sea. + </p> + <p> + “It was forty-eight minutes past four,” says Monk-Mason, “that we first + saw the line of waves breaking on the shores beneath us. It would have + been impossible to have remained unmoved by the grandeur of the spectacle + that spread out before us. Behind us were the coasts of England, with + their white cliffs half lost in the coming darkness. Beneath us on both + sides the ocean spread out far end wide to where the darkness closed in + the scene. Opposite us a barrier of thick clouds like a wall, surmounted + all along its line with projections like so many towers, bastions, and + battlements, rose up from the sea as if to stop our advance. A few minutes + afterwards we were in the midst of this cloudy barrier, surrounded with + darkness, which the vapours of the night increased. We heard no sound. The + noise of the waves breaking on the shores of England had ceased, and our + position had for some time cut us off from all the sounds of earth.” + </p> + <p> + In an hour the Straits of Dover were cleared, the lights of Calais shone + out toward the voyagers, and the sound of the town drums rose up toward + them. “Darkness was now complete,” continues the writer, “and it was only + by the lights, sometimes isolated, sometimes seen in masses, and showing + themselves far down on the earth beneath us, that we could form a guess of + the countries we traversed, or of the towns and villages which appeared + before us every moment. The whole surface of the earth for many leagues + round showed nothing but scattered lights, and the face of the earth + seemed to rival the vault of heaven with starry fires. Every moment in the + earlier part of the night before men had betaken themselves to repose, + clusters of lights appeared indicating large centres of population. + </p> + <p> + “Those on the horizon gave us the notion of a distant conflagration. In + proportion as we approached them, these masses of lights appeared to + increase, and to cover a greater space, until, when right over them, they + seemed to divide themselves into different parts, to stretch out in long + streets, and to shine in starry quadrangles round the squares, so that we + could see the exact plan of each city, given as on a small map. It would + be difficult to give an idea of what sort of effect such a scene in such + circumstances produces. To find oneself transported in the darkness of + night, in the midst of vast solitudes of air, unknown, unperceived, in + secret and in silence, exploring territories, traversing kingdoms, + watching towns which come into view, and pass out of it before one can + examine them in detail—these circumstances are enough in themselves + to render sublime a science which, independent of these adjuncts, would be + so interesting. If you add to this the uncertainty which, increasing as we + went on into the night, began to assail us respecting our voyage, our + ignorance of where we were, and what were the objects we were attempting + to discover, you may form some idea of our singular position.” + </p> + <p> + About midnight, the travellers found themselves above Liege. Situated in + the midst of a thickly-peopled country, full of foundries, smelting works, + and forges, this town was quite a blaze of light. The gas-lamps with which + this town is so well lighted, clearly marked out for our travellers the + main streets, the squares, and the public buildings. But after midnight, + at which time the lamps in continental towns are mostly put out, the whole + of the under world disappeared from the view of the aeronauts. + </p> + <p> + “After the turn of the night,” says Mason, “the moon did not show itself, + and the heavens, always more sombre when regarded from great altitudes, + seemed to us to intensify the natural darkness. On the other hand, by a + singular contrast, the stars shone out with unusual brilliancy, and seemed + like living sparks sown upon the ebony vault that surrounded us. In fact, + nothing could exceed the intensity of the night which prevailed during + this part of our voyage. A black profound abyss surrounded us on all + sides, and, as we attempted to penetrate into the mysterious deeps, it was + with difficulty we could beat back the idea and the apprehension that we + were making a passage through an immense mass of black marble, in which we + were enclosed, and which, solid to within a few inches of us, appeared to + open up at our approach.” + </p> + <p> + Until three o’clock the voyagers were in this state. The height of the + balloon, as calculated by the barometer, was 2,000 feet. They had not then + anything to fear from a disastrous encounter, when all at once a sudden + explosion was heard, the silk of the balloon quivered, the car received a + violent shock, and seemed to be shot suddenly into the gloomy abyss. A + second explosion and a third succeeded, accompanied each time by this + fearful shock to the car. The travellers soon found out that, owing to the + great altitude, the gas had expanded, and the rope which surrounded it, + saturated with water, and frozen with the intense cold, had yielded to the + pressure, in jerks which caused the report and the shock. + </p> + <p> + “From time to time,” continues Mason, “vast masses of clouds covered the + lower regions of the atmosphere, and spread a thick, whitish veil over the + earth, intercepting our view, and leaving us for some time uncertain if + this was not a continuation of the same plains covered with snow which we + had already noticed. From these masses of vapour, there seemed more than + once during the night to come a sound as of a great fall of water, or the + contending waves of the sea; and it required all the force of our reason, + joined to our knowledge—such as it was—of the direction of our + route, to repress the idea that we were approaching the sea, and that, + driven by the wind, we had, been carried along the coasts of the North Sea + or the Baltic. As the day advanced these apprehensions disappeared. In + place of the unbroken surface of the sea, we gradually made out the varied + features of a cultivated country, in the midst of which flowed a majestic + river, which lost itself, at both extremities, in the mist that still lay + on the horizon.” + </p> + <p> + This river was the Rhine, and as the neighbourhood seemed suitable for a + descent, and as the travellers did not wish to be carried too far into the + heart of Europe, they allowed a portion of the gas to escape, came + gradually down, and dropped their anchor. + </p> + <p> + It was then half-past seven in the morning. It was only then that the + inhabitants, who had hitherto held themselves aloof, watching the + movements of the strangers from under the brushwood, began to assemble + from all sides. A few words in German spoken from the balloon dissipated + their fears, and, recovering from their mistrust, they hastened + immediately to lend assistance to the aeronauts The latter were now + informed that the place they had selected for their descent was in the + Duchy of Nassau. The town of Wiberg, where Blanchard had descended, after + his ascent at Frankfort in 1785 was, by a singular chance, only two + leagues distant. The three aeronauts received a most flattering reception, + and, in memory of the event, they placed the flag which they had borne in + their car during their adventurous excursion in the ducal palace, side by + side with that of Blanchard. + </p> + <p> + “Thus,” says Mason, “terminated an expedition which, whether we regard the + extent of the journey, the length of time occupied in it, or the results + which were the objects of the experiment, may justly be considered as one + of the most interesting and most important ever undertaken. The best + answer which one could give to those who would be disposed to criticise + the employment of the peculiar means which we made use of, or to doubt + their efficiency, would be to state that, after having traversed without + hindrance, without either danger or difficulty, so large a portion of the + European continent, we arrived at our destination still in possession of + as much force as, had we wished it, might have carried us round the whole + world.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter IX. The “Geant” Balloon. + </h2> + <p> + Not a few of our readers will remember the ascent of Nadar’s colossal + balloon from Paris, on Sunday, the 18th of October, 1863. This balloon was + remarkable as having attached to it a regular two-story house for a car. + Its ascent was witnessed by nearly half a million of persons. The balloon, + after passing over the eastern part of France, Belgium, and Holland, + suffered a disastrous descent in Hanover the day after it started on its + perilous journey. It was a fool-hardy enterprise to construct such a + gigantic and unmanageable balloon, presenting such an immense surface to + the atmosphere, and being so susceptible to adverse aerial currents as to + become the helpless prey of the elements; and it was still more fool-hardy + to place the lives of its passengers at the mercy of such terrible and + ungovernable forces. A large section of the public laboured under the + delusion that Nadar’s balloon was one capable of being steered. In + reality, however, the ‘Geant’ was unquestionably the most rebellious and + unruly specimen of its class that has been made since the days of + Montgolfier. The object in view when this formidable monster was designed + and constructed was to create the means to collect sufficient funds to + form a “Free Association for Aerial Navigation by means of MACHINES + HEAVIER THAN AIR,” and for the construction of machines on this principle. + The receipts from the exhibition of the “Geant” were intended to form the + first capital of the association. The hopes, however, of the promoters + have not been realised in this respect; for while the expenses of the + construction of the balloon have amounted, directly and indirectly, to the + sum of L8,300, its two ascents in Paris and its exhibition in London + produced only L3,300. + </p> + <p> + Space forbids us to enter at length on the various stages of the idea of + aerial navigation by means of an apparatus heavier than the atmosphere. + The idea is not, however, by any means so absurd as it appears at first + sight. Those who, like Arago, declare that the word “impossible” does not + exist, except in the higher mathematics, and those who look hopefully to + the future instead of resting content with the past, will join in + applauding the spirit which dictated the manifesto of aerial locomotion to + the founder of the association which we are about to describe. M. Babinet, + speaking on this subject before the French Polytechnic Association, said: + “It is absurd to talk of guiding balloons. How will you set about it? How + is it possible that a balloon—say, for instance, like the + Flesselles, whose diameter measures 120 feet—can resist and + manoeuvre against opposing winds or currents of air? It would require a + power equal to 400 horses for the sails of a ship to struggle on equal + terms with the wind. Suppose an impossibility, namely, that a balloon + could carry with it a force equal to 400 horse-power; this result would be + of little use, for under the immense weight the fragile covering of the + balloon would instantly collapse. If all the horses of a regiment were + harnessed to the car of a balloon by means of a long rope, the result + would be that the balloon would fly into shivers, being too fragile to + withstand these two opposing forces. Man must seek to raise himself in the + air by another mode of operation altogether, if he wish to guide himself + at the same time. Some time ago I bought a play thing, very much in vogue + at that time, called a Stropheor. This toy was composed of a small + rotating screw propeller, which revolved on its own support when the piece + of string wound round it was pulled sharply. The screw was rather heavy, + weighing nearly a quarter of a pound, and the wings were of tin, very + broad and thick. This machine, however, was rather too eccentric for + parlour use, for its flight was so violent that it was continually + breaking the pier glass, if there was one in the room; and, failing this, + it next attacked the windows. The ascending force of this machine is so + great that I have seen one of them fly over Antwerp Cathedral, which is + one of the highest edifices in the world. The air from underneath the + machine is exhausted by the action of the screw, which, passing under the + wings, causes a vacuum, while the air above it replenishes and fills this + void, and under the influence of these two causes the apparatus mounts + from the earth. But the problem is not solved by means of this plaything, + whose motive power is exterior to it. Messrs. Nadar, Ponton, D’Amecourt, + and De la Landelle teach us better than this, although the wings of their + different models are entirely unworthy of men who desire to demonstrate a + truth to short-lived mortals. We have only arrived as yet at the infancy + of the process, but we have made a good beginning, for, having once proved + that a machine capable of raising itself in the air, wholly unaided from + without, can be made, we have overcome with this apparently small result + the whole difficulty. The principle of propulsion by means of a screw is + by no means a novelty. It was first utilised in windmills, whose sails are + nothing more nor less than an immense screw which is turned by the action + of the wind on its surface. In the case of turbine water-wheels, where + perhaps 970 cubic feet of water are utilised by means of a mechanism not + larger than a hat, we see another illustration of it, with this + difference, that water takes the place of wind as the motive power. + </p> + <p> + “The aerial screw is beset with great difficulties, but if we can succeed + through its agency in raising even the smallest weight, we may be + confident of being able to raise a heavier one, for a large machine is + always more powerful in proportion to its size than a small one. + </p> + <p> + “Mlle. Garnerin once made a bet that she would guide herself in her + descent from a considerable altitude towards a fixed spot on the earth at + some distance, with no other help than the parachute; and she was really + able to guide herself to within a few feet of the specified spot, by + simply altering the inclination of the parachute. + </p> + <p> + “From observations in mountainous districts, where large birds of prey may + be seen to the best advantage hovering with outstretched wings, I have + come to the conclusion that they first of all attain the requisite height + and then, extending their wings in the form of a parachute, let themselves + glide gradually towards the desired spot. Marshal Niel confirms this + opinion by his experience in the mountains of Algeria. It is, therefore, + clear from these examples that we should possess the power of transporting + ourselves from place to place if we could only discover a means of raising + a weight perpendicularly in the air, which would then act as a capital of + power, only requiring to be expended at will.” + </p> + <p> + From the foregoing remarks we may gather an idea of the importance which + may be attached to aerial locomotion notwithstanding the successive + failures of all those who have hitherto taken up the subject. We come now + to the description of the memorable ascent of the ‘Geant.’ + </p> + <p> + We learn from the very interesting account of the ‘Geant,’ published at + the time, all the mishaps and adventures it outlived from the time of the + first stitch in its covering to its final inflation with gas. We must, + however, be content to take up the narrative at the point at which the + ‘Geant,’ with thirteen passengers on board, had, in obedience to the order + to “let go,” been released from the bonds which held it to the earth. The + narrative is, as our readers will perceive, written in somewhat + exaggerated language:— + </p> + <p> + “The ‘Geant’ gave an almost imperceptible shake on finding itself free, + and then commenced to rise. The ascent was slow and gradual at first—the + monster seemed to be feeling its way. An immense shout rose with it from + the assembled multitude. We ascended grandly, whilst the deafening clamour + of two hundred thousand voices seemed to increase. We leant over the edge + of the car, and gazed at the thousands of faces which were turned towards + us from every point of the vast plain, in every conceivable angle of which + we were the common apex. We still ascended. The summits of the double row + of trees which surround the Champ de Mars were already under us. We + reached the level of the cupola of the Military School. The tremendous + uproar still reached us. We glided over Paris in an easterly direction, at + the height of about six hundred feet. Every one took up the best possible + position on the six light cane stools, and on the two long bunks at either + end of the car, and contemplated the marvellous panorama spread out under + us, of which we never grew weary. + </p> + <p> + “There is never any dizziness in a balloon, as is often erroneously + supposed, for in it you are the only point in space without any + possibility of comparison with another, and therefore the means of + becoming giddy are not at hand.” + </p> + <p> + A very experienced aeronaut, who numbers his ascents by hundreds, has + assured me that he never knew of a single case of dizziness. + </p> + <p> + “The earth seems to unfold itself to our view like an immense and + variegated map, the predominant colour of which is green in all its shades + and tints. The irregular division of the country into fields made it + resemble a patchwork counterpane. The size of the houses, churches, + fortresses, was so considerably diminished as to make them resemble + nothing so much as those playthings manufactured at Carlsruhe. This was + the effect produced by a microscopic train, which whistled very faintly to + attract our attention, and which seemed to creep along at a snail’s pace, + though doubtless going at the rate of thirty miles an hour, and was + enveloped in a minute cloud of smoke. What a lasting impression this + microscopic neatness makes on us! What is that white puff I see down + there? the smoke of a cigar? No: it is a cloud of mist. It must be a + perfect plain that we are looking at, for we cannot distinguish between + the different altitudes of a bramble-bush and an oak a hundred years old! + </p> + <p> + “It is one of the delights of an aeronaut to gaze on the familiar scenes + of earth from the immense height of the car of a balloon! What earthly + pleasure can compare with this! Free, calm, silent, roving through this + immense and hospitable space, where no human form can harm me, I despise + every evil power; I can feel the pleasure of existence for the first time, + for I am in full possession, as on no other occasion, of perfect health of + mind and body. The aeronauts of the ‘Geant’ will scarcely condescend to + pity those miserable mortals whom they can only faintly recognise by their + gigantic works, which appear to them not more dignified than ant-hills! + </p> + <p> + “The sun had already set behind the purple horizon in our rear. The + atmosphere was still quite clear round the ‘Geant,’ although there was a + thick haze underneath, through which we could occasionally see lights + glimmering from the earth. We had attained a sufficient altitude to be + only just able to hear noises from villages that we left beneath us, and + were beginning to enjoy the delicious calm and repose peculiar to aerial + ascents. + </p> + <p> + “There is, however, a talk about dinner, or rather supper, and night is + now fast approaching. Every one eats with the best possible appetite. + Hams, fowls and dessert only appear to disappear with an equal + promptitude, and we quench our thirst with bordeaux and champagne. I + remind our companions of the pigeons we brought with us, and which are + hanging in a cage outside the railing. I knew there was no danger of their + flying away, so fearlessly opened the cage. The three or four birds I had + put in the car seemed struck with terror. They flew awkwardly towards the + centre of our party, tumbling among the plates and dishes and under our + feet. It was not a case of hunger with them, and I ought to have + remembered that their feeding time was long since past. I replaced them in + their cage. + </p> + <p> + “Meanwhile, the sun has left us for some time. Our longing gaze followed + it behind the dark clouds in the horizon, whose edges it tipped with a + glorious purple. Its last rays shone on us, and then came a bluish-grey + twilight. Suddenly we are enveloped in a dense fog. We look around, above + us. Everything has disappeared in the mist. The balloon itself is no + longer visible. We can see nothing except the ropes which suspend us, and + these are only visible for a few feet above our heads, when they lose + themselves in the fog. We are alone with our wickerwork house in an + unfathomable vault. + </p> + <p> + “We still ascend, however, through the compact and terrible fog, which is + so solid-looking as to seem capable of being carved into forms with a + knife. As we were without a moon, and had no light at all, in fact, we + were unable to distinguish nicely the different shades of colour in these + thick clouds. Now and then, when the clouds seemed to be lighter, they had + a bluish tinge; but the thicker ones were dirty and muddy-looking. Dante + must have seen some like these. + </p> + <p> + “Water trickled down our faces, hands, and clothes, and the ropes and + sides of our car. + </p> + <p> + “The water did not fall in rain-drops or in flakes, as it sometimes does + in the tropics; but we were as completely saturated by this heavy, + penetrating mist as if we had been under a waterfall. We still continued + to traverse these rainy regions. The thick fog which the balloon dislodged + in forcing a passage closed immediately after it. At one moment I thought + I felt something press against my cheek, which could only be compared to + the points of a thousand needles, or to floating particles of ice. We were + all of us too much absorbed with our situation to think of the hour or of + the height to which we had attained. Suddenly the Prince of Wittgenstein, + who was standing at my left hand, cried out under his breath— + </p> + <p> + “‘Look at the balloon, sir! look at the balloon!’ + </p> + <p> + “I raised my eyes, in company with several others, and shall never forget + the magnificent sight which awaited them. I saw the balloon, for which I + had been searching in vain a few minutes before. It had undergone a + transformation. It looked now as if coated with silver, and floating in a + pale phosphorescent glimmer. All the ropes and cords seemed to be of new, + bright, and liquid silver, like mercury, caused by the mist which had + rested on them becoming suddenly congealed. Two luminous arcs intervened + between us, in a sea of mother-of-pearl and opal, the lower one being the + colour of red ochre and the upper one orange. Both of them, blinding in + their brilliancy, seemed about to embrace one another. + </p> + <p> + “‘How far are they off?’ thought I to myself. ‘Can I touch them with my + hand, or are they separated from me by an immense space?’ We are not + capable of forming ideas of perspective, floating as we are in the midst + of such a glimmering splendour. + </p> + <p> + “Above and around us are nothing but thick fogs and enormous black clouds, + whose ragged edges and backs are relieved by a pale silver coating. They + undulate ceaselessly to and fro, and either usurp quietly the place of + others, or disappear only to be superseded by more formidable ones. But + the last ray of reflected light has died out, and we plunge into this + chaos of dreadful forms. Monsters seem to wish to approach us, and to + envelop us in their dark embraces. One of them, on my right hand, looks + like a deformed human arm in a menacing attitude, writhing its jagged top + like a blind serpent feeling its way. The vague monster has disappeared; + but the momentary splendour being followed by the original gloom, we + plunge once more into a darkness that can be felt. + </p> + <p> + “The water which had collected on the balloon during its ascent now began + to take effect, and caused it to descend with such rapidity into the dark + abyss that the ballast, which was immediately thrown overboard, was + overtaken in its descent and fell on our heads again. + </p> + <p> + “I hear exclamations and voices near me. My companions are evidently + agitated, and with good reason, too; for the lights which we could see a + long way below us approach with terrible rapidity. We reached the earth + rather quicker than we left it. + </p> + <p> + “Suddenly we feel a dreadful shock, followed by ominous crackings. The car + has grounded. The ‘Geant’ has made its descent. But in what part of the + habitable globe, and under what zone? At Meaux!” + </p> + <p> + To employ an expression of M. Nadar’s it seems that these gentlemen never + before experienced such a “knock-down blow.” + </p> + <p> + After all these preparations, all this trouble, all the energy employed in + the undertaking—sufficient, indeed, wherewith to attempt to cross + the Atlantic—to “descend at Meaux!” + </p> + <p> + The ‘Geant,’ however, had its revenge. Its second ascent gave it this + revenge. We shall be as brief as possible in relating this voyage; but the + details are all so very interesting that we regret extremely our being + unable to give more than extracts from the narrative. + </p> + <p> + Our travellers committed themselves again to the mercy of the air. The + Emperor, following the example of a former King of France, took + considerable interest in the construction of this aerial monster, and + wished the aeronaut “Bon voyage” at starting. The passengers endeavoured + to pass the night as comfortably as possible, having first instituted a + four hours’ watch, as on board ship. + </p> + <p> + The aerial vessel glided rapidly through the air. “We repeatedly,” said + Nadar, “passed over some manufacturing centre, whose lights were not yet + extinguished. I either hailed them with my speaking-trumpet or rang our + two bells. Sometimes we received a reply from below, in the shape of a + shout, for, although we still had no moon, the night was occasionally + clear enough for people to distinguish us; and sometimes we heard a peal + of laughter from out of the atmosphere in which we were travelling. It was + another party of aeronauts in a smaller balloon, who left at the same time + as we did, and who would persist in keeping the ‘Geant’ company. We are + passing over a small town; we hear the usual shouting and the report of a + gun. Our first thoughts are—Was it loaded with shot or ball? The + inhuman brute who fired will say, ‘Certainly not;’ but as balloons have + often been damaged in this way, we may be confident there was more than + powder in this one. It would be satisfactory, at any rate, if the name of + the person could be ascertained who favoured us with this welcome. But it + is rather late to make inquiries on this subject. It was between a quarter + and half-past nine o’clock when this occurred. ‘The sea!’ cried Jules; + ‘look at the revolving lights of the lighthouses. There: one has just + disappeared: it will flash out again in a moment!’ But what is this? + Before us, as far as our eyes can reach, we distinguish faint lights, + which in this case are neither lamps nor torches. As we continue to draw + nearer we get a better view of these numerous, violent, and smoking + furnaces. Loud and ringing sounds strike on our ear at the same time. Am I + right in my conjectures? Is this not that splendid country I love more + than ever now? It must be Erquelines! And the dignified Custom-house + official, had it been possible, would have added thereto ‘Belgium!’ + </p> + <p> + “We still continue to pass over fires, forges, tall chimneys, and coal + mines at frequent intervals. Not long after we distinguish a large town on + our right hand, which, by its size and brilliant lighting by gas, we + recognise as Brussels. There could be no mistake, for close by, more + modest in size and appearance, we see Catholic Malines. We have left it + behind us. + </p> + <p> + “Onward! Onward! Behind us the fires fade gradually away, and disappear + one after another. Before us nothing at present visible. We seemed to + drift on for about one hundred or one hundred and fifty yards more. We + cannot distinguish a single point in front of us on which to fix our gaze. + But we still continue our course in silence. + </p> + <p> + “This mournful darkness, this endless shroud, in which we can discover + neither rent nor spangle, still continues. Where are we? Over what strange + country, possessing neither cities, towns, nor villages, are we hovering + in the tomb-like silence of this interminable darkness? We seem, indeed, + to have been carried by a puff of wind towards the west. + </p> + <p> + “But something seems to approach us. What are those pale rays of light + which we can faintly see a long, long way before us—rays pale and + soft, quite unlike those flaming fires we have left behind us? Surely + these do not denote the presence of human activity! As we continue to + advance, these pale flakes of light—resembling nothing so much in + appearance as molten lead—which at first were scanty and isolated, + gradually expand, and leave only narrow strips of darkness to divide them + into fantastic shapes. By their help we discovered we were passing over + the immense marshes of Holland, which extended to and lost themselves in + the hazy horizon. On our right hand we hear a deep moan, still distant, + but rapidly approaching every moment. It is undoubtedly the rushing of the + wind. A fresh breeze for five minutes would bring us to the sea. + </p> + <p> + “We experienced another shock not less formidable than the first. The + ‘Geant’ is trembling from its effects. The cable of our first anchor has + just broken like a piece of thread. We could not hope for a better result. + The violence of the wind which is carrying us along seems to be redoubled. + A bump: another and another—then shock after shock. + </p> + <p> + “‘The second dead men!’ + </p> + <p> + “Our swift pace was shock after shock. + </p> + <p> + “‘The anchor is lost,’ cries Jules; ‘we are all dead men! + </p> + <p> + “This truth is too palpable to all of us to require expressing in so many + words, for we are just commencing that furious, tearing course called + ‘trailing.’ + </p> + <p> + “Our swift pace was considerably accelerated by the lower part of the + balloon, which—limp, empty, and forming nearly a third of the whole—had + been set free at the first shock, and flapped against the distended part, + acting as a sail. The shocks continued to multiply so fast that it was + impossible to count them. The car continued to rebound from these shocks + to the height of five, ten, sometimes thirty, forty, and even fifty feet, + for all the world like an India-rubber ball from the hands of an + indefatigable player. Unfortunately, all our human freight, terror + stricken and without advice, had crowded into one side of the car; and as + this happened to be the side on which we invariably bumped, we experienced + all the worst effects of the joltings. + </p> + <p> + “What a dizzy whirl! What a succession of breathless shocks! What a strain + on both muscles and nerves! By the least negligence or slip, or by the + loss of presence of mind for one moment, we should have been thrown out + and dashed to atoms. + </p> + <p> + “Every collision tries our muscles and strains our wrists or our + shoulders; and every rebound dashes us one against the other, constituting + each individual a tormentor and victim at the same time. Our flight is so + rapid that we can only distinguish an occasional glimpse of anything. Far, + far in the distance we distinguish an isolated tree. We approach it like + lightning, and we break it as though it were a straw. + </p> + <p> + “Two terrified horses, with manes and tails erect, endeavour to fly from + us. But we consume distances; we leave them behind immediately. We skip + over a flock of affrighted sheep in one of our bounds. But now comes the + real danger. + </p> + <p> + “At this moment, when we were perfectly benumbed with fear, and had lost + all power of articulation, we saw a locomotive, drawing two carriages, + running along an embankment at right angles to our course. A few more + revolutions of the wheels, and it will be all over with us, for we seem to + be fated to meet with geometrical precision at one spot! + </p> + <p> + “What will happen? + </p> + <p> + “Travelling at our present hurricane pace, we shall undoubtedly lift up + and overturn the machine and what it is drawing. But shall we not be + crushed ourselves? A few paces still intervene between us and our foe, and + we give vent to a shout of terror. + </p> + <p> + “It is heard, and the locomotive answers it by a whistle, then slackens + its pace, and after seeming to hesitate an instant backs quickly and only + just in time to give us a free passage, whilst the driver, waving his cap, + salutes us with— + </p> + <p> + “‘Look out for the wires!’ + </p> + <p> + “The caution was well timed, for we had not noticed the four telegraph + wires which we rapidly approached. We energetically ducked our heads on + seeing them, but fortunately we escaped any more damage than having two or + three of our ropes cut. These we continued to drag after us like the tail + of a ragged comet, having the telegraph-wires and the posts which lately + supported them attached to us.” + </p> + <p> + After having been dragged thus for some time at the mercy of a hurricane + which they ought to have been able to avoid, these aerial navigators at + last got entangled in the outskirts of a wood near Rethem, in Hanover. A + few broken arms and legs paid for their temerity in meddling with this + monster, and one and all of the passengers have reason to be thankful that + it will be unnecessary for us to proclaim their virtues and their fate in + our next chapter. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter X. The Necrology of Aeronautic + </h2> + <p> + We will conclude this second part by giving a brief notice of some of + those who, in the early days of aerostation, fell martyrs to their + devotion to the new cause, and sometimes victims to their own want of + foresight and their inexperience. + </p> + <p> + First among these is Pilatre des Roziers, with whose courage and ingenuity + our readers are already familiar. After the passage of Blanchard from + England over to France this hero, who was the first to trust himself to + the wide space of the sky, resolved to undertake the return voyage from + France to England—a more difficult feat, owing to the generally + adverse character of the winds and currents. In vain did Roziers’ friends + attempt to make him understand the perils to which this enterprise must + expose him; his only reply was that he had discovered a new balloon which + united in itself all the necessary conditions of security, and would + permit the voyager to remain an unusually long time in the air. He asked + and obtained from government the sum of 40,000 livres, in order to + construct his machine. It then became clear what sort of balloon he had + contrived. He united in one machine the two modes previously made use of + in aerostation. Underneath a balloon filled with hydrogen gas, he + suspended a Montgolfiere, or a balloon filled with hot air from a fire. It + is difficult to understand what was his precise object in making this + combination, for his ideas seem to have been confused upon the subject. It + is probable that, by the addition of a Montgolfiere, he wished to free + himself from the necessity of having to throw over ballast when he wished + to ascend and to let off this gas when he wished to descend. The fire of + the Montgolfiere might, he probably supposed, be so regulated as to enable + him to rise or fall at will. + </p> + <p> + This mixed system has been justly blamed. It was simply “putting fire + beside powder,” said Professor Charles to Roziers; but the latter would + not listen, and depended for everything on his own intrepidity and + scientific skill of which he had already given so many proofs. There were, + perhaps, other reasons for his unyielding obstinacy. The court that had + furnished him with the funds for the construction of the balloon pressed + him, and he himself was most ambitious to equal the achievement of + Blanchard, who was the first to cross the Channel, on the 7th of January, + 1785. + </p> + <p> + The fact was that at this time the prevailing fear in France was, that + Great Britain should bear off all the honours and profits of aerostation + before any of these had been won by France. It was thus that with an + untried machine, and under conditions the most unfavourable for his + enterprise, Roziers prepared to risk his life in this undertaking, which + was equally dangerous and useless. + </p> + <p> + The double balloon was alternately inflated and emptied. While under cover + it was assailed by the rats that gnawed holes in it, and when brought out + of its place it was exposed to the tempests, so that the longer the + experiment was delayed, the worse chance there was of getting through it + successfully. At length Roziers went to Boulogne, and announced the day of + his departure; but, as if by a special Providence, his attempt was delayed + by unfavourable weather. For many weeks in succession the little trial + balloons thrown up to show the course of the wind were driven back upon + the shores of France. During all these trials the impatient Roziers + continued to chafe and torment himself. + </p> + <p> + At last, on the 13th and 14th of June, 1785, the Aero-Montgolfiere + remained inflated, waiting a favourable moment for departure. On the 15th + at four in the morning, a little pilot balloon that had been thrown up + fell back on the spot from which it had been thrown free, thus showing + that there was no wind. Seven hours later Roziers, accompanied by his + brother Romain, one of the constructors of the balloon, appeared in the + gallery. A nobleman present threw a purse of 200 louis into the car, and + was preparing to follow it and join in the adventure. Roziers forbade him + to enter, gently but firmly. + </p> + <p> + “The experiment is too unsafe,” he said, “for me to expose to danger the + life of another.” + </p> + <p> + “Finally,” says a narrative of the time, “the Aero-Montgolfiere rose in an + imposing manner. The sound of cannon signalised the departure, the + voyagers saluted the crowd, who responded with loud shouts. The balloon + advanced until it began to traverse the sea, and every one with eyes fixed + upon the fragile machine, regarded it with fear. It had traversed upwards + of a league of its journey, and had reached the height of 700 feet above + sea level, when a wind from the west drove it back toward the shore, after + having been twenty-seven minutes in the air. + </p> + <p> + “At this moment the crowd beneath perceived that the voyagers were showing + signs of alarm. They seemed suddenly to lower the grating of the + Montgolfiere. But it was too late. A violet flame appeared at the top of + the balloon, then spread over the whole globe, and enveloped the + Montgolfiere and the voyagers. “The unfortunate men were suddenly + precipitated from the clouds to the earth, in front of the Tour de Croy, + upwards of a league from Boulogne, and 300 feet from the sea beach. + </p> + <p> + “The dead body of Roziers was found burnt in the gallery, many of the + bones being broken. His brother was still breathing, but he was not able + to speak, and in a few minutes he expired.” + </p> + <p> + De Maisonfort, who, against his own will, was left on the earth, was + witness of this sad event. He has given the following explanation of it:— + </p> + <p> + “Some minutes after their departure the voyagers were assailed by contrary + winds, which drove them back again upon the land. It is probable that + then, in order to descend and seek a more favourable current of air, which + would take them out again to sea, Roziers opened the valve of the gas + balloon; but the cord attached to this valve was very long, it worked with + difficulty, and the friction which it occasioned tore the valve. The stuff + of the balloon, which had suffered much from many preliminary attempts, + and from other causes, was torn to the extent of several yards, and the + valve fell down inside the balloon, which at once emptied itself.” + </p> + <p> + According to this narrative, there was no conflagration of the gas in the + middle of the atmosphere, nor is it stated precisely whether the grating + of the Montgolfiere was lighted. + </p> + <p> + Maisonfort ran to the spot when the travellers fell, found them covered + with the cloth of the balloon, and occupying the same positions which they + had taken up on departing. + </p> + <p> + By a sad chance, that seems like irony, they were thrown down only a few + paces from the monument which marks the spot where Blanchard descended. At + the present day Frenchmen going to England via Calais do not fail to visit + at the forest of Guines the monument consecrated to the expedition of + Blanchard. A few paces from this monument the cicerone will point out with + his finger the spot where his rivals expired. + </p> + <p> + “Such was the end of the first of aeronauts, and the most courageous of + men,” says a contemporaneous historian. “He died a martyr to honour and to + zeal. His kindness, amiability, and modesty endeared him to all who knew + him. She who was dearest to him—a young English lady, who boarded at + a convent at Boulogne, and whom he had first met only a few days prior to + his last ascent—could not support the news of his death. Horrible + convulsions seized her and she expired, it is said, eight days after the + dreadful catastrophe. Roziers died at the age of twenty-eight and a half + years.” + </p> + <p> + Olivari perished at Orleans on the 25th of November, 1802. He had ascended + in a Montgolfiere made of paper, strengthened only by some bands of cloth. + His car, made of osiers, and loaded with combustible matter, was suspended + below the grating; and when at a great elevation it became the prey of the + flames. The aeronaut, thus deprived of his support, fell, at the distance + of a league from the spot from which he had risen. + </p> + <p> + Mosment made his last ascent at Lille on the 7th of April, 1806. His + balloon was made of silk, and was filled with hydrogen gas. Ten minutes + after his departure he threw into the air a parachute with which he had + provided himself. It is supposed that the oscillations consequent on the + throwing off of the parachute were the cause of they aeronaut’s fall. Some + pretend that Mosment had foretold his death, and that it was caused by a + willful carelessness. However this may be, the balloon continued its + flight alone, and the body of the aeronaut was found partly buried in the + sand of the fosse which surrounds the town. + </p> + <p> + Bittorff made a great many successful ascents. He never used any machine + but the Montgolfiere. At Manheim, on the 17th of July, the day of his + death his balloon, which was of paper, sixteen metres in diameter, and + twenty in height, took fire in the air, and the aeronaut was thrown down + upon the town. His fall was mortal. + </p> + <p> + Harris, an old officer of the English navy, together with another English + aeronaut, named Graham, had made a great many ascents. He conceived the + idea of constructing a balloon upon an original plan; but his alterations + do not seem to have been improvements. In May, 1824, he attempted an + ascent from London, which had much apparent success, but which terminated + fatally. When at a great elevation, it seems, the aeronaut, wishing to + descend, opened the valve. It had not been well constructed, and after + being opened it would not close again. The consequent loss of gas brought + the balloon down with great force. Harris lost his life with the fall; but + the young lady who had accompanied him received only a trifling wound. + </p> + <p> + Sadler, a celebrated English aeronaut, who, in one of his many + experiments, had crossed the Irish Channel between Dublin and Holyhead, + lost his life miserably near Bolton, on the 28th of September, 1824. + Deprived of his ballast, in consequence of his long sojourn in the air, + and forced at last to descend, at a late hour, upon a number of high + buildings, the wind drove him violently against a chimney. The force of + the shock threw him out of his car, and he fell to the earth and died. His + prudence and knowledge were unquestionable, and his death is to be + ascribed alone to accident. It was an aerial shipwreck. + </p> + <p> + Cocking had gone up twice in Mr. Green’s balloon as a simple amateur. He + took it into his head to go up a third time. He wished to attempt a + descent in a parachute of his own construction, which he believed was + vastly superior to the ordinary one. He altered the form altogether, + though that form had been proved to be satisfactory. In place of a concave + surface, supporting itself on a volume of air, Cocking used an inverted + cone, of an elaborate construction, which, instead of supporting him in + the air, only accelerated his fall. Unhappily, Green participated in this + experiment. The two made an ascent from Vauxhall, on the 27th of + September, 1836, Green having suspended Cocking’s wretched contrivance + from the car of his balloon. Cocking held on by a rope, and at the height + of from 1,000 to 1,200 feet the amateur, with his patent parachute, were + thrown off from the balloon. A moment afterwards Green was soaring away + safely in his machine, but Cocking was launched into eternity. + </p> + <p> + “The descent was so rapid,” says one who witnessed it, “that the mean rate + of the fall was not less than twenty yards a second. In less than a minute + and a half the unfortunate aeronaut was thrown to the earth, and killed by + the fall.” + </p> + <p> + Madame Blanchard, thinking to improve upon Garnerin, who had decorated the + balloon which ascended in celebration of the coronation of Napoleon I. + with coloured lights, fixed fireworks instead to hers. A wire rope ten + yards long was suspended to her car; at the bottom of this wire rope was + suspended a broad disc of wood, around which the fireworks were ranged. + These consisted of Bengal and coloured lights. On the 6th of July, 1819, + there was a great fete at Tivoli, and a multitude had assembled around the + balloon of Madame Blanchard. Cannon gave the signal of departure, and soon + the fireworks began to show themselves. The balloon rose splendidly, to + the sound of music and the shoutings of the people. A rain of gold and + thousands of stars fell from the car as it ascended. A moment of calm + succeeded, and then to the eyes of the spectators, still fixed on the + balloon, an unexpected light appeared. This light did not come from under + the balloon, where the crown of fireworks was already extinguished, but + shone in the car itself. It was evident that the lady aeronaut, although + now so high above the spectators, was busy about something. The light + increased, then disappeared suddenly; then appeared again, and showed + itself finally at the summit of the balloon, in the form of an immense jet + of gas. The gas with which the balloon was inflated had taken fire, and + the terrible glare which the light threw around was perceived from the + boulevards, and all the Quartier Montmartre. + </p> + <p> + It was at this moment—a frightful one for those who perceived what + had taken place—that a general sentiment of satisfaction and + admiration among the spectators found vent in cries of “Brava! Vive Madame + Blanchard!” &c. The people thought the lady was giving them an + unexpected treat. Meantime, by the light of the flame, the balloon was + seen gradually to descend. It disappeared when it reached the houses, like + a passing meteor, or a train of fire which a blast of wind suddenly + extinguishes. A number of workmen and other persons, who had perceived + that some accident had taken place, ran in the direction in which the + balloon appeared to descend. They arrived at a house in the Rue de + Provence. On the roof of this house the balloon had fallen, and the + unfortunate Madame Blanchard, thrown out of the car by the shock, was + killed by her fall to the earth. + </p> + <p> + This news spread rapidly from Tivoli, where it occasioned a stupefying + surprise. It was the first time that a fall of the kind had taken place + from the sky at Paris. Fireworks were from this time discontinued, the + fete came to an end, and a subscription was rapidly organised, producing + some thousands of francs, which shortly afterwards were employed in + erecting a monument to the lady, which is now to be seen in the cemetery + of Pere-la-Chaise. + </p> + <p> + Madame Blanchard had wished to surpass the ordinary spectacle of an aerial + ascent; she had really prepared a SURPRISE for the spectators. She had + prepared and she took with her a small parachute of about two yards in + diameter. After the extinction of the crown or star of fireworks, she + intended to throw this little parachute loose; and as it was terminated by + another supply of fireworks, it was supposed that the effect would be as + beautiful as surprising. + </p> + <p> + The unhappy lady was small in stature, and very light, and unfortunately + made use of a very small balloon. That of the 6th of July, 1819, was only + seven metres in diameter; and to make it ascend with the weight it carried + it had to be filled to the neck with inflammable air. In quitting the + earth some of this gas escaped, and rising above the balloon, formed a + train like one of powder, which would certainly flash into a blaze the + moment it came in contact with the fire. But on this day it was she who + with her own hand fired this train. At the moment when, detaching the + little parachute from her car, she took the light for the fireworks in her + other hand, she crossed this train with the light and set it on fire. Then + the brave woman, throwing away the parachute and the match, strove to + close the mouth of the balloon, and to stifle the fire. These efforts + being unavailing, Madame Blanchard was distinctly seen to sit down in her + car and await her fate. + </p> + <p> + The burning of the hydrogen lasted several minutes, during which time the + balloon gradually descended. Had it not been that it struck on the roof of + the house Madame Blanchard would have been saved. At the moment of the + shock she was heard to cry out, “A moi.” These were her last words. The + car, going along the roof of the house, was caught by an iron bar and + overturned, and the lady was thrown head foremost upon the pavement. + </p> + <p> + When she reached the ground she immediately expired. Her head and + shoulders were slightly burnt, otherwise she exhibited no marks of the + fire which had destroyed the balloon. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_PART3" id="link2H_PART3"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PART III. Scientific Experiments—Applications of Ballooning. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0021" id="link2HCH0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter I. Experiments of Robertson, Lhoest, Saccarof, &c. + </h2> + <p> + Robertson is regarded by many as a sort of mountebank; yet such men as + Arago have put themselves to the trouble of examining the aerostatic feats + of this aeronaut, and of examining the results of his observations. + </p> + <p> + “The savant Robertson,” says Arago, “performed at Hamburg on the 18th of + July, 1803, with his countryman, Lhoest, the first aeronautic voyage from + which science has been able to draw useful deductions. The two aeronauts + remained suspended in the air during five hours, and came down near + Hanover, twenty-five leagues from the spot from which they set off.” + </p> + <p> + The first time that Robertson appears in the annals of aerostation is in + 1802, on the occasion of the sale of the balloon used at the battle of + Fleurus, of which mention will be made in the chapter on military + aerostation. But three years previously he had been instructed to make a + balloon of an original form, which should ascend in honour of the Turkish + ambassador at the garden of Tivoli. The fete was completely successful. + Turks, Chinese, Persians, and Bedouins will always be welcome, as on this + occasion, at Paris, appearing as they do only at rare intervals, and for a + short time. + </p> + <p> + The fete took place on the 2nd of July. Robertson presented himself at the + house of Esseid-Ali, to obtain his autograph. The Turkish ambassador + willingly granted the request, and wrote his name in letters, each of + which was two inches in height, on a sheet of paper. He then offered the + aeronaut coffee and comfits, and promised to be present to witness the + balloon ascent. His name was painted in large characters on a balloon + fifteen feet in diameter, and on the form of which was the figure of a + crescent. The experiment delighted the ambassador, and was well received + by the public. + </p> + <p> + Jacques Garnerin, when he came to make his debut as an aeronaut, made an + attempt with the parachute, the following August, at the garden of the + Hotel de Biron. The ambassador was asked to honour the fete, but he + declined, saying that he had “made up his mind that man was not intended + for flying—Mahomet had not so willed it.” + </p> + <p> + Of one of Robertson’s more interesting ascents he himself has left us the + following sketch:— + </p> + <p> + “I rose in the balloon at nine a.m., accompanied by my fellow-student and + countryman, M. Lhoest. We had 140 lbs. of ballast. The barometer marked + twenty-eight inches; the thermometer sixteen degrees Reaumur. In spite of + some slight wind from the north-west, the balloon mounted so + perpendicularly that in all the streets each of the spectators believed we + were mounting straight up above his head. In order to quicken our ascent I + discharged a parachute made of silk, and weighted in a way to prevent + oscillations. The parachute descended at the rate of two feet per second, + and its descent was uniform. From the moment when the barometer began to + sink we became very careful of our ballast, as we wished to test from + experience the different temperatures through which we were about to pass. + </p> + <p> + “At 10.15, the barometer was at nineteen inches, and the thermometer at + three above zero. We now felt all the inconvenience of an extremely + rarefied atmosphere coming upon us, and we commenced to arrange some + experiments in atmospheric electricity. Our first attempts did not + succeed. We threw over part of our ballast, and mounted up till the cold + and the rarefaction of the air became very troublesome. During our + experiments we experienced an illness throughout our whole system. Buzzing + in the cars commenced, and went on increasing. The pain we felt was like + that which one feels when he plunges his head in water. Our chests seemed + to be dilated, and failed in elasticity. My pulse was quickened, M. + Lhoest’s became slower; he had, like me, swelled lips and bleeding eyes; + the veins seemed to come out more strongly on the hands. The blood ran to + the head, and occasioned a feeling as if our hats were too tight. The + thermometer continued to descend, and, as we ascended, our illness + increased, and we could with difficulty keep awake. Fearing that my + travelling companion might go to sleep, I attached a cord to my thigh and + to his, and we held the extremities of the cord in our hands. Thus + trammelled, we had to commence the experiments which I had proposed to + make. + </p> + <p> + “At this elevation, the glass, the brimstone, and the Spanish wax were not + electrified in a manner to show any signs under friction—at least, I + obtained no electricity from the conductors or the electrometer. + </p> + <p> + “I had in my car a voltaic pile, consisting of sixty couples—silver + and zinc. It worked very well on the occasion of our departure from the + earth, and gave, without the condenser, one degree to the electrometer. At + our great elevation, the pile gave only five-sixths of a degree to the + same electrometer. The galvanic flame seemed more active at this elevation + than on the earth. + </p> + <p> + “I took two birds with me on coming into the balloon—one of these + was now dead, the other appeared stupefied. After having placed it upon + the brink of the gondola, I tried to frighten it to make it take to + flight. It moved its wings, but did not leave the spot; then I left it to + itself, and it fell perpendicularly and with great rapidity. Birds are + certainly not able to maintain themselves at such elevations. + </p> + <p> + “It is notable that the atmosphere, which was of a perfect purity near the + earth, was grey and misty above our heads, and the beautiful blue sky seen + from the surface did not exist for us, although the weather was calm and + serene, and the day the most beautiful that could be. The sun did not seem + dazzling to us, and its heat was diminished owing to our elevation. + </p> + <p> + “At half-past eleven, the balloon was no longer visible from Hamburg. The + heavens were so pure beneath us that everything was distinctly seen by us, + though very much diminished by distance. At 11.40, the town of Hamburg + seemed only a red point in our eyes; the Elbe looked like a straight + ribbon. I wished to make use of an opera-glass, but what surprised me was + that when I lifted it up it was so cold that I had to wrap my handkerchief + around it to enable me to hold it. + </p> + <p> + “Not being able to support our position any longer, we descended, after + having used up much gas and ballast. Our descent caused that degree of + terror among the inhabitants which the size of our balloon was calculated + to inspire in a country where such machines had never before been seen. We + descended above a poor village called Radenburg, a place amid the heaths + of Hanover. Our appearance caused great alarm, and even the beasts of the + field fled from us. + </p> + <p> + “While our balloon rapidly approached the earth, we waved our hats and + flags, and shouted to the inhabitants, but our voices only increased their + terror. The villagers rushed away with cries of terror, leaving their + herds, whose bellowings increased the general alarm. When the balloon + touched the ground, every man had shut himself up in his own house. Having + appealed in vain, and fearing that the villagers might do us some injury, + we resolved to re-ascend. + </p> + <p> + “In making this second ascent, we threw over all our ballast; but in this + we were imprudent, for after sailing about at a great height, and having + lost much gas, I perceived that our descent would be very rapid, and to + provide against accident, I gathered together all the instruments, the + bread, the ropes, and even such money as we had with us, and placed them + in three sacks, to which I attached a rope of a hundred feet in length. + This precaution saved us a shock. The weight, amounting to thirty pounds, + reached the ground before us, and the balloon, thus lightened, came softly + to the ground between Wichtenbech and Hanover, after having run + twenty-five leagues in five and a half hours.” + </p> + <p> + After this ascent Robertson became acquainted with some savants of + Hamburg, and amongst others with Professor Pfaff, who was interested in + aerial travelling as a means of settling certain meteorological problems. + Some days after Robertson’s ascent, the professor wrote to him— + </p> + <p> + “You speak of a certain height at which the hydrogen gas will find itself + in equilibrium in the air of the atmosphere. I believe that this height is + the extremity of the atmosphere itself; for as the gas has an elasticity + much greater than that of the air, it will go on dilating as it mounts + into the higher regions of the atmosphere, and its specific weight will + diminish as the weight of atmospheric air diminishes; and it will not + cease to mount until it rises above the atmosphere itself, if two + conditions be completely fulfilled—1, the condition that the gas may + be allowed to dilate without leaving the balloon as it rises; 2, the + condition that the gas shall not be allowed to mix at all with the + atmospheric air.” + </p> + <p> + Another ascent was arranged for the 14th of August, in which Robertson was + to be accompanied by the professor, but the latter, yielding to the + entreaties of his family, did not go. “I went up with my friend Lhoest,” + says Robertson, “at forty-two minutes past twelve midday. In a minute or + two we rose up between two masses of cloud, which seemed to open up and + offer us a passage. The upper surfaces of these clouds are not uniformly + level, like the under sides seen from the earth, but they are of a conical + or pyramidal shape. These imposing masses seem to precipitate themselves + upon the earth, as if to engulf it, but this optical illusion was due to + the apparent immobility of the balloon, which at the moment was rising at + the rate of about twenty feet per second. + </p> + <p> + “The fear of losing the view of the Baltic, which we perceived between the + clouds at intervals, obliged us to renounce the project of rising as high + as on the last occasion. The barometer was at fifteen inches, and the + thermometer one degree below zero, when I let off two pigeons. + </p> + <p> + “One descended in a diagonal direction, its wings half open but not + moving, with a swiftness which seemed that of a fall. The other flew for + an instant, and then placed itself upon the car, and did not wish to quit + us. Acting on the hint of Dr. Reimarus, I tried the same experiment with + butterflies, but the air was too much rarefied for them; they attempted in + vain to raise themselves by their wings, but they did not forsake the car. + </p> + <p> + “The wind continuing to carry me towards the sea, I resolved to bring my + observations to an end. I effected my descent in a meadow, near the + village of Rehorst, in Holstein, after having run sixteen leagues from + France in sixty-five minutes.” + </p> + <p> + At the commencement of the year 1804, Laplace, at the Institute, proposed + to take advantage of the means offered by aerostation to verify at great + heights certain scientific points—as, for example, those which + concern magnetism. This proposition was made at a favourable time, and + was, so far, carried out in the best possible way. The aeronauts who were + appointed to carry out the expedition were Biot and Gay-Lussac, the most + enthusiastic aeronauts of the period. + </p> + <p> + The following is their report:— + </p> + <p> + “We observed the animals we had with us at all the different heights, and + they did not appear to suffer in any manner. For ourselves, we perceived + no effect any more then a quickening of the pulse. At 10,000 feet above + the ground we set a little green-finch at liberty. He flew out at once, + but immediately returning, settled upon our cordage; afterwards, setting + out again, he flew to the earth, describing a very tortuous line in his + passage. We followed him with our eyes till he was lost in the clouds. A + pigeon, which we set free at the same elevation, presented a very curious + spectacle. Placed at liberty on the edge of the car, he remained at rest + for a number of instants, as if measuring the length of his flight; then + he launched himself into space, flying about irregularly, as if to try his + wings. Afterwards he began his descent regularly, sweeping round and round + in great circles, ever reaching lower, until he also was lost in the + clouds.” + </p> + <p> + As to the voyagers themselves, this is how they speak of their situation + at the height of 3,000 yards:— + </p> + <p> + “About this elevation we observed our animals. They did not appear to + suffer from the rarity of the air, yet the barometer was at twenty inches + eight lines.. We were much surprised that we did not suffer from the cold; + on the contrary, the sun warmed us much. We had thrown aside the gloves + which had been put on board, and which were of no use to us. Our pulses + were very quick; that of M. Gay-Lussac, which is 62 in the minute on + ordinary occasions, now gave 80; and mine, which is ordinarily 89, gave + 111. This acceleration was felt by both of us in nearly the same + proportion. Nevertheless, our respiration was in no way interfered with, + we experienced no illness, and our situation seemed to us extremely + agreeable.” + </p> + <p> + The following is their report to the Galvanic Society— + </p> + <p> + “We have known for a long time that no animal can with safety pass into an + atmosphere much more dense or much more rare than that to which it has + been accustomed. In the first case it suffers from the outer air, which + presses upon it severely; in the second case there are liquids or fluids + in the animal’s body which, being less pressed against than they should + be, become dilated, and press against their coverings or channels. In both + cases the symptoms are nearly the same—pain, general illness, + buzzing in the ears, and even haemorrhage. The experience of the + diving-bell has long made us familiar with what aeronauts suffer. Our + colleague (Robertson), and his companion, have experienced these effects + in great intensity. They had swelled lips, their eyes bled, their veins + were dilated, and, what is very remarkable, they both preserved a brown or + red tinge which astonished those that had seen them before they made the + ascent. This distension of the blood-vessels would necessarily produce an + inconvenience and a difficulty in the muscular action.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0022" id="link2HCH0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter II. Ascent of M. Gay-Lussac Alone—Excursions of MM. Barral + and Bixio. + </h2> + <p> + Respecting this ascent, Arago states that M. Gay-Lussac has reduced to + their proper value the narratives of the physical pains which aeronauts + say they suffer in lofty aerial ascents. + </p> + <p> + M. Gay-Lussac says:—“Having arrived at the most elevated point of my + ascent, 21,000 feet above sea level, my respiration was rendered sensibly + difficult, but I was far from experiencing any illness of a kind to make + me descend. My pulse and my breathing were very quick; breathing very + frequently in an extremely dry atmosphere, I should not have been + surprised if my throat had been so dry as to make it painful to swallow + bread.” + </p> + <p> + After having finished his observations, which referred chiefly to the + magnetic needle, with all the tranquillity of a doctor in his study, + Gay-Lussac descended to the earth between Rouen and Dieppe, eighty leagues + from Paris. + </p> + <p> + After the names of Robertson, Gay-Lussac, and Biot, science has registered + those of Barral and Bixio, two men whose aeronautic achievements have + enriched meteorology with more important discoveries, perhaps, than any we + have yet mentioned. + </p> + <p> + These gentlemen had conceived the project of rising by means of a balloon + to a great height, in order to study, with the assistance of the very best + instruments in use in their day, a multitude of phenomena then imperfectly + known. The subjects to which they were specially to direct their + attention, were the law of the decrease of temperature in progress + upwards, the discovery of whether the chemical composition of the + atmosphere is the same throughout all its parts, the comparison of the + strength of the solar rays in the higher regions of the atmosphere and on + the surface of the earth, the ascertaining whether the light reflected and + transmitted by the clouds is or is not polarised, &c. + </p> + <p> + All the preparations having been made in the garden of the Observatory at + Paris, the ascent took place on the 29th of June, 1850, at 10.27 a.m., the + balloon being filled with hydrogen gas. The first ascent was a signal + failure. It was found that the weather being bad, the envelope of the + balloon was torn in several places, and had to be mended in all haste. + Immediately preceding the moment of ascent, a torrent of rain fell. But + the voyagers were determined to ascend. They placed themselves in the car, + and, when thrown off from the fastenings, they rose through the air with + the speed of an arrow. The height to which the balloon reached made it + suddenly dilate, and the network, which was much too small, was stretched + to the utmost. The balloon was forced down upon them by the dilation, and + one of them, in the endeavour to work the valve, made a rent in the lower + part of the globe, from which the gas escaping almost over the heads of + the travellers, nearly choked them. The escape of the gas had the usual + result—the balloon descended rapidly, and fell in a vineyard near + Lugny, where they were found by the peasants holding on to the trees by + their legs and arms, and thus attempting to stop the horizontal advance of + the car. They had risen to the height of over 17,000 feet, and they had + descended from this height in from four to five minutes. + </p> + <p> + For all practical purposes, the ascent was a failure, and the aeronauts + immediately commenced preparations for a new voyage, which took place a + month afterwards. They rose to very great altitudes, but experienced no + illness from the rarefied air. M. Bixio did not feel the sharp pains in + the ears from which he had suffered on the former occasion. They passed + through a mass of cloud 15,000 feet in thickness, and they had not yet + passed quite through it, when at the height of over 21,000 feet from the + ground, they began to descend, their descent being caused by a rent in the + envelope of the balloon, from which the gas escaped. They might, in + throwing out the last of their ballast, have, perhaps, prolonged for a + little their sojourn in space, but the circumstances in which they were + placed did not permit them to make many more scientific observations than + those they had made, and thus they were obliged to submit to their fate. + When they had reached their greatest height, there seemed to open up in + the midst of the vaporous mass a brilliant space, from which they could + see the blue of heaven. The polariscope, directed towards this region, + showed an internal polarisation, but, when pointed to the side where the + mist still prevailed, there was no polarisation. + </p> + <p> + An optical phenomenon of a remarkable kind was witnessed when the voyagers + had attained their highest point. They saw the sun through the upper + mists, looking quite white, as if shorn of its strength; and, at the same + time, below the horizontal plane, below their horizon, and at an angular + distance from the plane equal to that of the sun above it, they saw a + second sun, which resembled the reflection of the actual sun in a sheet of + water. It is natural to suppose that the second sun was formed by the + reflection of the sun’s rays upon the horizontal faces of the ice crystals + floating in this high cloud. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0023" id="link2HCH0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter III. Ascents of the Mssrs. Welsh, Glaisher and Coxwell. + </h2> + <p> + The most recent balloon ascents in England deserving attention have been + undertaken for scientific objects, and in this country, more than in any + other, it may be said that the conquest of the air has been made to serve + a practical end. + </p> + <p> + In July, 1852, the Committee of the Kew Observatory resolved to undertake + a number of balloon voyages. This resolution was approved of by the + British Association for the Advancement of Science, and the necessary + instruments for making a number of meteorological observations were + prepared. The balloon employed was that of Mr. Green, who was accompanied + in his ascents by Mr. Welsh. The greatest height to which Mr. Welsh rose + was on the fourth ascent which took place on the 10th of November, 1852. + The balloon rose 22,930 feet, and the lowest temperature observed was 26 + degrees below zero. + </p> + <p> + It is to Mr. Glaisher and Mr. Coxwell, however, that the highest honours + of scientific aerostation belong. The ascents made by these gentlemen—Mr. + Glaisher being the scientific observer, and Mr. Coxwell the practical + aeronaut—have become matters of history. Not only did they, in the + course of a large number of ascents undertaken under the auspices of the + British Association, succeed in gathering much valuable meteorological + information, but they reached a greater height than that ever gained on + any previous or subsequent occasion, and penetrated into that distant + region of the skies in which it has been satisfactorily proved that no + life can be long maintained. It was on the 5th of September, 1862, that + Mr. Glaisher and Mr. Coxwell made the famous ascent in which they reached + the greatest height ever attained by an aeronaut, and were so nearly + sacrificed to their unselfish daring. Mr. Glaisher has given an admirable + account of this ascent, which took place from Wolverhampton. He says:—“Our + ascent had been delayed, owing to the unfavourable state of the weather. + It commenced at three minutes past one p.m., the temperature of the air + being 59 degrees, and the dew-point 48 degrees. At the height of one mile + the temperature was 41 degrees and the dew-point 38 degrees. Shortly after + wards clouds were entered of about 1,100 feet in thickness. Upon emerging + from them at seventeen minutes past one, I tried to take a view of their + surface with the camera, but the balloon was ascending too rapidly and + spiraling too quickly to allow me to do so. The height of two miles was + reached at twenty-one minutes past one. The temperature of the air had + fallen to 32 degrees and the dew-point to 26 degrees. The third mile was + passed at twenty-eight minutes past one, with an air temperature of 18 + degrees, and a dew-point of 13 degrees. The fourth mile was passed at + thirty-nine minutes past one, with an air temperature of 8 degrees, and a + dew-point of minus 6 degrees and the fifth mile about ten minutes later, + with an air temperature minus 5 degrees, and a dew-point minus 36 degrees. + </p> + <p> + “Up to this time I had experienced no particular inconvenience. When at + the height of 26,000 feet I could not see the fine column of the mercury + in the tube; then the fine divisions on the scale of the instrument became + invisible. At that time I asked Mr. Coxwell to help me to read the + instruments, as I experienced a difficulty in seeing them. In consequence + of the rotary motion of the balloon, which had continued without ceasing + since the earth was left, the valve line had become twisted, and he had to + leave the car, and to mount into the ring above to adjust it. At that time + I had no suspicion of other than temporary inconvenience in seeing. + Shortly afterwards I laid my arm upon the table, possessed of its full + vigour; but directly after, being desirous of using it, I found it + powerless. It must have lost its power momentarily. I then tried to move + the other arm, but found it powerless also. I next tried to shake myself, + and succeeded in shaking my body. I seemed to have no legs. I could only + shake my body. I then looked at the barometer, and whilst I was doing so + my head fell on my left shoulder. I struggled, and shook my body again, + but could not move my arms. I got my head upright, but for an instant + only, when it fell on my right shoulder; and then I fell backwards, my + back resting against the side of the car, and my head on its edge. In that + position my eyes were directed towards Mr. Coxwell in the ring. When I + shook my body I seemed to have full power over the muscles of the back, + and considerable power over those of the neck, but none over my limbs. As + in the case of the arms, all muscular power was lost in an instant from my + back and neck. I dimly saw Mr. Coxwell in the ring, and endeavoured to + speak, but could not do so; when in an instant intense black darkness came + over me, and the optic nerve lost power suddenly. I was still conscious, + with as active a brain as whilst writing this. I thought I had been seized + with asphyxia, and that I should experience no more, as death would come + unless we speedily descended. Other thoughts were actively entering my + mind when I suddenly became unconscious, as though going to sleep. I could + not tell anything about the sense of hearing: the perfect stillness of the + regions six miles from the earth—and at that time we were between + six and seven miles high—is such that no sound reaches the ear. My + last observation was made at 29,000 feet, about fifty-four minutes past + one. I suppose two or three minutes elapsed between my eyes becoming + insensible to seeing the fine divisions and fifty-four minutes past one, + and that other two or three minutes elapsed before I became unconscious; + therefore I think that took place about fifty-six or fifty-seven minutes + past one. Whilst powerless I heard the words ‘temperature,’ and + ‘observation,’ and I knew Mr. Coxwell was in the car, speaking to me, and + endeavouring to rouse me; and therefore consciousness and hearing had + returned. I then heard him speak more emphatically, but I could not speak + or move. Then I heard him say, ‘Do try; now do!’ Then I saw the + instruments dimly, next Mr. Coxwell, and very shortly I saw clearly. I + rose in my seat and looked round, as though waking from sleep, and said to + Mr. Coxwell, ‘I have been insensible.’ He said, ‘Yes; and I too, very + nearly.’ I then drew up my legs, which had been extended out before me, + and took a pencil in my hand to note my observations. Mr. Coxwell informed + me that he had lost the use of his hands, which were black, and I poured + brandy over them. I resumed my observations at seven minutes past two. I + suppose three or four minutes were occupied from the time of my hearing + the words ‘temperature’ and ‘observation,’ until I began to observe. If + so, then returning consciousness came at four minutes past two, and that + gives about seven minutes of total insensibility. Mr. Coxwell told me that + in coming from the ring he thought for a moment that I had laid back to + rest myself; that he spoke to me without eliciting a reply; that he then + noticed that my legs projected, and my arms hung down by my side. That my + countenance was serene and placid, without earnestness or anxiety, he had + noticed before going into the ring. It then struck him that I was + insensible. He wished then to approach me, but could not, and he felt + insensibility coming over himself. He became anxious to open the valve, + but, in consequence of having lost the use of his hands, he could not; and + ultimately he did so by seizing the cord with his teeth and dipping his + head two or three times. No inconvenience followed our insensibility. When + we dropped it was in a country where no accommodation of any kind could be + obtained, so that we had to walk between seven and eight miles. At the + time of ceasing our observations the ascent was at the rate of 1,000 feet + per minute, and on resuming observations the descent was at the rate of + 2,000 feet per minute. These two positions must be connected, having + relation to the interval of time which elapsed between them; and they can + scarcely be connected at a point less than 36,000 or 37,000 feet high. + Again, a very delicate minimum thermometer was found to read minus 12 + degrees, and that reading would indicate an elevation exceeding 36,000 + feet. There cannot be any doubt that the balloon attained the great height + of seven miles—the greatest ever reached. In this ascent six pigeons + were taken up. One was thrown out at three miles. It extended its wings, + and dropped like a piece of paper. A second at four miles, and it flew + with vigour. A third between four and five miles, and it fell downwards. A + fourth was thrown out at four miles in descending, and it alighted on the + top of the balloon. Two were brought to the ground. One was dead, and the + other was ill, but recovered so as to fly away in a quarter of an hour.” + </p> + <p> + The results gathered by Mr. Glaisher from his numerous ascents are very + interesting. He found that in no instance did the temperature of the air + decrease uniformly with the increase of height. In fact, the decrease in + the first mile is double that in the second, and nearly four times as + great as the change of temperature in the fifth mile. The distribution of + aqueous vapour in the air is no less remarkable. The temperature of the + dew-point on leaving the earth decreases less rapidly than the temperature + of the air; so that the difference between the two temperatures becomes + less and less, till the vapour or cloud plane is reached, when they are + usually together, and always most nearly approach each other, and that + point is usually at about the height of one mile. On leaving the upper + surface of cloud, the dew point decreases more rapidly than the air, and + at extremely high situations the difference between the two temperatures + is wonderfully great, indicating an extraordinary degree of dryness, and + an almost entire absence of water. Under these circumstances, the presence + of cirrus clouds far above this dry region, apparently as much above as + when viewed from the earth, is very remarkable, and leads to the + conclusion that they are not composed of water. + </p> + <p> + In the propagation of sound, M. Glaisher made many curious experiments. In + one ascent (July 17th) he found, when at a distance of 11,800 feet above + the earth, that a band was heard; at a height of 22,000 feet, a clap of + thunder was heard; and at a height of 10,070 feet, the report of a gun was + heard. On one occasion, he heard the dull hum of London at a height of + 9,000 feet above the city, and on another occasion, the shouting of many + thousands of persons could not be heard at the height of 4,000 feet. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0024" id="link2HCH0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter IV. Balloons Made Useful in Warfare. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Wars of the French Republic—Company of “Ballooneers”— + Battle of Fleurus—The Balloons of Egypt—Napoleon—Modern + Services War in Italy—War in America—Conclusion. +</pre> + <p> + We will conclude our work with a glance at aerostation as applied to + warfare. Scarcely had the first ascents astonished the world, than the + more adventurous spirits began to use the new discovery for a thousand + purposes directly useful to man. The first point of view in which + aerostation was regarded, was in that of its practical utility If one + refers to the pre-occupations of the time—to the great events then + occurring in the history of France, one will easily understand that the + Committee of Public Safety soon thought of employing balloons in the + observation of the forces and the movements of hostile troops. In 1794, + the idea was practically carried out, and the French armies were provided + with two companies of aeronauts. The command of one of these companies was + given to Captain Coutelle, a young physicist of great talent, who rendered + memorable services at the battle of Fleurus. The balloons were not thrown + free, but were retained attached by means of long cords. In this way they + took up, so to speak, aerial posts of observation. Placed in his car, the + captain transmitted his instructions to his men below by means of coloured + flags. Coutelle has left us a lively narrative of certain incidents + connected with one of the grand days of the old Republic. He had been + commissioned by the Committee of Public Safety to go to Maubeuge, where + Jourdan’s army was encamped, and to offer him the use of his balloon. The + representative to whom the young doctor presented his commission, knew + nothing about balloons, and not being able to understand the order of the + Committee of Public Safety, it suddenly dawned upon him that Coutelle, + with his trumpery forgery about balloons, was nothing else than a spy, and + he was about to have him shot. The genuineness of the order from the + Committee, however, was proved, and Coutelle’s case was listened to. + </p> + <p> + “The army was at Beaumont,” says Coutelle, “and the enemy, placed at a + distance of only three miles, could attack at any moment. The general told + me this fact, and engaged me to return and communicate it to the + Committee. This I did. The Commission then felt the necessity of making an + experiment with a balloon that could raise two persons, and the minister + placed at my service the garden and the little mansion of Meudon. Many of + the members of the Commission came to witness the first ascent of a + balloon held in hand, like a kite, by means of two cords. The + Commissioners ordered me to place myself in the car, and instructed me as + to a number of signals which I must repeat, and observations which I must + make. I raised myself to the full length of the cord, a height of 1,500 + feet, and at this height, with the help of a glass, I could distinctly see + the seven bends of the river Seine. On returning to the earth, I received + the compliments of the Commission. + </p> + <p> + “Arrived at Maubeuge, my first care was to find a suitable spot to erect + my furnace, and to make every preparation for the arrival of my balloon + from Meudon. Each day my observations contained something new either in + the works which the Austrians had thrown up during the night, or in the + arrangement of their forces. On the fifth day a piece of cannon had been + brought to bear upon the balloon, and shots were fired at me as soon as I + appeared above the ramparts. None of the shots took effect, and on the + following day the piece was no longer in position. Experience enforced + upon me the necessity of forming some provision against these unexpected + attacks. I employed the night in fixing cords all round the middle of my + balloon. Each of the aerostiers had charge of one of the ropes, and by + means of them I could easily move about, and thus get myself out of range + of any gun that had been trained to bear against me. I was afterwards + ordered to make a reconnaissance at Mayence, and I posted myself between + our lines and the enemy at half range of cannon. When the wind, which was + tempestuous at first, became calmer, I was able to count the number of + cannon on the ramparts, as well as the troops that marched through the + streets and in the squares. + </p> + <p> + “Generally the soldiers of the enemy, all who saw the observer watching + them and taking notes, came to the idea that they could do nothing without + being seen. Our soldiers were of the same opinion, and consequently they + regarded us with great admiration and trust. On the heavy marches they + brought us prepared food and wine, which my men were hardly able to get + for themselves, so closely did they require to attend to the ropes. We + were encamped upon the banks of the Rhine at Manheim when our general sent + me to the opposite bank to parley. As soon as the Austrian officers were + made aware that I commanded the balloon, I was overwhelmed with questions + and compliments. + </p> + <p> + “What causes an impression which, till one is accustomed to it, is very + alarming, is the noise which the balloon makes when it is struck by + successive gales of wind. When the wind has passed, the balloon, which has + been pressed into a concave form by the wind, suddenly resumes its + globular form with a loud noise heard at a great distance. The silk of the + balloon would often burst in a case of this kind, were it not for the + restraining power of the network.” + </p> + <p> + After the days of Coutelle we do not read that balloons were made much use + of in warfare. The only ascent in the Egypt campaign was that of a + tricolor balloon thrown up to commemorate a fete. That Napoleon knew full + well the value of the scientific discoveries of his time is clear from the + following conversation with a learned Mohammedan, which took place in the + great pyramid of Cheops:— + </p> + <p> + Mussamed. “Noble successor of Alexander, honour to shine invincible arms, + and to the unexpected lightning with which your warriors are furnished.” + </p> + <p> + Bonaparte. “Do you believe that that lightning is the work of the children + of men? Allah has placed it in our hands by means of the genius of war.” + </p> + <p> + Mussamed. “We recognised by your arms that it is Allah that has sent you—the + Delta and all the neighbouring countries are full of thy miracles. But + would you be a conqueror if Allah did not permit you?” + </p> + <p> + Bonaparte. “A celestial body will point by my orders to the dwelling of + the clouds, and lightning will descend towards the earth, along a rod of + metal from which I can call it forth.” + </p> + <p> + Napoleon did not favour the use of balloons in war. Perhaps it was because + he himself had such a splendid genius for war that he depended alone upon + himself, and scorned assistance. Perhaps it was because if balloons were + discovered to be of real utility, his enemies might make use of them as + well as himself, and France retain no special advantage in them. But + however this may be, on his return from Egypt he sold the balloon of + Fleurus to Robertson. The company of ballooneers was dissolved, and the + balloons themselves disappeared in smoke. + </p> + <p> + During the war in America, the role which the balloon played was a more + important one. The Government of the United States conferred the title of + aeronautic engineer upon Mr. Allan, of Rhode Island, who originated the + idea of communicating by a telegraphic wire from the balloon to the camp. + The first telegraphic message which was transmitted from the aerial + regions is that of Professor Love, at Washington, to the President of the + United States. The following is this despatch:— + </p> + <p> + “WASHINGTON, Balloon the ‘Enterprise.’ + </p> + <p> + “SIR,—The point of observation commands an extent of nearly fifty + miles in diameter. The city, with its girdle of encampments, presents a + superb scene. I have great pleasure in sending you this despatch—the + first that has been telegraphed from an aerial station—and to know + that I should be so much encouraged, from having given the first proof + that the aeronautic science can render great assistance in these + countries.” + </p> + <p> + In the month of September, 1861, one of the most hardy aeronauts (La + Mountain) furnished important information to General M’Clellan. The + balloon of La Mountain, which arose from the northern camp upon the + Potomac, passed above Washington. La Mountain then cut the cord that + connected his balloon with the earth, and rising rapidly to the height of + a mile and a half, he found himself directly above his enemies’ lines. + There he was able to observe perfectly their position and their movements. + He then threw over ballast, and ascended to the height of three miles. At + this height he encountered a current which carried him in the direction of + Maryland, where he descended in safety. General M’Clellan was so much + satisfied with the observations taken in the balloon, that, at his + request, the order was given to the War Department to construct four new + balloons. + </p> + <p> + If this volume of “The Library of Wonders” had not had for its single + object “balloons and their history,” we would have devoted a chapter to + the numerous attempts made to steer balloons. We shall only say here that + aerial navigation should be divided into two kinds with balloons, and + without balloons. In the first case, it is limited to the study of aerial + currents, and to the art of rising to those currents which suit the + direction of the voyage undertaken. The balloon is not the master of the + atmosphere; on the contrary, it is its powerless slave. In the second + case, the discovery of Montgolfier is useless; and the question is, to + find out a new machine capable of flying in the air, and at the same time + heavier than the air. Birds are, without doubt, the best models to study. + But with what force shall we replace LIFE? The air-boat of M. Pline seems + to us one of the best ideas; but the working of it presents many + difficulties. Let us find a motive power at once light and powerful + (aluminium and electricity, for example), and we will have definitively + conquered the empire of the air. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0031" id="link2H_4_0031"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Advertisements in the back of the book: + </h2> + <h4> + Click on any items in the list below + </h4> + <p> + “Charles Scribner & Co., 654 Broadway, New York, have just commenced + the publication of The Illustrated Library of Wonders. This Library is + based upon a similar series of works now in course of issue in France, the + popularity of which may be inferred from the fact the OVER ONE MILLION + COPIES have been sold.” + </p> + <p> + Advertisements for books about: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"><b> + <a href="images/ad_acoustics.jpg">acoustics</a> + <a href="images/ad_animals.jpg">animals</a> + <a href="images/ad_architecture.jpg">architecture</a> + <a href="images/ad_body.jpg">body</a> + <a href="images/ad_egypt.jpg">egypt</a> + <a href="images/ad_escape.jpg">escape</a> + <a href="images/ad_glass.jpg">glass</a> + <a href="images/ad_heat.jpg">heat</a> + <a href="images/ad_hunting.jpg">hunting</a> + <a href="images/ad_italian.jpg">Italian</a> + <a href="images/ad_moon.jpg">Moon</a> + <a href="images/ad_optics.jpg">optics</a> + <a href="images/ad_pompeii.jpg">Pompeii</a> + <a href="images/ad_sea.jpg">sea</a> + <a href="images/ad_strength.jpg">strength</a> + <a href="images/ad_sublime.jpg">sublime</a> + <a href="images/ad_sun.jpg">sun</a> + <a href="images/ad_thunder.jpg">thunder</a> + <a href="images/ad_water.jpg">water</a></b> +</pre> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg’s Wonderful Balloon Ascents, by Fulgence Marion + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WONDERFUL BALLOON ASCENTS *** + +***** This file should be named 899-h.htm or 899-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/9/899/ + +Produced by Dianne Bean, and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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+++ b/899-h/images/ad_sun.jpg diff --git a/899-h/images/ad_thunder.jpg b/899-h/images/ad_thunder.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5f82f31 --- /dev/null +++ b/899-h/images/ad_thunder.jpg diff --git a/899-h/images/ad_water.jpg b/899-h/images/ad_water.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d944443 --- /dev/null +++ b/899-h/images/ad_water.jpg @@ -0,0 +1,5366 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Wonderful Balloon Ascents, by Fulgence Marion + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Wonderful Balloon Ascents + or, the Conquest of the Skies + +Author: Fulgence Marion + +Posting Date: August 10, 2008 [EBook #899] +Release Date: May, 1997 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WONDERFUL BALLOON ASCENTS *** + + + + +Produced by Dianne Bean + + + + + +WONDERFUL BALLOON ASCENTS + +or, the Conquest of the Skies + +A History of Balloons and Balloon Voyages. + +By F. Marion + +1870 + + + + +PREFACE + +"Let posterity know, and knowing be astonished, that on the fifteenth +day of September, 1784, Vincent Lunardi of Lucca, in Tuscany, the first +aerial traveller in Britain, mounting from the Artillery Ground in +London, and traversing the regions of the air for two hours and fifteen +minutes, on this spot revisited the earth. In this rude monument for +ages be recorded this wondrous enterprise successfully achieved by +the powers of chemistry and the fortitude of man, this improvement in +science which the great Author of all Knowledge, patronising by his +Providence the inventions of mankind, hath graciously permitted, to +their benefit and his own eternal glory." + +The stone upon which the above inscription was carved, stands, or stood +recently, near Collier's End, in the parish of Standon, Hertfordshire; +and it will possibly afford the English reader a more accurate idea of +the feelings with which the world hailed the discovery of the balloon +than any incident or illustration drawn from the annals of a foreign +country. + +The work which we now introduce to our readers does not exaggerate the +case when it declares that no discovery of modern times has aroused so +large an amount of enthusiasm, has excited so many hopes, has appeared +to the human race to open up so many vistas of enterprise and research, +as that for which we are mainly indebted to the Brothers Montgolfier. +The discovery or the invention of the balloon, however, was one of those +efforts of genius and enterprise which have no infancy. It had reached +its full growth when it burst upon the world, and the ninety years which +have since elapsed have witnessed no development of the original idea. +The balloon of to-day--the balloon in which Coxwell and Glaisher have +made their perilous trips into the remote regions of the air--is in +almost every respect the same as the balloon with which "the physician +Charles," following in the footsteps of the Montgolfiers, astonished +Paris in 1783. There are few more tantalising stories in the annals of +invention than this. So much had been accomplished when Roziers made his +first aerial voyage above the astonished capital of France that all the +rest seemed easy. The new highway appeared to have been thrown open +to the world, and the dullest imagination saw the air thronged with +colossal chariots, bearing travellers in perfect safety, and with more +than the speed of the eagle, from city to city, from country to +country, reckless of all the obstacles--the seas, and rivers, and +mountains--which Nature might have placed in the path of the wayfarer. +But from that moment to the present the prospect which was thus opened +up has remained a vision and nothing more. There are--as those who +visited the Crystal Palace two years ago have reason to know--not a few +men who still believe in the practicability of journeying by air. But, +with hardly an exception, those few have abandoned all idea of utilising +the balloon for this purpose. The graceful "machine" which astonished +the world at its birth remains to this day as beautiful, and as useless +for the purposes of travel, as in the first hour of its history. The day +may come when some one more fortunate than the Montgolfiers may earn the +Duke of Sutherland's offered reward by a successful flight from the Mall +to the top of Stafford House; but when this comes to pass the balloon +will have no share in the honour of the achievement. Not the less, +however, is the story of this wonderful invention worthy of being +recorded. It deserves a place in the history of human enterprise--if +for nothing else--because of the daring courage which it has in so +many cases brought to light. From the days of Roziers down to those of +Coxwell, our aeronauts have fearlessly tempted dangers not less terrible +than those which face the soldier as he enters the imminent deadly +breach; and, as one of the chapters in this volume mournfully proves, +not a few of their number have paid the penalty of their rash courage +with their lives. All the more is it to be regretted that so little +practical good has resulted from their labours and their sacrifices; and +that so many of those who have perished in balloon voyages have done +so whilst serving to better end than the amusement of a holiday crowd. +There is, however, another aspect which makes at least the earlier +history of the balloon well worth preserving. This is the influence +which the invention had upon the generation which witnessed it. As +these pages show, the people of Europe seem to have been absolutely +intoxicated by the success of the Montgolfiers' discovery. There is +something bitterly suggestive in our knowledge of this fact. Whilst +pensions and honours and popular applause were being showered upon +the inventors of the balloon, Watt was labouring unnoticed at his +improvements of the steam-engine--a very prosaic affair compared with +the gilded globe which Montgolfier had caused to rise from earth amidst +the acclamations of a hundred thousand spectators, but one which had +before it a somewhat different history to that of the more startling +invention. England, when it remembers the story of the steam-engine, +has little need to grudge France the honour of discovering the balloon. +After all, however, Great Britain had its share in that discovery. The +early observations of Francis Bacon and Bishop Wilkins paved the way for +the later achievement, whilst it was our own Cavendish who discovered +that hydrogen gas was lighter than air; and Dr. Black of Edinburgh, who +first employed that gas to raise a globe in which it was contained from +the earth. The Scotch professor, we are told, thought that the discovery +which he made when he sent his little tissue-paper balloon from his +lecture-table to the ceiling of his classroom, was of no use except as +affording the means of making an interesting experiment. Possibly our +readers, after they have perused this volume, may think that Dr Black +was not after all so far wrong as people once imagined. Be this as it +may, however, in these pages is the history of the balloon, and of +the most memorable balloon voyages, and we comprehend the story to our +readers not the less cordially that it comes from the land where the +balloon had its birth. + +London, January, 1870. + + + + +BALLOONS AND AIR JOURNEYS. + + + + +PART I. THE CONQUEST OF THE SKIES.--1783. + + + +Chapter I. Introduction. + +The title of our introduction to aeronautics may appear ambitious to +astronomers, and to those who know that the infinite space we call the +heavens is for ever inaccessible to travellers from the earth; but +it was not so considered by those who witnessed the ardent enthusiasm +evoked at the ascension of the first balloon. No discovery, in the +whole range of history, has elicited an equal degree of applause and +admiration--never has the genius of man won a triumph which at first +blush seemed more glorious. The mathematical and physical sciences +had in aeronautics achieved apparently their greatest honours, and +inaugurated a new era in the progress of knowledge. After having +subjected the earth to their power; after having made the waves of the +sea stoop in submission under the keels of their ships; after having +caught the lightning of heaven and made it subservient to the ordinary +purposes of life, the genius of man undertook to conquer the regions of +the air. Imagination, intoxicated with past successes, could descry no +limit to human power; the gates of the infinite seemed to be swinging +back before man's advancing step, and the last was believed to be the +greatest of his achievements. + +In order to comprehend the frenzy of the enthusiasm which the first +aeronautic triumphs called forth, it is necessary to recall the +appearance of Montgolfier at Versailles, on the 19th of September, 1783, +before Louis XVI, or of the earliest aeronauts at the Tuileries. Paris +hailed the first of these men with the greatest acclaim, "and then, as +now," says a French writer, "the voice of Paris gave the cue to France, +and France to the world!" Nobles and artisans, scientific men and +badauds, great and small, were moved with one universal impulse. In the +streets the praises of the balloon were sung; in the libraries models +of it abounded; and in the salons the one universal topic was the great +"machine." In anticipation, the poet delighted himself with bird's-eye +views of the scenery of strange countries; the prisoner mused on what +might be a new way of escape; the physicist visited the laboratory in +which the lightning and the meteors were manufactured; the geometrician +beheld the plans of cities and the outlines of kingdoms; the general +discovered the position of the enemy or rained shells on the besieged +town; the police beheld a new mode in which to carry on the secret +service; Hope heralded a new conquest from the domain of nature, and the +historian registered a new chapter in the annals of human knowledge. + +"Scientific discoveries in general," says Arago, "even those from +which men expect the most advantage, like those of the compass and the +steam-engine, were greeted at first with contempt, or at the best with +indifference. Political events, and the fortunes of armies monopolised +almost entirely the attention of the people. But to this rule there +are two exceptions--the discoveries of America and of aerostatics, the +advents of Columbus and of Montgolfier." It is not here our duty +to inquire how it happened that the discoveries made by these two +personages are classed together. Air-travelling may be as unproductive +of actual good to society as filling the belly with the "east wind" is +to the body, while every one knows something of the extent to which the +discovery of Columbus has influenced the character, the civilisation, +the destinies, in short, of the human race. We are speaking at present +of the known and well-attested fact, that the discovery of America +and the discovery of the method of traversing space by means of +balloons--however they may differ in respect of results to man--rank +equally in this, that of all other discoveries these two have attracted +the greatest amount of attention, and given, in their respective eras, +the greatest impulse to popular feeling. Let the reader recall the marks +of enthusiasm which the discovery of the islands on the east coast of +America excited in Andalusia, in Catalonia, in Aragon and Castile--let +him read the narrative of the honours paid by town and village, not only +to the hero of the enterprise, but even to his commonest sailors, and +then let him search the records of the epoch for the degree of sensation +produced by the discovery of aeronautics in France, which stands in the +same relationship to this event as that in which Spain stands to the +other. The processions of Seville and Barcelona are the exact prototypes +of the fetes of Lyons and Paris. In France, in 1783, as in Spain two +centuries previously, the popular imagination was so greatly excited by +the deeds performed, that it began to believe in possibilities of +the most unlikely description. In Spain, the conquestadores and their +followers believed that in a few days after they had landed on American +soil, they would have gathered as much gold and precious stones, as were +then possessed by the richest European Sovereigns. In France, each one +following his own notions, made out for himself special benefits to flow +from the discovery of balloons. Every discovery then appeared to be only +the precursor of other and greater discoveries, and nothing after that +time seemed to be impossible to him who attempted the conquest of the +atmosphere. This idea clothed itself in every form. The young embraced +it with enthusiasm, the old made it the subject of endless regrets. When +one of the first aeronautic ascents was made, the old Marechal Villeroi, +an octogenarian and an invalid, was conducted to one of the windows of +the Tuileries, almost by force, for he did not believe in balloons. The +balloon, meanwhile, detached itself from its moorings; the physician +Charles, seated in the car, gaily saluted the public, and was then +majestically launched into space in his air-boat; and at once the old +Marechal, beholding this, passed suddenly from unbelief to perfect faith +in aerostatics and in the capacity of the human mind, fell on his knees, +and, with his eyes bathed in tears, moaned out pitifully the words, +"Yes, it is fixed! It is certain! They will find out the secret of +avoiding death; but it will be after I am gone!" + +If we recall the impressions which the first air-journeys made, we shall +find that, among people of enthusiastic temperament, it was believed +that it was not merely the blue sky above us, not merely the terrestrial +atmosphere, but the vast spaces through which the worlds move, that +were to become the domain of man--the sea of the balloon. The moon, +the mysterious dwelling-place of men unknown, would no longer be an +inaccessible place. Space no longer contained regions which man could +not cross! Indeed, certain expeditions attempted the crossing of the +heavens, and brought back news of the moon. The planets that revolve +round the sun, the far-flying comets, the most distant stars--these +formed the field which from that time was to lie open to the +investigations of man. + +This enthusiasm one can well enough understand. There is in the simple +fact of an aerial ascent something so bold and so astonishing, that the +human spirit cannot fail to be profoundly stirred by it. And if this is +the feeling of men at the present day, when, after having been witnesses +of ascents for the last eighty years, they see men confiding themselves +in a swinging car into the immensities of space, what must have been the +astonishment of those who, for the first time since the commencement +of the world, beheld one of their fellow-creatures rolling in space, +without any other assurance of safety than what his still dim perception +of the laws of nature gave him? + +Why should we be obliged here to state that the great discovery that +stirred the spirits of men from the one end of Europe to the other, +and gave rise to hopes of such vast discoveries, should have failed +in realising the expectations which seemed so clearly justified by the +first experiments? It is now eighty-six years since the first aerial +journey astonished the world, and yet, in 1870, we are but little +more advanced in the science than we were in 1783. Our age is the most +renowned for its discoveries of any that the world has seen. Man is +borne over the surface of the earth by steam; he is as familiar as the +fish with the liquid element; he transmits his words instantaneously +from London to New York; he draws pictures without pencil or brush, and +has made the sun his slave. The air alone remains to him unsubdued. The +proper management of balloons has not yet been discovered. More +than that, it appears that balloons are unmanageable, and it is to +air-vessels, constructed more nearly upon the model of birds, that we +must go to find out the secret of aerial navigation. At present, as in +former times, we are at the mercy of balloons--globes lighter than the +air, and therefore the sport and the prey of tempests and currents. +And aeronauts, instead of showing themselves now as the benefactors of +mankind, exhibit themselves mainly to gratify a frivolous curiosity, or +to crown with eclat a public fete. + + + +Chapter II. Attempts in Ancient Times to Fly in the Air. + +Before contemplating the sudden conquest of the aerial kingdom, as +accomplished and proclaimed at the end of the last century, it is at +once curious and instructive to cast a glance backward, and to examine, +by the glimmering of ancient traditions, the attempts which have been +made or imagined by man to enfranchise himself from the attraction of +the earth. + +"The greater number of the arts and sciences can be traced along a +chronological ladder of great length: some, indeed, lose themselves in +the night of time." The accomplishment of raising oneself in the air, +however, had no actual professors in antiquity, and the discovery +of Montgolfier seems to have come into the world, so to speak, +spontaneously. By this it is to be understood that, unlike Copernicus +and Columbus, Montgolfier could not read in history of any similar +discovery, containing the germ of his own feat. At least, we have no +proof that the ancient nations practiced the art of aerial navigation +to any extent whatever. The attempts which we are about to cite do not +strictly belong to the history of aerostatics. + +Classic mythology tells us of Daedalus, who, escaping with his son +Icarus from the anger of Minos, in the Isle of Crete, saved himself from +the immediate evil by the aid of wings, which he made for himself and +his son, and by means of which they were enabled to fly in the air. The +wings, it appears, were soldered with wax, and Icarus, flying too high, +was struck by a ray of the sun, which melted the wax. The youth fell +into the sea, which from him derived its name of Icarian. It is possible +that this fable only symbolisms the introduction of sails in navigation. + +Coming down through ancient history, we note a certain Archytas, of +Tarentum, who, in the fourth century B. C., is said to have launched +into the air the first "flying stag," and who, according to the Greek +writers, "made a pigeon of wood, which flew, but which could not +raise itself again after having fallen." Its flight, it is said, "was +accomplished by means of a mechanical contrivance, by the vibrations of +which it was sustained in the air." + +In the year 66 A.D., in the time of Nero, Simon, the magician--who +called himself "the mechanician"--made certain experiments at Rome of +flying at a certain height. In the eyes of the early Christians this +power was attributed to the devil, and St. Peter, the namesake of this +flying man, is said to have prayed fervently while Simon was amusing +himself in space. It was possibly in answer to his prayers that the +magician failed in his flight, fell upon the Forum, and broke his neck +on the spot. + +From the summit of the tower of the hippodrome at Constantinople, a +certain Saracen met the same fate as Simon, in the reign of the Emperor +Comnenus. His experiments were conducted on the principle of the +inclined plane. He descended in an oblique course, using the resistance +of the air as a support. His robe, very long and very large, and of +which the flaps were extended on an osier frame, preserved him from +suddenly falling. + +The inclined plane probably suggested to Milton the flight of the angel +Uriel, in "Paradise Lost," who descended in the morning from heaven to +earth upon a ray of the sun, and ascended in the evening from earth to +heaven by the same means. But we cannot quote here the fancies of +pure imagination, and we will not speak of Medeus the magician, of the +enchantress Armida, of the witches of the Brocken, of the hippogriff +of Zephyrus with the rosy wings, or of the diabolical inventions of the +middle ages, for many of which the stake was the only reward. + +Roger Bacon, in the thirteenth century, inaugurated a more scientific +era. In his "Treaty of the Admirable Power of Art and Nature," he puts +forth the idea that it is possible "to make flying-machines in which the +man, being seated or suspended in the middle, might turn some winch or +crank, which would put in motion a suit of wings made to strike the +air like those of a bird." In the same treatise he sketches a +flying-machine, to which that of Blanchard, who lived in the eighteenth +century, bears a certain resemblance. The monk, Roger Bacon, was worthy +of entering the temple of fame before his great namesake the Lord +Chancellor, who in the seventeenth century inaugurated the era of +experimental science. + +Jean Baptiste Dante, a mathematician of Perugia, who lived in the latter +part of the fifteenth century, constructed artificial wings, by means of +which, when applied to thin bodies, men might raise themselves off +the ground into the air. It is recorded that on many occasions he +experimented with his wings on the Lake Thrasymenus. These experiments, +however, had a sad end. At a fete, given for the celebration of the +marriage of Bartholomew d'Alvani, Dante, who must not be confounded with +the poet, whose flights were of quite another kind--offered to exhibit +the wonder of his wings to the people of Perugia. He managed to raise +himself to a great height, and flew above the square; but the iron +with which he moved one of his wings having been bent, he fell upon the +church of the Virgin, and broke his thigh. + +A similar accident befell a learned English Benedictine Oliver of +Malmesbury. This ecclesiastic was considered gifted with the power of +foretelling events; but, like other similarly circumstanced, he does +not seem to have beer able to divine the fate which awaited himself. +He constructed wings after the model of those which according to Ovid, +Daedalus made use of. These he attached to his arms and his feet, and, +thus furnished, he threw himself from the height of a tower. But the +wings bore him up for little more than a distance of 120 paces. He fell +at the foot of the tower, broke his legs, and from that moment led a +languishing life. He consoled himself, however, in his misfortune +by saying that his attempt must certainly have succeeded had he only +provided himself with a tail. + +Before going further, let us take notice that the seventeenth century +is, par excellence, the century distinguished for narratives of +imaginary travels. It was then that astronomy opened up its world of +marvels. The knowledge of observers was vastly increased, and from that +time it became possible to distinguish the surface of the moon and of +other celestial bodies. Thus a new world, as it were, was revealed for +human thought and speculation. We learned that our globe was not, as we +had supposed, the centre of the universe. It was assigned its place far +from that centre, and was known to be no more than a mere atom, lost +amid an incalculable number of other globes. The revelations of the +telescope proved that those who formerly were considered wise actually +knew nothing. Quickly following these discoveries, extraordinary +narratives of excursions through space began to be given to the world. + +Those scientific romances were simply wild exaggerations, based upon the +thinnest foundation of scientific facts. In order, however, to describe +a journey among the stars, it was necessary to invent some mode of +locomotion in these distant regions. In former times Lucian had been +content with a ship which ascended to the rising moon upon a waterspout; +but it was now necessary to improve upon this very primitive mode, as +people began to know something more of the forces of nature. One of the +first of these travellers in imagination to the moon in modern times was +Godwin (1638), and his plan was more ingenious than that of Lucian. He +trained a great number of the wild swans of St. Helena to fly constantly +upward toward a white object, and, having succeeded in thus training +them, one fine night he threw himself off the Peak of Teneriffe, poised +upon a piece of board, which was borne upward to the white moon by a +great team of the gigantic swans. At the end of twelve days he arrived, +according to his story, at his destination. A little later another +writer of this peculiar kind of fiction, Wilkins, an Englishman, +professed to have made the same ascent, borne up by an eagle. Alexandre +Dumas, who recently wrote a short romance upon the same subject, only +made a translation of an English work by that author. Wilkins' work is +entitled, "The Discovery of a New World." One chapter of the book bears +the title, "That 'tis possible for some of our posterity to find out a +conveyance to this other world; and, if there be inhabitants there, to +have commerce with them." It is thus that the right reverend philosopher +reasons:-- + +"If it be here inquired what means there may be conjectured for our +ascending beyond the sphere of the earth's mathematical vigour, I +answer.--1. 'Tis not possible that a man may be able to fly by the +application of wings to his own body, as angels are pictured, as +Mercury and Daedalus are feigned, and as hath been attempted by divers, +particularly by a Turk in Constantinople, a Busbequius relates. 2. If +there be such a great duck in Madagascar as Marcus Polus, the Venetian, +mentions, the feathers of whose wings are twelve feet long, which can +scoop up a horse and his rider, or an elephant, as our kites do a mouse; +why, then, 'Tis but teaching one of these to carry a man, and he may +ride up thither, as Ganymede does upon an eagle. 3. Or if neither of +these ways will serve yet I do seriously, and upon good grounds, affirm +it is possible to make a flying chariot, in which a man may sit and +give such a motion to it as shall convey him through the air. And this, +perhaps, might be made large enough to carry divers men at the same +time, together with food for their viaticum, and commodities for +traffic. It is not the bigness of anything in this kind that can hinder +its motion if the motive faculty be answerable "hereunto. We see that; +great ship swims as well as a small cork, and an eagle flies in the air +as well as a little gnat. This engine may be contrived from the same +principles by which Archytas made a wooden dove, and Regiomontanus +a wooden eagle. I conceive it were no difficult matter (if a man had +leisure) to show more particularly the means of composing it. The +perfecting of such an invention would be of such excellent use that it +were enough, not only to make a man famous but the age wherein he lives. +For, besides the strange discoveries that it might occasion in this +other world, it would be also of inconceivable advantage for travelling, +above any other conveyance that is now in use. So that, notwithstanding +all these seeming impossibilities, it is likely enough that there may be +a means invented of journeying to the moon; and how happy shall they be +that are first successful in this attempt!" + +Afterwards comes Cyrano of Bergerac, who promulgates five different +means of flying in the air. First, by means of phials filled with dew, +which would attract and cause to mount up. Secondly, by a great bird +made of wood, the wings of which should be kept in motion. Thirdly, by +rockets, which, going off successively, would drive up the balloon by +the force of projection. Fourthly, by an octahedron of glass, heated by +the sun, and of which the lower part should be allowed to penetrate the +dense cold air, which, pressing up against the rarefied hot air, would +raise the balloon. Fifthly, by a car of iron and a ball of magnetised +iron, which the aeronaut would keep throwing up in the air, and which +would attract and draw up the balloon. The wiseacre who invented these +modes of flying in the air seems, some would say, to have been more in +want of very strict confinement on the earth than of the freedom of the +skies. + +In 1670 Francis Lana constructed the flying-machine shown on the next +page. The specific lightness of heated air and of hydrogen gas not +having yet been discovered, his only idea for making his globes rise was +to take all the air out of them. But even supposing that the globes were +thus rendered light enough to rise, they must inevitably have collapsed +under the atmospheric pressure. + +As for the idea of making use of a sail to direct the balloon, as one +directs a vessel, that also was a delusion; for the whole machine, +globes and sails, being freely thrown into the air, would infallibly +follow the direction of the wind, whatever that might be. When a ship +lies in the sea, and its sails are inflated with the wind, we must +remember that there are two forces in operation--the active force of +the wind and the passive force of the resistance of the water; and in +working these forces the one against the other, the sailor can turn +within a point of any direction he pleases. But when we are subjected +wholly to a single force, and have no point of support by the use of +which to turn that force to our own purposes, as is the case with the +aeronaut, we are entirely at the mercy of that force, and must obey it. + +After the flying-machine of Lana there was constructed by Galien (who, +like the former, was an ecclesiastic) an air-boat, less chimerical in +its form, looked at in view of the conditions of aerial navigation, +but much more singular. Galien describes his air-boat, in 1755, in his +little work entitled, "The Art of Sailing in the Air." His project was +a most extraordinary one, and its boldness is only equalled by the +seriousness of the narrative. According to him, the atmosphere is +divided into two horizontal layers, the upper of which is much lighter +than the lower. "But," says Galien, "a ship keeps its place in the water +because it is full of air, and air is much lighter than water. Suppose, +then, that there was the same difference of weight between the upper and +the lower layer of air as there is between the lower stratum and water; +and suppose, also, a boat which rested upon the lower layer of air, with +its bulk in the lighter upper layer--like a ship which has its keel in +the water but its bulk in the air--the same thing would happen with the +air-ship as with the water-ship--it would float in the denser layer of +air." + +Galien adds that in the region of hail there was in the air a separation +into two layers, the weights of which respectively are as 1 to 2. +"Then," says he, "in placing an air-boat in the region of hail, with its +sides rising eighty-three fathoms into the upper region, which is much +more light, one could sail perfectly." + +But how to get this enormous air-boat up to the region of hail? This is +a minor detail, respecting which Galien is not clear. + +From the labours of Lana and Galien, with their impossible flying +machines, the inventor of the balloon could derive no benefit whatever; +nor is his fame to be in the least diminished because many had laboured +in the same field before him. Nor can the story of the ovoador, +or flying man, a legend very confused, and of which there are many +versions, have given to Montgolfier any valuable hints. It appears that +a certain Laurent de Guzman, a monk of Rio Janeiro, performed at Lisbon +before the king, John V., raising himself in a balloon to a considerable +height. Other versions of the story give a different date, and assign +the pretended ascent to 1709. The above engraving, extracted from the +"Bibliotheque de la Rue de Richelieu," is an exact copy of Guzman's +supposed balloon. + +In 1678 a mechanician of Salle, in Maine, named Besnier invented a +flying-machine. The machine consisted of four great wings, or paddles, +mounted at the extremities of levers, which rested on the shoulders of +the man who guided it, and who could move them alternately by means of +his hands and feet. The following description of the machine is given in +the Journal de Paris by an eye-witness: + +"The 'wings' are oblong frames, covered with taffeta, and attached to +the ends of two rods, adjusted on the shoulders The wings work up and +down. Those in front are worked by the hands; those behind by the feet, +which are connected with the ends of the rods by strings. The movements +were such that when the right hand made the right wing descend in front, +the left foot made the left wing descend behind; and in like manner +the left hand in front and the right foot behind acted together +simultaneously. This diagonal action appeared very well contrived; it +was the action of most quadrupeds as well as of man when walking; but +the contrivance, like others of the same kind, failed in not being +fitted with gearing to enable the air traveller to proceed in any other +direction than that in which the wind blew him. The inventor first flew +down from a stool, then from a table, afterwards from a window, and +finally from a garret, from which he passed above the houses in the +neighbourhood, and then, moderating the working of his machine, he +descended slowly to the earth." + +Tradition records that under Louis XIV. a certain rope-dancer, named +Alard, announced that on a certain day he would perform the feat of +flying in the air. We have no description of his wings. It is recorded, +however, that he set out on his adventurous flight; but he had not +calculated all the necessities of the case, and, falling to the ground, +he was dangerously hurt. + +Leonardo da Vinci might have known the art of flying in the air, and +might even have practiced it. A statement to this effect, at least, is +found in several historians. We have, however, no direct proof of the +fact. + +The Abbe Deforges, of Etampes, announced in the journals in 1772 that +he would perform the great feat. On the appointed day multitudes of the +curious flocked to Etampes. The abbe's machine was a sort of gondola, +seven feet long and about two feet deep. Gondola conductor, and baggage +weighed in all 213 pounds. The pious man believed that he had provided +against everything. Neither tempest nor rain should mar his flight, +and there was no chance of his being upset; whilst the machine, he had +decided, was to go at the rate of thirty leagues an hour. + +The great day came, and the abbe, entering his air-boat amidst the +applause of the spectators, began to work the wings with which it was +provided with great rapidity. "But," says one who witnessed the feat, +"the more he worked, the more his machine cleaved to the earth, as if it +were part and parcel of it." + +Retif de la Bretonne, in his work upon this subject, gives the +accompanying picture of a flying man, furnished with very artistically +designed wings, fitting exactly to the shoulders, and carrying a basket +of provisions, suspended from his waist; and the frontispiece of the +"Philosophic sans Pretention" is a view of a flying-machine. In the +midst of a frame of light wood sits the operator, steadying himself with +one hand, and with the other fuming a cremaillere, which appears to +give a very quick rotatory movement to two glass globes revolving upon +a vertical axis. The friction of the globes is supposed to develop +electricity to which his power of ascending is ascribed. + +To wings, however, aerial adventurers mostly adhered. The Marquis de +Racqueville flew from a window of his hotel, on the banks of the +Seine, and fell into a boat full of washerwomen on the river. All +these unfortunate attempts were lampooned, burlesqued on the stage, and +pursued with the mockery of the public. + +Up to this time, therefore, the efforts of man to conquer the air had +miscarried. They were conducted on a wrong principle, the machinery +employed being heavier than the air itself But, even before the time +of Montgolfier, the principles of aerostation began to be recognised, +though nothing was actually done in the way of acting upon them. Thus, +in 1767, Professor Black, of Edinburgh, announced in his class that a +vessel, filled with hydrogen, would rise naturally in the air; but +he never made the experiment, regarding the fact as capable of being +employed only for amusement. Finally, Cavallo, in 1782, communicated +to the Royal Society of London the experiments he had made, and which +consisted in filling soap-bubbles with hydrogen. The bubbles rose in the +atmosphere, the gas which filled them being lighter than air. + + + +Chapter III. The Theory of Balloons. + +A certain proposition in physics, known as the "Principle of +Archimedes," runs to the following effect:--"Every body plunged into a +liquid loses a portion of its weight equal to the weight of the fluid +which it displaces." Everybody has verified this principle, and knows +that objects are much lighter in water than out of it; a body plunged +into water being acted upon by two forces--its own weight, which tends +to sink it, and resistance from below, which tends to bear it up. But +this principle applies to gas as well as to liquids--to air as well as +to water. When we weigh a body in the air, we do not find its absolute +weight, but that weight minus the weight of the air which the body +displaces. In order to know the exact weight of an object, it would be +necessary to weigh it in a vacuum. + +If an object thrown into the air is heavier than the air which it +displaces, it descends, and falls upon the earth; if it is of equal +weight, it floats without rising or falling; if it is lighter, it +rises until it comes to a stratum of air of less weight or density than +itself. We all know, of course, that the higher you rise from the earth +the density of the air diminishes. The stratum of air that lies upon the +surface of the earth is the heaviest, because it supports the pressure +of all the other strata that lie above. Thus the lightest strata are the +highest. + +The principle of the construction of balloons is, therefore, in perfect +harmony with physical laws. Balloons are simply globes, made of a light, +air-tight material, filled with hot air or hydrogen gas which rise in +the air because (they are lighter than the air they displace). + +The application of this principle appeared so simple, that at the time +when the news of the invention of the balloon was spread abroad the +astronomer Lalande wrote--"At this news we all cry, 'This must be! Why +did we not think of it before?'" It had been thought of before, as we +have seen in the last chapter, but it is often long after an idea is +conceived that it is practically realised. + +The first balloon, Montgolfier's, was simply filled with hot air; and it +was because Montgolfier exclusively made use of hot air that balloons +so filled were named Montgolfiers. Of course we see at a glance that +hot air is lighter than cold air, because it has become expanded and +occupies more space--that is to say, a volume of hot air contains +actually less air than a volume of the same size of air that has not +been heated. The difference between the weight of the hot air and the +cold which it displaced was greater than the weight of tire covering of +the balloon. Therefore the balloon mounted. + +And, seeing that air diminishes in density the higher we ascend, the +balloon can rise only to that stratum of air of the same density as the +air it contains. As the warm air cools it gently descends. Again, as the +atmosphere is always moving in currents more or less strong, the balloon +follows the direction of the current of the stratum of air in which it +finds itself. + +Thus we see how simply the ascent of Montgolfiers, and their motions, +are explained. It is the same with gas-balloons. A balloon, filled with +hydrogen gas, displaces an equal volume of atmospheric air; but as the +gas is much lighter than the air, it is pushed up by a force equal to +the difference of the density of air and hydrogen gas. The balloon then +rises in the atmosphere to where it reaches layers of air of a density +exactly equal to its own, and when it gets there it remains poised in +its place. In order that it may descend, it is necessary to let out a +portion of the hydrogen gas, and admit an equal quantity of atmospheric +air; and the balloon does not come to the ground till all, or nearly +all, the gas has been expelled and common air taken in. Balloons +inflated with hydrogen gas are almost the only ones in use at the +present day. Scarcely ever is a Montgolfier sent up. There are +aeronauts, however, who prefer a journey in a Montgolfier to one in a +gas-balloon. The air voyager in this description of balloon had formerly +many difficulties to contend with. The quantity of combustible material +which he was bound to carry with him; the very little difference that +there is between the density of heated and of cold air; the necessity +of feeding the fire, and watching it without a moment's cessation, as it +hangs in the rechaud over the middle of the car, rendered this sort of +air travelling subject to many dangers and difficulties. Recently, M. +Eugene Godard has obviated a portion of this difficulty by fitting a +chimney, like that which is found of such incalculable service in the +case of the Davy lamp. It is principally on account of this improvement +that the Montgolfiere has risen so highly in popular esteem. + +Generally it is not pure hydrogen that is made use of in the inflation +of balloons. Aeronauts content themselves with the gas which we burn in +our streets and houses, and thus it suffices, in inflating the balloon, +to obtain from the nearest gas-works the quantity of gas necessary, and +to lead it, by means of a pipe or tube, from the gasometer to the mouth +or neck of the machine. + +The balloon is made of long strips of silk, sewn together, and rendered +air-tight by means of a coating of caoutchouc. A valve is fitted to the +top, and by means of it the aeronaut can descend to the earth at will, +by allowing some quantity of the gas to escape. The car in which he +sits is suspended to the balloon by a network, which covers the whole +structure. Sacks of sand are carried in this car as ballast, so +that, when descending, if the aeronaut sees that he is likely to be +precipitated into the sea or into a lake, he throws over the sand, and +his air-carriage, being thus lightened, mounts again and travels away to +a more desirable resting-place. The idea of the valve, as well as that +of the sand ballast, is due to the physician Charles. They enable the +aeronaut to ascend or descend with facility. When he wishes to mount, +he throws over his ballast; when he wants to come down, he lets the gas +escape by the valve at the roof of the balloon. This valve is worked by +means of a spring, having a long rope attached to it, which hangs down +through the neck to the car, where the aeronaut sits. + +The operation of inflating a balloon with pure hydrogen is represented +in the engraving on the next page. + +Shavings of iron and zinc, water, and sulphuric acid, occupy a number of +casks, which communicate, by means of tubes, with a central cask, which +is open at the bottom, and is plunged in a copper full of water. The gas +is produced by the action of the water and the sulphuric acid upon the +zinc and the iron this is hydrogen mixed with sulphuric acid. In passing +through the central copper, or vat, full of water, the gas throws off +all impurities, and comes, unalloyed with any other matter, into the +balloon by a long tube, leading from the central vats. In order to +facilitate the entrance of the gas into the balloon two long poles +are erected. These are furnished with pulleys, through which a rope, +attached also to a ring at the top of the balloon, passes. By means +of this contrivance the balloon can be at once lightly raised from the +ground, and the gas tubes easily joined to it. When it is half full it +is no longer necessary to suspend the balloon; on the contrary, it has +to be secured, lest it should fly off. A number of men hold it back by +ropes; but as the force of ascension is every moment increasing, the +work of restraining the balloon is most difficult and exciting. At +length, all preparations being complete, the car is suspended, the +aeronaut takes his seat, the words "Let go all!" are shouted, and away +goes the silken globe into space. + +The balloon is never entirely filled, for the atmospheric pressure +diminishing as it ascends, allows the hydrogen gas to dilate, in virtue +of its expansive force, and, unless there is space for this expansion, +the balloon is sure to explode in the air. + +An ordinary balloon, with a lifting power sufficient to carry up three +persons, with necessary ballast and materiel, is about fifty feet high, +thirty-five feet in diameter' and 2,250 cubic feet in capacity. Of such +a balloon, the accessories--the skin, the network, the car--would weigh +about 335 lbs. + +To find out the height at which he has arrived, the aeronaut consults +his barometer. We know that it is the pressure of the air upon the cup +of the barometer that raises the mercury in the tube. The heavier the +air is, the higher is the barometer. At the level of the sea the column +of mercury stands at 32 inches; at 3,250 feet--the air being at this +elevation lighter--the mercury stands at 28 inches; at 6,500 feet above +sea level it stands at 25 inches; at 10,000 feet it falls to 22 inches; +at 20,000 feet to 15 inches. These, however, are merely the theoretic +results, and are subject to some slight variation, according to +locality, &c. + +Sometimes the aeronaut makes his descent by means of the parachute, +a separate and distinct contrivance. If, from any cause, it appears +impracticable to effect a descent from the balloon itself, the parachute +may be of the greatest service to the voyager at the present day it is +chiefly used to astonish the public, by showing them the spectacle of +a man who, from a great elevation in the air, precipitates himself into +space, not to escape dangers which threaten him in his balloon, but +simply to exhibit his courage and skill. Nevertheless, parachutes are +often of great actual use, and aeronauts frequently attach them to their +balloons as a precautionary measure before setting out on an aerial +excursion. + +The shape of a parachute, shown on the previous page, very much +resembles that of the well-known all serviceable umbrella. The strips of +silk of which it is formed are sewn together, and are bound at the top +around a circular piece of wood. A number of cords, stretching away from +this piece of wood, support the car in which the aeronaut is carried. At +the summit is contrived an opening, which permits the air compressed +by the rapidity of the descent to escape without causing damage to the +parachute from the stress to which it is subjected. + +The rapidity of the descent is arrested by the large surface which the +parachute presents to the air. When the aeronaut wishes to descend by +the parachute, all that is required is, after he has slipped down from +the car of the balloon to that of the parachute, to loosen the rope +which binds the latter to the former, which is done by means of a +pulley. In an instant the aeronaut is launched into space with a +rapidity in comparison with which the wild flights of the balloon are +but gentle oscillations. But in a few moments, the air rushing into +the folds of the parachute, forces them open like an umbrella, and +immediately, owing to the wide surface which this contrivance presents +to the atmosphere, the violence of the descent is arrested, and the +aeronaut falls gently to the ground, without receiving too rude a shock. + +The virtues of the parachute were first tried upon animals. Thus, +Blanchard allowed his dog to fall in one from a height of 6,500 feet. +A gust of wind caught the falling parachute, and swept it away up above +the clouds. Afterwards, the aeronaut in his balloon fell in with the dog +in the parachute, both of them high up in the cloudy reaches of the +sky, and the poor animal manifested by his barking his joy at seeing his +master. A new current separated the aerial voyagers, but the parachute, +with its canine passenger, reached the ground safely a short time after +Blanchard had landed from his balloon. + +Experience has proved that, in the case of a descending parachute, if +the rapidity of the descent is doubled the resistance of the air is +quadrupled; if the rapidity is triple the resistance is increased +ninefold; or, to speak in language of science, the resistance of the air +is increased by the square of the swiftness of the body in motion. This +resistance increases in proportion as the parachute spreads, and thus +the uniformity of its fall is established a minute after it has been +disengaged from the balloon. We can, therefore, check the descent of a +body by giving it a surface capable of distension by the action of the +air. + +Garnerin, in the year 1802, conceived the bold design of letting himself +fall from a height of 1,200 feet, and he accomplished the exploit before +the Parisians. When he had reached the height he had fixed beforehand, +he cut the rope which connected the parachute with the balloon. At first +the fall was terribly rapid; but as soon as the parachute spread out +the rapidity was considerably diminished. The machine made, however, +enormous oscillations. The air, gathering end compressed under it, would +sometimes escape by one side sometimes by the other, thus shaking and +whirling the parachute about with a violence which, however great, had +happily no unfortunate effect. + +The origin of the parachute is more remote than is generally supposed, +as there was a figure of one which appeared among a collection of +machines at Venice, in 1617. + +Another species of parachute, less perfect, to be sure; than that of +Garnerin, but still a practical machine, was described 189 years before +the great aeronaut's feat at Paris. We read in the narrative of the +ambassador of Louis XIV at Siam, at the end of the seventeenth century, +the following passage--"A mountebank at the court of the King of Siam +climbed to the top of a high bamboo-tree, and threw himself into the air +without any other support than two parasols. Thus equipped, he abandoned +himself to the winds, which carried him, as by chance, sometimes to +the earth, sometimes on trees or houses, and sometimes into the river, +without any harm happening to him." + +Is not this the idea of our parachutes? + + + +Chapter IV. First Public Trial of the Balloon. + +(Montgolfier's Balloon Annonay, 5th of June of 1783.) + +We are accustomed to rank the brothers Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier +as equally distinguished in the field of science. The reason for thus +associating these two names seems to have been the fraternal friendship +which subsisted in an extraordinary degree in the Montgolfier family, +rather than any equality of claim which they had to the notice of +posterity. After special investigation, we find that Joseph Montgolfier +was very superior to his brother, and that it is to him principally, if +not exclusively, that we owe the invention of aerostation. Nevertheless, +we shall not insist upon this fact; and seeing that a sacred amity +always cemented a perfect union in the Montgolfier family, we will +regard that union as unbroken in any sense, and will not insinuate that +the brother of Montgolfier was undeserving of the honoured rank which in +his lifetime he held. + +In 1783, the sons of Pierre Montgolfier, a rich papermaker at Annonay +department of Ardeche, were already in the prime of life, and it is +related of them that their principal occupation was experimenting in the +physical sciences. Joseph Montgolfier, after being convinced by a number +of minor experiments made in 1782 and 1783, that a heat of 180 degrees +rarefied the air and made it occupy a space of TWICE the extent it +occupied before being heated--or, in other words, that this degree of +heat diminished the weight of air by one half--began to speculate on +what might be the shape and the material of a structure which being +filled with air thus heated, would be able to raise itself from the +earth in spite of the weight of its own covering. + +His first balloon was a small parallelopiped in very thin taffeta, +containing less than seventy-eight cubic inches of air. He made it rise +to the roof of his apartment in November, 1782--at Avignon, where he +then happened to be. Having returned some little time after to Annonay, +Joseph and his brother performed the same experiment, together in the +open air with perfect success. Certain, then, of the new principle, they +made a balloon of considerable size, containing upwards of sixty-five +feet of heated air. + +This machine likewise rose, tore away the cords by which it was at first +held down, and mounting in the air to the height of from two to three +hundred feet, fell upon the neighbouring hills after a considerable +flight. The brothers Montgolfier then made a very large and strong +balloon, with which they wished to bring their discovery before the +public. + +The appointed day was the 5th of June, 1783 and the nobility of the +vicinity were invited to be present at the experiment. Faujas de +Saint Fond, author of "La Description des Experiences de la Machine +Aerostatique," published the same year, gives the following account of +it:-- + +"What," says Saint Fond, "was the general astonishment when the +inventors of the machine announced that immediately it should be full +of gas, which they had the means of producing at will by the most simple +process, it would raise itself to the clouds. It must be granted that, +in spite of the confidence in the ingenuity and experience of the +Montgolfiers, this feat seemed so incredible to those who came to +witness it, that the persons who knew most about it--who were, at the +same time, the most favourably predisposed in its favour--doubted of its +success. + +"At last the brothers Montgolfier commenced their work. They first +of all began to make the smoke necessary for their experiment. The +machine--which at first seemed only a covering of cloth, lined with +paper, a sort of sack thirty-five feet high--became inflated, and grew +large even under the eyes of the spectator, took consistence, assumed a +beautiful form, stretched itself on all sides, and struggled to escape. +Meanwhile, strong arms were holding it down until the signal was given, +when it loosened itself, and with a rush rose to the height of 1,000 +fathoms in less than ten minutes." It then described a horizontal line +of 7,200 feet, and as it had lost a considerable amount of gas, it began +to descend quietly. It reached the ground in safety; and this first +attempt, crowned with such decisive success, secured for ever to +the brothers Montgolfier the glory of one of the most astonishing +discoveries. + +"When we reflect for a moment upon the numberless difficulties which +such a bold attempt entailed, upon the bitter criticism to which it +would have exposed its projectors had it failed through any accident, +and upon the sums that must have been spent in carrying it out, we +cannot withhold the highest admiration for the men who conceived the +idea and carried it out to such a successful issue." + +Etienne Montgolfier has left us a description of this first balloon. +"The aerostatic machine," he says, "was constructed of cloth lined with +paper, fastened together on a network of strings fixed to the cloth. +It was spherical; its circumference was 110 feet, and a wooden frame +sixteen feet square held it fixed at the bottom. Its contents were about +22,000 cubic feet, and it accordingly displaced a volume of air weighing +1,980 1bs. The weight of the gas was nearly half the weight of the air, +for it weighed 990 lbs., and the machine itself, with the frame, weighed +500: it was, therefore, impelled upwards with the force of 490 lbs. Two +men sufficed to raise it and to fill it with gas, but it took eight +to hold it down till the signal was given. The different pieces of +the covering were fastened together with buttons and button-holes. +It remained ten minutes in the air, but the loss of gas by the +button-holes, and by other imperfections, did not permit it to continue +longer. The wind at the moment of the ascent was from the north. The +machine came down so lightly that no part of it was broken." + + + +Chapter V. Second Experiment. + +(Charles's Balloon, Paris, Champ de Mars, 27th of August, 1783.) + +The indescribable enthusiasm caused by the ascent of the first balloon +at Annonay, spread in all directions, and excited the wondering +curiosity of the savants of the capital. An official report had been +prepared, and sent to the Academy of Sciences in Paris, and the result +was that the Academy named a commission of inquiry. But fame, more rapid +than scientific commissions, and more enthusiastic than academies, +had, at a single flight, passed from Annonay to Paris, and kindled the +anxious ardour of the lovers of science in that city. The great desire +was to rival Montgolfier, although neither the report nor the +letters from Annonay had made mention of the kind of gas used by that +experimenter to inflate his balloon. By one of the frequent coincidences +in the history of the sciences, hydrogen gas had been discovered six +years previously by the great English physician Cavendish, and it had +hardly even been tested in the laboratories of the chemists when it all +at once became famous. A young man well versed in physics, Professor +Charles, assisted by two practical men, the brothers Robert, threw +himself ardently into the investigation of the modes of inflating +balloons with this gas, which was then called INFLAMMABLE AIR. Guessing +that it was much lighter than that which Montgolfier had been obliged to +make use of in his third-rate provincial town, Charles leagued himself +with his two assistants to constrict a balloon of taffeta, twelve feet +in diameter, covered with india-rubber, and to inflate it with hydrogen. + +The thing thus arranged, a subscription was opened. The projected +experiment having been talked of all over Paris, every one was struck +with the idea, and subscriptions poured in. Even the most illustrious +names are to be found in the list, which may be called the first +national subscription in France. Nothing had been written of the +forthcoming event in any public paper, yet all Paris seemed to flock to +contribute to the curious experiment. + +The inflation with hydrogen was effected in a very curious manner. As +much as 1,125 lbs. of iron and 560 lbs. of sulphuric acid were found +necessary to inflate a balloon which had scarcely a lifting power of +22 lbs., and the process of filling took no less than four hours. At +length, however, at the end of the fourth hour, the balloon, composed of +strips of silk, coated with varnish, floated, two-thirds full, from the +workshop of the brothers Robert. + +On the morning of the 26th of August, the day before the ascent was +to be made, the balloon was visited at daybreak, and found to be in +a promising state. At two o'clock on the following morning its +constructors began to make preparations to transport it to the Champ +de Mars, from which place it was to be let loose. Skilled workmen were +employed in its removal, and every precaution was taken that the gas +with which it was charged should not be allowed to escape. In the +meantime the excitement of the people about this wonderful structure +was rising to the highest pitch. The wagon on which it was placed +for removal was surrounded on all sides by eager multitudes, and the +night-patrols, both of horse and foot, which were set to guard the +avenues leading to where it lay, were quite unable to stem the tide of +human beings that poured along to get a glimpse of it. + +The conveyance of the balloon to the Champ de Mars was a most singular +spectacle. A vanguard, with lighted torches, preceded it; it was +surrounded by special attendants, and was followed by detachments of +night-patrols on foot and mounted. The size and shape of this structure, +which was escorted with such pomp and precaution--the silence that +prevailed--the unearthly hour, all helped to give an air of mystery +to the proceedings. At last, having passed through the principal +thoroughfares, it arrived at the Champ de Mars, where it was placed in +an enclosure prepared for its reception. + +When the dawn came, and the balloon had been fixed in its place by +cords, attached around its middle and fixed to iron rings planted in the +earth, the final process of inflation began. + +The Champ de Mars was guarded by troops, and the avenues were also +guarded on all sides. As the day wore on an immense crowd covered the +open space, and every advantageous spot in the neighborhood was crowded +with people. At five o'clock the report of a cannon announced to the +multitudes, and to scientific men who were posted on elevations to make +observations of the great event, that the grand moment had come. The +cords were withdrawn, and, to the vast delight and wonder of the crowd +assembled, the balloon shot up with such rapidity that in two minutes it +had ascended 488 fathoms. At this height it was lost in a cloud for an +instant, and, reappearing, rose to a great height, and was again lost +in higher clouds. The ascent was a splendid success. The rain that fell +damped neither the balloon nor the ardor of the spectators. + +This balloon was 12 feet in diameter, 38 feet in circumference, and had +a capacity of 943 cubic feet. The weight of the materials of which it +was constructed was 25 lbs., and the force of ascension was that of 35 +lbs. + +The fall of the balloon was caused by the expansion and consequent +explosion of the hydrogen gas. This event took place some distance out +in the country, close to a number of peasants, whose terror at the +sight and the sound of this strange monster from the skies was beyond +description. The people assembled, and two monks having told them that +the burst balloon was the hide of a monstrous animal, they immediately +began to assail it vigorously with stones, flails, and pitchforks. The +cure of the parish was obliged to walk up to the balloon to reassure his +terrified flock. They finally attached the burst envelope to a horse's +tail, and dragged it far across the fields. + +Many drawings and engravings of the period represent the peasants armed +with pitchforks, flails, and scythes, assailing it, a dog snapping at +it, a garde-champetre firing at it, a fat priest preaching at it, and a +troop of young people throwing stones at the unfortunate machine. + +The news of this fiasco came to Paris, but too late. When search was +made for the covering, scarcely a fragment could be found. + +A somewhat humorous result of all this was the issue of a communication +from government to the people, entitled, "Warning to the People on +kidnapping Air-balloons." This document, duly signed and approved of, +describes the ascents at Annonay and at Paris, explains the nature and +the causes of the phenomena, and warns the people not to be alarmed when +they see something like a "black moon" in the sky, nor to give way to +fear, as the seeming monster is nothing more than a bag of silk filled +with gas. + +This first ascent in Paris was an important event. Every one, from the +smallest to the greatest, was deeply interested in it, while to the man +of science it was one of the most exciting of incidents. For the purpose +of observing the altitude to which the balloon rose, and the course it +took, Le Gentil was on the observatory, Prevost was on one of the towers +of Notre Dame, Jeaurat was on La Place Louis XV., and d'Agelet was on +the Champ de Mars. It was only Lalande that frowned as he witnessed +the success of the experiment. He had predicted the year before that +air-navigation was impossible. + + + +Chapter VI. Third Experiment. + +(Montgolfier's Balloon, Paris, Faubourg St. Antoine.) + +As we have seen, the triumph of aerostation was sudden and complete. The +young Montgolfier had arrived in Paris prior to the experiment of the +27th of August, and was present as a simple spectator on that occasion. +immediately afterwards he set to work upon a balloon, which was to +be made use of when the Academy should investigate the phenomenon at +Versailles in presence of the king, Louis XVI. + +It was at this time (September, 1783) that those small balloons, made +of gold-beaters' skin, which are used as children's toys to the present +day, were first made. The whole of Paris amused itself with them, +repeating in little the phenomenon of the great ascent. The sky of the +capital found itself all at once traversed by a multitude of small rosy +clouds, formed by the hand of man. + +Faujas de Saint Fond says that at first an attempt was made to construct +balloons of fine, light paper; but this material being permeable, and +the gas being inflammable, balloons thus made did not succeed. It +was necessary to seek a material less porous, and, if possible, still +lighter. + +The Journal de Paris, of the 11th of September, 1783, informed the +public that the Baron de Beaumanoir, "who cultivated the sciences and +the fine arts with as much success as zeal," would send up a balloon +eighteen inches in diameter. At noon of the same day he made this +experiment in presence of a numerous assembly in the garden in front of +the Hotel de Surgeres.. The little balloon mounted freely, but was held +in, like a kite, by means of a silk thread. In the course of the same +afternoon, the baron took down the balloon and filled it anew with +hydrogen, and then let it off. The spectators had the pleasure of seeing +it rise to a great height, and pass away in the direction of Neuilly, +and it is said to have been found at a distance of several leagues, by +peasants. + +However trifling this experiment may appear at first sight, it added +a new fact to the science of aerostation. The material employed by +the baron was lighter and better than paper. It was what is called +gold-beaters' skin. This skin is simply the interior lining of the +large bowel of the ox. It is carefully prepared, is relieved of the fat, +stringy and uneven parts, is dried, and is afterwards softened. Little +balloons of this material came to be the fashion, and they are still +frequently seen. + +At the same time, Montgolfier was busy constructing, at the request +of the Academy of Sciences, a balloon seventy feet high and forty +in diameter, with which it was proposed to repeat the experiment of +Annonay. He took up his quarters in the magnificent gardens of his +friend Reveillon, proprietor of the royal manufactory of stained paper +in the Faubourg St. Antoine. The new balloon was of a very singular +shape: the upper part represented a prism, twenty-four feet high the top +was a pyramid of the same height; the lower part was a truncated cone, +twenty feet in depth. It was made of packing-cloth, lined with good +paper, both inside and out. + +The gossipping and prolix Faujas de Saint Fond thus describes this +machine:--"It was painted blue, represented a sort of tent, and was +richly ornamented with gold Its height was seventy feet; its weight +1,000 lbs.; the air which it displaced was 4,500 lbs. in volume, and the +vapor with which it was filled was half the weight of ordinary air. The +approach of the equinox having brought rain, all the conditions under +which this balloon was constructed and exhibited were unfavourable. The +structure was so large that it was impossible to get it together +and stitch it, except in the open air--in the garden, in fact, where +Montgolfier commenced its construction. It was a great labour to turn +and fold this heavy covering, while the liability of the thick paper +to crack was an additional difficulty. Not less than twenty men were +required to move it, and they were obliged to use all their skill, and +every precaution, not to destroy it. No balloon had ever given so much +trouble. On the 11th of September the weather improved, and the balloon +was entirely completed and prepared for the first experiment. In the +evening the attempt was made. It was with admiration that the beholders +saw the beautiful machine filling itself in the short space of nine +minutes, swelling out on all sides and showing the full symmetry of its +artistic form. It was firmly held in hand, or it would have risen to a +great height. On the following day the actual ascent was to take place, +and the commissioners of the Academy of Sciences were invited to be +present. In the morning thick clouds covered the horizon, and a tempest +was expected; but as there was an ardent desire that the ascent should +take place without delay, and as all the gearing was in order, it was +resolved to proceed. + +"Fifty pounds of dry straw were fired in parcels under the balloon, and +upon the fire were thrown at intervals several pounds of wool. This fuel +produced in ten minutes such a volume of smoke that the huge balloon was +speedily filled. It rose, with a weight of 500 lbs. holding it down, to +some height above the ground, and had the ropes by which it was attached +to the ground been cut, it would have mounted to a great height. +Meantime the storm broke, rain descended, and the wind blew with great +force. The most likely means of saving the balloon was to let it fly +but as it was to ascend again on another occasion, at Versailles, the +greatest efforts were made to bring it down, and these, together with +the damage caused by the storm, eventually rent it into numberless +fragments and tatters. It withstood the storm for twenty-four hours; +then, however, the paper came peeling off, and this beautiful structure +was a wreck." + + + +Chapter VII. Fourth Experiment. + +(Versailles, 19th September, 1783, in presence of Louis of XVI.) + +Of course another balloon was wanted for the fete at Versailles. The +king had demanded an ascent for the 19th, a week after the disaster at +the Faubourg St. Antoine. Already the possibility of a man going up with +the balloon was discussed, and people indulged in visions of splendid +aerial trips; but the king would not hear of the proposal. Balloons were +novelties, not offering sufficient security, and he was unwilling that +any of his subjects should risk their lives in attempting the unknown. +He consented, however, to a proposal that animals might be sent up in +the first instance, by way of experiment, suspended in an osier cage +attached to the neck of the balloon. + +Montgolfier at once began a new balloon. A few days only were at his +disposal; but, assisted by friends, he worked with such ardour +and success that he was able, on the date appointed, to produce +a magnificent spherical balloon, much stronger than the former, +constructed of good strong cotton cloth, and painted in distemper. + +It is proper here to remark that the first balloons were much more +elegant in appearance than those afterwards made. The coloured prints +and engravings of the period enable us to form an opinion of the +splendour of their ornamentation and the beauty of their design. +Sometimes the figures painted upon them represented scenes from +the heathen mythology, and sometimes historical scenes; while rich +embroideries, royal insignia, and gaily-coloured draperies added much +to the general effect. The Versailles balloon was painted blue, with +ornaments of gold, and it presented the form of a richly decorated tent. +It was fifty-seven feet in height, and sixty-seven in diameter. + +It was first tried at Paris, and succeeded perfectly. On the morning of +the 19th it was carried to Versailles, where due preparation had been +made for its reception In the great court of the castle a sort of +theatre had been temporarily erected with a scaffolding, covered +throughout with tapestry In the middle was an opening more than fifteen +feet in diameter, in which was spread a banquet for those who had +constructed the balloon. A numerous guard formed a double cordon around +the structure. A raised platform was used for the fire by means of which +the balloon was to be inflated; a covered funnel or chimney of strong +cloth, painted, was suspended over the fire-place, and received the hot +smoke as it arose. Through this funnel the heated air ascended straight +up into the balloon. + +At six in the morning, the road from Paris to Versailles was covered +with carriages. Crowds came from all parts, and at noon the avenues, +the square of the castle, the windows, and even the roofs of the houses, +were crowded with spectators. The noblest, the most illustrious, and +most learned men in France were present, and the splendour of the scene +was complete when their majesties and the royal family entered within +the enclosure, and went forward to inspect the balloon, and to make +themselves familiar with the preparations for the ascent. + +In a short time the fire was lit, the funnel extended over it, and the +smoke rose inside, while the balloon, unfolding, gradually swelled to +its full size, and then, drawing after it the cage, in which a sheep +and some pigeons were enclosed, rose majestically into the air. Without +interreruption, it ascended to a vast height, where, inclining toward +the north, it seemed to remain stationary for a few seconds, showing +all the beauty of its form, and then, as though possessed of life, it +descended gently upon the wood of Vaucresson, 10,200 feet from the point +of its departure. Its highest elevation, as estimated by the astronomers +Le Gentil and M. Jeaurat, Jeaurat, was about 1,700 feet. + + + +Chapter VIII. Men and Balloons. + +It is not natural that the human mind should stop upon the way to the +solution of a problem, especially when it seems to be on the point of +arriving at a satisfactory conclusion to its labours. The osier cage +of Versailles very soon transformed itself into a car, bearing human +passengers, and the age of the "Thousand and One Nights" was expected +to come back again. It was resolved to continue experiments, with the +direct object of finding out whether it was impossible or desperately +dangerous for man to travel in balloons. Montgolfier returned from +Versailles, and constructed a new machine in the gardens of the Faubourg +St. Antoine. It was completed on the 10th of October Its form was oval, +its height 70 feet, its diameter 46 feet and its capacity 60,000 cubic +feet. The upper part, embroidered with fleurs-de-lis, was further +ornamented with the twelve signs of the zodiac, worked in gold. The +middle part bore the monogram of the king, alternating with figures of +the sun, while the lower part was garnished with masks, garlands, and +spread eagles. A circular gallery made of osiers and festooned with +draperies and other ornaments, was attached by a set of cords to the +bottom of the structure. The gallery was three feet wide, and was +protected by a parapet over three feet in height. It did not in any way +interfere with the opening at the neck of the balloon, under which +was suspended a grating of iron wire upon which the occupants of the +gallery, who were to be provided with dried straw and wool, could in +a few minutes kindle a fire and create fresh smoke, when that in the +balloon began to be exhausted. The machine weighed, in all, 1,600 lbs. +The public had previously been warned, in the Journal de Paris de Paris, +that the approaching experiments were to be of a strictly scientific +character; and as they would be only interesting to savants, they would +not afford amusement for the merely curious. This announcement was +necessary, to abate in some degree the excitement of the people until +some satisfactory results should be obtained; it was also necessary for +those engaged in the work, whose firmness of nerve might have suffered +from the enthusiastic cries of excited spectators. On Wednesday, the +15th of October, Pilatre des Roziers, who had on other occasions given +proofs of his intelligence and courage in performing dangerous feats, +and who had already signalised himself in connection with balloons, +offered to go up in the new machine. His offer was accepted; the balloon +was inflated; stout ropes, more than eighty feet long, were attached +to it, and it rose from the ground to the height to which this tackle +allowed it. At this elevation it remained four minutes twenty-five +seconds; and it is not surprising to hear that Roziers suffered no +inconvenience from the ascent. What was really the interesting thing in +this experiment was, that it showed how a balloon would fall when the +hot air became exhausted, this being the point which caused the greatest +amount of disquietude among men of science. In this instance the balloon +fell gently; its form distended at the same time, and, after touching +the ground, it rose again a foot or two, when its human passenger had +jumped out. + +On Friday, the 17th of October, this experiment was repeated, and the +excitement of the public on this occasion was unbounded. "All the world" +came to see. Roziers was again lifted up in the balloon, to the height +of eighty feet; but so strong was the wind, and the strain on the ropes +was so great, that the balloon was somewhat unsteady, and the exhibition +was not on the whole such a splendid success as that of the preceding +Wednesday. + +On Sunday, Montgolfier chose a fine day for the following +ascents:--"First Ascent: On the 19th of October, 1783, at half-past +four, in presence of two thousand spectators, 'the machine' was filled +with gas in five minutes, and Roziers, being placed in the gallery with +a counterbalancing weight of 110 lbs. in the other side of the gallery, +was carried up to the height of 200 feet. The machine remained six +minutes at this elevation without any fire in the grating. Second +Ascent: The machine carried Roziers and the counterbalancing +weight--fire being in the grating--to the height of 700 feet. At this +height it remained stationary eight and a half minutes As it was drawn +back, a wind from the east bore it against a tuft of very tall trees in +a neighbouring garden, where it got entangled, without, however, losing +its equilibrium. The gas was renewed by Roziers, and the balloon +again rising, extricated itself from among the branches, and soared +majestically into the air, followed by the acclamations of the public. +This second ascent was very instructive, for it had been often asserted +that if ever a balloon fell upon a forest it would be destroyed, and +would place those who travelled in it in the greatest peril. This +experiment proved that the balloon does not FALL it DESCENDS; that it +does not overturn; that it does not destroy itself on trees; that it +neither causes death, nor even damage, to its passengers; that, on the +contrary, the latter, by making new gas, give it the power of detaching +itself from the trees; and that it can resume its course after such an +event. The intrepid Roziers gave in this ascent a further proof of the +facility he had in descending and ascending at will. When the machine +had risen to the height of 200 feet it began to descend lightly, and +just before it came to the earth the aeronaut very cleverly and quickly +threw on more fuel and produced more smoke, at which the balloon, to +the astonishment of every one, suddenly soared away again to its +former elevation. Third Ascent: The balloon rose again with Roziers, +accompanied this time by another aeronaut, Gerond de Villette; and as +the cords had been lengthened, the adventurers were carried up to the +height of 324 feet. At this elevation the balloon rested in perfect +equilibrium for nine minutes. It was the first time that human beings +had ever been carried to an equal elevation, and the spectators were +astonished to find that they could remain there without danger and +without alarm. The balloon had a superb effect at this elevation; it +looked down upon the whole town, and was seen from all the suburbs. Its +size seemed hardly diminished in the least, though the men themselves +were barely visible. By the aid of glasses, Roziers could be seen calmly +and industriously making new gas. When the balloon descended the two men +declared that they had not experienced the slightest inconvenience from +the elevation. They received the universal applause which their zeal and +courage so well deserved. The Marquis d'Arlandes, a major of infantry, +afterwards went up with Roziers, and this latter experiment was as +successful as the former." + +Some days after these experiments the conductors of the Journal de Paris +who described them, received a letter from Montgolfier, and also one +from Gerond de Villette. The latter only is of interest here. Gerond +de Villette says: "I found myself in the space of a quarter of a minute +raised 400 feet above the surface of the earth. Here we remained six +minutes. My first employment was to watch with admiration my intelligent +companion. His intelligence, his courage and agility in attending to the +fire, enchanted me. Turning round, I could behold the Boulevards, from +the gate of St. Antoine to that of St. Martin, all covered with people, +who seemed to me a flat band of flowers of various colours. Glancing at +the distance, I beheld the summit of Montmartre, which seemed to me much +below our level. I could easily distinguish Neuilly, St. Cloud, Sevres, +Issy, Ivry, Charenton, and Choisy. At once I was convinced that this +machine, though a somewhat expensive one, might be very useful in war +to enable one to discover the position of the enemy, his manoeuvres, +and his marches; and to announce these by signals to one's own army. 1 +believe that at sea it is equally possible to make use of this machine. +These prove the usefulness of the balloon, which time will perfect +for us. All that I regret is that I did not provide myself with a +telescope." + + + +Chapter IX. The First Aerial Voyage--Roziers and Arlandes. + + These experiments had only one aim--the application of + Montgolfier's discovery to aerial navigation. The knowledge + gained in the Faubourg St. Antoine having led to the most + favourable conclusions, it was resolved that a first aerial + voyage should be attempted. + +"If," says Linguet, "there existed an autograph journal, written by +Columbus, descriptive of his first great voyage with what jealous care +it would be preserved, with what confidence it would be quoted! We +should delight to follow the candid account which he gave of his +thoughts, his hopes, his fears; of the complaints of his followers, of +his attempts to calm them, and, finally, of his joy in the moment +which, ratifying his word and justifying his boldness, declared him the +discoverer of a new world All these details have been transmitted to us, +but by stranger hands; and, however interesting they may be, one cannot +help feeling that this circumstance makes them lose part of their +value." + +The narrative of the first aerial voyage, written by one of the two +first aeronauts, exists, and we are in a position to place it before our +readers. Such an enterprise certainly demanded great courage in him who +was the first to dare to confide himself to the unknown currents of the +atmosphere It threatened him with dangers, perhaps with death by a fill, +by fire, by cold, or by straying into the mysterious cloud-land. Two men +opposed the first attempt. Montgolfier temporised, the king forbade it, +or rather only gave his permission on the condition that two condemned +criminals should be placed in the balloon! "What!" cried Roziers, in +indignation at the king's proposal, "allow two vile criminals to have +the first glory of rising into the sky! No, no; that will never do!" +Roziers conjured, supplicated, agitated in a hundred ways for permission +to try the first voyage. He moved the town and the court; he addressed +himself to those who were most in favour at Versailles; he pleaded with +the Duchess de Polignac, who was all-powerful with the king. She +warmly supported his cause before Louis. Roziers dispatched the Marquis +d'Arlandes, who had been up with him, to the king. Arlandes asserted +that there was no danger, and, as proof of his conviction, he offered +himself to accompany Roziers. Solicited on all sides, Louis at last +yielded. + +The gardens of La Muette, near Paris, were fixed upon as the spot from +which this aerial expedition should start. The Dauphin and his suite +were present on the occasion. It was on the 21st of October, 1783, at +one o'clock p.m., that Roziers and Irelands took their leave of the +earth for the first time. The following is Arlandes' narrative of the +expedition, given in the form of a letter, addressed by the marquis to +Faujas de Saint Fond:--"You wish, my dear Faujas, and I consent most +willingly to your desires, that, owing to the number of questions +continually addressed to me, and for other reasons, I should gratify +public curiosity and fix public opinion upon the subject of our aerial +voyage. + +"I wish to describe as well as I can the first journey which men have +attempted through an element which, prior to the discovery of MM. +Montgolfier, seemed so little fitted to support them. + +"We went up on the 21st of October, 1783, at near two o'clock, M. +Roziers on the west side of the balloon, I on the east. The wind was +nearly north-west. The machine, say the public, rose with majesty; but +really the position of the balloon altered so that M. Roziers was in the +advance of our position, I in the rear. + +"I was surprised at the silence and the absence of movement which +our departure caused among the spectators, and believed them to be +astonished and perhaps awed at the strange spectacle; they might well +have reassured themselves I was still gazing, when M. Roziers cried to +me-- + +"'You are doing nothing, and the balloon is scarcely rising a fathom.' + +"'Pardon me,' I answered, as I placed a bundle of straw upon the fire +and slightly stirred it. Then I turned quickly, but already we had +passed out of sight of La Muette. Astonished, I cast a glance towards +the river. I perceived the confluence of the Oise. And naming the +principal bends of the river by the places nearest them, I cried, +'Passy, St. Germain, St. Denis, Sevres!' + +"'If you look at the river in that fashion you will be likely to bathe +in it soon,' cried Roziers. 'Some fire, my dear friend, some fire!' + +"We travelled on; but instead of crossing the river, as our direction +seemed to indicate, we bore towards the Invalides, then returned upon +the principal bed of the river, and travelled to above the barrier of La +Conference, thus dodging about the river, but not crossing it. + +"'That river is very difficult to cross,' I remarked to my companion. + +"'So it seems,' he answered; 'but you are doing nothing I suppose it is +because you are braver than I, and don't fear a tumble.' + +"I stirred the fire, I seized a truss of straw with my fork; I raised +it and threw it in the midst of the flames. An instant afterwards I felt +myself lifted as it were into the heavens. + +"'For once we move,' said I. + +"'Yes, we move,' answered my companion. + +"At the same instant I heard from the top of the balloon a sound which +made me believe that it had burst. I watched, yet I saw nothing. +My companion had gone into the interior, no doubt to make some +observations. As my eyes were fixed on the top of the machine I +experienced a shock, and it was the only one I had yet felt. The +direction of the movement was from above downwards I then said-- + +"'What are you doing? Are you having a dance to yourself?' + +"'I'm not moving.' + +"'So much the better. It is only a new current which I hope will carry +us from the river,' I answered. + +"I turned to see where we were, and found we were between the Ecole +Militaire and the Invalides. + +"'We are getting on.' said Roziers. + +"'Yes, we are travelling.' + +"'Let us work, let us work,' said he. + +"I now heard another report in the machine, which I believed was +produced by the cracking of a cord. This new intimation made me +carefully examine the inside of our habitation. I saw that the part that +was turned towards the south was full of holes, of which some were of a +considerable size. + +"'It must descend,' I then cried. + +"'Why?' + +"'Look!' I said. At the same time I took my sponge and quietly +extinguished the little fire that was burning some of the holes within +my reach; but at the same moment I perceived that the bottom of the +cloth was coming away from the circle which surrounded it. + +"'We must descend,' I repeated to my companion. + +"He looked below. + +"'We are upon Paris,' he said. + +"'It does not matter,' I answered 'Only look! Is there no danger? Are +you holding on well?' + +"'Yes.' + +"I examined from my side, and saw that we had nothing to fear. I then +tried with my sponge the ropes which were within my reach. All of them +held firm. Only two of the cords had broken. + +"I then said, 'We can cross Paris.' + +"During this operation we were rapidly getting down to the roofs. We +made more fire, and rose again with the greatest ease. I looked down, +and it seemed to me we were going towards the towers of St. Sulpice; +but, on rising, a new current made us quit this direction and bear more +to the south. I looked to the left, and beheld a wood, which I believed +to be that of Luxembourg. We were traversing the boulevard, and I cried +all at once-- + +"'Get to ground!' + +"But the intrepid Roziers, who never lost his head, and who judged more +surely than I, prevented me from attempting to descend. I then threw a +bundle of straw on the fire. We rose again, and another current bore us +to were now close to the ground, between two mills. As soon to the +left. We as we came near the earth I raised myself over the gallery, +and leaning there with my two hands, I felt the balloon pressing softly +against my head. I pushed it back, and leaped down to the ground. +Looking round and expecting to see the balloon still distended, I was +astonished to find it quite empty and flattened. On looking for Roziers +I saw him in his shirt-sleeves creeping out from under the mass of +canvas that had fallen over him. Before attempting to descend he had +put off his coat and placed it in the basket. After a deal of trouble we +were at last all right. + +"As Roziers was without a coat I besought him to go to the nearest +house. On his way thither he encountered the Duke of Chartres, who +had followed us, as we saw, very closely, for I had had the honour of +conversing with him the moment before we set out." + +The following report of this first aerial voyage was drawn up by +scientific observers, among other signatures to it being that of +Benjamin Franklin. + +"Today 21st of October, 1783, at the Chateau de la Muette, an experiment +was made with the aerostatic machine of M. Montgolfier. The sky was +clouded in many parts, clear in others--the wind north-west. At mid-day +a signal was given, which announced that the balloon was being filled. +Soon after, in spite of the wind, it was inflated in all its parts, and +the ascent was made. The Marquis d'Arlandes and M. Pilatre des Roziers +were in the gallery. The first intention was to raise the machine and +pull it back with ropes, to test it, to find out the exact weight which +it could carry, and to see if everything was properly arranged before +the actual ascent was attempted. But the machine, driven by the wind, +far from rising vertically, was directed upon one of the walks of +a garden, and the cords which held it shook with so much force that +several rents were made in the balloon. The machine, being brought back +to its place, was repaired in less than two hours. Being again inflated, +it rose once more, bearing the same persons, and when it had risen +to the height of 250 feet, the intrepid voyagers, bowing their heads, +saluted the spectators. One could not resist a feeling of mingled fear +and admiration. Soon the aeronauts were lost to view, but the balloon +itself, displaying its very beautiful shape, mounted to the height of +3,000 feet, and still remained visible. The voyagers, satisfied with +their experience, and not wishing to make a longer course, agreed to +descend, but, perceiving that the wind was driving them upon the houses +of the Rue de Sevres, preserved their self-possession, renewed the hot +air, rose anew and continued their course till they had passed Paris. + +"They then descended tranquilly in the country, beyond the new +boulevard, without having experienced the slightest inconvenience, +having still the greater part of their fuel untouched. They could, had +they desired, have cleared a distance three times as great as that which +they traversed. Their flight was nearly 30,000 feet, and the time it +occupied was from twenty to twenty-five minutes. This machine was 70 +feet high, 46 feet in diameter, and had a capacity of 60,000 cubic +feet." + +It is reported that Franklin, more illustrious in his humility than the +most brilliant among the lords of the court, when consulted respecting +the possible use of balloons, answered simply, "C'est l'enfant qui vient +de naitre?" + + + +Chapter X. The Second Arial Voyage. + +(1st December 1783.--Charles and Robert at the Tuileries.) + +The first ascent of Roziers and Arlandes was a feat of hardihood almost +unique. The men's courage was, so to speak, their only guarantee. Thanks +to the balloon, however, they accomplished one of the most extraordinary +enterprises ever achieved by our race. + +On the day after the experiment of the Champ de Mars (27th of August), +Professor Charles--who had already acquired celebrity at the Louvre, by +his scientific collection and by his rank as an official instructor--and +the Brothers Robert, mechanicians, were engaged in the construction of +a balloon, to be inflated with hydrogen gas, and destined to carry a car +and one or two passengers. For this ascent Charles may be said to have +created all at once the art of aerostation as now practiced, for he +brought it at one bound to such perfection that since his day scarcely +any advance has been made upon his arrangements. His simple yet complete +invention was that of the valve which gives escape to the hydrogen gas, +and thus renders the descent of the balloon gentle and gradual; the car +that carries the travellers; the ballast of sand, by which the ascent is +regulated and the fall is moderated; the coating of caoutchouc, by means +of which the material of the balloon is rendered airtight and prevents +loss of gas; and, finally, the use of the barometer, which marks at +every instant, by the elevation or the depression of the mercury, the +position in which the aeronaut finds himself in the atmosphere. Charles +created all the contrivances, or, in other words, all the ingenious +precautions which make up the art of aerostation. + +On the 26th of November, the balloon, fitted with its network, and +having the car attached to it, was sent away from the hall of the +Tuileries, where it had been exhibited. The ascent was fixed for the 1st +of December, 1783, a memorable day for the Parisians. + +At noon upon that day, the subscribers, who had paid four louis for +their seats, took their places within the enclosure outside the circle, +in which stood the casks employed for making the gas. The humbler +subscribers, at three francs a-head, occupied the rest of the garden. +The number of spectators, as we read underneath the numerous coloured +prints which represent this spectacle, was 600,000; but though, without +doubt, the gardens of the Tuileries are very large, it is probable this +figure is a considerable overstatement, for this number would have been +three-fourths of the whole population of Paris. + +The roofs and windows of the houses were crowded, whilst the Pont Royal +and the square of Louis XV. were covered by an immense multitude. About +mid-day a rumour was spread to the effect that the king forbade the +ascent. Charles ran to the Chief Minister of State, and plainly told him +that his life was the king's, but his honour was his own: his word was +pledged to the country and he would ascend. Taking this high ground, +the bold professor gained an unwilling permission to carry out his +undertaking. + +A little afterwards the sound of cannon was heard. This was the signal +which announced the last arrangements and thus dissipated all doubt as +to the rising of the balloon, There had during the day been considerable +disturbance among the crowd, between the partisans of Charles and +Montgolfier; each party extolled its hero, and did everything possible +to detract from the merits of the rival inventor. But whatever +ill-feeling might have existed was swept away by Professor Charles with +a compliment. When he was ready to ascend, he walked up to Montgolfier, +and, with the true instinct of French politeness, presented him with a +little balloon, saying at the same time-- + +"It is for you, monsieur, to show us the way to the skies." + +The exquisite taste and delicacy of this incident touched the bystanders +as with an electric shock, and the place at once rang out with the most +genuine and hearty applause The little balloon thrown up by Montgolfier +sped away to the north-east, its beautiful emerald colour showing to +fine effect in the sun. + +From this point let us follow the narrative of Professor Charles +himself. + +"The balloon," he says, "which escaped from the hands of M. Montgolfier, +rose into the air, and seemed to carry with it the testimony of +friendship and regard between that gentleman and myself, while +acclamations followed it. Meanwhile, we hastily prepared for departure. +The stormy weather did not permit us to have at our command all the +arrangements which we had contemplated the previous evening; to do so +would have detained us too long upon the earth. After the balloon and +the car were in equilibrium, we threw over 19 lbs. of ballast, and we +rose in the midst of silence, arising from the emotion and surprise felt +on all sides. + +"Nothing will ever equal that moment of joyous excitement which filled +my whole being when I felt myself flying away from the earth. It was not +mere pleasure; it was perfect bliss. Escaped from the frightful torments +of persecution and of calumny, I felt that I was answering all in rising +above all. + +"To this sentiment succeeded one more lively still--the admiration of +the majestic spectacle that spread itself out before us. On whatever +side we looked, all was glorious; a cloudless sky above, a most +delicious view around. 'Oh, my friend,' said I to M. Robert, 'how great +is our good fortune! I care not what may be the condition of the earth; +it is the sky that is for me now. What serenity! what a ravishing scene! +Would that I could bring here the last of our detractors, and say to the +wretch, Behold what you would have lost had you arrested the progress of +science.' + +"Whilst we were rising with a progressively increasing speed, we +waved our bannerets in token of our cheerfulness, and in order to give +confidence to those below who took an interest in our fate. M. +Robert made an inventory of our stores; our friends had stocked our +commissariat as for a long voyage--champagne and other wines, garments +of fur and other articles of clothing. + +"'Good,' I said; 'throw that out of the window.' He took a blanket and +launched it into the air, through which it floated down slowly, and fell +upon the dome of l'Assomption. + +"When the barometer had fallen 26 inches, we ceased to ascend. We were +up at an elevation of 1,800 feet. This was the height to which I had +promised myself to ascend; and, in fact, from this moment to the time +when we disappeared from the eyes of our friends, we always kept a +horizontal course, the barometer registering 26 inches to 26 inches 8 +lines. + +"We required to throw over ballast in proportion as the almost +insensible escape of the hydrogen gas caused us to descend, in order to +remain as nearly as possible at the same elevation. If circumstances had +permitted us to measure the amount of ballast we threw over, our course +would have been almost absolutely horizontal. + +"After remaining for a few moments stationary, our car I changed its +course, and we were carried on at the will of the wind. Soon we passed +the Seine, between St. Ouen and Asnieres. We traversed the river a +second time, leaving Argenteuil upon the left. We passed Sannois, +Franconville, Eau-Bonne, St. Leu-Taverny, Villiers, and finally, Nesles. +This was about twenty-seven miles from Paris, and we had I reached this +distance in two hours, although there was so little wind that the air +scarcely stirred. + +"During the whole course of this delightful voyage, not the slightest +apprehension for our fate or that of our machine entered my head for a +moment. The globe did not suffer any alteration beyond the successive +changes of dilatation and compression, which enabled us to mount and +descend at will. The thermometer was, during more than an hour, between +ten and twelve degrees above zero; this being to some extent accounted +for by the fact that the interior of the car was warmed by the rays of +the sun. + +"At the end of fifty-six minutes, we heard the report of the cannon +which informed us that we had, at that moment, disappeared from view at +Paris. We rejoiced that we had escaped, as we were no longer obliged +to observe a horizontal course, and to regulate the balloon for that +purpose. + +"We gave ourselves up to the contemplation of the views which the +immense stretch of country beneath us presented. From that time, though +we had no opportunity of conversing with the inhabitants, we saw +them running after us from all parts; we heard their cries, their +exclamations of solicitude, and knew their alarm and admiration. + +"We cried, 'Vive le Roi!' and the people responded. We heard, very +distinctly--'My good friends, have you no fear? Are you not sick? How +beautiful it is! Heaven preserve you! Adieu, my friends.' + +"I was touched to tears by this tender and true interest which our +appearance had called forth. + +"We continued to wave our flags without cessation, and we perceived +that these signals greatly increased the cheerfulness and calmed the +solicitude of the people below. Often we descended sufficiently low to +hear what they shouted to us. They asked us where we came from, and at +what hour we had started. + +"We threw over successively frock-coats, muffs, and habits. Sailing on +above the Ile d'Adam, after having admired the splendid view, we made +signals with our flags, and demanded news of the Prince of Conti. One +cried up to us, in a very powerful voice, that he was at Paris, and +that he was ill. We regretted missing such an opportunity of paying our +respects, for we could have descended into the prince's gardens, if we +had wished, but we preferred to pursue our course, and we re-ascended. +Finally, we arrived at the plain of Nesles. + +"We saw from the distance groups of peasants, who ran on before us +across the fields. 'Let us go,' I said, and we descended towards a vast +meadow. + +"Some shrubs and trees stood round its border. Our car advanced +majestically in a long inclined plane. On arriving near the trees, I +feared that their branches might damage the car, so I threw over two +pounds of ballast, and we rose again. We ran along more than 120 feet, +at a distance of one or two feet from the ground, and had the appearance +of travelling in a sledge. The peasants ran after us without being able +to catch us, like children pursuing a butterfly in the fields. + +"Finally, we stopped, and were instantly surrounded. Nothing could equal +the simple and tender regard of the country people, their admiration, +and their lively emotion. + +"I called at once for the cures and the magistrates. They came round +me on all sides: there was quite a fete on the spot. I prepared a short +report, which the cures and the syndics signed. Then arrived a company +of horsemen at a gallop. These were the Duke of Chartres, the Duke of +Fitzjames, and M. Farrer. By a very singular chance, we had come down +close by the hunting-lodge of the latter. He leaped from his horse and +threw himself into my arms, crying, 'Monsieur Charles, I was first!' + +"Charles adds that they were covered with the caresses of the prince, +who embraced both of them. He briefly narrated to the Duke of Chartres +some incidents of the voyage. + +"'But this is not all, monseigneur. I am going away again,' added +Charles. + +"'What! Going away!' exclaimed the duke. + +"'Monseigneur, you will see. When do you wish me to come back again?' I +said. + +"'In half an hour.' + +"'Very well: be it so. In half an hour I shall be with you again.' + +"M. Robert descended from the car, and I was alone in the balloon. + +"I said to the duke, 'Monseigneur, I go.' I said to the peasants who +held down the balloon, 'My friends, go away, all of you, from the car +at the moment I give the signal.' I then rose like a bird, and in +ten minutes I was more than 3,000 feet above the ground. I no longer +perceived terrestrial objects; I only saw the great masses of nature. + +"In going away, Charles had taken his precautions against the possible +explosion of the balloon, and made himself ready to make certain +observations. In order to observe the barometer and the thermometer, +placed at different extremities of the car, without endangering the +equilibrium, he sat down in the middle, a watch and paper in his left +hand, a pen and the cord of the safety-valve in his right. + +"I waited for what should happen," continues he. "The balloon, which +was quite flabby and soft when I ascended, was now taut, and fully +distended. Soon the hydrogen gas began to escape in considerable +quantities by the neck of the balloon, and then, from time to time, I +pulled open the valve to give it two issues at once; and I continued +thus to mount upwards, all the time losing the inflammable air, which, +rushing past me from the neck of the balloon, felt like a warm cloud. + +"I passed in ten minutes from the temperature of spring to that of +winter; the cold was keen and dry, but not insupportable. I examined all +my sensations calmly; _I_ COULD HEAR MYSELF LIVE, so to speak, and I am +certain that at first I experienced nothing disagreeable in this sudden +passage from one temperature to another. + +"When the barometer ceased to move I noted very exactly eighteen inches +ten lines. This observation is perfectly accurate The mercury did not +suffer any sensible movement. + +"At the end of some minutes the cold caught my fingers; I could hardly +hold the pen, but I no longer had need to do so. I was stationary, or +rather moved only in a horizontal direction. + +"I raised myself in the middle of the car, and abandoned myself to the +spectacle before me. At my departure from the meadow the sun had sunk to +the people of the valleys; soon he shone for me alone, and came again to +pour his rays upon the balloon and the car. I was the only creature in +the horizon in sunshine--all the rest of nature was in shade. Ere long, +however, the sun disappeared, and thus I had the pleasure of seeing him +set twice in the same day. I contemplated for some moments the mists and +vapours that rose from the valley and the rivers The clouds seemed to +come forth from the earth, and to accumulate the one upon the other. +Their colour was a monotonous grey--a natural effect, for there was no +light save that of the moon. + +"I observed that I had tacked round twice, and I felt currents which +called me to my senses. I found with surprise the effect of the wind, +and saw the cloth of my flag: extended horizontally. + +"In the midst of the inexpressible pleasure of this state of ecstatic +contemplation, I was recalled to myself by a most extraordinary pain +which I felt in the interior of the ears and in the maxillary glands. +This I attributed to the dilation of the air contained in the cellular +tissue of the organ as much as to the cold outside. I was in my vest, +with my head uncovered. I immediately covered my head with a bonnet of +wool which was at my feet, but the pain only disappeared with my descent +to the ground. + +"It was now seven or eight minutes since I had arrived at this +elevation, and I now commenced to descend. I remembered the promise I +had made to the Duke of Chartres, to return in half an hour. I quickened +my descent by opening the valve from time to time. Soon the balloon, +empty now to one half, presented the appearance of a hemisphere. + +"Arrived at twenty-three fathoms from the earth, I suddenly threw over +two or three pounds of ballast, which arrested my descent, and which I +had carefully kept for this purpose. I then slowly descended upon the +ground, which I had, so to speak, chosen." + +Such is the narrative of the second aerial voyage. After such a +memorable ascent one is astonished to learn that Professor Charles never +repeated his experiment. It has been said that, in descending from +his car, he had vowed that he would never again expose himself to such +perils, so strong had been the alarm he felt when the peasants ceasing +to hold him down he shot up into the sky with the rapidity of an arrow. +But after him a thousand others have followed the daring example he set. +With this ascent the memorable year 1783 closed, and the seed which had +been sown soon began to be productive. + + + + +PART II. + + + +Chapter I. The History of Aerostation from the Year 1783. + + + The Open Route--Travels and Travellers--Great Increase in + the Number of Air Voyages--Lyons, Ascent of "Le Flesselles-- + Milan, Ascent of Adriani--Flight of a Balloon from London-- + Lost Balloons in the Chief Towns of Europe + +From the year 1783, in which aerostation had its birth, and in which +it was carried to a degree of perfection, beside which the progress +of aeronauts in our days seems small, a new route was opened up for +travellers. The science of Montgolfier, the practical art of Professor +Charles, and the courage of Roziers, subdued the scepticism of those who +had not yet given in their adhesion to the possible value of the great +discovery, and throughout the whole of France a feverish degree of +enthusiasm in the art manifested itself Aerial excursions now became +quite fashionable. Let it be understood that we do not here refer to +ascents in fixed balloons, that is, in balloons which were attached to +the earth by means of ropes more or less long. + +M. Biot narrates that, in his young days, when aeronautic ascents were +less known than they are in these times, there was in the plain of +Grenelle, at the mill of Javelle, an establishment where balloons were +constantly maintained for the accommodation of amateurs of both sexes +who wished to make ascents in what were called "ballons captifs," or +balloons anchored, so to speak, to the earth by means of long ropes They +were for a considerable time the rage of fashionable society, and it is +not recorded that any accidents resulted from the practice. Of course +it may be easily understood with these safe balloons the adventurous +aeronauts never ascended to any great height. The reader will find this +subject treated under the chapter of military aerostation. + +We are at present specially engaged with the narrative of the first +attempts in aerostation--the first experiments in the new discovery. +We have followed with interest the exciting details of the first +adventurous ascents, in which the genius of man first essayed the +unexplored paths of the heavens. Yet a continued record of aerial +voyages would not be of the same interest. The results of subsequent +expeditions, and the impressions of subsequent aeronauts are the same +as those already described, or differ from them only in minor points. No +important advance is recorded in the art. We shall therefore endeavour +not to confine ourselves to the narrative of a dry and monotonous +chronology, but to select from the number of ascents that have taken +place within the last eighty years, only those whose special character +renders them worthy of more detailed and severe investigation. + +In order to give an idea of the rapid multiplication of aeronautic +experiments, it will suffice to state that the only aeronauts of +1783 are Roziers, the Marquis d'Arlandes, Professor Charles, his +collaborateur the younger Robert, and a carpenter, named Wilcox, who +made ascents at Philadelphia and London. + +A number of balloons were remarkable for the beauty and elegance which +we have already spoken of. Among the most beautiful we may mention the +"Flesselles" balloon and Bagnolet's balloon. + +Of the ascents which immediately succeeded those that have been treated +in the first part of our volume, and which are the most memorable in +the early annals of aerostation, that of the 17th of January, 1784, is +remarkable. It took place at Lyons. Seven persons went into the car on +this occasion--Joseph Montgolfier, Roziers, the Comte de Laurencin, the +Comte de Dampierre, the Prince Charles de Ligne, the Comte de Laporte +d'Anglifort, and Fontaine, who threw himself into the car when it had +already begun to move. + +A most minute account of this experiment is given in a letter of Mathon +de la Cour, director of the Academy of Sciences at Lyons:--"After the +experiments of the Champ de Mars and Versailles had become known," +he says, "the citizens of this town proposed to repeat them and a +subscription was opened for this purpose. On the arrival of the elder +Montgolfier, about the end of September, M. de Flesselles, our director, +always zealous in promoting whatever might be for the welfare of the +province and the advancement of science and art, persuaded him to +organise the subscription. The aim of the experiment proposed by +Montgolfier was not the ascent of any human being in the balloon. The +prospectus only announced that a balloon of a much larger size than any +that had been made would ascend--that it would rise to several thousand +feet, and that, including the animals that it was proposed it should +carry, it would weigh 8,000 lbs. The subscription was fixed at L12, and +the number of subscribers was 360." + +It was on these conditions that Montgolfier commenced his balloon of 126 +feet high and 100 feet in diameter, made of a double envelope of cotton +cloth, with a lining of paper between. A strength and consistency was +given to the structure by means of ribbons and cords. + +The work was nearly finished when Roziers went up in his fire-balloon +from La Muette. Immediately the Comte de Laurencin pressed Montgolfier +to allow him to go up in the new machine. Montgolfier was only too glad +of the opportunity--refused up to this time by the king--of going up +himself. From thirty to forty people made application to go with the +aeronauts; and on the 26th of December, 1678, Roziers, the Comte de +Dampierre, and the Comte de Laporte, arrived in Lyons with the same +intention. Prince Charles also arrived; and as his father had taken one +hundred subscriptions, his claim to go up could not be refused. + +But while the public papers were full of ascents at Avignon, Marseilles, +and Paris, it is impossible to describe the vexation of Roziers, when +he discovered that Montgolfier's new balloon was not intended to carry +passengers, and had not been, from the first, constructed with that +view. He suggested a number of alterations, which Montgolfier adopted at +once. + +On the 7th of January, 1784, all the pieces of which the balloon was +composed were carried out to the field called Les Brotteaux, outside the +town, from which the ascent was to be made. This event was announced to +take place on the 10th and at five o'clock on the morning of that day; +but unexpected delays occurred, and in the necessary operations the +covering was torn in many places. + +On the 15th the balloon was inflated in seventeen minutes, and the +gallery was attached in an hour--the fire from which the heated air was +obtained requiring to be fed at the rate of 5 lbs. of alder-wood per +minute; but the preparations had occupied so much time, that it was +found, when everything was complete, that the afternoon was too far +advanced for the ascent to be made. This machine was destined to suffer +from endless misfortunes. It took fire while being inflated, and, +several days afterwards, it was damaged by snow and rain. Put nothing +discouraged Roziers and his companions. Places had been arranged in the +gallery for six persons. After the balloon was at last inflated, +Prince Charles and the Comes de Laurencin, Dampierre, and Laporte threw +themselves into the gallery. They were all armed, and were determined +not to quit their places to whoever might come. Roziers, who wished at +the last to enjoy a high ascent, proposed to reduce the number to three, +and to draw lots for the purpose. But the gentlemen would not descend. +The debate became animated. The four voyagers cried to cut the ropes. +The director of the Academy, to whom application was made in this +emergency, admiring the resolution and the courage of the four +gentlemen, wished to satisfy them in their desire. Accordingly the ropes +were cut; but at that moment M. Montgolfier and Roziers threw themselves +into the gallery. At the same time a certain M. Fontaine, who had +had much to do in the construction of the machine, threw himself in, +although it had not previously been arranged that he should be of the +party. His boldness in jumping in was pardoned, on the ground of his +services and his zeal. + +In going away the machine turned to the south-west, and bent a little. +A rope which dragged along the ground seemed to retard its ascent; but +some intelligent person having cut this with a hatchet, it began to +right itself and ascend. At a certain height it turned to the north +east. The wind was feeble, and the progress was slow, but the imposing +effect was indescribable. The immense machine rose into the air as by +some effect of magic. Nearly 100,000 spectators were present, and they +were greatly excited at the view. They clapped their hands and stretched +their arms towards the sky; women fainted away, or (for some reasons +best known to themselves) found relief for their excitement in tears; +while the men, uttering cries of joy, waved their handkerchiefs, and +threw their hats into the air. + +The form of the machine was that of a globe, rising from a reversed and +truncated cone, to which the gallery was attached. The upper part was +white, the lower part grey; and the cone was composed of strips of stuff +of different colours. On the sides of the balloon were two paintings, +one of which represented History, the other Fame. The flag bore the arms +of the director of the Academy, and above it were inscribed the words +"Le Flesselles." + +The voyagers observed that they did not consume a fourth of the quantity +of combustibles after they had risen into the air, which they consumed +when attached to the earth. They were in the gayest humour, and they +calculated that the fuel they had would keep them floating till late +in the evening. Unfortunately, however, after throwing more wood on the +fire, in order to get up to a greater altitude, it was discovered that +a rent had been made in the covering, caused by the fire by which the +balloon had been damaged two or three days previously. The rent was four +feet in length; and as the heated air escaped very rapidly by it, the +balloon fell, after having sailed above the earth for barely fifteen +minutes. + +The descent only occupied two or three minutes, and yet the shock was +supportable. It was observed that as soon as the machine had touched the +earth all the cloth became unfolded in a few seconds, which seemed to +confirm the opinion of Montgolfier, who believed that electricity had +much to do in the ascent of balloons. The voyagers were got out of the +balloon without accident, and were greeted with the most enthusiastic +applause. + +On the day of the ascent, the opera of "Iphigenia in Aulis" was given, +and the theatre was thronged by a vast assemblage, attracted thither +in the hope of seeing the illustrious experimentalists. The curtain had +risen when M. and Madame de Flesselles entered their box, accompanied +by Montgolfier and Roziers. At sight of them the enthusiasm of the house +rose to fever pitch. The other voyagers also entered, and were greeted +with the same demonstrations. Cries arose from the pit to begin the +opera again, in honour of the visitors. The curtain then fell, and when +it again rose, after a few moments, the actor who filled the role of +Agamemnon advanced with crowns, which he handed to Madame de Flesselles, +who distributed them to the aeronauts. Roziers placed the crown that had +been given to him upon Montgolfier's head. + +When the actress who played the part of Clytemnestra, sung the passage +beginning-- + +"I love to see these flattering honours paid." + +The audience at once applied her song to the circumstances, and +re-demanded it, which request the actress complied with, addressing +herself to the box in which the distinguished visitors sat. The +demonstrations of admiration were continued after the opera was over; +and during the whole of the night the gentlemen of the balloon ascent +were serenaded. + +Two days afterwards, Roziers having appeared at a ball, received further +proofs of admiration and honours; and when, on the 22nd of January, he +departed for Dijon on his return to Paris, he was accompanied as in a +triumph by a numerous cavalcade of the most distinguished young men of +the city. + +There was, however, at Paris, much discontent with the ascent of +"Le Flesselles;" and the Journal de Paris de Paris, which notices so +enthusiastically the other ascents of that epoch, speaks slightingly of +that at Lyons. + +The next great ascent took place at Milan, on the 25th of February, +1784, under the direction of the Chevalier Paul Andriani, who had a +balloon constructed by the Brothers Gerli, at his own expense. We read +that this balloon was 66 feet in diameter, and that the envelope was +composed of cloth, lined in the interior with fine paper. + +The balloon was not in all respects constructed like that which rose at +Lyons. The grating which supported the fire that kept up the supply of +hot air was placed at the mouth of the opening. It was made of copper, +was six feet in diameter, and was secured by a number of transverse +beams of wood. M. Andriani thought it best to place his fire--contrary +to general usage--a little way above the mouth of the opening, and he +found out that the activity of the fire was in proportion with that of +the air which entered and fed it. + +In place of making use of a gallery like that employed by Montgolfier, +as much to manage the fire as to carry the traveller and the fuel, he +substituted a wide basket, suspended by cords to the edge of the opening +of the balloon, at such a distance that fuel could be thrown on with the +hand without being inconvenienced by the heat. + +Everything being in readiness, the machine was carried to Moncuco, the +splendid domain of Andriani, where the first experiments were made; for +this gentlemen knew that as the populace are impatient, they are also +often un-reasonable, and jump to the hastiest and most inconsiderate +conclusion when, in witnessing scientific experiments, any of the +arrangements happen to be imperfect, and the results in any respect +prove unsuccessful. + +Andriani did not deceive himself, for, sure enough, his first attempt +did not come up to expectation. The reasons for this failure were the +too great quantity of air which the fire drew in, and the unsuitable +character of the fuel used. + +On the 25th of February, 1784, a second attempt was made. The fire was +lighted under the machine, at first with dry birch-wood and afterwards +with a bituminous composition, ingeniously concocted by one of the +Brothers Gerli. In less than four minutes the balloon was completely +inflated, and the men employed to hold it down with ropes perceived that +it was on the point of rising. The aeronauts then gave the order to +let go. Scarcely was the balloon let off, when it gently rose a short +distance, and then flew in a horizontal direction towards a palace in +the neighbourhood. In order that the structure should not be destroyed +on the walls and the roof of the palace, the voyagers heaped on the +fuel, and the spectators, who had gathered together from the surrounding +villages, then saw this strange vessel of the air rising with rapidity +to a surprising height. Such a phenomenon was so astonishing, that those +who beheld it could hardly believe their own eyes; and when the balloon +disappeared from view, the delight they had manifested was dashed with +fear for the fate of the bold aeronauts. The latter, seeing that the +balloon was driving through the air towards a range of rocky hills in +the neighbourhood, and perceiving, on the other hand, that their stock +of combustibles was nearly exhausted, judged it prudent to descend. They +diminished their fire, and came gradually down, warning the multitude +below of their intention by means of a speaking-trumpet. + +In the course of the descent the balloon alighted upon a large tree, to +the great peril of the travellers; but as soon as the fire was increased +it again mounted and got clear from the branches while the people below, +grasping the cords that were hung out to them, guided the machine to the +spot which the voyagers indicated. To descend to terra firma was then +a comparatively easy matter, and it was safely accomplished. The fire, +which in the case of the French balloons had dried, calcined, and almost +consumed the upper part of the balloon, had no evil effect upon that of +Andriani, which came down looking as fresh as if it had never been used. + +The new idea had now passed the frontiers of France, in which it was +originally conceived, and among the other nations, as at first in +France, the power of the inflated balloon came to be tested everywhere +by the construction of small toy globes. + +It was just about five months after the first experiment at +Annonay--viz., on the 25th of November, 1783--that the first balloon +ascended in London. We are informed, in the History of Aerostation by +Tiberius Cavallo, that an Italian, Count Zambeccari, who was staying in +the English capital, made a balloon of silk, covered with a varnish of +oil. Its diameter was ten feet, and its weight eleven pounds. It was +gilded for the double purpose of enhancing its appearance and preventing +the escape of air. After having been exposed to public inspection for +several days, it was filled three parts full of hydrogen gas, a tin +bottle was suspended from it, containing an address to whoever might +find it when it should fall, and it was let off from the Artillery +Ground, in presence of a vast assembly. + +On the 11th of December, 1783, a little balloon, made of gold-beaters' +skin, was let off publicly at Turin. This was an experiment similar to +that which had been tried at Paris in September. The balloon was seen +to penetrate the clouds, then to mount still higher, and finally to +disappear entirely in five minutes fifty-four seconds from the time when +it was set free. + +It was natural, after the experiments made long before with electric +paper kites, to employ the balloon in the investigation of the electric +conditions of the atmosphere. The first to use it for this purpose was +the Abbe Berthelon de Montpellier. He sent up a number of balloons, to +which he had attached pieces of metal, long and narrow, and terminating +in a cylinder of glass, or other substance suitable for the purpose +of isolation, and he obtained sufficient electricity by these means +to demonstrate the phenomena of attraction and repulsion, as well as +electric sparks. + +Cavallo mentions an accident which took place in England about this +time, and which served as a warning to all who had to do with balloons +filled with hydrogen gas. A balloon thus inflated had been sent up +at Hopton, near Matlock, and was found by two men near Cheadle, in +Staffordshire. These ingenious persons carried it within doors, and +having wished to fully inflate it--half the gas having by this time +escaped--they applied a pair of bellows to its mouth. By this means they +only forced out the volume of the hydrogen gas that was left; and this +gas, coming in contact with a candle that had been placed too near, +exploded. The report was louder than that of a cannon, and so powerful +was the shock that the men were thrown down, the glass blown out of the +windows, and the house otherwise damaged. The men suffered severely, +their hair, beards, and eyebrows being completely burnt away, and their +faces severely scorched. + +At Grenoble, in Dauphine, De Baron let off a balloon on the 13th of +January, 1784. It rose, and at first took a northern direction; +but, having encountered a current of air, it was carried away in a +south-easterly direction, and after flying a distance of three-quarters +of a mile, it fell, having traversed this distance in fifteen minutes. + +A society, under the presidency of the Abbe de Mably, having constructed +a balloon thirty-seven feet high and twenty feet in diameter, sent it +off from the court of the Castle of Pisancon, near Romano, on the same +day, the 13th of February. At first it was carried to the south by +a strong north wind, but after it had risen to 1,000 feet above the +surface, its course was changed towards the north. It was calculated +that, in less than five minutes, this balloon rose to the height of +6,000 feet. + +On the 16th of the same month the Count d'Albon threw off from his +gardens at Franconville a balloon inflated with gas, and made of silk, +rendered air-tight by a solution of gum-arabic. It was oblong, and +measured twenty-five feet in height, and seventeen feet in diameter. +To this balloon a cage, containing two guinea-pigs and a rabbit, +was suspended. The cords were cut, and the inflated globe rose to an +enormous height with the greatest rapidity. Five days afterwards it was +found at the distance of eighteen miles, and it is remarkable that, in +spite of the cold of the season, and particularly of the elevated region +through which the balloon had been passing, the animals were not only +living, but in good condition. + +On the 3rd of February, 1784, the Marquis de Bullion sent up a paper +balloon, of about fifteen feet in diameter. A flat sponge, about a foot +square, placed in a tin dish and drenched with a pint of spirits of +wine, was the only apparatus made use of to create a supply of heated +air. It rose at Paris, and three hours afterwards it was found near +Basville, about thirty miles from the capital. + +On the 15th of the same month Cellard de Chastelais sent up a paper +balloon. Heated air was supplied on this occasion by a paper roll, +enclosing a sponge, and soaked in oil, spirits of wine, and grease. +A cage, which contained a cat, was attached to this air globe. In +thirty-five minutes it had mounted so high that it looked but like the +smallest star, and in two hours it had flown a distance of forty-six +miles from the place where it was thrown off. The cat was dead, but it +was not discovered from what cause. + +The first balloon that traversed the English channel was sent off at +Sandwich, in Kent, on the 22nd of February, 1784. It was five feet in +diameter, and was inflated with hydrogen gas. It rose rapidly, and was +carried toward France by a north-west wind. Two hours and a half after +it had been let off it was found in a field about nine miles from Lille. +The balloon carried a letter, instructing the finder of the balloon to +communicate with William Boys, Esq., Sandwich, and to state where and at +what time it was found. This request was complied with. + +On the 19th of February a similar balloon, five feet in diameter, was +sent up from Queen's College, Oxford. It was spherical, and was made of +Persian silk, coated with varnish. It was the first balloon sent up from +that city. + +De Saussure makes mention, in a letter dated from Geneva, the 26th +of March, 1784, of certain experiments made in that town with the +electricity of the atmosphere by means of fixed balloons--i.e., balloons +attached to the earth by ropes, which gave forth sparks and positive +electricity. + +Mention is also made of a certain M. Argand, of Geneva, who had the +honour of making balloon experiments at Windsor in the presence of King +George III., Queen Charlotte, and the royal family. About this time +(1784) balloons became "the fashion," and frequent instances occur of +their being raised by day and night, by means of spirit-lamps, to the +great delight of multitudes of spectators. + +A letter from Watt to Dr. Lind, of Windsor, dated from Birmingham, 25th +December, 1784, narrates an experiment made the summer preceding with +a balloon inflated with hydrogen. The balloon was made of fine paper +covered with a varnish of oil and filled two-thirds with hydrogen gas, +and one-third common air. To the neck of the balloon was attached a sort +of squib two feet long, the fuse of which was ignited when the balloon +was inflated. The night was calm and dark, and a great multitude was +assembled to witness the ascent, which was accomplished with a success +that gave delight to all; for, at the end of six minutes the fuse +communicated with the squib, and the explosion was like the sound of +thunder. The men who saw it from a distance, but were not present at +its ascent, took it for a meteor. "Our intention," says Watt, "was, if +possible, to discover whether the reverberating sound of thunder was +due to echoes or to successive explosions. The sound occasioned by the +detonation of the hydrogen gas of the balloon in this experiment, does +not enable us to form a definite judgment; all that we can do is to +refer to those who were near the balloon, and-who affirm that the sound +was like that of thunder." + + + +Chapter II. Experiments and Studies--Blanchard at Paris--Guyton de +Morveau at Dijon. + +The most popular name in aerostation during the Revolution and the +Consulate in France is, without doubt, that of Blanchard. We have +already referred to him in the chapter which treats of experiments made +prior to the discovery of Montgolfier, and we now have to speak of his +famous ascent from the Champ de Mars, on the 2nd of March 1784, and of +the ascents which followed. + +We have seen that he constructed a sort of flying boat, a machine +furnished with oars and rigging, with which he managed to sustain +himself some moments in the air at the height of eighty feet. This +curious machine was exhibited in 1782 in the gardens of the great +hotel of the Rue Taranne. But a little time afterwards Montgolfier's +discoveries quite altered the conditions under which the aerostatic art +was to be pursued. It had no sooner become known than it became public +property. The idea was too simple in its grandeur, and was of too easy +a kind not to call up a host of imitators. Of these Blanchard was one +of the first; but this mechanician was anxious to incorporate his own +invention with that of Montgolfier, and he arranged that on the 2nd +of March, 1784, he should make an ascent in what he still called his +"flying vessel," which he furnished with four wings. + +Blanchard and his companion, Pesch, a Benedictine priest, were prevented +from going up in the balloon, as represented in our illustration, which +was drawn before the event it was intended to commemorate. A certain +Dupont de Chambon persisted in accompanying the voyagers. Pushed back by +them, he drew his sword, leaped into the car or boat, wounded Blanchard, +cut the rigging, and broke the oars or wings. The aeronaut was +consequently compelled to have his machine partly re-fitted in great +haste, and in the course of a few hours he made the ascent alone in the +usual way. Blanchard should have known the uselessness of oars, though +he did not abandon their employment in subsequent ascents. The Brothers +Montgolfier had dreamed of the employment of oars as a means of +guidance, but had ultimately rejected the idea. Joseph wrote to his +brother Etienne, about the end of the year 1783: + +"For my sake, my good friend, reflect; calculate well before you employ +oars. Oars must either be great or small; if great, they will be heavy; +if small, it will be necessary to move them with great rapidity. I +know no sufficient means of guidance, except in the knowledge of the +different currents of air, of which it is necessary to make a study; and +these are generally regulated by the elevation." The two brothers often +recurred to this idea. + +The pictures of the first ascent of Blanchard from the Champ de Mars on +the 2nd of March, 1784, in the presence of a vast multitude, show us the +oars and the mechanism of his flying-machine fitted to a balloon. The +design which we here give seems to us deserving of being considered only +as one of the caricatures of the time, especially when we look at +the personage dressed in the fool's head-gear, who sits behind and +accompanies the triumphant ascent of the aeronaut with music. + +It was not with this apparatus that Blanchard effected his ascent, for +we have seen that the gearing of his vessel was broken by the infuriated +Dupont de Chambon. Yet the aeronaut pretends to have been, to some +extent, assisted by his mechanical contrivances. The following is his +narrative:-- + +"I rose to a certain height over Plassy, and perceiving Villette, +which I did not despair of reaching in spite of the misfortune that had +happened to me, I attached a rope of my rigging to my leg, not being +able to make use of my left hand, which I had wrapped in my handkerchief +on account of the sword-wound it had received. I fixed up a piece of +cloth, and thus made a sort of sail with which I hugged the wind. But +the rays of the sun had so heated and rarefied the inflammable air +that soon I forgot my rigging in thinking of the terrible danger that +threatened me." + +Going on to narrate the dangers that beset him, Blanchard describes a +number of most extraordinary experiences, which would be better worthy +of a place here if they were more like the truth. His curious narrative +is thus brought to a close:-- + +"Escaped from these impetuous and contrary winds, during which I had +felt a great degree of cold, I mounted perpendicularly. The cold became +excessive. Being hungry I ate a morsel of cake. I wished to drink, but +in searching the car nothing was to be seen but the debris of bottles +and glasses, which my assailant had left behind him when we were about +to depart. Afterwards all was so calm that nothing could be seen or +heard. The silence became appalling, and to add to my alarm I began to +lose consciousness. I now wished to take snuff, but found I had left my +box behind me. I changed my seat many times; I went from prow to stern, +but the drowsiness only ceased to assail me when I was struck by two +furious winds, which compressed my balloon to such an extent that its +size became sensibly diminished to the eye. I was not sorry when I began +to descend rapidly upon the river, which at first seemed to me a white +thread, afterwards a ribbon, and then a piece of cloth. As I followed +the course of the river, the fear that I should have to descend into +it, made me agitate the oars very rapidly. I believe that it is to these +movements that I owe my being able to cross the river transversely, and +get above dry land. When I saw myself upon the plain of Billancourt, I +recognised the bridge of Sevres, and the road to Versailles. I was then +about as high as the towers above the plain, and I could hear the words +and the cries of joy of the people who were following me below. At +length I came to a plain about 200 feet in extent. The people then +assisted me and brought my vessel to anchor. Immediately I was +surrounded by gentlemen and foot passengers who had run together from +all parts." + +This voyage lasted one hour and a quarter. The most important incident +of it was that the balloon was very nearly burst by the expansion of the +hydrogen gas. No balloon, as we have already seen, should be entirely +inflated at the beginning of a journey. Blanchard had a narrow escape +from being the victim of his ignorance of physics, and it is a wonder +he was not left to the mercy of fate in a burst balloon, at several +thousand feet above the earth. + +Biot, the savant, who had watched the experiment, declared that +Blanchard did not stir himself, and that the variations of his course +are alone to be attributed to the currents of air that he encountered. +As he had inscribed upon his flags, his balloons, and his entrance +tickets, from which he realised a considerable sum, the ambitious +legend, Sic itur ad astra, the following epigram was produced respecting +him:-- + + From the Field of Mars he took his flight: + In a field close by he tumbled; + But our money having taken + He smiled though sadly shaken, + As Sic itur ad astra he mumbled. + +What is most important to examine in each of the great aerial voyages +that have been made, is the special character which distinguishes them +from average experiments. All our great voyages are rendered special +and particular by the ideas of the men who undertook them, and the aims +which they severally meant to achieve by them. The early ascents of +Montgolfier had for their aim the establishment of the fact that any +body lighter than the volume of air which it displaces will rise in the +atmosphere; those of Roziers were undertaken to prove that man can apply +this principle for the purpose of making actual aerial voyages; those +of Robertson, Gay-Lussac, &c., were undertaken for the purpose of +ascertaining certain meteorological phenomena; those of Conte Coutelle +applied aerostation to military uses. A considerable number were made +with the view of organising a system of aerial navigation analogous +to that of the sea-steerage in a certain direction by means of oars or +sails--in a word, to investigate the possibility of sailing through +the air to any point fixed upon. It was with this object that the +experiments at Dijon took place, and these were the most serious +attempts down to our times that have been made to steer balloons. + +At the middle of the globe of the balloon were placed four oars, two +sails, and a helm and these were under the management of the voyagers, +who sat in the car and worked them by means of ropes. The car was also +furnished with oars. The report of Guyton de Morveau to the Academy at +Dijon informs us that these different paraphernalia were not altogether +useless. The following extracts are from this report:-- + +"The very strong wind which arose immediately before our departure, had +driven us down to tee ground many times, making us fear for the safety +of our oars, &c., when we resolved to throw over as much ballast as +would enable us to rise against the wind. The ballast, including from 70 +to 80 lbs. of provisions, was thrown over, and then we rose so rapidly +that all the objects around were instantly passed and were very soon +lost to view. The swelling form of our balloon told us that the gas +inside had expanded under the heat of the sun and the lessening density +of the surrounding air. We opened the two valves, but even this outlet +was insufficient, and we had to cut a hole about seven or eight inches +long in the lower part of the balloon, through which the gas might +escape. At five minutes past five we passed above a village which we did +not know, and here we let fall a bag filled with bran, and carrying with +it a flag and a written message to the effect that we were all well, and +that the barometer was recording 20 inches 9 lines, and the thermometer +one degree and a half below zero." + +Very keen cold attacked the ears, but this was the only inconvenience +experienced, until the voyagers were lost in a sea of clouds that shut +them out from the view of the earth. The sun at length began to descend, +and they then perceived, by a slackening in the lower part of the +balloon, that it was time for them to think of returning to the earth. +Judging from the compass that they were not far from the town of +Auxonne, they resolved to use all their endeavours to reach that place. +The sailing appliances had been considerably damaged by the rough +weather at starting. The rigging being disarranged, one of the oars had +got broken, another had become entangled in the rigging, so that there +remained only two of the four oars, and these, being on the same side, +were absolutely useless during the greatest part of the voyage. The +adventurers, however, assert that they made them work from eight to +nine minutes with the greatest ease, making use of them to tack to the +south-east. + +"We hoped then to be able to descend near where we judged Auxonne to +be," the writer continues, "but we lost much gas by the opening in +the balloon, and descended more rapidly than we expected or wished. We +looked to our small stock of ballast with anxiety, but there was no need +of it, and we came very softly down upon a slope." + +When the aeronauts arrived at Magny-les-Auxonne, the inhabitants gazed +upon them in terror, and two men and three women fell down on their +knees before them. + +Here is an extract from the report of the experiment of the 12th of +June, the principal object of which was the attempt to discover the +means of steering in a certain direction:-- + +"M. de Verley and myself mounted in the balloon," says Guyton +de Morveau, "at seven o'clock. We rose rapidly and in an almost +perpendicular direction. The fall of the mercury in the barometer +was scarcely perceptible when the dilation of the hydrogen gas in the +balloon had become considerable. The globe swelled out, and a light +vapour around the mouth announced to us that the gas was commencing +to escape by the safety-valve. We assisted its escape by pulling the +valve-string. + +"Having reduced the dilation sufficiently for our purposes, we resolved +to attempt the working of the balloon before the whole town and to turn +it from the east to the north. We saw with pleasure that our machinery +answered By the working of the helm, the prow of our air-boat was +turned in the direction we desired. The oars, working only on one side, +supported the helm, and altogether we got on as we wished. We described +a curve, crossing the road from Dijon to Langres. The mercury had +descended to 24 inches 8 lines, which announced that we were gradually +rising. We attempted for some time to follow the route to I Langres, but +the wind drove us off our course in spite of all our efforts. At nine +o'clock our barometer informed us that we had ascended to the height of +6,000 feet. M. de Verley took advantage of this elevation to put some +touch wood to a burning-glass 18 lines in diameter, and the touch wood +lighted immediately." + +The aeronauts decided to direct their course for Dijon. After re-setting +the helm with this intention, they worked their oars, and proceeded in +that direction more than 1,000 feet. But heat and fatigue obliged them +to suspend their endeavours, and the current drove them upon Mirebeau, +where, throwing out the last of their ballast and regulating their +descent, they came softly down upon a corn-field. + +The adventurers were cordially welcomed by the ecclesiastics and the +magistrates of the place, and after a time they, with their balloon, +were carried back on men's shoulders to Dijon. + + + +Chapter III. + + Experiment in Montgolfiers--Roziers and Proust--The Duke of + Chartres--The Comte d'Artois--Voyage of the Abbe Carnus to + Rodez. + +The longest course travelled by Montgolfiere balloons, and the highest +elevation reached by them, were achieved by Roziers and Proust with the +Montgolfiere la Marie Antoinette, at Versailles, on the 23rd of June, +1784. Roziers himself has left us a picturesque narrative of this +excursion from Versailles to Compiegne. He says:-- + +"The Montgolfiere rose at first very gently in a diagonal line, +presenting an imposing spectacle. Like a vessel which has just been +precipitated from the stocks, this astonishing machine hung balanced +in the air for some time, and seemed to have got beyond human control. +These irregular movements intimidated a portion of the spectators, who, +fearing that, should there be a fall, their lives would be in danger, +scattered away with great speed from under us. After having fed my fire, +I saluted the people, who answered me in the most cordial manner. I +had time to remark some faces, in which there was a mixed expression +of apprehension and joy. In continuing our upward progress, I perceived +that an upper current of air made the Montgolfiere bend, but on +increasing the heat, we rose above the current. The size of objects on +the earth now began perceptibly to diminish, which gave us an idea of +the distance at which we were from them. It was then that we became +visible to Paris and its suburbs, and so great was our elevation that +many in the capital thought we were directly over their heads. + +"When we had arrived among the clouds, the earth disappeared from our +view. Now a thick mist would envelop us, then a clear space showed us +where we were, and again we rose through a mass of snow, portions of +which stuck to our gallery. Curious to know how high we could ascend, we +resolved to increase our fire and raise the heat to the highest degree, +by raising our grating, and holding up our fagots suspended on the ends +of our forks. + +"Having gained these snowy elevations, and not being able to mount +higher, we wandered about for some time in regions which we felt were +now visited by man for the first time. Isolated and separated entirely +from nature, we perceived beneath us only enormous masses of snow, +which, reflecting the sunshine, filled the firmament with a glorious +light. We remained eight minutes at this elevation, 11,732 feet above +the earth. This situation, however agreeable it might have been to the +painter or the poet, promised little to the man of science in the way +of acquiring knowledge; and so we determined, eighteen minutes after our +departure, to return through the clouds to the earth. We had hardly left +this snowy abyss, when the most pleasant scene succeeded the most +dreary one. The broad plains appeared before our view in all their +magnificence. No snow, no clouds were now to be seen, except around the +horizon, where a few clouds seemed to rest on the earth. We passed in a +minute from winter to spring. We saw the immeasurable earth covered +with towns and villages, which at that distance appeared only so many +isolated mansions surrounded with gardens. The rivers which wound about +in all directions seemed no more than rills for the adornment of these +mansions; the largest forests looked mere clumps or groves, and the +meadows and broad fields seemed no more than garden plots. These +marvellous tableaux, which no painter could render, reminded us of the +fairy metamorphoses; only with this difference, that we were beholding +upon a mighty scale what imagination could only picture in little. It is +in such a situation that the soul rises to the loftiest height, that the +thoughts are exalted and succeed each other with the greatest rapidity. +Travelling at this elevation, our fire did not demand continual +attention, and we could easily walk about the gallery. We were as much +at peace upon our lofty balcony as we should have been upon the terrace +of a mansion, enjoying all the pictures which unrolled themselves before +us continually, without experiencing any of the giddiness which has +disturbed so many persons. Having broken my fork in my exertions to +raise the balloon, I went to obtain another one. On my way to get it, I +encountered my companion, M. Proust. We ought never to have been on +the same side of the balloon, for a capsize and the escape of all our +hydrogen gas might have been the result. As it was, so well was the +machine ballasted, that the only effect of our being on the one side +made the balloon incline a little in that direction. The winds, although +very considerable, caused us no uneasiness, and we only knew the +swiftness of our progress through the air by the rapidity with which the +villages seemed to fly away from under our feet; so that it seemed, from +the tranquillity with which we moved, that we were borne along by the +diurnal movement of the globe. Often we wished to descend, in order +to learn what the people were crying to us the simplicity of our +arrangements enabled us to rise, to descend, to move in horizontal or +oblique lines, as we pleased and as often as we considered necessary, +without altogether landing." + +When they came to Luzarche, the delighted aeronauts resolved to land. +Already the people were testifying their pleasure at seeing them. Men +came running together from all directions, while all the animals rushed +away with equal precipitation, no doubt taking the balloon for some +wild beast. Finding that their course would lead them straight against +certain houses, the aeronauts again increased their fire, and, slightly +rising, escaped the buildings that had been in their way. Shortly +afterwards they safely landed forty miles from the spot from which they +had started. + +It was not only the man of science or the mechanician that devoted +himself to the task of taking possession of the new empire, but the +nobles gave their hands to the aeronauts, and humbly asked the favour of +an ascent. The king had addressed letters to the Brothers Montgolfier, +and the marvellous invention had become an affair of state. The princes +of the blood and the nobles of the court considered it an honour to +count among the number of their friends a celebrated aeronaut. + +The Count d'Artois, afterwards Charles X., and the Duke de Chartres, +father of Louis Philippe, made experiments in aerial navigation. The +chemists Alban and Vallet made a magnificent balloon for the Count, who +went up many times in it, with several persons of all ranks. + +Already at St. Cloud, the Duke of Chartres, afterwards Philippe Egalite, +had, on the 15th of July, 1784, made, with the Brothers Robert, an +ascent which put their courage to terrible tests. The hydrogen gas +balloon was oblong, sixty feet high and forty feet in diameter, and +it had been constructed upon a plan supplied by Meunier. In order to +obviate the use of the valve, he had placed inside the balloon a smaller +globe, filled with ordinary air. This was done on the supposition that, +when the balloon rose high, the hydrogen being rarefied would compress +the little globe within, and press out of it a quantity of ordinary air +equal to the amount of its dilation. + +At eight o'clock, the Brothers Robert--Collin and Hullin--and the Duke +of Chartres, ascended in presence of an immense multitude. The nearest +ranks kneeled down to allow those behind to have a view of the departure +of the balloon, which disappeared among the clouds amid the acclamations +of the prostrate multitude. The machine, obedient to the stormy and +contrary winds which it met, turned several times completely round. The +helm, which had been fitted to the machine, and the two oars, gave such +a purchase to the winds that the voyagers, already surrounded by the +clouds, cut them away. But the oscillations continued, and the little +globe inside not being suspended with cords, fell down in such an +unfortunate manner as to close up the opening of the large balloon, by +means of which provision had been made for the egress of the gas now +dilated by the heat of the sun, which poured down its rays, a sudden +gust having cleared the space of the clouds. It was feared that the case +of the balloon would crack, and the whole thing collapse, in spite of +the efforts of the aeronauts to push back the smaller balloon from the +opening. Then the Duke of Chartres seized one of the flags they carried, +and with the lance-head pierced the balloon in two places. A rent of +about nine feet was the consequence, and the balloon began to descend +with amazing rapidity. They would have fallen into a lake had they not +thrown over 60 lbs. of ballast, which caused them to rise a little, and +pass over to the shore, where they got safely to the earth. + +The expedition lasted only a few minutes. The Duke of Chartres was +rallied by his enemies, who accused him of cowardice; and Monjoie, his +historian, making allusion to the combat of Ouessant, says that he had +given proofs of his cowardice in the three elements--earth, air, and +water. + +M. Gray, professor at the seminary of Rodez, presented us some years ago +with the following letter from the Abbe Carnus, upon the aerial voyage +which he undertook, August 6th, 1784:-- + +"The progress of the Montgolfiere was so sudden that one might almost +have believed that it arose all inflated and furnished out of some chasm +in the earth The air was calm, the sky without clouds, the sun +very strong. Our fuel and instruments were put into the gallery, my +companion, M. Louchet, was at his post, and I took mine. At twenty +minutes past eight the cords were loosened, we waved a farewell to the +spectators, and while two cannon-shots announced our departure, we were +already high above the loftiest buildings. + +"To the general acclamations of the crowd succeeded a profound silence. +The spectators, half in fear, half in admiration, stood motionless, with +eyes fixed, and gazing eagerly at the superb machine, which rose almost +vertically with rapidity and also with grandeur. Some women, and even +some men, fainted away; others raised their hands to heaven; others shed +tears; all grew pale at the sight of our bright fire. + +"'We have quitted the earth,' said I to my companion. + +"'I compliment you on the fact,' he answered; 'keep up the fire!' + +"A truss of hay, steeped in spirits of wine accelerated the swiftness of +our ascent. I cast my glance upon the town, which seemed to flee rapidly +from under our feet. Terrestrial objects had already lost their shape +and size. The burning heat which I felt at first now gave place to a +temperature of the most agreeable kind, and the air which we breathed +seemed to contain healthful elements unknown to dwellers on the lower +earth. + +"'How well I am!' I said to Louchet; 'how are you?' + +"'As well as can be. Would that I could dispatch a message to the +earth!' + +"Immediately I threw over a roll of paper on which I had written the +words, 'All well on board the City of Rodez.' + +"At thirty-two minutes past eight our elevation was at least 6,000 feet +above sea level. A flame from our fire, rising from eighteen to twenty +feet, sent us up another 1,000 feet. It was then that our machine was +seen by every spectator within a circuit of nine miles, and it appeared +to be right over the heads of all of them. + +"'Send us up out of sight,' said my adventurous confrere. + +"I had to moderate his ardour--a larger fire would have burnt our +balloon. + +"From our moving observatory the most splendid view developed itself. +The boundaries of the horizon were vastly extended. The capital of the +Rouergue appeared to be no more than a group of stones, one of which +seemed to rise to the height of two or three feet. This was no other +than the superb tower of the cathedral. Fertile slopes, agreeable +valleys, lofty precipices, waste lands, ancient castles perched upon +frowning rocks, these form the endlessly varied spectacle which the +Rouergue and the neighbouring provinces present to the view of those who +traverse the surface of the earth. But how different is the scene to the +aerial voyager! We could perceive only a vast country, perfectly round, +and seemingly a little elevated in the middle, irregularly marked with +verdure, but without inhabitants, without towns, valleys, rivers, or +mountains. Living beings no longer existed for us; the forests were +changed into what looked like grassy plains; the ranges of the +Cantal and the Cevennes had disappeared; we looked in vain for the +Mediterranean, and the Pyrenees seemed only a long series of piles +of snow, connected at their bases. Our own balloon, which from Rodez +appeared about the size of a marble, was the only object that for us +retained its natural dimensions. What wonderful sensations then arose +within us! I had often reflected upon the works of nature; their +magnificence had always filled me with admiration. In this soul-stirring +moment how beautiful did nature seem--how grand! With what majesty did +it strike my imagination. Never did man appear to me before such an +excellent being His latest triumph over the elements recalled to my mind +his other conquests of nature. My companion was animated with the same +sentiments, and more than once we cried out, 'Vive Montgolfier! Vive +Roziers! Vivent ceux qui ont du courage et de la constance!' + +"In the meantime our fuel was getting near the end. In eighteen minutes +we had run a distance of 12,000 feet. 'Make your observations while I +attend to the fire,' said my companion to me. I examined the barometer, +the thermometer, and the compass, and having sealed up a small bottle of +the air at this elevation, I asked my companion to reduce the fire. We +descended 1,800 feet, and at this height I filled another bottle with +air. + +"Afterwards we felt the refreshing breath of a slight breeze, which +carried us gently toward the south-east. In six minutes we had run +18,000 feet. Then, having only sufficient fuel to enable us to choose +the place of our descent, we considered whether we should not bring our +aerial voyage to a termination. We had neither lake nor forest to fear, +and we were secure against danger from fire, as we could detach the +grating at some distance from the earth. At fifty-eight minutes past +eight all our fuel was exhausted, except two bundles of straw, of +four pounds each, which we reserved for our descent. The balloon came +gradually down, and terrestrial objects began again to resume their +proper forms and dimensions. The animals fled at the sight of our +balloon, which seemed likely to crush them in its fall. Horsemen were +obliged to dismount and lead their frightened horses. Terrified by such +an unwonted sight, the labourers in the fields abandoned their work. We +were not more than 600 feet from the earth. We threw on the two bundles +of straw, but still gradually descended. The grating was then detached, +and I had no difficulty in leaping to the ground. But now a most +surprising and unlooked-for event happened. M. Louchet had not been able +to descend at the same moment as myself, and the balloon, now free from +my weight, immediately re-ascended with the speed of a bird, bearing +away my companion. I followed him with my eyes, and it was to my +agreeable surprise that I heard him crying to me, 'All is well; fear +not!' though it was not without a species of jealousy that I saw him +mounting up to the height of 1,400 or 1,500 feet. The balloon, after +having run a distance of 3,600 feet in a horizontal direction, began +gently to descend at four minutes past nine, at the village of Inieres, +after having travelled 42,000 feet from the point of departure. When it +had touched the ground it bumped up again two or three feet. M. Louchet +jumped out, and seized one of the ropes, but had much difficulty in +holding the balloon in hand. He cried to the frightened peasants to come +and help him. But they seemed to regard him as a dangerous magician, +or as a monster, and they feared to touch the ropes lest they might be +swallowed up by the balloon. Soon afterwards I came to the rescue. The +balloon was in as thorough repair as when we began our journey. We then +pressed out the hot air, folded up the envelope, placed it upon a small +cart drawn by two oxen, and drove off with it." + + + +Chapter IV. + + Serio-Comic Aspect of the Subject--The Public Duped--The + Abbes Miolan and Janninet at the Luxembourg--Caricatures-- + The "Minerva" of Robertson, and its Voyage Round the World. + +The discovery like that of balloons could not be made public in France +without being travestied, and without offering some comic side for +the amusement of the wits of the day. Under some old coloured prints, +designed with the intention of satirising such unfortunate aeronauts +as had collected their money from the spectators, but had failed in +inflating their balloons, is written, "The Infallible Means of Raising +Balloons"--the infallible means consisting of ropes and pulleys. + +While caricature was thus turning its irony upon the efforts of +believers in the new idea, serious pamphlets were being written and +published with the same object. One of these declares that the discovery +is IMMORAL, I. Because since God has not given wings to man, it is +impious to try to improve his works, and to encroach upon his rights as +a Creator; 2. Because honour and virtue would be in continual danger, +if balloons were permitted to descend, at all hours of the night, into +gardens and close to windows; 3. Because, if the highway of the air were +to remain open to all and sundry, the frontiers of nations would vanish, +and property national and personal would be invaded, &c. We do not wish +to gather together here the stones which critics threw against the new +discovery, unaware all the time that these stones were falling upon +their own heads. + +It is only fair to state that after the first ascents the public were +often duped by pretending aeronauts, whose single aim was to sell their +tickets, and who disappeared when the time came for ascending. The +result of these frauds was that sometimes honest men were made to suffer +as rogues. Even in our own day, when an ascent, seriously intended, +fails to succeed, owing to some unforeseen circumstances, the public +frequently manifests a decided ill-will to the aeronaut, who is +perfectly honest, and only unfortunate. + +The famous ascent of the Abbes Miolan and Janninet, at the Luxembourg, +may be cited as among the failures which suffered most from the satire +of the time. Their immense balloon, constructed at great expense at the +observatory, was expected to rise beyond the clouds, and a multitude, +each of whom had paid dearly for his ticket, had assembled at the +Luxembourg. The morning had been occupied in removing the balloon from +the observatory to the place of ascent, and at midday the inflation of +it began. The rays of a burning July sun--and one knows what that is in +the Luxembourg in Paris--streamed down on the heads of the thousands of +spectators. From six in the morning till four in the evening they had +waited to see the unheard-of wonder; the ascent, however, was to be so +imposing, that nothing could be lost by waiting for it. + +But at five in the afternoon the heavy machine was still +motionless--inert upon the ground. We need not attempt to describe the +scene which took place as the impatience of the multitude increased. +Sneers of derision made themselves heard on all sides. A universal +murmur, rapidly developing into a clamour, arose amongst the multitude; +then, wild with disappointment, the frenzied populace threw themselves +upon the barricade, broke it, attacked the gallery of the balloon, the +instruments, the apparatus, trampling them under foot, and smashing them +in bits. They then rushed upon the balloon and fired it. There was then +a general melee. Far from fleeing the fire, every one struggled to seize +and carry off a bit of the balloon, to preserve as a relic. The two +abbes escaped as they best could, under protection of a number of +friends. + +After this there fell a perfect shower of lampoons and caricatures. The +Abbe Miolan was represented as a cat with a band round its neck, while +Janninet appeared as a donkey; and in a coloured print the cat and +the ass are shown arriving in triumph upon their famous balloon at the +Academy of Montmartre, and are received at the hill of Moulins-a-Vent +by a solemn assembly of turkey-cocks and geese in different attitudes. +Numerous songs and epigrams, of which the unfortunate abbes were the +subjects, also appeared at this time. The letters which composed the +words "l'Abbe Miolan" were found to form the anagram, Ballon abime--"the +balloon swallowed up." + +The most extravagant balloon project was that of Robertson, who +published a scheme for making a tour of the world. He called it "La +Minerva, an aerial vessel destined for discoveries, and proposed to +all the Academies of Europe, by Robertson, physicist" (Vienna, 1804; +reprinted at Paris, 1820), Robertson dedicated his project to Volta, and +in his dedication he does not scruple to say: "In our age, my friendship +seeks only one gratification, that we should both live a sufficiently +long time together to enable you to calculate and utilise the results +of this great machine, while I take the practical direction of it." The +following is this aeronaut's prospectus:-- + +"There is no limit to the sciences and the arts, which cultivation does +not overstep. We have everything to hope and to expect from time, +from chance, and from the genius of man. The difference which there +is between the canoe of the savage and the man-of-war of 124 guns is +perhaps as great as that of balloons as they now are and as they will +be in the course of a century. If you ask of an aeronaut why he cannot +command the motions of his balloon, he will ask of you in his turn why +the inventor of the canoe did not immediately afterwards construct a +man-of-war. It must be recollected that there have not yet elapsed forty +years since the discovery of the balloon, and that to perfect it would +be a work of difficulty, as much from the increased knowledge which such +a work would demand, as from the pecuniary sacrifices and the personal +devotion which it would involve. + +"Thus this invention, after having at first electrified all savants +from the one end of the world to the other, has suffered the fate of all +discoveries--it was all at once arrested. Did not astronomy wait long +for Newton, and chemistry for Lavoisier, to raise them to something like +the splendour they now enjoy? Was not the magnet a long time a toy +in the hands of the Chinese, without giving birth to the idea of the +compass? The electric fluid was known in the time of Thales, but +how many ages did we wait for the discovery of galvanism? Yet these +sciences, which may be studied in silent retreats, were more likely to +yield fruit to the discoverer than aerostatics, which demand courage +and skill, and of which the experiments, which are always public, are +attended with great cost." + +Robertson's proposed machine was to be 150 feet in diameter, and would +be capable of carrying 150,000 lbs. Every precaution was to be taken in +order to make the great structure perfect. It was to accommodate sixty +persons to be chosen by the academics, who should stay in it for several +months should rise to all possible elevations, pass through all +climates in all seasons, make scientific observations, &c. This balloon, +penetrating deserts inaccessible by other means of travel, and visiting +places which travellers have never penetrated, would be of immense use +in the science of geography: and when under the line, if the heat near +the earth should be inconvenient, the aeronauts would, of course, easily +rise to elevations where the temperature is equal and agreeable. When +their observations, their needs, or their pleasures demanded it, they +could descend to within a short distance of the earth, say ninety feet, +and fix themselves in their position by means of an anchor. It might, +perhaps, be possible, by taking the advantage of favourable winds, to +make the tour of the world. "Experience will perhaps demonstrate that +aerial navigation presents less inconvenience and less dangers than the +navigation of the seas." + +The immensity of the seas seemed to be the only source of insurmountable +difficulties; "but," says Robertson, "over what a vast space might +not one travel in six months with a balloon fully furnished with the +necessaries of life, and all the appliances necessary for safety? +Besides, if, through the natural imperfection attaching to all the works +of man, or either through accident or age, the balloon, borne above the +sea, became incapable of sustaining the travellers, it is provided with +a boat, which can withstand the waters and guarantee the return of the +voyagers." + +Such were the ideas promulgated regarding the "Minerva." The following +is the serious description given of the machine. The numbers correspond +with those on the illustration. + +"The cock (3) is the symbol of watchfulness; it is also the highest +point of the balloon. An observer, getting up through the interior to +the point at which the watchful fowl is placed, will be able to command +the best view to be had in the 'Minerva.' The wings at the side (1 and +2) are to be regarded as ornamental. The balloon will be 150 feet in +diameter, made expressly at Lyons of unbleached silk, coated within and +without with indict-rubber. This globe sustains a ship, which contains +or has attached to it all the things necessary for the convenience, the +observations, and even the pleasures of the voyagers. + +"(a) A small boat, in which the passengers might take refuge in case +of necessity, in the event of the larger vessel falling on the sea in a +disabled state. + +"(b) A large store for keeping the water, wine, and all the provisions +of the expedition. + +"(cc) Ladders of silk, to enable the passengers to go to all parts of +the balloon. + +"(e) Closets. + +"(h) Pilot's room. + +"(1) An observatory, containing the compasses and other scientific +instruments for taking the latitude. + +"(g) A room fitted up for recreations, walking, and gymnastics. + +"(m) The kitchen, far removed from the balloon. It is the only place +where a fire shall be permitted. + +"(p) Medicine room. + +"(v) A theatre, music room, &c. + +"--The study. + +"(x) The tents of the air-marines, &c. &c." + +This balloon is certainly the most marvellous that has ever been +imagined--quite a town, with its forts, ramparts, cannon, boulevards, +and galleries. One can understand the many squibs and satires which so +Utopian a notion provoked. + + + +Chapter V. First Aerial Voyage in England--Blanchard Crosses the Sea in +a Balloon. + +In spite of their known powers of industry and perseverance, the English +did not throw themselves with any great ardour into the exploration +of the atmosphere. From one cause or another it is the French and the +Italians that have chiefly distinguished themselves in this art. The +English historian of aerostation gives some details of the first aerial +voyage made in this country by the Italian, Vincent Lunardy. + +The balloon was made of silk covered with a varnish of oil, and painted +in alternate stripes--blue and red. It was three feet in diameter. Cords +fixed upon it hung down and were attached to a hoop at the bottom, from +which a gallery was suspended. This balloon had no safety-valve--its +neck was the only opening by which the hydrogen gas was introduced, and +by which it was allowed to escape. + +In September, 1784, it was carried to the Artillery Ground and filled +with gas. After being two-thirds filled, the gallery was attached with +its two oars or wings, and Lunardy, accompanied by Biggin and Madame +Sage, took his place; but it was found that the balloon had not +sufficient lifting power to carry up the whole three, and Lunardy went +up alone, with the exception of the pigeon, the cat, and the dog, that +were with him. + +The balloon rose to the height of about twenty feet, then followed a +horizontal line, and descended. But the gallery had no sooner touched +the earth than Lunardy threw over the sand that served as ballast, and +mounted triumphantly, amid the applause of a considerable multitude of +spectators. After a time he descended upon a common, where he left the +cat nearly dead with cold, ascended, and continued his voyage. He says, +in the narrative which he has left, that he descended by means of the +one oar which was left to him, the other having fallen over; but, as he +states that, in order to rise again, he threw over the remainder of his +ballast, it is natural to believe that the descent of the balloon was +caused by the loss of gas, because, if he descended by the use of the +oar, he must have re-ascended when he stopped using it. He landed in the +parish of Standon, where he was assisted by the peasants. + +He assures us again that he came down the second time by means of the +oar. He says:--"I took my oar to descend, and in from fifteen to twenty +minutes I arrived at the earth after much fatigue, my strength being +nearly exhausted. My chief desire was to escape a shock on reaching +the earth, and fortune favoured me." The fear of a concussion seems to +indicate that he descended more because of the weight of the balloon +than by the action of the oar. + +It appears that the only scientific instrument he had was a thermometer +which fell to 29 degrees. The drops of water which had attached +themselves to the balloon were frozen. + +The second aerial journey in England was undertaken by Blanchard and +Sheldon. The latter, a professor of anatomy in the Royal Academy, is +the first Englishman who ever went up in a balloon. This ascent was made +from Chelsea on the 16th October, 1784. + +The same balloon which Blanchard had used in France served him on this +occasion, with the difference that the hoop which went round the +middle of it, and the parasol above the car, were dispensed with. At the +extremity of his car he had fitted a sort of ventilator, which he was +able to move about by means of a winch. This ventilator, together with +the wings and the helm, were to serve especially the purpose of steering +at will, which he had often said was quite practicable as soon as a +certain elevation had been reached. + +The two aeronauts ascended, having with them a number of scientific and +musical instruments, some refreshments, ballast, &c. Twice the ascent +failed, and eventually Sheldon got out, and Blanchard went up again +alone. + +Blanchard says that, on this second ascent, he was carried first +north-east, then east-south-east of Sunbury in Middlesex. He rose so +high that he had great difficulty in breathing, the pigeon he had with +him escaped, but could hardly maintain itself in the rarefied air of +such an elevated region, and finding no place to rest, came back +and perched on the side of the car. After a time, the cold becoming +excessive, Blanchard descended until he could distinguish men on the +earth, and hear their shouting. After many vicissitudes he landed upon +a plain in Hampshire, about seventy-five miles from the point of +departure. It was observed that, so long as he could be clearly seen, he +executed none of the feats with his wings, ventilator, &c., which he had +promised to exhibit. + +Enthusiasm about aerial voyages was now at its climax; the most +wonderful deeds were spoken of as commonplace, and the word "impossible" +was erased from the language. Emboldened by his success, Blanchard one +day announced in the newspapers that he would cross from England to +France in a balloon--a marvellous journey, the success of which depended +altogether upon the course of the wind, to the mercy of which the bold +aeronaut committed himself. + +A certain Dr. Jeffries offered to accompany Blanchard. On the 7th of +January the sky was calm, in consequence of a strong frost during +the preceding night, the wind which was very light, being from the +north-north-west. The arranged meets were made above the cliffs of +Dover. When the balloon rose, there were only three sacks of sand of 10 +lbs. each in it. They had not been long above ground when the barometer +sank from 29.7 to 27.3. Dr. Jeffries, in a letter addressed to the +president of the Royal Society, describes with enthusiasm the spectacle +spread out before him: the broad country lying behind Dover, sown with +numerous towns and villages, formed a charming view; while the rocks on +the other side, against which the waves dashed, offered a prospect that +was rather trying. + +They had already passed one-third of the distance across the Channel +when the balloon descended for the second time, and they threw over +the last of their ballast; and that not sufficing, they threw over some +books, and found themselves rising again. After having got more than +half way, they found to their dismay, from the rising of the barometer, +that they were again descending, and the remainder of their books were +thrown over. At twenty-five minutes past two o'clock they had passed +three-quarters of their journey, and they perceived ahead the inviting +coasts of France. But, in consequence either of the loss or the +condensation of the inflammable gas, they found themselves once more +descending. They then threw over their provisions, the wings of the car, +and other objects. "We were obliged," says Jeffries, "to throw out the +only bottle we had, which fell on the water with a loud sound, and sent +up spray like smoke." + +They were now near the water themselves, and certain death seemed to +stare them in the face. It is said that at this critical moment Jeffries +offered to throw himself into the sea, in order to save the life of his +companion. + +"We are lost, both of us," said he; "and if you believe that it will +save you to be lightened of my weight, I am willing to sacrifice my +life." + +This story has certainly the appearance of romance, and belief in it is +not positively demanded. + +One desperate resource only remained--they could detach the car and hang +on themselves to the ropes of the balloon. They were preparing to carry +out this idea, when they imagined they felt themselves beginning to +ascend again. It was indeed so. The balloon mounted once more; they were +only four miles from the coast of France, and their progress through the +air was rapid. All fear was now banished. Their exciting situation, and +the idea that they were the first who had ever traversed the Channel in +such a manner, rendered them careless about the want of certain articles +of dress which they had discarded. At three o'clock they passed over the +shore half-way between Cape Blanc and Calais. Then the balloon, rising +rapidly, described a great arc, and they found themselves at a greater +elevation than at any part of their course. The wind increased in +strength, and changed a little in its direction. Having descended to the +tops of the trees of the forest of Guines, Dr. Jeffries seized a branch, +and by this means arrested their advance. The valve was then opened, the +gas rushed out, and the aeronauts safely reached the ground after the +successful accomplishment of this daring and memorable enterprise. + +A number of horsemen, who had watched the recent course of the balloon, +now rode up, and gave the adventurers the most cordial reception. On the +following day a splendid fete was celebrated in their honour at Calais. +Blanchard was presented with the freedom of the city in a box of gold, +and the municipal body purchased the balloon, with the intention of +placing it in one of the churches as a memorial of this experiment, it +being also resolved to erect a marble monument on the spot where the +famous aeronauts landed. + +Some days afterwards Blanchard was summoned before the king, who +conferred upon him an annual pension of 1,200 livres. The queen, who +was at play at the gambling table, placed a sum for him upon a card, and +presented him with the purse which she won. + + + +Chapter VI. Zambeccari's Perilous Trip Across the Adriatic Sea. + +There is not in the whole annals of aerostation a more moving +catastrophe than that of the unfortunate Comte Zambeccari, who, during +an aerial journey on October the 7th, 1804, was cast away on the waves +of the Adriatic. + +The history of Zambeccari is dramatic throughout. After having been +taken by the Turks and thrown into the Bay of Constantinople, from which +he with difficulty escaped, he devoted himself to the study and practice +of aerial navigation. He fancied he could make use of a lamp supplied +with spirits of wine, the flame of which he could direct at will, in the +hope of thus being able to steer the balloon in whatever direction he +chose. One day his balloon damaged itself against a tree at Boulogne, +and the spirits of wine set his clothes on fire. The flames with which +the aeronaut was covered only served to increase the ascending power of +the balloon, and the frightened spectators, among whom were Zambeccari's +young wife and children, saw him carried up into the clouds out of +sight. He succeeded, however, in extinguishing the fire which surrounded +him. + +In 1804, he organised a series of experiments at Milan, for which he +received, in advance, the sum of 8,000 crowns; but the experiments +failed, in consequence of the inclemency of the weather, the treachery +of his assistants, and the malice of his rivals. + +At length, on the 7th of October, after a fall of rain which lasted +forty-eight hours, and which had delayed the announced ascent, he +resolved, whatever might happen, to carry it out, though all the chances +were against him. Eight young men whom he had instructed, and who had +promised him their assistance in filling the balloon, failed him at the +critical moment. Still, however, he continued his labours, with the +help of two companions, Andreoli and Grassetti. Wearied with his +long-continued efforts, dis-appointed and hungry, he took his place in +the car. + +The two companions whom we have named went with him. They rose gently at +first, and hovered over the town of Bologna. Zambeccari says, "The lamp, +which was intended to increase our ascending force, became useless. We +could not observe the state of the barometer by the feeble light of a +lantern. The insupportable cold that prevailed in the high region to +which we had ascended, the weariness and hunger arising from my having +neglected to take nourishment for twenty-four hours, the vexation +that embittered my spirit--all these combined produced in me a total +prostration, and I fell upon the floor of the gallery in a profound +sleep that was like death. 'The same misfortune overtook my companion +Grassetti. Andreoli was the only one who remained awake and able for +duty--no doubt because he had taken plenty of food and a large quantity +of rum. Still he suffered from the cold, which was excessive, and his +endeavours to wake me were for a long time vain. Finally, however, he +succeeded in getting me to my feet, but my ideas were confused, and I +demanded of him, like one newly awaking from a dream, 'What is the news? +Where are we? What time is it? How is the wind?' + +"It was two o'clock. The compass had been broken, and was useless; the +wax light in the lantern would not burn in such a rarefied atmosphere. +We descended gently across a thick layer of whitish clouds, and when +we had got below them, Andreoli heard a sound, muffled and almost +inaudible, which he immediately recognised as the breaking of waves in +the distance. Instantly he announced to me this new and fearful danger. +I listened, and had not long to wait before I was convinced that he was +speaking the truth. It was necessary to have light to examine the state +of the barometer, and thus ascertain what was our elevation above the +sea level, and to take our measures in consequence. Andreoli broke five +phosphoric matches, without getting a spark of fire. Nevertheless, we +succeeded, after very great difficulty, by the help of the flint +and steel, in lighting the lantern. It was now three o'clock in the +morning--we had started at midnight. The sound of the waves, tossing +with wild uproar, became louder and louder, and I suddenly saw the +surface of the sea violently agitated just below us. I immediately +seized a large sack of sand, but had not time to throw it over before we +were all in the water, gallery and all. In the first moment of fright, +we threw into the sea everything that would lighten the balloon--our +ballast, all our instruments, a portion of our clothing, our money, and +the oars. As, in spite of all this, the balloon did not rise, we threw +over our lamp also. After having torn and cut away everything that did +not appear to us to be of indispensable necessity, the balloon, thus +very much lightened, rose all at once, but with such rapidity and to +such a prodigious elevation, that we had difficulty in hearing each +other, even when shouting at the top of our voices. I was ill, and +vomited severely. Grassetti was bleeding at the nose; we were both +breathing short and hard, and felt oppression on the chest. As we were +thrown upon our backs at the moment when the balloon took such a sudden +start out of the water and bore us with such swiftness to those high +regions, the cold seized us suddenly, and we found ourselves covered all +at once with a coating of ice. I could not account for the reason why +the moon, which was in its last quarter, appeared on a parallel line +with us, and looked red as blood. + +"After having traversed these regions for half an hour, at an +immeasurable elevation, the balloon slowly began to descend, and at +last we fell again into the sea, at about four in the morning I cannot +determine at what distance we were from land when we fell the second +time. The night was very dark, the sea rolling heavily, and we were in +no condition to make observations. But it must have been in the middle +of the Adriatic that we fell. Although we descended gently, the gallery +was sunk, and we were often entirely covered with water. The balloon +being now more than half empty, in consequence of the vicissitudes +through, which we had passed, gave a purchase to the wind, which pressed +against it as against a sail, so that by means of it we were dragged +and beaten about at the mercy of the storm and the waves. At daybreak +we looked out and found ourselves opposite Pesaro, four miles from the +shore. We were comforting ourselves with the prospect of a safe landing, +when a wind from the land drove us with violence away over the open sea. +It was now full day, but all we could see were the sea, the sky, and the +death that threatened us. Certainly some boats happened to come within +sight; but no sooner did they see the balloon floating and striping upon +the water than they made all sail to get away from it. No hope was then +left to us but the very small one of making the coasts of Dalmatia, +which were opposite, but at a great distance from us. Without the +slightest doubt we should have been drowned if heaven had not mercifully +directed towards us a navigator who, better informed than those we had +seen before, recognised our machine to be a balloon and quickly sent his +long-boat to our rescue. The sailors threw us a stout cable, which we +attached to the gallery, and by means of which they rescued us when +fainting with exposure. The balloon thus lightened, immediately rose +into the air, in spite of all the efforts of the sailors who wished to +capture it. The long boat received a severe shock from its escape, +as the rope was still attached to it, and the sailors hastened to cut +themselves free. At once the balloon mounted with incredible rapidity, +and was lost in the clouds, where it disappeared for ever from our view. +It was eight in the morning when we got on board. Grassetti was so ill +that he hardly showed any signs of life. His hands were sadly mutilated. +Cold, hunger, and the dreadful anxiety had completely prostrated me. The +brave captain of the vessel did everything in his power to restore us. +He conducted us safely to Ferrara, whence we were carried to Pola, where +we were received with the greatest kindness, and where I was compelled +to have my fingers amputated." + + + +Chapter VII. Garnerin--Parachutes--Aerostation at Public Fetes. + +"On the 22nd October, 1797," says the astronomer Lalande, "at +twenty-eight minutes past five, Citizen Garnerin rose in a balloon from +the park of Monceau. Silence reigned in the assembly, anxiety and fear +being painted on the visages of all. When he had ascended upwards of +2,000 feet, he cut the cord that connected his parachute and car +with the balloon. The latter exploded, and Garnerin descended in his +parachute very rapidly. He made a dreadful lurch in the air, that forced +a sudden cry of fear from the whole multitude, and made a number of +women faint. Meanwhile Citizen Garnerin descended into the plain of +Monceau; he mounted his horse upon the spot, and rode back to the park, +attended by an immense multitude, who gave vent to their admiration for +the skill and talent of the young aeronaut. Garnerin was the first to +undertake this most daring and dangerous venture. He had conceived the +idea of this feat while lying a prisoner of state in Buda, Hungary." +Lalande adds that he went and announced his success at the Institute +National, which was assembled at the time, and which listened to him +with the greatest interest. + +Robertson conducted an experiment of descending by means of a parachute +at Vienna, in 1804, in which he received all the glory, without +partaking of any of the danger. He made the public preparations for an +ascent in the balloon, his pupil, Michaud, however, took his place in +the car, and made the ascent. + +Robertson says that on this occasion he yielded to the entreaties of a +young man who was his pupil, and had begged to be allowed to make his +debut before such a great multitude. In this case a slight improvement +was made in the parachute. The car was surrounded by a cloth of silk, +which, when the aeronaut cut himself away from the balloon, spread +itself out in such a way as to form a second parachute. + +Robertson made all the preparations, and Michaud had no more to do than +place himself in the car. Loud applause arose on all sides. Michaud +had ascended 900 feet above the earth when the signal for his cutting +himself clear of the balloon was given, by the firing of a cannon. He +at once cut the two strings, and the balloon soared away into the upper +regions, whilst he was left for one terrible moment to fate. The fall +was at first rapid, but the two parachutes soon opened themselves +simultaneously, and presented a majestic appearance. In a few seconds +the aeronaut had traversed the space that intervened between him and +the assembly, and found himself safely landed on the ground, at a short +distance from the place whence he had set out, while the whole air +was rent with shouts of applause. This experiment was deemed a most +extraordinary one. Compliments were showered upon Robertson from all +sides, and the court presented him with rich presents. + +Balloons have always formed a prominent feature at the fetes of +Paris, for the celebration of the chief events of the Revolution, the +Consulate, and the Empire--the first of these epochs being that in which +these aerial vessels were held in highest esteem. + +Jacques Garnerin had played a brilliant role as aeronaut under the +Directory, the Consulate, and the Empire; and it was he who after the +coronation of the Emperor Napoleon I., was charged with the raising of a +monster balloon, which was arranged to ascend, with the accompaniment of +fireworks, on the evening of the 16th of December, 1804. + +An uncommon incident connected with this event serves to show us the +spirit of fatalism with which the character of Napoleon I. was infected. +"The Man of Destiny" believed in the destiny of man; he had faith in +his star alone; and from the height of his greatness the new ruler, +consecrated emperor and king by the Pope, beheld a presage of misfortune +in a chance circumstance, insignificant to all but himself, in the +experiment of which we are about to recount the history. + +The fete given by the city of Paris to their majesties embraced the +whole town, from the Champs Elysees to the Barriere du Trone, on the +square of the Hotel de Ville. Upon the river throughout its length +between the Isle of St. Louis and the bridge of Notre Dame, an immense +display of fireworks was to take place. The scene to be represented was +the passage of Mont St. Bernard. Garnerin was stationed with his balloon +in front of the gate of the church of Notre Dame. At eleven o'clock in +the evening, at the moment when the first discharge of fireworks made +the air luminous with a hundred thousand stars, Garnerin threw off his +immense balloon. The chief feature of it was the device of a crown, +designed in coloured lanterns arranged round the globe. It rose +splendidly, and with the most perfect success. + +On the following morning the inhabitants of Rome were astounded to +behold advancing toward them from the horizon a luminous globe, which +threatened to descend upon their city. The excitement was intense. +The balloon passed the cupola of St. Peter's and the Vatican; then +descending, it touched the ground, but rose again, and finally it sank +into the wafers of Lake Bracciano. + +It was drawn from the water, and the following inscription, emblazoned +in letters of gold upon its vast circumference, was printed, published, +and read throughout the whole of Italy--"Paris, 25eme Primaire, an +XIII., couronnement de l'empereur Napoleon, 1er par S.S. Pie VII." + +In touching the earth, the balloon happened to strike against the tomb +of the Emperor Nero, and, owing to the concussion, a portion of the +crown was left upon this ancient monument. The Italian journals, which +were not so strictly under the supervision of the government as were the +journals of France, gave the full particulars of these minor events; and +certain of them, connecting the names of Nero and Napoleon, indulged in +malicious remarks at the expense of the French emperor. These facts +came to the ear of the great general, who manifested much indignation, +dismissed the innocent Garnerin from his post, and appointed Madame +Blanchard to the supervision of all the balloon ascents which took place +at the public fetes. + +The balloon was preserved in the vaults of the Vatican in Rome, +accompanied with an inscription narrating its travels and wonderful +descent--minus the circumstance of the tomb. It was removed, as might be +supposed, in 1814. From this time the ascents of balloons took place +for the most part only on the occasions of coronations and other great +public fetes. + + + +Chapter VIII. Green's Great Journey Across Europe. + +It is probable that at the origin of navigation, man, before he had +invented oars and sails, made use of trunks of trees upon which he +trusted himself, leaving the rest to the winds and the currents of +the water, whether these were known or unknown. There is some analogy +between such rude rafts, the first discovered means of navigation on +water, and balloons, the first discovered means of navigation in air. +But unquestionably the advantage is with the latter. No means have yet +been found of directly steering balloons, but by allowing the gas to +escape the aeronaut can descend at will, and by lightening his car of +part of the ballast he carries he can ascend as readily. It must also be +remembered that the currents of air vary in their directions, according +to their elevation, and were the aeronaut perfectly acquainted with +aerial currents, he might, by raising or lowering himself, find a wind +blowing in the direction in which he wished to proceed, and the last +problem of aerostation would be solved. That any such knowledge can ever +be acquired it is impossible to say; but this much may with safety be +advanced, that distant journeys may frequently be taken with balloons +for useful purposes. + +One of the most remarkable excursions of this kind was that +superintended by Green, in 1836, from London to Germany. This journey, +1,200 miles in length, is the longest that has been yet accomplished. +Green set out from London on the 7th of November, 1836, accompanied by +two friends--Monk-Mason, the historian of the journey, and a gentleman +named Molland. Not knowing to what quarter of the globe he might be +blown, Green provided himself with passports to all the states of +Europe, and with a quantity of provisions sufficient to last him for +some time, should he be driven by the wind over the sea. Shortly after +mid-day the balloon rose with great grandeur, and, urged by a light +breeze, floated to the south-east, over the plains of Kent. At four +o'clock the voyagers sighted the sea. + +"It was forty-eight minutes past four," says Monk-Mason, "that we first +saw the line of waves breaking on the shores beneath us. It would +have been impossible to have remained unmoved by the grandeur of the +spectacle that spread out before us. Behind us were the coasts of +England, with their white cliffs half lost in the coming darkness. +Beneath us on both sides the ocean spread out far end wide to where the +darkness closed in the scene. Opposite us a barrier of thick clouds +like a wall, surmounted all along its line with projections like so many +towers, bastions, and battlements, rose up from the sea as if to stop +our advance. A few minutes afterwards we were in the midst of this +cloudy barrier, surrounded with darkness, which the vapours of the night +increased. We heard no sound. The noise of the waves breaking on the +shores of England had ceased, and our position had for some time cut us +off from all the sounds of earth." + +In an hour the Straits of Dover were cleared, the lights of Calais shone +out toward the voyagers, and the sound of the town drums rose up toward +them. "Darkness was now complete," continues the writer, "and it was +only by the lights, sometimes isolated, sometimes seen in masses, and +showing themselves far down on the earth beneath us, that we could form +a guess of the countries we traversed, or of the towns and villages +which appeared before us every moment. The whole surface of the earth +for many leagues round showed nothing but scattered lights, and the +face of the earth seemed to rival the vault of heaven with starry fires. +Every moment in the earlier part of the night before men had betaken +themselves to repose, clusters of lights appeared indicating large +centres of population. + +"Those on the horizon gave us the notion of a distant conflagration. In +proportion as we approached them, these masses of lights appeared to +increase, and to cover a greater space, until, when right over them, +they seemed to divide themselves into different parts, to stretch out in +long streets, and to shine in starry quadrangles round the squares, so +that we could see the exact plan of each city, given as on a small map. +It would be difficult to give an idea of what sort of effect such a +scene in such circumstances produces. To find oneself transported in +the darkness of night, in the midst of vast solitudes of air, unknown, +unperceived, in secret and in silence, exploring territories, traversing +kingdoms, watching towns which come into view, and pass out of it +before one can examine them in detail--these circumstances are enough +in themselves to render sublime a science which, independent of these +adjuncts, would be so interesting. If you add to this the uncertainty +which, increasing as we went on into the night, began to assail us +respecting our voyage, our ignorance of where we were, and what were the +objects we were attempting to discover, you may form some idea of our +singular position." + +About midnight, the travellers found themselves above Liege. Situated +in the midst of a thickly-peopled country, full of foundries, smelting +works, and forges, this town was quite a blaze of light. The gas-lamps +with which this town is so well lighted, clearly marked out for our +travellers the main streets, the squares, and the public buildings. But +after midnight, at which time the lamps in continental towns are mostly +put out, the whole of the under world disappeared from the view of the +aeronauts. + +"After the turn of the night," says Mason, "the moon did not show +itself, and the heavens, always more sombre when regarded from great +altitudes, seemed to us to intensify the natural darkness. On the +other hand, by a singular contrast, the stars shone out with unusual +brilliancy, and seemed like living sparks sown upon the ebony vault that +surrounded us. In fact, nothing could exceed the intensity of the night +which prevailed during this part of our voyage. A black profound abyss +surrounded us on all sides, and, as we attempted to penetrate into the +mysterious deeps, it was with difficulty we could beat back the idea and +the apprehension that we were making a passage through an immense mass +of black marble, in which we were enclosed, and which, solid to within a +few inches of us, appeared to open up at our approach." + +Until three o'clock the voyagers were in this state. The height of the +balloon, as calculated by the barometer, was 2,000 feet. They had not +then anything to fear from a disastrous encounter, when all at once a +sudden explosion was heard, the silk of the balloon quivered, the car +received a violent shock, and seemed to be shot suddenly into the gloomy +abyss. A second explosion and a third succeeded, accompanied each time +by this fearful shock to the car. The travellers soon found out that, +owing to the great altitude, the gas had expanded, and the rope which +surrounded it, saturated with water, and frozen with the intense cold, +had yielded to the pressure, in jerks which caused the report and the +shock. + +"From time to time," continues Mason, "vast masses of clouds covered the +lower regions of the atmosphere, and spread a thick, whitish veil over +the earth, intercepting our view, and leaving us for some time uncertain +if this was not a continuation of the same plains covered with snow +which we had already noticed. From these masses of vapour, there seemed +more than once during the night to come a sound as of a great fall of +water, or the contending waves of the sea; and it required all the force +of our reason, joined to our knowledge--such as it was--of the direction +of our route, to repress the idea that we were approaching the sea, and +that, driven by the wind, we had, been carried along the coasts of +the North Sea or the Baltic. As the day advanced these apprehensions +disappeared. In place of the unbroken surface of the sea, we gradually +made out the varied features of a cultivated country, in the midst of +which flowed a majestic river, which lost itself, at both extremities, +in the mist that still lay on the horizon." + +This river was the Rhine, and as the neighbourhood seemed suitable for +a descent, and as the travellers did not wish to be carried too far into +the heart of Europe, they allowed a portion of the gas to escape, came +gradually down, and dropped their anchor. + +It was then half-past seven in the morning. It was only then that +the inhabitants, who had hitherto held themselves aloof, watching the +movements of the strangers from under the brushwood, began to assemble +from all sides. A few words in German spoken from the balloon dissipated +their fears, and, recovering from their mistrust, they hastened +immediately to lend assistance to the aeronauts The latter were now +informed that the place they had selected for their descent was in the +Duchy of Nassau. The town of Wiberg, where Blanchard had descended, +after his ascent at Frankfort in 1785 was, by a singular chance, only +two leagues distant. The three aeronauts received a most flattering +reception, and, in memory of the event, they placed the flag which they +had borne in their car during their adventurous excursion in the ducal +palace, side by side with that of Blanchard. + +"Thus," says Mason, "terminated an expedition which, whether we regard +the extent of the journey, the length of time occupied in it, or +the results which were the objects of the experiment, may justly be +considered as one of the most interesting and most important ever +undertaken. The best answer which one could give to those who would be +disposed to criticise the employment of the peculiar means which we +made use of, or to doubt their efficiency, would be to state that, after +having traversed without hindrance, without either danger or difficulty, +so large a portion of the European continent, we arrived at our +destination still in possession of as much force as, had we wished it, +might have carried us round the whole world." + + + +Chapter IX. The "Geant" Balloon. + +Not a few of our readers will remember the ascent of Nadar's colossal +balloon from Paris, on Sunday, the 18th of October, 1863. This balloon +was remarkable as having attached to it a regular two-story house for a +car. Its ascent was witnessed by nearly half a million of persons. The +balloon, after passing over the eastern part of France, Belgium, and +Holland, suffered a disastrous descent in Hanover the day after it +started on its perilous journey. It was a fool-hardy enterprise to +construct such a gigantic and unmanageable balloon, presenting such an +immense surface to the atmosphere, and being so susceptible to adverse +aerial currents as to become the helpless prey of the elements; and it +was still more fool-hardy to place the lives of its passengers at the +mercy of such terrible and ungovernable forces. A large section of the +public laboured under the delusion that Nadar's balloon was one capable +of being steered. In reality, however, the 'Geant' was unquestionably +the most rebellious and unruly specimen of its class that has been made +since the days of Montgolfier. The object in view when this formidable +monster was designed and constructed was to create the means to collect +sufficient funds to form a "Free Association for Aerial Navigation +by means of MACHINES HEAVIER THAN AIR," and for the construction of +machines on this principle. The receipts from the exhibition of the +"Geant" were intended to form the first capital of the association. The +hopes, however, of the promoters have not been realised in this respect; +for while the expenses of the construction of the balloon have amounted, +directly and indirectly, to the sum of L8,300, its two ascents in Paris +and its exhibition in London produced only L3,300. + +Space forbids us to enter at length on the various stages of the idea of +aerial navigation by means of an apparatus heavier than the atmosphere. +The idea is not, however, by any means so absurd as it appears at first +sight. Those who, like Arago, declare that the word "impossible" +does not exist, except in the higher mathematics, and those who look +hopefully to the future instead of resting content with the past, will +join in applauding the spirit which dictated the manifesto of aerial +locomotion to the founder of the association which we are about to +describe. M. Babinet, speaking on this subject before the French +Polytechnic Association, said: "It is absurd to talk of guiding +balloons. How will you set about it? How is it possible that a +balloon--say, for instance, like the Flesselles, whose diameter measures +120 feet--can resist and manoeuvre against opposing winds or currents +of air? It would require a power equal to 400 horses for the sails of a +ship to struggle on equal terms with the wind. Suppose an impossibility, +namely, that a balloon could carry with it a force equal to 400 +horse-power; this result would be of little use, for under the immense +weight the fragile covering of the balloon would instantly collapse. If +all the horses of a regiment were harnessed to the car of a balloon by +means of a long rope, the result would be that the balloon would fly +into shivers, being too fragile to withstand these two opposing forces. +Man must seek to raise himself in the air by another mode of operation +altogether, if he wish to guide himself at the same time. Some time +ago I bought a play thing, very much in vogue at that time, called a +Stropheor. This toy was composed of a small rotating screw propeller, +which revolved on its own support when the piece of string wound round +it was pulled sharply. The screw was rather heavy, weighing nearly a +quarter of a pound, and the wings were of tin, very broad and thick. +This machine, however, was rather too eccentric for parlour use, for its +flight was so violent that it was continually breaking the pier glass, +if there was one in the room; and, failing this, it next attacked the +windows. The ascending force of this machine is so great that I have +seen one of them fly over Antwerp Cathedral, which is one of the highest +edifices in the world. The air from underneath the machine is exhausted +by the action of the screw, which, passing under the wings, causes a +vacuum, while the air above it replenishes and fills this void, and +under the influence of these two causes the apparatus mounts from the +earth. But the problem is not solved by means of this plaything, whose +motive power is exterior to it. Messrs. Nadar, Ponton, D'Amecourt, and +De la Landelle teach us better than this, although the wings of their +different models are entirely unworthy of men who desire to demonstrate +a truth to short-lived mortals. We have only arrived as yet at the +infancy of the process, but we have made a good beginning, for, having +once proved that a machine capable of raising itself in the air, wholly +unaided from without, can be made, we have overcome with this apparently +small result the whole difficulty. The principle of propulsion by means +of a screw is by no means a novelty. It was first utilised in windmills, +whose sails are nothing more nor less than an immense screw which is +turned by the action of the wind on its surface. In the case of turbine +water-wheels, where perhaps 970 cubic feet of water are utilised by +means of a mechanism not larger than a hat, we see another illustration +of it, with this difference, that water takes the place of wind as the +motive power. + +"The aerial screw is beset with great difficulties, but if we can +succeed through its agency in raising even the smallest weight, we may +be confident of being able to raise a heavier one, for a large machine +is always more powerful in proportion to its size than a small one. + +"Mlle. Garnerin once made a bet that she would guide herself in her +descent from a considerable altitude towards a fixed spot on the earth +at some distance, with no other help than the parachute; and she was +really able to guide herself to within a few feet of the specified spot, +by simply altering the inclination of the parachute. + +"From observations in mountainous districts, where large birds of prey +may be seen to the best advantage hovering with outstretched wings, I +have come to the conclusion that they first of all attain the requisite +height and then, extending their wings in the form of a parachute, +let themselves glide gradually towards the desired spot. Marshal Niel +confirms this opinion by his experience in the mountains of Algeria. +It is, therefore, clear from these examples that we should possess the +power of transporting ourselves from place to place if we could only +discover a means of raising a weight perpendicularly in the air, which +would then act as a capital of power, only requiring to be expended at +will." + +From the foregoing remarks we may gather an idea of the importance which +may be attached to aerial locomotion notwithstanding the successive +failures of all those who have hitherto taken up the subject. We come +now to the description of the memorable ascent of the 'Geant.' + +We learn from the very interesting account of the 'Geant,' published at +the time, all the mishaps and adventures it outlived from the time of +the first stitch in its covering to its final inflation with gas. We +must, however, be content to take up the narrative at the point at which +the 'Geant,' with thirteen passengers on board, had, in obedience to +the order to "let go," been released from the bonds which held it to +the earth. The narrative is, as our readers will perceive, written in +somewhat exaggerated language:-- + +"The 'Geant' gave an almost imperceptible shake on finding itself +free, and then commenced to rise. The ascent was slow and gradual at +first--the monster seemed to be feeling its way. An immense shout rose +with it from the assembled multitude. We ascended grandly, whilst the +deafening clamour of two hundred thousand voices seemed to increase. +We leant over the edge of the car, and gazed at the thousands of faces +which were turned towards us from every point of the vast plain, in +every conceivable angle of which we were the common apex. We still +ascended. The summits of the double row of trees which surround the +Champ de Mars were already under us. We reached the level of the cupola +of the Military School. The tremendous uproar still reached us. We +glided over Paris in an easterly direction, at the height of about six +hundred feet. Every one took up the best possible position on the six +light cane stools, and on the two long bunks at either end of the car, +and contemplated the marvellous panorama spread out under us, of which +we never grew weary. + +"There is never any dizziness in a balloon, as is often erroneously +supposed, for in it you are the only point in space without any +possibility of comparison with another, and therefore the means of +becoming giddy are not at hand." + +A very experienced aeronaut, who numbers his ascents by hundreds, has +assured me that he never knew of a single case of dizziness. + +"The earth seems to unfold itself to our view like an immense and +variegated map, the predominant colour of which is green in all its +shades and tints. The irregular division of the country into fields made +it resemble a patchwork counterpane. The size of the houses, churches, +fortresses, was so considerably diminished as to make them resemble +nothing so much as those playthings manufactured at Carlsruhe. This was +the effect produced by a microscopic train, which whistled very faintly +to attract our attention, and which seemed to creep along at a snail's +pace, though doubtless going at the rate of thirty miles an hour, and +was enveloped in a minute cloud of smoke. What a lasting impression this +microscopic neatness makes on us! What is that white puff I see down +there? the smoke of a cigar? No: it is a cloud of mist. It must be a +perfect plain that we are looking at, for we cannot distinguish between +the different altitudes of a bramble-bush and an oak a hundred years +old! + +"It is one of the delights of an aeronaut to gaze on the familiar scenes +of earth from the immense height of the car of a balloon! What earthly +pleasure can compare with this! Free, calm, silent, roving through this +immense and hospitable space, where no human form can harm me, I despise +every evil power; I can feel the pleasure of existence for the first +time, for I am in full possession, as on no other occasion, of perfect +health of mind and body. The aeronauts of the 'Geant' will scarcely +condescend to pity those miserable mortals whom they can only faintly +recognise by their gigantic works, which appear to them not more +dignified than ant-hills! + +"The sun had already set behind the purple horizon in our rear. The +atmosphere was still quite clear round the 'Geant,' although there was +a thick haze underneath, through which we could occasionally see lights +glimmering from the earth. We had attained a sufficient altitude to be +only just able to hear noises from villages that we left beneath us, and +were beginning to enjoy the delicious calm and repose peculiar to aerial +ascents. + +"There is, however, a talk about dinner, or rather supper, and night is +now fast approaching. Every one eats with the best possible appetite. +Hams, fowls and dessert only appear to disappear with an equal +promptitude, and we quench our thirst with bordeaux and champagne. I +remind our companions of the pigeons we brought with us, and which are +hanging in a cage outside the railing. I knew there was no danger of +their flying away, so fearlessly opened the cage. The three or four +birds I had put in the car seemed struck with terror. They flew +awkwardly towards the centre of our party, tumbling among the plates and +dishes and under our feet. It was not a case of hunger with them, and I +ought to have remembered that their feeding time was long since past. I +replaced them in their cage. + +"Meanwhile, the sun has left us for some time. Our longing gaze followed +it behind the dark clouds in the horizon, whose edges it tipped with a +glorious purple. Its last rays shone on us, and then came a bluish-grey +twilight. Suddenly we are enveloped in a dense fog. We look around, +above us. Everything has disappeared in the mist. The balloon itself is +no longer visible. We can see nothing except the ropes which suspend +us, and these are only visible for a few feet above our heads, when they +lose themselves in the fog. We are alone with our wickerwork house in an +unfathomable vault. + +"We still ascend, however, through the compact and terrible fog, which +is so solid-looking as to seem capable of being carved into forms with +a knife. As we were without a moon, and had no light at all, in fact, +we were unable to distinguish nicely the different shades of colour in +these thick clouds. Now and then, when the clouds seemed to be +lighter, they had a bluish tinge; but the thicker ones were dirty and +muddy-looking. Dante must have seen some like these. + +"Water trickled down our faces, hands, and clothes, and the ropes and +sides of our car. + +"The water did not fall in rain-drops or in flakes, as it sometimes +does in the tropics; but we were as completely saturated by this heavy, +penetrating mist as if we had been under a waterfall. We still continued +to traverse these rainy regions. The thick fog which the balloon +dislodged in forcing a passage closed immediately after it. At one +moment I thought I felt something press against my cheek, which could +only be compared to the points of a thousand needles, or to floating +particles of ice. We were all of us too much absorbed with our situation +to think of the hour or of the height to which we had attained. Suddenly +the Prince of Wittgenstein, who was standing at my left hand, cried out +under his breath-- + +"'Look at the balloon, sir! look at the balloon!' + +"I raised my eyes, in company with several others, and shall never +forget the magnificent sight which awaited them. I saw the balloon, +for which I had been searching in vain a few minutes before. It had +undergone a transformation. It looked now as if coated with silver, +and floating in a pale phosphorescent glimmer. All the ropes and cords +seemed to be of new, bright, and liquid silver, like mercury, caused +by the mist which had rested on them becoming suddenly congealed. Two +luminous arcs intervened between us, in a sea of mother-of-pearl and +opal, the lower one being the colour of red ochre and the upper one +orange. Both of them, blinding in their brilliancy, seemed about to +embrace one another. + +"'How far are they off?' thought I to myself. 'Can I touch them with +my hand, or are they separated from me by an immense space?' We are not +capable of forming ideas of perspective, floating as we are in the midst +of such a glimmering splendour. + +"Above and around us are nothing but thick fogs and enormous black +clouds, whose ragged edges and backs are relieved by a pale silver +coating. They undulate ceaselessly to and fro, and either usurp +quietly the place of others, or disappear only to be superseded by more +formidable ones. But the last ray of reflected light has died out, and +we plunge into this chaos of dreadful forms. Monsters seem to wish to +approach us, and to envelop us in their dark embraces. One of them, on +my right hand, looks like a deformed human arm in a menacing attitude, +writhing its jagged top like a blind serpent feeling its way. The vague +monster has disappeared; but the momentary splendour being followed +by the original gloom, we plunge once more into a darkness that can be +felt. + +"The water which had collected on the balloon during its ascent now +began to take effect, and caused it to descend with such rapidity into +the dark abyss that the ballast, which was immediately thrown overboard, +was overtaken in its descent and fell on our heads again. + +"I hear exclamations and voices near me. My companions are evidently +agitated, and with good reason, too; for the lights which we could see a +long way below us approach with terrible rapidity. We reached the earth +rather quicker than we left it. + +"Suddenly we feel a dreadful shock, followed by ominous crackings. The +car has grounded. The 'Geant' has made its descent. But in what part of +the habitable globe, and under what zone? At Meaux!" + +To employ an expression of M. Nadar's it seems that these gentlemen +never before experienced such a "knock-down blow." + +After all these preparations, all this trouble, all the energy employed +in the undertaking--sufficient, indeed, wherewith to attempt to cross +the Atlantic--to "descend at Meaux!" + +The 'Geant,' however, had its revenge. Its second ascent gave it this +revenge. We shall be as brief as possible in relating this voyage; but +the details are all so very interesting that we regret extremely our +being unable to give more than extracts from the narrative. + +Our travellers committed themselves again to the mercy of the air. +The Emperor, following the example of a former King of France, took +considerable interest in the construction of this aerial monster, and +wished the aeronaut "Bon voyage" at starting. The passengers endeavoured +to pass the night as comfortably as possible, having first instituted a +four hours' watch, as on board ship. + +The aerial vessel glided rapidly through the air. "We repeatedly," said +Nadar, "passed over some manufacturing centre, whose lights were not yet +extinguished. I either hailed them with my speaking-trumpet or rang our +two bells. Sometimes we received a reply from below, in the shape of a +shout, for, although we still had no moon, the night was occasionally +clear enough for people to distinguish us; and sometimes we heard a peal +of laughter from out of the atmosphere in which we were travelling. It +was another party of aeronauts in a smaller balloon, who left at the +same time as we did, and who would persist in keeping the 'Geant' +company. We are passing over a small town; we hear the usual shouting +and the report of a gun. Our first thoughts are--Was it loaded with shot +or ball? The inhuman brute who fired will say, 'Certainly not;' but as +balloons have often been damaged in this way, we may be confident there +was more than powder in this one. It would be satisfactory, at any rate, +if the name of the person could be ascertained who favoured us with this +welcome. But it is rather late to make inquiries on this subject. It was +between a quarter and half-past nine o'clock when this occurred. 'The +sea!' cried Jules; 'look at the revolving lights of the lighthouses. +There: one has just disappeared: it will flash out again in a +moment!' But what is this? Before us, as far as our eyes can reach, +we distinguish faint lights, which in this case are neither lamps nor +torches. As we continue to draw nearer we get a better view of these +numerous, violent, and smoking furnaces. Loud and ringing sounds strike +on our ear at the same time. Am I right in my conjectures? Is this not +that splendid country I love more than ever now? It must be Erquelines! +And the dignified Custom-house official, had it been possible, would +have added thereto 'Belgium!' + +"We still continue to pass over fires, forges, tall chimneys, and coal +mines at frequent intervals. Not long after we distinguish a large town +on our right hand, which, by its size and brilliant lighting by gas, +we recognise as Brussels. There could be no mistake, for close by, more +modest in size and appearance, we see Catholic Malines. We have left it +behind us. + +"Onward! Onward! Behind us the fires fade gradually away, and disappear +one after another. Before us nothing at present visible. We seemed to +drift on for about one hundred or one hundred and fifty yards more. We +cannot distinguish a single point in front of us on which to fix our +gaze. But we still continue our course in silence. + +"This mournful darkness, this endless shroud, in which we can discover +neither rent nor spangle, still continues. Where are we? Over what +strange country, possessing neither cities, towns, nor villages, are +we hovering in the tomb-like silence of this interminable darkness? We +seem, indeed, to have been carried by a puff of wind towards the west. + +"But something seems to approach us. What are those pale rays of light +which we can faintly see a long, long way before us--rays pale and soft, +quite unlike those flaming fires we have left behind us? Surely these +do not denote the presence of human activity! As we continue to advance, +these pale flakes of light--resembling nothing so much in appearance as +molten lead--which at first were scanty and isolated, gradually expand, +and leave only narrow strips of darkness to divide them into fantastic +shapes. By their help we discovered we were passing over the immense +marshes of Holland, which extended to and lost themselves in the hazy +horizon. On our right hand we hear a deep moan, still distant, but +rapidly approaching every moment. It is undoubtedly the rushing of the +wind. A fresh breeze for five minutes would bring us to the sea. + +"We experienced another shock not less formidable than the first. The +'Geant' is trembling from its effects. The cable of our first anchor +has just broken like a piece of thread. We could not hope for a better +result. The violence of the wind which is carrying us along seems to be +redoubled. A bump: another and another--then shock after shock. + +"'The second dead men!' + +"Our swift pace was shock after shock. + +"'The anchor is lost,' cries Jules; 'we are all dead men! + +"This truth is too palpable to all of us to require expressing in so +many words, for we are just commencing that furious, tearing course +called 'trailing.' + +"Our swift pace was considerably accelerated by the lower part of +the balloon, which--limp, empty, and forming nearly a third of the +whole--had been set free at the first shock, and flapped against the +distended part, acting as a sail. The shocks continued to multiply so +fast that it was impossible to count them. The car continued to rebound +from these shocks to the height of five, ten, sometimes thirty, forty, +and even fifty feet, for all the world like an India-rubber ball from +the hands of an indefatigable player. Unfortunately, all our human +freight, terror stricken and without advice, had crowded into one side +of the car; and as this happened to be the side on which we invariably +bumped, we experienced all the worst effects of the joltings. + +"What a dizzy whirl! What a succession of breathless shocks! What a +strain on both muscles and nerves! By the least negligence or slip, +or by the loss of presence of mind for one moment, we should have been +thrown out and dashed to atoms. + +"Every collision tries our muscles and strains our wrists or our +shoulders; and every rebound dashes us one against the other, +constituting each individual a tormentor and victim at the same time. +Our flight is so rapid that we can only distinguish an occasional +glimpse of anything. Far, far in the distance we distinguish an isolated +tree. We approach it like lightning, and we break it as though it were a +straw. + +"Two terrified horses, with manes and tails erect, endeavour to fly from +us. But we consume distances; we leave them behind immediately. We skip +over a flock of affrighted sheep in one of our bounds. But now comes the +real danger. + +"At this moment, when we were perfectly benumbed with fear, and had lost +all power of articulation, we saw a locomotive, drawing two carriages, +running along an embankment at right angles to our course. A few more +revolutions of the wheels, and it will be all over with us, for we seem +to be fated to meet with geometrical precision at one spot! + +"What will happen? + +"Travelling at our present hurricane pace, we shall undoubtedly lift +up and overturn the machine and what it is drawing. But shall we not be +crushed ourselves? A few paces still intervene between us and our foe, +and we give vent to a shout of terror. + +"It is heard, and the locomotive answers it by a whistle, then slackens +its pace, and after seeming to hesitate an instant backs quickly and +only just in time to give us a free passage, whilst the driver, waving +his cap, salutes us with-- + +"'Look out for the wires!' + +"The caution was well timed, for we had not noticed the four telegraph +wires which we rapidly approached. We energetically ducked our heads on +seeing them, but fortunately we escaped any more damage than having two +or three of our ropes cut. These we continued to drag after us like the +tail of a ragged comet, having the telegraph-wires and the posts which +lately supported them attached to us." + +After having been dragged thus for some time at the mercy of a hurricane +which they ought to have been able to avoid, these aerial navigators at +last got entangled in the outskirts of a wood near Rethem, in Hanover. +A few broken arms and legs paid for their temerity in meddling with this +monster, and one and all of the passengers have reason to be thankful +that it will be unnecessary for us to proclaim their virtues and their +fate in our next chapter. + + + +Chapter X. The Necrology of Aeronautic + +We will conclude this second part by giving a brief notice of some +of those who, in the early days of aerostation, fell martyrs to their +devotion to the new cause, and sometimes victims to their own want of +foresight and their inexperience. + +First among these is Pilatre des Roziers, with whose courage and +ingenuity our readers are already familiar. After the passage of +Blanchard from England over to France this hero, who was the first to +trust himself to the wide space of the sky, resolved to undertake the +return voyage from France to England--a more difficult feat, owing to +the generally adverse character of the winds and currents. In vain did +Roziers' friends attempt to make him understand the perils to which this +enterprise must expose him; his only reply was that he had discovered +a new balloon which united in itself all the necessary conditions of +security, and would permit the voyager to remain an unusually long time +in the air. He asked and obtained from government the sum of 40,000 +livres, in order to construct his machine. It then became clear what +sort of balloon he had contrived. He united in one machine the two modes +previously made use of in aerostation. Underneath a balloon filled with +hydrogen gas, he suspended a Montgolfiere, or a balloon filled with +hot air from a fire. It is difficult to understand what was his precise +object in making this combination, for his ideas seem to have been +confused upon the subject. It is probable that, by the addition of a +Montgolfiere, he wished to free himself from the necessity of having to +throw over ballast when he wished to ascend and to let off this gas when +he wished to descend. The fire of the Montgolfiere might, he probably +supposed, be so regulated as to enable him to rise or fall at will. + +This mixed system has been justly blamed. It was simply "putting fire +beside powder," said Professor Charles to Roziers; but the latter would +not listen, and depended for everything on his own intrepidity and +scientific skill of which he had already given so many proofs. There +were, perhaps, other reasons for his unyielding obstinacy. The court +that had furnished him with the funds for the construction of the +balloon pressed him, and he himself was most ambitious to equal the +achievement of Blanchard, who was the first to cross the Channel, on the +7th of January, 1785. + +The fact was that at this time the prevailing fear in France was, that +Great Britain should bear off all the honours and profits of aerostation +before any of these had been won by France. It was thus that with an +untried machine, and under conditions the most unfavourable for his +enterprise, Roziers prepared to risk his life in this undertaking, which +was equally dangerous and useless. + +The double balloon was alternately inflated and emptied. While under +cover it was assailed by the rats that gnawed holes in it, and when +brought out of its place it was exposed to the tempests, so that the +longer the experiment was delayed, the worse chance there was of +getting through it successfully. At length Roziers went to Boulogne, and +announced the day of his departure; but, as if by a special Providence, +his attempt was delayed by unfavourable weather. For many weeks in +succession the little trial balloons thrown up to show the course of the +wind were driven back upon the shores of France. During all these trials +the impatient Roziers continued to chafe and torment himself. + +At last, on the 13th and 14th of June, 1785, the Aero-Montgolfiere +remained inflated, waiting a favourable moment for departure. On the +15th at four in the morning, a little pilot balloon that had been +thrown up fell back on the spot from which it had been thrown free, thus +showing that there was no wind. Seven hours later Roziers, accompanied +by his brother Romain, one of the constructors of the balloon, appeared +in the gallery. A nobleman present threw a purse of 200 louis into the +car, and was preparing to follow it and join in the adventure. Roziers +forbade him to enter, gently but firmly. + +"The experiment is too unsafe," he said, "for me to expose to danger the +life of another." + +"Finally," says a narrative of the time, "the Aero-Montgolfiere rose in +an imposing manner. The sound of cannon signalised the departure, the +voyagers saluted the crowd, who responded with loud shouts. The balloon +advanced until it began to traverse the sea, and every one with eyes +fixed upon the fragile machine, regarded it with fear. It had traversed +upwards of a league of its journey, and had reached the height of 700 +feet above sea level, when a wind from the west drove it back toward the +shore, after having been twenty-seven minutes in the air. + +"At this moment the crowd beneath perceived that the voyagers were +showing signs of alarm. They seemed suddenly to lower the grating of the +Montgolfiere. But it was too late. A violet flame appeared at the top +of the balloon, then spread over the whole globe, and enveloped the +Montgolfiere and the voyagers. "The unfortunate men were suddenly +precipitated from the clouds to the earth, in front of the Tour de Croy, +upwards of a league from Boulogne, and 300 feet from the sea beach. + +"The dead body of Roziers was found burnt in the gallery, many of the +bones being broken. His brother was still breathing, but he was not able +to speak, and in a few minutes he expired." + +De Maisonfort, who, against his own will, was left on the earth, was +witness of this sad event. He has given the following explanation of +it:-- + +"Some minutes after their departure the voyagers were assailed by +contrary winds, which drove them back again upon the land. It is +probable that then, in order to descend and seek a more favourable +current of air, which would take them out again to sea, Roziers opened +the valve of the gas balloon; but the cord attached to this valve +was very long, it worked with difficulty, and the friction which it +occasioned tore the valve. The stuff of the balloon, which had suffered +much from many preliminary attempts, and from other causes, was torn to +the extent of several yards, and the valve fell down inside the balloon, +which at once emptied itself." + +According to this narrative, there was no conflagration of the gas in +the middle of the atmosphere, nor is it stated precisely whether the +grating of the Montgolfiere was lighted. + +Maisonfort ran to the spot when the travellers fell, found them covered +with the cloth of the balloon, and occupying the same positions which +they had taken up on departing. + +By a sad chance, that seems like irony, they were thrown down only a few +paces from the monument which marks the spot where Blanchard descended. +At the present day Frenchmen going to England via Calais do not fail to +visit at the forest of Guines the monument consecrated to the expedition +of Blanchard. A few paces from this monument the cicerone will point out +with his finger the spot where his rivals expired. + +"Such was the end of the first of aeronauts, and the most courageous of +men," says a contemporaneous historian. "He died a martyr to honour and +to zeal. His kindness, amiability, and modesty endeared him to all who +knew him. She who was dearest to him--a young English lady, who boarded +at a convent at Boulogne, and whom he had first met only a few days +prior to his last ascent--could not support the news of his death. +Horrible convulsions seized her and she expired, it is said, eight days +after the dreadful catastrophe. Roziers died at the age of twenty-eight +and a half years." + +Olivari perished at Orleans on the 25th of November, 1802. He had +ascended in a Montgolfiere made of paper, strengthened only by some +bands of cloth. His car, made of osiers, and loaded with combustible +matter, was suspended below the grating; and when at a great elevation +it became the prey of the flames. The aeronaut, thus deprived of his +support, fell, at the distance of a league from the spot from which he +had risen. + +Mosment made his last ascent at Lille on the 7th of April, 1806. His +balloon was made of silk, and was filled with hydrogen gas. Ten minutes +after his departure he threw into the air a parachute with which he had +provided himself. It is supposed that the oscillations consequent on the +throwing off of the parachute were the cause of they aeronaut's fall. +Some pretend that Mosment had foretold his death, and that it was caused +by a willful carelessness. However this may be, the balloon continued +its flight alone, and the body of the aeronaut was found partly buried +in the sand of the fosse which surrounds the town. + +Bittorff made a great many successful ascents. He never used any machine +but the Montgolfiere. At Manheim, on the 17th of July, the day of his +death his balloon, which was of paper, sixteen metres in diameter, and +twenty in height, took fire in the air, and the aeronaut was thrown down +upon the town. His fall was mortal. + +Harris, an old officer of the English navy, together with another +English aeronaut, named Graham, had made a great many ascents. He +conceived the idea of constructing a balloon upon an original plan; but +his alterations do not seem to have been improvements. In May, 1824, he +attempted an ascent from London, which had much apparent success, but +which terminated fatally. When at a great elevation, it seems, the +aeronaut, wishing to descend, opened the valve. It had not been well +constructed, and after being opened it would not close again. The +consequent loss of gas brought the balloon down with great force. Harris +lost his life with the fall; but the young lady who had accompanied him +received only a trifling wound. + +Sadler, a celebrated English aeronaut, who, in one of his many +experiments, had crossed the Irish Channel between Dublin and Holyhead, +lost his life miserably near Bolton, on the 28th of September, 1824. +Deprived of his ballast, in consequence of his long sojourn in the air, +and forced at last to descend, at a late hour, upon a number of high +buildings, the wind drove him violently against a chimney. The force of +the shock threw him out of his car, and he fell to the earth and died. +His prudence and knowledge were unquestionable, and his death is to be +ascribed alone to accident. It was an aerial shipwreck. + +Cocking had gone up twice in Mr. Green's balloon as a simple amateur. +He took it into his head to go up a third time. He wished to attempt a +descent in a parachute of his own construction, which he believed was +vastly superior to the ordinary one. He altered the form altogether, +though that form had been proved to be satisfactory. In place of a +concave surface, supporting itself on a volume of air, Cocking used +an inverted cone, of an elaborate construction, which, instead of +supporting him in the air, only accelerated his fall. Unhappily, Green +participated in this experiment. The two made an ascent from Vauxhall, +on the 27th of September, 1836, Green having suspended Cocking's +wretched contrivance from the car of his balloon. Cocking held on by a +rope, and at the height of from 1,000 to 1,200 feet the amateur, +with his patent parachute, were thrown off from the balloon. A moment +afterwards Green was soaring away safely in his machine, but Cocking was +launched into eternity. + +"The descent was so rapid," says one who witnessed it, "that the mean +rate of the fall was not less than twenty yards a second. In less than a +minute and a half the unfortunate aeronaut was thrown to the earth, and +killed by the fall." + +Madame Blanchard, thinking to improve upon Garnerin, who had decorated +the balloon which ascended in celebration of the coronation of Napoleon +I. with coloured lights, fixed fireworks instead to hers. A wire rope +ten yards long was suspended to her car; at the bottom of this wire +rope was suspended a broad disc of wood, around which the fireworks were +ranged. These consisted of Bengal and coloured lights. On the 6th +of July, 1819, there was a great fete at Tivoli, and a multitude had +assembled around the balloon of Madame Blanchard. Cannon gave the signal +of departure, and soon the fireworks began to show themselves. The +balloon rose splendidly, to the sound of music and the shoutings of the +people. A rain of gold and thousands of stars fell from the car as +it ascended. A moment of calm succeeded, and then to the eyes of the +spectators, still fixed on the balloon, an unexpected light appeared. +This light did not come from under the balloon, where the crown of +fireworks was already extinguished, but shone in the car itself. It +was evident that the lady aeronaut, although now so high above the +spectators, was busy about something. The light increased, then +disappeared suddenly; then appeared again, and showed itself finally at +the summit of the balloon, in the form of an immense jet of gas. The +gas with which the balloon was inflated had taken fire, and the terrible +glare which the light threw around was perceived from the boulevards, +and all the Quartier Montmartre. + +It was at this moment--a frightful one for those who perceived what had +taken place--that a general sentiment of satisfaction and admiration +among the spectators found vent in cries of "Brava! Vive Madame +Blanchard!" &c. The people thought the lady was giving them an +unexpected treat. Meantime, by the light of the flame, the balloon was +seen gradually to descend. It disappeared when it reached the houses, +like a passing meteor, or a train of fire which a blast of wind suddenly +extinguishes. A number of workmen and other persons, who had perceived +that some accident had taken place, ran in the direction in which the +balloon appeared to descend. They arrived at a house in the Rue de +Provence. On the roof of this house the balloon had fallen, and the +unfortunate Madame Blanchard, thrown out of the car by the shock, was +killed by her fall to the earth. + +This news spread rapidly from Tivoli, where it occasioned a stupefying +surprise. It was the first time that a fall of the kind had taken place +from the sky at Paris. Fireworks were from this time discontinued, the +fete came to an end, and a subscription was rapidly organised, producing +some thousands of francs, which shortly afterwards were employed in +erecting a monument to the lady, which is now to be seen in the cemetery +of Pere-la-Chaise. + +Madame Blanchard had wished to surpass the ordinary spectacle of an +aerial ascent; she had really prepared a SURPRISE for the spectators. +She had prepared and she took with her a small parachute of about +two yards in diameter. After the extinction of the crown or star of +fireworks, she intended to throw this little parachute loose; and as it +was terminated by another supply of fireworks, it was supposed that the +effect would be as beautiful as surprising. + +The unhappy lady was small in stature, and very light, and unfortunately +made use of a very small balloon. That of the 6th of July, 1819, was +only seven metres in diameter; and to make it ascend with the weight +it carried it had to be filled to the neck with inflammable air. In +quitting the earth some of this gas escaped, and rising above the +balloon, formed a train like one of powder, which would certainly flash +into a blaze the moment it came in contact with the fire. But on this +day it was she who with her own hand fired this train. At the moment +when, detaching the little parachute from her car, she took the light +for the fireworks in her other hand, she crossed this train with the +light and set it on fire. Then the brave woman, throwing away the +parachute and the match, strove to close the mouth of the balloon, and +to stifle the fire. These efforts being unavailing, Madame Blanchard was +distinctly seen to sit down in her car and await her fate. + +The burning of the hydrogen lasted several minutes, during which time +the balloon gradually descended. Had it not been that it struck on the +roof of the house Madame Blanchard would have been saved. At the moment +of the shock she was heard to cry out, "A moi." These were her last +words. The car, going along the roof of the house, was caught by an +iron bar and overturned, and the lady was thrown head foremost upon the +pavement. + +When she reached the ground she immediately expired. Her head and +shoulders were slightly burnt, otherwise she exhibited no marks of the +fire which had destroyed the balloon. + + + + +PART III. Scientific Experiments--Applications of Ballooning. + + + +Chapter I. Experiments of Robertson, Lhoest, Saccarof, &c. + +Robertson is regarded by many as a sort of mountebank; yet such men as +Arago have put themselves to the trouble of examining the aerostatic +feats of this aeronaut, and of examining the results of his +observations. + +"The savant Robertson," says Arago, "performed at Hamburg on the 18th +of July, 1803, with his countryman, Lhoest, the first aeronautic voyage +from which science has been able to draw useful deductions. The two +aeronauts remained suspended in the air during five hours, and came +down near Hanover, twenty-five leagues from the spot from which they set +off." + +The first time that Robertson appears in the annals of aerostation is in +1802, on the occasion of the sale of the balloon used at the battle +of Fleurus, of which mention will be made in the chapter on military +aerostation. But three years previously he had been instructed to make +a balloon of an original form, which should ascend in honour of the +Turkish ambassador at the garden of Tivoli. The fete was completely +successful. Turks, Chinese, Persians, and Bedouins will always be +welcome, as on this occasion, at Paris, appearing as they do only at +rare intervals, and for a short time. + +The fete took place on the 2nd of July. Robertson presented himself at +the house of Esseid-Ali, to obtain his autograph. The Turkish ambassador +willingly granted the request, and wrote his name in letters, each of +which was two inches in height, on a sheet of paper. He then offered the +aeronaut coffee and comfits, and promised to be present to witness the +balloon ascent. His name was painted in large characters on a balloon +fifteen feet in diameter, and on the form of which was the figure of a +crescent. The experiment delighted the ambassador, and was well received +by the public. + +Jacques Garnerin, when he came to make his debut as an aeronaut, made an +attempt with the parachute, the following August, at the garden of the +Hotel de Biron. The ambassador was asked to honour the fete, but he +declined, saying that he had "made up his mind that man was not intended +for flying--Mahomet had not so willed it." + +Of one of Robertson's more interesting ascents he himself has left us +the following sketch:-- + +"I rose in the balloon at nine a.m., accompanied by my fellow-student +and countryman, M. Lhoest. We had 140 lbs. of ballast. The barometer +marked twenty-eight inches; the thermometer sixteen degrees Reaumur. In +spite of some slight wind from the north-west, the balloon mounted so +perpendicularly that in all the streets each of the spectators believed +we were mounting straight up above his head. In order to quicken our +ascent I discharged a parachute made of silk, and weighted in a way to +prevent oscillations. The parachute descended at the rate of two feet +per second, and its descent was uniform. From the moment when the +barometer began to sink we became very careful of our ballast, as we +wished to test from experience the different temperatures through which +we were about to pass. + +"At 10.15, the barometer was at nineteen inches, and the thermometer +at three above zero. We now felt all the inconvenience of an extremely +rarefied atmosphere coming upon us, and we commenced to arrange some +experiments in atmospheric electricity. Our first attempts did not +succeed. We threw over part of our ballast, and mounted up till the +cold and the rarefaction of the air became very troublesome. During +our experiments we experienced an illness throughout our whole system. +Buzzing in the cars commenced, and went on increasing. The pain we felt +was like that which one feels when he plunges his head in water. Our +chests seemed to be dilated, and failed in elasticity. My pulse was +quickened, M. Lhoest's became slower; he had, like me, swelled lips and +bleeding eyes; the veins seemed to come out more strongly on the hands. +The blood ran to the head, and occasioned a feeling as if our hats were +too tight. The thermometer continued to descend, and, as we ascended, +our illness increased, and we could with difficulty keep awake. Fearing +that my travelling companion might go to sleep, I attached a cord to my +thigh and to his, and we held the extremities of the cord in our hands. +Thus trammelled, we had to commence the experiments which I had proposed +to make. + +"At this elevation, the glass, the brimstone, and the Spanish wax were +not electrified in a manner to show any signs under friction--at least, +I obtained no electricity from the conductors or the electrometer. + +"I had in my car a voltaic pile, consisting of sixty couples--silver +and zinc. It worked very well on the occasion of our departure from the +earth, and gave, without the condenser, one degree to the electrometer. +At our great elevation, the pile gave only five-sixths of a degree to +the same electrometer. The galvanic flame seemed more active at this +elevation than on the earth. + +"I took two birds with me on coming into the balloon--one of these was +now dead, the other appeared stupefied. After having placed it upon the +brink of the gondola, I tried to frighten it to make it take to flight. +It moved its wings, but did not leave the spot; then I left it to +itself, and it fell perpendicularly and with great rapidity. Birds are +certainly not able to maintain themselves at such elevations. + +"It is notable that the atmosphere, which was of a perfect purity near +the earth, was grey and misty above our heads, and the beautiful blue +sky seen from the surface did not exist for us, although the weather was +calm and serene, and the day the most beautiful that could be. The sun +did not seem dazzling to us, and its heat was diminished owing to our +elevation. + +"At half-past eleven, the balloon was no longer visible from Hamburg. +The heavens were so pure beneath us that everything was distinctly seen +by us, though very much diminished by distance. At 11.40, the town of +Hamburg seemed only a red point in our eyes; the Elbe looked like +a straight ribbon. I wished to make use of an opera-glass, but what +surprised me was that when I lifted it up it was so cold that I had to +wrap my handkerchief around it to enable me to hold it. + +"Not being able to support our position any longer, we descended, after +having used up much gas and ballast. Our descent caused that degree +of terror among the inhabitants which the size of our balloon was +calculated to inspire in a country where such machines had never before +been seen. We descended above a poor village called Radenburg, a place +amid the heaths of Hanover. Our appearance caused great alarm, and even +the beasts of the field fled from us. + +"While our balloon rapidly approached the earth, we waved our hats and +flags, and shouted to the inhabitants, but our voices only increased +their terror. The villagers rushed away with cries of terror, leaving +their herds, whose bellowings increased the general alarm. When the +balloon touched the ground, every man had shut himself up in his own +house. Having appealed in vain, and fearing that the villagers might do +us some injury, we resolved to re-ascend. + +"In making this second ascent, we threw over all our ballast; but in +this we were imprudent, for after sailing about at a great height, and +having lost much gas, I perceived that our descent would be very +rapid, and to provide against accident, I gathered together all the +instruments, the bread, the ropes, and even such money as we had with +us, and placed them in three sacks, to which I attached a rope of a +hundred feet in length. This precaution saved us a shock. The weight, +amounting to thirty pounds, reached the ground before us, and the +balloon, thus lightened, came softly to the ground between Wichtenbech +and Hanover, after having run twenty-five leagues in five and a half +hours." + +After this ascent Robertson became acquainted with some savants of +Hamburg, and amongst others with Professor Pfaff, who was interested +in aerial travelling as a means of settling certain meteorological +problems. Some days after Robertson's ascent, the professor wrote to +him-- + +"You speak of a certain height at which the hydrogen gas will find +itself in equilibrium in the air of the atmosphere. I believe that this +height is the extremity of the atmosphere itself; for as the gas has an +elasticity much greater than that of the air, it will go on dilating as +it mounts into the higher regions of the atmosphere, and its specific +weight will diminish as the weight of atmospheric air diminishes; and it +will not cease to mount until it rises above the atmosphere itself, if +two conditions be completely fulfilled--1, the condition that the gas +may be allowed to dilate without leaving the balloon as it rises; 2, +the condition that the gas shall not be allowed to mix at all with the +atmospheric air." + +Another ascent was arranged for the 14th of August, in which Robertson +was to be accompanied by the professor, but the latter, yielding to the +entreaties of his family, did not go. "I went up with my friend Lhoest," +says Robertson, "at forty-two minutes past twelve midday. In a minute or +two we rose up between two masses of cloud, which seemed to open up and +offer us a passage. The upper surfaces of these clouds are not uniformly +level, like the under sides seen from the earth, but they are of a +conical or pyramidal shape. These imposing masses seem to precipitate +themselves upon the earth, as if to engulf it, but this optical illusion +was due to the apparent immobility of the balloon, which at the moment +was rising at the rate of about twenty feet per second. + +"The fear of losing the view of the Baltic, which we perceived between +the clouds at intervals, obliged us to renounce the project of rising as +high as on the last occasion. The barometer was at fifteen inches, and +the thermometer one degree below zero, when I let off two pigeons. + +"One descended in a diagonal direction, its wings half open but not +moving, with a swiftness which seemed that of a fall. The other flew +for an instant, and then placed itself upon the car, and did not wish to +quit us. Acting on the hint of Dr. Reimarus, I tried the same experiment +with butterflies, but the air was too much rarefied for them; they +attempted in vain to raise themselves by their wings, but they did not +forsake the car. + +"The wind continuing to carry me towards the sea, I resolved to bring +my observations to an end. I effected my descent in a meadow, near the +village of Rehorst, in Holstein, after having run sixteen leagues from +France in sixty-five minutes." + +At the commencement of the year 1804, Laplace, at the Institute, +proposed to take advantage of the means offered by aerostation to verify +at great heights certain scientific points--as, for example, those which +concern magnetism. This proposition was made at a favourable time, and +was, so far, carried out in the best possible way. The aeronauts who +were appointed to carry out the expedition were Biot and Gay-Lussac, the +most enthusiastic aeronauts of the period. + +The following is their report:-- + +"We observed the animals we had with us at all the different heights, +and they did not appear to suffer in any manner. For ourselves, we +perceived no effect any more then a quickening of the pulse. At 10,000 +feet above the ground we set a little green-finch at liberty. He flew +out at once, but immediately returning, settled upon our cordage; +afterwards, setting out again, he flew to the earth, describing a very +tortuous line in his passage. We followed him with our eyes till he was +lost in the clouds. A pigeon, which we set free at the same elevation, +presented a very curious spectacle. Placed at liberty on the edge of the +car, he remained at rest for a number of instants, as if measuring the +length of his flight; then he launched himself into space, flying about +irregularly, as if to try his wings. Afterwards he began his descent +regularly, sweeping round and round in great circles, ever reaching +lower, until he also was lost in the clouds." + +As to the voyagers themselves, this is how they speak of their situation +at the height of 3,000 yards:-- + +"About this elevation we observed our animals. They did not appear +to suffer from the rarity of the air, yet the barometer was at twenty +inches eight lines.. We were much surprised that we did not suffer from +the cold; on the contrary, the sun warmed us much. We had thrown aside +the gloves which had been put on board, and which were of no use to us. +Our pulses were very quick; that of M. Gay-Lussac, which is 62 in the +minute on ordinary occasions, now gave 80; and mine, which is ordinarily +89, gave 111. This acceleration was felt by both of us in nearly the +same proportion. Nevertheless, our respiration was in no way interfered +with, we experienced no illness, and our situation seemed to us +extremely agreeable." + +The following is their report to the Galvanic Society-- + +"We have known for a long time that no animal can with safety pass into +an atmosphere much more dense or much more rare than that to which it +has been accustomed. In the first case it suffers from the outer air, +which presses upon it severely; in the second case there are liquids or +fluids in the animal's body which, being less pressed against than +they should be, become dilated, and press against their coverings or +channels. In both cases the symptoms are nearly the same--pain, general +illness, buzzing in the ears, and even haemorrhage. The experience of +the diving-bell has long made us familiar with what aeronauts suffer. +Our colleague (Robertson), and his companion, have experienced these +effects in great intensity. They had swelled lips, their eyes bled, +their veins were dilated, and, what is very remarkable, they both +preserved a brown or red tinge which astonished those that had seen them +before they made the ascent. This distension of the blood-vessels would +necessarily produce an inconvenience and a difficulty in the muscular +action." + + + +Chapter II. Ascent of M. Gay-Lussac Alone--Excursions of MM. Barral and +Bixio. + +Respecting this ascent, Arago states that M. Gay-Lussac has reduced to +their proper value the narratives of the physical pains which aeronauts +say they suffer in lofty aerial ascents. + +M. Gay-Lussac says:--"Having arrived at the most elevated point of +my ascent, 21,000 feet above sea level, my respiration was rendered +sensibly difficult, but I was far from experiencing any illness of a +kind to make me descend. My pulse and my breathing were very quick; +breathing very frequently in an extremely dry atmosphere, I should not +have been surprised if my throat had been so dry as to make it painful +to swallow bread." + +After having finished his observations, which referred chiefly to the +magnetic needle, with all the tranquillity of a doctor in his study, +Gay-Lussac descended to the earth between Rouen and Dieppe, eighty +leagues from Paris. + +After the names of Robertson, Gay-Lussac, and Biot, science has +registered those of Barral and Bixio, two men whose aeronautic +achievements have enriched meteorology with more important discoveries, +perhaps, than any we have yet mentioned. + +These gentlemen had conceived the project of rising by means of a +balloon to a great height, in order to study, with the assistance of the +very best instruments in use in their day, a multitude of phenomena then +imperfectly known. The subjects to which they were specially to direct +their attention, were the law of the decrease of temperature in progress +upwards, the discovery of whether the chemical composition of the +atmosphere is the same throughout all its parts, the comparison of the +strength of the solar rays in the higher regions of the atmosphere +and on the surface of the earth, the ascertaining whether the light +reflected and transmitted by the clouds is or is not polarised, &c. + +All the preparations having been made in the garden of the Observatory +at Paris, the ascent took place on the 29th of June, 1850, at 10.27 +a.m., the balloon being filled with hydrogen gas. The first ascent was a +signal failure. It was found that the weather being bad, the envelope +of the balloon was torn in several places, and had to be mended in all +haste. Immediately preceding the moment of ascent, a torrent of rain +fell. But the voyagers were determined to ascend. They placed themselves +in the car, and, when thrown off from the fastenings, they rose through +the air with the speed of an arrow. The height to which the balloon +reached made it suddenly dilate, and the network, which was much too +small, was stretched to the utmost. The balloon was forced down upon +them by the dilation, and one of them, in the endeavour to work the +valve, made a rent in the lower part of the globe, from which the gas +escaping almost over the heads of the travellers, nearly choked them. +The escape of the gas had the usual result--the balloon descended +rapidly, and fell in a vineyard near Lugny, where they were found by +the peasants holding on to the trees by their legs and arms, and thus +attempting to stop the horizontal advance of the car. They had risen to +the height of over 17,000 feet, and they had descended from this height +in from four to five minutes. + +For all practical purposes, the ascent was a failure, and the aeronauts +immediately commenced preparations for a new voyage, which took place a +month afterwards. They rose to very great altitudes, but experienced no +illness from the rarefied air. M. Bixio did not feel the sharp pains in +the ears from which he had suffered on the former occasion. They passed +through a mass of cloud 15,000 feet in thickness, and they had not yet +passed quite through it, when at the height of over 21,000 feet from the +ground, they began to descend, their descent being caused by a rent in +the envelope of the balloon, from which the gas escaped. They might, in +throwing out the last of their ballast, have, perhaps, prolonged for a +little their sojourn in space, but the circumstances in which they were +placed did not permit them to make many more scientific observations +than those they had made, and thus they were obliged to submit to their +fate. When they had reached their greatest height, there seemed to open +up in the midst of the vaporous mass a brilliant space, from which they +could see the blue of heaven. The polariscope, directed towards this +region, showed an internal polarisation, but, when pointed to the side +where the mist still prevailed, there was no polarisation. + +An optical phenomenon of a remarkable kind was witnessed when the +voyagers had attained their highest point. They saw the sun through the +upper mists, looking quite white, as if shorn of its strength; and, at +the same time, below the horizontal plane, below their horizon, and at +an angular distance from the plane equal to that of the sun above it, +they saw a second sun, which resembled the reflection of the actual sun +in a sheet of water. It is natural to suppose that the second sun was +formed by the reflection of the sun's rays upon the horizontal faces of +the ice crystals floating in this high cloud. + + + +Chapter III. Ascents of the Mssrs. Welsh, Glaisher and Coxwell. + +The most recent balloon ascents in England deserving attention have been +undertaken for scientific objects, and in this country, more than in +any other, it may be said that the conquest of the air has been made to +serve a practical end. + +In July, 1852, the Committee of the Kew Observatory resolved to +undertake a number of balloon voyages. This resolution was approved +of by the British Association for the Advancement of Science, and the +necessary instruments for making a number of meteorological observations +were prepared. The balloon employed was that of Mr. Green, who was +accompanied in his ascents by Mr. Welsh. The greatest height to which +Mr. Welsh rose was on the fourth ascent which took place on the 10th of +November, 1852. The balloon rose 22,930 feet, and the lowest temperature +observed was 26 degrees below zero. + +It is to Mr. Glaisher and Mr. Coxwell, however, that the highest +honours of scientific aerostation belong. The ascents made by these +gentlemen--Mr. Glaisher being the scientific observer, and Mr. Coxwell +the practical aeronaut--have become matters of history. Not only did +they, in the course of a large number of ascents undertaken under the +auspices of the British Association, succeed in gathering much valuable +meteorological information, but they reached a greater height than that +ever gained on any previous or subsequent occasion, and penetrated into +that distant region of the skies in which it has been satisfactorily +proved that no life can be long maintained. It was on the 5th of +September, 1862, that Mr. Glaisher and Mr. Coxwell made the famous +ascent in which they reached the greatest height ever attained by an +aeronaut, and were so nearly sacrificed to their unselfish daring. Mr. +Glaisher has given an admirable account of this ascent, which took place +from Wolverhampton. He says:--"Our ascent had been delayed, owing to the +unfavourable state of the weather. It commenced at three minutes past +one p.m., the temperature of the air being 59 degrees, and the dew-point +48 degrees. At the height of one mile the temperature was 41 degrees +and the dew-point 38 degrees. Shortly after wards clouds were entered +of about 1,100 feet in thickness. Upon emerging from them at seventeen +minutes past one, I tried to take a view of their surface with the +camera, but the balloon was ascending too rapidly and spiraling too +quickly to allow me to do so. The height of two miles was reached at +twenty-one minutes past one. The temperature of the air had fallen to +32 degrees and the dew-point to 26 degrees. The third mile was passed +at twenty-eight minutes past one, with an air temperature of 18 degrees, +and a dew-point of 13 degrees. The fourth mile was passed at thirty-nine +minutes past one, with an air temperature of 8 degrees, and a dew-point +of minus 6 degrees and the fifth mile about ten minutes later, with an +air temperature minus 5 degrees, and a dew-point minus 36 degrees. + +"Up to this time I had experienced no particular inconvenience. When at +the height of 26,000 feet I could not see the fine column of the mercury +in the tube; then the fine divisions on the scale of the instrument +became invisible. At that time I asked Mr. Coxwell to help me to read +the instruments, as I experienced a difficulty in seeing them. In +consequence of the rotary motion of the balloon, which had continued +without ceasing since the earth was left, the valve line had become +twisted, and he had to leave the car, and to mount into the ring above +to adjust it. At that time I had no suspicion of other than temporary +inconvenience in seeing. Shortly afterwards I laid my arm upon the +table, possessed of its full vigour; but directly after, being +desirous of using it, I found it powerless. It must have lost its power +momentarily. I then tried to move the other arm, but found it powerless +also. I next tried to shake myself, and succeeded in shaking my body. I +seemed to have no legs. I could only shake my body. I then looked at the +barometer, and whilst I was doing so my head fell on my left shoulder. I +struggled, and shook my body again, but could not move my arms. I got +my head upright, but for an instant only, when it fell on my right +shoulder; and then I fell backwards, my back resting against the side of +the car, and my head on its edge. In that position my eyes were directed +towards Mr. Coxwell in the ring. When I shook my body I seemed to have +full power over the muscles of the back, and considerable power over +those of the neck, but none over my limbs. As in the case of the arms, +all muscular power was lost in an instant from my back and neck. I dimly +saw Mr. Coxwell in the ring, and endeavoured to speak, but could not +do so; when in an instant intense black darkness came over me, and the +optic nerve lost power suddenly. I was still conscious, with as active a +brain as whilst writing this. I thought I had been seized with asphyxia, +and that I should experience no more, as death would come unless we +speedily descended. Other thoughts were actively entering my mind when I +suddenly became unconscious, as though going to sleep. I could not +tell anything about the sense of hearing: the perfect stillness of the +regions six miles from the earth--and at that time we were between six +and seven miles high--is such that no sound reaches the ear. My last +observation was made at 29,000 feet, about fifty-four minutes past +one. I suppose two or three minutes elapsed between my eyes becoming +insensible to seeing the fine divisions and fifty-four minutes past one, +and that other two or three minutes elapsed before I became unconscious; +therefore I think that took place about fifty-six or fifty-seven +minutes past one. Whilst powerless I heard the words 'temperature,' and +'observation,' and I knew Mr. Coxwell was in the car, speaking to me, +and endeavouring to rouse me; and therefore consciousness and hearing +had returned. I then heard him speak more emphatically, but I could not +speak or move. Then I heard him say, 'Do try; now do!' Then I saw the +instruments dimly, next Mr. Coxwell, and very shortly I saw clearly. I +rose in my seat and looked round, as though waking from sleep, and said +to Mr. Coxwell, 'I have been insensible.' He said, 'Yes; and I too, very +nearly.' I then drew up my legs, which had been extended out before +me, and took a pencil in my hand to note my observations. Mr. Coxwell +informed me that he had lost the use of his hands, which were black, and +I poured brandy over them. I resumed my observations at seven minutes +past two. I suppose three or four minutes were occupied from the time of +my hearing the words 'temperature' and 'observation,' until I began to +observe. If so, then returning consciousness came at four minutes past +two, and that gives about seven minutes of total insensibility. Mr. +Coxwell told me that in coming from the ring he thought for a moment +that I had laid back to rest myself; that he spoke to me without +eliciting a reply; that he then noticed that my legs projected, and my +arms hung down by my side. That my countenance was serene and placid, +without earnestness or anxiety, he had noticed before going into the +ring. It then struck him that I was insensible. He wished then to +approach me, but could not, and he felt insensibility coming over +himself. He became anxious to open the valve, but, in consequence of +having lost the use of his hands, he could not; and ultimately he did +so by seizing the cord with his teeth and dipping his head two or three +times. No inconvenience followed our insensibility. When we dropped it +was in a country where no accommodation of any kind could be obtained, +so that we had to walk between seven and eight miles. At the time of +ceasing our observations the ascent was at the rate of 1,000 feet per +minute, and on resuming observations the descent was at the rate of +2,000 feet per minute. These two positions must be connected, having +relation to the interval of time which elapsed between them; and they +can scarcely be connected at a point less than 36,000 or 37,000 feet +high. Again, a very delicate minimum thermometer was found to read +minus 12 degrees, and that reading would indicate an elevation exceeding +36,000 feet. There cannot be any doubt that the balloon attained the +great height of seven miles--the greatest ever reached. In this ascent +six pigeons were taken up. One was thrown out at three miles. It +extended its wings, and dropped like a piece of paper. A second at four +miles, and it flew with vigour. A third between four and five miles, and +it fell downwards. A fourth was thrown out at four miles in descending, +and it alighted on the top of the balloon. Two were brought to the +ground. One was dead, and the other was ill, but recovered so as to fly +away in a quarter of an hour." + +The results gathered by Mr. Glaisher from his numerous ascents are very +interesting. He found that in no instance did the temperature of the air +decrease uniformly with the increase of height. In fact, the decrease +in the first mile is double that in the second, and nearly four times as +great as the change of temperature in the fifth mile. The distribution +of aqueous vapour in the air is no less remarkable. The temperature +of the dew-point on leaving the earth decreases less rapidly than +the temperature of the air; so that the difference between the two +temperatures becomes less and less, till the vapour or cloud plane is +reached, when they are usually together, and always most nearly approach +each other, and that point is usually at about the height of one mile. +On leaving the upper surface of cloud, the dew point decreases more +rapidly than the air, and at extremely high situations the difference +between the two temperatures is wonderfully great, indicating an +extraordinary degree of dryness, and an almost entire absence of water. +Under these circumstances, the presence of cirrus clouds far above this +dry region, apparently as much above as when viewed from the earth, is +very remarkable, and leads to the conclusion that they are not composed +of water. + +In the propagation of sound, M. Glaisher made many curious experiments. +In one ascent (July 17th) he found, when at a distance of 11,800 feet +above the earth, that a band was heard; at a height of 22,000 feet, a +clap of thunder was heard; and at a height of 10,070 feet, the report of +a gun was heard. On one occasion, he heard the dull hum of London at +a height of 9,000 feet above the city, and on another occasion, the +shouting of many thousands of persons could not be heard at the height +of 4,000 feet. + + + +Chapter IV. Balloons Made Useful in Warfare. + + Wars of the French Republic--Company of "Ballooneers"-- + Battle of Fleurus--The Balloons of Egypt--Napoleon--Modern + Services War in Italy--War in America--Conclusion. + +We will conclude our work with a glance at aerostation as applied to +warfare. Scarcely had the first ascents astonished the world, than the +more adventurous spirits began to use the new discovery for a thousand +purposes directly useful to man. The first point of view in which +aerostation was regarded, was in that of its practical utility If one +refers to the pre-occupations of the time--to the great events then +occurring in the history of France, one will easily understand that the +Committee of Public Safety soon thought of employing balloons in the +observation of the forces and the movements of hostile troops. In +1794, the idea was practically carried out, and the French armies were +provided with two companies of aeronauts. The command of one of these +companies was given to Captain Coutelle, a young physicist of great +talent, who rendered memorable services at the battle of Fleurus. The +balloons were not thrown free, but were retained attached by means +of long cords. In this way they took up, so to speak, aerial posts of +observation. Placed in his car, the captain transmitted his instructions +to his men below by means of coloured flags. Coutelle has left us a +lively narrative of certain incidents connected with one of the grand +days of the old Republic. He had been commissioned by the Committee of +Public Safety to go to Maubeuge, where Jourdan's army was encamped, +and to offer him the use of his balloon. The representative to whom the +young doctor presented his commission, knew nothing about balloons, +and not being able to understand the order of the Committee of Public +Safety, it suddenly dawned upon him that Coutelle, with his trumpery +forgery about balloons, was nothing else than a spy, and he was about to +have him shot. The genuineness of the order from the Committee, however, +was proved, and Coutelle's case was listened to. + +"The army was at Beaumont," says Coutelle, "and the enemy, placed at a +distance of only three miles, could attack at any moment. The general +told me this fact, and engaged me to return and communicate it to the +Committee. This I did. The Commission then felt the necessity of making +an experiment with a balloon that could raise two persons, and the +minister placed at my service the garden and the little mansion of +Meudon. Many of the members of the Commission came to witness the first +ascent of a balloon held in hand, like a kite, by means of two cords. +The Commissioners ordered me to place myself in the car, and instructed +me as to a number of signals which I must repeat, and observations which +I must make. I raised myself to the full length of the cord, a height +of 1,500 feet, and at this height, with the help of a glass, I could +distinctly see the seven bends of the river Seine. On returning to the +earth, I received the compliments of the Commission. + +"Arrived at Maubeuge, my first care was to find a suitable spot to erect +my furnace, and to make every preparation for the arrival of my balloon +from Meudon. Each day my observations contained something new either in +the works which the Austrians had thrown up during the night, or in the +arrangement of their forces. On the fifth day a piece of cannon had been +brought to bear upon the balloon, and shots were fired at me as soon as +I appeared above the ramparts. None of the shots took effect, and on the +following day the piece was no longer in position. Experience enforced +upon me the necessity of forming some provision against these unexpected +attacks. I employed the night in fixing cords all round the middle of my +balloon. Each of the aerostiers had charge of one of the ropes, and +by means of them I could easily move about, and thus get myself out +of range of any gun that had been trained to bear against me. I was +afterwards ordered to make a reconnaissance at Mayence, and I posted +myself between our lines and the enemy at half range of cannon. When the +wind, which was tempestuous at first, became calmer, I was able to count +the number of cannon on the ramparts, as well as the troops that marched +through the streets and in the squares. + +"Generally the soldiers of the enemy, all who saw the observer watching +them and taking notes, came to the idea that they could do nothing +without being seen. Our soldiers were of the same opinion, and +consequently they regarded us with great admiration and trust. On the +heavy marches they brought us prepared food and wine, which my men were +hardly able to get for themselves, so closely did they require to attend +to the ropes. We were encamped upon the banks of the Rhine at Manheim +when our general sent me to the opposite bank to parley. As soon as the +Austrian officers were made aware that I commanded the balloon, I was +overwhelmed with questions and compliments. + +"What causes an impression which, till one is accustomed to it, is very +alarming, is the noise which the balloon makes when it is struck by +successive gales of wind. When the wind has passed, the balloon, which +has been pressed into a concave form by the wind, suddenly resumes its +globular form with a loud noise heard at a great distance. The silk of +the balloon would often burst in a case of this kind, were it not for +the restraining power of the network." + +After the days of Coutelle we do not read that balloons were made much +use of in warfare. The only ascent in the Egypt campaign was that of +a tricolor balloon thrown up to commemorate a fete. That Napoleon knew +full well the value of the scientific discoveries of his time is clear +from the following conversation with a learned Mohammedan, which took +place in the great pyramid of Cheops:-- + +Mussamed. "Noble successor of Alexander, honour to shine invincible +arms, and to the unexpected lightning with which your warriors are +furnished." + +Bonaparte. "Do you believe that that lightning is the work of the +children of men? Allah has placed it in our hands by means of the genius +of war." + +Mussamed. "We recognised by your arms that it is Allah that has sent +you--the Delta and all the neighbouring countries are full of thy +miracles. But would you be a conqueror if Allah did not permit you?" + +Bonaparte. "A celestial body will point by my orders to the dwelling of +the clouds, and lightning will descend towards the earth, along a rod of +metal from which I can call it forth." + +Napoleon did not favour the use of balloons in war. Perhaps it was +because he himself had such a splendid genius for war that he depended +alone upon himself, and scorned assistance. Perhaps it was because if +balloons were discovered to be of real utility, his enemies might make +use of them as well as himself, and France retain no special advantage +in them. But however this may be, on his return from Egypt he sold +the balloon of Fleurus to Robertson. The company of ballooneers was +dissolved, and the balloons themselves disappeared in smoke. + +During the war in America, the role which the balloon played was a more +important one. The Government of the United States conferred the title +of aeronautic engineer upon Mr. Allan, of Rhode Island, who originated +the idea of communicating by a telegraphic wire from the balloon to +the camp. The first telegraphic message which was transmitted from +the aerial regions is that of Professor Love, at Washington, to the +President of the United States. The following is this despatch:-- + +"WASHINGTON, Balloon the 'Enterprise.' + +"SIR,--The point of observation commands an extent of nearly fifty miles +in diameter. The city, with its girdle of encampments, presents a superb +scene. I have great pleasure in sending you this despatch--the first +that has been telegraphed from an aerial station--and to know that I +should be so much encouraged, from having given the first proof that the +aeronautic science can render great assistance in these countries." + +In the month of September, 1861, one of the most hardy aeronauts (La +Mountain) furnished important information to General M'Clellan. The +balloon of La Mountain, which arose from the northern camp upon the +Potomac, passed above Washington. La Mountain then cut the cord that +connected his balloon with the earth, and rising rapidly to the height +of a mile and a half, he found himself directly above his enemies' +lines. There he was able to observe perfectly their position and their +movements. He then threw over ballast, and ascended to the height of +three miles. At this height he encountered a current which carried him +in the direction of Maryland, where he descended in safety. General +M'Clellan was so much satisfied with the observations taken in the +balloon, that, at his request, the order was given to the War Department +to construct four new balloons. + +If this volume of "The Library of Wonders" had not had for its single +object "balloons and their history," we would have devoted a chapter +to the numerous attempts made to steer balloons. We shall only say here +that aerial navigation should be divided into two kinds with balloons, +and without balloons. In the first case, it is limited to the study of +aerial currents, and to the art of rising to those currents which suit +the direction of the voyage undertaken. The balloon is not the master +of the atmosphere; on the contrary, it is its powerless slave. In the +second case, the discovery of Montgolfier is useless; and the question +is, to find out a new machine capable of flying in the air, and at +the same time heavier than the air. Birds are, without doubt, the best +models to study. But with what force shall we replace LIFE? The air-boat +of M. Pline seems to us one of the best ideas; but the working of it +presents many difficulties. Let us find a motive power at once light +and powerful (aluminium and electricity, for example), and we will have +definitively conquered the empire of the air. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Wonderful Balloon Ascents, by Fulgence Marion + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WONDERFUL BALLOON ASCENTS *** + +***** This file should be named 899.txt or 899.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/9/899/ + +Produced by Dianne Bean + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Marion + +1870 + + + +PREFACE + +"Let posterity know, and knowing be astonished, that on the +fifteenth day of September, 1784, Vincent Lunardi of Lucca, in +Tuscany, the first aerial traveller in Britain, mounting from the +Artillery Ground in London, and traversing the regions of the air +for two hours and fifteen minutes, on this spot revisited the +earth. In this rude monument for ages be recorded this wondrous +enterprise successfully achieved by the powers of chemistry and +the fortitude of man, this improvement in science which the great +Author of all Knowledge, patronising by his Providence the +inventions of mankind, hath graciously permitted, to their +benefit and his own eternal glory." + +The stone upon which the above inscription was carved, stands, or +stood recently, near Collier's End, in the parish of Standon, +Hertfordshire; and it will possibly afford the English reader a +more accurate idea of the feelings with which the world hailed +the discovery of the balloon than any incident or illustration +drawn from the annals of a foreign country. + +The work which we now introduce to our readers does not +exaggerate the case when it declares that no discovery of modern +times has aroused so large an amount of enthusiasm, has excited +so many hopes, has appeared to the human race to open up so many +vistas of enterprise and research, as that for which we are +mainly indebted to the Brothers Montgolfier. The discovery or +the invention of the balloon, however, was one of those efforts +of genius and enterprise which have no infancy. It had reached +its full growth when it burst upon the world, and the ninety +years which have since elapsed have witnessed no development of +the original idea. The balloon of to-day--the balloon in which +Coxwell and Glaisher have made their perilous trips into the +remote regions of the air--is in almost every respect the same as +the balloon with which "the physician Charles," following in the +footsteps of the Montgolfiers, astonished Paris in 1783. There +are few more tantalising stories in the annals of invention than +this. So much had been accomplished when Roziers made his first +aerial voyage above the astonished capital of France that all the +rest seemed easy. The new highway appeared to have been thrown +open to the world, and the dullest imagination saw the air +thronged with colossal chariots, bearing travellers in perfect +safety, and with more than the speed of the eagle, from city to +city, from country to country, reckless of all the obstacles--the +seas, and rivers, and mountains--which Nature might have placed +in the path of the wayfarer. But from that moment to the present +the prospect which was thus opened up has remained a vision and +nothing more. There are--as those who visited the Crystal Palace +two years ago have reason to know--not a few men who still +believe in the practicability of journeying by air. But, with +hardly an exception, those few have abandoned all idea of +utilising the balloon for this purpose. The graceful "machine" +which astonished the world at its birth remains to this day as +beautiful, and as useless for the purposes of travel, as in the +first hour of its history. The day may come when some one more +fortunate than the Montgolfiers may earn the Duke of Sutherland's +offered reward by a successful flight from the Mall to the top of +Stafford House; but when this comes to pass the balloon will have +no share in the honour of the achievement. Not the less, +however, is the story of this wonderful invention worthy of being +recorded. It deserves a place in the history of human +enterprise--if for nothing else--because of the daring courage +which it has in so many cases brought to light. From the days of +Roziers down to those of Coxwell, our aeronauts have fearlessly +tempted dangers not less terrible than those which face the +soldier as he enters the imminent deadly breach; and, as one of +the chapters in this volume mournfully proves, not a few of their +number have paid the penalty of their rash courage with their +lives. All the more is it to be regretted that so little +practical good has resulted from their labours and their +sacrifices; and that so many of those who have perished in +balloon voyages have done so whilst serving to better end than +the amusement of a holiday crowd. There is, however, another +aspect which makes at least the earlier history of the balloon +well worth preserving. This is the influence which the invention +had upon the generation which witnessed it. As these pages +show, the people of Europe seem to have been absolutely +intoxicated by the success of the Montgolfiers' discovery. There +is something bitterly suggestive in our knowledge of this fact. +Whilst pensions and honours and popular applause were being +showered upon the inventors of the balloon, Watt was labouring +unnoticed at his improvements of the steam-engine--a very prosaic +affair compared with the gilded globe which Montgolfier had +caused to rise from earth amidst the acclamations of a hundred +thousand spectators, but one which had before it a somewhat +different history to that of the more startling invention. +England, when it remembers the story of the steam-engine, has +little need to grudge France the honour of discovering the +balloon. After all, however, Great Britain had its share in that +discovery. The early observations of Francis Bacon and Bishop +Wilkins paved the way for the later achievement, whilst it was +our own Cavendish who discovered that hydrogen gas was lighter +than air; and Dr. Black of Edinburgh, who first employed that gas +to raise a globe in which it was contained from the earth. The +Scotch professor, we are told, thought that the discovery which +he made when he sent his little tissue-paper balloon from his +lecture-table to the ceiling of his classroom, was of no use +except as affording the means of making an interesting +experiment. Possibly our readers, after they have perused this +volume, may think that Dr Black was not after all so far wrong as +people once imagined. Be this as it may, however, in these pages +is the history of the balloon, and of the most memorable balloon +voyages, and we comprehend the story to our readers not the less +cordially that it comes from the land where the balloon had its +birth. + +London, January, 1870. + + + +BALLOONS AND AIR JOURNEYS. + +PART I. THE CONQUEST OF THE SKIES.--1783. + +Chapter I. Introduction. + +The title of our introduction to aeronautics may appear ambitious +to astronomers, and to those who know that the infinite space we +call the heavens is for ever inaccessible to travellers from the +earth; but it was not so considered by those who witnessed the +ardent enthusiasm evoked at the ascension of the first balloon. +No discovery, in the whole range of history, has elicited an +equal degree of applause and admiration--never has the genius of +man won a triumph which at first blush seemed more glorious. The +mathematical and physical sciences had in aeronautics achieved +apparently their greatest honours, and inaugurated a new era in +the progress of knowledge. After having subjected the earth to +their power; after having made the waves of the sea stoop in +submission under the keels of their ships; after having caught +the lightning of heaven and made it subservient to the ordinary +purposes of life, the genius of man undertook to conquer the +regions of the air. Imagination, intoxicated with past +successes, could descry no limit to human power; the gates of the +infinite seemed to be swinging back before man's advancing step, +and the last was believed to be the greatest of his achievements. + +In order to comprehend the frenzy of the enthusiasm which the +first aeronautic triumphs called forth, it is necessary to recall +the appearance of Montgolfier at Versailles, on the 19th of +September, 1783, before Louis XVI, or of the earliest aeronauts +at the Tuileries. Paris hailed the first of these men with the +greatest acclaim, "and then, as now," says a French writer, "the +voice of Paris gave the cue to France, and France to the world!" +Nobles and artisans, scientific men and badauds, great and small, +were moved with one universal impulse. In the streets the +praises of the balloon were sung; in the libraries models of it +abounded; and in the salons the one universal topic was the great +"machine." In anticipation, the poet delighted himself with +bird's-eye views of the scenery of strange countries; the +prisoner mused on what might be a new way of escape; the +physicist visited the laboratory in which the lightning and the +meteors were manufactured; the geometrician beheld the plans of +cities and the outlines of kingdoms; the general discovered the +position of the enemy or rained shells on the besieged town; the +police beheld a new mode in which to carry on the secret service; +Hope heralded a new conquest from the domain of nature, and the +historian registered a new chapter in the annals of human +knowledge. + +"Scientific discoveries in general," says Arago, "even those from +which men expect the most advantage, like those of the compass +and the steam-engine, were greeted at first with contempt, or at +the best with indifference. Political events, and the fortunes +of armies monopolised almost entirely the attention of the +people. But to this rule there are two exceptions--the +discoveries of America and of aerostatics, the advents of +Columbus and of Montgolfier." It is not here our duty to inquire +how it happened that the discoveries made by these two personages +are classed together. Air-travelling may be as unproductive of +actual good to society as filling the belly with the east wind" +is to the body, while every one knows something of the extent to +which the discovery of Columbus has influenced the character, the +civilisation, the destinies, in short, of the human race. We are +speaking at present of the known and well-attested fact, that the +discovery of America and the discovery of the method of +traversing space by means of balloons--however they may differ in +respect of results to man--rank equally in this, that of all +other discoveries these two have attracted the greatest amount of +attention, and given, in their respective eras, the greatest +impulse to popular feeling. Let the reader recall the marks of +enthusiasm which the discovery of the islands on the east coast +of America excited in Andalusia, in Catalonia, in Aragon and +Castile--let him read the narrative of the honours paid by town +and village, not only to the hero of the enterprise, but even to +his commonest sailors, and then let him search the records of the +epoch for the degree of sensation produced by the discovery of +aeronautics in France, which stands in the same relationship to +this event as that in which Spain stands to the other. The +processions of Seville and Barcelona are the exact prototypes of +the fetes of Lyons and Paris. In France, in 1783, as in Spain +two centuries previously, the popular imagination was so greatly +excited by the deeds performed, that it began to believe in +possibilities of the most unlikely description. In Spain, the +conquestadores and their followers believed that in a few days +after they had landed on American soil, they would have gathered +as much gold and precious stones, as were then possessed by the +richest European Sovereigns. In France, each one following his +own notions, made out for himself special benefits to flow from +the discovery of balloons. Every discovery then appeared to be +only the precursor of other and greater discoveries, and nothing +after that time seemed to be impossible to him who attempted the +conquest of the atmosphere. This idea clothed itself in every +form. The young embraced it with enthusiasm, the old made it the +subject of endless regrets. When one of the first aeronautic +ascents was made, the old Marechal Villeroi, an octogenarian and +an invalid, was conducted to one of the windows of the Tuileries, +almost by force, for he did not believe in balloons. The +balloon, meanwhile, detached itself from its moorings; the +physician Charles, seated in the car, gaily saluted the public, +and was then majestically launched into space in his air-boat; +and at once the old Marechal, beholding this, passed suddenly +from unbelief to perfect faith in aerostatics and in the capacity +of the human mind, fell on his knees, and, with his eyes bathed +in tears, moaned out pitifully the words, "Yes, it is fixed! It +is certain! They will find out the secret of avoiding death; but +it will be after I am gone!" + +If we recall the impressions which the first air-journeys made, +we shall find that, among people of enthusiastic temperament, it +was believed that it was not merely the blue sky above us, not +merely the terrestrial atmosphere, but the vast spaces through +which the worlds move, that were to become the domain of man--the +sea of the balloon. The moon, the mysterious dwelling-place of +men unknown, would no longer be an inaccessible place. Space no +longer contained regions which man could not cross! Indeed, +certain expeditions attempted the crossing of the heavens, and +brought back news of the moon. The planets that revolve round +the sun, the far-flying comets, the most distant stars--these +formed the field which from that time was to lie open to the +investigations of man. + +This enthusiasm one can well enough understand. There is in the +simple fact of an aerial ascent something so bold and so +astonishing, that the human spirit cannot fail to be profoundly +stirred by it. And if this is the feeling of men at the present +day, when, after having been witnesses of ascents for the last +eighty years, they see men confiding themselves in a swinging car +into the immensities of space, what must have been the +astonishment of those who, for the first time since the +commencement of the world, beheld one of their fellow-creatures +rolling in space, without any other assurance of safety than what +his still dim perception of the laws of nature gave him? + +Why should we be obliged here to state that the great discovery +that stirred the spirits of men from the one end of Europe to the +other, and gave rise to hopes of such vast discoveries, should +have failed in realising the expectations which seemed so clearly +justified by the first experiments? It is now eighty-six years +since the first aerial journey astonished the world, and yet, in +1870, we are but little more advanced in the science than we were +in 1783. Our age is the most renowned for its discoveries of any +that the world has seen. Man is borne over the surface of the +earth by steam; he is as familiar as the fish with the liquid +element; he transmits his words instantaneously from London to +New York; he draws pictures without pencil or brush, and has made +the sun his slave. The air alone remains to him unsubdued. The +proper management of balloons has not yet been discovered. More +than that, it appears that balloons are unmanageable, and it is +to air-vessels, constructed more nearly upon the model of birds, +that we must go to find out the secret of aerial navigation. At +present, as in former times, we are at the mercy of +balloons--globes lighter than the air, and therefore the sport +and the prey of tempests and currents. And aeronauts, instead of +showing themselves now as the benefactors of mankind, exhibit +themselves mainly to gratify a frivolous curiosity, or to crown +with eclat a public fete. + + + +Chapter II. Attempts in Ancient Times to Fly in the Air. + +Before contemplating the sudden conquest of the aerial kingdom, +as accomplished and proclaimed at the end of the last century, it +is at once curious and instructive to cast a glance backward, and +to examine, by the glimmering of ancient traditions, the attempts +which have been made or imagined by man to enfranchise himself +from the attraction of the earth + +The greater number of the arts and sciences can be traced along a +chronological ladder of great length: some, indeed, lose +themselves in the night of time." The accomplishment of raising +oneself in the air, however, had no actual professors in +antiquity, and the discovery of Montgolfier seems to have come +into the world, so to speak, spontaneously. By this it is to be +understood that, unlike Copernicus and Columbus, Montgolfier +could not read in history of any similar discovery, containing +the germ of his own feat. At least, we have no proof that the +ancient nations practiced the art of aerial navigation to any +extent whatever. The attempts which we are about to cite do not +strictly belong to the history of aerostatics. + +Classic mythology tells us of Daedalus, who, escaping with his +son Icarus from the anger of Minos, in the Isle of Crete, saved +himself from the immediate evil by the aid of wings, which he +made for himself and his son, and by means of which they were +enabled to fly in the air. The wings, it appears, were soldered +with wax, and Icarus, flying too high, was struck by a ray of the +sun, which melted the wax. The youth fell into the sea, which +from him derived its name of Icarian. It is possible that this +fable only symbolisms the introduction of sails in navigation. + +Coming down through ancient history, we note a certain Archytas, +of Tarentum, who, in the fourth century B. C., is said to have +launched into the air the first "flying stag," and who, according +to the Greek writers, "made a pigeon of wood, which flew, but +which could not raise itself again after having fallen." Its +flight, it is said, "was accomplished by means of a mechanical +contrivance, by the vibrations of which it was sustained in the +air." + +In the year 66 A.D., in the time of Nero, Simon, the +magician--who called himself "the mechanician"--made certain +experiments at Rome of flying at a certain height. In the eyes +of the early Christians this power was attributed to the devil, +and St. Peter, the namesake of this flying man, is said to have +prayed fervently while Simon was amusing himself in space. It +was possibly in answer to his prayers that the magician failed in +his flight, fell upon the Forum, and broke his neck on the spot. + +From the summit of the tower of the hippodrome at Constantinople, +a certain Saracen met the same fate as Simon, in the reign of the +Emperor Comnenus. His experiments were conducted on the +principle of the inclined plane. He descended in an oblique +course, using the resistance of the air as a support. His robe, +very long and very large, and of which the flaps were extended on +an osier frame, preserved him from suddenly falling. + +The inclined plane probably suggested to Milton the flight of the +angel Uriel, in "Paradise Lost," who descended in the morning +from heaven to earth upon a ray of the sun, and ascended in the +evening from earth to heaven by the same means. But we cannot +quote here the fancies of pure imagination, and we will not speak +of Medeus the magician, of the enchantress Armida, of the witches +of the Brocken, of the hippogriff of Zephyrus with the rosy +wings, or of the diabolical inventions of the middle ages, for +many of which the stake was the only reward. + +Roger Bacon, in the thirteenth century, inaugurated a more +scientific era. In his "Treaty of the Admirable Power of Art and +Nature," he puts forth the idea that it is possible "to make +flying-machines in which the man, being seated or suspended in +the middle, might turn some winch or crank, which would put in +motion a suit of wings made to strike the air like those of a +bird." In the same treatise he sketches a flying-machine, to +which that of Blanchard, who lived in the eighteenth century, +bears a certain resemblance. The monk, Roger Bacon, was worthy +of entering the temple of fame before his great namesake the Lord +Chancellor, who in the seventeenth century inaugurated the era of +experimental science. + +Jean Baptiste Dante, a mathematician of Perugia, who lived in the +latter part of the fifteenth century, constructed artificial +wings, by means of which, when applied to thin bodies, men might +raise themselves off the ground into the air. It is recorded +that on many occasions he experimented with his wings on the Lake +Thrasymenus. These experiments, however, had a sad end. At a +fete, given for the celebration of the marriage of Bartholomew +d'Alvani, Dante, who must not be confounded with the poet, whose +flights were of quite another kind--offered to exhibit the wonder +of his wings to the people of Perugia. He managed to raise +himself to a great height, and flew above the square; but the +iron with which he moved one of his wings having been bent, he +fell upon the church of the Virgin, and broke his thigh. + +A similar accident befell a learned English Benedictine Oliver of +Malmesbury. This ecclesiastic was considered gifted with the +power of foretelling events; but, like other similarly +circumstanced, he does not seem to have beer able to divine the +fate which awaited himself. He constructed wings after the model +of those which according to Ovid, Daedalus made use of. These he +attached to his arms and his feet, and, thus furnished, he threw +himself from the height of a tower. But the wings bore him up +for little more than a distance of 120 paces. He fell at the foot +of the tower, broke his legs, and from that moment led a +languishing life. He consoled himself, however, in his +misfortune by saying that his attempt must certainly have +succeeded had he only provided himself with a tail. + +Before going further, let us take notice that the seventeenth +century is, par excellence, the century distinguished for +narratives of imaginary travels. It was then that astronomy +opened up its world of marvels. The knowledge of observers was +vastly increased, and from that time it became possible to +distinguish the surface of the moon and of other celestial +bodies. Thus a new world, as it were, was revealed for human +thought and speculation. We learned that our globe was not, as +we had supposed, the centre of the universe. It was assigned its +place far from that centre, and was known to be no more than a +mere atom, lost amid an incalculable number of other globes. The +revelations of the telescope proved that those who formerly were +considered wise actually knew nothing. Quickly following these +discoveries, extraordinary narratives of excursions through space +began to be given to the world. + +Those scientific romances were simply wild exaggerations, based +upon the thinnest foundation of scientific facts. In order, +however, to describe a journey among the stars, it was necessary +to invent some mode of locomotion in these distant regions. In +former times Lucian had been content with a ship which ascended +to the rising moon upon a waterspout; but it was now necessary to +improve upon this very primitive mode, as people began to know +something more of the forces of nature. One of the first of +these travellers in imagination to the moon in modern times was +Godwin (1638), and his plan was more ingenious than that of +Lucian. He trained a great number of the wild swans of St. +Helena to fly constantly upward toward a white object, and, +having succeeded in thus training them, one fine night he threw +himself off the Peak of Teneriffe, poised upon a piece of board, +which was borne upward to the white moon by a great team of the +gigantic swans. At the end of twelve days he arrived, according +to his story, at his destination. A little later another writer +of this peculiar kind of fiction, Wilkins, an Englishman, +professed to have made the same ascent, borne up by an eagle. +Alexandre Dumas, who recently wrote a short romance upon the same +subject, only made a translation of an English work by that +author. Wilkins' work is entitled, "The Discovery of a New +World." One chapter of the book bears the title, "That 'tis +possible for some of our posterity to find out a conveyance to +this other world; and, if there be inhabitants there, to have +commerce with them." It is thus that the right reverend +philosopher reasons:-- + +"If it be here inquired what means there may be conjectured for +our ascending beyond the sphere of the earth's mathematical +vigour, I answer.--1. 'Tis not possible that a man may be able to +fly by the application of wings to his own body, as angels are +pictured, as Mercury and Daedalus are feigned, and as hath been +attempted by divers, particularly by a Turk in Constantinople, a +Busbequius relates. 2. If there be such a great duck in +Madagascar as Marcus Polus, the Venetian, mentions, the feathers +of whose wings are twelve feet long, which can scoop up a horse +and his rider, or an elephant, as our kites do a mouse; why, +then, 'Tis but teaching one of these to carry a man, and he may +ride up thither, as Ganymede does upon an eagle. 3. Or if +neither of these ways will serve yet I do seriously, and upon +good grounds, affirm it is possible to make a flying chariot, in +which a man may sit and give such a motion to it as shall convey +him through the air. And this, perhaps, might be made large +enough to carry divers men at the same time, together with food +for their viaticum, and commodities for traffic. It is not the +bigness of anything in this kind that can hinder its motion if +the motive faculty be answerable "hereunto. We see that; great +ship swims as well as a small cork, and an eagle flies in the air +as well as a little gnat. This engine may be contrived from the +same principles by which Archytas made a wooden dove, and +Regiomontanus a wooden eagle. I conceive it were no difficult +matter (if a man had leisure) to show more particularly the means +of composing it. The perfecting of such an invention would be of +such excellent use that it were enough, not only to make a man +famous but the age wherein he lives. For, besides the strange +discoveries that it might occasion in this other world, it would +be also of inconceivable advantage for travelling, above any +other conveyance that is now in use. So that, notwithstanding +all these seeming impossibilities, it is likely enough that there +may be a means invented of journeying to the moon; and how happy +shall they be that are first successful in this attempt!" + +Afterwards comes Cyrano of Bergerac, who promulgates five +different means of flying in the air. First, by means of phials +filled with dew, which would attract and cause to mount up. +Secondly, by a great bird made of wood, the wings of which should +be kept in motion. Thirdly, by rockets, which, going off +successively, would drive up the balloon by the force of +projection. Fourthly, by an octahedron of glass, heated by the +sun, and of which the lower part should be allowed to penetrate +the dense cold air, which, pressing up against the rarefied hot +air, would raise the balloon. Fifthly, by a car of iron and a +ball of magnetised iron, which the aeronaut would keep throwing +up in the air, and which would attract and draw up the balloon. +The wiseacre who invented these modes of flying in the air seems, +some would say, to have been more in want of very strict +confinement on the earth than of the freedom of the skies. + +In 1670 Francis Lana constructed the flying-machine shown on the +next page. The specific lightness of heated air and of hydrogen +gas not having yet been discovered, his only idea for making his +globes rise was to take all the air out of them. But even +supposing that the globes were thus rendered light enough to +rise, they must inevitably have collapsed under the atmospheric +pressure. + +As for the idea of making use of a sail to direct the balloon, as +one directs a vessel, that also was a delusion; for the whole +machine, globes and sails, being freely thrown into the air, +would infallibly follow the direction of the wind, whatever that +might be. When a ship lies in the sea, and its sails are +inflated with the wind, we must remember that there are two +forces in operation--the active force of the wind and the passive +force of the resistance of the water; and in working these forces +the one against the other, the sailor can turn within a point of +any direction he pleases. But when we are subjected wholly to a +single force, and have no point of support by the use of which to +turn that force to our own purposes, as is the case with the +aeronaut, we are entirely at the mercy of that force, and must +obey it. + +After the flying-machine of Lana there was constructed by Galien +(who, like the former, was an ecclesiastic) an air-boat, less +chimerical in its form, looked at in view of the conditions of +aerial navigation, but much more singular. Galien describes his +air-boat, in 1755, in his little work entitled, "The Art of +Sailing in the Air." His project was a most extraordinary one, +and its boldness is only equalled by the seriousness of the +narrative. According to him, the atmosphere is divided into two +horizontal layers, the upper of which is much lighter than the +lower. "But," says Galien, "a ship keeps its place in the water +because it is full of air, and air is much lighter than water. +Suppose, then, that there was the same difference of weight +between the upper and the lower layer of air as there is between +the lower stratum and water; and suppose, also, a boat which +rested upon the lower layer of air, with its bulk in the lighter +upper layer--like a ship which has its keel in the water but its +bulk in the air--the same thing would happen with the air-ship as +with the water-ship--it would float in the denser layer of air." + +Galien adds that in the region of hail there was in the air a +separation into two layers, the weights of which respectively are +as 1 to 2. "Then," says he, "in placing an air-boat in the region +of hail, with its sides rising eighty-three fathoms into the +upper region, which is much more light, one could sail +perfectly." + +But how to get this enormous air-boat up to the region of hail? +This is a minor detail, respecting which Galien is not clear. + +From the labours of Lana and Galien, with their impossible flying +machines, the inventor of the balloon could derive no benefit +whatever; nor is his fame to be in the least diminished because +many had laboured in the same field before him. Nor can the story +of the ovoador, or flying man, a legend very confused, and of +which there are many versions, have given to Montgolfier any +valuable hints. It appears that a certain Laurent de Guzman, a +monk of Rio Janeiro, performed at Lisbon before the king, John +V., raising himself in a balloon to a considerable height. Other +versions of the story give a different date, and assign the +pretended ascent to 1709. The above engraving, extracted from +the "Bibliotheque de la Rue de Richelieu," is an exact copy of +Guzman's supposed balloon. + +In 1678 a mechanician of Salle, in Maine, named Besnier invented +a flying-machine. The machine consisted of four great wings, or +paddles, mounted at the extremities of levers, which rested on +the shoulders of the man who guided it, and who could move them +alternately by means ,of his hands and feet. The following +description of the machine is given in the Journal de Paris by an +eye-witness: + +"The 'wings' are oblong frames, covered with taffeta, and +attached to the ends of two rods, adjusted on the shoulders The +wings work up and down. Those in front are worked by the hands; +those behind by the feet, which are connected with the ends of +the rods by strings. The movements were such that when the right +hand made the right wing descend in front, the left foot made the +left wing descend behind; and in like manner the left hand in +front and the right foot behind acted together simultaneously. +This diagonal action appeared very well contrived; it was the +action of most quadrupeds as well as of man when walking; but the +contrivance, like others of the same kind, failed in not being +fitted with gearing to enable the air traveller to proceed in any +other direction than that in which the wind blew him. The +inventor first flew down from a stool, then from a table, +afterwards from a window, and finally from a garret, from which +he passed above the houses in the neighbourhood, and then, +moderating the working of his machine, he descended slowly to the +earth." + +Tradition records that under Louis XIV. a certain rope-dancer, +named Alard, announced that on a certain day he would perform the +feat of flying in the air. We have no description of his wings. +It is recorded, however, that he set out on his adventurous +flight; but he had not calculated all the necessities of the +case, and, falling to the ground, he was dangerously hurt. + +Leonardo da Vinci might have known the art of flying in the air, +and might even have practiced it. A statement to this effect, at +least, is found in several historians. We have, however, no +direct proof of the fact. + +The Abbe Deforges, of Etampes, announced in the journals in 1772 +that he would perform the great feat. On the appointed day +multitudes of the curious flocked to Etampes. The abbe's machine +was a sort of gondola, seven feet long and about two feet deep. +Gondola conductor, and baggage weighed in all 213 pounds. The +pious man believed that he had provided against everything. +Neither tempest nor rain should mar his flight, and there was no +chance of his being upset; whilst the machine, he had decided, +was to go at the rate of thirty leagues an hour. + +The great day came, and the abbe, entering his air-boat amidst +the applause of the spectators, began to work the wings with +which it was provided with great rapidity. "But," says one who +witnessed the feat, "the more he worked, the more his machine +cleaved to the earth, as if it were part and parcel of it." + +Retif de la Bretonne, in his work upon this subject, gives the +accompanying picture of a flying man, furnished with very +artistically designed wings, fitting exactly to the shoulders, +and carrying a basket of provisions, suspended from his waist; +and the frontispiece of the "Philosophic sans Pretention" is a +view of a flying-machine. In the midst of a frame of light wood +sits the operator, steadying himself with one hand, and with the +other fuming a cremaillere, which appears to give a very quick +rotatory movement to two glass globes revolving upon a vertical +axis. The friction of the globes is supposed to develop +electricity to which his power of ascending is ascribed. + +To wings, however, aerial adventurers mostly adhered. The +Marquis de Racqueville flew from a window of his hotel, on the +banks of the Seine, and fell into a boat full of washerwomen on +the river. All these unfortunate attempts were lampooned, +burlesqued on the stage, and pursued with the mockery of the +public. + +Up to this time, therefore, the efforts of man to conquer the air +had miscarried. They were conducted on a wrong principle, the +machinery employed being heavier than the air itself But, even +before the time of Montgolfier, the principles of aerostation +began to be recognised, though nothing was actually done in the +way of acting upon them. Thus, in 1767, Professor Black, of +Edinburgh, announced in his class that a vessel, filled with +hydrogen, would rise naturally in the air; but he never made the +experiment, regarding the fact as capable of being employed only +for amusement. Finally, Cavallo, in 1782, communicated to the +Royal Society of London the experiments he had made, and which +consisted in filling soap-bubbles with hydrogen. The bubbles +rose in the atmosphere, the gas which filled them being lighter +than air. + + + +Chapter III. The Theory of Balloons. + +A certain proposition in physics, known as the "Principle of +Archimedes," runs to the following effect:--"Every body plunged +into a liquid loses a portion of its weight equal to the weight +of the fluid which it displaces." Everybody has verified this +principle, and knows that objects are much lighter in water than +out of it; a body plunged into water being acted upon by two +forces--its own weight, which tends to sink it, and resistance +from below, which tends to bear it up. But this principle +applies to gas as well as to liquids--to air as well as to water. +When we weigh a body in the air, we do not find its absolute +weight, but that weight minus the weight of the air which the +body displaces. In order to know the exact weight of an object, +it would be necessary to weigh it in a vacuum. + +If an object thrown into the air is heavier than the air which it +displaces, it descends, and falls upon the earth; if it is of +equal weight, it floats without rising or falling; if it is +lighter, it rises until it comes to a stratum of air of less +weight or density than itself. We all know, of course, that the +higher you rise from the earth the density of the air diminishes. +The stratum of air that lies upon the surface of the earth is the +heaviest, because it supports the pressure of all the other +strata that lie above. Thus the lightest strata are the highest. + +The principle of the construction of balloons is, therefore, in +perfect harmony with physical laws. Balloons are simply globes, +made of a light, air-tight material, filled with hot air or +hydrogen gas which rise in the air because (they are lighter than +the air they displace. + +The application of this principle appeared so simple, that at the +time when the news of the invention of the balloon was spread +abroad the astronomer Lalande wrote--"At this news we all cry, +'This must be! Why did we not think of it before?'" It had been +thought of before, as we have seen in the last chapter, but it is +often long after an idea is conceived that it is practically +realised. + +The first balloon, Montgolfier's, was simply filled with hot air; +and it was because Montgolfier exclusively made use of hot air +that balloons so filled were named Montgolfiers. Of course we +see at a glance that hot air is lighter than cold air, because it +has become expanded and occupies more space--that is to say, a +volume of hot air contains actually less air than a volume of the +same size of air that has not been heated. The difference +between the weight of the hot air and the cold which it displaced +was greater than the weight of tire covering of the balloon. +Therefore the balloon mounted. + +And, seeing that air diminishes in density the higher we ascend, +the balloon can rise only to that stratum of air of the same +density as the air it contains. As the warm air cools it gently +descends. Again, as the atmosphere is always moving in currents +more or less strong, the balloon follows the direction of the +current of the stratum of air in which it finds itself. + +Thus we see how simply the ascent of Montgolfiers, and their +motions, are explained. It is the same with gas-balloons. A +balloon, filled with hydrogen gas, displaces an equal volume of +atmospheric air; but as the gas is much lighter than the air, it +is pushed up by a force equal to the difference of the density of +air and hydrogen gas. The balloon then rises in the atmosphere +to where it reaches layers of air of a density exactly equal to +its own, and when it gets there it remains poised in its place. +In order that it may descend, it is necessary to let out a +portion of the hydrogen gas, and admit an equal quantity of +atmospheric air; and the balloon does not come to the ground till +all, or nearly all, the gas has been expelled and common air +taken in. Balloons inflated with hydrogen gas are almost the +only ones in use at the present day. Scarcely ever is a +Montgolfier sent up. There are aeronauts, however, who prefer a +journey in a Montgolfier to one in a gas-balloon. The air +voyager in this description of balloon had formerly many +difficulties to contend with. The quantity of combustible +material which he was bound to carry with him; the very little +difference that there is between the density of heated and of +cold air; the necessity of feeding the fire, and watching it +without a moment's cessation, as it hangs in the rechaud over the +middle of the car, rendered this sort of air travelling subject +to many dangers and difficulties. Recently, M. Eugene Godard has +obviated a portion of this difficulty by fitting a chimney, like +that which is found of such incalculable service in the case of +the Davy lamp. It is principally on account of this improvement +that the Montgolfiere has risen so highly in popular esteem. + +Generally it is not pure hydrogen that is made use of in the +inflation of balloons. Aeronauts content themselves with the gas +which we burn in our streets and houses, and thus it suffices, in +inflating the balloon, to obtain from the nearest gas-works the +quantity of gas necessary, and to lead it, by means of a pipe or +tube, from the gasometer to the mouth or neck of the machine. + +The balloon is made of long strips of silk, sewn together, and +rendered air-tight by means of a coating of caoutchouc. A valve +is fitted to the top, and by means of it the aeronaut can descend +to the earth at will, by allowing some quantity of the gas to +escape. The car in which he sits is suspended to the balloon by +a network, which covers the whole structure. Sacks of sand are +carried in this car as ballast, so that, when descending, if the +aeronaut sees that he is likely to be precipitated into the sea +or into a lake, he throws over the sand, and his air-carriage, +being thus lightened, mounts again and travels away to a more +desirable resting-place. The idea of the valve, as well as that +of the sand ballast, is due to the physician Charles. They +enable the aeronaut to ascend or descend with facility. When he +wishes to mount, he throws over his ballast; when he wants to +come down, he lets the gas escape by the valve at the roof of the +balloon. This valve is worked by means of a spring, having a long +rope attached to it, which hangs down through the neck to the +car, where the aeronaut sits. + +The operation of inflating a balloon with pure hydrogen is +represented in the engraving on the next page. + +Shavings of iron and zinc, water, and sulphuric acid, occupy a +number of casks, which communicate, by means of tubes, with a +central cask, which is open at the bottom, and is plunged in a +copper full of water. The gas is produced by the action of the +water and the sulphuric acid upon the zinc and the iron this is +hydrogen mixed with sulphuric acid. In passing through the +central copper, or vat, full of water, the gas throws off all +impurities, and comes, unalloyed with any other matter, into the +balloon by a long tube, leading from the central vats. In order +to facilitate the entrance of the gas into the balloon two long +poles are erected. These are furnished with pulleys, through +which a rope, attached also to a ring at the top of the balloon, +passes. By means of this contrivance the balloon can be at once +lightly raised from the ground, and the gas tubes easily joined +to it. When it is half full it is no longer necessary to suspend +the balloon; on the contrary, it has to be secured, lest it +should fly off. A number of men hold it back by ropes; but as +the force of ascension is every moment increasing, the work of +restraining the balloon is most difficult and exciting. At +length, all preparations being complete, the car is suspended, +the aeronaut takes his seat, the words "Let go all!" are shouted, +and away goes the silken globe into space. + +The balloon is never entirely filled, for the atmospheric +pressure diminishing as it ascends, allows the hydrogen gas to +dilate, in virtue of its expansive force, and, unless there is +space for this expansion, the balloon is sure to explode in the +air. + +An ordinary balloon, with a lifting power sufficient to carry up +three persons, with necessary ballast and materiel, is about +fifty feet high, thirty-five feet in diameter' and 2,250 cubic +feet in capacity. Of such a balloon, the accessories--the skin, +the network, the car--would weigh about 335 lbs. + +To find out the height at which he has arrived, the aeronaut +consults his barometer. We know that it is the pressure of the +air upon the cup of the barometer that raises the mercury in the +tube. The heavier the air is, the higher is the barometer. At +the level of the sea the column of mercury stands at 32 inches; +at 3,250 feet--the air being at this elevation lighter--the +mercury stands at 28 inches; at 6,500 feet above sea level it +stands at 25 inches; at 10,000 feet it falls to 22 inches; at +20,000 feet to 15 inches. These, however, are merely the +theoretic results, and are subject to some slight variation, +according to locality, &c. + +Sometimes the aeronaut makes his descent by means of the +parachute, a separate and distinct contrivance. If, from any +cause, it appears impracticable to effect a descent from the +balloon itself, the parachute may be of the greatest service to +the voyager at the present day it is chiefly used to astonish the +public, by showing them the spectacle of a man who, from a great +elevation in the air, precipitates himself into space, not to +escape dangers which threaten him in his balloon, but simply to +exhibit his courage and skill. Nevertheless, parachutes are +often of great actual use, and aeronauts frequently attach them +to their balloons as a precautionary measure before setting out +on an aerial excursion. + +The shape of a parachute, shown on the previous page, very much +resembles that of the well-known all serviceable umbrella. The +strips of silk of which it is formed are sewn together, and are +bound at the top around a circular piece of wood. A number of +cords, stretching away from this piece of wood, support the car +in which the aeronaut is carried. At the summit is contrived an +opening, which permits the air compressed by the rapidity of the +descent to escape without causing damage to the parachute from +the stress to which it is subjected. + +The rapidity of the descent is arrested by the large surface +which the parachute presents to the air. When the aeronaut +wishes to descend by the parachute, all that is required is, +after he has slipped down from the car of the balloon to that of +the parachute, to loosen the rope which binds the latter to the +former, which is done by means of a pulley. In an instant the +aeronaut is launched into space with a rapidity in comparison +with which the wild flights of the balloon are but gentle +oscillations. But in a few moments, the air rushing into the +folds of the parachute, forces them open like an umbrella, and +immediately, owing to the wide surface which this contrivance +presents to the atmosphere, the violence of the descent is +arrested, and the aeronaut falls gently to the ground, without +receiving too rude a shock. + +The virtues of the parachute were first tried upon animals. +Thus, Blanchard allowed his dog to fall in one from a height of +6,500 feet. A gust of wind caught the falling parachute, and +swept it away up above the clouds. Afterwards, the aeronaut in +his balloon fell in with the dog in the parachute, both of them +high up in the cloudy reaches of the sky, and the poor animal +manifested by his barking his joy at seeing his master. A new +current separated the aerial voyagers, but the parachute, with +its canine passenger, reached the ground safely a short time +after Blanchard had landed from his balloon. + +Experience has proved that, in the case of a descending +parachute, if the rapidity of the descent is doubled the +resistance of the air is quadrupled; if the rapidity is triple +the resistance is increased ninefold; or, to speak in language of +science, the resistance of the air is increased by the square of +the swiftness of the body in motion. This resistance increases +in proportion as the parachute spreads, and thus the uniformity +of its fall is established a minute after it has been disengaged +from the balloon. We can, therefore, check the descent of a body +by giving it a surface capable of distension by the action of the +air. + +Garnerin, in the year 1802, conceived the bold design of letting +himself fall from a height of 1,200 feet, and he accomplished the +exploit before the Parisians. When he had reached the height he +had fixed beforehand, he cut the rope which connected the +parachute with the balloon. At first the fall was terribly +rapid; but as soon as the parachute spread out the rapidity was +considerably diminished. The machine made, however, enormous +oscillations. The air, gathering end compressed under it, would +sometimes escape by one side sometimes by the other, thus shaking +and whirling the parachute about with a violence which, however +great, had happily no unfortunate effect. + +The origin of the parachute is more remote than is generally +supposed, as there was a figure of one which appeared among a +collection of machines at Venice, in 1617. + +Another species of parachute, less perfect, to be sure; than that +of Garnerin, but still a practical machine, was described 189 +years before the great aeronaut's feat at Paris. We read in the +narrative of the ambassador of Louis XIV at Siam, at the end of +the seventeenth century, the following passage--"A mountebank at +the court of the King of Siam climbed to the top of a high +bamboo-tree, and threw himself into the air without any other +support than two parasols. Thus equipped, he abandoned himself to +the winds, which carried him, as by chance, sometimes to the +earth, sometimes on trees or houses, and sometimes into the +river, without any harm happening to him." + +Is not this the idea of our parachutes? + + + +Chapter IV. First Public Trial of the Balloon. + +(Montgolfier's Balloon Annonay, 5th of June of 1783.) + +We are accustomed to rank the brothers Joseph and Etienne +Montgolfier as equally distinguished in the field of science. +The reason for thus associating these two names seems to have +been the fraternal friendship which subsisted in an extraordinary +degree in the Montgolfier family, rather than any equality of +claim which they had to the notice of posterity. After special +investigation, we find that Joseph Montgolfier was very superior +to his brother, and that it is to him principally, if not +exclusively, that we owe the invention of aerostation. +Nevertheless, we shall not insist upon this fact; and seeing that +a sacred amity always cemented a perfect union in the Montgolfier +family, we will regard that union as unbroken in any sense, and +will not insinuate that the brother of Montgolfier was +undeserving of the honoured rank which in his lifetime he held. + +In 1783, the sons of Pierre Montgolfier, a rich papermaker at +Annonay department of Ardeche, were already in the prime of life, +and it is related of them that their principal occupation was +experimenting in the physical sciences. Joseph Montgolfier, +after being convinced by a number of minor experiments made in +1782 and 1783, that a heat of 180 degrees rarefied the air and +made it occupy a space of TWICE the extent it occupied before +being heated--or, in other words, that this degree of heat +diminished the weight of air by one half--began to speculate on +what might be the shape and the material of a structure which +being filled with air thus heated, would be able to raise itself +from the earth in spite of the weight of its own covering. + +His first balloon was a small parallelopiped in very thin +taffeta, containing less than seventy-eight cubic inches of air. +He made it rise to the roof of his apartment in November, +1782--at Avignon, where he then happened to be. Having returned +some little time after to Annonay, + +Joseph and his brother performed the same experiment , together +in the open air with perfect success. Certain, then, of the new +principle, they made a balloon of considerable size, containing +upwards of sixty-five feet of heated air. + +This machine likewise rose, tore away the cords by which it was +at first held down, and mounting in the air to the height of from +two to three hundred feet, fell upon the neighbouring hills after +a considerable flight. The brothers Montgolfier then made a very +large and strong balloon, with which they wished to bring their +discovery before the public. + +The appointed day was the 5th of June, 1783 and the nobility of +the vicinity were invited to be present at the experiment. +Faujas de Saint Fond, author of "La Description des Experiences +de la Machine Aerostatique," published the same year, gives the +following account of it:-- + +"What," says Saint Fond, "was the general astonishment when the +inventors of the machine announced that immediately it should be +full of gas, which they had the means of producing at will by the +most simple process, it would raise itself to the clouds. It +must be granted that, in spite of the confidence in the ingenuity +and experience of the Montgolfiers, this feat seemed so +incredible to those who came to witness it, that the persons who +knew most about it--who were, at the same time, the most +favourably predisposed in its favour--doubted of its success. + +"At last the brothers Montgolfier commenced their work. They +first of all began to make the smoke necessary for their +experiment. The machine--which at first seemed only a covering of +cloth, lined with paper, a sort of sack thirty-five feet +high--became inflated, and grew large even under the eyes of the +spectator, took consistence, assumed a beautiful form, stretched +itself on all sides, and struggled to escape. Meanwhile, strong +arms were holding it down until the signal was given, when it +loosened itself, and with a rush rose to the height of 1,000 +fathoms in less than ten minutes." It then described a +horizontal line of 7,200 feet, and as it had lost a considerable +amount of gas, it began to descend quietly. It reached the +ground in safety; and this first attempt, crowned with such +decisive success, secured for ever to the brothers Montgolfier +the glory of one of the most astonishing discoveries. + +"When we reflect for a moment upon the numberless difficulties +which such a bold attempt entailed, upon the bitter criticism to +which it would have exposed its projectors had it failed through +any accident, and upon the sums that must have been spent in +carrying it out, we cannot withhold the highest admiration for +the men who conceived the idea and carried it out to such a +successful issue." + +Etienne Montgolfier has left us a description of this first +balloon. "The aerostatic machine," he says, "was constructed of +cloth lined with paper, fastened together on a network of strings +fixed to the cloth. It was spherical; its circumference was 110 +feet, and a wooden frame sixteen feet square held it fixed at the +bottom. Its contents were about 22,000 cubic feet, and it +accordingly displaced a volume of air weighing 1,980 1bs. The +weight of the gas was nearly half the weight of the air, for it +weighed 990 lbs., and the machine itself, with the frame, weighed +500: it was, therefore, impelled upwards with the force of 490 +lbs. Two men sufficed to raise it and to fill it with gas, but +it took eight to hold it down till the signal was given. The +different pieces of the covering were fastened together with +buttons and button-holes. It remained ten minutes in the air, +but the loss of gas by the button-holes, and by other +imperfections, did not permit it to continue longer. The wind at +the moment of the ascent was from the north. The machine came +down so lightly that no part of it was broken." + + + +Chapter V. Second Experiment. + +(Charles's Balloon, Paris, Champ de Mars, 27th of August, 1783.) + +The indescribable enthusiasm caused by the ascent of the first +balloon at Annonay, spread in all directions, and excited the +wondering curiosity of the savants of the capital. An official +report had been prepared, and sent to the Academy of Sciences in +Paris, and the result was that the Academy named a commission of +inquiry. But fame, more rapid than scientific commissions, and +more enthusiastic than academies, had, at a single flight, passed +from Annonay to Paris, and kindled the anxious ardour of the +lovers of science in that city. The great desire was to rival +Montgolfier, , although neither the report nor the letters from +Annonay had made mention of the kind of gas used by that +experimenter to inflate his balloon. By one of the frequent +coincidences in the history of the sciences, hydrogen gas had +been discovered six years previously by the great English +physician Cavendish, and it had hardly even been tested in the +laboratories of the chemists when it all at once became famous. +A young man well versed in physics, Professor Charles, assisted +by two practical men, the brothers Robert, threw himself ardently +into the investigation of the modes of inflating balloons with +this gas, which was then called INFLAMMABLE AIR. Guessing that +it was much lighter than that which Montgolfier had been obliged +to make use of in his third-rate provincial town, Charles leagued +himself with his two assistants to constrict a balloon of +taffeta, twelve feet in diameter, covered with india-rubber, and +to inflate it with hydrogen. + +The thing thus arranged, a subscription was opened. The +projected experiment having been talked of a]l over Paris, every +one was struck with the idea, and subscriptions poured in. Even +the most illustrious names are to be found in the list, which may +be called the first national subscription in France. Nothing had +been written of the forthcoming event in any public paper, yet +all Paris seemed to flock to contribute to the curious +experiment. + +The inflation with hydrogen was effected in a very curious +manner. As much as 1,125 lbs. of iron and 560 lbs. of sulphuric +acid were found necessary to inflate a balloon which had scarcely +a lifting power of 22 lbs., and the process of filling took no +less than four hours. At length, however, at the end of the +fourth hour, the balloon, composed of strips of silk, coated with +varnish, floated, two-thirds full, from the workshop of the +brothers Robert. + +On the morning of the 26th of August, the day before the ascent +was to be made, the balloon was visited at daybreak, and found to +be in a promising state. At two o'clock on the following morning +its constructors began to make preparations to transport it to +the Champ de Mars, from which place it was to be let loose. +Skilled workmen were employed in its removal, and every +precaution was taken that the gas with which it was charged +should not be allowed to escape. In the meantime the excitement +of the people about this wonderful structure was rising to the +highest pitch. The wagon on which it was placed for removal was +surrounded on all sides by eager multitudes, and the +night-patrols, both of horse and foot, which were set to guard +the avenues leading to where it lay, were quite unable to stem +the tide of human beings that poured along to get a glimpse of +it. + +The conveyance of the balloon to the Champ de Mars was a most +singular spectacle. A vanguard, with lighted torches, preceded +it; it was surrounded by special attendants, and was followed by +detachments of night-patrols on foot and mounted. The size and +shape of this structure, which was escorted with such pomp and +precaution--the silence that prevailed--the unearthly hour, all +helped to give an air of mystery to the proceedings. At last, +having passed through the principal thoroughfares, it arrived at +the Champ de Mars, where it was placed in an enclosure prepared +for its reception. + +When the dawn came, and the balloon had been fixed in its place +by cords, attached around its middle and fixed to iron rings +planted in the earth, the final process of inflation began. + +The Champ de Mars was guarded by troops, and the avenues were +also guarded on all sides. As the day wore on an immense crowd +covered the open space, and every advantageous spot in the +neighborhood was crowded with people. At five o'clock the report +of a cannon announced to the multitudes, and to scientific men +who were posted on elevations to make observations of the great +event, that the grand moment had come. The cords were withdrawn, +and, to the vast delight and wonder of the crowd assembled, the +balloon shot up with such rapidity that in two minutes it had +ascended 488 fathoms. At this height it was lost in a cloud for +an instant, and, reappearing, rose to a great height, and was +again lost in higher clouds. The ascent was a splendid success. +The rain that fell damped neither the balloon nor the ardor of +the spectators. + +This balloon was 12 feet in diameter, 38 feet in circumference, +and had a capacity of 943 cubic feet. The weight of the +materials of which it was constructed was 25 lbs., and the force +of ascension was that of 35 lbs. + +The fall of the balloon was caused by the expansion and +consequent explosion of the hydrogen gas. This event took place +some distance out in the country, close to a number of peasants, +whose terror at the sight and the sound of this strange monster +from the skies was beyond description. The people assembled, and +two monks having told them that the burst balloon was the hide of +a monstrous animal, they immediately began to assail it +vigorously with stones, flails, and pitchforks. The cure of the +parish was obliged to walk up to the balloon to reassure his +terrified flock. They finally attached the burst envelope to a +horse's tail, and dragged it far across the fields. + +Many drawings and engravings of the period represent the peasants +armed with pitchforks, flails, and scythes, assailing it, a dog +snapping at it, a garde-champetre firing at it, a fat priest +preaching at it, and a troop of young people throwing stones at +the unfortunate machine. + +The news of this fiasco came to Paris, but too late. When search +was made for the covering, scarcely a fragment could be found. + +A somewhat humorous result of all this was the issue of a +communication from government to the people, entitled, "Warning +to the People on kidnapping Air-balloons." This document, duly +signed and approved of, describes the ascents at Annonay and at +Paris, explains the nature and the causes of the phenomena, and +warns the people not to be alarmed when they see something like a +"black moon" in the sky, nor to give way to fear, as the seeming +monster is nothing more than a bag of silk filled with gas. + +This first ascent in Paris was an important event. Every one, +from the smallest to the greatest, was deeply interested in it, +while to the man of science it was one of the most exciting of +incidents. For the purpose of observing the altitude to which +the balloon rose, and the course it took, Le Gentil was on the +observatory, Prevost was on one of the towers of Notre Dame, +Jeaurat was on La Place Louis XV., and d'Agelet was on the Champ +de Mars. It was only Lalande that frowned as he witnessed the +success of the experiment. He had predicted the year before that +air-navigation was impossible. + + + +Chapter VI. Third Experiment. + +(Montgolfier's Balloon, Paris, Faubourg St. Antoine.) + +As we have seen, the triumph of aerostation was sudden and +complete. The young Montgolfier had arrived in Paris prior to the +experiment of the 27th of August, and was present as a simple +spectator on that occasion. immediately afterwards he set to +work upon a balloon, which was to be made use of when the Academy +should investigate the phenomenon at Versailles in presence of +the king, Louis XVI. + +It was at this time (September, 1783) that those small balloons, +made of gold-beaters' skin, which are used as children's toys to +the present day, were first made. The whole of Paris amused +itself with them, repeating in little the phenomenon of the great +ascent. The sky of the capital found itself all at once traversed +by a multitude of small rosy clouds, formed by the hand of man. + +Faujas de Saint Fond says that at first an attempt was made to +construct balloons of fine, light paper; but this material being +permeable, and the gas being inflammable, balloons thus made did +not succeed. It was necessary to seek a material less porous, +and, if possible, still lighter. + +The Journal de Paris, of the 11th of September, 1783, informed +the public that the Baron de Beaumanoir, "who cultivated the +sciences and the fine arts with as much success as zeal," would +send up a balloon eighteen inches in diameter. At noon of the +same day he made this experiment in presence of a numerous +assembly in the garden in front of the Hotel de Surgeres.. The +little balloon mounted freely, but was held in, like a kite, by +means of a silk thread. In the course of the same afternoon, the +baron took down the balloon and filled it anew with hydrogen, and +then let it off. The spectators had the pleasure of seeing it +rise to a great height, and pass away in the direction of +Neuilly, and it is said to have been found at a distance of +several leagues, by peasants. + +However trifling this experiment may appear at first sight, it +added a new fact to the science of aerostation. The material +employed by the baron was lighter and better than paper. It was +what is called gold-beaters' skin. This skin is simply the +interior lining of the large bowel of the ox. It is carefully +prepared, is relieved of the fat, stringy and uneven parts, is +dried, and is afterwards softened. Little balloons of this +material came to be the fashion, and they are still frequently +seen. + +At the same time, Montgolfier was busy constructing, at the +request of the Academy of Sciences, a balloon seventy feet high +and forty in diameter, with which it was proposed to repeat the +experiment of Annonay. He took up his quarters in the +magnificent gardens of his friend Reveillon, proprietor of the +royal manufactory of stained paper in the Faubourg St. Antoine. +The new balloon was of a very singular shape: the upper part +represented a prism, twenty-four feet high the top was a pyramid +of the same height; the lower part was a truncated cone, twenty +feet in depth. It was made of packing-cloth, lined with good +paper, both inside and out. + +The gossipping and prolix Faujas de Saint Fond thus describes +this machine:--"It was painted blue, represented a sort of tent, +and was richly ornamented with gold Its height was seventy feet; +its weight 1,000 lbs.; the air which it displaced was 4,500 lbs. +in volume, and the vapor with which it was filled was half the +weight of ordinary air. The approach of the equinox having +brought rain, all the conditions under which this balloon was +constructed and exhibited were unfavourable. The structure was +so large that it was impossible to get it together and stitch it, +except in the open air--in the garden, in fact, where Montgolfier +commenced its construction. It was a great labour to turn and +fold this heavy covering, while the liability of the thick paper +to crack was an additional difficulty. Not less than twenty men +were required to move it, and they were obliged to use all their +skill, and every precaution, not to destroy it. No balloon had +ever given so much trouble. On the 11th of September the weather +improved, and the balloon was entirely completed and prepared for +the first experiment. In the evening the attempt was made. It +was with admiration that the beholders saw the beautiful machine +filling itself in the short space of nine minutes, swelling out +on all sides and showing the full symmetry of its artistic form. +It was firmly held in hand, or it would have risen to a great +height. On the following day the actual ascent was to take +place, and the commissioners of the Academy of Sciences were +invited to be present. In the morning thick clouds covered the +horizon, and a tempest was expected; but as there was an ardent +desire that the ascent should take place without delay, and as +all the gearing was in order, it was resolved to proceed. + +"Fifty pounds of dry straw were fired in parcels under the +balloon, and upon the fire were thrown at intervals several +pounds of wool. This fuel produced in ten minutes such a volume +of smoke that the huge balloon was speedily filled. It rose, +with a weight of 500 lbs. holding it down, to some height above +the ground, and had the ropes by which it was attached to the +ground been cut, it would have mounted to a great height. +Meantime the storm broke, rain descended, and the wind blew with +great force. The most likely means of saving the balloon was to +let it fly but as it was to ascend again on another occasion, at +Versailles, the greatest efforts were made to bring it down, and +these, together with the damage caused by the storm, eventually +rent it into numberless fragments and tatters. It withstood the +storm for twenty-four hours; then, however, the paper came +peeling off, and this beautiful structure was a wreck." + + + +Chapter VII. Fourth Experiment. + +(Versailles, 19th September, 1783, in presence of Louis of XVI.) + +Of course another balloon was wanted for the fete at Versailles. +The king had demanded an ascent for the 19th, a week after the +disaster at the Faubourg St. Antoine. Already the possibility of +a man going up with the balloon was discussed, and people +indulged in visions of splendid aerial trips; but the king would +not hear of the proposal. Balloons were novelties, not offering +sufficient security, and he was unwilling that any of his +subjects should risk their lives in attempting the unknown. He +consented, however, to a proposal that animals might be sent up +in the first instance, by way of experiment, suspended in an +osier cage attached to the neck of the balloon. + +Montgolfier at once began a new balloon. A few days only were at +his disposal; but, assisted by friends, he worked with such +ardour and success that he was able, on the date appointed, to +produce a magnificent spherical balloon, much stronger than the +former, constructed of good strong cotton cloth, and painted in +distemper. + +It is proper here to remark that the first balloons were much +more elegant in appearance than those afterwards made. The +coloured prints and engravings of the period enable us to form an +opinion of the splendour of their ornamentation and the beauty of +their design. Sometimes the figures painted upon them +represented scenes from the heathen mythology, and sometimes +historical scenes; while rich embroideries, royal insignia, and +gaily-coloured draperies added much to the general effect. The +Versailles balloon was painted blue, with ornaments of gold, and +it presented the form of a richly decorated tent. It was +fifty-seven feet in height, and sixty-seven in diameter. + +It was first tried at Paris, and succeeded perfectly. On the +morning of the 19th it was carried to Versailles, where due +preparation had been made for its reception In the great court of +the castle a sort of theatre had been temporarily erected with a +scaffolding, covered throughout with tapestry In the middle was +an opening more than fifteen feet in diameter, in which was +spread a banquet for those who had constructed the balloon. A +numerous guard formed a double cordon around the structure. A +raised platform was used for the fire by means of which the +balloon was to be inflated; a covered funnel or chimney of strong +cloth, painted, was suspended over the fire-place, and received +the hot smoke as it arose. Through this funnel the heated air +ascended straight up into the balloon. + +At six in the morning, the road from Paris to Versailles was +covered with carriages. Crowds came from all parts, and at noon +the avenues, the square of the castle, the windows, and even the +roofs of the houses, were crowded with spectators. The noblest, +the most illustrious, and most learned men in France were +present, and the splendour of the scene was complete when their +majesties and the royal family entered within the enclosure, and +went forward to inspect the balloon, and to make themselves +familiar with the preparations for the ascent. + +In a short time the fire was lit, the funnel extended over it, +and the smoke rose inside, while the balloon, unfolding, +gradually swelled to its full size, and then, drawing after it +the cage, in which a sheep and some pigeons were enclosed, rose +majestically into the air. Without interreruption, it ascended +to a vast height, where, inclining toward the north, it seemed to +remain stationary for a few seconds, showing all the beauty of +its form, and then, as though possessed of life, it descended +gently upon the wood of Vaucresson, 10,200 feet from the point of +its departure. Its highest elevation, as estimated by the +astronomers Le Gentil and M. Jeaurat, Jeaurat, was about 1,700 +feet. + + + +Chapter VIII. Men and Balloons. + +It is not natural that the human mind should stop upon the way to +the solution of a problem, especially when it seems to be on the +point of arriving at a satisfactory conclusion to its labours. +The osier cage of Versailles very soon transformed itself into a +car, bearing human passengers, and the age of the "Thousand and +One Nights" was expected to come back again. It was resolved to +continue experiments, with the direct object of finding out +whether it was impossible or desperately dangerous for man to +travel in balloons. Montgolfier returned from Versailles, and +constructed a new machine in the gardens of the Faubourg St. +Antoine. It was completed on the 10th of October Its form was +oval, its height 70 feet, its diameter 46 feet and its capacity +60,ooo cubic feet. The upper part, embroidered with +fleurs-de-lis, was further ornamented with the twelve signs of +the zodiac, worked in gold. The middle part bore the monogram of +the king, alternating with figures of the sun, while the lower +part was garnished with masks, garlands, and spread eagles. A +circular gallery made of osiers and festooned with draperies and +other ornaments, was attached by a set of cords to the bottom of +the structure. The gallery was three feet wide, and was +protected by a parapet over three feet in height. It did not in +any way interfere with the opening at the neck of the balloon, +under which was suspended a grating of iron wire upon which the +occupants of the gallery, who were to be provided with dried +straw and wool, could in a few minutes kindle a fire and create +fresh smoke, when that in the balloon began to be exhausted. The +machine weighed, in all, 1,600 lbs. The public had previously +been warned, in the Journal de Paris de Paris, that the +approaching experiments were to be of a strictly scientific +character; and as they would be only interesting to savants, +they would not afford amusement for the merely curious. This +announcement was necessary, to abate in some degree the +excitement of the people until some satisfactory results should +be obtained; it was also necessary for those engaged in the work, +whose firmness of nerve might have suffered from the enthusiastic +cries of excited spectators. On Wednesday, the 15th of October, +Pilatre des Roziers, who had on other occasions given proofs of +his intelligence and courage in performing dangerous feats, and +who had already signalised himself in connection with balloons, +offered to go up in the new machine. His offer was accepted; the +balloon was inflated; stout ropes, more than eighty feet long, +were attached to it, and it rose from the ground to the height +to which this tackle allowed it. At this elevation it remained +four minutes twenty-five seconds; and it is not surprising to +hear that Roziers suffered no inconvenience from the ascent. +What was really the interesting thing in this experiment was, +that it showed how a balloon would fall when the hot air became +exhausted, this being the point which caused the greatest amount +of disquietude among men of science. In this instance the +balloon fell gently; its form distended at the same time, and, +after touching the ground, it rose again a foot or two, when its +human passenger had jumped out. + +On Friday, the 17th of October, this experiment was repeated, +and the excitement of the public on this occasion was unbounded. +"All the world" came to see. Roziers was again lifted up in the +balloon, to the height of eighty feet; but so strong was the +wind, and the strain on the ropes was so great, that the balloon +was somewhat unsteady, and the exhibition was not on the whole +such a splendid success as that of the preceding Wednesday. + +On Sunday, Montgolfier chose a fine day for the following +ascents:--"First Ascent: On the 19th of October, 1783, at +half-past four, in presence of two thousand spectators, 'the +machine' was filled with gas in five minutes, and Roziers, being +placed in the gallery with a counterbalancing weight of 110 lbs. +in the other side of the gallery, was carried up to the height of +200 feet. The machine remained six minutes at this elevation +without any fire in the grating. Second Ascent: The machine +carried Roziers and the counterbalancing weight--fire being in +the grating--to the height of 700 feet. At this height it +remained stationary eight and a half minutes As it was drawn +back, a wind from the east bore it against a tuft of very tall +trees in a neighbouring garden, where it got entangled, without, +however, losing its equilibrium. The gas was renewed by Roziers, +and the balloon again rising, extricated itself from among the +branches, and soared majestically into the air, followed by the +acclamations of the public. This second ascent was very +instructive, for it had been often asserted that if ever a +balloon fell upon a forest it would be destroyed, and would place +those who travelled in it in the greatest peril. This experiment +proved that the balloon does not FALL it DESCENDS; that it does +not overturn; that it does not destroy itself on trees; that it +neither causes death, nor even damage, to its passengers; that, +on the contrary, the latter, by making new gas, give it the power +of detaching itself from the trees; and that it can resume its +course after such an event. The intrepid Roziers gave in this +ascent a further proof of the facility he had in descending and +ascending at will. When the machine had risen to the height of +200 feet it began to descend lightly, and just before it came to +the earth the aeronaut very cleverly and quickly threw on more +fuel and produced more smoke, at which the balloon, to the +astonishment of every one, suddenly soared away again to its +former elevation. Third Ascent: The balloon rose again with +Roziers, accompanied this time by another aeronaut, Gerond de +Villette; and as the cords had been lengthened, the adventurers +were carried up to the height of 324 feet. At this elevation the +balloon rested in perfect equilibrium for nine minutes. It was +the first time that human beings had ever been carried to an +equal elevation, and the spectators were astonished to find that +they could remain there without danger and without alarm. The +balloon had a superb effect at this elevation; it looked down +upon the whole town, and was seen from all the suburbs. Its size +seemed hardly diminished in the least, though the men themselves +were barely visible. By the aid of glasses, Roziers could be +seen calmly and industriously making new gas. When the balloon +descended the two men declared that they had not experienced the +slightest inconvenience from the elevation. They received the +universal applause which their zeal and courage so well deserved. +The Marquis d'Arlandes, a major of infantry, afterwards went up +with Roziers, and this latter experiment was as successful as the +former." + +Some days after these experiments the conductors of the Journal +de Paris who described them, received a letter from Montgolfier, +and also one from Gerond de Villette. The latter only is of +interest here. Gerond de Villette says: "I found myself in the +space of a quarter of a minute raised 400 feet above the surface +of the earth. Here we remained six minutes. My first employment +was to watch with admiration my intelligent companion. His +intelligence, his courage and agility in attending to the fire, +enchanted me. Turning round, I could behold the Boulevards, from +the gate of St. Antoine to that of St. Martin, all covered with +people, who seemed to me a flat band of flowers of various +colours. Glancing at the distance, I beheld the summit of +Montmartre, which seemed to me much below our level. I could +easily distinguish Neuilly, St. Cloud, Sevres, Issy, Ivry, +Charenton, and Choisy. At once I was convinced that this +machine, though a somewhat expensive one, might be very useful in +war to enable one to discover the position of the enemy, his +manoeuvres, and his marches; and to announce these by signals to +one's own army. 1 believe that at sea it is equally possible to +make use of this machine. These prove the usefulness of the +balloon, which time will perfect for us. All that I regret is +that I did not provide myself with a telescope." + + + +Chapter IX. The First Aerial Voyage--Roziers and Arlandes. + +These experiments had only one aim--the application of +Montgolfier's discovery to aerial navigation. The knowledge +gained in the Faubourg St. Antoine having led to the most +favourable conclusions, it was resolved that a first aerial +voyage should be attempted. + +"If," says Linguet, "there existed an autograph journal, written +by Columbus, descriptive of his first great voyage with what +jealous care it would be preserved, with what confidence it would +be quoted! We should delight to follow the candid account which +he gave of his thoughts, his hopes, his fears; of the complaints +of his followers, of his attempts to calm them, and, finally, of +his joy in the moment which, ratifying his word and justifying +his boldness, declared him the discoverer of a new world All +these details have been transmitted to us, but by stranger hands; +and, however interesting they may be, one cannot help feeling +that this circumstance makes them lose part of their value." + +The narrative of the first aerial voyage, written by one of the +two first aeronauts, exists, and we are in a position to place it +before our readers. Such an enterprise certainly demanded great +courage in him who was the first to dare to confide himself to +the unknown currents of the atmosphere It threatened him with +dangers, perhaps with death by a fill, by fire, by cold, or by +straying into the mysterious cloud-land. Two men opposed the +first attempt. Montgolfier temporised, the king forbade it, or +rather only gave his permission on the condition that two +condemned criminals should be placed in the balloon! "What!" +cried Roziers, in indignation at the king's proposal, "allow two +vile criminals to have the first glory of rising into the sky! +No, no; that will never do!" Roziers conjured, supplicated, +agitated in a hundred ways for permission to try the first +voyage. He moved the town and the court; he addressed himself to +those who were most in favour at Versailles; he pleaded with the +Duchess de Polignac, who was all-powerful with the king. She +warmly supported his cause before Louis. Roziers dispatched the +Marquis d'Arlandes, who had been up with him, to the king. +Arlandes asserted that there was no danger, and, as proof of his +conviction, he offered himself to accompany Roziers. Solicited +on all sides, Louis at last yielded. + +The gardens of La Muette, near Paris, were fixed upon as the spot +from which this aerial expedition should start. The Dauphin and +his suite were present on the occasion. It was on the 21st of +October, 1783,at one o'clock p.m., that Roziers and Irelands took +their leave of the earth for the first time. The following is +Arlandes' narrative of the expedition, given in the form of a +letter, addressed by the marquis to Faujas de Saint Fond:--"You +wish, my dear Faujas, and I consent most willingly to your +desires, that, owing to the number of questions continually +addressed to me, and for other reasons, I should gratify public +curiosity and fix public opinion upon the subject of our aerial +voyage. + +"I wish to describe as well as I can the first journey which men +have attempted through an element which, prior to the discovery +of MM. Montgolfier, seemed so little fitted to support them. + +"We went up on the 21st of October, 1783, at near two o'clock, M. +Roziers on the west side of the balloon, I on the east. The wind +was nearly north-west. The machine, say the public, rose with +majesty; but really the position of the balloon altered so that +M. Roziers was in the advance of our position, I in the rear. + +"I was surprised at the silence and the absence of movement which +our departure caused among the spectators, and believed them to +be astonished and perhaps awed at the strange spectacle; they +might well have reassured themselves I was still gazing, when M. +Roziers cried to me-- + +"'You are doing nothing, and the balloon is scarcely rising a +fathom.' + +"'Pardon me,' I answered, as I placed a bundle of straw upon the +fire and slightly stirred it. Then I turned quickly, but already +we had passed out of sight of La Muette. Astonished, I cast a +glance towards the river. I perceived the confluence of the +Oise. And naming the principal bends of the river by the places +nearest them, I cried, 'Passy, St. Germain, St. Denis, Sevres!' + +"'If you look at the river in that fashion you will be likely to +bathe in it soon,' cried Roziers. 'Some fire, my dear friend, +some fire!' + +"We travelled on; but instead of crossing the river, as our +direction seemed to indicate, we bore towards the Invalides, then +returned upon the principal bed of the river, and travelled to +above the barrier of La Conference, thus dodging about the river, +but not crossing it. + +"'That river is very difficult to cross,' I remarked to my +companion. + +"'So it seems,' he answered; 'but you are doing nothing I suppose +it is because you are braver than 1, and don't fear a tumble.' + +"I stirred the fire, I seized a truss of straw with my fork; I +raised it and threw it in the midst of the flames. An instant +afterwards I felt myself lifted as it were into the heavens. + +"'For once we move,' said I. + +"'Yes, we move,' answered my companion. + +"At the same instant I heard from the top of the balloon a sound +which made me believe that it had burst. I watched, yet I saw +nothing. My companion had gone into the interior, no doubt to +make some observations. As my eyes were fixed on the top of the +machine I experienced a shock, and it was the only one I had yet +felt. The direction of the movement was from above downwards I +then said-- + +"'What are you doing? Are you having a dance to yourself?' + +"'I'm not moving.' + +"'So much the better. It is only a new current which I hope will +carry us from the river,' I answered. + +"I turned to see where we were, and found we were between the +Ecole Militaire and the Invalides. + +"'We are getting on.' said Roziers. + +"'Yes, we are travelling.' + +"'Let us work, let us work,' said he. + +"I now heard another report in the machine, which I believed was +produced by the cracking of a cord. This new intimation made me +carefully examine the inside of our habitation. I saw that the +part that was turned towards the south was full of holes, of +which some were of a considerable size. + +"'It must descend,' I then cried. + +"'Why?' + +"'Look!' I said. At the same time I took my sponge and quietly +extinguished the little fire that was burning some of the holes +within my reach; but at the same moment I perceived that the +bottom of the cloth was coming away from the circle which +surrounded it. + +"'We must descend,' I repeated to my companion. + +"He looked below. + +"'We are upon Paris,' he said. + +"'It does not matter,' I answered 'Only look! Is there no danger? +Are you holding on well?' + +"'Yes.' + +"I examined from my side, and saw that we had nothing to fear. I +then tried with my sponge the ropes which were within my reach. +All of them held firm. Only two of the cords had broken. + +"I then said, 'We can cross Paris.' + +"During this operation we were rapidly getting down to the roofs. +We made more fire, and rose again with the greatest ease. I +looked down, and it seemed to me we were going towards the towers +of St. Sulpice; but, on rising, a new current made us quit this +direction and bear more to the south. I looked to the left, and +beheld a wood, which I believed to be that of Luxembourg. We +were traversing the boulevard, and I cried all at once-- + +"'Get to ground!' + +"But the intrepid Roziers, who never lost his head, and who +judged more surely than I, prevented me from attempting to +descend. I then threw a bundle of straw on the fire. We rose +again, and another current bore us to were now close to the +ground, between two mills. As soon to the left. We as we came +near the earth I raised myself over the gallery, and leaning +there with my two hands, I felt the balloon pressing softly +against my head. I pushed it back, and leaped down to the +ground. Looking round and expecting to see the balloon still +distended, I was astonished to find it quite empty and flattened. +On looking for Roziers I saw him in his shirt-sleeves creeping +out from under the mass of canvas that had fallen over him. +Before attempting to descend he had put off his coat and placed +it in the basket. After a deal of trouble we were at last all +right. + +"As Roziers was without a coat I besought him to go to the +nearest house. On his way thither he encountered the Duke of +Chartres, who had followed us, as we saw, very closely, for I had +had the honour of conversing with him the moment before we set +out." + +The following report of this first aerial voyage was drawn up by +scientific observers, among other signatures to it being that of +Benjamin Franklin. + +"Today 21st of October, 1783, at the Chateau de la Muette, an +experiment was made with the aerostatic machine of M. +Montgolfier. The sky was clouded in many parts, clear in +others--the wind north-west. At mid-day a signal was given, +which announced that the balloon was being filled. Soon after, +in spite of the wind, it was inflated in all its parts, and the +ascent was made. The Marquis d'Arlandes and M. Pilatre des +Roziers were in the gallery. The first intention was to raise +the machine and pull it back with ropes, to test it, to find out +the exact weight which it could carry, and to see if everything +was properly arranged before the actual ascent was attempted. +But the machine, driven by the wind, far from rising vertically, +was directed upon one of the walks of a garden, and the cords +which held it shook with so much force that several rents were +made in the balloon. The machine, being brought back to its +place, was repaired in less than two hours. Being again +inflated, it rose once more, bearing the same persons, and when +it had risen to the height of 250 feet, the intrepid voyagers, +bowing their heads, saluted the spectators. One could not resist +a feeling of mingled fear and admiration. Soon the aeronauts were +lost to view, but the balloon itself, displaying its very +beautiful shape, mounted to the height of 3,000 feet, and still +remained visible. The voyagers, satisfied with their experience, +and not wishing to make a longer course, agreed to descend, but, +perceiving that the wind was driving them upon the houses of the +Rue de Sevres, preserved their self-possession, renewed the hot +air, rose anew and continued their course till they had passed +Paris. + +"They then descended tranquilly in the country, beyond the new +boulevard, without having experienced the slightest +inconvenience, having still the greater part of their fuel +untouched. They could, had they desired, have cleared a distance +three times as great as that which they traversed. Their flight +was nearly 30,000 feet, and the time it occupied was from twenty +to twenty-five minutes. This machine was 70 feet high, 46 feet +in diameter, and had a capacity of 60,000 cubic feet." + +It is reported that Franklin, more illustrious in his humility +than the most brilliant among the lords of the court, when +consulted respecting the possible use of balloons, answered +simply, "C'est l'enfant qui vient de naitre?" + + + +Chapter X. The Second Arial Voyage. + +(1st December 1783.--Charles and Robert at the Tuileries.) + +The first ascent of Roziers and Arlandes was a feat of hardihood +almost unique. The men's courage was, so to speak, their only +guarantee. Thanks to the balloon, however, they accomplished one +of the most extraordinary enterprises ever achieved by our race. + +On the day after the experiment of the Champ de Mars (27th of +August), Professor Charles--who had already acquired celebrity at +the Louvre, by his scientific collection and by his rank as an +official instructor--and the Brothers Robert, mechanicians, were +engaged in the construction of a balloon, to be inflated with +hydrogen gas, and destined to carry a car and one or two +passengers. For this ascent Charles may be said to have created +all at once the art of aerostation as now practiced, for he +brought it at one bound to such perfection that since his day +scarcely any advance has been made upon his arrangements. His +simple yet complete invention was that of the valve which gives +escape to the hydrogen gas, and thus renders the descent of the +balloon gentle and gradual; the car that carries the travellers; +the ballast of sand, by which the ascent is regulated and the +fall is moderated; the coating of caoutchouc, by means of which +the material of the balloon is rendered airtight and prevents +loss of gas; and, finally, the use of the barometer, which marks +at every instant, by the elevation or the depression of the +mercury, the position in which the aeronaut finds himself in the +atmosphere. Charles created all the contrivances, or, in other +words, all the ingenious precautions which make up the art of +aerostation. + +On the 26th of November, the balloon, fitted with its network, +and having the car attached to it, was sent away from the hall of +the Tuileries, where it had been exhibited. The ascent was fixed +for the 1st of December, 1783, a memorable day for the Parisians. + +At noon upon that day, the subscribers, who had paid four louis +for their seats, took their places within the enclosure outside +the circle, in which stood the casks employed for making the gas. +The humbler subscribers, at three francs a-head, occupied the +rest of the garden. The number of spectators, as we read +underneath the numerous coloured prints which represent this +spectacle, was 600,000; but though, without doubt, the gardens of +the Tuileries are very large, it is probable this figure is a +considerable overstatement, for this number would have been +three-fourths of the whole population of Paris. + +The roofs and windows of the houses were crowded, whilst the Pont +Royal and the square of Louis XV. were covered by an immense +multitude. About mid-day a rumour was spread to the effect that +the king forbade the ascent. Charles ran to the Chief Minister +of State, and plainly told him that his life was the king's, but +his honour was his own: his word was pledged to the country and +he would ascend. Taking this high ground, the bold professor +gained an unwilling permission to carry out his undertaking. + +A little afterwards the sound of cannon was heard. This was the +signal which announced the last arrangements and thus dissipated +all doubt as to the rising of the balloon, There had during the +day been considerable disturbance among the crowd, between the +partisans of Charles and Montgolfier; each party extolled its +hero, and did everything possible to detract from the merits of +the rival inventor. But whatever ill-feeling might have existed +was swept away by Professor Charles with a compliment. When he +was ready to ascend, he walked up to Montgolfier, and, with the +true instinct of French politeness, presented him with a little +balloon, saying at the same time-- + +"It is for you, monsieur, to show us the way to the skies." + +The exquisite taste and delicacy of this incident touched the +bystanders as with an electric shock, and the place at once rang +out with the most genuine and hearty applause The little balloon +thrown up by Montgolfier sped away to the north-east, its +beautiful emerald colour showing to fine effect in the sun. + +From this point let us follow the narrative of Professor Charles +himself. + +"The balloon," he says, "which escaped from the hands of M. +Montgolfier, rose into the air, and seemed to carry with it the +testimony of friendship and regard between that gentleman and +myself, while acclamations followed it. Meanwhile, we hastily +prepared for departure. The stormy weather did not permit us to +have at our command all the arrangements which we had +contemplated the previous evening; to do so would have detained +us too long upon the earth. After the balloon and the car were +in equilibrium, we threw over 19 lbs. of ballast, and we rose in +the midst of silence, arising from the emotion and surprise felt +on all sides. + +"Nothing will ever equal that moment of joyous excitement which +filled my whole being when I felt myself flying away from the +earth. It was not mere pleasure; it was perfect bliss. Escaped +from the frightful torments of persecution and of calumny, I felt +that I was answering all in rising above all. + +"To this sentiment succeeded one more lively still--the +admiration of the majestic spectacle that spread itself out +before us. On whatever side we looked, all was glorious; a +cloudless sky above, a most delicious view around. 'Oh, my +friend,' said I to M. Robert, 'how great is our good fortune! I +care not what may be the condition of the earth; it is the sky +that is for me now. What serenity! what a ravishing scene! +Would that I could bring here the last of our detractors, and say +to the wretch, Behold what you would have lost had you arrested +the progress of science.' + +"Whilst we were rising with a progressively increasing speed, we +waved our bannerets in token of our cheerfulness, and in order to +give confidence to those below who took an interest in our fate. +M. Robert made an inventory of our stores; our friends had +stocked our commissariat as for a long voyage--champagne and +other wines, garments of fur and other articles of clothing. + +"'Good,' I said; 'throw that out of the window.' He took a +blanket and launched it into the air, through which it floated +down slowly, and fell upon the dome of l'Assomption. + +"When the barometer had fallen 26 inches, we ceased to ascend. We +were up at an elevation of 1,800 feet. This was the height to +which I had promised myself to ascend; and, in fact, from this +moment to the time when we disappeared from the eyes of our +friends, we always kept a horizontal course, the barometer +registering 26 inches to 26 inches 8 lines. + +"We required to throw over ballast in proportion as the almost +insensible escape of the hydrogen gas caused us to descend, in +order to remain as nearly as possible at the same elevation. If +circumstances had permitted us to measure the amount of ballast +we threw over, our course would have been almost absolutely +horizontal. + +"After remaining for a few moments stationary, our car I changed +its course, and we were carried on at the will of the wind. Soon +we passed the Seine, between St. Ouen and Asnieres. We traversed +the river a second time, leaving Argenteuil upon the left. We +passed Sannois, Franconville, Eau-Bonne, St. Leu-Taverny, +Villiers, and finally, Nesles. This was about twenty-seven miles +from Paris, and we had I reached this distance in two hours, +although there was so little wind that the air scarcely stirred. + +"During the whole course of this delightful voyage, not the +slightest apprehension for our fate or that of our machine +entered my head for a moment. The globe did not suffer any +alteration beyond the successive changes of dilatation and +compression, which enabled us to mount and descend at will. The +thermometer was, during more than an hour, between ten and twelve +degrees above zero; this being to some extent accounted for by +the fact that the interior of the car was warmed by the rays of +the sun. + +"At the end of fifty-six minutes, we heard the report of the +cannon which informed us that we had, at that moment, disappeared +from view at Paris. We rejoiced that we had escaped, as we were +no longer obliged to observe a horizontal course, and to regulate +the balloon for that purpose. + +"We gave ourselves up to the contemplation of the views which the +immense stretch of country beneath us presented. From that time, +though we had no opportunity of conversing with the inhabitants, +we saw them running after us from all parts; we heard their +cries, their exclamations of solicitude, and knew their alarm and +admiration. + +"We cried, 'Vive le Roi!' and the people responded. We heard, +very distinctly--'My good friends, have you no fear? Are you not +sick? How beautiful it is! Heaven preserve you! Adieu, my +friends.' + +"I was touched to tears by this tender and true interest which +our appearance had called forth. + +"We continued to wave our flags without cessation, and we +perceived that these signals greatly increased the cheerfulness +and calmed the solicitude of the people below. Often we +descended sufficiently low to hear what they shouted to us. They +asked us where we came from, and at what hour we had started. + +"We threw over successively frock-coats, muffs, and habits. +Sailing on above the Ile d'Adam, after having admired the +splendid view, we made signals with our flags, and demanded news +of the Prince of Conti. One cried up to us, in a very powerful +voice, that he was at Paris, and that he was ill. We regretted +missing such an opportunity of paying our respects, for we could +have descended into the prince's gardens, if we had wished, but +we preferred to pursue our course, and we re-ascended. Finally, +we arrived at the plain of Nesles. + +"We saw from the distance groups of peasants, who ran on before +us across the fields. 'Let us go,' I said, and we descended +towards a vast meadow. + +"Some shrubs and trees stood round its border. Our car advanced +majestically in a long inclined plane. On arriving near the +trees, I feared that their branches might damage the car, so I +threw over two pounds of ballast, and we rose again. We ran +along more than 120 feet, at a distance of one or two feet from +the ground, and had the appearance of travelling in a sledge. +The peasants ran after us without being able to catch us, like +children pursuing a butterfly in the fields. + +"Finally, we stopped, and were instantly surrounded. Nothing +could equal the simple and tender regard of the country people, +their admiration, and their lively emotion. + +"I called at once for the cures and the magistrates. They came +round me on all sides: there was quite a fete on the spot. I +prepared a short report, which the cures and the syndics signed. +Then arrived a company of horsemen at a gallop. These were the +Duke of Chartres, the Duke of Fitzjames, and M. Farrer. By a +very singular chance, we had come down close by the hunting-lodge +of the latter. He leaped from his horse and threw himself into +my arms, crying, 'Monsieur Charles, I was first!' + +"Charles adds that they were covered with the caresses of the +prince, who embraced both of them. He briefly narrated to the +Duke of Chartres some incidents of the voyage. + +"'But this is not all, monseigneur. I am going away again,' +added Charles. + +"'What! Going away!' exclaimed the duke. + +"'Monseigneur, you will see. When do you wish me to come back +again?' I said. + +"'In half an hour.' + +"'Very well: be it so. In half an hour I shall be with you +again.' + +"M. Robert descended from the car, and I was alone in the +balloon. + +"I said to the duke, 'Monseigneur, I go.' I said to the peasants +who held down the balloon, 'My friends, go away, all of you, from +the car at the moment I give the signal.' I then rose like a +bird, and in ten minutes I was more than 3,000 feet above the +ground. I no longer perceived terrestrial objects; I only saw +the great masses of nature. + +"In going away, Charles had taken his precautions against the +possible explosion of the balloon, and made himself ready to make +certain observations. In order to observe the barometer and the +thermometer, placed at different extremities of the car, without +endangering the equilibrium, he sat down in the middle, a watch +and paper in his left hand, a pen and the cord of the +safety-valve in his right. + +"I waited for what should happen," continues he. "The balloon, +which was quite flabby and soft when I ascended, was now taut, +and fully distended. Soon the hydrogen gas began to escape in +considerable quantities by the neck of the balloon, and then, +from time to time, I pulled open the valve to give it two issues +at once; and I continued thus to mount upwards, all the time +losing the inflammable air, which, rushing past me from the neck +of the balloon, felt like a warm cloud. + +"I passed in ten minutes from the temperature of spring to that +of winter; the cold was keen and dry, but not insupportable. I +examined all my sensations calmly; _I_ COULD HEAR MYSELF LIVE, +so to speak, and I am certain that at first I experienced nothing +disagreeable in this sudden passage from one temperature to +another. + +"When the barometer ceased to move I noted very exactly eighteen +inches ten lines. This observation is perfectly accurate The +mercury did not suffer any sensible movement. + +"At the end of some minutes the cold caught my fingers; I could +hardly hold the pen, but I no longer had need to do so. I was +stationary, or rather moved only in a horizontal direction. + +"I raised myself in the middle of the car, and abandoned myself +to the spectacle before me. At my departure from the meadow the +sun had sunk to the people of the valleys; soon he shone for me +alone, and came again to pour his rays upon the balloon and the +car. I was the only creature in the horizon in sunshine--all the +rest of nature was in shade. Ere long, however, the sun +disappeared, and thus I had the pleasure of seeing him set twice +in the same day. I contemplated for some moments the mists and +vapours that rose from the valley and the rivers The clouds +seemed to come forth from the earth, and to accumulate the one +upon the other. Their colour was a monotonous grey--a natural +effect, for there was no light save that of the moon. + +"I observed that I had tacked round twice, and I felt currents +which called me to my senses. I found with surprise the effect +of the wind, and saw the cloth of my flag: extended horizontally. + +"In the midst of the inexpressible pleasure of this state of +ecstatic contemplation, I was recalled to myself by a most +extraordinary pain which I felt in the interior of the ears and +in the maxillary glands. This I attributed to the dilation of +the air contained in the cellular tissue of the organ as much as +to the cold outside. I was in my vest, with my head uncovered. +I immediately covered my head with a bonnet of wool which was at +my feet, but the pain only disappeared with my descent to the +ground. + +"It was now seven or eight minutes since I had arrived at this +elevation, and I now commenced to descend. I remembered the +promise I had made to the Duke of Chartres, to return in half an +hour. I quickened my descent by opening the valve from time to +time. Soon the balloon, empty now to one half, presented the +appearance of a hemisphere. + +"Arrived at twenty-three fathoms from the earth, I suddenly threw +over two or three pounds of ballast, which arrested my descent, +and which I had carefully kept for this purpose. I then slowly +descended upon the ground, which I had, so to speak, chosen." + +Such is the narrative of the second aerial voyage. After such a +memorable ascent one is astonished to learn that Professor +Charles never repeated his experiment. It has been said that, in +descending from his car, he had vowed that he would never again +expose himself to such perils, so strong had been the alarm he +felt when the peasants ceasing to hold him down he shot up into +the sky with the rapidity of an arrow. But after him a thousand +others have followed the daring example he set. With this ascent +the memorable year 1783 closed, and the seed which had been sown +soon began to be productive. + + + +PART II. + +The History of Aerostation from the Year 1783. + +Chapter I. The Open Route--Travels and Travellers--Great +Increase in the Number of Air Voyages--Lyons, Ascent of "Le +Flesselles--Milan, Ascent of Adriani--Flight of a Balloon from +London--Lost Balloons in the Chief Towns of Europe + +From the year 1783, in which aerostation had its birth, and in +which it was carried to a degree of perfection, beside which the +progress of aeronauts in our days seems small, a new route was +opened up for travellers. The science of Montgolfier, the +practical art of Professor Charles, and the courage of Roziers, +subdued the scepticism of those who had not yet given in their +adhesion to the possible value of the great discovery, and +throughout the whole of France a feverish degree of enthusiasm in +the art manifested itself Aerial excursions now became quite +fashionable. Let it be understood that we do not here refer to +ascents in fixed balloons, that is, in balloons which were +attached to the earth by means of ropes more or less long. + +M. Biot narrates that, in his young days, when aeronautic ascents +were less known than they are in these times, there was in the +plain of Grenelle, at the mill of Javelle, an establishment where +balloons were constantly maintained for the accommodation of +amateurs of both sexes who wished to make ascents in what were +called "ballons captifs," or balloons anchored, so to speak, to +the earth by means of long ropes They were for a considerable +time the rage of fashionable society, and it is not recorded that +any accidents resulted from the practice. Of course it may be +easily understood with these safe balloons the adventurous +aeronauts never ascended to any great height. The reader will +find this subject treated under the chapter of military +aerostation. + +We are at present specially engaged with the narrative of the +first attempts in aerostation--the first experiments in the new +discovery. We have followed with interest the exciting details +of the first adventurous ascents, in which the genius of man +first essayed the unexplored paths of the heavens. Yet a +continued record of aerial voyages would not be of the same +interest. The results of subsequent expeditions, and the +impressions of subsequent aeronauts are the same as those already +described, or differ from them only in minor points. No +important advance is recorded in the art. We shall therefore +endeavour not to confine ourselves to the narrative of a dry and +monotonous chronology, but to select from the number of ascents +that have taken place within the last eighty years, only those +whose special character renders them worthy of more detailed and +severe investigation. + +In order to give an idea of the rapid multiplication of +aeronautic experiments, it will suffice to state that the only +aeronauts of 1783 are Roziers, the Marquis d'Arlandes, Professor +Charles, his collaborateur the younger Robert, and a carpenter, +named Wilcox, who made ascents at Philadelphia and London. + +A number of balloons were remarkable for the beauty and elegance +which we have already spoken of. Among the most beautiful we may +mention the "Flesselles" balloon and Bagnolet's balloon. + +Of the ascents which immediately succeeded those that have been +treated in the first part of our volume, and which are the most +memorable in the early annals of aerostation, that of the I7th of +January, 1784, is remarkable. It took place at Lyons. Seven +persons went into the car on this occasion--Joseph Montgolfier, +Roziers, the Comte de Laurencin, the Comte de Dampierre, the +Prince Charles de Ligne, the Comte de Laporte d'Anglifort, and +Fontaine, who threw himself into the car when it had already +begun to move. + +A most minute account of this experiment is given in a letter of +Mathon de la Cour, director of the Academy of Sciences at +Lyons:--"After the experiments of the Champ de Mars and +Versailles had become known," he says, "the citizens of this town +proposed to repeat them" and a subscription was opened for this +purpose. On the arrival of the elder Montgolfier, about the end +of September, M. de Flesselles, our director, always zealous in +promoting whatever might be for the welfare of the province and +the advancement of science and art, persuaded him to organise the +subscription. The aim of the experiment proposed by Montgolfier +was not the ascent of any human being in the balloon. The +prospectus only announced that a balloon of a much larger size +than any that had been made would ascend--that it would rise to +several thousand feet, and that, including the animals that it +was proposed it should carry, it would weigh 8,000 lbs. The +subscription was fixed at L12, and the number of subscribers was +360." + +It was on these conditions that Montgolfier commenced his balloon +of 126 feet high and 100 feet in diameter, made of a double +envelope of cotton cloth, with a lining of paper between. A +strength and consistency was given to the structure by means of +ribbons and cords. + +The work was nearly finished when Roziers went up in his +fire-balloon from La Muette. Immediately the Comte de Laurencin +pressed Montgolfier to allow him to go up in the new machine. +Montgolfier was only too glad of the opportunity--refused up to +this time by the king--of going up himself. From thirty to forty +people made application to go with the aeronauts; and on the 26th +of December, 1678, Roziers, the Comte de Dampierre, and the Comte +de Laporte, arrived in Lyons with the same intention. Prince +Charles also arrived; and as his father had taken one hundred +subscriptions, his claim to go up could not be refused. + +But while the public papers were full of ascents at Avignon, +Marseilles, and Paris, it is impossible to describe the vexation +of Roziers, when he discovered that Montgolfier's new balloon was +not intended to carry passengers, and had not been, from the +first, constructed with that view. He suggested a number of +alterations, which Montgolfier adopted at once. + +On the 7th of January, 1784, all the pieces of which the balloon +was composed were carried out to the field called Les Brotteaux, +outside the town, from which the ascent was to be made. This +event was announced to take place on the 10th and at five o'clock +on the morning of that day; but unexpected delays occurred, and +in the necessary operations the covering was torn in many places. + +On the 15th the balloon was inflated in seventeen minutes, and +the gallery was attached in an hour--the fire from which the +heated air was obtained requiring to be fed at the rate of 5 lbs. +of alder-wood per minute; but the preparations had occupied so +much time, that it was found, when everything was complete, that +the afternoon was too far advanced for the ascent to be made. +This machine was destined to suffer from endless misfortunes. It +took fire while being inflated, and, several days afterwards, it +was damaged by snow and rain. Put nothing discouraged Roziers +and his companions. Places had been arranged in the gallery for +six persons. After the balloon was at last inflated, Prince +Charles and the Comes de Laurencin, Dampierre, and Laporte threw +themselves into the gallery. They were all armed, and were +determined not to quit their places to whoever might come. +Roziers, who wished at the last to enjoy a high ascent, proposed +to reduce the number to three, and to draw lots for the purpose. +But the gentlemen would not descend. The debate became animated. +The four voyagers cried to cut the ropes. The director of the +Academy, to whom application was made in this emergency, admiring +the resolution and the courage of the four gentlemen, wished to +satisfy them in their desire. Accordingly the ropes were cut; +but at that moment M. Montgolfier and Roziers threw themselves +into the gallery. At the same time a certain M. Fontaine, who +had had much to do in the construction of the machine, threw +himself in, although it had not previously been arranged that he +should be of the party. His boldness in jumping in was pardoned, +on the ground of his services and his zeal. + +In going away the machine turned to the south-west, and bent a +little. A rope which dragged along the ground seemed to retard +its ascent; but some intelligent person having cut this with a +hatchet, it began to right itself and ascend. At a certain +height it turned to the north east. The wind was feeble, and the +progress was slow, but the imposing effect was indescribable. +The immense machine rose into the air as by some effect of magic. +Nearly 100,000 spectators were present, and they were greatly +excited at the view. They clapped their hands and stretched +their arms towards the sky; women fainted away, or (for some +reasons best known to themselves) found relief for their +excitement in tears; while the men, uttering cries of joy, waved +their handkerchiefs, and threw their hats into the air. + +The form of the machine was that of a globe, rising from a +reversed and truncated cone, to which the gallery was attached. +The upper part was white, the lower part grey; and the cone was +composed of strips of stuff of different colours. On the sides +of the balloon were two paintings, one of which represented +History, the other Fame. The flag bore the arms of the director +of the Academy, and above it were inscribed the words "Le +Flesselles." + +The voyagers observed that they did not consume a fourth of the +quantity of combustibles after they had risen into the air, which +they consumed when attached to the earth. They were in the +gayest humour, and they calculated that the fuel they had would +keep them floating till late in the evening. Unfortunately, +however, after throwing more wood on the fire, in order to get up +to a greater altitude, it was discovered that a rent had been +made in the covering, caused by the fire by which the balloon had +been damaged two or three days previously. The rent was four +feet in length; and as the heated air escaped very rapidly by it, +the balloon fell, after having sailed above the earth for barely +fifteen minutes. + +The descent only occupied two or three minutes, and yet the shock +was supportable. It was observed that as soon as the machine had +touched the earth all the cloth became unfolded in a few seconds, +which seemed to confirm the opinion of Montgolfier, who believed +that electricity had much to do in the ascent of balloons. The +voyagers were got out of the balloon without accident, and were +greeted with the most enthusiastic applause. + +On the day of the ascent, the opera of "Iphigenia in Aulis" was +given, and the theatre was thronged by a vast assemblage, +attracted thither in the hope of seeing the illustrious +experimentalists. The curtain had risen when M. and Madame de +Flesselles entered their box, accompanied by Montgolfier and +Roziers. At sight of them the enthusiasm of the house rose to +fever pitch. The other voyagers also entered, and were greeted +with the same demonstrations. Cries arose from the pit to begin +the opera again, in honour of the visitors. The curtain then +fell, and when it again rose, after a few moments, the actor who +filled the role of Agamemnon advanced with crowns, which he +handed to Madame de Flesselles, who distributed them to the +aeronauts. Roziers placed the crown that had been given to him +upon Montgolfier's head. + +When the actress who played the part of Clytemnestra, sung the +passage beginning-- + +"I love to see these flattering honours paid," + +the audience at once applied her song to the circumstances, and +re-demanded it, which request the actress complied with, +addressing herself to the box in which the distinguished visitors +sat. The demonstrations of admiration were continued after the +opera was over; and during the whole of the night the gentlemen +of the balloon ascent were serenaded. + +Two days afterwards, Roziers having appeared at a ball, received +further proofs of admiration and honours; and when, on the 22nd +of January, he departed for Dijon on his return to Paris, he was +accompanied as in a triumph by a numerous cavalcade of the most +distinguished young men of the city. + +There was, however, at Paris, much discontent with the ascent of +"Le Flesselles;" and the Journal de Paris de Paris, which notices +so enthusiastically the other ascents of that epoch, speaks +slightingly of that at Lyons. + +The next great ascent took place at Milan, on the 25th of +February, 1784, under the direction of the Chevalier Paul +Andriani, who had a balloon constructed by the Brothers Gerli, at +his own expense. We read that this balloon was 66 feet in +diameter, and that the envelope was composed of cloth, lined in +the interior with fine paper. + +The balloon was not in all respects constructed like that which +rose at Lyons. The grating which supported the fire that kept up +the supply of hot air was placed at the mouth of the opening. It +was made of copper, was six feet in diameter, and was secured by +a number of transverse beams of wood. M. Andriani thought it +best to place his fire--contrary to general usage--a little way +above the mouth of the opening, and he found out that the +activity of the fire was in proportion with that of the air which +entered and fed it. + +In place of making use of a gallery like that employed by +Montgolfier, as much to manage the fire as to carry the traveller +and the fuel, he substituted a wide basket, suspended by cords to +the edge of the opening of the balloon, at such a distance that +fuel could be thrown on with the hand without being +inconvenienced by the heat. + +Everything being in readiness, the machine was carried to +Moncuco, the splendid domain of Andriani, where the first +experiments were made; for this gentlemen knew that as the +populace are impatient, they are also often un-reasonable, and +jump to the hastiest and most inconsiderate conclusion when, in +witnessing scientific experiments, any of the arrangements happen +to be imperfect, and the results in any respect prove +unsuccessful. + +Andriani did not deceive himself, for, sure enough, his first +attempt did not come up to expectation. The reasons for this +failure were the too great quantity of air which the fire drew +in, and the unsuitable character of the fuel used. + +On the 25th of February, 1784, a second attempt was made. The +fire was lighted under the machine, at first with dry birch-wood. +and afterwards with a bituminous composition, ingeniously +concocted by one of the Brothers Gerli. In less than four +minutes the balloon was completely inflated, and the men employed +to hold it down with ropes perceived that it was on the point of +rising. The aeronauts then gave the order to let go. Scarcely +was the balloon let off, when it gently rose a short distance, +and then flew in a horizontal direction towards a palace in the +neighbourhood. In order that the structure should not be +destroyed on the walls and the roof of the palace, the voyagers +heaped on the fuel, and the spectators, who had gathered together +from the surrounding villages, then saw this strange vessel of +the air rising with rapidity to a surprising height. Such a +phenomenon was so astonishing, that those who beheld it could +hardly believe their own eyes; and when the balloon disappeared +from view, the delight they had manifested was dashed with fear +for the fate of the bold aeronauts. The latter, seeing that the +balloon was driving through the air towards a range of rocky +hills in the neighbourhood, and perceiving, on the other hand, +that their stock of combustibles was nearly exhausted, judged it +prudent to descend. They diminished their fire, and came +gradually down, warning the multitude below of their intention by +means of a speaking-trumpet. + +In the course of the descent the balloon alighted upon a large +tree, to the great peril of the travellers; but as soon as the +fire was increased it again mounted and got clear from the +branches while the people below, grasping the cords that were +hung out to them, guided the machine to the spot which the +voyagers indicated. To descend to terra firma was then a +comparatively easy matter, and it was safely accomplished. The +fire, which in the case of the French balloons had dried, +calcined, and almost consumed the upper part of the balloon, had +no evil effect upon that of Andriani, which came down looking as +fresh as if it had never been used. + +The new idea had now passed the frontiers of France, in which it +was originally conceived, and among the other nations, as at +first in France, the power of the inflated balloon came to be +tested everywhere by the construction of small toy globes. + +It was just about five months after the first experiment at +Annonay--viz., on the 25th of November, 1783--that the first +balloon ascended in London. We are informed, in the History of +Aerostation by Tiberius Cavallo, that an Italian, Count +Zambeccari, who was staying in the English capital, made a +balloon of silk, covered with a varnish of oil. Its diameter was +ten feet, and its weight eleven pounds. It was gilded for the +double purpose of enhancing its appearance and preventing the +escape of air. After having been exposed to public inspection +for several days, it was filled three parts full of hydrogen gas, +a tin bottle was suspended from it, containing an address to +whoever might find it when it should fall, and it was let off +from the Artillery Ground, in presence of a vast assembly. + +On the 11th of December, 1783, a little balloon, made of +gold-beaters' skin, was let off publicly at Turin. This was an +experiment similar to that which had been tried at Paris in +September. The balloon was seen to penetrate the clouds, then to +mount still higher, and finally to disappear entirely in five +minutes fifty-four seconds from the time when it was set free. + +It was natural, after the experiments made long before with +electric paper kites, to employ the balloon in the investigation +of the electric conditions of the atmosphere. The first to use +it for this purpose was the Abbe Berthelon de Montpellier. He +sent up a number of balloons, to which he had attached pieces of +metal, long and narrow, and terminating in a cylinder of glass, +or other substance suitable for the purpose of isolation, and he +obtained sufficient electricity by these means to demonstrate the +phenomena of attraction and repulsion, as well as electric +sparks. + +Cavallo mentions an accident which took place in England about +this time, and which served as a warning to all who had to do +with balloons filled with hydrogen gas. A balloon thus inflated +had been sent up at Hopton, near Matlock, and was found by two +men near Cheadle, in Staffordshire. These ingenious persons +carried it within doors, and having wished to fully inflate +it--half the gas having by this time escaped--they applied a pair +of bellows to its mouth. By this means they only forced out the +volume of the hydrogen gas that was left; and this gas, coming in +contact with a candle that had been placed too near, exploded. +The report was louder than that of a cannon, and so powerful was +the shock that the men were thrown down, the glass blown out of +the windows, and the house otherwise damaged. The men suffered +severely, their hair, beards, and eyebrows being completely burnt +away, and their faces severely scorched. + +At Grenoble, in Dauphine, De Baron let off a balloon on the 13th +of January, 1784. It rose, and at first took a northern +direction; but, having encountered a current of air, it was +carried away in a south-easterly direction, and after flying a +distance of three-quarters of a mile, it fell, having traversed +this distance in fifteen minutes. + +A society, under the presidency of the Abbe de Mably, having +constructed a balloon thirty-seven feet high and twenty feet in +diameter, sent it off from the court of the Castle of Pisancon, +near Romano, on the same day, the 13th of February. At first it +was carried to the south by a strong north wind, but after it had +risen to 1,000 feet above the surface, its course was changed +towards the north. It was calculated that, in less than five +minutes, this balloon rose to the height of 6,000 feet. + +On the 16th of the same month the Count d'Albon threw off from +his gardens at Franconville a balloon inflated with gas, and made +of silk, rendered air-tight by a solution of gum-arabic. It was +oblong, and measured twenty-five feet in height, and seventeen +feet in diameter. To this balloon a cage, containing two +guinea-pigs and a rabbit, was suspended. The cords were cut, and +the inflated globe rose to an enormous height with the greatest +rapidity. Five days afterwards it was found at the distance of +eighteen miles, and it is remarkable that, in spite of the cold +of the season, and particularly of the elevated region through +which the balloon had been passing, the animals were not only +living, but in good condition. + +On the 3rd of February, 1784, the Marquis de Bullion sent up a +paper balloon, of about fifteen feet in diameter. A flat sponge, +about a foot square, placed in a tin dish and drenched with a +pint of spirits of wine, was the only apparatus made use of to +create a supply of heated air. It rose at Paris, and three hours +afterwards it was found near Basville, about thirty miles from +the capital. + +On the 15th of the same month Cellard de Chastelais sent up a +paper balloon. Heated air was supplied on this occasion by a +paper roll, enclosing a sponge, and soaked in oil, spirits of +wine, and grease. A cage, which contained a cat, was attached to +this air globe. In thirty-five minutes it had mounted so high +that it looked but like the smallest star, and in two hours it +had flown a distance of forty-six miles from the place where it +was thrown off. The cat was dead, but it was not discovered from +what cause. + +The first balloon that traversed the English channel was sent off +at Sandwich, in Kent, on the 22nd of February, 1784. It was five +feet in diameter, and was inflated with hydrogen gas. It rose +rapidly, and was carried toward France by a north-west wind. Two +hours and a half after it had been let off it was found in a +field about nine miles from Lille. The balloon carried a letter, +instructing the finder of the balloon to communicate with William +Boys, Esq., Sandwich, and to state where and at what time it was +found. This request was complied with. + +On the 19th of February a similar balloon, five feet in diameter, +was sent up from Queen's College, Oxford. It was spherical, and +was made of Persian silk, coated with varnish. It was the first +balloon sent up from that city. + +De Saussure makes mention, in a letter dated from Geneva, the +26th of March, 1784, of certain experiments made in that town +with the electricity of the atmosphere by means of fixed +balloons--i.e., balloons attached to the earth by ropes, which +gave forth sparks and positive electricity. + +Mention is also made of a certain M. Argand, of Geneva, who had +the honour of making balloon experiments at Windsor in the +presence of King George III., Queen Charlotte, and the royal +family. About this time (1784) balloons became "the fashion," +and frequent instances occur of their being raised by day and +night, by means of spirit-lamps, to the great delight of +multitudes of spectators. + +A letter from Watt to Dr. Lind, of Windsor, dated from +Birmingham, 25th December, 1784, narrates an experiment made the +summer preceding with a balloon inflated Wit]l hydrogen. The +balloon was made of fine paper covered with a varnish of oil and +filled two-thirds with hydrogen gas, and one-third common air. +To the neck of the balloon was attached a sort of squib two feet +long, the fuse of which was ignited when the balloon was +inflated. The night was calm and dark, and a great multitude was +assembled to witness the ascent, which was accomplished with a +success that gave delight to all; for, at the end of six minutes +the fuse communicated with the squib, and the explosion was like +the sound of thunder. The men who saw it from a distance, but +were not present at its ascent, took it for a meteor. "Our +intention," says Watt, "was, if possible, to discover whether the +reverberating sound of thunder was due to echoes or to successive +explosions. The sound occasioned by the detonation of the +hydrogen gas of the balloon in this experiment, does not enable +us to form a definite judgment; all that we can do is to refer to +those who were near the balloon, and-who affirm that the sound +was like that of thunder." + + + +Chapter II. Experiments and Studies--Blanchard at Paris--Guyton +de Morveau at Dijon. + +The most popular name in aerostation during the Revolution and +the Consulate in France is, without doubt, that of Blanchard. We +have already referred to him in the chapter which treats of +experiments made prior to the discovery of Montgolfier, and we +now have to speak of his famous ascent from the Champ de Mars, on +the 2nd of March 1784, and of the ascents which followed. + +We have seen that he constructed a sort of flying boat, a machine +furnished with oars and rigging, with which he managed to sustain +himself some moments in the air at the height of eighty feet. +This curious machine was exhibited in 1782 in the gardens of the +great hotel of the Rue Taranne. But a little time afterwards +Montgolfier's discoveries quite altered the conditions under +which the aerostatic art was to be pursued. It had no sooner +become known than it became public property. The idea was too +simple in its grandeur, and was of too easy a kind not to call up +a host of imitators. Of these Blanchard was one of the first; +but this mechanician was anxious to incorporate his own invention +with that of Montgolfier, and he arranged that on the 2nd of +March, 1784, he should make an ascent in what he still called his +"flying vessel," which he furnished with four wings. + +Blanchard and his companion, Pesch, a Benedictine priest, were +prevented from going up in the balloon, as represented in our +illustration, which was drawn before the event it was intended to +commemorate. A certain Dupont de Chambon persisted in +accompanying the voyagers. Pushed back by them, he drew his +sword, leaped into the car or boat, wounded Blanchard, cut the +rigging, and broke the oars or wings. The aeronaut was +consequently compelled to have his machine partly re-fitted in +great haste, and in the course of a few hours he made the ascent +alone in the usual way. Blanchard should have known the +uselessness of oars, though he did not abandon their employment +in subsequent ascents. The Brothers Montgolfier had dreamed of +the employment of oars as a means of guidance, but had ultimately +rejected the idea. Joseph wrote to his brother Etienne, about +the end of the year 1783: + +"For my sake, my good friend, reflect; calculate well before you +employ oars. Oars must either be great or small; if great, they +will be heavy; if small, it will be necessary to move them with +great rapidity. I know no sufficient means of guidance, except +in the knowledge of the different currents of air, of which it is +necessary to make a study; and these are generally regulated by +the elevation." The two brothers often recurred to this idea. + +The pictures of the first ascent of Blanchard from the Champ de +Mars on the 2nd of March, 1784, in the presence of a vast +multitude, show us the oars and the mechanism of his +flying-machine fitted to a balloon. The design which we here +give seems to us deserving of being considered only as one of the +caricatures of the time, especially when we look at the personage +dressed in the fool's head-gear, who sits behind and accompanies +the triumphant ascent of the aeronaut with music. + +It was not with this apparatus that Blanchard effected his +ascent, for we have seen that the gearing of his vessel was +broken by the infuriated Dupont de Chambon. Yet the aeronaut +pretends to have been, to some extent, assisted by his mechanical +contrivances. The following is his narrative:-- + +"I rose to a certain height over Plassy, and perceiving Villette, +which I did not despair of reaching in spite of the misfortune +that had happened to me, I attached a rope of my rigging to my +leg, not being able to make use of my left hand, which I had +wrapped in my handkerchief on account of the sword-wound it had +received. I fixed up a piece of cloth, and thus made a sort of +sail with which I hugged the wind. But the rays of the sun had +so heated and rarefied the inflammable air that soon I forgot my +rigging in thinking of the terrible danger that threatened me." + +Going on to narrate the dangers that beset him, Blanchard +describes a number of most extraordinary experiences, which would +be better worthy of a place here if they were more like the +truth. His curious narrative is thus brought to a close:-- + +"Escaped from these impetuous and contrary winds, during which I +had felt a great degree of cold, I mounted perpendicularly. The +cold became excessive. Being hungry I ate a morsel of cake. I +wished to drink, but in searching the car nothing was to be seen +but the debris of bottles and glasses, which my assailant had +left behind him when we were about to depart. Afterwards all was +so calm that nothing could be seen or heard. The silence became +appalling, and to add to my alarm I began to lose consciousness. +I now wished to take snuff, but found I had left my box behind +me. I changed my seat many times; I went from prow to stern, but +the drowsiness only ceased to assail me when I was struck by two +furious winds, which compressed my balloon to such an extent that +its size became sensibly diminished to the eye. I was not sorry +when I began to descend rapidly upon the river, which at first +seemed to me a white thread, afterwards a ribbon, and then a +piece of cloth. As I followed the course of the river, the fear +that I should have to descend into it, made me agitate the oars +very rapidly. I believe that it is to these movements that I owe +my being able to cross the river transversely, and get above dry +land. When I saw myself upon the plain of Billancourt, I +recognised the bridge of Sevres, and the road to Versailles. I +was then about as high as the towers above the plain, and I could +hear the words and the cries of joy of the people who were +following me below. At length I came to a plain about 200 feet +in extent. The people then assisted me and brought my vessel to +anchor. Immediately I was surrounded by gentlemen and foot +passengers who had run together from all parts." + +This voyage lasted one hour and a quarter. The most important +incident of it was that the balloon was very nearly burst by the +expansion of the hydrogen gas. No balloon, as we have already +seen, should be entirely inflated at the beginning of a journey. +Blanchard had a narrow escape from being the victim of his +ignorance of physics, and it is a wonder he was not left to the +mercy of fate in a burst balloon, at several thousand feet above +the earth. + +Biot, the savant, who had watched the experiment, declared that +Blanchard did not stir himself, and that the variations of his +course are alone to be attributed to the currents of air that he +encountered. As he had inscribed upon his flags, his balloons, +and his entrance tickets, from which he realised a considerable +sum, the ambitious legend, Sic itur ad astra, the following +epigram was produced respecting him:-- + +From the Field of Mars he took his flight: +In a field close by he tumbled; +But our money having taken +He smiled though sadly shaken, +As Sic itur ad astra he mumbled. + +What is most important to examine in each of the great aerial +voyages that have been made, is the special character which +distinguishes them from average experiments. All our great +voyages are rendered special and particular by the ideas of the +men who undertook them, and the aims which they severally meant +to achieve by them. The early ascents of Montgolfier had for +their aim the establishment of the fact that any body lighter +than the volume of air which it displaces will rise in the +atmosphere; those of Roziers were undertaken to prove that man +can apply this principle for the purpose of making actual aerial +voyages; those of Robertson, Gay-Lussac, &c., were undertaken for +the purpose of ascertaining certain meteorological phenomena; +those of Conte Coutelle applied aerostation to military uses. A +considerable number were made with the view of organising a +system of aerial navigation analogous to that of the sea-steerage +in a certain direction by means of oars or sails--in a word, to +investigate the possibility of sailing through the air to any +point fixed upon. It was with this object that the experiments +at Dijon took place, and these were the most serious attempts +down to our times that have been made to steer balloons. + +At the middle of the globe of the balloon were placed four oars, +two sails, and a helm and these were under the management of the +voyagers, who sat in the car and worked them by means of ropes. +The car was also furnished with oars. The report of Guyton de +Morveau to the Academy at Dijon informs us that these different +paraphernalia were not altogether useless. The following +extracts are from this report:-- + +"The very strong wind which arose immediately before our +departure, had driven us down to tee ground many times, making us +fear for the safety of our oars, &c., when we resolved to throw +over as much ballast as would enable us to rise against the wind. +The ballast, including from 70 to 80 lbs. of provisions, was +thrown over, and then we rose so rapidly that all the objects +around were instantly passed and were very soon lost to view. +The swelling form of our balloon told us that the gas inside had +expanded under the heat of the sun and the lessening density of +the surrounding air. We opened the two valves, but even this +outlet was insufficient, and we had to cut a hole about seven or +eight inches long in the lower part of the balloon, through which +the gas might escape. At five minutes past five we passed above +a village which we did not know, and here we let fall a bag +filled with bran, and carrying with it a flag and a written +message to the effect that we were all well, and that the +barometer was recording 20 inches 9 lines, and the thermometer +one degree and a half below zero." + +Very keen cold attacked the ears, but this was the only +inconvenience experienced, until the voyagers were lost in a sea +of clouds that shut them out from the view of the earth. The sun +at length began to descend, and they then perceived, by a +slackening in the lower part of the balloon, that it was time for +them to think of returning to the earth. Judging from the +compass that they were not far from the town of Auxonne, they +resolved to use all their endeavours to reach that place. The +sailing appliances had been considerably damaged by the rough +weather at starting. The rigging being disarranged, one of the +oars had got broken, another had become entangled in the rigging, +so that there remained only two of the four oars, and these, +being on the same side, were absolutely useless during the +greatest part of the voyage. The adventurers, however, assert +that they made them work from eight to nine minutes with the +greatest ease, making use of them to tack to the south-east. + +"We hoped then to be able to descend near where we judged Auxonne +to be," the writer continues, "but we lost much gas by the +opening in the balloon, and descended more rapidly than we +expected or wished. We looked to our small stock of ballast with +anxiety, but there was no need of it, and we came very softly +down upon a slope." + +When the aeronauts arrived at Magny-les-Auxonne, the inhabitants +gazed upon them in terror, and two men and three women fell down +on their knees before them. + +Here is an extract from the report of the experiment of the 12th +of June, the principal object of which was the attempt to +discover the means of steering in a certain direction:-- + +"M. de Verley and myself mounted in the balloon," says Guyton de +Morveau, "at seven o'clock. We rose rapidly and in an almost +perpendicular direction. The fall of the mercury in the +barometer was scarcely perceptible when the dilation of the +hydrogen gas in the balloon had become considerable. The globe +swelled out, and a light vapour around the mouth announced to us +that the gas was commencing to escape by the safety-valve. We +assisted its escape by pulling the valve-string. + +"Having reduced the dilation sufficiently for our purposes, we +resolved to attempt the working of the balloon before the whole +town and to turn it from the east to the north. We saw with +pleasure that our machinery answered By the working of the helm, +the prow of our air-boat was turned in the direction we desired. +The oars, working only on one side, supported the helm, and +altogether we got on as we wished. We described a curve, +crossing the road from Dijon to Langres. The mercury had +descended to 24 inches 8 lines, which announced that we were +gradually rising. We attempted for some time to follow the route +to I Langres, but the wind drove us off our course in spite of +all our efforts. At nine o'clock our barometer informed us that +we had ascended to the height of 6,000 feet. M. de Verley took +advantage of this elevation to put some touch wood to a +burning-glass 18 lines in diameter, and the touch wood lighted +immediately." + +The aeronauts decided to direct their course for Dijon. After +re-setting the helm with this intention, they worked their oars, +and proceeded in that direction more than 1,000 feet. But heat +and fatigue obliged them to suspend their endeavours, and the +current drove them upon Mirebeau, where, throwing out the last of +their ballast and regulating their descent, they came softly down +upon a corn-field. + +The adventurers were cordially welcomed by the ecclesiastics and +the magistrates of the place, and after a time they, with their +balloon, were carried back on men's shoulders to Dijon. + + + +Chapter III. Experiment in Montgolfiers--Roziers and Proust--The +Duke of Chartres--The Comte d'Artois--Voyage of the Abbe Carnus +to Rodez. + +The longest course travelled by Montgolfiere balloons, and the +highest elevation reached by them, were achieved by Roziers and +Proust with the Montgolfiere la Marie Antoinefte, at Versailles, +on the 23rd of June, 1784. Roziers himself has left us a +picturesque narrative of this excursion from Versailles to +Compiegne. He says:-- + +"The Montgolfiere rose at first very gently in a diagonal line, +presenting an imposing spectacle. Like a vessel which has just +been precipitated from the stocks, this astonishing machine hung +balanced in the air for some time, and seemed to have got beyond +human control. These irregular movements intimidated a portion +of the spectators, who, fearing that, should there be a fall, +their lives would be in danger, scattered away with great speed +from under us. After having fed my fire, I saluted the people, +who answered me in the most cordial manner. I had time to remark +some faces, in which there was a mixed expression of apprehension +and joy. In continuing our upward progress, I perceived that an +upper current of air made the Montgolfiere bend, but on +increasing the heat, we rose above the current. The size of +objects on the earth now began perceptibly to diminish, which +gave us an idea of the distance at which we were from them. It +was then that we became visible to Paris and its suburbs, and so +great was our elevation that many in the capital thought we were +directly over their heads. + +"When we had arrived among the clouds, the earth disappeared from +our view. Now a thick mist would envelop us, then a clear space +showed us where we were, and again we rose through a mass of +snow, portions of which stuck to our gallery. Curious to know +how high we could ascend, we resolved to increase our fire and +raise the heat to the highest degree, by raising our grating, and +holding up our fagots suspended on the ends of our forks. + +"Having gained these snowy elevations, and not being able to +mount higher, we wandered about for some time in regions which we +felt were now visited by man for the first time. Isolated and +separated entirely from nature, we perceived beneath us only +enormous masses of snow, which, reflecting the sunshine, filled +the firmament with a glorious light. We remained eight minutes +at this elevation, 11,732 feet above the earth. This situation, +however agreeable it might have been to the painter or the poet, +promised little to the man of science in the way of acquiring +knowledge; and so we determined, eighteen minutes after our +departure, to return through the clouds to the earth. We had +hardly left this snowy abyss, when the most pleasant scene +succeeded the most dreary one. The broad plains appeared before +our view in all their magnificence. No snow, no clouds were now +to be seen, except around the horizon, where a few clouds seemed +to rest on the earth. We passed in a minute from winter to +spring. We saw the immeasurable earth covered with towns and +villages, which at that distance appeared only so many isolated +mansions surrounded with gardens. The rivers which wound about +in all directions seemed no more than rills for the adornment of +these mansions; the largest forests looked mere clumps or groves, +and the meadows and broad fields seemed no more than garden +plots. These marvellous tableaux, which no painter could render, +reminded us of the fairy metamorphoses; only with this +difference, that we were beholding upon a mighty scale what +imagination could only picture in little. It is in such a +situation that the soul rises to the loftiest height, that the +thoughts are exalted and succeed each other with the greatest +rapidity. Travelling at this elevation, our fire did not demand +continual attention, and we could easily walk about the gallery. +We were as much at peace upon our lofty balcony as we should have +been upon the terrace of a mansion, enjoying all the pictures +which unrolled themselves before us continually, without +experiencing any of the giddiness which has disturbed so many +persons. Having broken my fork in my exertions to raise the +balloon, I went to obtain another one. On my way to get it, I +encountered my companion, M. Proust. We ought never to have been +on the same side of the balloon, for a capsize and the escape of +all our hydrogen gas might have been the result. As it was, so +well was the machine ballasted, that the only effect of our being +on the one side made the balloon incline a little in that +direction. The winds, although very considerable, caused us no +uneasiness, and we only knew the swiftness of our progress +through the air by the rapidity with which the villages seemed to +fly away from under our feet; so that it seemed, from the +tranquillity with which we moved, that we were borne along by the +diurnal movement of the globe. Often we wished to descend, in +order to learn what the people were crying to us the simplicity +of our arrangements enabled us to rise, to descend, to move in +horizontal or oblique lines, as we pleased and as often as we +considered necessary, without altogether landing." + +When they came to Luzarche, the delighted aeronauts resolved to +land. Already the people were testifying their pleasure at +seeing them. Men came running together from all directions, +while all the animals rushed away with equal precipitation, no +doubt taking the balloon for some wild beast. Finding that their +course would lead them straight against certain houses, the +aeronauts again increased their fire, and, slightly rising, +escaped the buildings that had been in their way. Shortly +afterwards they safely landed forty miles from the spot from +which they had started. + +It was not only the man of science or the mechanician that +devoted himself to the task of taking possession of the new +empire, but the nobles gave their hands to the aeronauts, and +humbly asked the favour of an ascent. The king had addressed +letters to the Brothers Montgolfier, and the marvellous invention +had become an affair of state. The princes of the blood and the +nobles of the court considered it an honour to count among the +number of their friends a celebrated aeronaut. + +The Count d'Artois, afterwards Charles X., and the Duke de +Chartres, father of Louis Philippe, made experiments in aerial +navigation. The chemists Alban and Vallet made a magnificent +balloon for the Count, who went up many times in it, with several +persons of all ranks. + +Already at St. Cloud, the Duke of Chartres, afterwards Philippe +Egalite, had, on the 15th of July, 1784, made, with the Brothers +Robert, an ascent which put their courage to terrible tests. The +hydrogen gas balloon was oblong, sixty feet high and forty feet +in diameter, and it had been constructed upon a plan supplied by +Meunier. In order to obviate the use of the valve, he had placed +inside the balloon a smaller globe, filled with ordinary air. +This was done on the supposition that, when the balloon rose +high, the hydrogen being rarefied would compress the little globe +within, and press out of it a quantity of ordinary air equal to +the amount of its dilation. + +At eight o'clock, the Brothers Robert--Collin and Hullin--and the +Duke of Chartres, ascended in presence of an immense multitude. +The nearest ranks kneeled down to allow those behind to have a +view of the departure of the balloon, which disappeared among the +clouds amid the acclamations of the prostrate multitude. The +machine, obedient to the stormy and contrary winds which it met, +turned several times completely round. The helm, which had been +fitted to the machine, and the two oars, gave such a purchase to +the winds that the voyagers, already surrounded by the clouds, +cut them away. But the oscillations continued, and the little +globe inside not being suspended with cords, fell down in such an +unfortunate manner as to close up the opening of the large +balloon, by means of which provision had been made for the egress +of the gas now dilated by the heat of the sun, which poured down +its rays, a sudden gust having cleared the space of the clouds. +It was feared that the case of the balloon would crack, and the +whole thing collapse, in spite of the efforts of the aeronauts to +push back the smaller balloon from the opening. Then the Duke of +Chartres seized one of the flags they carried, and with the +lance-head pierced the balloon in two places. A rent of about +nine feet was the consequence, and the balloon began to descend +with amazing rapidity. They would have fallen into a lake had +they not thrown over 60 lbs. of ballast, which caused them to +rise a little, and pass over to the shore, where they got safely +to the earth. + +The expedition lasted only a few minutes. The Duke of Chartres +was rallied by his enemies, who accused him of cowardice; and +Monjoie, his historian, making allusion to the combat of +Ouessant, says that he had given proofs of his cowardice in the +three elements--earth, air, and water + +M. Gray, professor at the seminary of Rodez, presented us some +years ago with the following letter from the Abbe Carnus, upon +the aerial voyage which he undertook, August 6th, 1784:-- + +"The progress of the Montgolfiere was so sudden that one might +almost have believed that it arose all inflated and furnished out +of some chasm in the earth The air was calm, the sky without +clouds, the sun very strong. Our fuel and instruments were put +into the gallery, my companion, M. Louchet, was at his post, and +I took mine. At twenty minutes past eight the cords were +loosened, we waved a farewell to the spectators, and while two +cannon-shots announced our departure, we were already high above +the loftiest buildings. + +"To the general acclamations of the crowd succeeded a profound +silence. The spectators, half in fear, half in admiration, stood +motionless, with eyes fixed, and gazing eagerly at the superb +machine, which rose almost vertically with rapidity and also with +grandeur. Some women, and even some men, fainted away; others +raised their hands to heaven; others shed tears; all grew pale at +the sight of our bright fire. + +"'We have quitted the earth,' said I to my companion. + +"'I compliment you on the fact,' he answered; 'keep up the fire!' + +"A truss of hay, steeped in spirits of wine accelerated the +swiftness of our ascent. I cast my glance upon the town, which +seemed to flee rapidly from under our feet. Terrestrial objects +had already lost their shape and size. The burning heat which I +felt at first now gave place to a temperature of the most +agreeable kind, and the air which we breathed seemed to contain +healthful elements unknown to dwellers on the lower earth. + +"'How well I am!' I said to Louchet; 'how are you?' + +"'As well as can be. Would that I could dispatch a message to +the earth!' + +"Immediately I threw over a roll of paper on which I had written +the words, 'All well on board the City of Rodez.' + +"At thirty-two minutes past eight our elevation was at least +6,000 feet above sea level. A flame from our fire, rising from +eighteen to twenty feet, sent us up another 1,000 feet. It was +then that our machine was seen by every spectator within a +circuit of nine miles, and it appeared to be right over the heads +of all of them. + +"'Send us up out of sight,' said my adventurous confrere. + +"I had to moderate his ardour--a larger fire would have burnt our +balloon. + +"From our moving observatory the most splendid view developed +itself. The boundaries of the horizon were vastly extended. The +capital of the Rouergue appeared to be no more than a group of +stones, one of which seemed to rise to the height of two or three +feet. This was no other than the superb tower of the cathedral. +Fertile slopes, agreeable valleys, lofty precipices, waste lands, +ancient castles perched upon frowning rocks, these form the +endlessly varied spectacle which the Rouergue and the +neighbouring provinces present to the view of those who traverse +the surface of the earth. But how different is the scene to the +aerial voyager! We could perceive only a vast country, perfectly +round, and seemingly a little elevated in the middle, irregularly +marked with verdure, but without inhabitants, without towns, +valleys, rivers, or mountains. Living beings no longer existed +for us; the forests were changed into what looked like grassy +plains; the ranges of the Cantal and the Cevennes had +disappeared; we looked in vain for the Mediterranean, and the +Pyrenees seemed only a long series of piles of snow, connected at +their bases. Our own balloon, which from Rodez appeared about +the size of a marble, was the only object that for us retained +its natural dimensions. What wonderful sensations then arose +within us! I had often reflected upon the works of nature; their +magnificence had always filled me with admiration. In this +soul-stirring moment how beautiful did nature seem--how grand! +With what majesty did it strike my imagination. Never did man +appear to me before such an excellent being His latest triumph +over the elements recalled to my mind his other conquests of +nature. My companion was animated with the same sentiments, and +more than once we cried out, 'Vive Montgolfier! Vive Roziers! +Vivent ceux qui ont du courage et de la constance!' + +"In the meantime our fuel was getting near the end. In eighteen +minutes we had run a distance of 12,000 feet. 'Make your +observations while I attend to the fire,' said my companion to +me. I examined the barometer, the thermometer, and the compass, +and having sealed up a small bottle of the air at this elevation, +I asked my companion to reduce the fire. We descended 1,800 +feet, and at this height I filled another bottle with air. + +"Afterwards we felt the refreshing breath of a slight breeze, +which carried us gently toward the south-east. In six minutes we +had run 18,000 feet. Then, having only sufficient fuel to enable +us to choose the place of our descent, we considered whether we +should not bring our aerial voyage to a termination. We had +neither lake nor forest to fear, and we were secure against +danger from fire, as we could detach the grating at some distance +from the earth. At fifty-eight minutes past eight all our fuel +was exhausted, except two bundles of straw, of four pounds each, +which we reserved for our descent. The balloon came gradually +down, and terrestrial objects began again to resume their proper +forms and dimensions. The animals fled at the sight of our +balloon, which seemed likely to crush them in its fall. Horsemen +were obliged to dismount and lead their frightened horses. +Terrified by such an unwonted sight, the labourers in the fields +abandoned their work. We were not more than 600 feet from the +earth. We threw on the two bundles of straw, but still gradually +descended. The grating was then detached, and I had no +difficulty in leaping to the ground. But now a most surprising +and unlooked-for event happened. M. Louchet had not been able to +descend at the same moment as myself, and the balloon, now free +from my weight, immediately re-ascended with the speed of a bird, +bearing away my companion. I followed him with my eyes, and it +was to my agreeable surprise that I heard him crying to me, 'All +is well; fear not!' though it was not without a species of +jealousy that I saw him mounting up to the height of 1,400 or +1,500 feet. The balloon, after having run a distance of 3,600 +feet in a horizontal direction, began gently to descend at four +minutes past nine, at the village of Inieres, after having +travelled 42,000 feet from the point of departure. When it had +touched the ground it bumped up again two or three feet. M. +Louchet jumped out, and seized one of the ropes, but had much +difficulty in holding the balloon in hand. He cried to the +frightened peasants to come and help him. But they seemed to +regard him as a dangerous magician, or as a monster, and they +feared to touch the ropes lest they might be swallowed up by the +balloon. Soon afterwards I came to the rescue. The balloon was +in as thorough repair as when we began our journey. We then +pressed out the hot air, folded up the envelope, placed it upon a +small cart drawn by two oxen, and drove off with it." + + + +Chapter IV. Serio-Comic Aspect of the Subject--The Public +Duped--The Abbes Miolan and Janninet at the +Luxembourg--Cariacatures--The "Minerva" of Robertson, and its +Voyage Round the World. + +The discovery like that of balloons could not be made public in +France without being travestied, and without offering some comic +side for the amusement of the wits of the day. Under some old +coloured prints, designed with the intention of satirising such +unfortunate aeronauts as had collected their money from the +spectators, but had failed in inflating their balloons, is +written, "The Infallible Means of Raising Balloons"--the +infallible means consisting of ropes and pulleys. + +While caricature was thus turning its irony upon the efforts of +believers in the new idea, serious pamphlets were being written +and published with the same object. One of these declares that +the discovery is IMMORAL, I. Because since God has not given +wings to man, it is impious to try to improve his works, and to +encroach upon his rights as a Creator; 2. Because honour and +virtue would be in continual danger, if balloons were permitted +to descend, at all hours of the night, into gardens and close to +windows; 3. Because, if the highway of the air were to remain +open to all and sundry, the frontiers of nations would vanish, +and property national and personal would be invaded, &c. We do +not wish to gather together here the stones which critics threw +against the new discovery, unaware all the time that these stones +were falling upon their own heads. + +It is only fair to state that after the first ascents the public +were often duped by pretending aeronauts, whose single aim was to +sell their tickets, and who disappeared when the time came for +ascending. The result of these frauds was that sometimes honest +men were made to suffer as rogues. Even in our own day, when an +ascent, seriously intended, fails to succeed, owing to some +unforeseen circumstances, the public frequently manifests a +decided ill-will to the aeronaut, who is perfectly honest, and +only unfortunate. + +The famous ascent of the Abbes Miolan and Janninet, at the +Luxembourg, may be cited as among the failures which suffered +most from the satire of the time. Their immense balloon, +constructed at great expense at the observatory, was expected to +rise beyond the clouds, and a multitude, each of whom had paid +dearly for his ticket, had assembled at the Luxembourg. The +morning had been occupied in removing the balloon from the +observatory to the place of ascent, and at midday the inflation +of it began. The rays of a burning July sun--and one knows what +that is in the Luxembourg in Paris--streamed down on the heads of +the thousands of spectators. From six in the morning till four +in the evening they had waited to see the unheard-of wonder; the +ascent, however, was to be so imposing, that nothing could be +lost by waiting for it. + +But at five in the afternoon the heavy machine was still +motionless--inert upon the ground. We need not attempt to +describe the scene which took place as the impatience of the +multitude increased. Sneers of derision made themselves heard on +all sides. A universal murmur, rapidly developing into a +clamour, arose amongst the multitude; then, wild with +disappointment, the frenzied populace threw themselves upon the +barricade, broke it, attacked the gallery of the balloon, the +instruments, the apparatus, trampling them under foot, and +smashing them in bits. They then rushed upon the balloon and +fired it. There was then a general melee. Far from fleeing the +fire, every one struggled to seize and carry off a bit of the +balloon, to preserve as a relic. The two abbes escaped as they +best could, under protection of a number of friends. + +After this there fell a perfect shower of lampoons and +caricatures. The Abbe Miolan was represented as a cat with a band +round its neck, while Janninet appeared as a donkey; and in a +coloured print the cat and the ass are shown arriving in triumph +upon their famous balloon at the Academy of Montmartre, and are +received at the hill of Moulins-a-Vent by a solemn assembly of +turkey-cocks and geese in different attitudes. Numerous songs +and epigrams, of which the unfortunate abbes were the subjects, +also appeared at this time. The letters which composed the words +"l'Abbe Miolan" were found to form the anagram, Ballon +abime--"the balloon swallowed up." + +The most extravagant balloon project was that of Robertson, who +published a scheme for making a tour of the world. He called it +"La Minerva, an aerial vessel destined for discoveries, and +proposed to all the Academies of Europe, by Robertson, physicist" +(Vienna, 1804; reprinted at Paris, 1820), Robertson dedicated his +project to Volta, and in his dedication he does not scruple to +say: "In our age, my friendship seeks only one gratification, +that we should both live a sufficiently long time together to +enable you to calculate and utilise the results of this great +machine, while I take the practical direction of it." The +following is this aeronaut's prospectus:-- + +"There is no limit to the sciences and the arts, which +cultivation does not overstep. We have everything to hope and to +expect from time, from chance, and from the genius of man. The +difference which there is between the canoe of the savage and the +man-of-war of 124 guns is perhaps as great as that of balloons as +they now are and as they will be in the course of a century. If +you ask of an aeronaut why he cannot command the motions of his +balloon, he will ask of you in his turn why the inventor of the +canoe did not immediately afterwards construct a man-of-war. It +must be recollected that there have not yet elapsed forty years +since the discovery of the balloon, and that to perfect it would +be a work of difficulty, as much from the increased knowledge +which such a work would demand, as from the pecuniary sacrifices +and the personal devotion which it would involve. + +"Thus this invention, after having at first electrified all +savants from the one end of the world to the other, has suffered +the fate of all discoveries--it was all at once arrested. Did +not astronomy wait long for Newton, and chemistry for Lavoisier, +to raise them to something like the splendour they now enjoy? Was +not the magnet a long time a toy in the hands of the Chinese, +without giving birth to the idea of the compass? The electric +fluid was known in the time of Thales, but how many ages did we +wait for the discovery of galvanism? Yet these sciences, which +may be studied in silent retreats, were more likely to yield +fruit to the discoverer than aerostatics, which demand courage +and skill, and of which the experiments, which are always public, +are attended with great cost." + +Robertson's proposed machine was to be 150 feet in diameter, and +would be capable of carrying 150,000 lbs. Every precaution was +to be taken in order to make the great structure perfect. It was +to accommodate sixty persons to be chosen by the academics, who +should stay in it for several months should rise to all possible +elevations, pass through all climates in all seasons, make +scientific observations, &c. This balloon, penetrating deserts +inaccessible by other means of travel, and visiting places which +travellers have never penetrated, would be of immense use in the +science of geography: and when under the line, if the heat near +the earth should be inconvenient, the aeronauts would, of course, +easily rise to elevations where the temperature is equal and +agreeable. When their observations, their needs, or their +pleasures demanded it, they could descend to within a short +distance of the earth, say ninety feet, and fix themselves in +their position by means of an anchor. It might, perhaps, be +possible, by taking the advantage of favourable winds, to make +the tour of the world. "Experience will perhaps demonstrate that +aerial navigation presents less inconvenience and less dangers +than the navigation of the seas." + +The immensity of the seas seemed to be the only source of +insurmountable difficulties; "but," says Robertson, "over what a +vast space might not one travel in six months with a balloon +fully furnished with the necessaries of life, and all the +appliances necessary for safety? Besides, if, through the +natural imperfection attaching to all the works of man, or either +through accident or age, the balloon, borne above the sea, became +incapable of sustaining the travellers, it is provided with a +boat, which can withstand the waters and guarantee the return of +the voyagers." + +Such were the ideas promulgated regarding the "Minerva." The +following is the serious description given of the machine. The +numbers correspond with those on the illustration. + +"The cock (3) is the symbol of watchfulness; it is also the +highest point of the balloon. An observer, getting up through +the interior to the point at which the watchful fowl is placed, +will be able to command the best view to be had in the 'Minerva.' +The wings at the side (1 and 2) are to be regarded as ornamental. +The balloon will be 150 feet in diameter, made expressly at Lyons +of unbleached silk, coated within and without with indict-rubber. +This globe sustains a ship, which contains or has attached to it +all the things necessary for the convenience, the observations, +and even the pleasures of the voyagers. + +"(a) A small boat, in which the passengers might take refuge in +case of necessity, in the event of the larger vessel falling on +the sea in a disabled state. + +"(b) A large store for keeping the water, wine, and all the +provisions of the expedition. + +"(cc) Ladders of silk, to enable the passengers to go to all +parts of the balloon. + +"(e) Closets. + +"(h) Pilot's room. + +"(1) An observatory, containing the compasses and other +scientific instruments for taking the latitude. + +"(g) A room fitted up for recreations, walking, and gymnastics. + +"(m) The kitchen, far removed from the balloon. It is the only +place where a fire shall be permitted. + +"(p) Medicine room. + +"(v) A theatre, music room, &c. + +"--The study. + +"(x) The tents of the air-marines, &c. &c." + +This balloon is certainly the most marvellous that has ever been +imagined--quite a town, with its forts, ramparts, cannon, +boulevards, and galleries. One can understand the many squibs +and satires which so Utopian a notion provoked. + + + +Chapter V. First Aerial Voyage in England--Blanchard Crosses the +Sea in a Balloon. + +In spite of their known powers of industry and perseverance, the +English did not throw themselves with any great ardour into the +exploration of the atmosphere. From one cause or another it is +the French and the Italians that have chiefly distinguished +themselves in this art. The English historian of aerostation +gives some details of the first aerial voyage made in this +country by the Italian, Vincent Lunardy. + +The balloon was made of silk covered with a varnish of oil, and +painted in alternate stripes--blue and red. It was three feet in +diameter. Cords fixed upon it hung down and were attached to a +hoop at the bottom, from which a gallery was suspended. This +balloon had no safety-valve--its neck was the only opening by +which the hydrogen gas was introduced, and by which it was +allowed to escape. + +In September, 1784, it was carried to the Artillery Ground and +filled with gas. After being two-thirds filled, the gallery was +attached with its two oars or wings, and Lunardy, accompanied by +Biggin and Madame Sage, took his place; but it was found that the +balloon had not sufficient lifting power to carry up the whole +three, and Lunardy went up alone, with the exception of the +pigeon, the cat, and the dog, that were with him. + +The balloon rose to the height of about twenty feet, then +followed a horizontal line, and descended. But the gallery had +no sooner touched the earth than Lunardy threw over the sand that +served as ballast, and mounted triumphantly, amid the applause of +a considerable multitude of spectators. After a time he +descended upon a common, where he left the cat nearly dead with +cold, ascended, and continued his voyage. He says, in the +narrative which he has left, that he descended by means of the +one oar which was left to him, the other having fallen over; but, +as he states that, in order to rise again, he threw over the +remainder of his ballast, it is natural to believe that the +descent of the balloon was caused by the loss of gas, because, if +he descended by the use of the oar, he must have re-ascended when +he stopped using it. He landed in the parish of Standon, where +he was assisted by the peasants. + +He assures us again that he came down the second time by means of +the oar. He says:--"I took my oar to descend, and in from +fifteen to twenty minutes I arrived at the earth after much +fatigue, my strength being nearly exhausted. My chief desire was +to escape a shock on reaching the earth, and fortune favoured +me." The fear of a concussion seems to indicate that he +descended more because of the weight of the balloon than by the +action of the oar. + +It appears that the only scientific instrument he had was a +thermometer which fell to 29 degrees. The drops of water which +had attached themselves to the balloon were frozen. + +The second aerial journey in England was undertaken by Blanchard +and Sheldon. The latter, a professor of anatomy in the Royal +Academy, is the first Englishman who ever went up in a balloon. +This ascent was made from Chelsea on the 16th October, 1784. + +The same balloon which Blanchard had used in France served him on +this occasion, with the difference that. the hoop which went +round the middle of it, and the parasol above the car, were +dispensed with. At the extremity of his car he had fitted a sort +of ventilator, which he was able to move about by means of a +winch. This ventilator, together with the wings and the helm, +were to serve especially the purpose of steering at will, which +he had often said was quite practicable as soon as a certain +elevation had been reached. + +The two aeronauts ascended, haying with them a number of +scientific and musical instruments, some refreshments, ballast, +&c. Twice the ascent failed, and eventually Sheldon got out, and +Blanchard went up again alone. + +Blanchard says that, on this second ascent, he was carried first +north-east, then east-south-east of Sunbury in Middlesex. He +rose so high that he had great difficulty in breathing, the +pigeon he had with him escaped, but could hardly maintain itself +in the rarefied air of such an elevated region, and finding no +place to rest, came back and perched on the side of the car. +After a time, the cold becoming excessive, Blanchard descended +until he could distinguish men on the earth, and hear their +shouting. After many vicissitudes he landed upon a plain in +Hampshire, about seventy-five miles from the point of departure. +It was observed that, so long as he could be clearly seen, he +executed none of the feats with his wings, ventilator, &c., which +he had promised to exhibit. + +Enthusiasm about aerial voyages was now at its climax; the most +wonderful deeds were spoken of as commonplace, and the word +"impossible" was erased from the language. Emboldened by his +success, Blanchard one day announced in the newspapers that he +would cross from England to France in a balloon--a marvellous +journey, the success of which depended altogether upon the course +of the wind, to the mercy of which the bold aeronaut committed +himself. + +A certain Dr. Jeffries offered to accompany Blanchard. On the +7th of January the sky was calm, in consequence of a strong frost +during the preceding night, the wind which was very light, being +from the north-north-west. The arranged meets were made above +the cliffs of Dover. When the balloon rose, there were only +three sacks of sand of 10 lbs. each in it. They had not been +long above ground when the barometer sank from 29.7 to 27.3. Dr. +Jeffries, in a letter addressed to the president of the Royal +Society, describes with enthusiasm the spectacle spread out +before him: the broad country lying behind Dover, sown with +numerous towns and villages, formed a charming view; while the +rocks on the other side, against which the waves dashed, offered +a prospect that was rather trying. + +They had already passed one-third of the distance across the +Channel when the balloon descended for the second time, and they +threw over the last of their ballast ; and that not sufficing, +they threw over some books, and found themselves rising again. +After having got more than half way, they found to their dismay, +from the rising of the barometer, that they were again +descending, and the remainder of their books were thrown over. +At twenty-five minutes past two o'clock they had passed +three-quarters of their journey, and they perceived ahead the +inviting coasts of France. But, in consequence either of the +loss or the condensation of the inflammable gas, they found +themselves once more descending. They then threw over their +provisions, the wings of the car, and other objects. "We were +obliged," says Jeffries, "to throw out the only bottle we had, +which fell on the water with a loud sound, and sent up spray like +smoke." + +They were now near the water themselves, and certain death seemed +to stare them in the face. It is said that at this critical +moment Jeffries offered to throw himself into the sea, in order +to save the life of his companion. + +"We are lost, both of us," said he; "and if you believe that it +will save you to be lightened of my weight, I am willing to +sacrifice my life." + +This story has certainly the appearance of romance, and belief in +it is not positively demanded. + +One desperate resource only remained--they could detach the car +and hang on themselves to the ropes of the balloon. They were +preparing to carry out this idea, when they imagined they felt +themselves beginning to ascend again. It was indeed so. The +balloon mounted once more; they were only four miles from the +coast of France, and their progress through the air was rapid. +All fear was now banished. Their exciting situation, and the +idea that they were the first who had ever traversed the Channel +in such a manner, rendered them careless about the want of +certain articles of dress which they had discarded. At three +o'clock they passed over the shore half-way between Cape Blanc +and Calais. Then the balloon, rising rapidly, described a great +arc, and they found themselves at a greater elevation than at any +part of their course. The wind increased in strength, and +changed a little in its direction. Having descended to the tops +of the trees of the forest of Guines, Dr. Jeffries seized a +branch, and by this means arrested their advance. The valve was +then opened, the gas rushed out, and the aeronauts safely reached +the ground after the successful accomplishment of this daring and +memorable enterprise. + +A number of horsemen, who had watched the recent course of the +balloon, now rode up, and gave the adventurers the most cordial +reception. On the following day a splendid fete was celebrated +in their honour at Calais. Blanchard -was presented with the +freedom of the city in a box of gold, and the municipal body +purchased the balloon, with the intention of placing it in one of +the churches as a memorial of this experiment, it being also +resolved to erect a marble monument on the spot where the famous +aeronauts landed. + +Some days afterwards Blanchard was summoned before the king, who +conferred upon him an annual pension of 1,200 livres. The queen, +who was at play at the gambling table, placed a sum for him upon +a card, and presented him with the purse which she won. + + + +Chapter VI. Zambeccari's Perilous Trip Across the Adriatic Sea. + +There is not in the whole annals of aerostation a more moving +catastrophe than that of the unfortunate Comte Zambeccari, who, +during an aerial journey on October the 7th, 1804, was cast away +on the waves of the Adriatic. + +The history of Zambeccari is dramatic throughout. After having +been taken by the Turks and thrown into the Bay of +Constantinople, from which he with difficulty escaped, he devoted +himself to the study and practice of aerial navigation. He +fancied he could make use of a lamp supplied with spirits of +wine, the flame of which he could direct at will, in the hope of +thus being able to steer the balloon in whatever direction he +chose. One day his balloon damaged itself against a tree at +Boulogne, and the spirits of wine set his clothes on fire. The +flames with which the aeronaut was covered only served to +increase the ascending power of the balloon, and the frightened +spectators, among whom were Zambeccari's young wife and children, +saw him carried up into the clouds out of sight. He succeeded, +however, in extinguishing the fire which surrounded him. + +In 1804, he organised a series of experiments at Milan, for which +he received, in advance, the sum of 8,000 crowns; but the +experiments failed, in consequence of the inclemency of the +weather, the treachery of his assistants, and the malice of his +rivals. + +At length, on the 7th of October, after a fall of rain which +lasted forty-eight hours, and which had delayed the announced +ascent, he resolved, whatever might happen, to carry it out, +though all the chances were against him. Eight young men whom he +had instructed, and who had promised him their assistance in +filling the balloon, failed him at the critical moment. Still, +however, he continued his labours, with the help of two +companions, Andreoli and Grassetti. Wearied with his +long-continued efforts, dis-appointed and hungry, he took his +place in the car. + +The two companions whom we have named went with him. They rose +gently at first, and hovered over the town of Bologna. +Zambeccari says, "The lamp, which was intended to increase our +ascending force, became useless. We could not observe the state +of the barometer by the feeble light of a lantern. The +insupportable cold that prevailed in the high region to which we +had ascended, the weariness and hunger arising from my having +neglected to take nourishment for twenty-four hours, the vexation +that embittered my spirit--all these combined produced in me a +total prostration, and I fell upon the floor of the gallery in a +profound sleep that was like death. 'The same misfortune +overtook my companion Grassetti. Andreoli was the only one who +remained awake and able for duty--no doubt because he had taken +plenty of food and a large quantity of rum. Still he suffered +from the cold, which was excessive, and his endeavours to wake me +were for a long time vain. Finally, however, he succeeded in +getting me to my feet, but my ideas were confused, and I demanded +of him, like one newly awaking from a dream, 'What is the news? +Where are we? What time is it? How is the wind?' + +"It was two o'clock. The compass had been broken, and was +useless; the wax light in the lantern would not burn in such a +rarefied atmosphere. We descended gently across a thick layer of +whitish clouds, and when we had got below them, Andreoli heard a +sound, muffled and almost inaudible, which he immediately +recognised as the breaking of waves in the distance. Instantly +he announced to me this new and fearful danger. I listened, and +had not long to wait before I was convinced that he was speaking +the truth. It was necessary to have light to examine the state +of the barometer, and thus ascertain what was our elevation above +the sea level, and to take our measures in consequence. Andreoli +broke five phosphoric matches, without getting a spark of fire. +Nevertheless, we succeeded, after very great difficulty, by the +help of the flint and steel, in lighting the lantern. It was now +three o'clock in the morning--we had started at midnight. The +sound of the waves, tossing with wild uproar, became louder and +louder, and I suddenly saw the surface of the sea violently +agitated just below us. I immediately seized a large sack of +sand, but had not time to throw it over before we were all in the +water, gallery and all. In the first moment of fright, we threw +into the sea everything that would lighten the balloon--our +ballast, all our instruments, a portion of our clothing, our +money, and the oars. As, in spite of all this, the balloon did +not rise, we threw over our lamp also. After having torn and cut +away everything that did not appear to us to be of indispensable +necessity, the balloon, thus very much lightened, rose all at +once, but with such rapidity and to such a prodigious elevation, +that we had difficulty in hearing each other, even when shouting +at the top of our voices. I was ill, and vomited severely. +Grassetti was bleeding at the nose; we were both breathing short +and hard, and felt oppression on the chest. As we were thrown +upon our backs at the moment when the balloon took such a sudden +start out of the water and bore us with such swiftness to those +high regions, the cold seized us suddenly, and we found ourselves +covered all at once with a coating of ice. I could not account +for the reason why the moon, which was in its last quarter, +appeared on a parallel line with us, and looked red as blood. + +"After having traversed these regions for half an hour, at an +immeasurable elevation, the balloon slowly began to descend, and +at last we fell again into the sea, at about four in the morning +I cannot determine at what distance we were from land when we +fell the second time. The night was very dark, the sea rolling +heavily, and we were in no condition to make observations. But +it must have been in the middle of the Adriatic that we fell. +Although we descended gently, the gallery was sunk, and we were +often entirely covered with water. The balloon being now more +than half empty, in consequence of the vicissitudes through, +which we had passed, gave a purchase to the wind, which pressed +against it as against a sail, so that by means of it we were +dragged and beaten about at the mercy of the storm and the waves. +At daybreak we looked out and found ourselves opposite Pesaro, +four miles from the shore. We were comforting ourselves with the +prospect of a safe landing, when a wind from the land drove us +with violence away over the open sea. It was now full day, but +all we could see were the sea, the sky, and the death that +threatened us. Certainly some boats happened to come within +sight; but no sooner did they see the balloon floating and +striping upon the water than they made all sail to get away from +it. No hope was then left to us but the very small one of making +the coasts of Dalmatia, which were opposite, but at a great +distance from us. Without the slightest doubt we should have +been drowned if heaven had not mercifully directed towards us a +navigator who, better informed than those we had seen before, +recognised our machine to be a balloon and quickly sent his +long-boat to our rescue. The sailors threw us a stout cable, +which we attached to the gallery, and by means of which they +rescued us when fainting with exposure. The balloon thus +lightened, immediately rose into the air, in spite of all the +efforts of the sailors who wished to capture it. The long boat +received a severe shock from its escape, as the rope was still +attached to it, and the sailors hastened to cut themselves free. +At once the balloon mounted with incredible rapidity, and was +lost in the clouds, where it disappeared for ever from our view. +It was eight in the morning when we got on board. Grassetti was +so ill that he hardly showed any signs of life. His hands were +sadly mutilated. Cold, hunger, and the dreadful anxiety had +completely prostrated me. The brave captain of the vessel did +everything in his power to restore us. He conducted us safely to +Ferrara, whence we were carried to Pola, where we were received +with the greatest kindness, and where I was compelled to have my +fingers amputated." + + + +Chapter VII. Garnerin--Parachutes--Aerostation at Public Fetes. + +"On the 22nd October, 1797," says the astronomer Lalande, "at +twenty-eight minutes past five, Citizen Garnerin rose in a +balloon from the park of Monceau. Silence reigned in the +assembly, anxiety and fear being painted on the visages of all. +When he had ascended upwards of 2,000 feet, he cut the cord that +connected his parachute and car with the balloon. The latter +exploded, and Garnerin descended in his parachute very rapidly. +He made a dreadful lurch in the air, that forced a sudden cry of +fear from the whole multitude, and made a number of women faint. +Meanwhile Citizen Garnerin descended into the plain of Monceau; +he mounted his horse upon the spot, and rode back to the park, +attended by an immense multitude, who gave vent to their +admiration for the skill and talent of the young aeronaut. +Garnerin was the first to undertake this most daring and +dangerous venture. He had conceived the idea of this feat while +lying a prisoner of state in Buda, Hungary." Lalande adds that +he went and announced his success at the Institute National, +which was assembled at the time, and which listened to him with +the greatest interest. + +Robertson conducted an experiment of descending by means of a +parachute at Vienna, in 1804, in which he received all the glory, +without partaking of any of the danger. He made the public +preparations for an ascent in the balloon, his pupil, Michaud, +however, took his place in the car, and made the ascent. + +Robertson says that on this occasion he yielded to the entreaties +of a young man who was his pupil, and had begged to be allowed to +make his debut before such a great multitude. In this case a +slight improvement was made in the parachute. The car was +surrounded by a cloth of silk, which, when the aeronaut cut +himself away from the balloon, spread itself out in such a way as +to form a second parachute. + +Robertson made all the preparations, and Michaud had no more to +do than place himself in the car. Loud applause arose on all +sides. Michaud had ascended 900 feet above the earth when the +signal for his cutting himself clear of the balloon was given, by +the firing of a cannon. He at once cut the two strings, and the +balloon soared away into the upper regions, whilst he was left +for one terrible moment to fate. The fall was at first rapid, +but the two parachutes soon opened themselves simultaneously, and +presented a majestic appearance. In a few seconds the aeronaut +had traversed the space that intervened between him and the +assembly, and found himself safely landed on the ground, at a +short distance from the place whence he had set out, while the +whole air was rent with shouts of applause. This experiment was +deemed a most extraordinary one. Compliments were showered upon +Robertson from all sides, and the court presented him with rich +presents. + +Balloons have always formed a prominent feature at the fetes of +Paris, for the celebration of the chief events of the Revolution, +the Consulate, and the Empire--the first of these epochs being +that in which these aerial vessels were held in highest esteem. + +Jacques Garnerin had played a brilliant role as aeronaut under +the Directory, the Consulate, and the Empire; and it was he who +after the coronation of the Emperor Napoleon I., was charged with +the raising of a monster balloon, which was arranged to ascend, +with the accompaniment of fireworks, on the evening of the 16th +of December, 1804. + +An uncommon incident connected with this event serves to show us +the spirit of fatalism with which the character of Napoleon I. +was infected. "The Man of Destiny" believed in the destiny of +man; he had faith in his star alone; and from the height of his +greatness the new ruler, consecrated emperor and king by the +Pope, beheld a presage of misfortune in a chance circumstance, +insignificant to all but himself, in the experiment of which we +are about to recount the history. + +The fete given by the city of Paris to their majesties embraced +the whole town, from the Champs Elysees to the Barriere du Trone, +on the square of the Hotel de Ville. Upon the river throughout +its length between the Isle of St. Louis and the bridge of Notre +Dame, an immense display of fireworks was to take place. The +scene to be represented was the passage of Mont St. Bernard. +Garnerin was stationed with his balloon in front of the gate of +the church of Notre Dame. At eleven o'clock in the evening, at +the moment when the first discharge of fireworks made the air +luminous with a hundred thousand stars, Garnerin threw off his +immense balloon. The chief feature of it was the device of a +crown, designed in coloured lanterns arranged round the globe. It +rose splendidly, and with the most perfect success. + +On the following morning the inhabitants of Rome were astounded +to behold advancing toward them from the horizon a luminous +globe, which threatened to descend upon their city. The +excitement was intense. The balloon passed the cupola of St. +Peter's and the Vatican; then descending, it touched the ground, +but rose again, and finally it sank into the wafers of Lake +Bracciano. + +It was drawn from the water, and the following inscription, +emblazoned in letters of gold upon its vast circumference, was +printed, published, and read throughout the whole of +Italy--"Paris, 25eme Primaire, an XIII., couronnement de +l'empereur Napoleon, 1er par S.S. Pie VII." + +In touching the earth, the balloon happened to strike against the +tomb of the Emperor Nero, and, owing to the concussion, a portion +of the crown was left upon this ancient monument. The Italian +journals, which were not so strictly under the supervision of the +government as were the journals of France, gave the full +particulars of these minor events; and certain of them, +connecting the names of Nero and Napoleon, indulged in malicious +remarks at the expense of the French emperor. These facts came +to the ear of the great general, who manifested much indignation, +dismissed the innocent Garnerin from his post, and appointed +Madame Blanchard to the supervision of all the balloon ascents +which took place at the public fetes. + +The balloon was preserved in the vaults of the Vatican in Rome, +accompanied with an inscription narrating its travels and +wonderful descent--minus the circumstance of the tomb. It was +removed, as might be supposed, in 1814. From this time the +ascents of balloons took place for the most part only on the +occasions of coronations and other great public fetes. + + + +Chapter VIII. Green's Great Journey Across Europe. + +It is probable that at the origin of navigation, man, before he +had invented oars and sails, made use of trunks of trees upon +which he trusted himself, leaving the rest to the winds and the +currents of the water, whether these were known or unknown. +There is some analogy between such rude rafts, the first +discovered means of navigation on water, and balloons, the first +discovered means of navigation in air. But unquestionably the +advantage is with the latter. No means have yet been found of +directly steering balloons, but by allowing the gas to escape the +aeronaut can descend at will, and by lightening his car of part +of the ballast he carries he can ascend as readily. It must also +be remembered that the currents of air vary in their directions, +according to their elevation, and were the aeronaut perfectly +acquainted with aerial currents, he might, by raising or lowering +himself, find a wind blowing in the direction in which he wished +to proceed, and the last problem of aerostation would be solved. +That any such knowledge can ever be acquired it is impossible to +say; but this much may with safety be advanced, that distant +journeys may frequently be taken with balloons for useful +purposes. + +One of the most remarkable excursions of this kind was that +superintended by Green, in 1836, from London to Germany. This +journey, 1,200 miles in length, is the longest that has been yet +accomplished. Green set out from London on the 7th of November, +1836, accompanied by two friends--Monk-Mason, the historian of +the journey, and a gentleman named Molland. Not knowing to what +quarter of the globe he might be blown, Green provided himself +with passports to all the states of Europe, and with a quantity +of provisions sufficient to last him for some time, should he be +driven by the wind over the sea. Shortly after mid-day the +balloon rose with great grandeur, and, urged by a light breeze, +floated to the south-east, over the plains of Kent. At four +o'clock the voyagers sighted the sea. + +"It was forty-eight minutes past four," says Monk-Mason, "that we +first saw the line of waves breaking on the shores beneath us. It +would have been impossible to have remained unmoved by the +grandeur of the spectacle that spread out before us. Behind us +were the coasts of England, with their white cliffs half lost in +the coming darkness. Beneath us on both sides the ocean spread +out far end wide to where the darkness closed in the scene. +Opposite us a barrier of thick clouds like a wall, surmounted all +along its line with projections like so many towers, bastions, +and battlements, rose up from the sea as if to stop our advance. +A few minutes afterwards we were in the midst of this cloudy +barrier, surrounded with darkness, which the vapours of the night +increased. We heard no sound. The noise of the waves breaking +on the shores of England had ceased, and our position had for +some time cut us off from all the sounds of earth." + +In an hour the Straits of Dover were cleared, the lights of +Calais shone out toward the voyagers, and the sound of the town +drums rose up toward them. "Darkness was now complete," continues +the writer, "and it was only by the lights, sometimes isolated, +sometimes seen in masses, and showing themselves far down on the +earth beneath us, that we could form a guess of the countries we +traversed, or of the towns and villages which appeared before us +every moment. The whole surface of the earth for many leagues +round showed nothing but scattered lights, and the face of the +earth seemed to rival the vault of heaven with starry fires. +Every moment in the earlier part of the night before men had +betaken themselves to repose, clusters of lights appeared +indicating large centres of population. + +Those on the horizon gave us the notion of a distant +conflagration. In proportion as we approached them, these masses +of lights appeared to increase, and to cover a greater space, +until, when right over them, they seemed to divide themselves +into different parts, to stretch out in long streets, and to +shine in starry quadrangles round the squares, so that we could +see the exact plan of each city, given as on a small map. It +would be difficult to give an idea of what sort of effect such a +scene in such circumstances produces. To find oneself +transported in the darkness of night, in the midst of vast +solitudes of air, unknown, unperceived, in secret and in silence, +exploring territories, traversing kingdoms, watching towns which +come into view, and pass out of it before one can examine them in +detail--these circumstances are enough in themselves to render +sublime a science which, independent of these adjuncts, would be +so interesting. If you add to this the uncertainty which, +increasing as we went on into the night, began to assail us +respecting our voyage, our ignorance of where we were, and what +were the objects we were attempting to discover, you may form +some idea of our singular position. + +About midnight, the travellers found themselves above Liege. +Situated in the midst of a thickly-peopled country, full of +foundries, smelting works, and forges, this town was quite a +blaze of light. The gas-lamps with which this town is so well +lighted, clearly marked out for our travellers the main streets, +the squares, and the public buildings. But after midnight, at +which time the lamps in continental towns are mostly put out, the +whole of the under world disappeared from the view of the +aeronauts. + +"After the turn of the night," says Mason, "the moon did not show +itself, and the heavens, always more sombre when regarded from +great altitudes, seemed to us to intensify the natural darkness. +On the other hand, by a singular contrast, the stars shone out +with unusual brilliancy, and seemed like living sparks sown upon +the ebony vault that surrounded us. In fact, nothing could +exceed the intensity of the night which prevailed during this +part of our voyage. A black profound abyss surrounded us on all +sides, and, as we attempted to penetrate into the mysterious +deeps, it was with difficulty we could beat back the idea and the +apprehension that we were making a passage through an immense +mass of black marble, in which we were enclosed, and which, solid +to within a few inches of us, appeared to open up at our +approach." + +Until three o'clock the voyagers were in this state. The height +of the balloon, as calculated by the barometer, was 2,000 feet. +They had not then anything to fear from a disastrous encounter, +when all at once a sudden explosion was heard, the silk of the +balloon quivered, the car received a violent shock, and seemed to +be shot suddenly into the gloomy abyss. A second explosion and a +third succeeded, accompanied each time by this fearful shock to +the car. The travellers soon found out that, owing to the great +altitude, the gas had expanded, and the rope which surrounded it, +saturated with water, and frozen with the intense cold, had +yielded to the pressure, in jerks which caused the report and the +shock. + +"From time to time," continues Mason, "vast masses of clouds +covered the lower regions of the atmosphere, and spread a thick, +whitish veil over the earth, intercepting our view, and leaving +us for some time uncertain if this was not a continuation of the +same plains covered with snow which we had already noticed. From +these masses of vapour, there seemed more than once during the +night to come a sound as of a great fall of water, or the +contending waves of the sea; and it required all the force of our +reason, joined to our knowledge--such as it was--of the direction +of our route, to repress the idea that we were approaching the +sea, and that, driven by the wind, we had, been carried along the +coasts of the North Sea or the Baltic. As the day advanced these +apprehensions disappeared. In place of the unbroken surface of +the sea, we gradually made out the varied features of a +cultivated country, in the midst of which flowed a majestic +river, which lost itself, at both extremities, in the mist that +still lay on the horizon." + +This river was the Rhine, and as the neighbourhood seemed +suitable for a descent, and as the travellers did not wish to be +carried too far into the heart of Europe, they allowed a portion +of the gas to escape, came gradually down, and dropped their +anchor. + +It was then half-past seven in the morning. It was only then +that the inhabitants, who had hitherto held themselves aloof, +watching the movements of the strangers from under the brushwood, +began to assemble from all sides. A few words in German spoken +from the balloon dissipated their fears, and, recovering from +their mistrust, they hastened immediately to lend assistance to +the aeronauts The latter were now informed that the place they +had selected for their descent was in the Duchy of Nassau. The +town of Wiberg, where Blanchard had descended, after his ascent +at Frankfort in 1785 was, by a singular chance, only two leagues +distant. The three aeronauts received a most flattering +reception, and, in memory of the event, they placed the flag +which they had borne in their car during their adventurous +excursion in the ducal palace, side by side with that of +Blanchard. + +"Thus," says Mason, "terminated an expedition which, whether we +regard the extent of the journey, the length of time occupied in +it, or the results which were the objects of the experiment, may +justly be considered as one of the most interesting and most +important ever undertaken. The best answer which one could give +to those who would be disposed to criticise the employment of the +peculiar means which we made use of, or to doubt their +efficiency, would be to state that, after having traversed +without hindrance, without either danger or difficulty, so large +a portion of the European continent, we arrived at our +destination still in possession of as much force as, had we +wished it, might have carried us round the whole world." + + + +Chapter IX. The "Geant" Balloon. + +Not a few of our readers will remember the ascent of Nadar's +colossal balloon from Paris, on Sunday, the 18th of October, +1863. This balloon was remarkable as having attached to it a +regular two-story house for a car. Its ascent was witnessed by +nearly half a million of persons. The balloon, after passing +over the eastern part of France, Belgium, and Holland, suffered a +disastrous descent in Hanover the day after it started on its +perilous journey. It was a fool-hardy enterprise to construct +such a gigantic and unmanageable balloon, presenting such an +immense surface to the atmosphere, and being so susceptible to +adverse aerial currents as to become the helpless prey of the +elements; and it was still more fool-hardy to place the lives of +its passengers at the mercy of such terrible and ungovernable +forces. A large section of the public laboured under the +delusion that Nadar's balloon was one capable of being steered. +In reality, however, the 'Geant' was unquestionably the most +rebellious and unruly specimen of its class that has been made +since the days of Montgolfier. The object in view when this +formidable monster was designed and constructed was to create the +means to collect sufficient funds to form a "Free Association for +Aerial Navigation by means of MACHINES HEAVIER THAN AIR," and for +the construction of machines on this principle. The receipts +from the exhibition of the "Geant" were intended to form the +first capital of the association. The hopes, however, of the +promoters have not been realised in this respect; for while the +expenses of the construction of the balloon have amounted, +directly and indirectly, to the sum of L8,300, its two ascents in +Paris and its exhibition in London produced only L3,300. + +Space forbids us to enter at length on the various stages of the +idea of aerial navigation by means of an apparatus heavier than +the atmosphere. The idea is not, however, by any means so absurd +as it appears at first sight. Those who, like Arago, declare +that the word "impossible" does not exist, except in the higher +mathematics, and those who look hopefully to the future instead +of resting content with the past, will join in applauding the +spirit which dictated the manifesto of aerial locomotion to the +founder of the association which we are about to describe. M. +Babinet, speaking on this subject before the French Polytechnic +Association, said: "It is absurd to talk of guiding balloons. +How will you set about it? How is it possible that a +balloon--say, for instance, like the Flesselles, whose diameter +measures 120 feet--can resist and manoeuvre against opposing +winds or currents of air? It would require a power equal to 400 +horses for the sails of a ship to struggle on equal terms with +the wind. Suppose an impossibility, namely, that a balloon could +carry with it a force equal to 400 horse-power; this result would +be of little use, for under the immense weight the fragile +covering of the balloon would instantly collapse. If all the +horses of a regiment were harnessed to the car of a balloon by +means of a long rope, the result would be that the balloon would +fly into shivers, being too fragile to withstand these two +opposing forces. Man must seek to raise himself in the air by +another mode of operation altogether, if he wish to guide himself +at the same time. Some time ago I bought a play thing, very much +in vogue at that time, called a Stropheor. This toy was composed +of a small rotating screw propeller, which revolved on its own +support when the piece of string wound round it was pulled +sharply. The screw was rather heavy, weighing nearly a quarter +of a pound, and the wings were of tin, very broad and thick. +This machine, however, was rather too eccentric for parlour use, +for its flight was so violent that it was continually breaking +the pier glass, if there was one in the room; and, failing this, +it next attacked the windows. The ascending force of this +machine is so great that I have seen one of them fly over Antwerp +Cathedral, which is one of the highest edifices in the world. +The air from underneath the machine is exhausted by the action of +the screw, which, passing under the wings, causes a vacuum, while +the air above it replenishes and fills this void, and under the +influence of these two causes the apparatus mounts from the +earth. But the problem is not solved by means of this plaything, +whose motive power is exterior to it. Messrs. Nadar, Ponton, +D'Amecourt, and De la Landelle teach us better than this, +although the wings of their different models are entirely +unworthy of men who desire to demonstrate a truth to short-lived +mortals. We have only arrived as yet at the infancy of the +process, but we have made a good beginning, for, having once +proved that a machine capable of raising itself in the air, +wholly unaided from without, can be made, we have overcome with +this apparently small result the whole difficulty. The principle +of propulsion by means of a screw is by no means a novelty. It +was first utilised in windmills, whose sails are nothing more nor +less than an immense screw which is turned by the action of the +wind on its surface. In the case of turbine water-wheels, where +perhaps 970 cubic feet of water are utilised by means of a +mechanism not larger than a hat, we see another illustration of +it, with this difference, that water takes the place of wind as +the motive power. + +"The aerial screw is beset with great difficulties, but if we can +succeed through its agency in raising even the smallest weight, +we may be confident of being able to raise a heavier one, for a +large machine is always more powerful in proportion to its size +than a small one. + +"Mlle. Garnerin once made a bet that she would guide herself in +her descent from a considerable altitude towards a fixed spot on +the earth at some distance, with no other help than the +parachute; and she was really able to guide herself to within a +few feet of the specified spot, by simply altering the +inclination of the parachute. + +"From observations in mountainous districts, where large birds of +prey may be seen to the best advantage hovering with outstretched +wings, I have come to the conclusion that they first of all +attain the requisite height and then, extending their wings in +the form of a parachute, let themselves glide gradually towards +the desired spot. Marshal Niel confirms this opinion by his +experience in the mountains of Algeria. It is, therefore, clear +from these examples that we should possess the power of +transporting ourselves from place to place if we could only +discover a means of raising a weight perpendicularly in the air, +which would then act as a capital of power, only requiring to be +expended at will." + +From the foregoing remarks we may gather an idea of the +importance which may be attached to aerial locomotion +notwithstanding the successive failures of all those who have +hitherto taken up the subject. We come now to the description of +the memorable ascent of the 'Geant.' + +We learn from the very interesting account of the 'Geant,' +published at the time, all the mishaps and adventures it outlived +from the time of the first stitch in its covering to its final +inflation with gas. We must, however, be content to take up the +narrative at the point at which the 'Geant,' with thirteen +passengers on board, had, in obedience to the order to "let go," +been released from the bonds which held it to the earth. The +narrative is, as our readers will perceive, written in somewhat +exaggerated language:-- + +"The 'Geant' gave an almost imperceptible shake on finding itself +free, and then commenced to rise. The ascent was slow and +gradual at first--the monster seemed to be feeling its way. An +immense shout rose with it from the assembled multitude. We +ascended grandly, whilst the deafening clamour of two hundred +thousand voices seemed to increase. We leant over the edge of +the car, and gazed at the thousands of faces which were turned +towards us from every point of the vast plain, in every +conceivable angle of which we were the common apex. We still +ascended. The summits of the double row of trees which surround +the Champ de Mars were already under us. We reached the level of +the cupola of the Military School. The tremendous uproar still +reached us. We glided over Paris in an easterly direction, at +the height of about six hundred feet. Every one took up the best +possible position on the six light cane stools, and on the two +long bunks at either end of the car, and contemplated the +marvellous panorama spread out under us, of which we never grew +weary. + +"There is never any dizziness in a balloon, as is often +erroneously supposed, for in it you are the only point in space +without any possibility of comparison with another, and therefore +the means of becoming giddy are not at hand. + +A very experienced aeronaut, who numbers his ascents by hundreds, +has assured me that he never knew of a single case of dizziness. + +"The earth seems to unfold itself to our view like an immense and +variegated map, the predominant colour of which is green in all +its shades and tints. The irregular division of the country into +fields made it resemble a patchwork counterpane. The size of the +houses, churches, fortresses, was so considerably diminished as +to make them resemble nothing so much as those playthings +manufactured at Carlsruhe. This was the effect produced by a +microscopic train, which whistled very faintly to attract our +attention, and which seemed to creep along at a snail's pace, +though doubtless going at the rate of thirty miles an hour, and +was enveloped in a minute cloud of smoke. What a lasting +impression this microscopic neatness makes on us! What is that +white puff I see down there? the smoke of a cigar? No: it is a +cloud of mist. It must be a perfect plain that we are looking +at, for we cannot distinguish between the different altitudes of +a bramble-bush and an oak a hundred years old! + +"It is one of the delights of an aeronaut to gaze on the familiar +scenes of earth from the immense height of the car of a balloon! +What earthly pleasure can compare with this! Free, calm, silent, +roving through this immense and hospitable space, where no human +form can harm me, I despise every evil power; I can feel the +pleasure of existence for the first time, for I am in full +possession, as on no other occasion, of perfect health of mind +and body. The aeronauts of the 'Geant' will scarcely condescend +to pity those miserable mortals whom they can only faintly +recognise by their gigantic works, which appear to them not more +dignified than ant-hills! + +"The sun had already set behind the purple horizon in our rear. +The atmosphere was still quite clear round the 'Geant,' although +there was a thick haze underneath, through which we could +occasionally see lights glimmering from the earth. We had +attained a sufficient altitude to be only just able to hear +noises from villages that we left beneath us, and were beginning +to enjoy the delicious calm and repose peculiar to aerial +ascents. + +"There is, however, a talk about dinner, or rather supper, and +night is now fast approaching. Every one eats with the best +possible appetite. Hams, fowls and dessert only appear to +disappear with an equal promptitude, and we quench our thirst +with bordeaux and champagne. I remind our companions of the +pigeons we brought with us, and which are hanging in a cage +outside the railing. I knew there was no danger of their flying +away, so fearlessly opened the cage. The three or four birds I +had put in the car seemed struck with terror. They flew +awkwardly towards the centre of our party, tumbling among the +plates and dishes and under our feet. It was not a case of +hunger with them, and I ought to have remembered that their +feeding time was long since past. I replaced them in their cage. + +"Meanwhile, the sun has left us for some time. Our longing gaze +followed it behind the dark clouds in the horizon, whose edges it +tipped with a glorious purple. Its last rays shone on us, and +then came a bluish-grey twilight. Suddenly we are enveloped in a +dense fog. We look around, above us. Everything has disappeared +in the mist. The balloon itself is no longer visible. We can +see nothing except the ropes which suspend us, and these are only +visible for a few feet above our heads, when they lose themselves +in the fog. We are alone with our wickerwork house in an +unfathomable vault. + +"We still ascend, however, through the compact and terrible fog, +which is so solid-looking as to seem capable of being carved into +forms with a knife. As we were without a moon, and had no light +at all, in fact, we were unable to distinguish nicely the +different shades of colour in these thick clouds. Now and then, +when the clouds seemed to be lighter, they had a bluish tinge; +but the thicker ones were dirty and muddy-looking. Dante must +have seen some like these. + +"Water trickled down our faces, hands, and clothes, and the ropes +and sides of our car. + +"The water did not fall in rain-drops or in flakes, as it +sometimes does in the tropics; but we were as completely +saturated by this heavy, penetrating mist as if we had been under +a waterfall. We still continued to traverse these rainy regions. +The thick fog which the balloon dislodged in forcing a passage +closed immediately after it. At one moment I thought I felt +something press against my cheek, which could only be compared to +the points of a thousand needles, or to floating particles of +ice. We were all of us too much absorbed with our situation to +think of the hour or of the height to which we had attained. +Suddenly the Prince of Wittgenstein, who was standing at my left +hand, cried out under his breath-- + +"'Look at the balloon, sir! look at the balloon!' + +"I raised my eyes, in company with several others, and shall +never forget the magnificent sight which awaited them. I saw the +balloon, for which I had been searching in vain a few minutes +before. It had undergone a transformation . It looked now as if +coated with silver, and floating in a pale phosphorescent +glimmer. All the ropes and cords seemed to be of new, bright, +and liquid silver, like mercury, caused by the mist which had +rested on them becoming suddenly congealed. Two luminous arcs +intervened between us, in a sea of mother-of-pearl and opal, the +lower one being the colour of red ochre and the upper one orange. +Both of them, blinding in their brilliancy, seemed about to +embrace one another. + +"'How far are they off?' thought I to myself. 'Can I touch them +with my hand, or are they separated from me by an immense space?' +We are not capable of forming ideas of perspective, floating as +we are in the midst of such a glimmering splendour. + +"Above and around us are nothing but thick fogs and enormous +black clouds, whose ragged edges and backs are relieved by a pale +silver coating. They undulate ceaselessly to and fro, and either +usurp quietly the place of others, or disappear only to be +superseded by more formidable ones. But the last ray of +reflected light has died out, and we plunge into this chaos of +dreadful forms. Monsters seem to wish to approach us, and to +envelop us in their dark embraces. One of them, on my right +hand, looks like a deformed human arm in a menacing attitude, +writhing its jagged top like a blind serpent feeling its way. +The vague monster has disappeared; but the momentary splendour +being followed by the original gloom, we plunge once more into a +darkness that can be felt. + +"The water which had collected on the balloon during its ascent +now began to take effect, and caused it to descend with such +rapidity into the dark abyss that the ballast, which was +immediately thrown overboard, was overtaken in its descent and +fell on our heads again + +"I hear exclamations and voices near me. My companions are +evidently agitated, and with good reason, too; for the lights +which we could see a long way below us approach with terrible +rapidity. We reached the earth rather quicker than we left it. + +"Suddenly we feel a dreadful shock, followed by ominous +crackings. The car has grounded. The 'Geant' has made its +descent. But in what part of the habitable globe, and under what +zone? At Meaux!" + +To employ an expression of M. Nadar's it seems that these +gentlemen never before experienced such a "knock-down blow." + +After all these preparations, all this trouble, all the energy +employed in the undertaking--sufficient, indeed, wherewith to +attempt to cross the Atlantic--to "descend at Meaux!" + +The 'Geant,' however, had its revenge. Its second ascent gave it +this revenge. We shall be as brief as possible in relating this +voyage; but the details are all so very interesting that we +regret extremely our being unable to give more than extracts from +the narrative. + +Our travellers committed themselves again to the mercy of the +air. The Emperor, following the example of a former King of +France, took considerable interest in the construction of this +aerial monster, and wished the aeronaut "Bon voyage" at starting. +The passengers endeavoured to pass the night as comfortably as +possible, having first instituted a four hours' watch, as on +board ship. + +The aerial vessel glided rapidly through the air. "We +repeatedly," said Nadar, "passed over some manufacturing centre, +whose lights were not yet extinguished. I either hailed them +with my speaking-trumpet or rang our two bells. Sometimes we +received a reply from below, in the shape of a shout, for, +although we still had no moon, the night was occasionally clear +enough for people to distinguish us; and sometimes we heard a +peal of laughter from out of the atmosphere in which we were +travelling. It was another party of aeronauts in a smaller +balloon, who left at the same time as we did, and who would +persist in keeping the 'Geant' company. We are passing over a +small town; we hear the usual shouting and the report of a gun. +Our first thoughts are--Was it loaded with shot or ball? The +inhuman brute who fired will say, 'Certainly not;' but as +balloons have often been damaged in this way, we may be confident +there was more than powder in this one. It would be +satisfactory, at any rate, if the name of the person could be +ascertained who favoured us with this welcome. But it is rather +late to make inquiries on this subject. It was between a quarter +and half-past nine o'clock when this occurred. 'The sea!' cried +Jules; 'look at the revolving lights of the lighthouses. There: +one has just disappeared: it will flash out again in a moment!' +But what is this? Before us, as far as our eyes can reach, we +distinguish faint lights, which in this case are neither lamps +nor torches. As we continue to draw nearer we get a better view +of these numerous, violent, and smoking furnaces. Loud and +ringing sounds strike on our ear at the same time. Am I right in +my conjectures? Is this not that splendid country I love more +than ever now? It must be Erquelines! And the dignified +Custom-house official, had it been possible, would have added +thereto 'Belgium!' + +"We still continue to pass over fires, forges, tall chimneys, and +coal mines at frequent intervals. Not long after we distinguish +a large town on our right hand, which, by its size and brilliant +lighting by gas, we recognise as Brussels. There could be no +mistake, for close by, more modest in size and appearance, we see +Catholic Malines. We have left it behind us. + +"Onward! Onward! Behind us the fires fade gradually away, and +disappear one after anopther. Before us nothing at present +visible. We seemed to drift on for about one hundred or one +hundred and fifty yards more. We cannot distinguish a single +point in front of us on which to fix our gaze. But we still +continue our course in silence. + +"This mournful darkness, this endless shroud, in which we can +discover neither rent nor spangle, still continues. Where are +we? Over what strange country, possessing neither cities, towns, +nor villages, are we hovering in the tomb-like silence of this +interminable darkness? We seem, indeed, to have been carried by +a puff of wind towards the west. + +"But something seems to approach us. What are those pale rays of +light which we can faintly see a long, long way before us--rays +pale and soft, quite unlike those flaming fires we have left +behind us? Surely these do not denote the presence of human +activity! As we continue to advance, these pale flakes of +light--resembling nothing so much in appearance as molten +lead--which at first were scanty and isolated, gradually expand, +and leave only narrow strips of darkness to divide them into +fantastic shapes. By their help we discovered we were passing +over the immense marshes of Holland, which extended to and lost +themselves in the hazy horizon. On our right hand we hear a deep +moan, still distant, but rapidly approaching every moment. It is +undoubtedly the rushing of the wind. A fresh breeze for five +minutes would bring us to the sea. + +"We experienced another shock not less formidable than the first. +The 'Geant' is trembling from its effects. The cable of our +first anchor has just broken like a piece of thread. We could +not hope for a better result. The violence of the wind which is +carrying us along seems to be redoubled. A bump: another and +another--then shock after shock. + +"'The second dead men!' + +"Our swift pace was shock after shock. + +"'The anchor is lost,' cries Jules; 'we are all dead men! + +"This truth is too palpable to all of us to require expressing in +so many words, for we are just commencing that furious, tearing +course called 'trailing.' + +"Our swift pace was considerably accelerated by the lower part of +the balloon, which--limp, empty, and forming nearly a third of +the whole--had been set free at the first shock, and flapped +against the distended part, acting as a sail. The shocks +continued to multiply so fast that it was impossible to count +them. The car continued to rebound from these shocks to the +height of five, ten, sometimes thirty, forty, and even fifty +feet, for all the world like an India-rubber ball from the hands +of an indefatigable player. Unfortunately, all our human +freight, terror stricken and without advice, had crowded into one +side of the car; and as this happened to be the side on which we +invariably bumped, we experienced all the worst effects of the +joltings. + +"What a dizzy whirl! What a succession of breathless shocks! +What a strain on both muscles and nerves! By the least +negligence or slip, or by the loss of presence of mind for one +moment, we should have been thrown out and dashed to atoms. + +"Every collision tries our muscles and strains our wrists or our +shoulders; and every rebound dashes us one against the other, +constituting each individual a tormentor and victim at the same +time. Our flight is so rapid that we can only distinguish an +occasional glimpse of anything. Far, far in the distance we +distinguish an isolated tree. We approach it like lightning, and +we break it as though it were a straw. + +"Two terrified horses, with manes and tails erect, endeavour to +fly from us. But we consume distances; we leave them behind +immediately. We skip over a flock of affrighted sheep in one of +our bounds. But now comes the real danger. + +"At this moment, when we were perfectly benumbed with fear, and +had lost all power of articulation, we saw a locomotive, drawing +two carriages, running along an embankment at right angles to our +course. A few more revolutions of the wheels, and it will be all +over with us, for we seem to be fated to meet with geometrical +precision at one spot! + +"What will happen? + +"Travelling at our present hurricane pace, we shall undoubtedly +lift up and overturn the machine and what it is drawing. But +shall we not be crushed ourselves? A few paces still intervene +between us and our foe, and we give vent to a shout of terror. + +"It is heard, and the locomotive answers it by a whistle, then +slackens its pace, and after seeming to hesitate an instant backs +quickly and only just in time to give us a free passage, whilst +the driver, waving his cap, salutes us with-- + +"'Look out for the wires!' + +"The caution was well timed, for we had not noticed the four +telegraph wires which we rapidly approached. We energetically +ducked our heads on seeing them, but fortunately we escaped any +more damage than having two or three of our ropes cut. These we +continued to drag after us like the tail of a ragged comet, +having the telegraph-wires and the posts which lately supported +them attached to us." + +After having been dragged thus for some time at the mercy of a +hurricane which they ought to have been able to avoid, these +aerial navigators at last got entangled in the outskirts of a +wood near Rethem, in Hanover. A few broken arms and legs paid +for their temerity in meddling with this monster, and one and all +of the passengers have reason to be thankful that it will be +unnecessary for us to proclaim their virtues and their fate in +our next chapter. + + + +Chapter X. The Necrology of Aeronautic + +We will conclude this second part by giving a brief notice of +some of those who, in the early days of aerostation, fell martyrs +to their devotion to the new cause, and sometimes victims to +their own want of foresight and their inexperience. + +First among these is Pilatre des Roziers, with whose courage and +ingenuity our readers are already familiar. After the passage of +Blanchard from England over to France this hero, who was the +first to trust himself to the wide space of the sky, resolved to +undertake the return voyage from France to England--a more +difficult feat, owing to the generally adverse character of the +winds and currents. In vain did Roziers' friends attempt to make +him understand the perils to which this enterprise must expose +him; his only reply was that he had discovered a new balloon +which united in itself all the necessary conditions of security, +and would permit the voyager to remain an unusually long time in +the air. He asked and obtained from government the sum of 40,000 +livres, in order to construct his machine. It then became clear +what sort of balloon he had contrived. He united in one machine +the two modes previously made use of in aerostation. Underneath +a balloon filled with hydrogen gas, he suspended a Montgolfiere, +or a balloon filled with hot air from a fire. It is difficult to +understand what was his precise object in making this +combination, for his ideas seem to have been confused upon the +subject. It is probable that, by the addition of a Montgolfiere, +he wished to free himself from the necessity of having to throw +over ballast when he wished to ascend and to let off this gas +when he wished to descend. The fire of the Montgolfiere might, +he probably supposed, be so regulated as to enable him to rise or +fall at will. + +This mixed system has been justly blamed. It was simply "putting +fire beside powder," said Professor Charles to Roziers; but the +latter would not listen, and depended for everything on his own +intrepidity and scientific skill of which he had already given so +many proofs. There were, perhaps, other reasons for his +unyielding obstinacy. The court that had furnished him with the +funds for the construction of the balloon pressed him, and he +himself was most ambitious to equal the achievement of Blanchard, +who was the first to cross the Channel, on the 7th of January, +1785. + +The fact was that at this time the prevailing fear in France was, +that Great Britain should bear off all the honours and profits of +aerostation before any of these had been won by France. It was +thus that with an untried machine, and under conditions the most +unfavourable for his enterprise, Roziers prepared to risk his +life in this undertaking, which was equally dangerous and +useless. + +The double balloon was alternately inflated and emptied. While +under cover it was assailed by the rats that gnawed holes in it, +and when brought out of its place it was exposed to the tempests, +so that the longer the experiment was delayed, the worse chance +there was of getting through it successfully. At length Roziers +went to Boulogne, and announced the day of his departure; but, as +if by a special Providence, his attempt was delayed by +unfavourable weather. For many weeks in succession the little +trial balloons thrown up to show the course of the wind were +driven back upon the shores of France. During all these trials +the impatient Roziers continued to chafe and torment himself. + +At last, on the 13th and 14th of June, 1785, the +Aero-Montgolfiere remained inflated, waiting a favourable moment +for departure. On the 15th at four in the morning, a little +pilot balloon that had been thrown up fell back on the spot from +which it had been thrown free, thus showing that there was no +wind. Seven hours later Roziers, accompanied by his brother +Romain, one of the constructors of the balloon, appeared in the +gallery. A nobleman present threw a purse of 200 louis into the +car, and was preparing to follow it and join in the adventure. +Roziers forbade him to enter, gently but firmly. + +"The experiment is too unsafe," he said, "for me to expose to +danger the life of another." + +"Finally," says a narrative of the time, "the Aero-Montgolfiere +rose in an imposing manner. The sound of cannon signalised the +departure, the voyagers saluted the crowd, who responded with +loud shouts. The balloon advanced until it began to traverse the +sea, and every one with eyes fixed upon the fragile machine, +regarded it with fear. It had traversed upwards of a league of +its journey, and had reached the height of 700 feet above sea +level, when a wind from the west drove it back toward the shore, +after having been twenty-seven minutes in the air. + +"At this moment the crowd beneath perceived that the voyagers +were showing signs of alarm. They seemed suddenly to lower the +grating of the Montgolfiere. But it was too late. A violet +flame appeared at the top of the balloon, then spread over the +whole globe, and enveloped the Montgolfiere and the voyagers. +"The unfortunate men were suddenly precipitated from the clouds +to the earth, in front of the Tour de Croy, upwards of a league +from Boulogne, and 300 feet from the sea beach. + +"The dead body of Roziers was found burnt in the gallery, many of +the bones being broken. His brother was still breathing, but he +was not able to speak, and in a few minutes he expired." + +De Maisonfort, who, against his own will, was left on the earth, +was witness of this sad event. He has given the following +explanation of it:-- + +"Some minutes after their departure the voyagers were assailed by +contrary winds, which drove them back again upon the land. It is +probable that then, in order to descend and seek a more +favourable current of air, which would take them out again to +sea, Roziers opened the valve of the gas balloon; but the cord +attached to this valve was very long, it worked with difficulty, +and the friction which it occasioned tore the valve. The stuff +of the balloon, which had suffered much from many preliminary +attempts, and from other causes, was torn to the extent of +several yards, and the valve fell down inside the balloon, which +at once emptied itself." + +According to this narrative, there was no conflagration of the +gas in the middle of the atmosphere, nor is it stated precisely +whether the grating of the Montgolfiere was lighted. + +Maisonfort ran to the spot when the travellers fell, found them +covered with the cloth of the balloon, and occupying the same +positions which they had taken up on departing. + +By a sad chance, that seems like irony, they were thrown down +only a few paces from the monument which marks the spot where +Blanchard descended. At the present day Frenchmen going to +England via Calais do not fail to visit at the forest of Guines +the monument consecrated to the expedition of Blanchard. A few +paces from this monument the cicerone will point out with his +finger the spot where his rivals expired. + +"Such was the end of the first of aeronauts, and the most +courageous of men," says a contemporaneous historian. "He died +a martyr to honour and to zeal. His kindness, amiability, and +modesty endeared him to all who knew him. She who was dearest to +him--a young English lady, who boarded at a convent at Boulogne, +and whom he had first met only a few days prior to his last +ascent--could not support the news of his death. Horrible +convulsions seized her and she expired, it is said, eight days +after the dreadful catastrophe. Roziers died at the age of +twenty-eight and a half years." + +Olivari perished at Orleans on the 25th of November, 1802. He +had ascended in a Montgolfiere made of paper, strengthened only +by some bands of cloth. His car, made of osiers, and loaded with +combustible matter, was suspended below the grating; and when at +a great elevation it became the prey of the flames. The +aeronaut, thus deprived of his support, fell, at the distance of +a league from the spot from which he had risen. + +Mosment made his last ascent at Lille on the 7th of April, 1806. +His balloon was made of silk, and was filled with hydrogen gas. +Ten minutes after his departure he threw into the air a parachute +with which he had provided himself. It is supposed that the +oscillations consequent on the throwing off of the parachute were +the cause of they aeronaut's fall. Some pretend that Mosment had +foretold his death, and that it was caused by a willful +carelessness. However this may be, the balloon continued its +flight alone, and the body of the aeronaut was found partly +buried in the sand of the fosse which surrounds the town. + +Bittorff made a great many successful ascents. He never used any +machine but the Montgolfiere. At Manheim, on the 17th of July, +the day of his death his balloon, which was of paper, sixteen +metres in diameter, and twenty in height, took fire in the air, +and the aeronaut was thrown down upon the town. His fall was +mortal. + +Harris, an old officer of the English navy, together with another +English aeronaut, named Graham, had made a great many ascents. +He conceived the idea of constructing a balloon upon an original +plan; but his alterations do not seem to have been improvements. +In May, 1824, he attempted an ascent from London, which had much +apparent success, but which terminated fatally. When at a great +elevation, it seems, the aeronaut, wishing to descend, opened the +valve. It had not been well constructed, and after being opened +it would not close again. The consequent loss of gas brought the +balloon down with great force. Harris lost his life with the +fall; but the young lady who had accompanied him received only a +trifling wound. + +Sadler, a celebrated English aeronaut, who, in one of his many +experiments, had crossed the Irish Channel between Dublin and +Holyhead, lost his life miserably near Bolton, on the 28th of +September, 1824. Deprived of his ballast, in consequence of his +long sojourn in the air, and forced at last to descend, at a late +hour, upon a number of high buildings, the wind drove him +violently against a chimney. The force of the shock threw him +out of his car, and he fell to the earth and died. His prudence +and knowledge were unquestionable, and his death is to be +ascribed alone to accident. It was an aerial shipwreck. + +Cocking had gone up twice in Mr. Green's balloon as a simple +amateur. He took it into his head to go up a third time. He +wished to attempt a descent in a parachute of his own +construction, which he believed was vastly superior to the +ordinary one. He altered the form altogether, though that form +had been proved to be satisfactory. In place of a concave +surface, supporting itself on a volume of air, Cocking used an +inverted cone, of an elaborate construction, which, instead of +supporting him in the air, only accelerated his fall. Unhappily, +Green participated in this experiment. The two made an ascent +from Vauxhall, on the 27th of September, 1836, Green having +suspended Cocking's wretched contrivance from the car of his +balloon. Cocking held on by a rope, and at the height of from +1,000 to 1,200 feet the amateur, with his patent parachute, were +thrown off from the balloon. A moment afterwards Green was +soaring away safely in his machine, but Cocking was launched into +eternity. + +"The descent was so rapid," says one who witnessed it, "that the +mean rate of the fall was not less than twenty yards a second. +In less than a minute and a half the unfortunate aeronaut was +thrown to the earth, and killed by the fall." + +Madame Blanchard, thinking to improve upon Garnerin, who had +decorated the balloon which ascended in celebration of the +coronation of Napoleon I. with coloured lights, fixed fireworks +instead to hers. A wire rope ten yards long was suspended to her +car; at the bottom of this wire rope was suspended a broad disc +of wood, around which the fireworks were ranged. These consisted +of Bengal and coloured lights. On the 6th of July, 1819, there +was a great fete at Tivoli, and a multitude had assembled around +the balloon of Madame Blanchard. Cannon gave the signal of +departure, and soon the fireworks began to show themselves. The +balloon rose splendidly, to the sound of music and the shoutings +of the people. A rain of gold and thousands of stars fell from +the car as it ascended. A moment of calm succeeded, and then to +the eyes of the spectators, still fixed on the balloon, an +unexpected light appeared. This light did not come from under +the balloon, where the crown of fireworks was already +extinguished, but shone in the car itself. It was evident that +the lady aeronaut, although now so high above the spectators, was +busy about something. The light increased, then disappeared +suddenly; then appeared again, and showed itself finally at the +summit of the balloon, in the form of an immense jet of gas. The +gas with which the balloon was inflated had taken fire, and the +terrible glare which the light threw around was perceived from +the boulevards, and all the Quartier Montmartre. + +It was at this moment--a frightful one for those who perceived +what had taken place--that a general sentiment of satisfaction +and admiration among the spectators found vent in cries of +"Brava! Vive Madame Blanchard!" &c. The people thought the lady +was giving them an unexpected treat. Meantime, by the light of +the flame, the balloon was seen gradually to descend. It +disappeared when it reached the houses, like a passing meteor, or +a train of fire which a blast of wind suddenly extinguishes. A +number of workmen and other persons, who had perceived that some +accident had taken place, ran in the direction in which the +balloon appeared to descend. They arrived at a house in the Rue +de Provence. On the roof of this house the balloon had fallen, +and the unfortunate Madame Blanchard, thrown out of the car by +the shock, was killed by her fall to the earth. + +This news spread rapidly from Tivoli, where it occasioned a +stupefying surprise. It was the first time that a fall of the +kind had taken place from the sky at Paris. Fireworks were from +this time discontinued, the fete came to an end, and a +subscription was rapidly organised, producing some thousands of +francs, which shortly afterwards were employed in erecting a +monument to the lady, which is now to be seen in the cemetery of +Pere-la-Chaise. + +Madame Blanchard had wished to surpass the ordinary spectacle of +an aerial ascent; she had really prepared a SURPRISE for the +spectators. She had prepared and she took with her a small +parachute of about two yards in diameter. After the extinction +of the crown or star of fireworks, she intended to throw this +little parachute loose; and as it was terminated by another +supply of fireworks, it was supposed that the effect would be as +beautiful as surprising. + +The unhappy lady was small in stature, and very light, and +unfortunately made use of a very small balloon. That of the 6th +of July, 1819, was only seven metres in diameter; and to make it +ascend with the weight it carried it had to be filled to the neck +with inflammable air. In quitting the earth some of this gas +escaped, and rising above the balloon, formed a train like one of +powder, which would certainly flash into a blaze the moment it +came in contact with the fire. But on this day it was she who +with her own hand fired this train. At the moment when, +detaching the little parachute from her car, she took the light +for the fireworks in her other hand, she crossed this train with +the light and set it on fire. Then the brave woman, throwing +away the parachute and the match, strove to close the mouth of +the balloon, and to stifle the fire. These efforts being +unavailing, Madame Blanchard was distinctly seen to sit down in +her car and await her fate. + +The burning of the hydrogen lasted several minutes, during which +time the balloon gradually descended. Had it not been that it +struck on the roof of the house Madame Blanchard would have been +saved. At the moment of the shock she was heard to cry out, "A +moi." These were her last words. The car, going along the roof +of the house, was caught by an iron bar and overturned, and the +lady was thrown head foremost upon the pavement. + +When she reached the ground she immediately expired. Her head +and shoulders were slightly burnt, otherwise she exhibited no +marks of the fire which had destroyed the balloon. + + + +PART III. Scientific Experiments--Applications of Ballooning. + +Chapter I. Experiments of Robertson, Lhoest, Saccarof, &c. + +Robertson is regarded by many as a sort of mountebank; yet such +men as Arago have put themselves to the trouble of examining the +aerostatic feats of this aeronaut, and of examining the results +of his observations. + +"The savant Robertson," says Arago, "performed at Hamburg on the +18th of July, 1803, with his countryman, Lhoest, the first +aeronautic voyage from which science has been able to draw useful +deductions. The two aeronauts remained suspended in the air +during five hours, and came down near Hanover, twenty-five +leagues from the spot from which they set off." + +The first time that Robertson appears in the annals of +aerostation is in 1802, on the occasion of the sale of the +balloon used at the battle of Fleurus, of which mention will be +made in the chapter on military aerostation. But three years +previously he had been instructed to make a balloon of an +original form, which should ascend in honour of the Turkish +ambassador at the garden of Tivoli. The fete was completely +successful. Turks, Chinese, Persians, and Bedouins will always +be welcome, as on this occasion, at Paris, appearing as they do +only at rare intervals, and for a short time. + +The fete took place on the 2nd of July. Robertson presented +himself at the house of Esseid-Ali, to obtain his autograph. The +Turkish ambassador willingly granted the request, and wrote his +name in letters, each of which was two inches in height, on a +sheet of paper. He then offered the aeronaut coffee and comfits, +and promised to be present to witness the balloon ascent. His +name was painted in large characters on a balloon fifteen feet in +diameter, and on the form of which was the figure of a crescent. +The experiment delighted the ambassador, and was well received by +the public. + +Jacques Garnerin, when he came to make his debut as an aeronaut, +made an attempt with the parachute, the following August, at the +garden of the Hotel de Biron. The ambassador was asked to honour +the fete, but he declined, saying that he had "made up his mind +that man was not intended for flying--Mahomet had not so willed +it." + +Of one of Robertson's more interesting ascents he himself has +left us the following sketch:-- + +"I rose in the balloon at nine a.m., accompanied by my +fellow-student and countryman, M. Lhoest. We had 140 lbs. of +ballast. The barometer marked twenty-eight inches; the +thermometer sixteen degrees Reaumur. In spite of some slight +wind from the north-west, the balloon mounted so perpendicularly +that in all the streets each of the spectators believed we were +mounting straight up above his head. In order to quicken our +ascent I discharged a parachute made of silk, and weighted in a +way to prevent oscillations. The parachute descended at the rate +of two feet per second, and its descent was uniform. From the +moment when the barometer began to sink we became very careful of +our ballast, as we wished to test from experience the different +temperatures through which we were about to pass. + +"At 10.15, the barometer was at nineteen inches, and the +thermometer at three above zero. We now felt all the +inconvenience of an extremely rarefied atmosphere coming upon us, +and we commenced to arrange some experiments in atmospheric +electricity. Our first attempts did not succeed. We threw over +part of our ballast, and mounted up till the cold and the +rarefaction of the air became very troublesome. During our +experiments we experienced an illness throughout our whole +system. Buzzing in the cars commenced, and went on increasing. +The pain we felt was like that which one feels when he plunges +his head in water. Our chests seemed to be dilated, and failed +in elasticity. My pulse was quickened, M. Lhoest's became +slower; he had, like me, swelled lips and bleeding eyes; the +veins seemed to come out more strongly on the hands. The blood +ran to the head, and occasioned a feeling as if our hats were too +tight. The thermometer continued to descend, and, as we ascended, +our illness increased, and we could with difficulty keep awake. +Fearing that my travelling companion might go to sleep, I +attached a cord to my thigh and to ]his, and we held the +extremities of the cord in our hands. Thus trammelled, we had to +commence the experiments which I had proposed to make. + +"At this elevation, the glass, the brimstone, and the Spanish wax +were not electrified in a manner to show any signs under +friction--at least, I obtained no electricity from the conductors +or the electrometer. + +"I had in my car a voltaic pile, consisting of sixty +couples--silver and zinc. It worked very well on the occasion of +our departure from the earth, and gave, without the condenser, +one degree to the electrometer. At our great elevation, the pile +gave only five-sixths of a degree to the same electrometer. The +galvanic flame seemed more active at this elevation than on the +earth. + +"I took two birds with me on coming into the balloon--one of +these was now dead, the other appeared stupefied. After having +placed it upon the brink of the gondola, I tried to frighten it +to make it take to flight. It moved its wings, but did not leave +the spot; then I left it to itself, and it fell perpendicularly +and with great rapidity. Birds are certainly not able to +maintain themselves at such elevations. + +"It is notable that the atmosphere, which was of a perfect purity +near the earth, was grey and misty above our heads, and the +beautiful blue sky seen from the surface did not exist for us, +although the weather was calm and serene, and the day the most +beautiful that could be. The sun did not seem dazzling to us, +and its heat was diminished owing to our elevation. + +"At half-past eleven, the balloon was no longer visible from +Hamburg. The heavens were so pure beneath us that everything was +distinctly seen by us, though very much diminished by distance. +At 11.40, the town of Hamburg seemed only a red point in our +eyes; the Elbe looked like a straight ribbon. I wished to make +use of an opera-glass, but what surprised me was that when I +lifted it up it was so cold that I had to wrap my handkerchief +around it to enable me to hold it. + +"Not being able to support our position any longer, we descended, +after having used up much gas and ballast. Our descent caused +that degree of terror among the inhabitants which the size of our +balloon was calculated to inspire in a country where such +machines had never before been seen. We descended above a poor +village called Radenburg, a place amid the heaths of Hanover. +Our appearance caused great alarm, and even the beasts of the +field fled from us. + +"While our balloon rapidly approached the earth, we waved our +hats and flags, and shouted to the inhabitants, but our voices +only increased their terror. The villagers rushed away with +cries of terror, leaving their herds, whose bellowings increased +the general alarm. When the balloon touched the ground, every man +had shut himself up in his own house. Having appealed in vain, +and fearing that the villagers might do us some injury, we +resolved to re-ascend. + +"In making this second ascent, we threw over all our ballast; but +in this we were imprudent, for after sailing about at a great +height, and having lost much gas, I perceived that our descent +would be very rapid, and to provide against accident, I gathered +together all the instruments, the bread, the ropes, and even such +money as we had with us, and placed them in three sacks, to which +I attached a rope of a hundred feet in length. This precaution +saved us a shock. The weight, amounting to thirty pounds, +reached the ground before us, and the balloon, thus lightened, +came softly to the ground between Wichtenbech and Hanover, after +having run twenty-five leagues in five and a half hours." + +After this ascent Robertson became acquainted with some savants +of Hamburg, and amongst others with Professor Pfaff, who was +interested in aerial travelling as a means of settling certain +meteorological problems. Some days after Robertson's ascent, the +professor wrote to him-- + +"You speak of a certain height at which the hydrogen gas will +find itself in equilibrium in the air of the atmosphere. I +believe that this height is the extremity of the atmosphere +itself; for as the gas has an elasticity much greater than that +of the air, it will go on dilating as it mounts into the higher +regions of the atmosphere, and its specific weight will diminish +as the weight of atmospheric air diminishes; and it will not +cease to mount until it rises above the atmosphere itself, if two +conditions be completely fulfilled--1, the condition that the gas +may be allowed to dilate without leaving the balloon as it rises; +2, the condition that the gas shall not be allowed to mix at all +with the atmospheric air." + +Another ascent was arranged for the 14th of August, in which +Robertson was to be accompanied by the professor, but the latter, +yielding to the entreaties of his family, did not go. "I went up +with my friend Lhoest," says Robertson, "at forty-two minutes +past twelve midday. In a minute or two we rose up between two +masses of cloud, which seemed to open up and offer us a passage. +The upper surfaces of these clouds are not uniformly level, like +the under sides seen from the earth, but they are of a conical or +pyramidal shape. These imposing masses seem to precipitate +themselves upon the earth, as if to engulf it, but this optical +illusion was due to the apparent immobility of the balloon, which +at the moment was rising at the rate of about twenty feet per +second. + +"The fear of losing the view of the Baltic, which we perceived +between the clouds at intervals, obliged us to renounce the +project of rising as high as on the last occasion. The barometer +was at fifteen inches, and the thermometer one degree below zero, +when I let off two pigeons. + +"One descended in a diagonal direction, its wings half open but +not moving, with a swiftness which seemed that of a fall. The +other flew for an instant, and then placed itself upon the car, +and did not wish to quit us. Acting on the hint of Dr. Reimarus, +I tried the same experiment with butterflies, but the air was too +much rarefied for them; they attempted in vain to raise +themselves by their wings, but they did not forsake the car. + +"The wind continuing to carry me towards the sea, I resolved to +bring my observations to an end. I effected my descent in a +meadow, near the village of Rehorst, in Holstein, after having +run sixteen leagues from France in sixty-five minutes." + +At the commencement of the year 1804, Laplace, at the Institute, +proposed to take advantage of the means offered by aerostation to +verify at great heights certain scientific points--as, for +example, those which concern magnetism. This proposition was made +at a favourable time, and was, so far, carried out in the best +possible way. The aeronauts who were appointed to carry out the +expedition were Biot and Gay-Lussac, the most enthusiastic +aeronauts of the period. + +The following is their report:-- + +"We observed the animals we had with us at all the different +heights, and they did not appear to suffer in any manner. For +ourselves, we perceived no effect any more then a quickening of +the pulse. At 10,000 feet above the ground we set a little +green-finch at liberty. He flew out at once, but immediately +returning, settled upon our cordage; afterwards, setting out +again, he flew to the earth, describing a very tortuous line in +his passage. We followed him with our eyes till he was lost in +the clouds. A pigeon, which we set free at the same elevation, +presented a very curious spectacle. Placed at liberty on the +edge of the car, he remained at rest for a number of instants, as +if measuring the length of his flight; then he launched himself +into space, flying about irregularly, as if to try his wings. +Afterwards he began his descent regularly, sweeping round and +round in great circles, ever reaching lower, until he also was +lost in the clouds." + +As to the voyagers themselves, this is how they speak of their +situation at the height of 3,000 yards:-- + +"About this elevation we observed our animals. They did not +appear to suffer from the rarity of the air, yet the barometer +was at twenty inches eight lines.. We were much surprised that +we did not suffer from the cold; on the contrary, the sun warmed +us much. We had thrown aside the gloves which had been put on +board, and which were of no use to us. Our pulses were very +quick; that of M. Gay-Lussac, which is 62 in the minute on +ordinary occasions, now gave 80; and mine, which is ordinarily +89, gave 111. This acceleration was felt by both of us in nearly +the same proportion. Nevertheless, our respiration was in no way +interfered with, we experienced no illness, and our situation +seemed to us extremely agreeable." + +The following is their report to the Galvanic Society-- + +"We have known for a long time that no animal can with safety +pass into an atmosphere much more dense or much more rare than +that to which it has been accustomed. In the first case it +suffers from the outer air, which presses upon it severely; in +the second case there are liquids or fluids in the animal's body +which, being less pressed against than they should be, become +dilated, and press against their coverings or channels. In both +cases the symptoms are nearly the same--pain, general illness, +buzzing in the ears, and even haemorrhage. The experience of the +diving-bell has long made us familiar with what aeronauts suffer. +Our colleague (Robertson), and his companion, have experienced +these effects in great intensity. They had swelled lips, their +eyes bled, their veins were dilated, and, what is very +remarkable, they both preserved a brown or red tinge which +astonished those that had seen them before they made the ascent. +This distension of the blood-vessels would necessarily produce an +inconvenience and a difficulty in the muscular action." + + + +Chapter II. Ascent of M. Gay-Lussac Alone--Excursions of MM. +Barral and Bixio. + +Respecting this ascent, Arago states that M. Gay-Lussac has +reduced to their proper value the narratives of the physical +pains which aeronauts say they suffer in lofty aerial ascents. + +M. Gay-Lussac says:--"Having arrived at the most elevated point +of my ascent, 21,000 feet above sea level, my respiration was +rendered sensibly difficult, but I was far from experiencing any +illness of a kind to make me descend. My pulse and my breathing +were very quick; breathing very frequently in an extremely dry +atmosphere, I should not have been surprised if my throat had +been so dry as to make it painful to swallow bread." + +After having finished his observations, which referred chiefly to +the magnetic needle, with all the tranquillity of a doctor in his +study, Gay-Lussac descended to the earth between Rouen and +Dieppe, eighty leagues from Paris. + +After the names of Robertson, Gay-Lussac, and Biot, science has +registered those of Barral and Bixio, two men whose aeronautic +achievements have enriched meteorology with more important +discoveries, perhaps, than any we have yet mentioned. + +These gentlemen had conceived the project of rising by means of a +balloon to a great height, in order to study, with the assistance +of the very best instruments in use in their day, a multitude of +phenomena then imperfectly known. The subjects to which they +were specially to direct their attention, were the law of the +decrease of temperature in progress upwards, the discovery of +whether the chemical composition of the atmosphere is the same +throughout all its parts, the comparison of the strength of the +solar rays in the higher regions of the atmosphere and on the +surface of the earth, the ascertaining whether the light +reflected and transmitted by the clouds is or is not polarised, +&c. + +All the preparations having been made in the garden of the +Observatory at Paris, the ascent took place on the 29th of June, +1850, at 10.27 a.m., the balloon being filled with hydrogen gas. +The first ascent was a signal failure. It was found that the +weather being bad, the envelope of the balloon was torn in +several places, and had to be mended in all haste. Immediately +preceding the moment of ascent, a torrent of rain fell. But the +voyagers were determined to ascend. They placed themselves in +the car, and, when thrown off from the fastenings, they rose +through the air with the speed of an arrow. The height to which +the balloon reached made it suddenly dilate, and the network, +which was much too small, was stretched to the utmost. The +balloon was forced down upon them by the dilation, and one of +them, in the endeavour to work the valve, made a rent in the +lower part of the globe, from which the gas escaping almost over +the heads of the travellers, nearly choked them. The escape of +the gas had the usual result--the balloon descended rapidly, and +fell in a vineyard near Lugny, where they were found by the +peasants holding on to the trees by their legs and arms, and thus +attempting to stop the horizontal advance of the car. They had +risen to the height of over 17,000 feet, and they had descended +from this height in from four to five minutes. + +For all practical purposes, the ascent was a failure, and the +aeronauts immediately commenced preparations for a new voyage, +which took place a month afterwards. They rose to very great +altitudes, but experienced no illness from the rarefied air. M. +Bixio did not feel the sharp pains in the ears from which he had +suffered on the former occasion. They passed through a mass of +cloud 15,000 feet in thickness, and they had not yet passed quite +through it, when at the height of over 21,000 feet from the +ground, they began to descend, their descent being caused by a +rent in the envelope of the balloon, from which the gas escaped. +They might, in throwing out the last of their ballast, have, +perhaps, prolonged for a little their sojourn in space, but the +circumstances in which they were placed did not permit them to +make many more scientific observations than those they had made, +and thus they were obliged to submit to their fate. When they +had reached their greatest height, there seemed to open up in the +midst of the vaporous mass a brilliant space, from which they +could see the blue of heaven. The polariscope, directed towards +this region, showed an internal polarisation, but, when pointed +to the side where the mist still prevailed, there was no +polarisation. + +An optical phenomenon of a remarkable kind was witnessed when the +voyagers had attained their highest point. They saw the sun +through the upper mists, looking quite white, as if shorn of its +strength; and, at the same time, below the horizontal plane, +below their horizon, and at an angular distance from the plane +equal to that of the sun above it, they saw a second sun, which +resembled the reflection of the actual sun in a sheet of water. +It is natural to suppose that the second sun was formed by the +reflection of the sun's rays upon the horizontal faces of the ice +crystals floating in this high cloud. + + + +Chapter III. Ascents of the Mssrs. Welsh, Glaisher and Coxwell. + +The most recent balloon ascents in England deserving attention +have been undertaken for scientific objects, and in this country, +more than in any other, it may be said that the conquest of the +air has been made to serve a practical end. + +In July, 1852, the Committee of the Kew Observatory resolved to +undertake a number of balloon voyages. This resolution was +approved of by the British Association for the Advancement of +Science, and the necessary instruments for making a number of +meteorological observations were prepared. The balloon employed +was that of Mr. Green, who was accompanied in his ascents by Mr. +Welsh. The greatest height to which Mr. Welsh rose was on the +fourth ascent which took place on the 10th of November, 1852. +The balloon rose 22,930 feet, and the lowest temperature observed +was 26 degrees below zero. + +It is to Mr. Glaisher and Mr. Coxwell, however, that the highest +honours of scientific aerostation belong. The ascents made by +these gentlemen--Mr. Glaisher being the scientific observer, and +Mr. Coxwell the practical aeronaut--have become matters of +history. Not only did they, in the course of a large number of +ascents undertaken under the auspices of the British Association, +succeed in gathering much valuable meteorological information, +but they reached a greater height than that ever gained on any +previous or subsequent occasion, and penetrated into that distant +region of the skies in which it has been satisfactorily proved +that no life can be long maintained. It was on the 5th of +September, 1862,that Mr. Glaisher and Mr. Coxwell made the famous +ascent in which they reached the greatest height ever attained by +an aeronaut, and were so nearly sacrificed to their unselfish +daring. Mr. Glaisher has given an admirable account of this +ascent, which took place from Wolverhampton. He says:--"Our +ascent had been delayed, owing to the unfavourable state of the +weather. It commenced at three minutes past one p.m., the +temperature of the air being 59 degrees, and the dew-point 48 +degrees. At the height of one mile the temperature was 41 +degrees and the dew-point 38 degrees. Shortly after wards clouds +were entered of about 1,100 feet in thickness. Upon emerging +from them at seventeen minutes past one, I tried to take a view +of their surface with the camera, but the balloon was ascending +too rapidly and spiraling too quickly to allow me to do so. The +height of two miles was reached at twenty-one minutes past one. +The temperature of the air had fallen to 32 degrees and the +dew-point to 26 degrees. The third mile was passed at +twenty-eight minutes past one, with an air temperature of 18 +degrees, and a dew-point of 13 degrees. The fourth mile was +passed at thirty-nine minutes past one, with an air temperature +of 8 degrees, and a dew-point of minus 6 degrees and the fifth +mile about ten minutes later, with an air temperature minus 5 +degrees, and a dew-point minus 36 degrees. + +"Up to this time I had experienced no particular inconvenience. +When at the height of 26,000 feet I could not see the fine column +of the mercury in the tube; then the fine divisions on the scale +of the instrument became invisible. At that time I asked Mr. +Coxwell to help me to read the instruments, as I experienced a +difficulty in seeing them. In consequence of the rotary motion of +the balloon, which had continued without ceasing since the earth +was left, the valve line had become twisted, and he had to leave +the car, and to mount into the ring above to adjust it. At that +time I had no suspicion of other than temporary inconvenience in +seeing. Shortly afterwards I laid my arm upon the table, +possessed of its full vigour; but directly after, being desirous +of using it, I found it powerless. It must have lost its power +momentarily. I then tried to move the other arm, but found it +powerless also. I next tried to shake myself, and succeeded in +shaking my body. I seemed to have no legs. I could only shake +my body. I then looked at the barometer, and whilst I was doing +so my head fell on my left shoulder. I struggled, and shook my +body again, but could not move my arms. I got my head upright, +but for an instant only, when it fell on my right shoulder; and +then I fell backwards, my back resting against the side of the +car, and my head on its edge. In that position my eyes were +directed towards Mr. Coxwell in the ring. When I shook my body +I seemed to have full power over the muscles of the back, and +considerable power over those of the neck, but none over my +limbs. As in the case of the arms, all muscular power was lost +in an instant from my back and neck. I dimly saw Mr. Coxwell in +the ring, and endeavoured to speak, but could not do so; when in +an instant intense black darkness came over me, and the optic +nerve lost power suddenly. I was still conscious, with as active +a brain as whilst writing this. I thought I had been seized with +asphyxia, and that I should experience no more, as death would +come unless we speedily descended. Other thoughts were actively +entering my mind when I suddenly became unconscious, as though +going to sleep. I could not tell anything about the sense of +hearing: the perfect stillness of the regions six miles from the +earth--and at that time we were between six and seven miles +high--is such that no sound reaches the ear. My last observation +was made at 29,000 feet, about fifty-four minutes past one. I +suppose two or three minutes elapsed between my eyes becoming +insensible to seeing the fine divisions and fifty-four minutes +past one, and that other two or three minutes elapsed before I +became unconscious; therefore I think that took place about +fifty-six or fifty-seven minutes past one. Whilst powerless I +heard the words 'temperature,' and 'observation,' and I knew Mr. +Coxwell was in the car, speaking to me, and endeavouring to rouse +me; and therefore consciousness and hearing had returned. I then +heard him speak more emphatically, but I could not speak or move. +Then I heard him say, 'Do try; now do!' Then I saw the +instruments dimly, next Mr. Coxwell, and very shortly I saw +clearly. I rose in my seat and looked round, as though waking +from sleep, and said to Mr. Coxwell, 'I have been insensible.' He +said, 'Yes; and I too, very nearly.' I then drew up my legs, +which had been extended out before me, and took a pencil in my +hand to note my observations. Mr. Coxwell informed me that he +had lost the use of his hands, which were black, and I poured +brandy over them. I resumed my observations at seven minutes +past two. I suppose three or four minutes were occupied from the +time of my hearing the words 'temperature' and 'observation,' +until I began to observe. If so, then returning consciousness +came at four minutes past two, and that gives about seven minutes +of total insensibility. Mr. Coxwell told me that in coming from +the ring he thought for a moment that I had laid back to rest +myself; that he spoke to me without eliciting a reply; that he +then noticed that my legs projected, and my arms hung down by my +side. That my countenance was serene and placid, without +earnestness or anxiety, he had noticed before going into the +ring. It then struck him that I was insensible. He wished then +to approach me, but could not, and he felt insensibility coming +over himself. He became anxious to open the valve, but, in +consequence of having lost the use of his hands, he could not; +and ultimately he did so by seizing the cord with his teeth and +dipping his head two or three times. No inconvenience followed +our insensibility. When we dropped it was in a country where no +accommodation of any kind could be obtained, so that we had to +walk between seven and eight miles. At the time of ceasing our +observations the ascent was at the rate of 1,000 feet per minute, +and on resuming observations the descent was at the rate of 2,000 +feet per minute. These two positions must be connected, having +relation to the interval of time which elapsed between them; and +they can scarcely be connected at a point less than 36,000 or +37,000 feet high. Again, a very delicate minimum thermometer was +found to read minus 12 degrees, and that reading would indicate +an elevation exceeding 36,000 feet. There cannot be any doubt +that the balloon attained the great height of seven miles--the +greatest ever reached. In this ascent six pigeons were taken up. +One was thrown out at three miles. It extended its wings, and +dropped like a piece of paper. A second at four miles, and it +flew with vigour. A third between four and five miles, and it +fell downwards. A fourth was thrown out at four miles in +descending, and it alighted on the top of the balloon. Two were +brought to the ground. One was dead, and the other was ill, but +recovered so as to fly away in a quarter of an hour." + +The results gathered by Mr. Glaisher from his numerous ascents +are very interesting. He found that in no instance did the +temperature of the air decrease uniformly with the increase of +height. In fact, the decrease in the first mile is double that +in the second, and nearly four times as great as the change of +temperature in the fifth mile. The distribution of aqueous +vapour in the air is no less remarkable. The temperature of the +dew-point on leaving the earth decreases less rapidly than the +temperature of the air; so that the difference between the two +temperatures becomes less and less, till the vapour or cloud +plane is reached, when they are usually together, and always most +nearly approach each other, and that point is usually at about +the height of one mile. On leaving the upper surface of cloud, +the dew point decreases more rapidly than the air, and at +extremely high situations the difference between the two +temperatures is wonderfully great, indicating an extraordinary +degree of dryness, and an almost entire absence of water. Under +these circumstances, the presence of cirrus clouds far above this +dry region, apparently as much above as when viewed from the +earth, is very remarkable, and leads to the conclusion that they +are not composed of water. + +In the propagation of sound, M. Glaisher made many curious +experiments. In one ascent (July 17th) he found, when at a +distance of 11,800 feet above the earth, that a band was heard; +at a height of 22,000 feet, a clap of thunder was heard; and at a +height of 10,070 feet, the report of a gun was heard. On one +occasion, he heard the dull hum of London at a height of 9,000 +feet above the city, and on another occasion, the shouting of +many thousands of persons could not be heard at the height of +4,000 feet. + + + +Chapter IV. Balloons Made Useful in Warfare. + +Wars of the French Republic--Company of "Ballooneers"--Battle of +Fleurus--The Balloons of Egypt--Napoleon--Modern Services War in +Italy--War in America--Conclusion. + +We will conclude our work with a glance at aerostation as applied +to warfare. Scarcely had the first ascents astonished the world, +than the more adventurous spirits began to use the new discovery +for a thousand purposes directly useful to man. The first point +of view in which aerostation was regarded, was in that of its +practical utility If one refers to the pre-occupations of the +time--to the great events then occurring in the history of +France, one will easily understand that the Committee of Public +Safety soon thought of employing balloons in the observation of +the forces and the movements of hostile troops. In 1794, the +idea was practically carried out, and the French armies were +provided with two companies of aeronauts. The command of one of +these companies was given to Captain Coutelle, a young physicist +of great talent, who rendered memorable services at the battle of +Fleurus. The balloons were not thrown free, but were retained +attached by means of long cords. In this way they took up, so to +speak, aerial posts of observation. Placed in his car, the +captain transmitted his instructions to his men below by means of +coloured flags. Coutelle has left us a lively narrative of +certain incidents connected with one of the grand days of the old +Republic. He had been commissioned by the Committee of Public +Safety to go to Maubeuge, where Jourdan's army was encamped, and +to offer him the use of his balloon. The representative to whom +the young doctor presented his commission, knew nothing about +balloons, and not being able to understand the order of the +Committee of Public Safety, it suddenly dawned upon him that +Coutelle, with his trumpery forgery about balloons, was nothing +else than a spy, and he was about to have him shot. The +genuineness of the order from the Committee, however, was proved, +and Coutelle's case was listened to. + +"The army was at Beaumont," says Coutelle, "and the enemy, placed +at a distance of only three miles, could attack at any moment. +The general told me this fact, and engaged me to return and +communicate it to the Committee. This I did. The Commission +then felt the necessity of making an experiment with a balloon +that could raise two persons, and the minister placed at my +service the garden and the little mansion of Meudon. Many of the +members of the Commission came to witness the first ascent of a +balloon held in hand, like a kite, by means of two cords. The +Commissioners ordered me to place myself in the car, and +instructed me as to a number of signals which I must repeat, and +observations which I must make. I raised myself to the full +length of the cord, a height of 1,500 feet, and at this height, +with the help of a glass, I could distinctly see the seven bends +of the river Seine. On returning to the earth, I received the +compliments of the Commission. + +"Arrived at Maubeuge, my first care was to find a suitable spot +to erect my furnace, and to make every preparation for the +arrival of my balloon from Meudon. Each day my observations +contained something new either in the works which the Austrians +had thrown up during the night, or in the arrangement of their +forces. On the fifth day a piece of cannon had been brought to +bear upon the balloon, and shots were fired at me as soon as I +appeared above the ramparts. None of the shots took effect, and +on the following day the piece was no longer in position. +Experience enforced upon me the necessity of forming some +provision against these unexpected attacks. I employed the night +in fixing cords all round the middle of my balloon. Each of the +aerostiers had charge of one of the ropes, and by means of them I +could easily move about, and thus get myself out of range of any +gun that had been trained to bear against me. I was afterwards +ordered to make a reconnaissance at Mayence, and I posted myself +between our lines and the enemy at half range of cannon. When +the wind, which was tempestuous at first, became calmer, I was +able to count the number of cannon on the ramparts, as well as +the troops that marched through the streets and in the squares. + +"Generally the soldiers of the enemy, all who saw the observer +watching them and taking notes, came to the idea that they could +do nothing without being seen. Our soldiers were of the same +opinion, and consequently they regarded us with great admiration +and trust. On the heavy marches they brought us prepared food +and wine, which my men were hardly able to get for themselves, so +closely did they require to attend to the ropes. We were +encamped upon the banks of the Rhine at Manheim when our general +sent me to the opposite bank to parley. As soon as the Austrian +officers were made aware that I commanded the balloon, I was +overwhelmed with questions and compliments. + +"What causes an impression which, till one is accustomed to it, +is very alarming, is the noise which the balloon makes when it is +struck by successive gales of wind. When the wind has passed, +the balloon, which has been pressed into a concave form by the +wind, suddenly resumes its globular form with a loud noise heard +at a great distance. The silk of the balloon would often burst +in a case of this kind, were it not for the restraining power of +the network." + +After the days of Coutelle we do not read that balloons were made +much use of in warfare. The only ascent in the Egypt campaign +was that of a tricolor balloon thrown up to commemorate a fete. +That Napoleon knew full well the value of the scientific +discoveries of his time is clear from the following conversation +with a learned Mohammedan, which took place in the great pyramid +of Cheops:-- + +Mussamed. "Noble successor of Alexander, honour to shine +invincible arms, and to the unexpected lightning with which your +warriors are furnished." + +Bonaparte. "Do you believe that that lightning is the work of +the children of men? Allah has placed it in our hands by means +of the genius of war." + +Mussamed. "We recognised by your arms that it is Allah that has +sent you--the Delta and all the neighbouring countries are full +of thy miracles. But would you be a conqueror if Allah did not +permit you?" + +Bonaparte. "A celestial body will point by my orders to the +dwelling of the clouds, and lightning will descend towards the +earth, along a rod of metal from which I can call it forth." + +Napoleon did not favour the use of balloons in war. Perhaps it +was because he himself had such a splendid genius for war that he +depended alone upon himself, and scorned assistance. Perhaps it +was because if balloons were discovered to be of real utility, +his enemies might make use of them as well as himself, and France +retain no special advantage in them. But however this may be, on +his return from Egypt he sold the balloon of Fleurus to +Robertson. The company of ballooneers was dissolved, and the +balloons themselves disappeared in smoke. + +During the war in America, the role which the balloon played was +a more important one. The Government of the United States +conferred the title of aeronautic engineer upon Mr. Allan, of +Rhode Island, who originated the idea of communicating by a +telegraphic wire from the balloon to the camp. The first +telegraphic message which was transmitted from the aerial regions +is that of Professor Love, at Washington, to the President of the +United States. The following is this despatch:-- + +"WASHINGTON, Balloon the 'Enterprise.' + +"SIR,--The point of observation commands an extent of nearly +fifty miles in diameter. The city, with its girdle of +encampments, presents a superb scene. I have great pleasure in +sending you this despatch--the first that has been telegraphed +from an aerial station--and to know that I should be so much +encouraged, from having given the first proof that the aeronautic +science can render great assistance in these countries." + +In the month of September, 1861, one of the most hardy aeronauts +(La Mountain) furnished important information to General +M'Clellan. The balloon of La Mountain, which arose from the +northern camp upon the Potomac, passed above Washington. La +Mountain then cut the cord that connected his balloon with the +earth, and rising rapidly to the height of a mile and a half, he +found himself directly above his enemies' lines. There he was +able to observe perfectly their position and their movements. He +then threw over ballast, and ascended to the height of three +miles. At this height he encountered a current which carried him +in the direction of Maryland, where he descended in safety. +General M'Clellan was so much satisfied with the observations +taken in the balloon, that, at his request, the order was given +to the War Department to construct four new balloons. + +If this volume of "The Library of Wonders" had not had for its +single object "balloons and their history," we would have devoted +a chapter to the numerous attempts made to steer balloons. We +shall only say here that aerial navigation should be divided into +two kinds with balloons, and without balloons. In the first +case, it is limited to the study of aerial currents, and to the +art of rising to those currents which suit the direction of the +voyage undertaken. The balloon is not the master of the +atmosphere; on the contrary, it is its powerless slave. In the +second case, the discovery of Montgolfier is useless; and the +question is, to find out a new machine capable of flying in the +air, and at the same time heavier than the air. Birds are, +without doubt, the best models to study. But with what force +shall we replace LIFE? The air-boat of M. Pline seems to us one +of the best ideas; but the working of it presents many +difficulties. Let us find a motive power at once light and +powerful (aluminium and electricity, for example), and we will +have definitively conquered the empire of the air. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg Etext of Wonderful Balloon Ascents + diff --git a/old/wonba10.zip b/old/wonba10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..677f71a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/wonba10.zip diff --git a/old/wonba11.txt b/old/wonba11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7618c7d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/wonba11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5764 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Wonderful Balloon Ascents; or the +Conquest of the Skies, by F. (Fulgence) Marion + +NOTE: The .zip file for this etext contains numerous +files of pictures from the book. + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. 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In this rude monument for ages be recorded this wondrous +enterprise successfully achieved by the powers of chemistry and +the fortitude of man, this improvement in science which the great +Author of all Knowledge, patronising by his Providence the +inventions of mankind, hath graciously permitted, to their +benefit and his own eternal glory." + +The stone upon which the above inscription was carved, stands, or +stood recently, near Collier's End, in the parish of Standon, +Hertfordshire; and it will possibly afford the English reader a +more accurate idea of the feelings with which the world hailed +the discovery of the balloon than any incident or illustration +drawn from the annals of a foreign country. + +The work which we now introduce to our readers does not +exaggerate the case when it declares that no discovery of modern +times has aroused so large an amount of enthusiasm, has excited +so many hopes, has appeared to the human race to open up so many +vistas of enterprise and research, as that for which we are +mainly indebted to the Brothers Montgolfier. The discovery or +the invention of the balloon, however, was one of those efforts +of genius and enterprise which have no infancy. It had reached +its full growth when it burst upon the world, and the ninety +years which have since elapsed have witnessed no development of +the original idea. The balloon of to-day--the balloon in which +Coxwell and Glaisher have made their perilous trips into the +remote regions of the air--is in almost every respect the same as +the balloon with which "the physician Charles," following in the +footsteps of the Montgolfiers, astonished Paris in 1783. There +are few more tantalising stories in the annals of invention than +this. So much had been accomplished when Roziers made his first +aerial voyage above the astonished capital of France that all the +rest seemed easy. The new highway appeared to have been thrown +open to the world, and the dullest imagination saw the air +thronged with colossal chariots, bearing travellers in perfect +safety, and with more than the speed of the eagle, from city to +city, from country to country, reckless of all the obstacles--the +seas, and rivers, and mountains--which Nature might have placed +in the path of the wayfarer. But from that moment to the present +the prospect which was thus opened up has remained a vision and +nothing more. There are--as those who visited the Crystal Palace +two years ago have reason to know--not a few men who still +believe in the practicability of journeying by air. But, with +hardly an exception, those few have abandoned all idea of +utilising the balloon for this purpose. The graceful "machine" +which astonished the world at its birth remains to this day as +beautiful, and as useless for the purposes of travel, as in the +first hour of its history. The day may come when some one more +fortunate than the Montgolfiers may earn the Duke of Sutherland's +offered reward by a successful flight from the Mall to the top of +Stafford House; but when this comes to pass the balloon will have +no share in the honour of the achievement. Not the less, +however, is the story of this wonderful invention worthy of being +recorded. It deserves a place in the history of human +enterprise--if for nothing else--because of the daring courage +which it has in so many cases brought to light. From the days of +Roziers down to those of Coxwell, our aeronauts have fearlessly +tempted dangers not less terrible than those which face the +soldier as he enters the imminent deadly breach; and, as one of +the chapters in this volume mournfully proves, not a few of their +number have paid the penalty of their rash courage with their +lives. All the more is it to be regretted that so little +practical good has resulted from their labours and their +sacrifices; and that so many of those who have perished in +balloon voyages have done so whilst serving to better end than +the amusement of a holiday crowd. There is, however, another +aspect which makes at least the earlier history of the balloon +well worth preserving. This is the influence which the invention +had upon the generation which witnessed it. As these pages +show, the people of Europe seem to have been absolutely +intoxicated by the success of the Montgolfiers' discovery. There +is something bitterly suggestive in our knowledge of this fact. +Whilst pensions and honours and popular applause were being +showered upon the inventors of the balloon, Watt was labouring +unnoticed at his improvements of the steam-engine--a very prosaic +affair compared with the gilded globe which Montgolfier had +caused to rise from earth amidst the acclamations of a hundred +thousand spectators, but one which had before it a somewhat +different history to that of the more startling invention. +England, when it remembers the story of the steam-engine, has +little need to grudge France the honour of discovering the +balloon. After all, however, Great Britain had its share in that +discovery. The early observations of Francis Bacon and Bishop +Wilkins paved the way for the later achievement, whilst it was +our own Cavendish who discovered that hydrogen gas was lighter +than air; and Dr. Black of Edinburgh, who first employed that gas +to raise a globe in which it was contained from the earth. The +Scotch professor, we are told, thought that the discovery which +he made when he sent his little tissue-paper balloon from his +lecture-table to the ceiling of his classroom, was of no use +except as affording the means of making an interesting +experiment. Possibly our readers, after they have perused this +volume, may think that Dr Black was not after all so far wrong as +people once imagined. Be this as it may, however, in these pages +is the history of the balloon, and of the most memorable balloon +voyages, and we comprehend the story to our readers not the less +cordially that it comes from the land where the balloon had its +birth. + +London, January, 1870. + + + +BALLOONS AND AIR JOURNEYS. + +PART I. THE CONQUEST OF THE SKIES.--1783. + +Chapter I. Introduction. + +The title of our introduction to aeronautics may appear ambitious +to astronomers, and to those who know that the infinite space we +call the heavens is for ever inaccessible to travellers from the +earth; but it was not so considered by those who witnessed the +ardent enthusiasm evoked at the ascension of the first balloon. +No discovery, in the whole range of history, has elicited an +equal degree of applause and admiration--never has the genius of +man won a triumph which at first blush seemed more glorious. The +mathematical and physical sciences had in aeronautics achieved +apparently their greatest honours, and inaugurated a new era in +the progress of knowledge. After having subjected the earth to +their power; after having made the waves of the sea stoop in +submission under the keels of their ships; after having caught +the lightning of heaven and made it subservient to the ordinary +purposes of life, the genius of man undertook to conquer the +regions of the air. Imagination, intoxicated with past +successes, could descry no limit to human power; the gates of the +infinite seemed to be swinging back before man's advancing step, +and the last was believed to be the greatest of his achievements. + +In order to comprehend the frenzy of the enthusiasm which the +first aeronautic triumphs called forth, it is necessary to recall +the appearance of Montgolfier at Versailles, on the 19th of +September, 1783, before Louis XVI, or of the earliest aeronauts +at the Tuileries. Paris hailed the first of these men with the +greatest acclaim, "and then, as now," says a French writer, "the +voice of Paris gave the cue to France, and France to the world!" +Nobles and artisans, scientific men and badauds, great and small, +were moved with one universal impulse. In the streets the +praises of the balloon were sung; in the libraries models of it +abounded; and in the salons the one universal topic was the great +"machine." In anticipation, the poet delighted himself with +bird's-eye views of the scenery of strange countries; the +prisoner mused on what might be a new way of escape; the +physicist visited the laboratory in which the lightning and the +meteors were manufactured; the geometrician beheld the plans of +cities and the outlines of kingdoms; the general discovered the +position of the enemy or rained shells on the besieged town; the +police beheld a new mode in which to carry on the secret service; +Hope heralded a new conquest from the domain of nature, and the +historian registered a new chapter in the annals of human +knowledge. + +"Scientific discoveries in general," says Arago, "even those from +which men expect the most advantage, like those of the compass +and the steam-engine, were greeted at first with contempt, or at +the best with indifference. Political events, and the fortunes +of armies monopolised almost entirely the attention of the +people. But to this rule there are two exceptions--the +discoveries of America and of aerostatics, the advents of +Columbus and of Montgolfier." It is not here our duty to inquire +how it happened that the discoveries made by these two personages +are classed together. Air-travelling may be as unproductive of +actual good to society as filling the belly with the east wind" +is to the body, while every one knows something of the extent to +which the discovery of Columbus has influenced the character, the +civilisation, the destinies, in short, of the human race. We are +speaking at present of the known and well-attested fact, that the +discovery of America and the discovery of the method of +traversing space by means of balloons--however they may differ in +respect of results to man--rank equally in this, that of all +other discoveries these two have attracted the greatest amount of +attention, and given, in their respective eras, the greatest +impulse to popular feeling. Let the reader recall the marks of +enthusiasm which the discovery of the islands on the east coast +of America excited in Andalusia, in Catalonia, in Aragon and +Castile--let him read the narrative of the honours paid by town +and village, not only to the hero of the enterprise, but even to +his commonest sailors, and then let him search the records of the +epoch for the degree of sensation produced by the discovery of +aeronautics in France, which stands in the same relationship to +this event as that in which Spain stands to the other. The +processions of Seville and Barcelona are the exact prototypes of +the fetes of Lyons and Paris. In France, in 1783, as in Spain +two centuries previously, the popular imagination was so greatly +excited by the deeds performed, that it began to believe in +possibilities of the most unlikely description. In Spain, the +conquestadores and their followers believed that in a few days +after they had landed on American soil, they would have gathered +as much gold and precious stones, as were then possessed by the +richest European Sovereigns. In France, each one following his +own notions, made out for himself special benefits to flow from +the discovery of balloons. Every discovery then appeared to be +only the precursor of other and greater discoveries, and nothing +after that time seemed to be impossible to him who attempted the +conquest of the atmosphere. This idea clothed itself in every +form. The young embraced it with enthusiasm, the old made it the +subject of endless regrets. When one of the first aeronautic +ascents was made, the old Marechal Villeroi, an octogenarian and +an invalid, was conducted to one of the windows of the Tuileries, +almost by force, for he did not believe in balloons. The +balloon, meanwhile, detached itself from its moorings; the +physician Charles, seated in the car, gaily saluted the public, +and was then majestically launched into space in his air-boat; +and at once the old Marechal, beholding this, passed suddenly +from unbelief to perfect faith in aerostatics and in the capacity +of the human mind, fell on his knees, and, with his eyes bathed +in tears, moaned out pitifully the words, "Yes, it is fixed! It +is certain! They will find out the secret of avoiding death; but +it will be after I am gone!" + +If we recall the impressions which the first air-journeys made, +we shall find that, among people of enthusiastic temperament, it +was believed that it was not merely the blue sky above us, not +merely the terrestrial atmosphere, but the vast spaces through +which the worlds move, that were to become the domain of man--the +sea of the balloon. The moon, the mysterious dwelling-place of +men unknown, would no longer be an inaccessible place. Space no +longer contained regions which man could not cross! Indeed, +certain expeditions attempted the crossing of the heavens, and +brought back news of the moon. The planets that revolve round +the sun, the far-flying comets, the most distant stars--these +formed the field which from that time was to lie open to the +investigations of man. + +This enthusiasm one can well enough understand. There is in the +simple fact of an aerial ascent something so bold and so +astonishing, that the human spirit cannot fail to be profoundly +stirred by it. And if this is the feeling of men at the present +day, when, after having been witnesses of ascents for the last +eighty years, they see men confiding themselves in a swinging car +into the immensities of space, what must have been the +astonishment of those who, for the first time since the +commencement of the world, beheld one of their fellow-creatures +rolling in space, without any other assurance of safety than what +his still dim perception of the laws of nature gave him? + +Why should we be obliged here to state that the great discovery +that stirred the spirits of men from the one end of Europe to the +other, and gave rise to hopes of such vast discoveries, should +have failed in realising the expectations which seemed so clearly +justified by the first experiments? It is now eighty-six years +since the first aerial journey astonished the world, and yet, in +1870, we are but little more advanced in the science than we were +in 1783. Our age is the most renowned for its discoveries of any +that the world has seen. Man is borne over the surface of the +earth by steam; he is as familiar as the fish with the liquid +element; he transmits his words instantaneously from London to +New York; he draws pictures without pencil or brush, and has made +the sun his slave. The air alone remains to him unsubdued. The +proper management of balloons has not yet been discovered. More +than that, it appears that balloons are unmanageable, and it is +to air-vessels, constructed more nearly upon the model of birds, +that we must go to find out the secret of aerial navigation. At +present, as in former times, we are at the mercy of +balloons--globes lighter than the air, and therefore the sport +and the prey of tempests and currents. And aeronauts, instead of +showing themselves now as the benefactors of mankind, exhibit +themselves mainly to gratify a frivolous curiosity, or to crown +with eclat a public fete. + + + +Chapter II. Attempts in Ancient Times to Fly in the Air. + +Before contemplating the sudden conquest of the aerial kingdom, +as accomplished and proclaimed at the end of the last century, it +is at once curious and instructive to cast a glance backward, and +to examine, by the glimmering of ancient traditions, the attempts +which have been made or imagined by man to enfranchise himself +from the attraction of the earth + +The greater number of the arts and sciences can be traced along a +chronological ladder of great length: some, indeed, lose +themselves in the night of time." The accomplishment of raising +oneself in the air, however, had no actual professors in +antiquity, and the discovery of Montgolfier seems to have come +into the world, so to speak, spontaneously. By this it is to be +understood that, unlike Copernicus and Columbus, Montgolfier +could not read in history of any similar discovery, containing +the germ of his own feat. At least, we have no proof that the +ancient nations practiced the art of aerial navigation to any +extent whatever. The attempts which we are about to cite do not +strictly belong to the history of aerostatics. + +Classic mythology tells us of Daedalus, who, escaping with his +son Icarus from the anger of Minos, in the Isle of Crete, saved +himself from the immediate evil by the aid of wings, which he +made for himself and his son, and by means of which they were +enabled to fly in the air. The wings, it appears, were soldered +with wax, and Icarus, flying too high, was struck by a ray of the +sun, which melted the wax. The youth fell into the sea, which +from him derived its name of Icarian. It is possible that this +fable only symbolisms the introduction of sails in navigation. + +Coming down through ancient history, we note a certain Archytas, +of Tarentum, who, in the fourth century B. C., is said to have +launched into the air the first "flying stag," and who, according +to the Greek writers, "made a pigeon of wood, which flew, but +which could not raise itself again after having fallen." Its +flight, it is said, "was accomplished by means of a mechanical +contrivance, by the vibrations of which it was sustained in the +air." + +In the year 66 A.D., in the time of Nero, Simon, the +magician--who called himself "the mechanician"--made certain +experiments at Rome of flying at a certain height. In the eyes +of the early Christians this power was attributed to the devil, +and St. Peter, the namesake of this flying man, is said to have +prayed fervently while Simon was amusing himself in space. It +was possibly in answer to his prayers that the magician failed in +his flight, fell upon the Forum, and broke his neck on the spot. + +From the summit of the tower of the hippodrome at Constantinople, +a certain Saracen met the same fate as Simon, in the reign of the +Emperor Comnenus. His experiments were conducted on the +principle of the inclined plane. He descended in an oblique +course, using the resistance of the air as a support. His robe, +very long and very large, and of which the flaps were extended on +an osier frame, preserved him from suddenly falling. + +The inclined plane probably suggested to Milton the flight of the +angel Uriel, in "Paradise Lost," who descended in the morning +from heaven to earth upon a ray of the sun, and ascended in the +evening from earth to heaven by the same means. But we cannot +quote here the fancies of pure imagination, and we will not speak +of Medeus the magician, of the enchantress Armida, of the witches +of the Brocken, of the hippogriff of Zephyrus with the rosy +wings, or of the diabolical inventions of the middle ages, for +many of which the stake was the only reward. + +Roger Bacon, in the thirteenth century, inaugurated a more +scientific era. In his "Treaty of the Admirable Power of Art and +Nature," he puts forth the idea that it is possible "to make +flying-machines in which the man, being seated or suspended in +the middle, might turn some winch or crank, which would put in +motion a suit of wings made to strike the air like those of a +bird." In the same treatise he sketches a flying-machine, to +which that of Blanchard, who lived in the eighteenth century, +bears a certain resemblance. The monk, Roger Bacon, was worthy +of entering the temple of fame before his great namesake the Lord +Chancellor, who in the seventeenth century inaugurated the era of +experimental science. + +Jean Baptiste Dante, a mathematician of Perugia, who lived in the +latter part of the fifteenth century, constructed artificial +wings, by means of which, when applied to thin bodies, men might +raise themselves off the ground into the air. It is recorded +that on many occasions he experimented with his wings on the Lake +Thrasymenus. These experiments, however, had a sad end. At a +fete, given for the celebration of the marriage of Bartholomew +d'Alvani, Dante, who must not be confounded with the poet, whose +flights were of quite another kind--offered to exhibit the wonder +of his wings to the people of Perugia. He managed to raise +himself to a great height, and flew above the square; but the +iron with which he moved one of his wings having been bent, he +fell upon the church of the Virgin, and broke his thigh. + +A similar accident befell a learned English Benedictine Oliver of +Malmesbury. This ecclesiastic was considered gifted with the +power of foretelling events; but, like other similarly +circumstanced, he does not seem to have beer able to divine the +fate which awaited himself. He constructed wings after the model +of those which according to Ovid, Daedalus made use of. These he +attached to his arms and his feet, and, thus furnished, he threw +himself from the height of a tower. But the wings bore him up +for little more than a distance of 120 paces. He fell at the foot +of the tower, broke his legs, and from that moment led a +languishing life. He consoled himself, however, in his +misfortune by saying that his attempt must certainly have +succeeded had he only provided himself with a tail. + +Before going further, let us take notice that the seventeenth +century is, par excellence, the century distinguished for +narratives of imaginary travels. It was then that astronomy +opened up its world of marvels. The knowledge of observers was +vastly increased, and from that time it became possible to +distinguish the surface of the moon and of other celestial +bodies. Thus a new world, as it were, was revealed for human +thought and speculation. We learned that our globe was not, as +we had supposed, the centre of the universe. It was assigned its +place far from that centre, and was known to be no more than a +mere atom, lost amid an incalculable number of other globes. The +revelations of the telescope proved that those who formerly were +considered wise actually knew nothing. Quickly following these +discoveries, extraordinary narratives of excursions through space +began to be given to the world. + +Those scientific romances were simply wild exaggerations, based +upon the thinnest foundation of scientific facts. In order, +however, to describe a journey among the stars, it was necessary +to invent some mode of locomotion in these distant regions. In +former times Lucian had been content with a ship which ascended +to the rising moon upon a waterspout; but it was now necessary to +improve upon this very primitive mode, as people began to know +something more of the forces of nature. One of the first of +these travellers in imagination to the moon in modern times was +Godwin (1638), and his plan was more ingenious than that of +Lucian. He trained a great number of the wild swans of St. +Helena to fly constantly upward toward a white object, and, +having succeeded in thus training them, one fine night he threw +himself off the Peak of Teneriffe, poised upon a piece of board, +which was borne upward to the white moon by a great team of the +gigantic swans. At the end of twelve days he arrived, according +to his story, at his destination. A little later another writer +of this peculiar kind of fiction, Wilkins, an Englishman, +professed to have made the same ascent, borne up by an eagle. +Alexandre Dumas, who recently wrote a short romance upon the same +subject, only made a translation of an English work by that +author. Wilkins' work is entitled, "The Discovery of a New +World." One chapter of the book bears the title, "That 'tis +possible for some of our posterity to find out a conveyance to +this other world; and, if there be inhabitants there, to have +commerce with them." It is thus that the right reverend +philosopher reasons:-- + +"If it be here inquired what means there may be conjectured for +our ascending beyond the sphere of the earth's mathematical +vigour, I answer.--1. 'Tis not possible that a man may be able to +fly by the application of wings to his own body, as angels are +pictured, as Mercury and Daedalus are feigned, and as hath been +attempted by divers, particularly by a Turk in Constantinople, a +Busbequius relates. 2. If there be such a great duck in +Madagascar as Marcus Polus, the Venetian, mentions, the feathers +of whose wings are twelve feet long, which can scoop up a horse +and his rider, or an elephant, as our kites do a mouse; why, +then, 'Tis but teaching one of these to carry a man, and he may +ride up thither, as Ganymede does upon an eagle. 3. Or if +neither of these ways will serve yet I do seriously, and upon +good grounds, affirm it is possible to make a flying chariot, in +which a man may sit and give such a motion to it as shall convey +him through the air. And this, perhaps, might be made large +enough to carry divers men at the same time, together with food +for their viaticum, and commodities for traffic. It is not the +bigness of anything in this kind that can hinder its motion if +the motive faculty be answerable "hereunto. We see that; great +ship swims as well as a small cork, and an eagle flies in the air +as well as a little gnat. This engine may be contrived from the +same principles by which Archytas made a wooden dove, and +Regiomontanus a wooden eagle. I conceive it were no difficult +matter (if a man had leisure) to show more particularly the means +of composing it. The perfecting of such an invention would be of +such excellent use that it were enough, not only to make a man +famous but the age wherein he lives. For, besides the strange +discoveries that it might occasion in this other world, it would +be also of inconceivable advantage for travelling, above any +other conveyance that is now in use. So that, notwithstanding +all these seeming impossibilities, it is likely enough that there +may be a means invented of journeying to the moon; and how happy +shall they be that are first successful in this attempt!" + +Afterwards comes Cyrano of Bergerac, who promulgates five +different means of flying in the air. First, by means of phials +filled with dew, which would attract and cause to mount up. +Secondly, by a great bird made of wood, the wings of which should +be kept in motion. Thirdly, by rockets, which, going off +successively, would drive up the balloon by the force of +projection. Fourthly, by an octahedron of glass, heated by the +sun, and of which the lower part should be allowed to penetrate +the dense cold air, which, pressing up against the rarefied hot +air, would raise the balloon. Fifthly, by a car of iron and a +ball of magnetised iron, which the aeronaut would keep throwing +up in the air, and which would attract and draw up the balloon. +The wiseacre who invented these modes of flying in the air seems, +some would say, to have been more in want of very strict +confinement on the earth than of the freedom of the skies. + +In 1670 Francis Lana constructed the flying-machine shown on the +next page. The specific lightness of heated air and of hydrogen +gas not having yet been discovered, his only idea for making his +globes rise was to take all the air out of them. But even +supposing that the globes were thus rendered light enough to +rise, they must inevitably have collapsed under the atmospheric +pressure. + +As for the idea of making use of a sail to direct the balloon, as +one directs a vessel, that also was a delusion; for the whole +machine, globes and sails, being freely thrown into the air, +would infallibly follow the direction of the wind, whatever that +might be. When a ship lies in the sea, and its sails are +inflated with the wind, we must remember that there are two +forces in operation--the active force of the wind and the passive +force of the resistance of the water; and in working these forces +the one against the other, the sailor can turn within a point of +any direction he pleases. But when we are subjected wholly to a +single force, and have no point of support by the use of which to +turn that force to our own purposes, as is the case with the +aeronaut, we are entirely at the mercy of that force, and must +obey it. + +After the flying-machine of Lana there was constructed by Galien +(who, like the former, was an ecclesiastic) an air-boat, less +chimerical in its form, looked at in view of the conditions of +aerial navigation, but much more singular. Galien describes his +air-boat, in 1755, in his little work entitled, "The Art of +Sailing in the Air." His project was a most extraordinary one, +and its boldness is only equalled by the seriousness of the +narrative. According to him, the atmosphere is divided into two +horizontal layers, the upper of which is much lighter than the +lower. "But," says Galien, "a ship keeps its place in the water +because it is full of air, and air is much lighter than water. +Suppose, then, that there was the same difference of weight +between the upper and the lower layer of air as there is between +the lower stratum and water; and suppose, also, a boat which +rested upon the lower layer of air, with its bulk in the lighter +upper layer--like a ship which has its keel in the water but its +bulk in the air--the same thing would happen with the air-ship as +with the water-ship--it would float in the denser layer of air." + +Galien adds that in the region of hail there was in the air a +separation into two layers, the weights of which respectively are +as 1 to 2. "Then," says he, "in placing an air-boat in the region +of hail, with its sides rising eighty-three fathoms into the +upper region, which is much more light, one could sail +perfectly." + +But how to get this enormous air-boat up to the region of hail? +This is a minor detail, respecting which Galien is not clear. + +From the labours of Lana and Galien, with their impossible flying +machines, the inventor of the balloon could derive no benefit +whatever; nor is his fame to be in the least diminished because +many had laboured in the same field before him. Nor can the story +of the ovoador, or flying man, a legend very confused, and of +which there are many versions, have given to Montgolfier any +valuable hints. It appears that a certain Laurent de Guzman, a +monk of Rio Janeiro, performed at Lisbon before the king, John +V., raising himself in a balloon to a considerable height. Other +versions of the story give a different date, and assign the +pretended ascent to 1709. The above engraving, extracted from +the "Bibliotheque de la Rue de Richelieu," is an exact copy of +Guzman's supposed balloon. + +In 1678 a mechanician of Salle, in Maine, named Besnier invented +a flying-machine. The machine consisted of four great wings, or +paddles, mounted at the extremities of levers, which rested on +the shoulders of the man who guided it, and who could move them +alternately by means of his hands and feet. The following +description of the machine is given in the Journal de Paris by an +eye-witness: + +"The 'wings' are oblong frames, covered with taffeta, and +attached to the ends of two rods, adjusted on the shoulders The +wings work up and down. Those in front are worked by the hands; +those behind by the feet, which are connected with the ends of +the rods by strings. The movements were such that when the right +hand made the right wing descend in front, the left foot made the +left wing descend behind; and in like manner the left hand in +front and the right foot behind acted together simultaneously. +This diagonal action appeared very well contrived; it was the +action of most quadrupeds as well as of man when walking; but the +contrivance, like others of the same kind, failed in not being +fitted with gearing to enable the air traveller to proceed in any +other direction than that in which the wind blew him. The +inventor first flew down from a stool, then from a table, +afterwards from a window, and finally from a garret, from which +he passed above the houses in the neighbourhood, and then, +moderating the working of his machine, he descended slowly to the +earth." + +Tradition records that under Louis XIV. a certain rope-dancer, +named Alard, announced that on a certain day he would perform the +feat of flying in the air. We have no description of his wings. +It is recorded, however, that he set out on his adventurous +flight; but he had not calculated all the necessities of the +case, and, falling to the ground, he was dangerously hurt. + +Leonardo da Vinci might have known the art of flying in the air, +and might even have practiced it. A statement to this effect, at +least, is found in several historians. We have, however, no +direct proof of the fact. + +The Abbe Deforges, of Etampes, announced in the journals in 1772 +that he would perform the great feat. On the appointed day +multitudes of the curious flocked to Etampes. The abbe's machine +was a sort of gondola, seven feet long and about two feet deep. +Gondola conductor, and baggage weighed in all 213 pounds. The +pious man believed that he had provided against everything. +Neither tempest nor rain should mar his flight, and there was no +chance of his being upset; whilst the machine, he had decided, +was to go at the rate of thirty leagues an hour. + +The great day came, and the abbe, entering his air-boat amidst +the applause of the spectators, began to work the wings with +which it was provided with great rapidity. "But," says one who +witnessed the feat, "the more he worked, the more his machine +cleaved to the earth, as if it were part and parcel of it." + +Retif de la Bretonne, in his work upon this subject, gives the +accompanying picture of a flying man, furnished with very +artistically designed wings, fitting exactly to the shoulders, +and carrying a basket of provisions, suspended from his waist; +and the frontispiece of the "Philosophic sans Pretention" is a +view of a flying-machine. In the midst of a frame of light wood +sits the operator, steadying himself with one hand, and with the +other fuming a cremaillere, which appears to give a very quick +rotatory movement to two glass globes revolving upon a vertical +axis. The friction of the globes is supposed to develop +electricity to which his power of ascending is ascribed. + +To wings, however, aerial adventurers mostly adhered. The +Marquis de Racqueville flew from a window of his hotel, on the +banks of the Seine, and fell into a boat full of washerwomen on +the river. All these unfortunate attempts were lampooned, +burlesqued on the stage, and pursued with the mockery of the +public. + +Up to this time, therefore, the efforts of man to conquer the air +had miscarried. They were conducted on a wrong principle, the +machinery employed being heavier than the air itself But, even +before the time of Montgolfier, the principles of aerostation +began to be recognised, though nothing was actually done in the +way of acting upon them. Thus, in 1767, Professor Black, of +Edinburgh, announced in his class that a vessel, filled with +hydrogen, would rise naturally in the air; but he never made the +experiment, regarding the fact as capable of being employed only +for amusement. Finally, Cavallo, in 1782, communicated to the +Royal Society of London the experiments he had made, and which +consisted in filling soap-bubbles with hydrogen. The bubbles +rose in the atmosphere, the gas which filled them being lighter +than air. + + + +Chapter III. The Theory of Balloons. + +A certain proposition in physics, known as the "Principle of +Archimedes," runs to the following effect:--"Every body plunged +into a liquid loses a portion of its weight equal to the weight +of the fluid which it displaces." Everybody has verified this +principle, and knows that objects are much lighter in water than +out of it; a body plunged into water being acted upon by two +forces--its own weight, which tends to sink it, and resistance +from below, which tends to bear it up. But this principle +applies to gas as well as to liquids--to air as well as to water. +When we weigh a body in the air, we do not find its absolute +weight, but that weight minus the weight of the air which the +body displaces. In order to know the exact weight of an object, +it would be necessary to weigh it in a vacuum. + +If an object thrown into the air is heavier than the air which it +displaces, it descends, and falls upon the earth; if it is of +equal weight, it floats without rising or falling; if it is +lighter, it rises until it comes to a stratum of air of less +weight or density than itself. We all know, of course, that the +higher you rise from the earth the density of the air diminishes. +The stratum of air that lies upon the surface of the earth is the +heaviest, because it supports the pressure of all the other +strata that lie above. Thus the lightest strata are the highest. + +The principle of the construction of balloons is, therefore, in +perfect harmony with physical laws. Balloons are simply globes, +made of a light, air-tight material, filled with hot air or +hydrogen gas which rise in the air because (they are lighter than +the air they displace). + +The application of this principle appeared so simple, that at the +time when the news of the invention of the balloon was spread +abroad the astronomer Lalande wrote--"At this news we all cry, +'This must be! Why did we not think of it before?'" It had been +thought of before, as we have seen in the last chapter, but it is +often long after an idea is conceived that it is practically +realised. + +The first balloon, Montgolfier's, was simply filled with hot air; +and it was because Montgolfier exclusively made use of hot air +that balloons so filled were named Montgolfiers. Of course we +see at a glance that hot air is lighter than cold air, because it +has become expanded and occupies more space--that is to say, a +volume of hot air contains actually less air than a volume of the +same size of air that has not been heated. The difference +between the weight of the hot air and the cold which it displaced +was greater than the weight of tire covering of the balloon. +Therefore the balloon mounted. + +And, seeing that air diminishes in density the higher we ascend, +the balloon can rise only to that stratum of air of the same +density as the air it contains. As the warm air cools it gently +descends. Again, as the atmosphere is always moving in currents +more or less strong, the balloon follows the direction of the +current of the stratum of air in which it finds itself. + +Thus we see how simply the ascent of Montgolfiers, and their +motions, are explained. It is the same with gas-balloons. A +balloon, filled with hydrogen gas, displaces an equal volume of +atmospheric air; but as the gas is much lighter than the air, it +is pushed up by a force equal to the difference of the density of +air and hydrogen gas. The balloon then rises in the atmosphere +to where it reaches layers of air of a density exactly equal to +its own, and when it gets there it remains poised in its place. +In order that it may descend, it is necessary to let out a +portion of the hydrogen gas, and admit an equal quantity of +atmospheric air; and the balloon does not come to the ground till +all, or nearly all, the gas has been expelled and common air +taken in. Balloons inflated with hydrogen gas are almost the +only ones in use at the present day. Scarcely ever is a +Montgolfier sent up. There are aeronauts, however, who prefer a +journey in a Montgolfier to one in a gas-balloon. The air +voyager in this description of balloon had formerly many +difficulties to contend with. The quantity of combustible +material which he was bound to carry with him; the very little +difference that there is between the density of heated and of +cold air; the necessity of feeding the fire, and watching it +without a moment's cessation, as it hangs in the rechaud over the +middle of the car, rendered this sort of air travelling subject +to many dangers and difficulties. Recently, M. Eugene Godard has +obviated a portion of this difficulty by fitting a chimney, like +that which is found of such incalculable service in the case of +the Davy lamp. It is principally on account of this improvement +that the Montgolfiere has risen so highly in popular esteem. + +Generally it is not pure hydrogen that is made use of in the +inflation of balloons. Aeronauts content themselves with the gas +which we burn in our streets and houses, and thus it suffices, in +inflating the balloon, to obtain from the nearest gas-works the +quantity of gas necessary, and to lead it, by means of a pipe or +tube, from the gasometer to the mouth or neck of the machine. + +The balloon is made of long strips of silk, sewn together, and +rendered air-tight by means of a coating of caoutchouc. A valve +is fitted to the top, and by means of it the aeronaut can descend +to the earth at will, by allowing some quantity of the gas to +escape. The car in which he sits is suspended to the balloon by +a network, which covers the whole structure. Sacks of sand are +carried in this car as ballast, so that, when descending, if the +aeronaut sees that he is likely to be precipitated into the sea +or into a lake, he throws over the sand, and his air-carriage, +being thus lightened, mounts again and travels away to a more +desirable resting-place. The idea of the valve, as well as that +of the sand ballast, is due to the physician Charles. They +enable the aeronaut to ascend or descend with facility. When he +wishes to mount, he throws over his ballast; when he wants to +come down, he lets the gas escape by the valve at the roof of the +balloon. This valve is worked by means of a spring, having a long +rope attached to it, which hangs down through the neck to the +car, where the aeronaut sits. + +The operation of inflating a balloon with pure hydrogen is +represented in the engraving on the next page. + +Shavings of iron and zinc, water, and sulphuric acid, occupy a +number of casks, which communicate, by means of tubes, with a +central cask, which is open at the bottom, and is plunged in a +copper full of water. The gas is produced by the action of the +water and the sulphuric acid upon the zinc and the iron this is +hydrogen mixed with sulphuric acid. In passing through the +central copper, or vat, full of water, the gas throws off all +impurities, and comes, unalloyed with any other matter, into the +balloon by a long tube, leading from the central vats. In order +to facilitate the entrance of the gas into the balloon two long +poles are erected. These are furnished with pulleys, through +which a rope, attached also to a ring at the top of the balloon, +passes. By means of this contrivance the balloon can be at once +lightly raised from the ground, and the gas tubes easily joined +to it. When it is half full it is no longer necessary to suspend +the balloon; on the contrary, it has to be secured, lest it +should fly off. A number of men hold it back by ropes; but as +the force of ascension is every moment increasing, the work of +restraining the balloon is most difficult and exciting. At +length, all preparations being complete, the car is suspended, +the aeronaut takes his seat, the words "Let go all!" are shouted, +and away goes the silken globe into space. + +The balloon is never entirely filled, for the atmospheric +pressure diminishing as it ascends, allows the hydrogen gas to +dilate, in virtue of its expansive force, and, unless there is +space for this expansion, the balloon is sure to explode in the +air. + +An ordinary balloon, with a lifting power sufficient to carry up +three persons, with necessary ballast and materiel, is about +fifty feet high, thirty-five feet in diameter' and 2,250 cubic +feet in capacity. Of such a balloon, the accessories--the skin, +the network, the car--would weigh about 335 lbs. + +To find out the height at which he has arrived, the aeronaut +consults his barometer. We know that it is the pressure of the +air upon the cup of the barometer that raises the mercury in the +tube. The heavier the air is, the higher is the barometer. At +the level of the sea the column of mercury stands at 32 inches; +at 3,250 feet--the air being at this elevation lighter--the +mercury stands at 28 inches; at 6,500 feet above sea level it +stands at 25 inches; at 10,000 feet it falls to 22 inches; at +20,000 feet to 15 inches. These, however, are merely the +theoretic results, and are subject to some slight variation, +according to locality, &c. + +Sometimes the aeronaut makes his descent by means of the +parachute, a separate and distinct contrivance. If, from any +cause, it appears impracticable to effect a descent from the +balloon itself, the parachute may be of the greatest service to +the voyager at the present day it is chiefly used to astonish the +public, by showing them the spectacle of a man who, from a great +elevation in the air, precipitates himself into space, not to +escape dangers which threaten him in his balloon, but simply to +exhibit his courage and skill. Nevertheless, parachutes are +often of great actual use, and aeronauts frequently attach them +to their balloons as a precautionary measure before setting out +on an aerial excursion. + +The shape of a parachute, shown on the previous page, very much +resembles that of the well-known all serviceable umbrella. The +strips of silk of which it is formed are sewn together, and are +bound at the top around a circular piece of wood. A number of +cords, stretching away from this piece of wood, support the car +in which the aeronaut is carried. At the summit is contrived an +opening, which permits the air compressed by the rapidity of the +descent to escape without causing damage to the parachute from +the stress to which it is subjected. + +The rapidity of the descent is arrested by the large surface +which the parachute presents to the air. When the aeronaut +wishes to descend by the parachute, all that is required is, +after he has slipped down from the car of the balloon to that of +the parachute, to loosen the rope which binds the latter to the +former, which is done by means of a pulley. In an instant the +aeronaut is launched into space with a rapidity in comparison +with which the wild flights of the balloon are but gentle +oscillations. But in a few moments, the air rushing into the +folds of the parachute, forces them open like an umbrella, and +immediately, owing to the wide surface which this contrivance +presents to the atmosphere, the violence of the descent is +arrested, and the aeronaut falls gently to the ground, without +receiving too rude a shock. + +The virtues of the parachute were first tried upon animals. +Thus, Blanchard allowed his dog to fall in one from a height of +6,500 feet. A gust of wind caught the falling parachute, and +swept it away up above the clouds. Afterwards, the aeronaut in +his balloon fell in with the dog in the parachute, both of them +high up in the cloudy reaches of the sky, and the poor animal +manifested by his barking his joy at seeing his master. A new +current separated the aerial voyagers, but the parachute, with +its canine passenger, reached the ground safely a short time +after Blanchard had landed from his balloon. + +Experience has proved that, in the case of a descending +parachute, if the rapidity of the descent is doubled the +resistance of the air is quadrupled; if the rapidity is triple +the resistance is increased ninefold; or, to speak in language of +science, the resistance of the air is increased by the square of +the swiftness of the body in motion. This resistance increases +in proportion as the parachute spreads, and thus the uniformity +of its fall is established a minute after it has been disengaged +from the balloon. We can, therefore, check the descent of a body +by giving it a surface capable of distension by the action of the +air. + +Garnerin, in the year 1802, conceived the bold design of letting +himself fall from a height of 1,200 feet, and he accomplished the +exploit before the Parisians. When he had reached the height he +had fixed beforehand, he cut the rope which connected the +parachute with the balloon. At first the fall was terribly +rapid; but as soon as the parachute spread out the rapidity was +considerably diminished. The machine made, however, enormous +oscillations. The air, gathering end compressed under it, would +sometimes escape by one side sometimes by the other, thus shaking +and whirling the parachute about with a violence which, however +great, had happily no unfortunate effect. + +The origin of the parachute is more remote than is generally +supposed, as there was a figure of one which appeared among a +collection of machines at Venice, in 1617. + +Another species of parachute, less perfect, to be sure; than that +of Garnerin, but still a practical machine, was described 189 +years before the great aeronaut's feat at Paris. We read in the +narrative of the ambassador of Louis XIV at Siam, at the end of +the seventeenth century, the following passage--"A mountebank at +the court of the King of Siam climbed to the top of a high +bamboo-tree, and threw himself into the air without any other +support than two parasols. Thus equipped, he abandoned himself to +the winds, which carried him, as by chance, sometimes to the +earth, sometimes on trees or houses, and sometimes into the +river, without any harm happening to him." + +Is not this the idea of our parachutes? + + + +Chapter IV. First Public Trial of the Balloon. + +(Montgolfier's Balloon Annonay, 5th of June of 1783.) + +We are accustomed to rank the brothers Joseph and Etienne +Montgolfier as equally distinguished in the field of science. +The reason for thus associating these two names seems to have +been the fraternal friendship which subsisted in an extraordinary +degree in the Montgolfier family, rather than any equality of +claim which they had to the notice of posterity. After special +investigation, we find that Joseph Montgolfier was very superior +to his brother, and that it is to him principally, if not +exclusively, that we owe the invention of aerostation. +Nevertheless, we shall not insist upon this fact; and seeing that +a sacred amity always cemented a perfect union in the Montgolfier +family, we will regard that union as unbroken in any sense, and +will not insinuate that the brother of Montgolfier was +undeserving of the honoured rank which in his lifetime he held. + +In 1783, the sons of Pierre Montgolfier, a rich papermaker at +Annonay department of Ardeche, were already in the prime of life, +and it is related of them that their principal occupation was +experimenting in the physical sciences. Joseph Montgolfier, +after being convinced by a number of minor experiments made in +1782 and 1783, that a heat of 180 degrees rarefied the air and +made it occupy a space of TWICE the extent it occupied before +being heated--or, in other words, that this degree of heat +diminished the weight of air by one half--began to speculate on +what might be the shape and the material of a structure which +being filled with air thus heated, would be able to raise itself +from the earth in spite of the weight of its own covering. + +His first balloon was a small parallelopiped in very thin +taffeta, containing less than seventy-eight cubic inches of air. +He made it rise to the roof of his apartment in November, +1782--at Avignon, where he then happened to be. Having returned +some little time after to Annonay, + +Joseph and his brother performed the same experiment, together +in the open air with perfect success. Certain, then, of the new +principle, they made a balloon of considerable size, containing +upwards of sixty-five feet of heated air. + +This machine likewise rose, tore away the cords by which it was +at first held down, and mounting in the air to the height of from +two to three hundred feet, fell upon the neighbouring hills after +a considerable flight. The brothers Montgolfier then made a very +large and strong balloon, with which they wished to bring their +discovery before the public. + +The appointed day was the 5th of June, 1783 and the nobility of +the vicinity were invited to be present at the experiment. +Faujas de Saint Fond, author of "La Description des Experiences +de la Machine Aerostatique," published the same year, gives the +following account of it:-- + +"What," says Saint Fond, "was the general astonishment when the +inventors of the machine announced that immediately it should be +full of gas, which they had the means of producing at will by the +most simple process, it would raise itself to the clouds. It +must be granted that, in spite of the confidence in the ingenuity +and experience of the Montgolfiers, this feat seemed so +incredible to those who came to witness it, that the persons who +knew most about it--who were, at the same time, the most +favourably predisposed in its favour--doubted of its success. + +"At last the brothers Montgolfier commenced their work. They +first of all began to make the smoke necessary for their +experiment. The machine--which at first seemed only a covering of +cloth, lined with paper, a sort of sack thirty-five feet +high--became inflated, and grew large even under the eyes of the +spectator, took consistence, assumed a beautiful form, stretched +itself on all sides, and struggled to escape. Meanwhile, strong +arms were holding it down until the signal was given, when it +loosened itself, and with a rush rose to the height of 1,000 +fathoms in less than ten minutes." It then described a +horizontal line of 7,200 feet, and as it had lost a considerable +amount of gas, it began to descend quietly. It reached the +ground in safety; and this first attempt, crowned with such +decisive success, secured for ever to the brothers Montgolfier +the glory of one of the most astonishing discoveries. + +"When we reflect for a moment upon the numberless difficulties +which such a bold attempt entailed, upon the bitter criticism to +which it would have exposed its projectors had it failed through +any accident, and upon the sums that must have been spent in +carrying it out, we cannot withhold the highest admiration for +the men who conceived the idea and carried it out to such a +successful issue." + +Etienne Montgolfier has left us a description of this first +balloon. "The aerostatic machine," he says, "was constructed of +cloth lined with paper, fastened together on a network of strings +fixed to the cloth. It was spherical; its circumference was 110 +feet, and a wooden frame sixteen feet square held it fixed at the +bottom. Its contents were about 22,000 cubic feet, and it +accordingly displaced a volume of air weighing 1,980 1bs. The +weight of the gas was nearly half the weight of the air, for it +weighed 990 lbs., and the machine itself, with the frame, weighed +500: it was, therefore, impelled upwards with the force of 490 +lbs. Two men sufficed to raise it and to fill it with gas, but +it took eight to hold it down till the signal was given. The +different pieces of the covering were fastened together with +buttons and button-holes. It remained ten minutes in the air, +but the loss of gas by the button-holes, and by other +imperfections, did not permit it to continue longer. The wind at +the moment of the ascent was from the north. The machine came +down so lightly that no part of it was broken." + + + +Chapter V. Second Experiment. + +(Charles's Balloon, Paris, Champ de Mars, 27th of August, 1783.) + +The indescribable enthusiasm caused by the ascent of the first +balloon at Annonay, spread in all directions, and excited the +wondering curiosity of the savants of the capital. An official +report had been prepared, and sent to the Academy of Sciences in +Paris, and the result was that the Academy named a commission of +inquiry. But fame, more rapid than scientific commissions, and +more enthusiastic than academies, had, at a single flight, passed +from Annonay to Paris, and kindled the anxious ardour of the +lovers of science in that city. The great desire was to rival +Montgolfier, although neither the report nor the letters from +Annonay had made mention of the kind of gas used by that +experimenter to inflate his balloon. By one of the frequent +coincidences in the history of the sciences, hydrogen gas had +been discovered six years previously by the great English +physician Cavendish, and it had hardly even been tested in the +laboratories of the chemists when it all at once became famous. +A young man well versed in physics, Professor Charles, assisted +by two practical men, the brothers Robert, threw himself ardently +into the investigation of the modes of inflating balloons with +this gas, which was then called INFLAMMABLE AIR. Guessing that +it was much lighter than that which Montgolfier had been obliged +to make use of in his third-rate provincial town, Charles leagued +himself with his two assistants to constrict a balloon of +taffeta, twelve feet in diameter, covered with india-rubber, and +to inflate it with hydrogen. + +The thing thus arranged, a subscription was opened. The +projected experiment having been talked of all over Paris, every +one was struck with the idea, and subscriptions poured in. Even +the most illustrious names are to be found in the list, which may +be called the first national subscription in France. Nothing had +been written of the forthcoming event in any public paper, yet +all Paris seemed to flock to contribute to the curious +experiment. + +The inflation with hydrogen was effected in a very curious +manner. As much as 1,125 lbs. of iron and 560 lbs. of sulphuric +acid were found necessary to inflate a balloon which had scarcely +a lifting power of 22 lbs., and the process of filling took no +less than four hours. At length, however, at the end of the +fourth hour, the balloon, composed of strips of silk, coated with +varnish, floated, two-thirds full, from the workshop of the +brothers Robert. + +On the morning of the 26th of August, the day before the ascent +was to be made, the balloon was visited at daybreak, and found to +be in a promising state. At two o'clock on the following morning +its constructors began to make preparations to transport it to +the Champ de Mars, from which place it was to be let loose. +Skilled workmen were employed in its removal, and every +precaution was taken that the gas with which it was charged +should not be allowed to escape. In the meantime the excitement +of the people about this wonderful structure was rising to the +highest pitch. The wagon on which it was placed for removal was +surrounded on all sides by eager multitudes, and the +night-patrols, both of horse and foot, which were set to guard +the avenues leading to where it lay, were quite unable to stem +the tide of human beings that poured along to get a glimpse of +it. + +The conveyance of the balloon to the Champ de Mars was a most +singular spectacle. A vanguard, with lighted torches, preceded +it; it was surrounded by special attendants, and was followed by +detachments of night-patrols on foot and mounted. The size and +shape of this structure, which was escorted with such pomp and +precaution--the silence that prevailed--the unearthly hour, all +helped to give an air of mystery to the proceedings. At last, +having passed through the principal thoroughfares, it arrived at +the Champ de Mars, where it was placed in an enclosure prepared +for its reception. + +When the dawn came, and the balloon had been fixed in its place +by cords, attached around its middle and fixed to iron rings +planted in the earth, the final process of inflation began. + +The Champ de Mars was guarded by troops, and the avenues were +also guarded on all sides. As the day wore on an immense crowd +covered the open space, and every advantageous spot in the +neighborhood was crowded with people. At five o'clock the report +of a cannon announced to the multitudes, and to scientific men +who were posted on elevations to make observations of the great +event, that the grand moment had come. The cords were withdrawn, +and, to the vast delight and wonder of the crowd assembled, the +balloon shot up with such rapidity that in two minutes it had +ascended 488 fathoms. At this height it was lost in a cloud for +an instant, and, reappearing, rose to a great height, and was +again lost in higher clouds. The ascent was a splendid success. +The rain that fell damped neither the balloon nor the ardor of +the spectators. + +This balloon was 12 feet in diameter, 38 feet in circumference, +and had a capacity of 943 cubic feet. The weight of the +materials of which it was constructed was 25 lbs., and the force +of ascension was that of 35 lbs. + +The fall of the balloon was caused by the expansion and +consequent explosion of the hydrogen gas. This event took place +some distance out in the country, close to a number of peasants, +whose terror at the sight and the sound of this strange monster +from the skies was beyond description. The people assembled, and +two monks having told them that the burst balloon was the hide of +a monstrous animal, they immediately began to assail it +vigorously with stones, flails, and pitchforks. The cure of the +parish was obliged to walk up to the balloon to reassure his +terrified flock. They finally attached the burst envelope to a +horse's tail, and dragged it far across the fields. + +Many drawings and engravings of the period represent the peasants +armed with pitchforks, flails, and scythes, assailing it, a dog +snapping at it, a garde-champetre firing at it, a fat priest +preaching at it, and a troop of young people throwing stones at +the unfortunate machine. + +The news of this fiasco came to Paris, but too late. When search +was made for the covering, scarcely a fragment could be found. + +A somewhat humorous result of all this was the issue of a +communication from government to the people, entitled, "Warning +to the People on kidnapping Air-balloons." This document, duly +signed and approved of, describes the ascents at Annonay and at +Paris, explains the nature and the causes of the phenomena, and +warns the people not to be alarmed when they see something like a +"black moon" in the sky, nor to give way to fear, as the seeming +monster is nothing more than a bag of silk filled with gas. + +This first ascent in Paris was an important event. Every one, +from the smallest to the greatest, was deeply interested in it, +while to the man of science it was one of the most exciting of +incidents. For the purpose of observing the altitude to which +the balloon rose, and the course it took, Le Gentil was on the +observatory, Prevost was on one of the towers of Notre Dame, +Jeaurat was on La Place Louis XV., and d'Agelet was on the Champ +de Mars. It was only Lalande that frowned as he witnessed the +success of the experiment. He had predicted the year before that +air-navigation was impossible. + + + +Chapter VI. Third Experiment. + +(Montgolfier's Balloon, Paris, Faubourg St. Antoine.) + +As we have seen, the triumph of aerostation was sudden and +complete. The young Montgolfier had arrived in Paris prior to the +experiment of the 27th of August, and was present as a simple +spectator on that occasion. immediately afterwards he set to +work upon a balloon, which was to be made use of when the Academy +should investigate the phenomenon at Versailles in presence of +the king, Louis XVI. + +It was at this time (September, 1783) that those small balloons, +made of gold-beaters' skin, which are used as children's toys to +the present day, were first made. The whole of Paris amused +itself with them, repeating in little the phenomenon of the great +ascent. The sky of the capital found itself all at once traversed +by a multitude of small rosy clouds, formed by the hand of man. + +Faujas de Saint Fond says that at first an attempt was made to +construct balloons of fine, light paper; but this material being +permeable, and the gas being inflammable, balloons thus made did +not succeed. It was necessary to seek a material less porous, +and, if possible, still lighter. + +The Journal de Paris, of the 11th of September, 1783, informed +the public that the Baron de Beaumanoir, "who cultivated the +sciences and the fine arts with as much success as zeal," would +send up a balloon eighteen inches in diameter. At noon of the +same day he made this experiment in presence of a numerous +assembly in the garden in front of the Hotel de Surgeres.. The +little balloon mounted freely, but was held in, like a kite, by +means of a silk thread. In the course of the same afternoon, the +baron took down the balloon and filled it anew with hydrogen, and +then let it off. The spectators had the pleasure of seeing it +rise to a great height, and pass away in the direction of +Neuilly, and it is said to have been found at a distance of +several leagues, by peasants. + +However trifling this experiment may appear at first sight, it +added a new fact to the science of aerostation. The material +employed by the baron was lighter and better than paper. It was +what is called gold-beaters' skin. This skin is simply the +interior lining of the large bowel of the ox. It is carefully +prepared, is relieved of the fat, stringy and uneven parts, is +dried, and is afterwards softened. Little balloons of this +material came to be the fashion, and they are still frequently +seen. + +At the same time, Montgolfier was busy constructing, at the +request of the Academy of Sciences, a balloon seventy feet high +and forty in diameter, with which it was proposed to repeat the +experiment of Annonay. He took up his quarters in the +magnificent gardens of his friend Reveillon, proprietor of the +royal manufactory of stained paper in the Faubourg St. Antoine. +The new balloon was of a very singular shape: the upper part +represented a prism, twenty-four feet high the top was a pyramid +of the same height; the lower part was a truncated cone, twenty +feet in depth. It was made of packing-cloth, lined with good +paper, both inside and out. + +The gossipping and prolix Faujas de Saint Fond thus describes +this machine:--"It was painted blue, represented a sort of tent, +and was richly ornamented with gold Its height was seventy feet; +its weight 1,000 lbs.; the air which it displaced was 4,500 lbs. +in volume, and the vapor with which it was filled was half the +weight of ordinary air. The approach of the equinox having +brought rain, all the conditions under which this balloon was +constructed and exhibited were unfavourable. The structure was +so large that it was impossible to get it together and stitch it, +except in the open air--in the garden, in fact, where Montgolfier +commenced its construction. It was a great labour to turn and +fold this heavy covering, while the liability of the thick paper +to crack was an additional difficulty. Not less than twenty men +were required to move it, and they were obliged to use all their +skill, and every precaution, not to destroy it. No balloon had +ever given so much trouble. On the 11th of September the weather +improved, and the balloon was entirely completed and prepared for +the first experiment. In the evening the attempt was made. It +was with admiration that the beholders saw the beautiful machine +filling itself in the short space of nine minutes, swelling out +on all sides and showing the full symmetry of its artistic form. +It was firmly held in hand, or it would have risen to a great +height. On the following day the actual ascent was to take +place, and the commissioners of the Academy of Sciences were +invited to be present. In the morning thick clouds covered the +horizon, and a tempest was expected; but as there was an ardent +desire that the ascent should take place without delay, and as +all the gearing was in order, it was resolved to proceed. + +"Fifty pounds of dry straw were fired in parcels under the +balloon, and upon the fire were thrown at intervals several +pounds of wool. This fuel produced in ten minutes such a volume +of smoke that the huge balloon was speedily filled. It rose, +with a weight of 500 lbs. holding it down, to some height above +the ground, and had the ropes by which it was attached to the +ground been cut, it would have mounted to a great height. +Meantime the storm broke, rain descended, and the wind blew with +great force. The most likely means of saving the balloon was to +let it fly but as it was to ascend again on another occasion, at +Versailles, the greatest efforts were made to bring it down, and +these, together with the damage caused by the storm, eventually +rent it into numberless fragments and tatters. It withstood the +storm for twenty-four hours; then, however, the paper came +peeling off, and this beautiful structure was a wreck." + + + +Chapter VII. Fourth Experiment. + +(Versailles, 19th September, 1783, in presence of Louis of XVI.) + +Of course another balloon was wanted for the fete at Versailles. +The king had demanded an ascent for the 19th, a week after the +disaster at the Faubourg St. Antoine. Already the possibility of +a man going up with the balloon was discussed, and people +indulged in visions of splendid aerial trips; but the king would +not hear of the proposal. Balloons were novelties, not offering +sufficient security, and he was unwilling that any of his +subjects should risk their lives in attempting the unknown. He +consented, however, to a proposal that animals might be sent up +in the first instance, by way of experiment, suspended in an +osier cage attached to the neck of the balloon. + +Montgolfier at once began a new balloon. A few days only were at +his disposal; but, assisted by friends, he worked with such +ardour and success that he was able, on the date appointed, to +produce a magnificent spherical balloon, much stronger than the +former, constructed of good strong cotton cloth, and painted in +distemper. + +It is proper here to remark that the first balloons were much +more elegant in appearance than those afterwards made. The +coloured prints and engravings of the period enable us to form an +opinion of the splendour of their ornamentation and the beauty of +their design. Sometimes the figures painted upon them +represented scenes from the heathen mythology, and sometimes +historical scenes; while rich embroideries, royal insignia, and +gaily-coloured draperies added much to the general effect. The +Versailles balloon was painted blue, with ornaments of gold, and +it presented the form of a richly decorated tent. It was +fifty-seven feet in height, and sixty-seven in diameter. + +It was first tried at Paris, and succeeded perfectly. On the +morning of the 19th it was carried to Versailles, where due +preparation had been made for its reception In the great court of +the castle a sort of theatre had been temporarily erected with a +scaffolding, covered throughout with tapestry In the middle was +an opening more than fifteen feet in diameter, in which was +spread a banquet for those who had constructed the balloon. A +numerous guard formed a double cordon around the structure. A +raised platform was used for the fire by means of which the +balloon was to be inflated; a covered funnel or chimney of strong +cloth, painted, was suspended over the fire-place, and received +the hot smoke as it arose. Through this funnel the heated air +ascended straight up into the balloon. + +At six in the morning, the road from Paris to Versailles was +covered with carriages. Crowds came from all parts, and at noon +the avenues, the square of the castle, the windows, and even the +roofs of the houses, were crowded with spectators. The noblest, +the most illustrious, and most learned men in France were +present, and the splendour of the scene was complete when their +majesties and the royal family entered within the enclosure, and +went forward to inspect the balloon, and to make themselves +familiar with the preparations for the ascent. + +In a short time the fire was lit, the funnel extended over it, +and the smoke rose inside, while the balloon, unfolding, +gradually swelled to its full size, and then, drawing after it +the cage, in which a sheep and some pigeons were enclosed, rose +majestically into the air. Without interreruption, it ascended +to a vast height, where, inclining toward the north, it seemed to +remain stationary for a few seconds, showing all the beauty of +its form, and then, as though possessed of life, it descended +gently upon the wood of Vaucresson, 10,200 feet from the point of +its departure. Its highest elevation, as estimated by the +astronomers Le Gentil and M. Jeaurat, Jeaurat, was about 1,700 +feet. + + + +Chapter VIII. Men and Balloons. + +It is not natural that the human mind should stop upon the way to +the solution of a problem, especially when it seems to be on the +point of arriving at a satisfactory conclusion to its labours. +The osier cage of Versailles very soon transformed itself into a +car, bearing human passengers, and the age of the "Thousand and +One Nights" was expected to come back again. It was resolved to +continue experiments, with the direct object of finding out +whether it was impossible or desperately dangerous for man to +travel in balloons. Montgolfier returned from Versailles, and +constructed a new machine in the gardens of the Faubourg St. +Antoine. It was completed on the 10th of October Its form was +oval, its height 70 feet, its diameter 46 feet and its capacity +60,000 cubic feet. The upper part, embroidered with +fleurs-de-lis, was further ornamented with the twelve signs of +the zodiac, worked in gold. The middle part bore the monogram of +the king, alternating with figures of the sun, while the lower +part was garnished with masks, garlands, and spread eagles. A +circular gallery made of osiers and festooned with draperies and +other ornaments, was attached by a set of cords to the bottom of +the structure. The gallery was three feet wide, and was +protected by a parapet over three feet in height. It did not in +any way interfere with the opening at the neck of the balloon, +under which was suspended a grating of iron wire upon which the +occupants of the gallery, who were to be provided with dried +straw and wool, could in a few minutes kindle a fire and create +fresh smoke, when that in the balloon began to be exhausted. The +machine weighed, in all, 1,600 lbs. The public had previously +been warned, in the Journal de Paris de Paris, that the +approaching experiments were to be of a strictly scientific +character; and as they would be only interesting to savants, +they would not afford amusement for the merely curious. This +announcement was necessary, to abate in some degree the +excitement of the people until some satisfactory results should +be obtained; it was also necessary for those engaged in the work, +whose firmness of nerve might have suffered from the enthusiastic +cries of excited spectators. On Wednesday, the 15th of October, +Pilatre des Roziers, who had on other occasions given proofs of +his intelligence and courage in performing dangerous feats, and +who had already signalised himself in connection with balloons, +offered to go up in the new machine. His offer was accepted; the +balloon was inflated; stout ropes, more than eighty feet long, +were attached to it, and it rose from the ground to the height +to which this tackle allowed it. At this elevation it remained +four minutes twenty-five seconds; and it is not surprising to +hear that Roziers suffered no inconvenience from the ascent. +What was really the interesting thing in this experiment was, +that it showed how a balloon would fall when the hot air became +exhausted, this being the point which caused the greatest amount +of disquietude among men of science. In this instance the +balloon fell gently; its form distended at the same time, and, +after touching the ground, it rose again a foot or two, when its +human passenger had jumped out. + +On Friday, the 17th of October, this experiment was repeated, +and the excitement of the public on this occasion was unbounded. +"All the world" came to see. Roziers was again lifted up in the +balloon, to the height of eighty feet; but so strong was the +wind, and the strain on the ropes was so great, that the balloon +was somewhat unsteady, and the exhibition was not on the whole +such a splendid success as that of the preceding Wednesday. + +On Sunday, Montgolfier chose a fine day for the following +ascents:--"First Ascent: On the 19th of October, 1783, at +half-past four, in presence of two thousand spectators, 'the +machine' was filled with gas in five minutes, and Roziers, being +placed in the gallery with a counterbalancing weight of 110 lbs. +in the other side of the gallery, was carried up to the height of +200 feet. The machine remained six minutes at this elevation +without any fire in the grating. Second Ascent: The machine +carried Roziers and the counterbalancing weight--fire being in +the grating--to the height of 700 feet. At this height it +remained stationary eight and a half minutes As it was drawn +back, a wind from the east bore it against a tuft of very tall +trees in a neighbouring garden, where it got entangled, without, +however, losing its equilibrium. The gas was renewed by Roziers, +and the balloon again rising, extricated itself from among the +branches, and soared majestically into the air, followed by the +acclamations of the public. This second ascent was very +instructive, for it had been often asserted that if ever a +balloon fell upon a forest it would be destroyed, and would place +those who travelled in it in the greatest peril. This experiment +proved that the balloon does not FALL it DESCENDS; that it does +not overturn; that it does not destroy itself on trees; that it +neither causes death, nor even damage, to its passengers; that, +on the contrary, the latter, by making new gas, give it the power +of detaching itself from the trees; and that it can resume its +course after such an event. The intrepid Roziers gave in this +ascent a further proof of the facility he had in descending and +ascending at will. When the machine had risen to the height of +200 feet it began to descend lightly, and just before it came to +the earth the aeronaut very cleverly and quickly threw on more +fuel and produced more smoke, at which the balloon, to the +astonishment of every one, suddenly soared away again to its +former elevation. Third Ascent: The balloon rose again with +Roziers, accompanied this time by another aeronaut, Gerond de +Villette; and as the cords had been lengthened, the adventurers +were carried up to the height of 324 feet. At this elevation the +balloon rested in perfect equilibrium for nine minutes. It was +the first time that human beings had ever been carried to an +equal elevation, and the spectators were astonished to find that +they could remain there without danger and without alarm. The +balloon had a superb effect at this elevation; it looked down +upon the whole town, and was seen from all the suburbs. Its size +seemed hardly diminished in the least, though the men themselves +were barely visible. By the aid of glasses, Roziers could be +seen calmly and industriously making new gas. When the balloon +descended the two men declared that they had not experienced the +slightest inconvenience from the elevation. They received the +universal applause which their zeal and courage so well deserved. +The Marquis d'Arlandes, a major of infantry, afterwards went up +with Roziers, and this latter experiment was as successful as the +former." + +Some days after these experiments the conductors of the Journal +de Paris who described them, received a letter from Montgolfier, +and also one from Gerond de Villette. The latter only is of +interest here. Gerond de Villette says: "I found myself in the +space of a quarter of a minute raised 400 feet above the surface +of the earth. Here we remained six minutes. My first employment +was to watch with admiration my intelligent companion. His +intelligence, his courage and agility in attending to the fire, +enchanted me. Turning round, I could behold the Boulevards, from +the gate of St. Antoine to that of St. Martin, all covered with +people, who seemed to me a flat band of flowers of various +colours. Glancing at the distance, I beheld the summit of +Montmartre, which seemed to me much below our level. I could +easily distinguish Neuilly, St. Cloud, Sevres, Issy, Ivry, +Charenton, and Choisy. At once I was convinced that this +machine, though a somewhat expensive one, might be very useful in +war to enable one to discover the position of the enemy, his +manoeuvres, and his marches; and to announce these by signals to +one's own army. 1 believe that at sea it is equally possible to +make use of this machine. These prove the usefulness of the +balloon, which time will perfect for us. All that I regret is +that I did not provide myself with a telescope." + + + +Chapter IX. The First Aerial Voyage--Roziers and Arlandes. + +These experiments had only one aim--the application of +Montgolfier's discovery to aerial navigation. The knowledge +gained in the Faubourg St. Antoine having led to the most +favourable conclusions, it was resolved that a first aerial +voyage should be attempted. + +"If," says Linguet, "there existed an autograph journal, written +by Columbus, descriptive of his first great voyage with what +jealous care it would be preserved, with what confidence it would +be quoted! We should delight to follow the candid account which +he gave of his thoughts, his hopes, his fears; of the complaints +of his followers, of his attempts to calm them, and, finally, of +his joy in the moment which, ratifying his word and justifying +his boldness, declared him the discoverer of a new world All +these details have been transmitted to us, but by stranger hands; +and, however interesting they may be, one cannot help feeling +that this circumstance makes them lose part of their value." + +The narrative of the first aerial voyage, written by one of the +two first aeronauts, exists, and we are in a position to place it +before our readers. Such an enterprise certainly demanded great +courage in him who was the first to dare to confide himself to +the unknown currents of the atmosphere It threatened him with +dangers, perhaps with death by a fill, by fire, by cold, or by +straying into the mysterious cloud-land. Two men opposed the +first attempt. Montgolfier temporised, the king forbade it, or +rather only gave his permission on the condition that two +condemned criminals should be placed in the balloon! "What!" +cried Roziers, in indignation at the king's proposal, "allow two +vile criminals to have the first glory of rising into the sky! +No, no; that will never do!" Roziers conjured, supplicated, +agitated in a hundred ways for permission to try the first +voyage. He moved the town and the court; he addressed himself to +those who were most in favour at Versailles; he pleaded with the +Duchess de Polignac, who was all-powerful with the king. She +warmly supported his cause before Louis. Roziers dispatched the +Marquis d'Arlandes, who had been up with him, to the king. +Arlandes asserted that there was no danger, and, as proof of his +conviction, he offered himself to accompany Roziers. Solicited +on all sides, Louis at last yielded. + +The gardens of La Muette, near Paris, were fixed upon as the spot +from which this aerial expedition should start. The Dauphin and +his suite were present on the occasion. It was on the 21st of +October, 1783, at one o'clock p.m., that Roziers and Irelands took +their leave of the earth for the first time. The following is +Arlandes' narrative of the expedition, given in the form of a +letter, addressed by the marquis to Faujas de Saint Fond:--"You +wish, my dear Faujas, and I consent most willingly to your +desires, that, owing to the number of questions continually +addressed to me, and for other reasons, I should gratify public +curiosity and fix public opinion upon the subject of our aerial +voyage. + +"I wish to describe as well as I can the first journey which men +have attempted through an element which, prior to the discovery +of MM. Montgolfier, seemed so little fitted to support them. + +"We went up on the 21st of October, 1783, at near two o'clock, M. +Roziers on the west side of the balloon, I on the east. The wind +was nearly north-west. The machine, say the public, rose with +majesty; but really the position of the balloon altered so that +M. Roziers was in the advance of our position, I in the rear. + +"I was surprised at the silence and the absence of movement which +our departure caused among the spectators, and believed them to +be astonished and perhaps awed at the strange spectacle; they +might well have reassured themselves I was still gazing, when M. +Roziers cried to me-- + +"'You are doing nothing, and the balloon is scarcely rising a +fathom.' + +"'Pardon me,' I answered, as I placed a bundle of straw upon the +fire and slightly stirred it. Then I turned quickly, but already +we had passed out of sight of La Muette. Astonished, I cast a +glance towards the river. I perceived the confluence of the +Oise. And naming the principal bends of the river by the places +nearest them, I cried, 'Passy, St. Germain, St. Denis, Sevres!' + +"'If you look at the river in that fashion you will be likely to +bathe in it soon,' cried Roziers. 'Some fire, my dear friend, +some fire!' + +"We travelled on; but instead of crossing the river, as our +direction seemed to indicate, we bore towards the Invalides, then +returned upon the principal bed of the river, and travelled to +above the barrier of La Conference, thus dodging about the river, +but not crossing it. + +"'That river is very difficult to cross,' I remarked to my +companion. + +"'So it seems,' he answered; 'but you are doing nothing I suppose +it is because you are braver than 1, and don't fear a tumble.' + +"I stirred the fire, I seized a truss of straw with my fork; I +raised it and threw it in the midst of the flames. An instant +afterwards I felt myself lifted as it were into the heavens. + +"'For once we move,' said I. + +"'Yes, we move,' answered my companion. + +"At the same instant I heard from the top of the balloon a sound +which made me believe that it had burst. I watched, yet I saw +nothing. My companion had gone into the interior, no doubt to +make some observations. As my eyes were fixed on the top of the +machine I experienced a shock, and it was the only one I had yet +felt. The direction of the movement was from above downwards I +then said-- + +"'What are you doing? Are you having a dance to yourself?' + +"'I'm not moving.' + +"'So much the better. It is only a new current which I hope will +carry us from the river,' I answered. + +"I turned to see where we were, and found we were between the +Ecole Militaire and the Invalides. + +"'We are getting on.' said Roziers. + +"'Yes, we are travelling.' + +"'Let us work, let us work,' said he. + +"I now heard another report in the machine, which I believed was +produced by the cracking of a cord. This new intimation made me +carefully examine the inside of our habitation. I saw that the +part that was turned towards the south was full of holes, of +which some were of a considerable size. + +"'It must descend,' I then cried. + +"'Why?' + +"'Look!' I said. At the same time I took my sponge and quietly +extinguished the little fire that was burning some of the holes +within my reach; but at the same moment I perceived that the +bottom of the cloth was coming away from the circle which +surrounded it. + +"'We must descend,' I repeated to my companion. + +"He looked below. + +"'We are upon Paris,' he said. + +"'It does not matter,' I answered 'Only look! Is there no danger? +Are you holding on well?' + +"'Yes.' + +"I examined from my side, and saw that we had nothing to fear. I +then tried with my sponge the ropes which were within my reach. +All of them held firm. Only two of the cords had broken. + +"I then said, 'We can cross Paris.' + +"During this operation we were rapidly getting down to the roofs. +We made more fire, and rose again with the greatest ease. I +looked down, and it seemed to me we were going towards the towers +of St. Sulpice; but, on rising, a new current made us quit this +direction and bear more to the south. I looked to the left, and +beheld a wood, which I believed to be that of Luxembourg. We +were traversing the boulevard, and I cried all at once-- + +"'Get to ground!' + +"But the intrepid Roziers, who never lost his head, and who +judged more surely than I, prevented me from attempting to +descend. I then threw a bundle of straw on the fire. We rose +again, and another current bore us to were now close to the +ground, between two mills. As soon to the left. We as we came +near the earth I raised myself over the gallery, and leaning +there with my two hands, I felt the balloon pressing softly +against my head. I pushed it back, and leaped down to the +ground. Looking round and expecting to see the balloon still +distended, I was astonished to find it quite empty and flattened. +On looking for Roziers I saw him in his shirt-sleeves creeping +out from under the mass of canvas that had fallen over him. +Before attempting to descend he had put off his coat and placed +it in the basket. After a deal of trouble we were at last all +right. + +"As Roziers was without a coat I besought him to go to the +nearest house. On his way thither he encountered the Duke of +Chartres, who had followed us, as we saw, very closely, for I had +had the honour of conversing with him the moment before we set +out." + +The following report of this first aerial voyage was drawn up by +scientific observers, among other signatures to it being that of +Benjamin Franklin. + +"Today 21st of October, 1783, at the Chateau de la Muette, an +experiment was made with the aerostatic machine of M. +Montgolfier. The sky was clouded in many parts, clear in +others--the wind north-west. At mid-day a signal was given, +which announced that the balloon was being filled. Soon after, +in spite of the wind, it was inflated in all its parts, and the +ascent was made. The Marquis d'Arlandes and M. Pilatre des +Roziers were in the gallery. The first intention was to raise +the machine and pull it back with ropes, to test it, to find out +the exact weight which it could carry, and to see if everything +was properly arranged before the actual ascent was attempted. +But the machine, driven by the wind, far from rising vertically, +was directed upon one of the walks of a garden, and the cords +which held it shook with so much force that several rents were +made in the balloon. The machine, being brought back to its +place, was repaired in less than two hours. Being again +inflated, it rose once more, bearing the same persons, and when +it had risen to the height of 250 feet, the intrepid voyagers, +bowing their heads, saluted the spectators. One could not resist +a feeling of mingled fear and admiration. Soon the aeronauts were +lost to view, but the balloon itself, displaying its very +beautiful shape, mounted to the height of 3,000 feet, and still +remained visible. The voyagers, satisfied with their experience, +and not wishing to make a longer course, agreed to descend, but, +perceiving that the wind was driving them upon the houses of the +Rue de Sevres, preserved their self-possession, renewed the hot +air, rose anew and continued their course till they had passed +Paris. + +"They then descended tranquilly in the country, beyond the new +boulevard, without having experienced the slightest +inconvenience, having still the greater part of their fuel +untouched. They could, had they desired, have cleared a distance +three times as great as that which they traversed. Their flight +was nearly 30,000 feet, and the time it occupied was from twenty +to twenty-five minutes. This machine was 70 feet high, 46 feet +in diameter, and had a capacity of 60,000 cubic feet." + +It is reported that Franklin, more illustrious in his humility +than the most brilliant among the lords of the court, when +consulted respecting the possible use of balloons, answered +simply, "C'est l'enfant qui vient de naitre?" + + + +Chapter X. The Second Arial Voyage. + +(1st December 1783.--Charles and Robert at the Tuileries.) + +The first ascent of Roziers and Arlandes was a feat of hardihood +almost unique. The men's courage was, so to speak, their only +guarantee. Thanks to the balloon, however, they accomplished one +of the most extraordinary enterprises ever achieved by our race. + +On the day after the experiment of the Champ de Mars (27th of +August), Professor Charles--who had already acquired celebrity at +the Louvre, by his scientific collection and by his rank as an +official instructor--and the Brothers Robert, mechanicians, were +engaged in the construction of a balloon, to be inflated with +hydrogen gas, and destined to carry a car and one or two +passengers. For this ascent Charles may be said to have created +all at once the art of aerostation as now practiced, for he +brought it at one bound to such perfection that since his day +scarcely any advance has been made upon his arrangements. His +simple yet complete invention was that of the valve which gives +escape to the hydrogen gas, and thus renders the descent of the +balloon gentle and gradual; the car that carries the travellers; +the ballast of sand, by which the ascent is regulated and the +fall is moderated; the coating of caoutchouc, by means of which +the material of the balloon is rendered airtight and prevents +loss of gas; and, finally, the use of the barometer, which marks +at every instant, by the elevation or the depression of the +mercury, the position in which the aeronaut finds himself in the +atmosphere. Charles created all the contrivances, or, in other +words, all the ingenious precautions which make up the art of +aerostation. + +On the 26th of November, the balloon, fitted with its network, +and having the car attached to it, was sent away from the hall of +the Tuileries, where it had been exhibited. The ascent was fixed +for the 1st of December, 1783, a memorable day for the Parisians. + +At noon upon that day, the subscribers, who had paid four louis +for their seats, took their places within the enclosure outside +the circle, in which stood the casks employed for making the gas. +The humbler subscribers, at three francs a-head, occupied the +rest of the garden. The number of spectators, as we read +underneath the numerous coloured prints which represent this +spectacle, was 600,000; but though, without doubt, the gardens of +the Tuileries are very large, it is probable this figure is a +considerable overstatement, for this number would have been +three-fourths of the whole population of Paris. + +The roofs and windows of the houses were crowded, whilst the Pont +Royal and the square of Louis XV. were covered by an immense +multitude. About mid-day a rumour was spread to the effect that +the king forbade the ascent. Charles ran to the Chief Minister +of State, and plainly told him that his life was the king's, but +his honour was his own: his word was pledged to the country and +he would ascend. Taking this high ground, the bold professor +gained an unwilling permission to carry out his undertaking. + +A little afterwards the sound of cannon was heard. This was the +signal which announced the last arrangements and thus dissipated +all doubt as to the rising of the balloon, There had during the +day been considerable disturbance among the crowd, between the +partisans of Charles and Montgolfier; each party extolled its +hero, and did everything possible to detract from the merits of +the rival inventor. But whatever ill-feeling might have existed +was swept away by Professor Charles with a compliment. When he +was ready to ascend, he walked up to Montgolfier, and, with the +true instinct of French politeness, presented him with a little +balloon, saying at the same time-- + +"It is for you, monsieur, to show us the way to the skies." + +The exquisite taste and delicacy of this incident touched the +bystanders as with an electric shock, and the place at once rang +out with the most genuine and hearty applause The little balloon +thrown up by Montgolfier sped away to the north-east, its +beautiful emerald colour showing to fine effect in the sun. + +From this point let us follow the narrative of Professor Charles +himself. + +"The balloon," he says, "which escaped from the hands of M. +Montgolfier, rose into the air, and seemed to carry with it the +testimony of friendship and regard between that gentleman and +myself, while acclamations followed it. Meanwhile, we hastily +prepared for departure. The stormy weather did not permit us to +have at our command all the arrangements which we had +contemplated the previous evening; to do so would have detained +us too long upon the earth. After the balloon and the car were +in equilibrium, we threw over 19 lbs. of ballast, and we rose in +the midst of silence, arising from the emotion and surprise felt +on all sides. + +"Nothing will ever equal that moment of joyous excitement which +filled my whole being when I felt myself flying away from the +earth. It was not mere pleasure; it was perfect bliss. Escaped +from the frightful torments of persecution and of calumny, I felt +that I was answering all in rising above all. + +"To this sentiment succeeded one more lively still--the +admiration of the majestic spectacle that spread itself out +before us. On whatever side we looked, all was glorious; a +cloudless sky above, a most delicious view around. 'Oh, my +friend,' said I to M. Robert, 'how great is our good fortune! I +care not what may be the condition of the earth; it is the sky +that is for me now. What serenity! what a ravishing scene! +Would that I could bring here the last of our detractors, and say +to the wretch, Behold what you would have lost had you arrested +the progress of science.' + +"Whilst we were rising with a progressively increasing speed, we +waved our bannerets in token of our cheerfulness, and in order to +give confidence to those below who took an interest in our fate. +M. Robert made an inventory of our stores; our friends had +stocked our commissariat as for a long voyage--champagne and +other wines, garments of fur and other articles of clothing. + +"'Good,' I said; 'throw that out of the window.' He took a +blanket and launched it into the air, through which it floated +down slowly, and fell upon the dome of l'Assomption. + +"When the barometer had fallen 26 inches, we ceased to ascend. We +were up at an elevation of 1,800 feet. This was the height to +which I had promised myself to ascend; and, in fact, from this +moment to the time when we disappeared from the eyes of our +friends, we always kept a horizontal course, the barometer +registering 26 inches to 26 inches 8 lines. + +"We required to throw over ballast in proportion as the almost +insensible escape of the hydrogen gas caused us to descend, in +order to remain as nearly as possible at the same elevation. If +circumstances had permitted us to measure the amount of ballast +we threw over, our course would have been almost absolutely +horizontal. + +"After remaining for a few moments stationary, our car I changed +its course, and we were carried on at the will of the wind. Soon +we passed the Seine, between St. Ouen and Asnieres. We traversed +the river a second time, leaving Argenteuil upon the left. We +passed Sannois, Franconville, Eau-Bonne, St. Leu-Taverny, +Villiers, and finally, Nesles. This was about twenty-seven miles +from Paris, and we had I reached this distance in two hours, +although there was so little wind that the air scarcely stirred. + +"During the whole course of this delightful voyage, not the +slightest apprehension for our fate or that of our machine +entered my head for a moment. The globe did not suffer any +alteration beyond the successive changes of dilatation and +compression, which enabled us to mount and descend at will. The +thermometer was, during more than an hour, between ten and twelve +degrees above zero; this being to some extent accounted for by +the fact that the interior of the car was warmed by the rays of +the sun. + +"At the end of fifty-six minutes, we heard the report of the +cannon which informed us that we had, at that moment, disappeared +from view at Paris. We rejoiced that we had escaped, as we were +no longer obliged to observe a horizontal course, and to regulate +the balloon for that purpose. + +"We gave ourselves up to the contemplation of the views which the +immense stretch of country beneath us presented. From that time, +though we had no opportunity of conversing with the inhabitants, +we saw them running after us from all parts; we heard their +cries, their exclamations of solicitude, and knew their alarm and +admiration. + +"We cried, 'Vive le Roi!' and the people responded. We heard, +very distinctly--'My good friends, have you no fear? Are you not +sick? How beautiful it is! Heaven preserve you! Adieu, my +friends.' + +"I was touched to tears by this tender and true interest which +our appearance had called forth. + +"We continued to wave our flags without cessation, and we +perceived that these signals greatly increased the cheerfulness +and calmed the solicitude of the people below. Often we +descended sufficiently low to hear what they shouted to us. They +asked us where we came from, and at what hour we had started. + +"We threw over successively frock-coats, muffs, and habits. +Sailing on above the Ile d'Adam, after having admired the +splendid view, we made signals with our flags, and demanded news +of the Prince of Conti. One cried up to us, in a very powerful +voice, that he was at Paris, and that he was ill. We regretted +missing such an opportunity of paying our respects, for we could +have descended into the prince's gardens, if we had wished, but +we preferred to pursue our course, and we re-ascended. Finally, +we arrived at the plain of Nesles. + +"We saw from the distance groups of peasants, who ran on before +us across the fields. 'Let us go,' I said, and we descended +towards a vast meadow. + +"Some shrubs and trees stood round its border. Our car advanced +majestically in a long inclined plane. On arriving near the +trees, I feared that their branches might damage the car, so I +threw over two pounds of ballast, and we rose again. We ran +along more than 120 feet, at a distance of one or two feet from +the ground, and had the appearance of travelling in a sledge. +The peasants ran after us without being able to catch us, like +children pursuing a butterfly in the fields. + +"Finally, we stopped, and were instantly surrounded. Nothing +could equal the simple and tender regard of the country people, +their admiration, and their lively emotion. + +"I called at once for the cures and the magistrates. They came +round me on all sides: there was quite a fete on the spot. I +prepared a short report, which the cures and the syndics signed. +Then arrived a company of horsemen at a gallop. These were the +Duke of Chartres, the Duke of Fitzjames, and M. Farrer. By a +very singular chance, we had come down close by the hunting-lodge +of the latter. He leaped from his horse and threw himself into +my arms, crying, 'Monsieur Charles, I was first!' + +"Charles adds that they were covered with the caresses of the +prince, who embraced both of them. He briefly narrated to the +Duke of Chartres some incidents of the voyage. + +"'But this is not all, monseigneur. I am going away again,' +added Charles. + +"'What! Going away!' exclaimed the duke. + +"'Monseigneur, you will see. When do you wish me to come back +again?' I said. + +"'In half an hour.' + +"'Very well: be it so. In half an hour I shall be with you +again.' + +"M. Robert descended from the car, and I was alone in the +balloon. + +"I said to the duke, 'Monseigneur, I go.' I said to the peasants +who held down the balloon, 'My friends, go away, all of you, from +the car at the moment I give the signal.' I then rose like a +bird, and in ten minutes I was more than 3,000 feet above the +ground. I no longer perceived terrestrial objects; I only saw +the great masses of nature. + +"In going away, Charles had taken his precautions against the +possible explosion of the balloon, and made himself ready to make +certain observations. In order to observe the barometer and the +thermometer, placed at different extremities of the car, without +endangering the equilibrium, he sat down in the middle, a watch +and paper in his left hand, a pen and the cord of the +safety-valve in his right. + +"I waited for what should happen," continues he. "The balloon, +which was quite flabby and soft when I ascended, was now taut, +and fully distended. Soon the hydrogen gas began to escape in +considerable quantities by the neck of the balloon, and then, +from time to time, I pulled open the valve to give it two issues +at once; and I continued thus to mount upwards, all the time +losing the inflammable air, which, rushing past me from the neck +of the balloon, felt like a warm cloud. + +"I passed in ten minutes from the temperature of spring to that +of winter; the cold was keen and dry, but not insupportable. I +examined all my sensations calmly; _I_ COULD HEAR MYSELF LIVE, +so to speak, and I am certain that at first I experienced nothing +disagreeable in this sudden passage from one temperature to +another. + +"When the barometer ceased to move I noted very exactly eighteen +inches ten lines. This observation is perfectly accurate The +mercury did not suffer any sensible movement. + +"At the end of some minutes the cold caught my fingers; I could +hardly hold the pen, but I no longer had need to do so. I was +stationary, or rather moved only in a horizontal direction. + +"I raised myself in the middle of the car, and abandoned myself +to the spectacle before me. At my departure from the meadow the +sun had sunk to the people of the valleys; soon he shone for me +alone, and came again to pour his rays upon the balloon and the +car. I was the only creature in the horizon in sunshine--all the +rest of nature was in shade. Ere long, however, the sun +disappeared, and thus I had the pleasure of seeing him set twice +in the same day. I contemplated for some moments the mists and +vapours that rose from the valley and the rivers The clouds +seemed to come forth from the earth, and to accumulate the one +upon the other. Their colour was a monotonous grey--a natural +effect, for there was no light save that of the moon. + +"I observed that I had tacked round twice, and I felt currents +which called me to my senses. I found with surprise the effect +of the wind, and saw the cloth of my flag: extended horizontally. + +"In the midst of the inexpressible pleasure of this state of +ecstatic contemplation, I was recalled to myself by a most +extraordinary pain which I felt in the interior of the ears and +in the maxillary glands. This I attributed to the dilation of +the air contained in the cellular tissue of the organ as much as +to the cold outside. I was in my vest, with my head uncovered. +I immediately covered my head with a bonnet of wool which was at +my feet, but the pain only disappeared with my descent to the +ground. + +"It was now seven or eight minutes since I had arrived at this +elevation, and I now commenced to descend. I remembered the +promise I had made to the Duke of Chartres, to return in half an +hour. I quickened my descent by opening the valve from time to +time. Soon the balloon, empty now to one half, presented the +appearance of a hemisphere. + +"Arrived at twenty-three fathoms from the earth, I suddenly threw +over two or three pounds of ballast, which arrested my descent, +and which I had carefully kept for this purpose. I then slowly +descended upon the ground, which I had, so to speak, chosen." + +Such is the narrative of the second aerial voyage. After such a +memorable ascent one is astonished to learn that Professor +Charles never repeated his experiment. It has been said that, in +descending from his car, he had vowed that he would never again +expose himself to such perils, so strong had been the alarm he +felt when the peasants ceasing to hold him down he shot up into +the sky with the rapidity of an arrow. But after him a thousand +others have followed the daring example he set. With this ascent +the memorable year 1783 closed, and the seed which had been sown +soon began to be productive. + + + +PART II. + +The History of Aerostation from the Year 1783. + +Chapter I. The Open Route--Travels and Travellers--Great +Increase in the Number of Air Voyages--Lyons, Ascent of "Le +Flesselles--Milan, Ascent of Adriani--Flight of a Balloon from +London--Lost Balloons in the Chief Towns of Europe + +From the year 1783, in which aerostation had its birth, and in +which it was carried to a degree of perfection, beside which the +progress of aeronauts in our days seems small, a new route was +opened up for travellers. The science of Montgolfier, the +practical art of Professor Charles, and the courage of Roziers, +subdued the scepticism of those who had not yet given in their +adhesion to the possible value of the great discovery, and +throughout the whole of France a feverish degree of enthusiasm in +the art manifested itself Aerial excursions now became quite +fashionable. Let it be understood that we do not here refer to +ascents in fixed balloons, that is, in balloons which were +attached to the earth by means of ropes more or less long. + +M. Biot narrates that, in his young days, when aeronautic ascents +were less known than they are in these times, there was in the +plain of Grenelle, at the mill of Javelle, an establishment where +balloons were constantly maintained for the accommodation of +amateurs of both sexes who wished to make ascents in what were +called "ballons captifs," or balloons anchored, so to speak, to +the earth by means of long ropes They were for a considerable +time the rage of fashionable society, and it is not recorded that +any accidents resulted from the practice. Of course it may be +easily understood with these safe balloons the adventurous +aeronauts never ascended to any great height. The reader will +find this subject treated under the chapter of military +aerostation. + +We are at present specially engaged with the narrative of the +first attempts in aerostation--the first experiments in the new +discovery. We have followed with interest the exciting details +of the first adventurous ascents, in which the genius of man +first essayed the unexplored paths of the heavens. Yet a +continued record of aerial voyages would not be of the same +interest. The results of subsequent expeditions, and the +impressions of subsequent aeronauts are the same as those already +described, or differ from them only in minor points. No +important advance is recorded in the art. We shall therefore +endeavour not to confine ourselves to the narrative of a dry and +monotonous chronology, but to select from the number of ascents +that have taken place within the last eighty years, only those +whose special character renders them worthy of more detailed and +severe investigation. + +In order to give an idea of the rapid multiplication of +aeronautic experiments, it will suffice to state that the only +aeronauts of 1783 are Roziers, the Marquis d'Arlandes, Professor +Charles, his collaborateur the younger Robert, and a carpenter, +named Wilcox, who made ascents at Philadelphia and London. + +A number of balloons were remarkable for the beauty and elegance +which we have already spoken of. Among the most beautiful we may +mention the "Flesselles" balloon and Bagnolet's balloon. + +Of the ascents which immediately succeeded those that have been +treated in the first part of our volume, and which are the most +memorable in the early annals of aerostation, that of the 17th of +January, 1784, is remarkable. It took place at Lyons. Seven +persons went into the car on this occasion--Joseph Montgolfier, +Roziers, the Comte de Laurencin, the Comte de Dampierre, the +Prince Charles de Ligne, the Comte de Laporte d'Anglifort, and +Fontaine, who threw himself into the car when it had already +begun to move. + +A most minute account of this experiment is given in a letter of +Mathon de la Cour, director of the Academy of Sciences at +Lyons:--"After the experiments of the Champ de Mars and +Versailles had become known," he says, "the citizens of this town +proposed to repeat them" and a subscription was opened for this +purpose. On the arrival of the elder Montgolfier, about the end +of September, M. de Flesselles, our director, always zealous in +promoting whatever might be for the welfare of the province and +the advancement of science and art, persuaded him to organise the +subscription. The aim of the experiment proposed by Montgolfier +was not the ascent of any human being in the balloon. The +prospectus only announced that a balloon of a much larger size +than any that had been made would ascend--that it would rise to +several thousand feet, and that, including the animals that it +was proposed it should carry, it would weigh 8,000 lbs. The +subscription was fixed at L12, and the number of subscribers was +360." + +It was on these conditions that Montgolfier commenced his balloon +of 126 feet high and 100 feet in diameter, made of a double +envelope of cotton cloth, with a lining of paper between. A +strength and consistency was given to the structure by means of +ribbons and cords. + +The work was nearly finished when Roziers went up in his +fire-balloon from La Muette. Immediately the Comte de Laurencin +pressed Montgolfier to allow him to go up in the new machine. +Montgolfier was only too glad of the opportunity--refused up to +this time by the king--of going up himself. From thirty to forty +people made application to go with the aeronauts; and on the 26th +of December, 1678, Roziers, the Comte de Dampierre, and the Comte +de Laporte, arrived in Lyons with the same intention. Prince +Charles also arrived; and as his father had taken one hundred +subscriptions, his claim to go up could not be refused. + +But while the public papers were full of ascents at Avignon, +Marseilles, and Paris, it is impossible to describe the vexation +of Roziers, when he discovered that Montgolfier's new balloon was +not intended to carry passengers, and had not been, from the +first, constructed with that view. He suggested a number of +alterations, which Montgolfier adopted at once. + +On the 7th of January, 1784, all the pieces of which the balloon +was composed were carried out to the field called Les Brotteaux, +outside the town, from which the ascent was to be made. This +event was announced to take place on the 10th and at five o'clock +on the morning of that day; but unexpected delays occurred, and +in the necessary operations the covering was torn in many places. + +On the 15th the balloon was inflated in seventeen minutes, and +the gallery was attached in an hour--the fire from which the +heated air was obtained requiring to be fed at the rate of 5 lbs. +of alder-wood per minute; but the preparations had occupied so +much time, that it was found, when everything was complete, that +the afternoon was too far advanced for the ascent to be made. +This machine was destined to suffer from endless misfortunes. It +took fire while being inflated, and, several days afterwards, it +was damaged by snow and rain. Put nothing discouraged Roziers +and his companions. Places had been arranged in the gallery for +six persons. After the balloon was at last inflated, Prince +Charles and the Comes de Laurencin, Dampierre, and Laporte threw +themselves into the gallery. They were all armed, and were +determined not to quit their places to whoever might come. +Roziers, who wished at the last to enjoy a high ascent, proposed +to reduce the number to three, and to draw lots for the purpose. +But the gentlemen would not descend. The debate became animated. +The four voyagers cried to cut the ropes. The director of the +Academy, to whom application was made in this emergency, admiring +the resolution and the courage of the four gentlemen, wished to +satisfy them in their desire. Accordingly the ropes were cut; +but at that moment M. Montgolfier and Roziers threw themselves +into the gallery. At the same time a certain M. Fontaine, who +had had much to do in the construction of the machine, threw +himself in, although it had not previously been arranged that he +should be of the party. His boldness in jumping in was pardoned, +on the ground of his services and his zeal. + +In going away the machine turned to the south-west, and bent a +little. A rope which dragged along the ground seemed to retard +its ascent; but some intelligent person having cut this with a +hatchet, it began to right itself and ascend. At a certain +height it turned to the north east. The wind was feeble, and the +progress was slow, but the imposing effect was indescribable. +The immense machine rose into the air as by some effect of magic. +Nearly 100,000 spectators were present, and they were greatly +excited at the view. They clapped their hands and stretched +their arms towards the sky; women fainted away, or (for some +reasons best known to themselves) found relief for their +excitement in tears; while the men, uttering cries of joy, waved +their handkerchiefs, and threw their hats into the air. + +The form of the machine was that of a globe, rising from a +reversed and truncated cone, to which the gallery was attached. +The upper part was white, the lower part grey; and the cone was +composed of strips of stuff of different colours. On the sides +of the balloon were two paintings, one of which represented +History, the other Fame. The flag bore the arms of the director +of the Academy, and above it were inscribed the words "Le +Flesselles." + +The voyagers observed that they did not consume a fourth of the +quantity of combustibles after they had risen into the air, which +they consumed when attached to the earth. They were in the +gayest humour, and they calculated that the fuel they had would +keep them floating till late in the evening. Unfortunately, +however, after throwing more wood on the fire, in order to get up +to a greater altitude, it was discovered that a rent had been +made in the covering, caused by the fire by which the balloon had +been damaged two or three days previously. The rent was four +feet in length; and as the heated air escaped very rapidly by it, +the balloon fell, after having sailed above the earth for barely +fifteen minutes. + +The descent only occupied two or three minutes, and yet the shock +was supportable. It was observed that as soon as the machine had +touched the earth all the cloth became unfolded in a few seconds, +which seemed to confirm the opinion of Montgolfier, who believed +that electricity had much to do in the ascent of balloons. The +voyagers were got out of the balloon without accident, and were +greeted with the most enthusiastic applause. + +On the day of the ascent, the opera of "Iphigenia in Aulis" was +given, and the theatre was thronged by a vast assemblage, +attracted thither in the hope of seeing the illustrious +experimentalists. The curtain had risen when M. and Madame de +Flesselles entered their box, accompanied by Montgolfier and +Roziers. At sight of them the enthusiasm of the house rose to +fever pitch. The other voyagers also entered, and were greeted +with the same demonstrations. Cries arose from the pit to begin +the opera again, in honour of the visitors. The curtain then +fell, and when it again rose, after a few moments, the actor who +filled the role of Agamemnon advanced with crowns, which he +handed to Madame de Flesselles, who distributed them to the +aeronauts. Roziers placed the crown that had been given to him +upon Montgolfier's head. + +When the actress who played the part of Clytemnestra, sung the +passage beginning-- + +"I love to see these flattering honours paid," + +the audience at once applied her song to the circumstances, and +re-demanded it, which request the actress complied with, +addressing herself to the box in which the distinguished visitors +sat. The demonstrations of admiration were continued after the +opera was over; and during the whole of the night the gentlemen +of the balloon ascent were serenaded. + +Two days afterwards, Roziers having appeared at a ball, received +further proofs of admiration and honours; and when, on the 22nd +of January, he departed for Dijon on his return to Paris, he was +accompanied as in a triumph by a numerous cavalcade of the most +distinguished young men of the city. + +There was, however, at Paris, much discontent with the ascent of +"Le Flesselles;" and the Journal de Paris de Paris, which notices +so enthusiastically the other ascents of that epoch, speaks +slightingly of that at Lyons. + +The next great ascent took place at Milan, on the 25th of +February, 1784, under the direction of the Chevalier Paul +Andriani, who had a balloon constructed by the Brothers Gerli, at +his own expense. We read that this balloon was 66 feet in +diameter, and that the envelope was composed of cloth, lined in +the interior with fine paper. + +The balloon was not in all respects constructed like that which +rose at Lyons. The grating which supported the fire that kept up +the supply of hot air was placed at the mouth of the opening. It +was made of copper, was six feet in diameter, and was secured by +a number of transverse beams of wood. M. Andriani thought it +best to place his fire--contrary to general usage--a little way +above the mouth of the opening, and he found out that the +activity of the fire was in proportion with that of the air which +entered and fed it. + +In place of making use of a gallery like that employed by +Montgolfier, as much to manage the fire as to carry the traveller +and the fuel, he substituted a wide basket, suspended by cords to +the edge of the opening of the balloon, at such a distance that +fuel could be thrown on with the hand without being +inconvenienced by the heat. + +Everything being in readiness, the machine was carried to +Moncuco, the splendid domain of Andriani, where the first +experiments were made; for this gentlemen knew that as the +populace are impatient, they are also often un-reasonable, and +jump to the hastiest and most inconsiderate conclusion when, in +witnessing scientific experiments, any of the arrangements happen +to be imperfect, and the results in any respect prove +unsuccessful. + +Andriani did not deceive himself, for, sure enough, his first +attempt did not come up to expectation. The reasons for this +failure were the too great quantity of air which the fire drew +in, and the unsuitable character of the fuel used. + +On the 25th of February, 1784, a second attempt was made. The +fire was lighted under the machine, at first with dry birch-wood. +and afterwards with a bituminous composition, ingeniously +concocted by one of the Brothers Gerli. In less than four +minutes the balloon was completely inflated, and the men employed +to hold it down with ropes perceived that it was on the point of +rising. The aeronauts then gave the order to let go. Scarcely +was the balloon let off, when it gently rose a short distance, +and then flew in a horizontal direction towards a palace in the +neighbourhood. In order that the structure should not be +destroyed on the walls and the roof of the palace, the voyagers +heaped on the fuel, and the spectators, who had gathered together +from the surrounding villages, then saw this strange vessel of +the air rising with rapidity to a surprising height. Such a +phenomenon was so astonishing, that those who beheld it could +hardly believe their own eyes; and when the balloon disappeared +from view, the delight they had manifested was dashed with fear +for the fate of the bold aeronauts. The latter, seeing that the +balloon was driving through the air towards a range of rocky +hills in the neighbourhood, and perceiving, on the other hand, +that their stock of combustibles was nearly exhausted, judged it +prudent to descend. They diminished their fire, and came +gradually down, warning the multitude below of their intention by +means of a speaking-trumpet. + +In the course of the descent the balloon alighted upon a large +tree, to the great peril of the travellers; but as soon as the +fire was increased it again mounted and got clear from the +branches while the people below, grasping the cords that were +hung out to them, guided the machine to the spot which the +voyagers indicated. To descend to terra firma was then a +comparatively easy matter, and it was safely accomplished. The +fire, which in the case of the French balloons had dried, +calcined, and almost consumed the upper part of the balloon, had +no evil effect upon that of Andriani, which came down looking as +fresh as if it had never been used. + +The new idea had now passed the frontiers of France, in which it +was originally conceived, and among the other nations, as at +first in France, the power of the inflated balloon came to be +tested everywhere by the construction of small toy globes. + +It was just about five months after the first experiment at +Annonay--viz., on the 25th of November, 1783--that the first +balloon ascended in London. We are informed, in the History of +Aerostation by Tiberius Cavallo, that an Italian, Count +Zambeccari, who was staying in the English capital, made a +balloon of silk, covered with a varnish of oil. Its diameter was +ten feet, and its weight eleven pounds. It was gilded for the +double purpose of enhancing its appearance and preventing the +escape of air. After having been exposed to public inspection +for several days, it was filled three parts full of hydrogen gas, +a tin bottle was suspended from it, containing an address to +whoever might find it when it should fall, and it was let off +from the Artillery Ground, in presence of a vast assembly. + +On the 11th of December, 1783, a little balloon, made of +gold-beaters' skin, was let off publicly at Turin. This was an +experiment similar to that which had been tried at Paris in +September. The balloon was seen to penetrate the clouds, then to +mount still higher, and finally to disappear entirely in five +minutes fifty-four seconds from the time when it was set free. + +It was natural, after the experiments made long before with +electric paper kites, to employ the balloon in the investigation +of the electric conditions of the atmosphere. The first to use +it for this purpose was the Abbe Berthelon de Montpellier. He +sent up a number of balloons, to which he had attached pieces of +metal, long and narrow, and terminating in a cylinder of glass, +or other substance suitable for the purpose of isolation, and he +obtained sufficient electricity by these means to demonstrate the +phenomena of attraction and repulsion, as well as electric +sparks. + +Cavallo mentions an accident which took place in England about +this time, and which served as a warning to all who had to do +with balloons filled with hydrogen gas. A balloon thus inflated +had been sent up at Hopton, near Matlock, and was found by two +men near Cheadle, in Staffordshire. These ingenious persons +carried it within doors, and having wished to fully inflate +it--half the gas having by this time escaped--they applied a pair +of bellows to its mouth. By this means they only forced out the +volume of the hydrogen gas that was left; and this gas, coming in +contact with a candle that had been placed too near, exploded. +The report was louder than that of a cannon, and so powerful was +the shock that the men were thrown down, the glass blown out of +the windows, and the house otherwise damaged. The men suffered +severely, their hair, beards, and eyebrows being completely burnt +away, and their faces severely scorched. + +At Grenoble, in Dauphine, De Baron let off a balloon on the 13th +of January, 1784. It rose, and at first took a northern +direction; but, having encountered a current of air, it was +carried away in a south-easterly direction, and after flying a +distance of three-quarters of a mile, it fell, having traversed +this distance in fifteen minutes. + +A society, under the presidency of the Abbe de Mably, having +constructed a balloon thirty-seven feet high and twenty feet in +diameter, sent it off from the court of the Castle of Pisancon, +near Romano, on the same day, the 13th of February. At first it +was carried to the south by a strong north wind, but after it had +risen to 1,000 feet above the surface, its course was changed +towards the north. It was calculated that, in less than five +minutes, this balloon rose to the height of 6,000 feet. + +On the 16th of the same month the Count d'Albon threw off from +his gardens at Franconville a balloon inflated with gas, and made +of silk, rendered air-tight by a solution of gum-arabic. It was +oblong, and measured twenty-five feet in height, and seventeen +feet in diameter. To this balloon a cage, containing two +guinea-pigs and a rabbit, was suspended. The cords were cut, and +the inflated globe rose to an enormous height with the greatest +rapidity. Five days afterwards it was found at the distance of +eighteen miles, and it is remarkable that, in spite of the cold +of the season, and particularly of the elevated region through +which the balloon had been passing, the animals were not only +living, but in good condition. + +On the 3rd of February, 1784, the Marquis de Bullion sent up a +paper balloon, of about fifteen feet in diameter. A flat sponge, +about a foot square, placed in a tin dish and drenched with a +pint of spirits of wine, was the only apparatus made use of to +create a supply of heated air. It rose at Paris, and three hours +afterwards it was found near Basville, about thirty miles from +the capital. + +On the 15th of the same month Cellard de Chastelais sent up a +paper balloon. Heated air was supplied on this occasion by a +paper roll, enclosing a sponge, and soaked in oil, spirits of +wine, and grease. A cage, which contained a cat, was attached to +this air globe. In thirty-five minutes it had mounted so high +that it looked but like the smallest star, and in two hours it +had flown a distance of forty-six miles from the place where it +was thrown off. The cat was dead, but it was not discovered from +what cause. + +The first balloon that traversed the English channel was sent off +at Sandwich, in Kent, on the 22nd of February, 1784. It was five +feet in diameter, and was inflated with hydrogen gas. It rose +rapidly, and was carried toward France by a north-west wind. Two +hours and a half after it had been let off it was found in a +field about nine miles from Lille. The balloon carried a letter, +instructing the finder of the balloon to communicate with William +Boys, Esq., Sandwich, and to state where and at what time it was +found. This request was complied with. + +On the 19th of February a similar balloon, five feet in diameter, +was sent up from Queen's College, Oxford. It was spherical, and +was made of Persian silk, coated with varnish. It was the first +balloon sent up from that city. + +De Saussure makes mention, in a letter dated from Geneva, the +26th of March, 1784, of certain experiments made in that town +with the electricity of the atmosphere by means of fixed +balloons--i.e., balloons attached to the earth by ropes, which +gave forth sparks and positive electricity. + +Mention is also made of a certain M. Argand, of Geneva, who had +the honour of making balloon experiments at Windsor in the +presence of King George III., Queen Charlotte, and the royal +family. About this time (1784) balloons became "the fashion," +and frequent instances occur of their being raised by day and +night, by means of spirit-lamps, to the great delight of +multitudes of spectators. + +A letter from Watt to Dr. Lind, of Windsor, dated from +Birmingham, 25th December, 1784, narrates an experiment made the +summer preceding with a balloon inflated with hydrogen. The +balloon was made of fine paper covered with a varnish of oil and +filled two-thirds with hydrogen gas, and one-third common air. +To the neck of the balloon was attached a sort of squib two feet +long, the fuse of which was ignited when the balloon was +inflated. The night was calm and dark, and a great multitude was +assembled to witness the ascent, which was accomplished with a +success that gave delight to all; for, at the end of six minutes +the fuse communicated with the squib, and the explosion was like +the sound of thunder. The men who saw it from a distance, but +were not present at its ascent, took it for a meteor. "Our +intention," says Watt, "was, if possible, to discover whether the +reverberating sound of thunder was due to echoes or to successive +explosions. The sound occasioned by the detonation of the +hydrogen gas of the balloon in this experiment, does not enable +us to form a definite judgment; all that we can do is to refer to +those who were near the balloon, and-who affirm that the sound +was like that of thunder." + + + +Chapter II. Experiments and Studies--Blanchard at Paris--Guyton +de Morveau at Dijon. + +The most popular name in aerostation during the Revolution and +the Consulate in France is, without doubt, that of Blanchard. We +have already referred to him in the chapter which treats of +experiments made prior to the discovery of Montgolfier, and we +now have to speak of his famous ascent from the Champ de Mars, on +the 2nd of March 1784, and of the ascents which followed. + +We have seen that he constructed a sort of flying boat, a machine +furnished with oars and rigging, with which he managed to sustain +himself some moments in the air at the height of eighty feet. +This curious machine was exhibited in 1782 in the gardens of the +great hotel of the Rue Taranne. But a little time afterwards +Montgolfier's discoveries quite altered the conditions under +which the aerostatic art was to be pursued. It had no sooner +become known than it became public property. The idea was too +simple in its grandeur, and was of too easy a kind not to call up +a host of imitators. Of these Blanchard was one of the first; +but this mechanician was anxious to incorporate his own invention +with that of Montgolfier, and he arranged that on the 2nd of +March, 1784, he should make an ascent in what he still called his +"flying vessel," which he furnished with four wings. + +Blanchard and his companion, Pesch, a Benedictine priest, were +prevented from going up in the balloon, as represented in our +illustration, which was drawn before the event it was intended to +commemorate. A certain Dupont de Chambon persisted in +accompanying the voyagers. Pushed back by them, he drew his +sword, leaped into the car or boat, wounded Blanchard, cut the +rigging, and broke the oars or wings. The aeronaut was +consequently compelled to have his machine partly re-fitted in +great haste, and in the course of a few hours he made the ascent +alone in the usual way. Blanchard should have known the +uselessness of oars, though he did not abandon their employment +in subsequent ascents. The Brothers Montgolfier had dreamed of +the employment of oars as a means of guidance, but had ultimately +rejected the idea. Joseph wrote to his brother Etienne, about +the end of the year 1783: + +"For my sake, my good friend, reflect; calculate well before you +employ oars. Oars must either be great or small; if great, they +will be heavy; if small, it will be necessary to move them with +great rapidity. I know no sufficient means of guidance, except +in the knowledge of the different currents of air, of which it is +necessary to make a study; and these are generally regulated by +the elevation." The two brothers often recurred to this idea. + +The pictures of the first ascent of Blanchard from the Champ de +Mars on the 2nd of March, 1784, in the presence of a vast +multitude, show us the oars and the mechanism of his +flying-machine fitted to a balloon. The design which we here +give seems to us deserving of being considered only as one of the +caricatures of the time, especially when we look at the personage +dressed in the fool's head-gear, who sits behind and accompanies +the triumphant ascent of the aeronaut with music. + +It was not with this apparatus that Blanchard effected his +ascent, for we have seen that the gearing of his vessel was +broken by the infuriated Dupont de Chambon. Yet the aeronaut +pretends to have been, to some extent, assisted by his mechanical +contrivances. The following is his narrative:-- + +"I rose to a certain height over Plassy, and perceiving Villette, +which I did not despair of reaching in spite of the misfortune +that had happened to me, I attached a rope of my rigging to my +leg, not being able to make use of my left hand, which I had +wrapped in my handkerchief on account of the sword-wound it had +received. I fixed up a piece of cloth, and thus made a sort of +sail with which I hugged the wind. But the rays of the sun had +so heated and rarefied the inflammable air that soon I forgot my +rigging in thinking of the terrible danger that threatened me." + +Going on to narrate the dangers that beset him, Blanchard +describes a number of most extraordinary experiences, which would +be better worthy of a place here if they were more like the +truth. His curious narrative is thus brought to a close:-- + +"Escaped from these impetuous and contrary winds, during which I +had felt a great degree of cold, I mounted perpendicularly. The +cold became excessive. Being hungry I ate a morsel of cake. I +wished to drink, but in searching the car nothing was to be seen +but the debris of bottles and glasses, which my assailant had +left behind him when we were about to depart. Afterwards all was +so calm that nothing could be seen or heard. The silence became +appalling, and to add to my alarm I began to lose consciousness. +I now wished to take snuff, but found I had left my box behind +me. I changed my seat many times; I went from prow to stern, but +the drowsiness only ceased to assail me when I was struck by two +furious winds, which compressed my balloon to such an extent that +its size became sensibly diminished to the eye. I was not sorry +when I began to descend rapidly upon the river, which at first +seemed to me a white thread, afterwards a ribbon, and then a +piece of cloth. As I followed the course of the river, the fear +that I should have to descend into it, made me agitate the oars +very rapidly. I believe that it is to these movements that I owe +my being able to cross the river transversely, and get above dry +land. When I saw myself upon the plain of Billancourt, I +recognised the bridge of Sevres, and the road to Versailles. I +was then about as high as the towers above the plain, and I could +hear the words and the cries of joy of the people who were +following me below. At length I came to a plain about 200 feet +in extent. The people then assisted me and brought my vessel to +anchor. Immediately I was surrounded by gentlemen and foot +passengers who had run together from all parts." + +This voyage lasted one hour and a quarter. The most important +incident of it was that the balloon was very nearly burst by the +expansion of the hydrogen gas. No balloon, as we have already +seen, should be entirely inflated at the beginning of a journey. +Blanchard had a narrow escape from being the victim of his +ignorance of physics, and it is a wonder he was not left to the +mercy of fate in a burst balloon, at several thousand feet above +the earth. + +Biot, the savant, who had watched the experiment, declared that +Blanchard did not stir himself, and that the variations of his +course are alone to be attributed to the currents of air that he +encountered. As he had inscribed upon his flags, his balloons, +and his entrance tickets, from which he realised a considerable +sum, the ambitious legend, Sic itur ad astra, the following +epigram was produced respecting him:-- + +From the Field of Mars he took his flight: +In a field close by he tumbled; +But our money having taken +He smiled though sadly shaken, +As Sic itur ad astra he mumbled. + +What is most important to examine in each of the great aerial +voyages that have been made, is the special character which +distinguishes them from average experiments. All our great +voyages are rendered special and particular by the ideas of the +men who undertook them, and the aims which they severally meant +to achieve by them. The early ascents of Montgolfier had for +their aim the establishment of the fact that any body lighter +than the volume of air which it displaces will rise in the +atmosphere; those of Roziers were undertaken to prove that man +can apply this principle for the purpose of making actual aerial +voyages; those of Robertson, Gay-Lussac, &c., were undertaken for +the purpose of ascertaining certain meteorological phenomena; +those of Conte Coutelle applied aerostation to military uses. A +considerable number were made with the view of organising a +system of aerial navigation analogous to that of the sea-steerage +in a certain direction by means of oars or sails--in a word, to +investigate the possibility of sailing through the air to any +point fixed upon. It was with this object that the experiments +at Dijon took place, and these were the most serious attempts +down to our times that have been made to steer balloons. + +At the middle of the globe of the balloon were placed four oars, +two sails, and a helm and these were under the management of the +voyagers, who sat in the car and worked them by means of ropes. +The car was also furnished with oars. The report of Guyton de +Morveau to the Academy at Dijon informs us that these different +paraphernalia were not altogether useless. The following +extracts are from this report:-- + +"The very strong wind which arose immediately before our +departure, had driven us down to tee ground many times, making us +fear for the safety of our oars, &c., when we resolved to throw +over as much ballast as would enable us to rise against the wind. +The ballast, including from 70 to 80 lbs. of provisions, was +thrown over, and then we rose so rapidly that all the objects +around were instantly passed and were very soon lost to view. +The swelling form of our balloon told us that the gas inside had +expanded under the heat of the sun and the lessening density of +the surrounding air. We opened the two valves, but even this +outlet was insufficient, and we had to cut a hole about seven or +eight inches long in the lower part of the balloon, through which +the gas might escape. At five minutes past five we passed above +a village which we did not know, and here we let fall a bag +filled with bran, and carrying with it a flag and a written +message to the effect that we were all well, and that the +barometer was recording 20 inches 9 lines, and the thermometer +one degree and a half below zero." + +Very keen cold attacked the ears, but this was the only +inconvenience experienced, until the voyagers were lost in a sea +of clouds that shut them out from the view of the earth. The sun +at length began to descend, and they then perceived, by a +slackening in the lower part of the balloon, that it was time for +them to think of returning to the earth. Judging from the +compass that they were not far from the town of Auxonne, they +resolved to use all their endeavours to reach that place. The +sailing appliances had been considerably damaged by the rough +weather at starting. The rigging being disarranged, one of the +oars had got broken, another had become entangled in the rigging, +so that there remained only two of the four oars, and these, +being on the same side, were absolutely useless during the +greatest part of the voyage. The adventurers, however, assert +that they made them work from eight to nine minutes with the +greatest ease, making use of them to tack to the south-east. + +"We hoped then to be able to descend near where we judged Auxonne +to be," the writer continues, "but we lost much gas by the +opening in the balloon, and descended more rapidly than we +expected or wished. We looked to our small stock of ballast with +anxiety, but there was no need of it, and we came very softly +down upon a slope." + +When the aeronauts arrived at Magny-les-Auxonne, the inhabitants +gazed upon them in terror, and two men and three women fell down +on their knees before them. + +Here is an extract from the report of the experiment of the 12th +of June, the principal object of which was the attempt to +discover the means of steering in a certain direction:-- + +"M. de Verley and myself mounted in the balloon," says Guyton de +Morveau, "at seven o'clock. We rose rapidly and in an almost +perpendicular direction. The fall of the mercury in the +barometer was scarcely perceptible when the dilation of the +hydrogen gas in the balloon had become considerable. The globe +swelled out, and a light vapour around the mouth announced to us +that the gas was commencing to escape by the safety-valve. We +assisted its escape by pulling the valve-string. + +"Having reduced the dilation sufficiently for our purposes, we +resolved to attempt the working of the balloon before the whole +town and to turn it from the east to the north. We saw with +pleasure that our machinery answered By the working of the helm, +the prow of our air-boat was turned in the direction we desired. +The oars, working only on one side, supported the helm, and +altogether we got on as we wished. We described a curve, +crossing the road from Dijon to Langres. The mercury had +descended to 24 inches 8 lines, which announced that we were +gradually rising. We attempted for some time to follow the route +to I Langres, but the wind drove us off our course in spite of +all our efforts. At nine o'clock our barometer informed us that +we had ascended to the height of 6,000 feet. M. de Verley took +advantage of this elevation to put some touch wood to a +burning-glass 18 lines in diameter, and the touch wood lighted +immediately." + +The aeronauts decided to direct their course for Dijon. After +re-setting the helm with this intention, they worked their oars, +and proceeded in that direction more than 1,000 feet. But heat +and fatigue obliged them to suspend their endeavours, and the +current drove them upon Mirebeau, where, throwing out the last of +their ballast and regulating their descent, they came softly down +upon a corn-field. + +The adventurers were cordially welcomed by the ecclesiastics and +the magistrates of the place, and after a time they, with their +balloon, were carried back on men's shoulders to Dijon. + + + +Chapter III. Experiment in Montgolfiers--Roziers and Proust--The +Duke of Chartres--The Comte d'Artois--Voyage of the Abbe Carnus +to Rodez. + +The longest course travelled by Montgolfiere balloons, and the +highest elevation reached by them, were achieved by Roziers and +Proust with the Montgolfiere la Marie Antoinefte, at Versailles, +on the 23rd of June, 1784. Roziers himself has left us a +picturesque narrative of this excursion from Versailles to +Compiegne. He says:-- + +"The Montgolfiere rose at first very gently in a diagonal line, +presenting an imposing spectacle. Like a vessel which has just +been precipitated from the stocks, this astonishing machine hung +balanced in the air for some time, and seemed to have got beyond +human control. These irregular movements intimidated a portion +of the spectators, who, fearing that, should there be a fall, +their lives would be in danger, scattered away with great speed +from under us. After having fed my fire, I saluted the people, +who answered me in the most cordial manner. I had time to remark +some faces, in which there was a mixed expression of apprehension +and joy. In continuing our upward progress, I perceived that an +upper current of air made the Montgolfiere bend, but on +increasing the heat, we rose above the current. The size of +objects on the earth now began perceptibly to diminish, which +gave us an idea of the distance at which we were from them. It +was then that we became visible to Paris and its suburbs, and so +great was our elevation that many in the capital thought we were +directly over their heads. + +"When we had arrived among the clouds, the earth disappeared from +our view. Now a thick mist would envelop us, then a clear space +showed us where we were, and again we rose through a mass of +snow, portions of which stuck to our gallery. Curious to know +how high we could ascend, we resolved to increase our fire and +raise the heat to the highest degree, by raising our grating, and +holding up our fagots suspended on the ends of our forks. + +"Having gained these snowy elevations, and not being able to +mount higher, we wandered about for some time in regions which we +felt were now visited by man for the first time. Isolated and +separated entirely from nature, we perceived beneath us only +enormous masses of snow, which, reflecting the sunshine, filled +the firmament with a glorious light. We remained eight minutes +at this elevation, 11,732 feet above the earth. This situation, +however agreeable it might have been to the painter or the poet, +promised little to the man of science in the way of acquiring +knowledge; and so we determined, eighteen minutes after our +departure, to return through the clouds to the earth. We had +hardly left this snowy abyss, when the most pleasant scene +succeeded the most dreary one. The broad plains appeared before +our view in all their magnificence. No snow, no clouds were now +to be seen, except around the horizon, where a few clouds seemed +to rest on the earth. We passed in a minute from winter to +spring. We saw the immeasurable earth covered with towns and +villages, which at that distance appeared only so many isolated +mansions surrounded with gardens. The rivers which wound about +in all directions seemed no more than rills for the adornment of +these mansions; the largest forests looked mere clumps or groves, +and the meadows and broad fields seemed no more than garden +plots. These marvellous tableaux, which no painter could render, +reminded us of the fairy metamorphoses; only with this +difference, that we were beholding upon a mighty scale what +imagination could only picture in little. It is in such a +situation that the soul rises to the loftiest height, that the +thoughts are exalted and succeed each other with the greatest +rapidity. Travelling at this elevation, our fire did not demand +continual attention, and we could easily walk about the gallery. +We were as much at peace upon our lofty balcony as we should have +been upon the terrace of a mansion, enjoying all the pictures +which unrolled themselves before us continually, without +experiencing any of the giddiness which has disturbed so many +persons. Having broken my fork in my exertions to raise the +balloon, I went to obtain another one. On my way to get it, I +encountered my companion, M. Proust. We ought never to have been +on the same side of the balloon, for a capsize and the escape of +all our hydrogen gas might have been the result. As it was, so +well was the machine ballasted, that the only effect of our being +on the one side made the balloon incline a little in that +direction. The winds, although very considerable, caused us no +uneasiness, and we only knew the swiftness of our progress +through the air by the rapidity with which the villages seemed to +fly away from under our feet; so that it seemed, from the +tranquillity with which we moved, that we were borne along by the +diurnal movement of the globe. Often we wished to descend, in +order to learn what the people were crying to us the simplicity +of our arrangements enabled us to rise, to descend, to move in +horizontal or oblique lines, as we pleased and as often as we +considered necessary, without altogether landing." + +When they came to Luzarche, the delighted aeronauts resolved to +land. Already the people were testifying their pleasure at +seeing them. Men came running together from all directions, +while all the animals rushed away with equal precipitation, no +doubt taking the balloon for some wild beast. Finding that their +course would lead them straight against certain houses, the +aeronauts again increased their fire, and, slightly rising, +escaped the buildings that had been in their way. Shortly +afterwards they safely landed forty miles from the spot from +which they had started. + +It was not only the man of science or the mechanician that +devoted himself to the task of taking possession of the new +empire, but the nobles gave their hands to the aeronauts, and +humbly asked the favour of an ascent. The king had addressed +letters to the Brothers Montgolfier, and the marvellous invention +had become an affair of state. The princes of the blood and the +nobles of the court considered it an honour to count among the +number of their friends a celebrated aeronaut. + +The Count d'Artois, afterwards Charles X., and the Duke de +Chartres, father of Louis Philippe, made experiments in aerial +navigation. The chemists Alban and Vallet made a magnificent +balloon for the Count, who went up many times in it, with several +persons of all ranks. + +Already at St. Cloud, the Duke of Chartres, afterwards Philippe +Egalite, had, on the 15th of July, 1784, made, with the Brothers +Robert, an ascent which put their courage to terrible tests. The +hydrogen gas balloon was oblong, sixty feet high and forty feet +in diameter, and it had been constructed upon a plan supplied by +Meunier. In order to obviate the use of the valve, he had placed +inside the balloon a smaller globe, filled with ordinary air. +This was done on the supposition that, when the balloon rose +high, the hydrogen being rarefied would compress the little globe +within, and press out of it a quantity of ordinary air equal to +the amount of its dilation. + +At eight o'clock, the Brothers Robert--Collin and Hullin--and the +Duke of Chartres, ascended in presence of an immense multitude. +The nearest ranks kneeled down to allow those behind to have a +view of the departure of the balloon, which disappeared among the +clouds amid the acclamations of the prostrate multitude. The +machine, obedient to the stormy and contrary winds which it met, +turned several times completely round. The helm, which had been +fitted to the machine, and the two oars, gave such a purchase to +the winds that the voyagers, already surrounded by the clouds, +cut them away. But the oscillations continued, and the little +globe inside not being suspended with cords, fell down in such an +unfortunate manner as to close up the opening of the large +balloon, by means of which provision had been made for the egress +of the gas now dilated by the heat of the sun, which poured down +its rays, a sudden gust having cleared the space of the clouds. +It was feared that the case of the balloon would crack, and the +whole thing collapse, in spite of the efforts of the aeronauts to +push back the smaller balloon from the opening. Then the Duke of +Chartres seized one of the flags they carried, and with the +lance-head pierced the balloon in two places. A rent of about +nine feet was the consequence, and the balloon began to descend +with amazing rapidity. They would have fallen into a lake had +they not thrown over 60 lbs. of ballast, which caused them to +rise a little, and pass over to the shore, where they got safely +to the earth. + +The expedition lasted only a few minutes. The Duke of Chartres +was rallied by his enemies, who accused him of cowardice; and +Monjoie, his historian, making allusion to the combat of +Ouessant, says that he had given proofs of his cowardice in the +three elements--earth, air, and water + +M. Gray, professor at the seminary of Rodez, presented us some +years ago with the following letter from the Abbe Carnus, upon +the aerial voyage which he undertook, August 6th, 1784:-- + +"The progress of the Montgolfiere was so sudden that one might +almost have believed that it arose all inflated and furnished out +of some chasm in the earth The air was calm, the sky without +clouds, the sun very strong. Our fuel and instruments were put +into the gallery, my companion, M. Louchet, was at his post, and +I took mine. At twenty minutes past eight the cords were +loosened, we waved a farewell to the spectators, and while two +cannon-shots announced our departure, we were already high above +the loftiest buildings. + +"To the general acclamations of the crowd succeeded a profound +silence. The spectators, half in fear, half in admiration, stood +motionless, with eyes fixed, and gazing eagerly at the superb +machine, which rose almost vertically with rapidity and also with +grandeur. Some women, and even some men, fainted away; others +raised their hands to heaven; others shed tears; all grew pale at +the sight of our bright fire. + +"'We have quitted the earth,' said I to my companion. + +"'I compliment you on the fact,' he answered; 'keep up the fire!' + +"A truss of hay, steeped in spirits of wine accelerated the +swiftness of our ascent. I cast my glance upon the town, which +seemed to flee rapidly from under our feet. Terrestrial objects +had already lost their shape and size. The burning heat which I +felt at first now gave place to a temperature of the most +agreeable kind, and the air which we breathed seemed to contain +healthful elements unknown to dwellers on the lower earth. + +"'How well I am!' I said to Louchet; 'how are you?' + +"'As well as can be. Would that I could dispatch a message to +the earth!' + +"Immediately I threw over a roll of paper on which I had written +the words, 'All well on board the City of Rodez.' + +"At thirty-two minutes past eight our elevation was at least +6,000 feet above sea level. A flame from our fire, rising from +eighteen to twenty feet, sent us up another 1,000 feet. It was +then that our machine was seen by every spectator within a +circuit of nine miles, and it appeared to be right over the heads +of all of them. + +"'Send us up out of sight,' said my adventurous confrere. + +"I had to moderate his ardour--a larger fire would have burnt our +balloon. + +"From our moving observatory the most splendid view developed +itself. The boundaries of the horizon were vastly extended. The +capital of the Rouergue appeared to be no more than a group of +stones, one of which seemed to rise to the height of two or three +feet. This was no other than the superb tower of the cathedral. +Fertile slopes, agreeable valleys, lofty precipices, waste lands, +ancient castles perched upon frowning rocks, these form the +endlessly varied spectacle which the Rouergue and the +neighbouring provinces present to the view of those who traverse +the surface of the earth. But how different is the scene to the +aerial voyager! We could perceive only a vast country, perfectly +round, and seemingly a little elevated in the middle, irregularly +marked with verdure, but without inhabitants, without towns, +valleys, rivers, or mountains. Living beings no longer existed +for us; the forests were changed into what looked like grassy +plains; the ranges of the Cantal and the Cevennes had +disappeared; we looked in vain for the Mediterranean, and the +Pyrenees seemed only a long series of piles of snow, connected at +their bases. Our own balloon, which from Rodez appeared about +the size of a marble, was the only object that for us retained +its natural dimensions. What wonderful sensations then arose +within us! I had often reflected upon the works of nature; their +magnificence had always filled me with admiration. In this +soul-stirring moment how beautiful did nature seem--how grand! +With what majesty did it strike my imagination. Never did man +appear to me before such an excellent being His latest triumph +over the elements recalled to my mind his other conquests of +nature. My companion was animated with the same sentiments, and +more than once we cried out, 'Vive Montgolfier! Vive Roziers! +Vivent ceux qui ont du courage et de la constance!' + +"In the meantime our fuel was getting near the end. In eighteen +minutes we had run a distance of 12,000 feet. 'Make your +observations while I attend to the fire,' said my companion to +me. I examined the barometer, the thermometer, and the compass, +and having sealed up a small bottle of the air at this elevation, +I asked my companion to reduce the fire. We descended 1,800 +feet, and at this height I filled another bottle with air. + +"Afterwards we felt the refreshing breath of a slight breeze, +which carried us gently toward the south-east. In six minutes we +had run 18,000 feet. Then, having only sufficient fuel to enable +us to choose the place of our descent, we considered whether we +should not bring our aerial voyage to a termination. We had +neither lake nor forest to fear, and we were secure against +danger from fire, as we could detach the grating at some distance +from the earth. At fifty-eight minutes past eight all our fuel +was exhausted, except two bundles of straw, of four pounds each, +which we reserved for our descent. The balloon came gradually +down, and terrestrial objects began again to resume their proper +forms and dimensions. The animals fled at the sight of our +balloon, which seemed likely to crush them in its fall. Horsemen +were obliged to dismount and lead their frightened horses. +Terrified by such an unwonted sight, the labourers in the fields +abandoned their work. We were not more than 600 feet from the +earth. We threw on the two bundles of straw, but still gradually +descended. The grating was then detached, and I had no +difficulty in leaping to the ground. But now a most surprising +and unlooked-for event happened. M. Louchet had not been able to +descend at the same moment as myself, and the balloon, now free +from my weight, immediately re-ascended with the speed of a bird, +bearing away my companion. I followed him with my eyes, and it +was to my agreeable surprise that I heard him crying to me, 'All +is well; fear not!' though it was not without a species of +jealousy that I saw him mounting up to the height of 1,400 or +1,500 feet. The balloon, after having run a distance of 3,600 +feet in a horizontal direction, began gently to descend at four +minutes past nine, at the village of Inieres, after having +travelled 42,000 feet from the point of departure. When it had +touched the ground it bumped up again two or three feet. M. +Louchet jumped out, and seized one of the ropes, but had much +difficulty in holding the balloon in hand. He cried to the +frightened peasants to come and help him. But they seemed to +regard him as a dangerous magician, or as a monster, and they +feared to touch the ropes lest they might be swallowed up by the +balloon. Soon afterwards I came to the rescue. The balloon was +in as thorough repair as when we began our journey. We then +pressed out the hot air, folded up the envelope, placed it upon a +small cart drawn by two oxen, and drove off with it." + + + +Chapter IV. Serio-Comic Aspect of the Subject--The Public +Duped--The Abbes Miolan and Janninet at the +Luxembourg--Cariacatures--The "Minerva" of Robertson, and its +Voyage Round the World. + +The discovery like that of balloons could not be made public in +France without being travestied, and without offering some comic +side for the amusement of the wits of the day. Under some old +coloured prints, designed with the intention of satirising such +unfortunate aeronauts as had collected their money from the +spectators, but had failed in inflating their balloons, is +written, "The Infallible Means of Raising Balloons"--the +infallible means consisting of ropes and pulleys. + +While caricature was thus turning its irony upon the efforts of +believers in the new idea, serious pamphlets were being written +and published with the same object. One of these declares that +the discovery is IMMORAL, I. Because since God has not given +wings to man, it is impious to try to improve his works, and to +encroach upon his rights as a Creator; 2. Because honour and +virtue would be in continual danger, if balloons were permitted +to descend, at all hours of the night, into gardens and close to +windows; 3. Because, if the highway of the air were to remain +open to all and sundry, the frontiers of nations would vanish, +and property national and personal would be invaded, &c. We do +not wish to gather together here the stones which critics threw +against the new discovery, unaware all the time that these stones +were falling upon their own heads. + +It is only fair to state that after the first ascents the public +were often duped by pretending aeronauts, whose single aim was to +sell their tickets, and who disappeared when the time came for +ascending. The result of these frauds was that sometimes honest +men were made to suffer as rogues. Even in our own day, when an +ascent, seriously intended, fails to succeed, owing to some +unforeseen circumstances, the public frequently manifests a +decided ill-will to the aeronaut, who is perfectly honest, and +only unfortunate. + +The famous ascent of the Abbes Miolan and Janninet, at the +Luxembourg, may be cited as among the failures which suffered +most from the satire of the time. Their immense balloon, +constructed at great expense at the observatory, was expected to +rise beyond the clouds, and a multitude, each of whom had paid +dearly for his ticket, had assembled at the Luxembourg. The +morning had been occupied in removing the balloon from the +observatory to the place of ascent, and at midday the inflation +of it began. The rays of a burning July sun--and one knows what +that is in the Luxembourg in Paris--streamed down on the heads of +the thousands of spectators. From six in the morning till four +in the evening they had waited to see the unheard-of wonder; the +ascent, however, was to be so imposing, that nothing could be +lost by waiting for it. + +But at five in the afternoon the heavy machine was still +motionless--inert upon the ground. We need not attempt to +describe the scene which took place as the impatience of the +multitude increased. Sneers of derision made themselves heard on +all sides. A universal murmur, rapidly developing into a +clamour, arose amongst the multitude; then, wild with +disappointment, the frenzied populace threw themselves upon the +barricade, broke it, attacked the gallery of the balloon, the +instruments, the apparatus, trampling them under foot, and +smashing them in bits. They then rushed upon the balloon and +fired it. There was then a general melee. Far from fleeing the +fire, every one struggled to seize and carry off a bit of the +balloon, to preserve as a relic. The two abbes escaped as they +best could, under protection of a number of friends. + +After this there fell a perfect shower of lampoons and +caricatures. The Abbe Miolan was represented as a cat with a band +round its neck, while Janninet appeared as a donkey; and in a +coloured print the cat and the ass are shown arriving in triumph +upon their famous balloon at the Academy of Montmartre, and are +received at the hill of Moulins-a-Vent by a solemn assembly of +turkey-cocks and geese in different attitudes. Numerous songs +and epigrams, of which the unfortunate abbes were the subjects, +also appeared at this time. The letters which composed the words +"l'Abbe Miolan" were found to form the anagram, Ballon +abime--"the balloon swallowed up." + +The most extravagant balloon project was that of Robertson, who +published a scheme for making a tour of the world. He called it +"La Minerva, an aerial vessel destined for discoveries, and +proposed to all the Academies of Europe, by Robertson, physicist" +(Vienna, 1804; reprinted at Paris, 1820), Robertson dedicated his +project to Volta, and in his dedication he does not scruple to +say: "In our age, my friendship seeks only one gratification, +that we should both live a sufficiently long time together to +enable you to calculate and utilise the results of this great +machine, while I take the practical direction of it." The +following is this aeronaut's prospectus:-- + +"There is no limit to the sciences and the arts, which +cultivation does not overstep. We have everything to hope and to +expect from time, from chance, and from the genius of man. The +difference which there is between the canoe of the savage and the +man-of-war of 124 guns is perhaps as great as that of balloons as +they now are and as they will be in the course of a century. If +you ask of an aeronaut why he cannot command the motions of his +balloon, he will ask of you in his turn why the inventor of the +canoe did not immediately afterwards construct a man-of-war. It +must be recollected that there have not yet elapsed forty years +since the discovery of the balloon, and that to perfect it would +be a work of difficulty, as much from the increased knowledge +which such a work would demand, as from the pecuniary sacrifices +and the personal devotion which it would involve. + +"Thus this invention, after having at first electrified all +savants from the one end of the world to the other, has suffered +the fate of all discoveries--it was all at once arrested. Did +not astronomy wait long for Newton, and chemistry for Lavoisier, +to raise them to something like the splendour they now enjoy? Was +not the magnet a long time a toy in the hands of the Chinese, +without giving birth to the idea of the compass? The electric +fluid was known in the time of Thales, but how many ages did we +wait for the discovery of galvanism? Yet these sciences, which +may be studied in silent retreats, were more likely to yield +fruit to the discoverer than aerostatics, which demand courage +and skill, and of which the experiments, which are always public, +are attended with great cost." + +Robertson's proposed machine was to be 150 feet in diameter, and +would be capable of carrying 150,000 lbs. Every precaution was +to be taken in order to make the great structure perfect. It was +to accommodate sixty persons to be chosen by the academics, who +should stay in it for several months should rise to all possible +elevations, pass through all climates in all seasons, make +scientific observations, &c. This balloon, penetrating deserts +inaccessible by other means of travel, and visiting places which +travellers have never penetrated, would be of immense use in the +science of geography: and when under the line, if the heat near +the earth should be inconvenient, the aeronauts would, of course, +easily rise to elevations where the temperature is equal and +agreeable. When their observations, their needs, or their +pleasures demanded it, they could descend to within a short +distance of the earth, say ninety feet, and fix themselves in +their position by means of an anchor. It might, perhaps, be +possible, by taking the advantage of favourable winds, to make +the tour of the world. "Experience will perhaps demonstrate that +aerial navigation presents less inconvenience and less dangers +than the navigation of the seas." + +The immensity of the seas seemed to be the only source of +insurmountable difficulties; "but," says Robertson, "over what a +vast space might not one travel in six months with a balloon +fully furnished with the necessaries of life, and all the +appliances necessary for safety? Besides, if, through the +natural imperfection attaching to all the works of man, or either +through accident or age, the balloon, borne above the sea, became +incapable of sustaining the travellers, it is provided with a +boat, which can withstand the waters and guarantee the return of +the voyagers." + +Such were the ideas promulgated regarding the "Minerva." The +following is the serious description given of the machine. The +numbers correspond with those on the illustration. + +"The cock (3) is the symbol of watchfulness; it is also the +highest point of the balloon. An observer, getting up through +the interior to the point at which the watchful fowl is placed, +will be able to command the best view to be had in the 'Minerva.' +The wings at the side (1 and 2) are to be regarded as ornamental. +The balloon will be 150 feet in diameter, made expressly at Lyons +of unbleached silk, coated within and without with indict-rubber. +This globe sustains a ship, which contains or has attached to it +all the things necessary for the convenience, the observations, +and even the pleasures of the voyagers. + +"(a) A small boat, in which the passengers might take refuge in +case of necessity, in the event of the larger vessel falling on +the sea in a disabled state. + +"(b) A large store for keeping the water, wine, and all the +provisions of the expedition. + +"(cc) Ladders of silk, to enable the passengers to go to all +parts of the balloon. + +"(e) Closets. + +"(h) Pilot's room. + +"(1) An observatory, containing the compasses and other +scientific instruments for taking the latitude. + +"(g) A room fitted up for recreations, walking, and gymnastics. + +"(m) The kitchen, far removed from the balloon. It is the only +place where a fire shall be permitted. + +"(p) Medicine room. + +"(v) A theatre, music room, &c. + +"--The study. + +"(x) The tents of the air-marines, &c. &c." + +This balloon is certainly the most marvellous that has ever been +imagined--quite a town, with its forts, ramparts, cannon, +boulevards, and galleries. One can understand the many squibs +and satires which so Utopian a notion provoked. + + + +Chapter V. First Aerial Voyage in England--Blanchard Crosses the +Sea in a Balloon. + +In spite of their known powers of industry and perseverance, the +English did not throw themselves with any great ardour into the +exploration of the atmosphere. From one cause or another it is +the French and the Italians that have chiefly distinguished +themselves in this art. The English historian of aerostation +gives some details of the first aerial voyage made in this +country by the Italian, Vincent Lunardy. + +The balloon was made of silk covered with a varnish of oil, and +painted in alternate stripes--blue and red. It was three feet in +diameter. Cords fixed upon it hung down and were attached to a +hoop at the bottom, from which a gallery was suspended. This +balloon had no safety-valve--its neck was the only opening by +which the hydrogen gas was introduced, and by which it was +allowed to escape. + +In September, 1784, it was carried to the Artillery Ground and +filled with gas. After being two-thirds filled, the gallery was +attached with its two oars or wings, and Lunardy, accompanied by +Biggin and Madame Sage, took his place; but it was found that the +balloon had not sufficient lifting power to carry up the whole +three, and Lunardy went up alone, with the exception of the +pigeon, the cat, and the dog, that were with him. + +The balloon rose to the height of about twenty feet, then +followed a horizontal line, and descended. But the gallery had +no sooner touched the earth than Lunardy threw over the sand that +served as ballast, and mounted triumphantly, amid the applause of +a considerable multitude of spectators. After a time he +descended upon a common, where he left the cat nearly dead with +cold, ascended, and continued his voyage. He says, in the +narrative which he has left, that he descended by means of the +one oar which was left to him, the other having fallen over; but, +as he states that, in order to rise again, he threw over the +remainder of his ballast, it is natural to believe that the +descent of the balloon was caused by the loss of gas, because, if +he descended by the use of the oar, he must have re-ascended when +he stopped using it. He landed in the parish of Standon, where +he was assisted by the peasants. + +He assures us again that he came down the second time by means of +the oar. He says:--"I took my oar to descend, and in from +fifteen to twenty minutes I arrived at the earth after much +fatigue, my strength being nearly exhausted. My chief desire was +to escape a shock on reaching the earth, and fortune favoured +me." The fear of a concussion seems to indicate that he +descended more because of the weight of the balloon than by the +action of the oar. + +It appears that the only scientific instrument he had was a +thermometer which fell to 29 degrees. The drops of water which +had attached themselves to the balloon were frozen. + +The second aerial journey in England was undertaken by Blanchard +and Sheldon. The latter, a professor of anatomy in the Royal +Academy, is the first Englishman who ever went up in a balloon. +This ascent was made from Chelsea on the 16th October, 1784. + +The same balloon which Blanchard had used in France served him on +this occasion, with the difference that. the hoop which went +round the middle of it, and the parasol above the car, were +dispensed with. At the extremity of his car he had fitted a sort +of ventilator, which he was able to move about by means of a +winch. This ventilator, together with the wings and the helm, +were to serve especially the purpose of steering at will, which +he had often said was quite practicable as soon as a certain +elevation had been reached. + +The two aeronauts ascended, haying with them a number of +scientific and musical instruments, some refreshments, ballast, +&c. Twice the ascent failed, and eventually Sheldon got out, and +Blanchard went up again alone. + +Blanchard says that, on this second ascent, he was carried first +north-east, then east-south-east of Sunbury in Middlesex. He +rose so high that he had great difficulty in breathing, the +pigeon he had with him escaped, but could hardly maintain itself +in the rarefied air of such an elevated region, and finding no +place to rest, came back and perched on the side of the car. +After a time, the cold becoming excessive, Blanchard descended +until he could distinguish men on the earth, and hear their +shouting. After many vicissitudes he landed upon a plain in +Hampshire, about seventy-five miles from the point of departure. +It was observed that, so long as he could be clearly seen, he +executed none of the feats with his wings, ventilator, &c., which +he had promised to exhibit. + +Enthusiasm about aerial voyages was now at its climax; the most +wonderful deeds were spoken of as commonplace, and the word +"impossible" was erased from the language. Emboldened by his +success, Blanchard one day announced in the newspapers that he +would cross from England to France in a balloon--a marvellous +journey, the success of which depended altogether upon the course +of the wind, to the mercy of which the bold aeronaut committed +himself. + +A certain Dr. Jeffries offered to accompany Blanchard. On the +7th of January the sky was calm, in consequence of a strong frost +during the preceding night, the wind which was very light, being +from the north-north-west. The arranged meets were made above +the cliffs of Dover. When the balloon rose, there were only +three sacks of sand of 10 lbs. each in it. They had not been +long above ground when the barometer sank from 29.7 to 27.3. Dr. +Jeffries, in a letter addressed to the president of the Royal +Society, describes with enthusiasm the spectacle spread out +before him: the broad country lying behind Dover, sown with +numerous towns and villages, formed a charming view; while the +rocks on the other side, against which the waves dashed, offered +a prospect that was rather trying. + +They had already passed one-third of the distance across the +Channel when the balloon descended for the second time, and they +threw over the last of their ballast ; and that not sufficing, +they threw over some books, and found themselves rising again. +After having got more than half way, they found to their dismay, +from the rising of the barometer, that they were again +descending, and the remainder of their books were thrown over. +At twenty-five minutes past two o'clock they had passed +three-quarters of their journey, and they perceived ahead the +inviting coasts of France. But, in consequence either of the +loss or the condensation of the inflammable gas, they found +themselves once more descending. They then threw over their +provisions, the wings of the car, and other objects. "We were +obliged," says Jeffries, "to throw out the only bottle we had, +which fell on the water with a loud sound, and sent up spray like +smoke." + +They were now near the water themselves, and certain death seemed +to stare them in the face. It is said that at this critical +moment Jeffries offered to throw himself into the sea, in order +to save the life of his companion. + +"We are lost, both of us," said he; "and if you believe that it +will save you to be lightened of my weight, I am willing to +sacrifice my life." + +This story has certainly the appearance of romance, and belief in +it is not positively demanded. + +One desperate resource only remained--they could detach the car +and hang on themselves to the ropes of the balloon. They were +preparing to carry out this idea, when they imagined they felt +themselves beginning to ascend again. It was indeed so. The +balloon mounted once more; they were only four miles from the +coast of France, and their progress through the air was rapid. +All fear was now banished. Their exciting situation, and the +idea that they were the first who had ever traversed the Channel +in such a manner, rendered them careless about the want of +certain articles of dress which they had discarded. At three +o'clock they passed over the shore half-way between Cape Blanc +and Calais. Then the balloon, rising rapidly, described a great +arc, and they found themselves at a greater elevation than at any +part of their course. The wind increased in strength, and +changed a little in its direction. Having descended to the tops +of the trees of the forest of Guines, Dr. Jeffries seized a +branch, and by this means arrested their advance. The valve was +then opened, the gas rushed out, and the aeronauts safely reached +the ground after the successful accomplishment of this daring and +memorable enterprise. + +A number of horsemen, who had watched the recent course of the +balloon, now rode up, and gave the adventurers the most cordial +reception. On the following day a splendid fete was celebrated +in their honour at Calais. Blanchard -was presented with the +freedom of the city in a box of gold, and the municipal body +purchased the balloon, with the intention of placing it in one of +the churches as a memorial of this experiment, it being also +resolved to erect a marble monument on the spot where the famous +aeronauts landed. + +Some days afterwards Blanchard was summoned before the king, who +conferred upon him an annual pension of 1,200 livres. The queen, +who was at play at the gambling table, placed a sum for him upon +a card, and presented him with the purse which she won. + + + +Chapter VI. Zambeccari's Perilous Trip Across the Adriatic Sea. + +There is not in the whole annals of aerostation a more moving +catastrophe than that of the unfortunate Comte Zambeccari, who, +during an aerial journey on October the 7th, 1804, was cast away +on the waves of the Adriatic. + +The history of Zambeccari is dramatic throughout. After having +been taken by the Turks and thrown into the Bay of +Constantinople, from which he with difficulty escaped, he devoted +himself to the study and practice of aerial navigation. He +fancied he could make use of a lamp supplied with spirits of +wine, the flame of which he could direct at will, in the hope of +thus being able to steer the balloon in whatever direction he +chose. One day his balloon damaged itself against a tree at +Boulogne, and the spirits of wine set his clothes on fire. The +flames with which the aeronaut was covered only served to +increase the ascending power of the balloon, and the frightened +spectators, among whom were Zambeccari's young wife and children, +saw him carried up into the clouds out of sight. He succeeded, +however, in extinguishing the fire which surrounded him. + +In 1804, he organised a series of experiments at Milan, for which +he received, in advance, the sum of 8,000 crowns; but the +experiments failed, in consequence of the inclemency of the +weather, the treachery of his assistants, and the malice of his +rivals. + +At length, on the 7th of October, after a fall of rain which +lasted forty-eight hours, and which had delayed the announced +ascent, he resolved, whatever might happen, to carry it out, +though all the chances were against him. Eight young men whom he +had instructed, and who had promised him their assistance in +filling the balloon, failed him at the critical moment. Still, +however, he continued his labours, with the help of two +companions, Andreoli and Grassetti. Wearied with his +long-continued efforts, dis-appointed and hungry, he took his +place in the car. + +The two companions whom we have named went with him. They rose +gently at first, and hovered over the town of Bologna. +Zambeccari says, "The lamp, which was intended to increase our +ascending force, became useless. We could not observe the state +of the barometer by the feeble light of a lantern. The +insupportable cold that prevailed in the high region to which we +had ascended, the weariness and hunger arising from my having +neglected to take nourishment for twenty-four hours, the vexation +that embittered my spirit--all these combined produced in me a +total prostration, and I fell upon the floor of the gallery in a +profound sleep that was like death. 'The same misfortune +overtook my companion Grassetti. Andreoli was the only one who +remained awake and able for duty--no doubt because he had taken +plenty of food and a large quantity of rum. Still he suffered +from the cold, which was excessive, and his endeavours to wake me +were for a long time vain. Finally, however, he succeeded in +getting me to my feet, but my ideas were confused, and I demanded +of him, like one newly awaking from a dream, 'What is the news? +Where are we? What time is it? How is the wind?' + +"It was two o'clock. The compass had been broken, and was +useless; the wax light in the lantern would not burn in such a +rarefied atmosphere. We descended gently across a thick layer of +whitish clouds, and when we had got below them, Andreoli heard a +sound, muffled and almost inaudible, which he immediately +recognised as the breaking of waves in the distance. Instantly +he announced to me this new and fearful danger. I listened, and +had not long to wait before I was convinced that he was speaking +the truth. It was necessary to have light to examine the state +of the barometer, and thus ascertain what was our elevation above +the sea level, and to take our measures in consequence. Andreoli +broke five phosphoric matches, without getting a spark of fire. +Nevertheless, we succeeded, after very great difficulty, by the +help of the flint and steel, in lighting the lantern. It was now +three o'clock in the morning--we had started at midnight. The +sound of the waves, tossing with wild uproar, became louder and +louder, and I suddenly saw the surface of the sea violently +agitated just below us. I immediately seized a large sack of +sand, but had not time to throw it over before we were all in the +water, gallery and all. In the first moment of fright, we threw +into the sea everything that would lighten the balloon--our +ballast, all our instruments, a portion of our clothing, our +money, and the oars. As, in spite of all this, the balloon did +not rise, we threw over our lamp also. After having torn and cut +away everything that did not appear to us to be of indispensable +necessity, the balloon, thus very much lightened, rose all at +once, but with such rapidity and to such a prodigious elevation, +that we had difficulty in hearing each other, even when shouting +at the top of our voices. I was ill, and vomited severely. +Grassetti was bleeding at the nose; we were both breathing short +and hard, and felt oppression on the chest. As we were thrown +upon our backs at the moment when the balloon took such a sudden +start out of the water and bore us with such swiftness to those +high regions, the cold seized us suddenly, and we found ourselves +covered all at once with a coating of ice. I could not account +for the reason why the moon, which was in its last quarter, +appeared on a parallel line with us, and looked red as blood. + +"After having traversed these regions for half an hour, at an +immeasurable elevation, the balloon slowly began to descend, and +at last we fell again into the sea, at about four in the morning +I cannot determine at what distance we were from land when we +fell the second time. The night was very dark, the sea rolling +heavily, and we were in no condition to make observations. But +it must have been in the middle of the Adriatic that we fell. +Although we descended gently, the gallery was sunk, and we were +often entirely covered with water. The balloon being now more +than half empty, in consequence of the vicissitudes through, +which we had passed, gave a purchase to the wind, which pressed +against it as against a sail, so that by means of it we were +dragged and beaten about at the mercy of the storm and the waves. +At daybreak we looked out and found ourselves opposite Pesaro, +four miles from the shore. We were comforting ourselves with the +prospect of a safe landing, when a wind from the land drove us +with violence away over the open sea. It was now full day, but +all we could see were the sea, the sky, and the death that +threatened us. Certainly some boats happened to come within +sight; but no sooner did they see the balloon floating and +striping upon the water than they made all sail to get away from +it. No hope was then left to us but the very small one of making +the coasts of Dalmatia, which were opposite, but at a great +distance from us. Without the slightest doubt we should have +been drowned if heaven had not mercifully directed towards us a +navigator who, better informed than those we had seen before, +recognised our machine to be a balloon and quickly sent his +long-boat to our rescue. The sailors threw us a stout cable, +which we attached to the gallery, and by means of which they +rescued us when fainting with exposure. The balloon thus +lightened, immediately rose into the air, in spite of all the +efforts of the sailors who wished to capture it. The long boat +received a severe shock from its escape, as the rope was still +attached to it, and the sailors hastened to cut themselves free. +At once the balloon mounted with incredible rapidity, and was +lost in the clouds, where it disappeared for ever from our view. +It was eight in the morning when we got on board. Grassetti was +so ill that he hardly showed any signs of life. His hands were +sadly mutilated. Cold, hunger, and the dreadful anxiety had +completely prostrated me. The brave captain of the vessel did +everything in his power to restore us. He conducted us safely to +Ferrara, whence we were carried to Pola, where we were received +with the greatest kindness, and where I was compelled to have my +fingers amputated." + + + +Chapter VII. Garnerin--Parachutes--Aerostation at Public Fetes. + +"On the 22nd October, 1797," says the astronomer Lalande, "at +twenty-eight minutes past five, Citizen Garnerin rose in a +balloon from the park of Monceau. Silence reigned in the +assembly, anxiety and fear being painted on the visages of all. +When he had ascended upwards of 2,000 feet, he cut the cord that +connected his parachute and car with the balloon. The latter +exploded, and Garnerin descended in his parachute very rapidly. +He made a dreadful lurch in the air, that forced a sudden cry of +fear from the whole multitude, and made a number of women faint. +Meanwhile Citizen Garnerin descended into the plain of Monceau; +he mounted his horse upon the spot, and rode back to the park, +attended by an immense multitude, who gave vent to their +admiration for the skill and talent of the young aeronaut. +Garnerin was the first to undertake this most daring and +dangerous venture. He had conceived the idea of this feat while +lying a prisoner of state in Buda, Hungary." Lalande adds that +he went and announced his success at the Institute National, +which was assembled at the time, and which listened to him with +the greatest interest. + +Robertson conducted an experiment of descending by means of a +parachute at Vienna, in 1804, in which he received all the glory, +without partaking of any of the danger. He made the public +preparations for an ascent in the balloon, his pupil, Michaud, +however, took his place in the car, and made the ascent. + +Robertson says that on this occasion he yielded to the entreaties +of a young man who was his pupil, and had begged to be allowed to +make his debut before such a great multitude. In this case a +slight improvement was made in the parachute. The car was +surrounded by a cloth of silk, which, when the aeronaut cut +himself away from the balloon, spread itself out in such a way as +to form a second parachute. + +Robertson made all the preparations, and Michaud had no more to +do than place himself in the car. Loud applause arose on all +sides. Michaud had ascended 900 feet above the earth when the +signal for his cutting himself clear of the balloon was given, by +the firing of a cannon. He at once cut the two strings, and the +balloon soared away into the upper regions, whilst he was left +for one terrible moment to fate. The fall was at first rapid, +but the two parachutes soon opened themselves simultaneously, and +presented a majestic appearance. In a few seconds the aeronaut +had traversed the space that intervened between him and the +assembly, and found himself safely landed on the ground, at a +short distance from the place whence he had set out, while the +whole air was rent with shouts of applause. This experiment was +deemed a most extraordinary one. Compliments were showered upon +Robertson from all sides, and the court presented him with rich +presents. + +Balloons have always formed a prominent feature at the fetes of +Paris, for the celebration of the chief events of the Revolution, +the Consulate, and the Empire--the first of these epochs being +that in which these aerial vessels were held in highest esteem. + +Jacques Garnerin had played a brilliant role as aeronaut under +the Directory, the Consulate, and the Empire; and it was he who +after the coronation of the Emperor Napoleon I., was charged with +the raising of a monster balloon, which was arranged to ascend, +with the accompaniment of fireworks, on the evening of the 16th +of December, 1804. + +An uncommon incident connected with this event serves to show us +the spirit of fatalism with which the character of Napoleon I. +was infected. "The Man of Destiny" believed in the destiny of +man; he had faith in his star alone; and from the height of his +greatness the new ruler, consecrated emperor and king by the +Pope, beheld a presage of misfortune in a chance circumstance, +insignificant to all but himself, in the experiment of which we +are about to recount the history. + +The fete given by the city of Paris to their majesties embraced +the whole town, from the Champs Elysees to the Barriere du Trone, +on the square of the Hotel de Ville. Upon the river throughout +its length between the Isle of St. Louis and the bridge of Notre +Dame, an immense display of fireworks was to take place. The +scene to be represented was the passage of Mont St. Bernard. +Garnerin was stationed with his balloon in front of the gate of +the church of Notre Dame. At eleven o'clock in the evening, at +the moment when the first discharge of fireworks made the air +luminous with a hundred thousand stars, Garnerin threw off his +immense balloon. The chief feature of it was the device of a +crown, designed in coloured lanterns arranged round the globe. It +rose splendidly, and with the most perfect success. + +On the following morning the inhabitants of Rome were astounded +to behold advancing toward them from the horizon a luminous +globe, which threatened to descend upon their city. The +excitement was intense. The balloon passed the cupola of St. +Peter's and the Vatican; then descending, it touched the ground, +but rose again, and finally it sank into the wafers of Lake +Bracciano. + +It was drawn from the water, and the following inscription, +emblazoned in letters of gold upon its vast circumference, was +printed, published, and read throughout the whole of +Italy--"Paris, 25eme Primaire, an XIII., couronnement de +l'empereur Napoleon, 1er par S.S. Pie VII." + +In touching the earth, the balloon happened to strike against the +tomb of the Emperor Nero, and, owing to the concussion, a portion +of the crown was left upon this ancient monument. The Italian +journals, which were not so strictly under the supervision of the +government as were the journals of France, gave the full +particulars of these minor events; and certain of them, +connecting the names of Nero and Napoleon, indulged in malicious +remarks at the expense of the French emperor. These facts came +to the ear of the great general, who manifested much indignation, +dismissed the innocent Garnerin from his post, and appointed +Madame Blanchard to the supervision of all the balloon ascents +which took place at the public fetes. + +The balloon was preserved in the vaults of the Vatican in Rome, +accompanied with an inscription narrating its travels and +wonderful descent--minus the circumstance of the tomb. It was +removed, as might be supposed, in 1814. From this time the +ascents of balloons took place for the most part only on the +occasions of coronations and other great public fetes. + + + +Chapter VIII. Green's Great Journey Across Europe. + +It is probable that at the origin of navigation, man, before he +had invented oars and sails, made use of trunks of trees upon +which he trusted himself, leaving the rest to the winds and the +currents of the water, whether these were known or unknown. +There is some analogy between such rude rafts, the first +discovered means of navigation on water, and balloons, the first +discovered means of navigation in air. But unquestionably the +advantage is with the latter. No means have yet been found of +directly steering balloons, but by allowing the gas to escape the +aeronaut can descend at will, and by lightening his car of part +of the ballast he carries he can ascend as readily. It must also +be remembered that the currents of air vary in their directions, +according to their elevation, and were the aeronaut perfectly +acquainted with aerial currents, he might, by raising or lowering +himself, find a wind blowing in the direction in which he wished +to proceed, and the last problem of aerostation would be solved. +That any such knowledge can ever be acquired it is impossible to +say; but this much may with safety be advanced, that distant +journeys may frequently be taken with balloons for useful +purposes. + +One of the most remarkable excursions of this kind was that +superintended by Green, in 1836, from London to Germany. This +journey, 1,200 miles in length, is the longest that has been yet +accomplished. Green set out from London on the 7th of November, +1836, accompanied by two friends--Monk-Mason, the historian of +the journey, and a gentleman named Molland. Not knowing to what +quarter of the globe he might be blown, Green provided himself +with passports to all the states of Europe, and with a quantity +of provisions sufficient to last him for some time, should he be +driven by the wind over the sea. Shortly after mid-day the +balloon rose with great grandeur, and, urged by a light breeze, +floated to the south-east, over the plains of Kent. At four +o'clock the voyagers sighted the sea. + +"It was forty-eight minutes past four," says Monk-Mason, "that we +first saw the line of waves breaking on the shores beneath us. It +would have been impossible to have remained unmoved by the +grandeur of the spectacle that spread out before us. Behind us +were the coasts of England, with their white cliffs half lost in +the coming darkness. Beneath us on both sides the ocean spread +out far end wide to where the darkness closed in the scene. +Opposite us a barrier of thick clouds like a wall, surmounted all +along its line with projections like so many towers, bastions, +and battlements, rose up from the sea as if to stop our advance. +A few minutes afterwards we were in the midst of this cloudy +barrier, surrounded with darkness, which the vapours of the night +increased. We heard no sound. The noise of the waves breaking +on the shores of England had ceased, and our position had for +some time cut us off from all the sounds of earth." + +In an hour the Straits of Dover were cleared, the lights of +Calais shone out toward the voyagers, and the sound of the town +drums rose up toward them. "Darkness was now complete," continues +the writer, "and it was only by the lights, sometimes isolated, +sometimes seen in masses, and showing themselves far down on the +earth beneath us, that we could form a guess of the countries we +traversed, or of the towns and villages which appeared before us +every moment. The whole surface of the earth for many leagues +round showed nothing but scattered lights, and the face of the +earth seemed to rival the vault of heaven with starry fires. +Every moment in the earlier part of the night before men had +betaken themselves to repose, clusters of lights appeared +indicating large centres of population. + +Those on the horizon gave us the notion of a distant +conflagration. In proportion as we approached them, these masses +of lights appeared to increase, and to cover a greater space, +until, when right over them, they seemed to divide themselves +into different parts, to stretch out in long streets, and to +shine in starry quadrangles round the squares, so that we could +see the exact plan of each city, given as on a small map. It +would be difficult to give an idea of what sort of effect such a +scene in such circumstances produces. To find oneself +transported in the darkness of night, in the midst of vast +solitudes of air, unknown, unperceived, in secret and in silence, +exploring territories, traversing kingdoms, watching towns which +come into view, and pass out of it before one can examine them in +detail--these circumstances are enough in themselves to render +sublime a science which, independent of these adjuncts, would be +so interesting. If you add to this the uncertainty which, +increasing as we went on into the night, began to assail us +respecting our voyage, our ignorance of where we were, and what +were the objects we were attempting to discover, you may form +some idea of our singular position. + +About midnight, the travellers found themselves above Liege. +Situated in the midst of a thickly-peopled country, full of +foundries, smelting works, and forges, this town was quite a +blaze of light. The gas-lamps with which this town is so well +lighted, clearly marked out for our travellers the main streets, +the squares, and the public buildings. But after midnight, at +which time the lamps in continental towns are mostly put out, the +whole of the under world disappeared from the view of the +aeronauts. + +"After the turn of the night," says Mason, "the moon did not show +itself, and the heavens, always more sombre when regarded from +great altitudes, seemed to us to intensify the natural darkness. +On the other hand, by a singular contrast, the stars shone out +with unusual brilliancy, and seemed like living sparks sown upon +the ebony vault that surrounded us. In fact, nothing could +exceed the intensity of the night which prevailed during this +part of our voyage. A black profound abyss surrounded us on all +sides, and, as we attempted to penetrate into the mysterious +deeps, it was with difficulty we could beat back the idea and the +apprehension that we were making a passage through an immense +mass of black marble, in which we were enclosed, and which, solid +to within a few inches of us, appeared to open up at our +approach." + +Until three o'clock the voyagers were in this state. The height +of the balloon, as calculated by the barometer, was 2,000 feet. +They had not then anything to fear from a disastrous encounter, +when all at once a sudden explosion was heard, the silk of the +balloon quivered, the car received a violent shock, and seemed to +be shot suddenly into the gloomy abyss. A second explosion and a +third succeeded, accompanied each time by this fearful shock to +the car. The travellers soon found out that, owing to the great +altitude, the gas had expanded, and the rope which surrounded it, +saturated with water, and frozen with the intense cold, had +yielded to the pressure, in jerks which caused the report and the +shock. + +"From time to time," continues Mason, "vast masses of clouds +covered the lower regions of the atmosphere, and spread a thick, +whitish veil over the earth, intercepting our view, and leaving +us for some time uncertain if this was not a continuation of the +same plains covered with snow which we had already noticed. From +these masses of vapour, there seemed more than once during the +night to come a sound as of a great fall of water, or the +contending waves of the sea; and it required all the force of our +reason, joined to our knowledge--such as it was--of the direction +of our route, to repress the idea that we were approaching the +sea, and that, driven by the wind, we had, been carried along the +coasts of the North Sea or the Baltic. As the day advanced these +apprehensions disappeared. In place of the unbroken surface of +the sea, we gradually made out the varied features of a +cultivated country, in the midst of which flowed a majestic +river, which lost itself, at both extremities, in the mist that +still lay on the horizon." + +This river was the Rhine, and as the neighbourhood seemed +suitable for a descent, and as the travellers did not wish to be +carried too far into the heart of Europe, they allowed a portion +of the gas to escape, came gradually down, and dropped their +anchor. + +It was then half-past seven in the morning. It was only then +that the inhabitants, who had hitherto held themselves aloof, +watching the movements of the strangers from under the brushwood, +began to assemble from all sides. A few words in German spoken +from the balloon dissipated their fears, and, recovering from +their mistrust, they hastened immediately to lend assistance to +the aeronauts The latter were now informed that the place they +had selected for their descent was in the Duchy of Nassau. The +town of Wiberg, where Blanchard had descended, after his ascent +at Frankfort in 1785 was, by a singular chance, only two leagues +distant. The three aeronauts received a most flattering +reception, and, in memory of the event, they placed the flag +which they had borne in their car during their adventurous +excursion in the ducal palace, side by side with that of +Blanchard. + +"Thus," says Mason, "terminated an expedition which, whether we +regard the extent of the journey, the length of time occupied in +it, or the results which were the objects of the experiment, may +justly be considered as one of the most interesting and most +important ever undertaken. The best answer which one could give +to those who would be disposed to criticise the employment of the +peculiar means which we made use of, or to doubt their +efficiency, would be to state that, after having traversed +without hindrance, without either danger or difficulty, so large +a portion of the European continent, we arrived at our +destination still in possession of as much force as, had we +wished it, might have carried us round the whole world." + + + +Chapter IX. The "Geant" Balloon. + +Not a few of our readers will remember the ascent of Nadar's +colossal balloon from Paris, on Sunday, the 18th of October, +1863. This balloon was remarkable as having attached to it a +regular two-story house for a car. Its ascent was witnessed by +nearly half a million of persons. The balloon, after passing +over the eastern part of France, Belgium, and Holland, suffered a +disastrous descent in Hanover the day after it started on its +perilous journey. It was a fool-hardy enterprise to construct +such a gigantic and unmanageable balloon, presenting such an +immense surface to the atmosphere, and being so susceptible to +adverse aerial currents as to become the helpless prey of the +elements; and it was still more fool-hardy to place the lives of +its passengers at the mercy of such terrible and ungovernable +forces. A large section of the public laboured under the +delusion that Nadar's balloon was one capable of being steered. +In reality, however, the 'Geant' was unquestionably the most +rebellious and unruly specimen of its class that has been made +since the days of Montgolfier. The object in view when this +formidable monster was designed and constructed was to create the +means to collect sufficient funds to form a "Free Association for +Aerial Navigation by means of MACHINES HEAVIER THAN AIR," and for +the construction of machines on this principle. The receipts +from the exhibition of the "Geant" were intended to form the +first capital of the association. The hopes, however, of the +promoters have not been realised in this respect; for while the +expenses of the construction of the balloon have amounted, +directly and indirectly, to the sum of L8,300, its two ascents in +Paris and its exhibition in London produced only L3,300. + +Space forbids us to enter at length on the various stages of the +idea of aerial navigation by means of an apparatus heavier than +the atmosphere. The idea is not, however, by any means so absurd +as it appears at first sight. Those who, like Arago, declare +that the word "impossible" does not exist, except in the higher +mathematics, and those who look hopefully to the future instead +of resting content with the past, will join in applauding the +spirit which dictated the manifesto of aerial locomotion to the +founder of the association which we are about to describe. M. +Babinet, speaking on this subject before the French Polytechnic +Association, said: "It is absurd to talk of guiding balloons. +How will you set about it? How is it possible that a +balloon--say, for instance, like the Flesselles, whose diameter +measures 120 feet--can resist and manoeuvre against opposing +winds or currents of air? It would require a power equal to 400 +horses for the sails of a ship to struggle on equal terms with +the wind. Suppose an impossibility, namely, that a balloon could +carry with it a force equal to 400 horse-power; this result would +be of little use, for under the immense weight the fragile +covering of the balloon would instantly collapse. If all the +horses of a regiment were harnessed to the car of a balloon by +means of a long rope, the result would be that the balloon would +fly into shivers, being too fragile to withstand these two +opposing forces. Man must seek to raise himself in the air by +another mode of operation altogether, if he wish to guide himself +at the same time. Some time ago I bought a play thing, very much +in vogue at that time, called a Stropheor. This toy was composed +of a small rotating screw propeller, which revolved on its own +support when the piece of string wound round it was pulled +sharply. The screw was rather heavy, weighing nearly a quarter +of a pound, and the wings were of tin, very broad and thick. +This machine, however, was rather too eccentric for parlour use, +for its flight was so violent that it was continually breaking +the pier glass, if there was one in the room; and, failing this, +it next attacked the windows. The ascending force of this +machine is so great that I have seen one of them fly over Antwerp +Cathedral, which is one of the highest edifices in the world. +The air from underneath the machine is exhausted by the action of +the screw, which, passing under the wings, causes a vacuum, while +the air above it replenishes and fills this void, and under the +influence of these two causes the apparatus mounts from the +earth. But the problem is not solved by means of this plaything, +whose motive power is exterior to it. Messrs. Nadar, Ponton, +D'Amecourt, and De la Landelle teach us better than this, +although the wings of their different models are entirely +unworthy of men who desire to demonstrate a truth to short-lived +mortals. We have only arrived as yet at the infancy of the +process, but we have made a good beginning, for, having once +proved that a machine capable of raising itself in the air, +wholly unaided from without, can be made, we have overcome with +this apparently small result the whole difficulty. The principle +of propulsion by means of a screw is by no means a novelty. It +was first utilised in windmills, whose sails are nothing more nor +less than an immense screw which is turned by the action of the +wind on its surface. In the case of turbine water-wheels, where +perhaps 970 cubic feet of water are utilised by means of a +mechanism not larger than a hat, we see another illustration of +it, with this difference, that water takes the place of wind as +the motive power. + +"The aerial screw is beset with great difficulties, but if we can +succeed through its agency in raising even the smallest weight, +we may be confident of being able to raise a heavier one, for a +large machine is always more powerful in proportion to its size +than a small one. + +"Mlle. Garnerin once made a bet that she would guide herself in +her descent from a considerable altitude towards a fixed spot on +the earth at some distance, with no other help than the +parachute; and she was really able to guide herself to within a +few feet of the specified spot, by simply altering the +inclination of the parachute. + +"From observations in mountainous districts, where large birds of +prey may be seen to the best advantage hovering with outstretched +wings, I have come to the conclusion that they first of all +attain the requisite height and then, extending their wings in +the form of a parachute, let themselves glide gradually towards +the desired spot. Marshal Niel confirms this opinion by his +experience in the mountains of Algeria. It is, therefore, clear +from these examples that we should possess the power of +transporting ourselves from place to place if we could only +discover a means of raising a weight perpendicularly in the air, +which would then act as a capital of power, only requiring to be +expended at will." + +From the foregoing remarks we may gather an idea of the +importance which may be attached to aerial locomotion +notwithstanding the successive failures of all those who have +hitherto taken up the subject. We come now to the description of +the memorable ascent of the 'Geant.' + +We learn from the very interesting account of the 'Geant,' +published at the time, all the mishaps and adventures it outlived +from the time of the first stitch in its covering to its final +inflation with gas. We must, however, be content to take up the +narrative at the point at which the 'Geant,' with thirteen +passengers on board, had, in obedience to the order to "let go," +been released from the bonds which held it to the earth. The +narrative is, as our readers will perceive, written in somewhat +exaggerated language:-- + +"The 'Geant' gave an almost imperceptible shake on finding itself +free, and then commenced to rise. The ascent was slow and +gradual at first--the monster seemed to be feeling its way. An +immense shout rose with it from the assembled multitude. We +ascended grandly, whilst the deafening clamour of two hundred +thousand voices seemed to increase. We leant over the edge of +the car, and gazed at the thousands of faces which were turned +towards us from every point of the vast plain, in every +conceivable angle of which we were the common apex. We still +ascended. The summits of the double row of trees which surround +the Champ de Mars were already under us. We reached the level of +the cupola of the Military School. The tremendous uproar still +reached us. We glided over Paris in an easterly direction, at +the height of about six hundred feet. Every one took up the best +possible position on the six light cane stools, and on the two +long bunks at either end of the car, and contemplated the +marvellous panorama spread out under us, of which we never grew +weary. + +"There is never any dizziness in a balloon, as is often +erroneously supposed, for in it you are the only point in space +without any possibility of comparison with another, and therefore +the means of becoming giddy are not at hand. + +A very experienced aeronaut, who numbers his ascents by hundreds, +has assured me that he never knew of a single case of dizziness. + +"The earth seems to unfold itself to our view like an immense and +variegated map, the predominant colour of which is green in all +its shades and tints. The irregular division of the country into +fields made it resemble a patchwork counterpane. The size of the +houses, churches, fortresses, was so considerably diminished as +to make them resemble nothing so much as those playthings +manufactured at Carlsruhe. This was the effect produced by a +microscopic train, which whistled very faintly to attract our +attention, and which seemed to creep along at a snail's pace, +though doubtless going at the rate of thirty miles an hour, and +was enveloped in a minute cloud of smoke. What a lasting +impression this microscopic neatness makes on us! What is that +white puff I see down there? the smoke of a cigar? No: it is a +cloud of mist. It must be a perfect plain that we are looking +at, for we cannot distinguish between the different altitudes of +a bramble-bush and an oak a hundred years old! + +"It is one of the delights of an aeronaut to gaze on the familiar +scenes of earth from the immense height of the car of a balloon! +What earthly pleasure can compare with this! Free, calm, silent, +roving through this immense and hospitable space, where no human +form can harm me, I despise every evil power; I can feel the +pleasure of existence for the first time, for I am in full +possession, as on no other occasion, of perfect health of mind +and body. The aeronauts of the 'Geant' will scarcely condescend +to pity those miserable mortals whom they can only faintly +recognise by their gigantic works, which appear to them not more +dignified than ant-hills! + +"The sun had already set behind the purple horizon in our rear. +The atmosphere was still quite clear round the 'Geant,' although +there was a thick haze underneath, through which we could +occasionally see lights glimmering from the earth. We had +attained a sufficient altitude to be only just able to hear +noises from villages that we left beneath us, and were beginning +to enjoy the delicious calm and repose peculiar to aerial +ascents. + +"There is, however, a talk about dinner, or rather supper, and +night is now fast approaching. Every one eats with the best +possible appetite. Hams, fowls and dessert only appear to +disappear with an equal promptitude, and we quench our thirst +with bordeaux and champagne. I remind our companions of the +pigeons we brought with us, and which are hanging in a cage +outside the railing. I knew there was no danger of their flying +away, so fearlessly opened the cage. The three or four birds I +had put in the car seemed struck with terror. They flew +awkwardly towards the centre of our party, tumbling among the +plates and dishes and under our feet. It was not a case of +hunger with them, and I ought to have remembered that their +feeding time was long since past. I replaced them in their cage. + +"Meanwhile, the sun has left us for some time. Our longing gaze +followed it behind the dark clouds in the horizon, whose edges it +tipped with a glorious purple. Its last rays shone on us, and +then came a bluish-grey twilight. Suddenly we are enveloped in a +dense fog. We look around, above us. Everything has disappeared +in the mist. The balloon itself is no longer visible. We can +see nothing except the ropes which suspend us, and these are only +visible for a few feet above our heads, when they lose themselves +in the fog. We are alone with our wickerwork house in an +unfathomable vault. + +"We still ascend, however, through the compact and terrible fog, +which is so solid-looking as to seem capable of being carved into +forms with a knife. As we were without a moon, and had no light +at all, in fact, we were unable to distinguish nicely the +different shades of colour in these thick clouds. Now and then, +when the clouds seemed to be lighter, they had a bluish tinge; +but the thicker ones were dirty and muddy-looking. Dante must +have seen some like these. + +"Water trickled down our faces, hands, and clothes, and the ropes +and sides of our car. + +"The water did not fall in rain-drops or in flakes, as it +sometimes does in the tropics; but we were as completely +saturated by this heavy, penetrating mist as if we had been under +a waterfall. We still continued to traverse these rainy regions. +The thick fog which the balloon dislodged in forcing a passage +closed immediately after it. At one moment I thought I felt +something press against my cheek, which could only be compared to +the points of a thousand needles, or to floating particles of +ice. We were all of us too much absorbed with our situation to +think of the hour or of the height to which we had attained. +Suddenly the Prince of Wittgenstein, who was standing at my left +hand, cried out under his breath-- + +"'Look at the balloon, sir! look at the balloon!' + +"I raised my eyes, in company with several others, and shall +never forget the magnificent sight which awaited them. I saw the +balloon, for which I had been searching in vain a few minutes +before. It had undergone a transformation . It looked now as if +coated with silver, and floating in a pale phosphorescent +glimmer. All the ropes and cords seemed to be of new, bright, +and liquid silver, like mercury, caused by the mist which had +rested on them becoming suddenly congealed. Two luminous arcs +intervened between us, in a sea of mother-of-pearl and opal, the +lower one being the colour of red ochre and the upper one orange. +Both of them, blinding in their brilliancy, seemed about to +embrace one another. + +"'How far are they off?' thought I to myself. 'Can I touch them +with my hand, or are they separated from me by an immense space?' +We are not capable of forming ideas of perspective, floating as +we are in the midst of such a glimmering splendour. + +"Above and around us are nothing but thick fogs and enormous +black clouds, whose ragged edges and backs are relieved by a pale +silver coating. They undulate ceaselessly to and fro, and either +usurp quietly the place of others, or disappear only to be +superseded by more formidable ones. But the last ray of +reflected light has died out, and we plunge into this chaos of +dreadful forms. Monsters seem to wish to approach us, and to +envelop us in their dark embraces. One of them, on my right +hand, looks like a deformed human arm in a menacing attitude, +writhing its jagged top like a blind serpent feeling its way. +The vague monster has disappeared; but the momentary splendour +being followed by the original gloom, we plunge once more into a +darkness that can be felt. + +"The water which had collected on the balloon during its ascent +now began to take effect, and caused it to descend with such +rapidity into the dark abyss that the ballast, which was +immediately thrown overboard, was overtaken in its descent and +fell on our heads again + +"I hear exclamations and voices near me. My companions are +evidently agitated, and with good reason, too; for the lights +which we could see a long way below us approach with terrible +rapidity. We reached the earth rather quicker than we left it. + +"Suddenly we feel a dreadful shock, followed by ominous +crackings. The car has grounded. The 'Geant' has made its +descent. But in what part of the habitable globe, and under what +zone? At Meaux!" + +To employ an expression of M. Nadar's it seems that these +gentlemen never before experienced such a "knock-down blow." + +After all these preparations, all this trouble, all the energy +employed in the undertaking--sufficient, indeed, wherewith to +attempt to cross the Atlantic--to "descend at Meaux!" + +The 'Geant,' however, had its revenge. Its second ascent gave it +this revenge. We shall be as brief as possible in relating this +voyage; but the details are all so very interesting that we +regret extremely our being unable to give more than extracts from +the narrative. + +Our travellers committed themselves again to the mercy of the +air. The Emperor, following the example of a former King of +France, took considerable interest in the construction of this +aerial monster, and wished the aeronaut "Bon voyage" at starting. +The passengers endeavoured to pass the night as comfortably as +possible, having first instituted a four hours' watch, as on +board ship. + +The aerial vessel glided rapidly through the air. "We +repeatedly," said Nadar, "passed over some manufacturing centre, +whose lights were not yet extinguished. I either hailed them +with my speaking-trumpet or rang our two bells. Sometimes we +received a reply from below, in the shape of a shout, for, +although we still had no moon, the night was occasionally clear +enough for people to distinguish us; and sometimes we heard a +peal of laughter from out of the atmosphere in which we were +travelling. It was another party of aeronauts in a smaller +balloon, who left at the same time as we did, and who would +persist in keeping the 'Geant' company. We are passing over a +small town; we hear the usual shouting and the report of a gun. +Our first thoughts are--Was it loaded with shot or ball? The +inhuman brute who fired will say, 'Certainly not;' but as +balloons have often been damaged in this way, we may be confident +there was more than powder in this one. It would be +satisfactory, at any rate, if the name of the person could be +ascertained who favoured us with this welcome. But it is rather +late to make inquiries on this subject. It was between a quarter +and half-past nine o'clock when this occurred. 'The sea!' cried +Jules; 'look at the revolving lights of the lighthouses. There: +one has just disappeared: it will flash out again in a moment!' +But what is this? Before us, as far as our eyes can reach, we +distinguish faint lights, which in this case are neither lamps +nor torches. As we continue to draw nearer we get a better view +of these numerous, violent, and smoking furnaces. Loud and +ringing sounds strike on our ear at the same time. Am I right in +my conjectures? Is this not that splendid country I love more +than ever now? It must be Erquelines! And the dignified +Custom-house official, had it been possible, would have added +thereto 'Belgium!' + +"We still continue to pass over fires, forges, tall chimneys, and +coal mines at frequent intervals. Not long after we distinguish +a large town on our right hand, which, by its size and brilliant +lighting by gas, we recognise as Brussels. There could be no +mistake, for close by, more modest in size and appearance, we see +Catholic Malines. We have left it behind us. + +"Onward! Onward! Behind us the fires fade gradually away, and +disappear one after anopther. Before us nothing at present +visible. We seemed to drift on for about one hundred or one +hundred and fifty yards more. We cannot distinguish a single +point in front of us on which to fix our gaze. But we still +continue our course in silence. + +"This mournful darkness, this endless shroud, in which we can +discover neither rent nor spangle, still continues. Where are +we? Over what strange country, possessing neither cities, towns, +nor villages, are we hovering in the tomb-like silence of this +interminable darkness? We seem, indeed, to have been carried by +a puff of wind towards the west. + +"But something seems to approach us. What are those pale rays of +light which we can faintly see a long, long way before us--rays +pale and soft, quite unlike those flaming fires we have left +behind us? Surely these do not denote the presence of human +activity! As we continue to advance, these pale flakes of +light--resembling nothing so much in appearance as molten +lead--which at first were scanty and isolated, gradually expand, +and leave only narrow strips of darkness to divide them into +fantastic shapes. By their help we discovered we were passing +over the immense marshes of Holland, which extended to and lost +themselves in the hazy horizon. On our right hand we hear a deep +moan, still distant, but rapidly approaching every moment. It is +undoubtedly the rushing of the wind. A fresh breeze for five +minutes would bring us to the sea. + +"We experienced another shock not less formidable than the first. +The 'Geant' is trembling from its effects. The cable of our +first anchor has just broken like a piece of thread. We could +not hope for a better result. The violence of the wind which is +carrying us along seems to be redoubled. A bump: another and +another--then shock after shock. + +"'The second dead men!' + +"Our swift pace was shock after shock. + +"'The anchor is lost,' cries Jules; 'we are all dead men! + +"This truth is too palpable to all of us to require expressing in +so many words, for we are just commencing that furious, tearing +course called 'trailing.' + +"Our swift pace was considerably accelerated by the lower part of +the balloon, which--limp, empty, and forming nearly a third of +the whole--had been set free at the first shock, and flapped +against the distended part, acting as a sail. The shocks +continued to multiply so fast that it was impossible to count +them. The car continued to rebound from these shocks to the +height of five, ten, sometimes thirty, forty, and even fifty +feet, for all the world like an India-rubber ball from the hands +of an indefatigable player. Unfortunately, all our human +freight, terror stricken and without advice, had crowded into one +side of the car; and as this happened to be the side on which we +invariably bumped, we experienced all the worst effects of the +joltings. + +"What a dizzy whirl! What a succession of breathless shocks! +What a strain on both muscles and nerves! By the least +negligence or slip, or by the loss of presence of mind for one +moment, we should have been thrown out and dashed to atoms. + +"Every collision tries our muscles and strains our wrists or our +shoulders; and every rebound dashes us one against the other, +constituting each individual a tormentor and victim at the same +time. Our flight is so rapid that we can only distinguish an +occasional glimpse of anything. Far, far in the distance we +distinguish an isolated tree. We approach it like lightning, and +we break it as though it were a straw. + +"Two terrified horses, with manes and tails erect, endeavour to +fly from us. But we consume distances; we leave them behind +immediately. We skip over a flock of affrighted sheep in one of +our bounds. But now comes the real danger. + +"At this moment, when we were perfectly benumbed with fear, and +had lost all power of articulation, we saw a locomotive, drawing +two carriages, running along an embankment at right angles to our +course. A few more revolutions of the wheels, and it will be all +over with us, for we seem to be fated to meet with geometrical +precision at one spot! + +"What will happen? + +"Travelling at our present hurricane pace, we shall undoubtedly +lift up and overturn the machine and what it is drawing. But +shall we not be crushed ourselves? A few paces still intervene +between us and our foe, and we give vent to a shout of terror. + +"It is heard, and the locomotive answers it by a whistle, then +slackens its pace, and after seeming to hesitate an instant backs +quickly and only just in time to give us a free passage, whilst +the driver, waving his cap, salutes us with-- + +"'Look out for the wires!' + +"The caution was well timed, for we had not noticed the four +telegraph wires which we rapidly approached. We energetically +ducked our heads on seeing them, but fortunately we escaped any +more damage than having two or three of our ropes cut. These we +continued to drag after us like the tail of a ragged comet, +having the telegraph-wires and the posts which lately supported +them attached to us." + +After having been dragged thus for some time at the mercy of a +hurricane which they ought to have been able to avoid, these +aerial navigators at last got entangled in the outskirts of a +wood near Rethem, in Hanover. A few broken arms and legs paid +for their temerity in meddling with this monster, and one and all +of the passengers have reason to be thankful that it will be +unnecessary for us to proclaim their virtues and their fate in +our next chapter. + + + +Chapter X. The Necrology of Aeronautic + +We will conclude this second part by giving a brief notice of +some of those who, in the early days of aerostation, fell martyrs +to their devotion to the new cause, and sometimes victims to +their own want of foresight and their inexperience. + +First among these is Pilatre des Roziers, with whose courage and +ingenuity our readers are already familiar. After the passage of +Blanchard from England over to France this hero, who was the +first to trust himself to the wide space of the sky, resolved to +undertake the return voyage from France to England--a more +difficult feat, owing to the generally adverse character of the +winds and currents. In vain did Roziers' friends attempt to make +him understand the perils to which this enterprise must expose +him; his only reply was that he had discovered a new balloon +which united in itself all the necessary conditions of security, +and would permit the voyager to remain an unusually long time in +the air. He asked and obtained from government the sum of 40,000 +livres, in order to construct his machine. It then became clear +what sort of balloon he had contrived. He united in one machine +the two modes previously made use of in aerostation. Underneath +a balloon filled with hydrogen gas, he suspended a Montgolfiere, +or a balloon filled with hot air from a fire. It is difficult to +understand what was his precise object in making this +combination, for his ideas seem to have been confused upon the +subject. It is probable that, by the addition of a Montgolfiere, +he wished to free himself from the necessity of having to throw +over ballast when he wished to ascend and to let off this gas +when he wished to descend. The fire of the Montgolfiere might, +he probably supposed, be so regulated as to enable him to rise or +fall at will. + +This mixed system has been justly blamed. It was simply "putting +fire beside powder," said Professor Charles to Roziers; but the +latter would not listen, and depended for everything on his own +intrepidity and scientific skill of which he had already given so +many proofs. There were, perhaps, other reasons for his +unyielding obstinacy. The court that had furnished him with the +funds for the construction of the balloon pressed him, and he +himself was most ambitious to equal the achievement of Blanchard, +who was the first to cross the Channel, on the 7th of January, +1785. + +The fact was that at this time the prevailing fear in France was, +that Great Britain should bear off all the honours and profits of +aerostation before any of these had been won by France. It was +thus that with an untried machine, and under conditions the most +unfavourable for his enterprise, Roziers prepared to risk his +life in this undertaking, which was equally dangerous and +useless. + +The double balloon was alternately inflated and emptied. While +under cover it was assailed by the rats that gnawed holes in it, +and when brought out of its place it was exposed to the tempests, +so that the longer the experiment was delayed, the worse chance +there was of getting through it successfully. At length Roziers +went to Boulogne, and announced the day of his departure; but, as +if by a special Providence, his attempt was delayed by +unfavourable weather. For many weeks in succession the little +trial balloons thrown up to show the course of the wind were +driven back upon the shores of France. During all these trials +the impatient Roziers continued to chafe and torment himself. + +At last, on the 13th and 14th of June, 1785, the +Aero-Montgolfiere remained inflated, waiting a favourable moment +for departure. On the 15th at four in the morning, a little +pilot balloon that had been thrown up fell back on the spot from +which it had been thrown free, thus showing that there was no +wind. Seven hours later Roziers, accompanied by his brother +Romain, one of the constructors of the balloon, appeared in the +gallery. A nobleman present threw a purse of 200 louis into the +car, and was preparing to follow it and join in the adventure. +Roziers forbade him to enter, gently but firmly. + +"The experiment is too unsafe," he said, "for me to expose to +danger the life of another." + +"Finally," says a narrative of the time, "the Aero-Montgolfiere +rose in an imposing manner. The sound of cannon signalised the +departure, the voyagers saluted the crowd, who responded with +loud shouts. The balloon advanced until it began to traverse the +sea, and every one with eyes fixed upon the fragile machine, +regarded it with fear. It had traversed upwards of a league of +its journey, and had reached the height of 700 feet above sea +level, when a wind from the west drove it back toward the shore, +after having been twenty-seven minutes in the air. + +"At this moment the crowd beneath perceived that the voyagers +were showing signs of alarm. They seemed suddenly to lower the +grating of the Montgolfiere. But it was too late. A violet +flame appeared at the top of the balloon, then spread over the +whole globe, and enveloped the Montgolfiere and the voyagers. +"The unfortunate men were suddenly precipitated from the clouds +to the earth, in front of the Tour de Croy, upwards of a league +from Boulogne, and 300 feet from the sea beach. + +"The dead body of Roziers was found burnt in the gallery, many of +the bones being broken. His brother was still breathing, but he +was not able to speak, and in a few minutes he expired." + +De Maisonfort, who, against his own will, was left on the earth, +was witness of this sad event. He has given the following +explanation of it:-- + +"Some minutes after their departure the voyagers were assailed by +contrary winds, which drove them back again upon the land. It is +probable that then, in order to descend and seek a more +favourable current of air, which would take them out again to +sea, Roziers opened the valve of the gas balloon; but the cord +attached to this valve was very long, it worked with difficulty, +and the friction which it occasioned tore the valve. The stuff +of the balloon, which had suffered much from many preliminary +attempts, and from other causes, was torn to the extent of +several yards, and the valve fell down inside the balloon, which +at once emptied itself." + +According to this narrative, there was no conflagration of the +gas in the middle of the atmosphere, nor is it stated precisely +whether the grating of the Montgolfiere was lighted. + +Maisonfort ran to the spot when the travellers fell, found them +covered with the cloth of the balloon, and occupying the same +positions which they had taken up on departing. + +By a sad chance, that seems like irony, they were thrown down +only a few paces from the monument which marks the spot where +Blanchard descended. At the present day Frenchmen going to +England via Calais do not fail to visit at the forest of Guines +the monument consecrated to the expedition of Blanchard. A few +paces from this monument the cicerone will point out with his +finger the spot where his rivals expired. + +"Such was the end of the first of aeronauts, and the most +courageous of men," says a contemporaneous historian. "He died +a martyr to honour and to zeal. His kindness, amiability, and +modesty endeared him to all who knew him. She who was dearest to +him--a young English lady, who boarded at a convent at Boulogne, +and whom he had first met only a few days prior to his last +ascent--could not support the news of his death. Horrible +convulsions seized her and she expired, it is said, eight days +after the dreadful catastrophe. Roziers died at the age of +twenty-eight and a half years." + +Olivari perished at Orleans on the 25th of November, 1802. He +had ascended in a Montgolfiere made of paper, strengthened only +by some bands of cloth. His car, made of osiers, and loaded with +combustible matter, was suspended below the grating; and when at +a great elevation it became the prey of the flames. The +aeronaut, thus deprived of his support, fell, at the distance of +a league from the spot from which he had risen. + +Mosment made his last ascent at Lille on the 7th of April, 1806. +His balloon was made of silk, and was filled with hydrogen gas. +Ten minutes after his departure he threw into the air a parachute +with which he had provided himself. It is supposed that the +oscillations consequent on the throwing off of the parachute were +the cause of they aeronaut's fall. Some pretend that Mosment had +foretold his death, and that it was caused by a willful +carelessness. However this may be, the balloon continued its +flight alone, and the body of the aeronaut was found partly +buried in the sand of the fosse which surrounds the town. + +Bittorff made a great many successful ascents. He never used any +machine but the Montgolfiere. At Manheim, on the 17th of July, +the day of his death his balloon, which was of paper, sixteen +metres in diameter, and twenty in height, took fire in the air, +and the aeronaut was thrown down upon the town. His fall was +mortal. + +Harris, an old officer of the English navy, together with another +English aeronaut, named Graham, had made a great many ascents. +He conceived the idea of constructing a balloon upon an original +plan; but his alterations do not seem to have been improvements. +In May, 1824, he attempted an ascent from London, which had much +apparent success, but which terminated fatally. When at a great +elevation, it seems, the aeronaut, wishing to descend, opened the +valve. It had not been well constructed, and after being opened +it would not close again. The consequent loss of gas brought the +balloon down with great force. Harris lost his life with the +fall; but the young lady who had accompanied him received only a +trifling wound. + +Sadler, a celebrated English aeronaut, who, in one of his many +experiments, had crossed the Irish Channel between Dublin and +Holyhead, lost his life miserably near Bolton, on the 28th of +September, 1824. Deprived of his ballast, in consequence of his +long sojourn in the air, and forced at last to descend, at a late +hour, upon a number of high buildings, the wind drove him +violently against a chimney. The force of the shock threw him +out of his car, and he fell to the earth and died. His prudence +and knowledge were unquestionable, and his death is to be +ascribed alone to accident. It was an aerial shipwreck. + +Cocking had gone up twice in Mr. Green's balloon as a simple +amateur. He took it into his head to go up a third time. He +wished to attempt a descent in a parachute of his own +construction, which he believed was vastly superior to the +ordinary one. He altered the form altogether, though that form +had been proved to be satisfactory. In place of a concave +surface, supporting itself on a volume of air, Cocking used an +inverted cone, of an elaborate construction, which, instead of +supporting him in the air, only accelerated his fall. Unhappily, +Green participated in this experiment. The two made an ascent +from Vauxhall, on the 27th of September, 1836, Green having +suspended Cocking's wretched contrivance from the car of his +balloon. Cocking held on by a rope, and at the height of from +1,000 to 1,200 feet the amateur, with his patent parachute, were +thrown off from the balloon. A moment afterwards Green was +soaring away safely in his machine, but Cocking was launched into +eternity. + +"The descent was so rapid," says one who witnessed it, "that the +mean rate of the fall was not less than twenty yards a second. +In less than a minute and a half the unfortunate aeronaut was +thrown to the earth, and killed by the fall." + +Madame Blanchard, thinking to improve upon Garnerin, who had +decorated the balloon which ascended in celebration of the +coronation of Napoleon I. with coloured lights, fixed fireworks +instead to hers. A wire rope ten yards long was suspended to her +car; at the bottom of this wire rope was suspended a broad disc +of wood, around which the fireworks were ranged. These consisted +of Bengal and coloured lights. On the 6th of July, 1819, there +was a great fete at Tivoli, and a multitude had assembled around +the balloon of Madame Blanchard. Cannon gave the signal of +departure, and soon the fireworks began to show themselves. The +balloon rose splendidly, to the sound of music and the shoutings +of the people. A rain of gold and thousands of stars fell from +the car as it ascended. A moment of calm succeeded, and then to +the eyes of the spectators, still fixed on the balloon, an +unexpected light appeared. This light did not come from under +the balloon, where the crown of fireworks was already +extinguished, but shone in the car itself. It was evident that +the lady aeronaut, although now so high above the spectators, was +busy about something. The light increased, then disappeared +suddenly; then appeared again, and showed itself finally at the +summit of the balloon, in the form of an immense jet of gas. The +gas with which the balloon was inflated had taken fire, and the +terrible glare which the light threw around was perceived from +the boulevards, and all the Quartier Montmartre. + +It was at this moment--a frightful one for those who perceived +what had taken place--that a general sentiment of satisfaction +and admiration among the spectators found vent in cries of +"Brava! Vive Madame Blanchard!" &c. The people thought the lady +was giving them an unexpected treat. Meantime, by the light of +the flame, the balloon was seen gradually to descend. It +disappeared when it reached the houses, like a passing meteor, or +a train of fire which a blast of wind suddenly extinguishes. A +number of workmen and other persons, who had perceived that some +accident had taken place, ran in the direction in which the +balloon appeared to descend. They arrived at a house in the Rue +de Provence. On the roof of this house the balloon had fallen, +and the unfortunate Madame Blanchard, thrown out of the car by +the shock, was killed by her fall to the earth. + +This news spread rapidly from Tivoli, where it occasioned a +stupefying surprise. It was the first time that a fall of the +kind had taken place from the sky at Paris. Fireworks were from +this time discontinued, the fete came to an end, and a +subscription was rapidly organised, producing some thousands of +francs, which shortly afterwards were employed in erecting a +monument to the lady, which is now to be seen in the cemetery of +Pere-la-Chaise. + +Madame Blanchard had wished to surpass the ordinary spectacle of +an aerial ascent; she had really prepared a SURPRISE for the +spectators. She had prepared and she took with her a small +parachute of about two yards in diameter. After the extinction +of the crown or star of fireworks, she intended to throw this +little parachute loose; and as it was terminated by another +supply of fireworks, it was supposed that the effect would be as +beautiful as surprising. + +The unhappy lady was small in stature, and very light, and +unfortunately made use of a very small balloon. That of the 6th +of July, 1819, was only seven metres in diameter; and to make it +ascend with the weight it carried it had to be filled to the neck +with inflammable air. In quitting the earth some of this gas +escaped, and rising above the balloon, formed a train like one of +powder, which would certainly flash into a blaze the moment it +came in contact with the fire. But on this day it was she who +with her own hand fired this train. At the moment when, +detaching the little parachute from her car, she took the light +for the fireworks in her other hand, she crossed this train with +the light and set it on fire. Then the brave woman, throwing +away the parachute and the match, strove to close the mouth of +the balloon, and to stifle the fire. These efforts being +unavailing, Madame Blanchard was distinctly seen to sit down in +her car and await her fate. + +The burning of the hydrogen lasted several minutes, during which +time the balloon gradually descended. Had it not been that it +struck on the roof of the house Madame Blanchard would have been +saved. At the moment of the shock she was heard to cry out, "A +moi." These were her last words. The car, going along the roof +of the house, was caught by an iron bar and overturned, and the +lady was thrown head foremost upon the pavement. + +When she reached the ground she immediately expired. Her head +and shoulders were slightly burnt, otherwise she exhibited no +marks of the fire which had destroyed the balloon. + + + +PART III. Scientific Experiments--Applications of Ballooning. + +Chapter I. Experiments of Robertson, Lhoest, Saccarof, &c. + +Robertson is regarded by many as a sort of mountebank; yet such +men as Arago have put themselves to the trouble of examining the +aerostatic feats of this aeronaut, and of examining the results +of his observations. + +"The savant Robertson," says Arago, "performed at Hamburg on the +18th of July, 1803, with his countryman, Lhoest, the first +aeronautic voyage from which science has been able to draw useful +deductions. The two aeronauts remained suspended in the air +during five hours, and came down near Hanover, twenty-five +leagues from the spot from which they set off." + +The first time that Robertson appears in the annals of +aerostation is in 1802, on the occasion of the sale of the +balloon used at the battle of Fleurus, of which mention will be +made in the chapter on military aerostation. But three years +previously he had been instructed to make a balloon of an +original form, which should ascend in honour of the Turkish +ambassador at the garden of Tivoli. The fete was completely +successful. Turks, Chinese, Persians, and Bedouins will always +be welcome, as on this occasion, at Paris, appearing as they do +only at rare intervals, and for a short time. + +The fete took place on the 2nd of July. Robertson presented +himself at the house of Esseid-Ali, to obtain his autograph. The +Turkish ambassador willingly granted the request, and wrote his +name in letters, each of which was two inches in height, on a +sheet of paper. He then offered the aeronaut coffee and comfits, +and promised to be present to witness the balloon ascent. His +name was painted in large characters on a balloon fifteen feet in +diameter, and on the form of which was the figure of a crescent. +The experiment delighted the ambassador, and was well received by +the public. + +Jacques Garnerin, when he came to make his debut as an aeronaut, +made an attempt with the parachute, the following August, at the +garden of the Hotel de Biron. The ambassador was asked to honour +the fete, but he declined, saying that he had "made up his mind +that man was not intended for flying--Mahomet had not so willed +it." + +Of one of Robertson's more interesting ascents he himself has +left us the following sketch:-- + +"I rose in the balloon at nine a.m., accompanied by my +fellow-student and countryman, M. Lhoest. We had 140 lbs. of +ballast. The barometer marked twenty-eight inches; the +thermometer sixteen degrees Reaumur. In spite of some slight +wind from the north-west, the balloon mounted so perpendicularly +that in all the streets each of the spectators believed we were +mounting straight up above his head. In order to quicken our +ascent I discharged a parachute made of silk, and weighted in a +way to prevent oscillations. The parachute descended at the rate +of two feet per second, and its descent was uniform. From the +moment when the barometer began to sink we became very careful of +our ballast, as we wished to test from experience the different +temperatures through which we were about to pass. + +"At 10.15, the barometer was at nineteen inches, and the +thermometer at three above zero. We now felt all the +inconvenience of an extremely rarefied atmosphere coming upon us, +and we commenced to arrange some experiments in atmospheric +electricity. Our first attempts did not succeed. We threw over +part of our ballast, and mounted up till the cold and the +rarefaction of the air became very troublesome. During our +experiments we experienced an illness throughout our whole +system. Buzzing in the cars commenced, and went on increasing. +The pain we felt was like that which one feels when he plunges +his head in water. Our chests seemed to be dilated, and failed +in elasticity. My pulse was quickened, M. Lhoest's became +slower; he had, like me, swelled lips and bleeding eyes; the +veins seemed to come out more strongly on the hands. The blood +ran to the head, and occasioned a feeling as if our hats were too +tight. The thermometer continued to descend, and, as we ascended, +our illness increased, and we could with difficulty keep awake. +Fearing that my travelling companion might go to sleep, I +attached a cord to my thigh and to ]his, and we held the +extremities of the cord in our hands. Thus trammelled, we had to +commence the experiments which I had proposed to make. + +"At this elevation, the glass, the brimstone, and the Spanish wax +were not electrified in a manner to show any signs under +friction--at least, I obtained no electricity from the conductors +or the electrometer. + +"I had in my car a voltaic pile, consisting of sixty +couples--silver and zinc. It worked very well on the occasion of +our departure from the earth, and gave, without the condenser, +one degree to the electrometer. At our great elevation, the pile +gave only five-sixths of a degree to the same electrometer. The +galvanic flame seemed more active at this elevation than on the +earth. + +"I took two birds with me on coming into the balloon--one of +these was now dead, the other appeared stupefied. After having +placed it upon the brink of the gondola, I tried to frighten it +to make it take to flight. It moved its wings, but did not leave +the spot; then I left it to itself, and it fell perpendicularly +and with great rapidity. Birds are certainly not able to +maintain themselves at such elevations. + +"It is notable that the atmosphere, which was of a perfect purity +near the earth, was grey and misty above our heads, and the +beautiful blue sky seen from the surface did not exist for us, +although the weather was calm and serene, and the day the most +beautiful that could be. The sun did not seem dazzling to us, +and its heat was diminished owing to our elevation. + +"At half-past eleven, the balloon was no longer visible from +Hamburg. The heavens were so pure beneath us that everything was +distinctly seen by us, though very much diminished by distance. +At 11.40, the town of Hamburg seemed only a red point in our +eyes; the Elbe looked like a straight ribbon. I wished to make +use of an opera-glass, but what surprised me was that when I +lifted it up it was so cold that I had to wrap my handkerchief +around it to enable me to hold it. + +"Not being able to support our position any longer, we descended, +after having used up much gas and ballast. Our descent caused +that degree of terror among the inhabitants which the size of our +balloon was calculated to inspire in a country where such +machines had never before been seen. We descended above a poor +village called Radenburg, a place amid the heaths of Hanover. +Our appearance caused great alarm, and even the beasts of the +field fled from us. + +"While our balloon rapidly approached the earth, we waved our +hats and flags, and shouted to the inhabitants, but our voices +only increased their terror. The villagers rushed away with +cries of terror, leaving their herds, whose bellowings increased +the general alarm. When the balloon touched the ground, every man +had shut himself up in his own house. Having appealed in vain, +and fearing that the villagers might do us some injury, we +resolved to re-ascend. + +"In making this second ascent, we threw over all our ballast; but +in this we were imprudent, for after sailing about at a great +height, and having lost much gas, I perceived that our descent +would be very rapid, and to provide against accident, I gathered +together all the instruments, the bread, the ropes, and even such +money as we had with us, and placed them in three sacks, to which +I attached a rope of a hundred feet in length. This precaution +saved us a shock. The weight, amounting to thirty pounds, +reached the ground before us, and the balloon, thus lightened, +came softly to the ground between Wichtenbech and Hanover, after +having run twenty-five leagues in five and a half hours." + +After this ascent Robertson became acquainted with some savants +of Hamburg, and amongst others with Professor Pfaff, who was +interested in aerial travelling as a means of settling certain +meteorological problems. Some days after Robertson's ascent, the +professor wrote to him-- + +"You speak of a certain height at which the hydrogen gas will +find itself in equilibrium in the air of the atmosphere. I +believe that this height is the extremity of the atmosphere +itself; for as the gas has an elasticity much greater than that +of the air, it will go on dilating as it mounts into the higher +regions of the atmosphere, and its specific weight will diminish +as the weight of atmospheric air diminishes; and it will not +cease to mount until it rises above the atmosphere itself, if two +conditions be completely fulfilled--1, the condition that the gas +may be allowed to dilate without leaving the balloon as it rises; +2, the condition that the gas shall not be allowed to mix at all +with the atmospheric air." + +Another ascent was arranged for the 14th of August, in which +Robertson was to be accompanied by the professor, but the latter, +yielding to the entreaties of his family, did not go. "I went up +with my friend Lhoest," says Robertson, "at forty-two minutes +past twelve midday. In a minute or two we rose up between two +masses of cloud, which seemed to open up and offer us a passage. +The upper surfaces of these clouds are not uniformly level, like +the under sides seen from the earth, but they are of a conical or +pyramidal shape. These imposing masses seem to precipitate +themselves upon the earth, as if to engulf it, but this optical +illusion was due to the apparent immobility of the balloon, which +at the moment was rising at the rate of about twenty feet per +second. + +"The fear of losing the view of the Baltic, which we perceived +between the clouds at intervals, obliged us to renounce the +project of rising as high as on the last occasion. The barometer +was at fifteen inches, and the thermometer one degree below zero, +when I let off two pigeons. + +"One descended in a diagonal direction, its wings half open but +not moving, with a swiftness which seemed that of a fall. The +other flew for an instant, and then placed itself upon the car, +and did not wish to quit us. Acting on the hint of Dr. Reimarus, +I tried the same experiment with butterflies, but the air was too +much rarefied for them; they attempted in vain to raise +themselves by their wings, but they did not forsake the car. + +"The wind continuing to carry me towards the sea, I resolved to +bring my observations to an end. I effected my descent in a +meadow, near the village of Rehorst, in Holstein, after having +run sixteen leagues from France in sixty-five minutes." + +At the commencement of the year 1804, Laplace, at the Institute, +proposed to take advantage of the means offered by aerostation to +verify at great heights certain scientific points--as, for +example, those which concern magnetism. This proposition was made +at a favourable time, and was, so far, carried out in the best +possible way. The aeronauts who were appointed to carry out the +expedition were Biot and Gay-Lussac, the most enthusiastic +aeronauts of the period. + +The following is their report:-- + +"We observed the animals we had with us at all the different +heights, and they did not appear to suffer in any manner. For +ourselves, we perceived no effect any more then a quickening of +the pulse. At 10,000 feet above the ground we set a little +green-finch at liberty. He flew out at once, but immediately +returning, settled upon our cordage; afterwards, setting out +again, he flew to the earth, describing a very tortuous line in +his passage. We followed him with our eyes till he was lost in +the clouds. A pigeon, which we set free at the same elevation, +presented a very curious spectacle. Placed at liberty on the +edge of the car, he remained at rest for a number of instants, as +if measuring the length of his flight; then he launched himself +into space, flying about irregularly, as if to try his wings. +Afterwards he began his descent regularly, sweeping round and +round in great circles, ever reaching lower, until he also was +lost in the clouds." + +As to the voyagers themselves, this is how they speak of their +situation at the height of 3,000 yards:-- + +"About this elevation we observed our animals. They did not +appear to suffer from the rarity of the air, yet the barometer +was at twenty inches eight lines.. We were much surprised that +we did not suffer from the cold; on the contrary, the sun warmed +us much. We had thrown aside the gloves which had been put on +board, and which were of no use to us. Our pulses were very +quick; that of M. Gay-Lussac, which is 62 in the minute on +ordinary occasions, now gave 80; and mine, which is ordinarily +89, gave 111. This acceleration was felt by both of us in nearly +the same proportion. Nevertheless, our respiration was in no way +interfered with, we experienced no illness, and our situation +seemed to us extremely agreeable." + +The following is their report to the Galvanic Society-- + +"We have known for a long time that no animal can with safety +pass into an atmosphere much more dense or much more rare than +that to which it has been accustomed. In the first case it +suffers from the outer air, which presses upon it severely; in +the second case there are liquids or fluids in the animal's body +which, being less pressed against than they should be, become +dilated, and press against their coverings or channels. In both +cases the symptoms are nearly the same--pain, general illness, +buzzing in the ears, and even haemorrhage. The experience of the +diving-bell has long made us familiar with what aeronauts suffer. +Our colleague (Robertson), and his companion, have experienced +these effects in great intensity. They had swelled lips, their +eyes bled, their veins were dilated, and, what is very +remarkable, they both preserved a brown or red tinge which +astonished those that had seen them before they made the ascent. +This distension of the blood-vessels would necessarily produce an +inconvenience and a difficulty in the muscular action." + + + +Chapter II. Ascent of M. Gay-Lussac Alone--Excursions of MM. +Barral and Bixio. + +Respecting this ascent, Arago states that M. Gay-Lussac has +reduced to their proper value the narratives of the physical +pains which aeronauts say they suffer in lofty aerial ascents. + +M. Gay-Lussac says:--"Having arrived at the most elevated point +of my ascent, 21,000 feet above sea level, my respiration was +rendered sensibly difficult, but I was far from experiencing any +illness of a kind to make me descend. My pulse and my breathing +were very quick; breathing very frequently in an extremely dry +atmosphere, I should not have been surprised if my throat had +been so dry as to make it painful to swallow bread." + +After having finished his observations, which referred chiefly to +the magnetic needle, with all the tranquillity of a doctor in his +study, Gay-Lussac descended to the earth between Rouen and +Dieppe, eighty leagues from Paris. + +After the names of Robertson, Gay-Lussac, and Biot, science has +registered those of Barral and Bixio, two men whose aeronautic +achievements have enriched meteorology with more important +discoveries, perhaps, than any we have yet mentioned. + +These gentlemen had conceived the project of rising by means of a +balloon to a great height, in order to study, with the assistance +of the very best instruments in use in their day, a multitude of +phenomena then imperfectly known. The subjects to which they +were specially to direct their attention, were the law of the +decrease of temperature in progress upwards, the discovery of +whether the chemical composition of the atmosphere is the same +throughout all its parts, the comparison of the strength of the +solar rays in the higher regions of the atmosphere and on the +surface of the earth, the ascertaining whether the light +reflected and transmitted by the clouds is or is not polarised, +&c. + +All the preparations having been made in the garden of the +Observatory at Paris, the ascent took place on the 29th of June, +1850, at 10.27 a.m., the balloon being filled with hydrogen gas. +The first ascent was a signal failure. It was found that the +weather being bad, the envelope of the balloon was torn in +several places, and had to be mended in all haste. Immediately +preceding the moment of ascent, a torrent of rain fell. But the +voyagers were determined to ascend. They placed themselves in +the car, and, when thrown off from the fastenings, they rose +through the air with the speed of an arrow. The height to which +the balloon reached made it suddenly dilate, and the network, +which was much too small, was stretched to the utmost. The +balloon was forced down upon them by the dilation, and one of +them, in the endeavour to work the valve, made a rent in the +lower part of the globe, from which the gas escaping almost over +the heads of the travellers, nearly choked them. The escape of +the gas had the usual result--the balloon descended rapidly, and +fell in a vineyard near Lugny, where they were found by the +peasants holding on to the trees by their legs and arms, and thus +attempting to stop the horizontal advance of the car. They had +risen to the height of over 17,000 feet, and they had descended +from this height in from four to five minutes. + +For all practical purposes, the ascent was a failure, and the +aeronauts immediately commenced preparations for a new voyage, +which took place a month afterwards. They rose to very great +altitudes, but experienced no illness from the rarefied air. M. +Bixio did not feel the sharp pains in the ears from which he had +suffered on the former occasion. They passed through a mass of +cloud 15,000 feet in thickness, and they had not yet passed quite +through it, when at the height of over 21,000 feet from the +ground, they began to descend, their descent being caused by a +rent in the envelope of the balloon, from which the gas escaped. +They might, in throwing out the last of their ballast, have, +perhaps, prolonged for a little their sojourn in space, but the +circumstances in which they were placed did not permit them to +make many more scientific observations than those they had made, +and thus they were obliged to submit to their fate. When they +had reached their greatest height, there seemed to open up in the +midst of the vaporous mass a brilliant space, from which they +could see the blue of heaven. The polariscope, directed towards +this region, showed an internal polarisation, but, when pointed +to the side where the mist still prevailed, there was no +polarisation. + +An optical phenomenon of a remarkable kind was witnessed when the +voyagers had attained their highest point. They saw the sun +through the upper mists, looking quite white, as if shorn of its +strength; and, at the same time, below the horizontal plane, +below their horizon, and at an angular distance from the plane +equal to that of the sun above it, they saw a second sun, which +resembled the reflection of the actual sun in a sheet of water. +It is natural to suppose that the second sun was formed by the +reflection of the sun's rays upon the horizontal faces of the ice +crystals floating in this high cloud. + + + +Chapter III. Ascents of the Mssrs. Welsh, Glaisher and Coxwell. + +The most recent balloon ascents in England deserving attention +have been undertaken for scientific objects, and in this country, +more than in any other, it may be said that the conquest of the +air has been made to serve a practical end. + +In July, 1852, the Committee of the Kew Observatory resolved to +undertake a number of balloon voyages. This resolution was +approved of by the British Association for the Advancement of +Science, and the necessary instruments for making a number of +meteorological observations were prepared. The balloon employed +was that of Mr. Green, who was accompanied in his ascents by Mr. +Welsh. The greatest height to which Mr. Welsh rose was on the +fourth ascent which took place on the 10th of November, 1852. +The balloon rose 22,930 feet, and the lowest temperature observed +was 26 degrees below zero. + +It is to Mr. Glaisher and Mr. Coxwell, however, that the highest +honours of scientific aerostation belong. The ascents made by +these gentlemen--Mr. Glaisher being the scientific observer, and +Mr. Coxwell the practical aeronaut--have become matters of +history. Not only did they, in the course of a large number of +ascents undertaken under the auspices of the British Association, +succeed in gathering much valuable meteorological information, +but they reached a greater height than that ever gained on any +previous or subsequent occasion, and penetrated into that distant +region of the skies in which it has been satisfactorily proved +that no life can be long maintained. It was on the 5th of +September, 1862, that Mr. Glaisher and Mr. Coxwell made the famous +ascent in which they reached the greatest height ever attained by +an aeronaut, and were so nearly sacrificed to their unselfish +daring. Mr. Glaisher has given an admirable account of this +ascent, which took place from Wolverhampton. He says:--"Our +ascent had been delayed, owing to the unfavourable state of the +weather. It commenced at three minutes past one p.m., the +temperature of the air being 59 degrees, and the dew-point 48 +degrees. At the height of one mile the temperature was 41 +degrees and the dew-point 38 degrees. Shortly after wards clouds +were entered of about 1,100 feet in thickness. Upon emerging +from them at seventeen minutes past one, I tried to take a view +of their surface with the camera, but the balloon was ascending +too rapidly and spiraling too quickly to allow me to do so. The +height of two miles was reached at twenty-one minutes past one. +The temperature of the air had fallen to 32 degrees and the +dew-point to 26 degrees. The third mile was passed at +twenty-eight minutes past one, with an air temperature of 18 +degrees, and a dew-point of 13 degrees. The fourth mile was +passed at thirty-nine minutes past one, with an air temperature +of 8 degrees, and a dew-point of minus 6 degrees and the fifth +mile about ten minutes later, with an air temperature minus 5 +degrees, and a dew-point minus 36 degrees. + +"Up to this time I had experienced no particular inconvenience. +When at the height of 26,000 feet I could not see the fine column +of the mercury in the tube; then the fine divisions on the scale +of the instrument became invisible. At that time I asked Mr. +Coxwell to help me to read the instruments, as I experienced a +difficulty in seeing them. In consequence of the rotary motion of +the balloon, which had continued without ceasing since the earth +was left, the valve line had become twisted, and he had to leave +the car, and to mount into the ring above to adjust it. At that +time I had no suspicion of other than temporary inconvenience in +seeing. Shortly afterwards I laid my arm upon the table, +possessed of its full vigour; but directly after, being desirous +of using it, I found it powerless. It must have lost its power +momentarily. I then tried to move the other arm, but found it +powerless also. I next tried to shake myself, and succeeded in +shaking my body. I seemed to have no legs. I could only shake +my body. I then looked at the barometer, and whilst I was doing +so my head fell on my left shoulder. I struggled, and shook my +body again, but could not move my arms. I got my head upright, +but for an instant only, when it fell on my right shoulder; and +then I fell backwards, my back resting against the side of the +car, and my head on its edge. In that position my eyes were +directed towards Mr. Coxwell in the ring. When I shook my body +I seemed to have full power over the muscles of the back, and +considerable power over those of the neck, but none over my +limbs. As in the case of the arms, all muscular power was lost +in an instant from my back and neck. I dimly saw Mr. Coxwell in +the ring, and endeavoured to speak, but could not do so; when in +an instant intense black darkness came over me, and the optic +nerve lost power suddenly. I was still conscious, with as active +a brain as whilst writing this. I thought I had been seized with +asphyxia, and that I should experience no more, as death would +come unless we speedily descended. Other thoughts were actively +entering my mind when I suddenly became unconscious, as though +going to sleep. I could not tell anything about the sense of +hearing: the perfect stillness of the regions six miles from the +earth--and at that time we were between six and seven miles +high--is such that no sound reaches the ear. My last observation +was made at 29,000 feet, about fifty-four minutes past one. I +suppose two or three minutes elapsed between my eyes becoming +insensible to seeing the fine divisions and fifty-four minutes +past one, and that other two or three minutes elapsed before I +became unconscious; therefore I think that took place about +fifty-six or fifty-seven minutes past one. Whilst powerless I +heard the words 'temperature,' and 'observation,' and I knew Mr. +Coxwell was in the car, speaking to me, and endeavouring to rouse +me; and therefore consciousness and hearing had returned. I then +heard him speak more emphatically, but I could not speak or move. +Then I heard him say, 'Do try; now do!' Then I saw the +instruments dimly, next Mr. Coxwell, and very shortly I saw +clearly. I rose in my seat and looked round, as though waking +from sleep, and said to Mr. Coxwell, 'I have been insensible.' He +said, 'Yes; and I too, very nearly.' I then drew up my legs, +which had been extended out before me, and took a pencil in my +hand to note my observations. Mr. Coxwell informed me that he +had lost the use of his hands, which were black, and I poured +brandy over them. I resumed my observations at seven minutes +past two. I suppose three or four minutes were occupied from the +time of my hearing the words 'temperature' and 'observation,' +until I began to observe. If so, then returning consciousness +came at four minutes past two, and that gives about seven minutes +of total insensibility. Mr. Coxwell told me that in coming from +the ring he thought for a moment that I had laid back to rest +myself; that he spoke to me without eliciting a reply; that he +then noticed that my legs projected, and my arms hung down by my +side. That my countenance was serene and placid, without +earnestness or anxiety, he had noticed before going into the +ring. It then struck him that I was insensible. He wished then +to approach me, but could not, and he felt insensibility coming +over himself. He became anxious to open the valve, but, in +consequence of having lost the use of his hands, he could not; +and ultimately he did so by seizing the cord with his teeth and +dipping his head two or three times. No inconvenience followed +our insensibility. When we dropped it was in a country where no +accommodation of any kind could be obtained, so that we had to +walk between seven and eight miles. At the time of ceasing our +observations the ascent was at the rate of 1,000 feet per minute, +and on resuming observations the descent was at the rate of 2,000 +feet per minute. These two positions must be connected, having +relation to the interval of time which elapsed between them; and +they can scarcely be connected at a point less than 36,000 or +37,000 feet high. Again, a very delicate minimum thermometer was +found to read minus 12 degrees, and that reading would indicate +an elevation exceeding 36,000 feet. There cannot be any doubt +that the balloon attained the great height of seven miles--the +greatest ever reached. In this ascent six pigeons were taken up. +One was thrown out at three miles. It extended its wings, and +dropped like a piece of paper. A second at four miles, and it +flew with vigour. A third between four and five miles, and it +fell downwards. A fourth was thrown out at four miles in +descending, and it alighted on the top of the balloon. Two were +brought to the ground. One was dead, and the other was ill, but +recovered so as to fly away in a quarter of an hour." + +The results gathered by Mr. Glaisher from his numerous ascents +are very interesting. He found that in no instance did the +temperature of the air decrease uniformly with the increase of +height. In fact, the decrease in the first mile is double that +in the second, and nearly four times as great as the change of +temperature in the fifth mile. The distribution of aqueous +vapour in the air is no less remarkable. The temperature of the +dew-point on leaving the earth decreases less rapidly than the +temperature of the air; so that the difference between the two +temperatures becomes less and less, till the vapour or cloud +plane is reached, when they are usually together, and always most +nearly approach each other, and that point is usually at about +the height of one mile. On leaving the upper surface of cloud, +the dew point decreases more rapidly than the air, and at +extremely high situations the difference between the two +temperatures is wonderfully great, indicating an extraordinary +degree of dryness, and an almost entire absence of water. Under +these circumstances, the presence of cirrus clouds far above this +dry region, apparently as much above as when viewed from the +earth, is very remarkable, and leads to the conclusion that they +are not composed of water. + +In the propagation of sound, M. Glaisher made many curious +experiments. In one ascent (July 17th) he found, when at a +distance of 11,800 feet above the earth, that a band was heard; +at a height of 22,000 feet, a clap of thunder was heard; and at a +height of 10,070 feet, the report of a gun was heard. On one +occasion, he heard the dull hum of London at a height of 9,000 +feet above the city, and on another occasion, the shouting of +many thousands of persons could not be heard at the height of +4,000 feet. + + + +Chapter IV. Balloons Made Useful in Warfare. + +Wars of the French Republic--Company of "Ballooneers"--Battle of +Fleurus--The Balloons of Egypt--Napoleon--Modern Services War in +Italy--War in America--Conclusion. + +We will conclude our work with a glance at aerostation as applied +to warfare. Scarcely had the first ascents astonished the world, +than the more adventurous spirits began to use the new discovery +for a thousand purposes directly useful to man. The first point +of view in which aerostation was regarded, was in that of its +practical utility If one refers to the pre-occupations of the +time--to the great events then occurring in the history of +France, one will easily understand that the Committee of Public +Safety soon thought of employing balloons in the observation of +the forces and the movements of hostile troops. In 1794, the +idea was practically carried out, and the French armies were +provided with two companies of aeronauts. The command of one of +these companies was given to Captain Coutelle, a young physicist +of great talent, who rendered memorable services at the battle of +Fleurus. The balloons were not thrown free, but were retained +attached by means of long cords. In this way they took up, so to +speak, aerial posts of observation. Placed in his car, the +captain transmitted his instructions to his men below by means of +coloured flags. Coutelle has left us a lively narrative of +certain incidents connected with one of the grand days of the old +Republic. He had been commissioned by the Committee of Public +Safety to go to Maubeuge, where Jourdan's army was encamped, and +to offer him the use of his balloon. The representative to whom +the young doctor presented his commission, knew nothing about +balloons, and not being able to understand the order of the +Committee of Public Safety, it suddenly dawned upon him that +Coutelle, with his trumpery forgery about balloons, was nothing +else than a spy, and he was about to have him shot. The +genuineness of the order from the Committee, however, was proved, +and Coutelle's case was listened to. + +"The army was at Beaumont," says Coutelle, "and the enemy, placed +at a distance of only three miles, could attack at any moment. +The general told me this fact, and engaged me to return and +communicate it to the Committee. This I did. The Commission +then felt the necessity of making an experiment with a balloon +that could raise two persons, and the minister placed at my +service the garden and the little mansion of Meudon. Many of the +members of the Commission came to witness the first ascent of a +balloon held in hand, like a kite, by means of two cords. The +Commissioners ordered me to place myself in the car, and +instructed me as to a number of signals which I must repeat, and +observations which I must make. I raised myself to the full +length of the cord, a height of 1,500 feet, and at this height, +with the help of a glass, I could distinctly see the seven bends +of the river Seine. On returning to the earth, I received the +compliments of the Commission. + +"Arrived at Maubeuge, my first care was to find a suitable spot +to erect my furnace, and to make every preparation for the +arrival of my balloon from Meudon. Each day my observations +contained something new either in the works which the Austrians +had thrown up during the night, or in the arrangement of their +forces. On the fifth day a piece of cannon had been brought to +bear upon the balloon, and shots were fired at me as soon as I +appeared above the ramparts. None of the shots took effect, and +on the following day the piece was no longer in position. +Experience enforced upon me the necessity of forming some +provision against these unexpected attacks. I employed the night +in fixing cords all round the middle of my balloon. Each of the +aerostiers had charge of one of the ropes, and by means of them I +could easily move about, and thus get myself out of range of any +gun that had been trained to bear against me. I was afterwards +ordered to make a reconnaissance at Mayence, and I posted myself +between our lines and the enemy at half range of cannon. When +the wind, which was tempestuous at first, became calmer, I was +able to count the number of cannon on the ramparts, as well as +the troops that marched through the streets and in the squares. + +"Generally the soldiers of the enemy, all who saw the observer +watching them and taking notes, came to the idea that they could +do nothing without being seen. Our soldiers were of the same +opinion, and consequently they regarded us with great admiration +and trust. On the heavy marches they brought us prepared food +and wine, which my men were hardly able to get for themselves, so +closely did they require to attend to the ropes. We were +encamped upon the banks of the Rhine at Manheim when our general +sent me to the opposite bank to parley. As soon as the Austrian +officers were made aware that I commanded the balloon, I was +overwhelmed with questions and compliments. + +"What causes an impression which, till one is accustomed to it, +is very alarming, is the noise which the balloon makes when it is +struck by successive gales of wind. When the wind has passed, +the balloon, which has been pressed into a concave form by the +wind, suddenly resumes its globular form with a loud noise heard +at a great distance. The silk of the balloon would often burst +in a case of this kind, were it not for the restraining power of +the network." + +After the days of Coutelle we do not read that balloons were made +much use of in warfare. The only ascent in the Egypt campaign +was that of a tricolor balloon thrown up to commemorate a fete. +That Napoleon knew full well the value of the scientific +discoveries of his time is clear from the following conversation +with a learned Mohammedan, which took place in the great pyramid +of Cheops:-- + +Mussamed. "Noble successor of Alexander, honour to shine +invincible arms, and to the unexpected lightning with which your +warriors are furnished." + +Bonaparte. "Do you believe that that lightning is the work of +the children of men? Allah has placed it in our hands by means +of the genius of war." + +Mussamed. "We recognised by your arms that it is Allah that has +sent you--the Delta and all the neighbouring countries are full +of thy miracles. But would you be a conqueror if Allah did not +permit you?" + +Bonaparte. "A celestial body will point by my orders to the +dwelling of the clouds, and lightning will descend towards the +earth, along a rod of metal from which I can call it forth." + +Napoleon did not favour the use of balloons in war. Perhaps it +was because he himself had such a splendid genius for war that he +depended alone upon himself, and scorned assistance. Perhaps it +was because if balloons were discovered to be of real utility, +his enemies might make use of them as well as himself, and France +retain no special advantage in them. But however this may be, on +his return from Egypt he sold the balloon of Fleurus to +Robertson. The company of ballooneers was dissolved, and the +balloons themselves disappeared in smoke. + +During the war in America, the role which the balloon played was +a more important one. The Government of the United States +conferred the title of aeronautic engineer upon Mr. Allan, of +Rhode Island, who originated the idea of communicating by a +telegraphic wire from the balloon to the camp. The first +telegraphic message which was transmitted from the aerial regions +is that of Professor Love, at Washington, to the President of the +United States. The following is this despatch:-- + +"WASHINGTON, Balloon the 'Enterprise.' + +"SIR,--The point of observation commands an extent of nearly +fifty miles in diameter. The city, with its girdle of +encampments, presents a superb scene. I have great pleasure in +sending you this despatch--the first that has been telegraphed +from an aerial station--and to know that I should be so much +encouraged, from having given the first proof that the aeronautic +science can render great assistance in these countries." + +In the month of September, 1861, one of the most hardy aeronauts +(La Mountain) furnished important information to General +M'Clellan. The balloon of La Mountain, which arose from the +northern camp upon the Potomac, passed above Washington. La +Mountain then cut the cord that connected his balloon with the +earth, and rising rapidly to the height of a mile and a half, he +found himself directly above his enemies' lines. There he was +able to observe perfectly their position and their movements. He +then threw over ballast, and ascended to the height of three +miles. At this height he encountered a current which carried him +in the direction of Maryland, where he descended in safety. +General M'Clellan was so much satisfied with the observations +taken in the balloon, that, at his request, the order was given +to the War Department to construct four new balloons. + +If this volume of "The Library of Wonders" had not had for its +single object "balloons and their history," we would have devoted +a chapter to the numerous attempts made to steer balloons. We +shall only say here that aerial navigation should be divided into +two kinds with balloons, and without balloons. In the first +case, it is limited to the study of aerial currents, and to the +art of rising to those currents which suit the direction of the +voyage undertaken. The balloon is not the master of the +atmosphere; on the contrary, it is its powerless slave. In the +second case, the discovery of Montgolfier is useless; and the +question is, to find out a new machine capable of flying in the +air, and at the same time heavier than the air. Birds are, +without doubt, the best models to study. But with what force +shall we replace LIFE? The air-boat of M. Pline seems to us one +of the best ideas; but the working of it presents many +difficulties. Let us find a motive power at once light and +powerful (aluminium and electricity, for example), and we will +have definitively conquered the empire of the air. + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Wonderful Balloon Ascents; +or the Conquest of the Skies, by F. (Fulgence) Marion + diff --git a/old/wonba11.zip b/old/wonba11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b7e856a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/wonba11.zip |
