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GODFREY LOWELL CABOT SCIENCE LIBRARY

ofthi Hattfcrd CaUtgt Lihrary

This book is

FRAGILE

and circulates only with permission.

Please handle with care

and consult a staff member

before photocopying.

Thanks for your help in preserving
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£'//., 76^irruy sir Td W/tZA'// hri.'JAI A /^/f./'-'AV///- ' 'I'lr-t. h/' U/i A: ■

j^\'i\ 'j^i & n /\'j;"ir.

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SYSTEM OF AEKONATJnCS,

COMPBXHBNBING ITS

EARLIEST INVESTIGATIONS,

AND

MODERN PRACTICE AND ART.

DESIGNED AS A HISTOBY FOB THE COMMON BEADEB, AND
GUIDE TO THE STUDENT OP THE ABT.

IN THREE PARTS.

OONTAIKnrQAN

ieeonnt of the yaiioiu attempts in the Art of Flying by Artifieial leans,

from llie Earliest Period down to the Biseoyery of the Aeronantie

laehine by the lontgolfiers, in 178S, and to a late? Period.

WITH A BEIEF HISTOBY OF THE AUTHOR'S FIFTEEN YEARS*
SXPERrSNOB IN AERIAL VOYAGES.

ALSO, FULL ISrSTBUCTIONB IN THE ART OF MAKINQ BALLOONS, PAKACHtJTBS,

ETC. ETC., AS ADAPTED TO THE PRACTIOE OF AESIAL NAYIOATION,

AND DIBBCTIONS TO PREPABB SXPESIIONTAL BALLOONS.

BY JOHN WISE,

ASROHATTT.

" There are more things in heaven and earth, HoratiO|
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.*'

c^PHILADBLPHIA:
JOSEPH A. SPEEL,

96 OHEBBY STBEET ABOVE SIXTH STBEET.
1850.

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Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1850, by

JOHN WISE,

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court Ibr the Eastern District of Pennsylvania,

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AS A TKIBUTE OF RESPECT AND ESTEEM,

THIS WORK

MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED

TO

PEOFESSOK J. K. MITCHELL,

OF PHILADELPHIA,

TOR THE VALUABLE PHILoeOPHICAL SEEYICES HE EENDBX3BD ME WHEN I COMMENCED
THE INVESTIGATION AND PRACTICE OP AEBONATTTICS.

JOHN WISE.

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PREFACE.

My determination to prepare this work was induced more from
the existing necessity of such a book, than fix>m a desire to figure
as an author. A vacuum exists in our common libraries on this
much neglected but important subject. The student heretofiire)
has been obliged to grope his way through the dark, as far as
practical information was desirable, while engaged in the investi-
gation of the art and mystery of aeronautics, except what little
light he found in the larger Encyclopaedias, and these aflbrd but
a meagre assistance to the practical experimentalist. The details
of manufacturing, inflating and sailing of balloons, are scarcely
touched, and the prescriptions and instructions which are to be
found in these works, and general receipt books, are mainly
theoretical deductions, which are more apt to lead the searching
student into difficulties, than to promote the object of his pursuit.
This arises from the circumstance of the writers not being prac-
iically acquainted with the subject they write about, and holds
particularly strong in the case of describing the composition and
preparation of varnishes and other necessary requisites to the
practice of successful ballooning.

Upon so important a question as that of aeronautics, which, at
best, has advanced but little since its first discovery, compared
with other sciences (more from a want of information in it, how-
ever, than a deficiency of intrinsic merit), it becomes essentially
necessary that the writer should have acquired his knowledge in
the school of experience, in order to make his book valuable and
useful in the promotion of the art of aerial navigation.

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Ti PREFACE,

Having passed through an experimental ordeal of fifteen years,
and made nearly a hundred aerial voyages, and constructed all
the necessary machinery for its operations, it will be admitted
that I must have acquired more instructive and substantial know-
ledge, and must also, therefore, be more competent to impart it
to others, than the merely theoretical looker on. During all this
time I was equally interested in the study of the early history of
the subject, and consequently sought most diligently for all the
information that had been written and authenticated concerning
its earlier inVestigatioDS.

As regards that part of the work, it had to be necessarily brief,
unless fabulous and superstitious accounts would have been
takea as matter pertinent to the subject, which could hardly have
been deemed admissible to a sober history.

With a few exceptions, plausible accounts and mathematical
deductions were only considered; and these are but sparingly in-
terspersed among the romantic and fabulous stories which seem
to have been built upon them. It was often difficult to find out
who the real or original authors of these accounts were — and
whether they were writing from personal knowledge or from hear*
say ; and, indeed, in regard to most of them, it would seem of
little account to us, since the inventors of these flying machines
mainly attribute the particular excellences of their discoveries to
some patron saint's spiritual power, notwithstanding they used
many wheels and pinions in their aerial apparatus.

In the second part of the work — comprising an account of my
long experience in the practice of ballooning, I have endeavored
to combine the highest degree of interest to the common reader,
with as much useful instruction to the student of the art as my
numerous and most interesting aerial voyages have enabled me to
produce. Meteoroh>gical phenomena, being so intimately con-
nected with the practice and science of aeronautics, are described,
as far as they developed themselves in my voyages, just as they
presented themselves to my observation. I flatter myself that
this part of the work will prove itself interesting to all classes of

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PREFACE. Tii

readers, because it embraces a pleasing and grand scope to the
human mind.

The third part of the work, comprising the philosophy, theory
and practice of the art, with full and complete instructions for
making all necessary aeronautic machinery, is written with a
view of bringing the subject fairly to the comprehension of die
minds of the common searchers, promoters and practitioners of
.the art, and is,' therefore, given in a plain style, easily to be un-
derstood, belieying that in this way it would best attain the end
for which it is designed.

In conclusion, I would state with candor, that my whole object
has been to bring this much neglected art into a state of progres-
sion adequate to its easy acquirement and simplicity, for the pur-
pose of dispelling the delusion manifest in so many persons of its
intricacy and its danger ; and thereby bring into the field of
aeronautics the genius of our favorably gifted country, which
must inevitably place aerial transition as far before railroad and
steamboat transition, as the latter are before the old-fashioned
sail and horse-power modes, and impart its advantages to the
present rising generation.

With these views, and the natural sentiments arising from
them, I submit this work to the public with as much freedom and
confidence as I ever did my balloon and person to the vast ele-
ment that surrounds us, and with a full conviction on my mind
that the shocks of criticism and of praise it must meet with, will
be as mingled and severe as were the plaudits and censures of
my fifteen year&r' eventful experience as a professional aeronaut.

JOHN WISE.

Lancaster, 1850.

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CONTENTS.

PART I.

HISTORY OF FLYING BY ARTIFICIAL MEANa

CHAPTER L

Introduction— Arohytas' artificial flying pigeon— Antonins Byerlink'0
account— Deception on the Elmperor Basil of Macedonia — ^Roger Bacon
on air sailing— His ingenious writings interdicted — ^Training up chil-
dren to fly— Aunning and flying ...... 17

CHAPTER IL

Hbtoiy resumed — ^Famous John Muller and his artificial eagle — ^Dante
of Perouse's flight — Cuperus on flying — ^Bishop Wilkins' propositions
on air sailing — ^Philosophical approximations to the art— Jesuit Lana
on air sailing — ^Besniers flight — Baldwin boueht his wings — De Guft-
man's petition for a patent for flying — ^De Sourgois' account — Gal-
lien's book on flying 22

-CHAPTER in.

Disooyery of aerostatic machines — Experiments — ^Academy of Arts and
Sciences of Paris taking it in hand — Excitement of the French people
about it — ^A sheep, cock, and duck the first aerial adventurers — De ilozier
and Marouis de Arlandes ascend with a fire balloon — ^Particulars of their
voyage— Proc^ verbal — ^Experiment of Rittenhouse and Hopkinson—
Experiments with inflammable air — Cavallo on the discovery of the
hydrogen balloon — ^Experiments at Lyons with a mammoth fire balloon
— ^Experiments at MiUui ........ 31

CHAPTER IV.

Introduction of the hydrogen balloon under the auspices of members of
the Academy of Arts and Sciences — The inflation — Torch-light proces-
sion with it to the Camp of Mars — Successful termination . 44

CHAPTER V.
InfiEttuated conceptions of aerial voyages 40

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X CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VI.

First aerial voyage with a hydrogen balloon — ^Experiments to regalate its
direction, and rising and falling — Blanchard's voyage across the sea —
Compound aerostat and fatal result — ^Testu's remaruble voyage 51

CHAPTER TIL
Invention of the paraohnta — ^Experiments witiii it .... 57

CHAPTER Vm.

Aerostatic institute — The French applying the art to the warlike aggrand-
izement of tJ^eir nation — Practicing school at Mendon — ^New meSod of
fdnerating hydrogen gas — ^BallooiiB for the French army — ^Battle of
leurus gained by aid of balloon reoonnaiswnoe — ^Balloons for surveying,
and electrical experiments oO

CHAPTER IX,

Philosophical aerial voyage of Gay Lussac and Blot— Their experiments —
Second ascent of Lussac — ^His experiments .... 63

CHAPTER X.

Suggestions on. the use of balloons soon alter their discovery 71

CHAPTER XL

Aerial vo3rage of M. Mosment, from Lisle — ^Lost his life by it — ^NoctamaL,
aerial voyage of M. Gamerin, from Paris— His ascent from Tivoli*-^
Perilous trip-*Caught in a thunder storm ... . 73

CHAPTER Xn.

From the Encr^dopsedia Britannica — ^Buoyant force of balloons— Celerity
of ascent — Stability of suspension 7o

CHAPTER Xin.

Prospects of aerial naviflsalion — ^Fulton and Napoleon — (General introdno-
tion of carburetted hydrogen auspicious to aerial navigation . 82

CHAPTER XIV.

Pennington's flying machine— Connection of balloon with it-— Anonymous
claimant to the invention of screw propeller — His views on balloon
sailing — Steam not adaptable to balloon propulsion — Henson's aerial
steam carriage — ^A description of it from ''Newton's Journal" — Its con-
trivanoe more ingenious tnan practicable 84

CHAPTER XV.

Treatise from the ''Westminster Review"— Means of propulsion— Electro-
magnetism and gun-cotton — Guide rope — ^Various methods of keeping
balloons at a certain height — Friction of guide rope applicable to steer-
ing — "Kedging" 90

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CONTENTS. zi

CHAPTER XVI.

Rotation of balloons oonaidered — Shape of balloons, also— Their nayigation
demonstrable — ^Method set forth — Facility of crossing the Atlantic —
Effect of experiment considered — Air and water crafl— California ur
steamer — Comments on it — " Difficulty of Aerial navigation'' — Pro and
con — ^Its dangers considered 97

CHAPTER XVn. ^

Letter from the veteran aeronaut Green — The Yanxhall balloon — Account
of it firom "the Mirror'' — ^First ascent with it, nine persons went up—
Green's narrative of the voyage — The enterprise — ^Its advantages— Cost
of VauzhaU baUoon 105

CHAPTER XVin.

Great aeronautioal expedition from London to Weilburg, across the sea —
Made by Robert HoUond Esq., Monck Mason, Esq., and Charles Green,
aeronaut — ^Written by Monck Mason 112

CHAPTER XIX.

Fatal Parachute descent of Mr. Cockiog,- from the Nassau Balloon, at Lon-
don — ^Account from the London "Penny Mechanic" of Juhr 291^, 1837

137

CHAPTER XX.

Mr. Hampton's ascent from Cremome House, Chelsea, Thursday, June
13, 1839 — And descent with his parachute— Description of his parachute
— ^Aerial nocturnal excursion from Marseilles to Turin, by Mr. Arban

141

PART II.

COMPRISING A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE AUTHOR'S FIFTEEN
YEARS' PRACTICE IN THE ART OF AERONAUTICS.

CHAPTER L

Introduction of the subject — ^First American aeronauts . . 146

CHAPTER IL

First balloon ascension in the United States — ^Durant, the first American
aeronaut — ^The author's first ascent — ^Details of the trip— Conclusions

148

CHAPTER m.
American aeronauts — ^Death of James Mills — Difficulty in the oonstruo-

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zu CONTENTS.

tion of balloons — ^Author's second expenment— Failore, and its canse
— ^Hints to aeronauts in such predicaments .... 156

CHAPTER IV.

Author's third experiment — Perilous situation — Balloon bursting — De-
scent and its incidents — ^Woman more presence of mind than man —
Two more experiments — Sixth and last experiment with muslin bat-
looui— Unfortunate result — ^Near proving fatal . • . . 158

CHAPTER V.

Abandonment of the old, and construction of a silk balloon — Spontaneous
combustion of oiled silk — Strange coincidences — Their causes — ^Ascent
from Lancaster with new balloon — Comments on it — ^Effects of the sun
. ^ above the clouds— Ex periment s o n echo — Rising and fidling through the
^ cloud stratum — Final descent alhTght^Balloon moored to Mr. Stump's
house — Terrific explosion of balloon — ^Persons injured by it — Accident
to the aeronaut — His return home 164

CHAPTER VI.

Promptings of the author's profession-«-Spirit of development — Construc-
tion of a new balloon — Its failure — Abandonment of the art for a year —
Mr. Cooking's &tal experiment — Report of it in the United States —
Causes the author to make another ascent — Account of same — ^Balloon
inflated with coal gas-^Newspaper extracts of the occasion — ^Particulars
of the experimentH-Successful termination .... 173

CHAPTER VII.

Construction of a new balloon — ^First experiment with it — ^Had to be
sewed— Incident showing how balloon could easily be filled with air —
Second experiment with it — Made privately — Philosophical experiments
for Professors J. K. Mitchell and Espy — Indian Chiefs present — Keo-
kuk's scrutiny of the affair — ^Black Hawk's remarks— Newspaper notices
of it — Account of the voyage — Transparent appearance or Delaware
River when viewed from balloon — ^Encounter of whirlwind — ^Nearly de-
scending in the fiery pines of Jersey — Final descent . . 181

CHAPTER VIII.

Experiment at Easton, Pa. — ^Failure and its consequences — ^Ascent from
the public square at Easton — ^End of cause of failures — ^Decomposition
of balloon — Prospects of future operations — Simplicity of the art — Suc-
cess of pupils . 187

CHAPTER IX.

Construction of cambric muslin balloon — New principle involved in it

Second ascent from Easton — Thunder storm — Parachutes — Explosion of
balloon above the clouds — Descent with it collapsed— Letter from an
unknown friend about it— Ascent from Allentown, Pa. . 190

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CONTENTS. ziii

CHAPTER X.

Ccmsultation npon exploding balloon again — Announcement to do so in
Philadelphia — Newspaper comments on it— Ezplosiye contrivance—
Balloon bursted from top to bottom — Its descent, and motion — Place of
descent — ^Explosion of balloon while aloft not fatal to the aeronaut — At-
mospheric resistance not fully appreciated by theorists . • 195

CHAPTER XL

Second ascent from AUentown, Pa. — ^Electrical phenomenon — Descent and
collapse of balloon — ^Third ascent from AUentown — Neglect at starting —
Descent of small parachute — Predicament from neglect — Thundergust —
'Phenonienon attending it — ^Reflections in a critical case — ^Paradoxical
descent — Appearance of the gas when released at great heights — ^Peril
oVercome — ''Misfortunes never come single-handed'' — ^Descent and its
consternation — Danger of being shot — ^Went up aeain — ^Final descent —
Next experiment — Novel ascent — An amateur— His opinion of aerial
▼oyages — Its healthfulness 198

CHAPTER Xn.

Double balloon ascents from Philadelphia — Conversation while aloft-
Singular air-current — Subject for meteorologists — ^Electricity and air-
cnrrents — ^Descents of the rivals 2l(H

CHAPTER XIIL

Ascension from Lancaster, Pa. — ^Effect of rough workmanship in balloon
machinery — Breaking of valve-spring — Sudden descent — ^Ascension from
Chambersburg, Pa.-^Scenery--iSingQlar appearance of South Mountain
— Descent — Its magic effect on a cripple — Second ascent from Cham- o^
bersburg — Rainy day — Sombre appearance of the earth — Passa^
through the rain clouds — Grand spectacle above the clouds — Harbor in
the distance— Illusion — Second etratum of clouds — A heavenly mansion
between the two — ^Its sublimity ....... 206

CHAPTER XIV.

Asoent from Danville, Pa. — ^Appearance of the clouds — ^Passing over Potts-
ville— Orwi^sburg — ^Schuylkul Haven — ^Atmosphere cold over moun-
tainous regions — Appearance of a bread-basket thrown oirerboard — ^Ita ^ .^
descent seen by persons below — CrossineReading, its aspect — Pulsatory ^ ""
motion of balloon — Experiments on it— 3)e8cent — ^Warmth when sailing
over valleys, &c. 211

CHAPTER XV.

Ascent from Lewistown, Pennsylvania — Fi^re of the town — ^Mountainfl ^ ^
and valleys — ^Their appearance — Juniata river — The narrows — Opinions - |
of their formation — ^Viewing objects from high isolated positions-
Regular order of nature — ^Ascent from Bellefonte, Pennsylvania — Black
baUoon — ^Effect of its color — Current from west to east — ^Ascent from
Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania — Unfavorable weather — ^Novel way of going
up — Reference to second ascent from Danville— Letting persons up by
a rope — Lady went up first-^A mania ensued for going up— Profitable
business 213

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«T CONTENTS.

OHAPTSB XYI.

Asoenuon from York, Pa. — ^Two failures had been made there by Mr. Par-
ker — Its effect ou the people — The dar for mine was un&vorable— The
r populace would not haye it put off-— My predicament — ^Reason, and
\ . compromise^— Decision — People reasonable-^" York Gasette'^ account
"V y^ of it — The start — Scenery, and clouds — ^Tore the balloon in the clouds
n V' ' — Consequences — Scene above the clouds — Phenomenon — ^Thunderstorm
s^ \f ^ — ^Brilliant image on clouds — Sensations — ^Reflections — ^Balloon speed
(y ^V — ^Descent — Another ascent provided for on my return — ^Extracts m>m
V "YorkGasette" 216

CHAPTER XVII.

Asoent from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania — ^Experiments on the spiral ascent

of bodies — ^Refraction of li^ht — Parhelion — ^Its effects — ^Waving motion

like aurora borealis — ^Experiments on it — ^Peculiar brillianoy of a moun-

^ tain soene-^Peculiarity of atmosphere and clouds— Descent — Seoond

ascent from Gettysburg — Made by an amateur — ^Historical description of

- it — Humorously but graphically written — Perilous descent of the

' amateur 223

C^^ 1^ ^ CHAPTER XVin.

1^^ ,< ^^ Balloon campaign of 1843 — ^Transatlantic project — ^Ascent from Carlisle,
V ^ ' Pa. — ^Rev. Mr. Thorn's communication — Account from aerial log-book

'^ ^ — "Beautiful and interesting spectacle'' — Mr. Forney's description —
Landing at Lancaster — ^Enti^ in the city — ^Reascension from Centre
Squaie— Descent, £m3 228

^ ^- ' CHAPTER XIX.

Determination to cross the Atlantic b^ balloon — Intention of proclama-
tion — ^Publicity of it — Comments on it — "Ballooning extraorainary" —
^, ' Another extract — ^Volunteersfortheprqject— Officers of the navy — Their

letter .235

*

CHAPTER XX.

< Second ascent from Carlisle — ^Editorial note of it — Narrative — ^Entering a
storm cloud — ^Hoar-frost in it — ^Hail and snow forming in it — Could not
set out of it — ^Terrific predicament — Remained in it twen^ minutes —
An age of time it seemed — Escape from it and descent— Professor Espy's
interrogatories concerning it — Petition to Congress for an aerial project

CHAPTER XXI.

Ascent from HoUidaysburg, Pa. — Balloon " Yesperus^' — ^Hollidaysburg
papers — Narrative — ^Difficulty of inflation — Net oroke — Ascent — Atmo-
sphere squally a mile up — Net giving way — Fearful apprehensions — ^Ex-
pedient — ^Descent — ^Went up again, hanging outside of the car — Dashed
into a tree-^Escape of balloon-~Came down in Catskill Mountains,
N.Y.— Alarmed the people— Recovery of balloon, &c. . . 246

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CONTENTS* X?

OHAPTSR XXU.

JLaoontfirom WMt CliMter, PA.--£xtraotB from aerial log-book^—Desoeftt
in a thttnder stomi — Car atnick with liffhtning— Alarm of it — No Berioas
oonsequenoes — Another ascent from West Chesier-^Nest ascent was
made from Utica, N. Y. — ^First ever made fr<mi that city — '* Daily
Gaiette's" accoont of it — Another from Utica — Project of war
balloon to reduce the oaetle of San Juan de Ulloa at Vera Cruz — Offer
to goTemment^-Comments on it — ^Letter to the war department con-
oemingit 252

CHAPTER XXm.

Career of 1847 — Philoeophers should go up with balloons — ^Earth's attrac-
tion — ^BaUoonins only ahead of the age — ^Letter from Professor Henry,
SecretaiT of " nnithsonian Institution" — ^Hoilowness of the globe de-
monstrable by the laws of atmospheric pressure — ^Matter and its laws—
Another ascent from Utica — ^Next from Syracuse, N. Y. — ^Narrative of
it 260

CHAPTER XXIV.

Ascent from Auburn, N.Y. — ^Narratiye of its extraordinary majniifieence ^ ^^

and grandeur — '* A speck in the horiion" — Ascent from Buffalo City, ^(^^ «
N.Y. — Windy weather— View of Niagara Falls from balloon — Disap- V *

pointment of expectations— Looked Bke a frothy bubble — ^Another ^v ^
ascent from Buffalo— Driven out on Lake Jirie— ^Rescued by "brig
Eureka,^' Captain BumeU — '* Buffalo Courier" notice of it*— Ascents
from Rochester--Oswego — One from Washington City, D. C. . 265

n

{.Vv^^'

PART III.

INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ART OF MAKING BALLOONS, PARACHUTES,
AND ALL KINDS OF AERONAUTIC MACHINERY: ALSO,
DIRECTIONS IN THE PROCESSES OF INFLA-
TION AND PRACTICE OF AIR
SAIUNG.

CHAPTER L

Introduction — ^Atmosphere considered as a balloon medium — ^Cause of
failures in small experiments — Table of surfaces, capacities, and powers
of b^oons — Metal balloons — Materials for expenmental balloons —
Hints for yamishing silk or muslin for balloons . • . 271

CHAPTER n.

Of oils— Tests— Table of specific gravity of oils— Preparation of author's
invented balloon varnish— Varnish for recoating balloons — ^Bird-lime
vamiah — ^To make bird-lime— Caoutchouc, or gum-elastic — Caoutchou-
4 »rnA ••.••••••••• 276

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xfi CONTENTS.

CHAPTER in.

' Scale to Bbape balloons — How to make a pattern — How to cat material eco-
nomically — ^Pear-shape — ^Diameter to oircnmference— Seams, how joined
— ^Filline it with common air — Neck of balloon — Test of balloon — Valve,
how made— Nety how made — Rigging and car .... 281

CHAPTER IV.

Weight of Hydrogen — ^Vitriolic process of inflation — Strength of snlphorio
acid — Apparatus iUustrated — Balloon, how kept under process of in-
flation—Pure hydrogen process of inflation — Carbnretted hydrogen for
balloons — ^Its consideration in the future prospects of aeronautics 286

CHAPTER V.

Directions in balloon sailing — Grappling irons — Guide line— Index — In-
struments — ^Descent on woods and waters — How to manage — ^To col-
lapse balloon — ^How to fasten grapple ropes — Caution after descent-
Folding of balloon — ^Height instrument — ^Parachute — ^How made — ^Par-
achutes in the yegetable and animal kingdom — ^Pope's and Darwin's
ideas 291

CHAPTER VI.

Rarefied air balloons — ^Laws regulating them — ^Their powers considered —
How to construct them — ^How to in&te them — ^Experiment illustrated —
An ascent with one described ....... 297

CHAPTER VII.

Pilot balloons, how made — ^How coated with oil — How M inflate them —
Gum-bag balloons — Devices — ^To soften gum-ba^s — ^To distend them —
Small &e balloons, to make — ^Philosophical principles which govern
tiieir ascent— To make them ascend — ^Things can be sent np wkh them

802

CHAPTER Vin.

(General remarks on the art — ^Philosophy of varnish-coating to render staff
impervious to eas — ^Experiments on the diffusion of hydrogen in bal-
loon — ^Eyape of experimental balloon — DouUe envelop prepared well,
would retain gas long enough to ^o round the world with — ^Aerial voy-
ages are life conservative— Its philosophy considered — Its efflBcts as ex-
perienced . 306

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A SYSTEM OP AERONAUTICS.

PART !•
HISTORY OF FLYING BY ARTIFICIAL MEANS.

CHAPTER I.

Introduction — Archytaa' artificial flying pigeon — Antonius Byerlink's
account — ^Deception on the Emperor Basil of Macedonia — Roger Bacon
on air sailing — ^His ingenious writings interdicted — Training up chil-
dren to fly — ^Running and flying.

From the records of the earliest history, we learn that the mind
of man was diligently directed to the investigation and discovery
of the art of flying, and navigation of the atmosphere. That
such a desire has been co-existent with the earliest advances of
civilization, is not strange, nor to be wondered at, when we behold
the easy and graceful faculty of locomotion enjoyed by the
feathered race. There are few of us who have not viewed the
flight of our native hawk and vulture with mingled feelings of
envy and admiration. To see them soaring aloft, with apparently
motionless wing, until the eye can scarcely trace them in the
mazy heights of the atmosphere, at once excites the mind to a
desire of enjoying their mode of transition, which, together with
its speed and facility, would also enhance the intellectual privilege
of feasting upon the wide expanse of beauty, which adorns the '
earth beneath the aerial traveler. The ancients, for a long time,
attributed this felicitous prerogative of the feathered race to a
supernatural agency, and consequently looked upon them as a
species of the Deity. Many traditions of this sort are handed
down to us through heathen mythology.

The ancient path of knowledge^as obscure and intricate, until
the superstitious notions of horned deities, flying oracles, and
winged horses, began to be dispelled from the pages of philoso-
phy. The unlearned in ancient times looked upon the operations
3

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18 ARCHYTAS' PIGEON.

of the artist with fear and reverence, while the initiated, through
motives of self-aggrandizement, wrapped the veil of mystery more
closely around their learning. During later ages, in which
natural philosophy began to take the place of superstitious mys-
teries and occult delusions, the arts and sciences progressed more
rapidly ; and, since the art of printing has been discovered, man-
kind has become more equalized in the pursuit of knowledge.
From that period, history and ingenuity assumed a nobler feature ;
the monopoly of learning, possessed and exercised by a chosen
few, was brokeii up ; the invention of John Faust, in the hands
of John Guttemberg, started a new era in 1470, which gave a
new and vigorous impulse to all kinds of improvement within the
province of mankind. The faculty of flying, as well as other
mysteries, was thenceforth examined more upon natural princi-
ples, in order to test the possibility of applying it to the use of
the human family.

But let us return, for a moment, to the earliest writings for
accounts of machines for traversing the upper heavens, and
bring down a connected history of man's propensity to acquire so
desirable an art, to the present time. We shall then surely see,
if not in the present, at least in an approximating future, a very
encouraging prospect of its fullest realization ; not merely as a
means of pleasurable enjoyment, but also to carry on the most
extended and magnificent commercial and scientific pursuits.

The first account on this subject that we find on the records
of history, that carries widi it anything like plausibility, and
to which nearly all modern writers on the art of Vying make
reference, is that of Archytas' artificial pigeon. This great
geometrician was of the Pythagorean school, and flourished about
toixT hundred years before the Christian era. The account of it
is given by the historian Aulus Gellius, who wrote during the
time called the* "Brazen Age." He says, that "Archytas con-
structed a wooden pigeon which could fly by means of mechani-
cal powers and an Jlura SpiriV^ In the description of the con-
struction of this artificial flying pigeon, the machinery is, in some
measure, explained. Its buoyancy seems to have been effected
by magnets; but the moving, or rather the propelling, power is
attributed to an occult — a very indispensable accompaniment to
ancient works of wonder, of which we have only descriptions.

Another writer, in reference to this artificial bird, says: " Ar-
chytas, philosopher of Taranto, constructed a wooden pigeon
which could fly ; but if it fell to the ground, it could not raise itself
up again.'* •

Much has been written about this wonderful piece of art dur^^
ing the last three centuries, the most important of which we find
in the writings of Cardan, Scaliger, Fabri, Lana, and others. But

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ARCHYTAS' PIGEON. 19

most of these authors, like the historian Gellius, have their de-
scriptions involved with obscure proceedings — throwing but little
light on the path of discovery of aerostation. Writers of a more
modern date intimate that by the enclosed ^'aura spirit" might
be meant rarefied air, or hydrogen gas, and the mechanical arti-
fice connected with it, to have been used for the purpose of giv-
ing it direction. These suppositions fall to the ground when we
examine the subject closely. If gas or rarefied air had been used
to give it buoyancy, the machine would necessarily have been of
great si^e, so much so, that it could hardly have retained much
resemblance to a pigeon (and all the writers who refer to the sub-
ject call it a pigeon), and yet none of them make mention of its
being of extraordinary size. Besides this, the process of inflation
either with rarefied air or hydrogen gas would have been so con-
spicuous a part of its operations, that it could not well have been
overlooked by those who saw it and wrote about it, without some
account of the process being given in its history. It is not in
the least probable that Archytas had any knowledge of the gases
— and it is also very doubtfully maintained, that he made his
pigeon fly to any considerable extent or height. Such an opinion
is confirmed by the writer who says, ** When it fell to the ground,
it could not raise itself up again."

It would be unnecessary to go into a critical investigation of the
merits of Archytas' invention, were it not that nearly all subse-
quent accounts of flying machines are too dependent upon this
tradition for^ their proof of success ; many of them blending it
with their own fanciful notions, and throwing around them an
air of mystery and secrecy, well calculated to delude the unlearned
into the belief that it required the aid of a spiritual agency, which
could only be acquired by those whose learning entitled them to
hold communion with saints and demons.

It is not remarkable that, at a period when all civilized Europe
was shrouded in ignorance, and labored under the tortures of iron-
handed tyranny, such doctrines should have elicited the admi-
ration and awe of the multitude, and more especially so, when
even the tenets and history of the church of that day were em-
bellished with accounts of flying temples, flying dragons, flying
saints, and flying witches.

The next account that we find particularly noticed in history is
that of a man, who, it is said, flew high in the air in the city
of Rome, under the reign of Nero, but lost his life in the descent.
(An unfortunate fatality which terminated many of the ancient
experiments in flying.) This adventure is related by Antonius
Byerlink, who endeavors to substantiate the circumstance by a
description of the ingenuity and mathematical precision of the
artist's wings and apparatus; but concludes with a vague in-

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20 ROGER BACON ON FLYING..

timatioD that the individtifil's evil genius became displeased mth
him when aloft, and consequently suffered him to fall down.

Here, again, we find that the machinery, critically exact as
it may have been, could not of itself accomplish the design for
which it was constructed. The apparent flight of these objects
must have been delusive. At that period, the magic art was
expertly practiced. We have an example in the case of the Em-
peror Basil of Macedonia, as it stands written in *^ Brewster's
Letters on Nattiral Magic." " Inconsolable at the loss of his
son, this sovereign had recourse to the prayers of the pontiff
Theodore Santabaren, who was celebrated for his power of work-
ing miracles. The emperor, in short, saw the aerial image of his
son on horseback, and as the picture was brought nearer the
mirror, the image advanced into his arms, when it, of course,
eluded his affectionate grasp." This art being well understood
by the ancients, may have been the means of giving effect to the
delusion of flying machines, such as Archytas' pigeon, and others
referred to by those historians.

Roger Bacon, an eminent philosopher of the thirteenth century,
who, from his genius and ability, won for himself the title of "The
Admirable Doctor," was the first to whom we are indebted for
an approximation to the true principles of aerostation. He wrote
upon various subjects, and displayed in all a great power of ima-
gination, with %n equal degree of enterprise. The knowledge he
possessed, and the theories he laid down, appear the more re-
markable, because we have, within the last hundred years, real-
ized several of his most magnificent schemes. Like Franklin,
his ideas and knowledge were three or four centuries ahead of the
age he lived in. The art of sailing in the air, or, at least, the
principle by which it is accomplished, seems to have been so
well understood by him, that we may safely ascribe to him the
discovery of its main principle (atmospheric buoyancy), which we
will presently perceive.

In one of his works, he descants, in glowing language, on the
possibility of constructing engines of immense size and power,
that could traverse the land and the water with great speed, and
carry with them persons and merchandize. He then goes on to
describe a plan of navigating the air. He assumes that the at-
mosphere is a material of some consistency, capable of bearing
upon its surface vessels, like ships are borne upon the surface of
the water. He next describes the construction of his aerial ma-
chine, " which," he says, ** must be a large hollow globe of cop-
per, or other suitable metal, wrought extremely thin, in order to
have it as light as possible. It must, then," he says, "be filled
with * ethereal air or liquid fire,' and then launched from some
elevated point, into the atmosphere, where it will float like a ves-

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RQGER BACON ON FLYING. 21

Sfil on the water." It cannot be ascertained, from the writings of
Roger Bacon, that lie ever realized any of bis grand projects of
flying, by actual experiment; but, in concluding his treatise upon
this branch, he expresses himself thus: ^' There is certainly a
flying instrument, not that I ever knew a man that had it, but I
am particularly acquainted with the ingenious person who con-
trived it." . ^

After expressing himself so confidently upon the '^ hollow
globe" method, he thipks, ^' There may be made some flying
instrument, so that a man sitting in the middle of the instrument,
and turning some mechanism, may put in motion some artificial
wings which may beat the air like a bird flying."

To these descriptions of Bacon, some of our modern writers
have adverted with greater zeal than judgment, to prove that the
art of flying by human ^contrivances was known to the ancients,
or, at least, anterior to the discovery of the Montgolfiers. They
contend that Roger Bacon was well acquainted with the proper-
ties of the atmosphere. Some very learned disquisitions hav6
been written to prove that his ethereal air and liquid fire were the
same as our rarefied air, and hydrogen gas.

With all due deference to the brilliant genius and far-reaching
intellect of Roger Bacon, it must still be evident from his own
writings that he did not fully understand the principle of atmo-
spheric pressure, or be would not have thought it necessary to
get his " hollow globe" on the surface of the atmosphere. As to
his having some knowledge of the consistency of the air as an
elastic fluid, that will not be denied, for, at that period, the atten-
tion of the learned began to be directed to the science of pneu-
matics; but we have no authenticated writings to show that they
had a knowledge of the various and distinct gases.

The discovery of the art of making gunpowder has been at-
tributed to Roger Bacon, and history makes it evident that he
accomplished astonishing things in his day, for we read that he
was accused of holding communion with the devil, and that the
perusal of his writings was interdicted by an order of Nicolas IV.,
and the Doctor placed under personal restraint^ where the emana-
tions of his brilliant mind could only enlighten the emperor and
his courtiers. Soon afler Bacon's time, projects were instituted
to train up children from their infancy in the exercise of flying
with artificial wings, which seemed to have been the favorite
plan of the flying philosophers and artists of that day. If we
credit the accounts of some of their experiments, it Would seem
that considerable progress was made in that way. The individu-
als who used the wings could skim over the surface of the earth
with a great deal of ease and celerity. This was accomplished
by the combined faculties of running and flying. It is stated.

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22 RUNNING AND FLYING.

that, by an alternately continued motion of the "wings against the
air, and the feet against the ground, they were enabled to move
along with a striding motion, and with incredible speed.

If we are permitted, for a moment, to digress from the his-
torical part of our subject, we will show that this method of loco-
motion, under the present knowledge of aeronautics, could be
turned to considerable account. If, for instance, we take a
balloon of limited size, about eighteen feet in diameter each way,
it will, when inflated with hydrogen gas, be capable of raising
160 pounds, independent of its own weight. Now, if this be so
fastened to a man's body, as not to interfere with the free use of
his arms and legs, he may then ballast himself so as to be a trifle
heavier than the upward tendency of the balloon, which will be
nearly in equilibrio. If then he provides himself with a pair of
wings, made on the bird principle^ with socket joints to slip
over his arms at the shoulders, and a grasping handle internally
of each one, at the distance from the shoulder joint of the wing,
as the distance is from his shoulder to his hand, he may beat
against the air with his wings, and bound against the earth with
his feet, so as ta make at least a hundred yards at each bound.
This the writer has often done, in- the direction of a gentle wind,
with the aid of his feet alone, after his balloon had descended
to the earth; and, on one occasion, traversed a pine forest of
several miles in extent, by bounding against the tops of the trees.
Such a contrivance would be of inestimable value to exploring ex-
peditions. Landings to otherwise inaccessible mountains; escapes
from surrounding icebergs ; explorations of volcanic craters ;
traversing vast swamps and morasses ; walking over lakes and
seas; bounding over isthmuses, straits, and promontories, or ex-
ploring the cloud-capped peaks of Chimborazo, could thus all be
easily accomplished.

CHAPTER II.

History resumed — Famous John Muller and his artiiScial eagle — Dante
of Perouse's flight — Cuperus on flying — ^Bishop Wilkin s' propositions
on air sailing — Philosophical approximations to the art — Jesuit Lana
on air sailing — ^Besnier's flight — Baldwin bought his wings — De Gus-
man's petition for a patent for flying — Dcf Bourgois' account — Gal-
lien's book on flying.

In resuming our history, it is related by several authors, each
of whom seems to have copied the story from his predecessor,

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WILKINS ON FLYING. 28

that the famous John MuUer, alto called Regiomontanus, con-
structed an artificial eagle at Nuremburg, which flew out to meet
the Emperor Charles V., and accompanied him back to town. It
is also stated: <* About the same period, and in succeeding
times, we are told of a certain monk, named Elmerus, who flew
about a furlong from the top of a tower in Spain. Another flight
was attempted from St. Mark's steeple, in Venice, and also at
Nuremburg; and, by means of a pair of wings, a person named
Dante of Perou^e was enabled to fly; but, while amusing the
citizens with his flight, he fell oi^ the top of St. Mary's church,
and broke his tbi^h."

Cuperus, in his treatise on the "Excellence of Man," very
ingeniously contends that it is possible for human bdngs to attain
the faculty of flying. He asserts that Leonardo *da Vinci, the
great painter, practiced it successfully ; but his account is not well
authenticated.

The next writer upon this subject who merits particular atten*
tion, we find in John Wilkins, Lord Bishop of Chester, who died
in the year 1672. In a work, which he entitled the "Discovery
of the New World," he says, "It is a pretty notion to this pur-
pose, mentioned by Albertus de Saxonia, and out of him by
Francis Mendoca, that the air in some part of it is navigable ;
and that, upon this static principle, any iron or brass vessel (sup-
pose a kettle), whose substance is much heavier than that of
water, yet being filled with air it will swim upon it and not sink.
So, suppose a cup or wooden vessel, upon the outward borders of
the atmosphere, the capacity of it being filled with fire, or rather
ethereal air, it must necessarily, upon the same ground, remain
there, and of itself no more fall than an empty ship can sink."

Wilkins' reasoning here embodies the sentiments and princi-
ples of Bacon on this subject, with, however, quainter illustrations
to show that the atmosphere is navigable. In tracing the progress
of knowledge in relation to the principles of atmospheric buoy-
ancy, it exhibits to the mind a very striking exemplification of
the nearness to which we may approach to the desired object of
our pursuits, and yet, for the want of knowing correctly the ap-
plication of a trifling part of it, how long we may be bafiled in
perfecting our schemes.

We find here, that, for the space of over 400 years, one genera-
tion afler another conceived more fully the principles and truths
of a theory, without any real success towards its consummation
in practice. The idea thrown out by Roger Bacon, of atmo-
spherical buoyancy, it does seem from history, had become the
favorite theory with the most philosophical portion of the advocates
of the doctrine that flying through the air could be accomplished
by human beings. The other portion, who were evidently more

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24 WILKINS' PROPOSITIONS.

of a mechanical turn, contended that it must be accomplished by
the aid of artificial wings, on the bird principle. Now, that it is
not philosophically disproved, that man may fly by the aid of
artificial wings, is evident, for it would be no more at variance
M*ith the laws of nature than it is for him to swim in the water
like a fish.

While Cuperus, upon the one hand, in his treatise on the
"Excellence of Man," contends that the faculty of flying, by
the use of artificial wings fastened to the body of a man, can
be attained, Borrelli, a Neapolitan mathematician, asserts that,
after having examined the subject with great nicety, in a com-
parison of the strength of the muscles of a man to the muscles of
a bird, it is impossible to fly by means of wings fastened to the
body. Under this view of the subject, we may safely steer a
middle course, denying neither the one, nor positively assuming
the other, but leaving to the age of improvement in which we
live, to decide, by actual experiments, what may be accom-
plished by both plans.

Bishop Wilkins, in his treatise on mechanical motion, treats
expressly of the art of flying by the aid of wings. In the sixth
chapter, he says : " Scaliger conceives the framing of such voli-
tant automata to be very easy. Volantis columbae machinulumj
cujus autorem Archytam tradunt velJadlUtne profiteri audeo.^^

" But this may better be performed by the strength of some
such spring as is commonly used in watches. This spring may
be applied unto one wheel, which shall give an equal motion to
both the wings ; these wings having unto each of them another
smaller spring, by which they may be contracted and lifted up,
so that being forcibly depressed by the strength of the great
and stronger spring, and lifted up again by the other two ; ac-
cording to this supposition, it is easy to conceive how the mo-
tion of flight may be performed and continued."

Not so very easy, we should suppose, especially in continuing
the flight — unless it would be a flight of fancy — which we shall
presently show the bishop to have been more expert in, than in
any other department of genius. In his seventh chapter, be lays
down four different plans by which flying in the air has been, or
may be, attempted. To wit : " Firstly, by spirits or angels ;
secondly, by the help of fowls ; thirdly, by wings fastened im-
mediately to the body ; and, fourthly, by a flying chariot."

The first one of these propositions is an inheritance of the an-
cient superstition, as related by Aulus Gellius, in ascribing the
power of Archytas' wooden pigeon to an aura spirity and Anto-
nius Byerlink's evil genius^ which seems to have been the main-
spring to this flying artist's njachinery.

The second, which depends upon the help of birds, might, to

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FLIGHT OF ELMERUS. 25

some extent, be realized by the training of some such powerful
bird as the condor of l^outh America, which, it is said, can fly ofT
with a sheep or a calf. But such a mode would not seem to be
very promising in its results, admitting that it were practicable.

The third, which is to be accomplished by the aid of wings
fastened immediately to the body, he recommends more in detail.
Regarding this plan, he says : ^<It is the obvious and common
opinion that this may be effected by wings fastened immediately
to the body, this coming nearest to the imitation of nature, which
should be observed in such attempts as these. This is that way
which Fredericus Hermanns, in his little discourse, De Art Vo-
landiy doth only mention and insist upon ; and if we may trust
credible story, it hath been frequently attempted, not without
some success. It is relatied of a certain monk, called Elmerus,
about the Confessor's time, that he did, by such wings, fly from a
tower above a furlong; and so another from St. Mark's steeple,
in Venice ; another at Nuremburg ; and Busbequius speaks of a
Turk in Constantinople who attempted to fly. Mr. Burton,
mentioning this quotation, doth believe that some new-fangled
wit will, some time or other, find out this art. Though, the truth
is, most of these artists did unfortunately miscarry, by falling
down and breaking their arms or legs ; yet that may be imputed
to their want of experience, and too much fear, which must, of
course, possess men in such dangerous and strange attempts.
Those things that seem very difficult and fearful, at the first,
may grow very facile after frequent trial and exercise; and, there-
fore, he that would effect anything in this way must be brought
up to the constant practice of it from his youth ; trying first only
to use his wings, in running on the ground, as an ostrich or
tame goose will do, touching the earth with his toes ; and so on
by degrees learn to rise higher, till he shall attain unto skill and
confidence. I have heard it froiQ credible testimony, that one of
OUT nation hath succeeded so far in this experiment, that he was
able, by the help of wings, in such a running pace, to step, con-
stantly, ten yards at a time."

In the same chapter, he says, ^^But now, because the arms
extended are too weak, and easily wearied, therefore the motions
by them are like to be but short and slow, answerable, it^ay be,
to the flight of such domestic fowls as are mostly confined to the
ground, which of themselves we see are quickly weary, and there-
fore much more would the arm of a man, as being not naturally
designed to such a motion."

" It were therefore worth the inquiry, to consider whether this
might not be more probably effected by the fefet, which are natu-
rally more strong and indefatigable : in which contrivance, the
wings should come down from the shoulders on each side, but the

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26 BACON'S PRINCIPLE.

tDOtion of them sbould be from the legs, being thrast oat, and
drawn in again, alternately, so that each leg sboald move both
wings ; by which means a man should, as it were, walk or climb
up into the atmosphere ; and then the hands and arms might be
at leisure to help and direct the motion, or for any other service
calculated for them. This conjecture is not without strong pro-
bability, and some special advantages above the other."

Now comes his favorite project, and one which has frequently
been attempted, but invariably without the least success. **But
the fourth and last way seems unto me altogether as probable,
and much more useful than any of the rest ; and that is by a flying
chariot, which may be so contrived as to carry a man within it ;
and though the strength might perhaps be serviceable for the
motion of this engine, yet it were better to have it assisted by the
labor of some intelligent mover, as the heavenly orbs are supposed
to be turned. And therefore, if it were made big enough to carry
sundry persons together, then each of them in their several turns
might successively labor in the causing of this motion; which
thereby would be much more constant and lasting than it could
otherwise be, if it did wholly depend on the strength of the same
person. This contrivance being as much to be preferred before
any of the other, as swimming in a ship before swimming in
water.'*

Now, some writers have warmly contended that Bishop Wilkins
discovered the Art of Flying. So far from this being the case,
the most plausible part or plan suggested by him is taken from
Roger Bacon's treatise on the subject, which is the Balloon prin-
ciple. He appears to have been very sanguine that the art could
be attained, and much credit undoubtedly is due him for the
assistance he has rendered the progress of its discovery. He
expressed himself at one time to the effect, that he believed the
time would come when it would be as common for a man to call
for his wings, when about to prepare for a journey, as it was in
his time to call for boots and spurs. From the further investiga-
tions and quotations that we will make, it will be seen that Roger
Bacon's principle was kept sight of by his successors, in the pur-
suit of this subject, until it was consummated and realized by the
Montgolfiers, and the committee appointed on this subject by the
Academy of Arts and Sciences of Paris.

The philosophers, from Bacon's time down to the discovery of
the true nature of atmospheric pressure, as illustrated by the Tor-
ricellian tube, and air pump, in their speculations upon aerial
navigation, all had an opinion that the atmosphere had a defined
limit or border, not very high above the earth, upon which the
aerial vessel must necessarily be placed in order to have it buoyed
up by the air underneath, like the water under a ship. Reason-

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FATHER LANA'S PROPOSITIONS. 27

ing from their knowledge of hydrostatics, they took it for granted
that the atmosphere was a vast ocean of air surrounding our globe,
upon the outer border of which rested another ethereal ocean of a
much rarer kind, separate and distinct as the air rests upon the
water. Still they approached nearer, in each succeeding genera-
tion, to an attainment of navigating the air. Judging, then, from
the scanty knowledge they possessed of pneumatics, and indeed
of all the sciences, they are entitled to a great deal of credit, in
tegard to the art of aerial navigation, as also to other important
subjects. It does seem that, if the progressive individuals of our
generation were to apply themselves with the same earnestness
to this subject now, that those did before us whom we have made
reference to, it would not be long before we should see air travel-
ing as much preferred and in advance of steamboat and railroad
traveling, as the latter are now in advance of the old-fashioned
stage-coach and schooner method. In the course of our history,
we shall see that the discovery by the Montgolfiers created a spirit
for its advancement ^ far beyond a legitimate end, that we may
ascribe to it much of the apathy that has followed it. At the pre-
sent time, there is, however, a new and sober determination grow-
ing up again in the way of improving this neglected art.

The great interest that was manifested in the seventeenth cen-
tury, from the numerous experiments that were going on in every
civilized part of the world, brought into the field many able writers
on this subject, which soon revived all the knowledge and history
of the past, and created a fresh stimulus to the investigation of all
subjects that had any bearing on, or relation to, the improvement of
aerial navigation. Hypothetical narrations had now to give way
to the more solid principles that naturally suggested themselves
under such a state of improvement. Mathematical demonstration
was resorted to as the only sure guide to direct the progress of the
arts, and thus the veil of mystery could no longer cover the vague
pretensions of monopolized learning. The researches of alchemy
had also contributed many valuable discoveries towards strength-
ening the rational philosophy^f the day. And from about this
period we date the be|;ipning of the most important and useful
improvements in the operations of mankind.

Francis Lana, a Jesuit, and a very judicious writer, deduced
from the new discoveries the real nature and pressure of the at-
mosphere, and is the first who established a theory verified by
mathematical accuracy, and clearness of perception, which placed
him far in advance of his predecessors in the science of aerial
navigation. He very truly inferred that a vessel exhausted of
air would weigh less than when full of that fluid. He also shows
in his problems that the capacity of globular vessels increases
much faster than their surfaces. For example, two globular ve^

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28 FATHER LANA'S PROPOSITIONS.

sels, one of ten feet diameter, and another of twenty feet diameter ;
the fir$t will have a capacity of 523 cubic feet and a fraction over,
while the other will have 4189 cubic feet. The surface of the larger
is about four times that of the smaller, while its capacity, or con-
tents, is eight times as great. This is a very important considera-
tion in the construction of balloons. Thus, a balloon that would
carry one person, and would weigh one hundred pounds, which
is about the weight of such a one> and would cost two hundred
dollars; one capable of carrying two persons would not cost
more than three hundred dollars, and would not weigh more than
one hundred and fifty pounds. Now, a balloon of the power first
mentioned would be about twenty feet in diameter, which, when
filled with ordinary hydrogen gas, would have an ascending
power of two hundred and fifty pounds, while one of five times
its diameter, being one hundred feet, would have an ascending
power of thirty-two thousand, seven hundred and twenty-five
pounds, which would be capablie of carrying one hundred and
sixty-six men, independent of its own weight and necessary ap-
pendages.

Lana proposed to prepare four hollow globes of copper, each
twenty feet in diameter, and so thin, that they would weigh less
than an equal bulk of atmosphere, when they were exhausted of
air. To these globes he designed fastening a boat, in which the
aeronaut and his appendages were to be stationed, for the purpose
of directing the machine. Although the idea laid down here
involves the same principles by which aeronautics are practiced
at the present day, stili, several obstacles present themselves
which must have rendered his plan impracticable. The copper,
of which the balloons were to have been made, must necessarily
have been so thin, to make the vessels light enough, that they
would not have been strong enough to resist the external pressure
of the atmosphere when they were exhausted.

The barometer, by which the pressure of the atmosphere is
ascertained, was discovered in 1643. The immense weight of
the air, as shown by the Torricellian tube, being about fifteen
pounds to every i^quare inch of surface, was no doubt the stimulus
to Lana's proposition of the copper globes. His work, entitled
** Prodromo dell' Arte Maestra Brecia," in which he describeshis
machine, appeared in 1670, while the air pump was not invented,
or at least its invention not made known, until the year 1672.
The great pressure of the air, as shown by the barometer, without
a knowledge of its specific gravity, would very naturally induce
a belief that it possessed a much greater weight than it really
has, which is one and two-tenth ounces to the cubic foot. At
this rate, Lana's globes of twenty feet diameter would each have
displaced 4189 cubic feet, making in all 16,756 cubic feet,

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P S Duval's Steum hth Press.

LAXA'S AERONAUTIC VESSEL.

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BESNIER'S WINGS. 29

weighing 1256 pounds; so whatever less than this his globes and
appendages would have weighed, would have been the ascensive
power of his aerial machinery. Now the surface of one of these
copper globes would have 1256 square feet, which, at the com-
mon pressure of the atmosphere on the surface of the earth, would
have an external pressure of 2,712,960 pounds, a force sufficiently
great to have crushed it, had it been made light enough to be
raised by atmospheric buoyancy. Had Lana known the exact
pressure and specific gravity of the air, his mathematical know-
ledge would have at once suggested to his mind the impractica-
bility of his machinery. Notwithstanding these difficulties pre-
sent themselves to Lana's plan, there are not wanting advocaites
of its efficiency. A few years ago, it was attempted in Paris. In
this experiment, the balloon was composed of silk, and the vacuum
was to have been formed by forcing the balloon op<>n by the aid
of light framework arranged with ropes and pulleys fixed in the
inside of it.

In the " Journal des Savans," of the 12th of September, 1678,
an account is given of one Besnier, a locksmith of Sable, in
France, who succeeded in flying. His wings consisted of four
rectangular surfaces, one at the end of each of two rods passing
over the shoulders of him who used them. The inventor did not
pretend that he could rise from the earth, or sustain himself long
in the air with them, from the inability to give his apparatus the
required power and rapidity ; but he availed himself of their aid
in progressively raising himself from one height to another until
he reached the top of a house, from the roof of which he passed
over the neighboring houses. By thus leaving an rfevated posi-
tion, he could cross a river of considerable breadth, or any other
obstacle. His first pair of wings were purchased by a Mr. Bald-
win, of Guibre, who, it is said, used them with remarkable suc-
cess. One John Babtiste Dante also framed a pair of wings, with
which it is stated he could fly, but that he finally ended his career
by breaking his thigh. In pursuing the history of our subject,
we next find a letter dated Lisbon, the lOlh of February, which
was published soon after in some of the scientific journals of
Paris, containing with it the copy of an address presented to the
King of Portugal, in the year 1709, by a friar called Bartholomew
Laurence de Gusman. In this the petitioner represents himself
as having invented a flying machine, capable of carrying pas-
sengers, and navigating through the air very swiftly. He also
requests the privilege oif being the sole possessor of the invention,
desiring a prohibition against all and every person from construct-
ing a similar machine under a severe penalty. Upon this the
king issued the ibllowing order in his favor : —

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30 GUSMAN'S MACHINE.

"Agreeably to the advice of my council, I order the pain of
death against the transgressor. And, in order to encourage the
suppliant to apply himself \^ith zeal towards improving the ma-
chine which is capable of producing the effects mentioned by
him, I also grant unto him the first professorship of mathema-
tics in my University of Coimbra, and the first vacancy in my
College of Barcelona, with the annual pension of 600,000 reis
during his life.

"The 17th day of April, 1709."

The drawing of this machine somewhat resembles a bird.
Its leading; features are mainly embodied in a drawing of a fly-
ing machine, published in the ** Penny Magazine" some years
ago. The effect was to be produced by the wind, which was to
pass through several tubes and swell a sail something in the
shape of a parachute. In the absence of the wind, it was to be
effected by a pair of bellows, assisted by two powerful magnets,
and several pieces of amber which were to pull upwards, with
other contrivances equally vague and absurd. Indeed, it does
appear that this applicant of the king's favor was nothing more
than a pretender without ingenuity ; for the whole design, as
near as it can be traced, is merely a modified form of Archytas'
flying bird. In many of the writer's descriptions, a great deal of
ingenuity and mechanical skill is manifested, but in the above
we have nothing but that never-to-be-forgotten notion, of making
a thing lift itself up. And even at this day, we have persons
who have erected pumps to pump up water to a head race for
the purpose of driving mill machinery, which is about equal to
De Gusman's idea of supplying wind by bellows to propel his
flying chariot. Of this class of persons are the wanderers after
perpetual motion.

D. Bourgois, in his "Recherches sur I'Art de Voler," says
that, in the above account, the name of De Gusman is wrongly
annexed to Bartholomew Laurence, and that they were distinct
persons. He tells us that it was Bartholomew Laurence who
presented the petition to the king, and of De Gusman he relates
the following history : That, in the year 1736, De Gusman made
a wicker basket of about seven or eight feet in diameter, covered
with paper, which basket elevated itself as high as the tower of
Lisbon. This author says that he learned this from a very credit-
able person, who witnessed the experiment. But that, for better
confirmation of h, he wrote to a distinguished merchant of Lis-
bon, who answered him that it was true, and that many persons
still remembered it, though they attributed it to witchcraft.

Joseph Gallien published a book in 1755, at Avignon, entitled
^^L'Artde Navigerdans les Airs," in which he asserts that a bag

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GALLIEN'S IDEA. 81

of cloth or leather, filled with an air lighter than that of atmo-
sphere, might be used with perfect security for the purpose of
aerial voyages. Had Gailien been acquainted with hydrogen
gas, and the means of its production, the honor of the discovery .
of aerostatic machinery would no <Ioubt have fallen to him. It
may b<e possible that De Gusman's machine was nothing more
than a paper vessel kept distended by a wicker frame, and made
to rise by heating the air within it, which might have been
accomplished without haviilg fire attached to it when it ascended.
By passing it in very hot, and suddenly letting it go, it would
rise some distance. This idea is strengthened, from the mention
that is made of its rising up two hundred feet, and immediately
coming down again. However, as De Gusman never made known
the principle by which bis machine was elevated, the merit of
discovery can not be awarded to him.

A great many experiments were now put in prc^ess to solve
the problem of atmospheric buoyancy, and indeed a number of
persons contended that they were the first who discovered it,
afler it was really solved. We shall, therefore, refer to the most
noted authors on this subject, concerning its discovery, who wrote
immediately after it was made.

CHAPTER III.

Discovery of aerostatic machines — ^Experiments — ^Aoademj of Arts and
Sciences of Paris taking it in hand — ^Excitement of the French people
about it — A sheep, cock, and duck the first aerial adventurers — De Rozier
and Marquis de Arlandes ascend with a fire balloon — ^Particulars of their
voyage — Procfes Verbal — Experiment of Bittenhouse and Hopkinson —
Experiments with inflammable air — Cavallo on the discovery of the
hydrogen balloon — ^Experiments at Lyons with a mammoth fire balloon
—Experiments at Milan.

After progressive researches and repeated experiments, during
the lapse of more than twenty centuries, the art of aerial navi-
gation was at length discovered in the year 1782, in France.
When we consider the attention that was paid to the subject,
during its progress through so many years, by the most learned
men, we may reasonably expect that much more will be done to
improve its present condition, and make it what it can' be, and
ought to be made ; the most expeditious, easy, and pleasant mode
of traveling that the human family is capable of enjoying.

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82 MONTGOLFIERS' EXPERIMENTS.

After the elasticity of air was discovered, and its real weight
and nature ascertained, it would seem that no great difficulty lay
in the way to make a successful experiment. But this, like
almost every other important discovery, was in the end attained
by indirect means, rather than from purely pre-considered and
tried experiments on the subject. It may be that Bacon's and
Lana's notions of the atmosphere's surface suggested the idea of
the cloud and smoke principle. However, as we have no informa*
tion that the Montgolfiers had particularly devoted any of their
pursuits to the discovery of aerostatics, it does rather appear that
the idea was spontaneously suggested.

The natural ascent of smoke and clouds, it appears, first drew
the attention of the two brothers, Stephen and Joseph Montgolfier^
to make their aerostatic experiment. Stephen, the younger of
the two brothers, concluded in his mind, that, if a light paper
bag were to be made and filled with cloud or smoke^ either of
these substances, from their natural inclination to rise, would
carry the bag with it in an upward direction. Accordingly, a
light paper bag of an oblong shape was made, of a capacity of
about forty cubic feet. With this they made their first experiment
in a private manner in their own chamber, at Avignon, about the
middle of November, 1782. The lower part of the bag had an
orifice to which they applied burning paper, upon which it began
to distend itself, and in a few minutes sustained itself by being
held at its lower part, when, on being released, it ascended to the
ceiling of the chamber, where it remained a few moments, much
to the joy and astonishment of its projectors. Moved on by this
pleasing experiment, they next tried it in the open air. Here,
again, after it was inflated and released, it ascended, reaching a
height of about seventy feet.

Encouraged by this success, the experiment was next to be made
on a larger scale. For this purpose, an envelop of a capacity of
about 600 cubic feet, and of a spherical shape, was made. Upon
trial, this experiment far exceeded their most sanguine expecta-
tions. This balloon (for this was made after the shape of a hal-
looriy "a large, round, short-necked vessel used in chemistry,"
and hence the name of balloon for aerial ships), after being inflated
in the same manner as the former, became so strong that it broke
the strings by which it was to be retained a certain distance above
the earth, and ascended to a height of about six or seven hundred
feet, and alighted soon after upon the adjoining ground.

Finding, upon these trials, that, as they enlarged their machines,
the balloons, they succeeded better, they concluded to build one
of thirty-five feet in diameter. Such a balloon was accordingly
constructed, and the 3d day of April, 1783, was fixed on to make
the experiment. When the appointed day came, the wind was

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EXPERIMENT AT ANNONAY. 83

SO violent that it wa« thought most prudent to defer it until the
25th of same month. This proving a more favorable day, the
trial came off handsomely, and with unbounded applause from
those who were in att^dance. The balloon, after being filled
and released, rose very suddenly into the air until it reached a
height of at least 1000 feet, and fell to the ground at the dis-
tance of three quarters of a mile from the place it had ascended.
It was now concluded by the Montgolfiers to make a public ex-
periment with this last constructed balloon, on the 5th of June
following. Accordingly, invitations were extended, and, as might
naturally be expected, a great concourse of spectators assembled
to witness the novel and extraordinary sight. This balloon, being
of a spherical form, thirty-five feet in diameter, had a capacity of
nearly 23,000 cubic feet. It was inflated over a pit, or well, in
which were burned chopped straw and wool^ over which the lower
orifice of the balloon was placed by swinging it from a cross rope
fixed up for the purpose. When it was fully inflated with heated
air, it was found to have an ascending power of 500 pounds. As
it displayed its huge dimensions, the spectators gave vent to loud
exclamations and shouts of applause. In a few moments after it
was filled, it was released from its fastenings, and ascended ma-
jestically, amidst the most deafening shouts of^ approbation. It
rose to the height of six or seven thousand feet, and fell to the
ground at the distance of a mile and a half from its point of de-
parture.

After this demonstration, this wonderful invention was heralded
to every part of JBurope with a rapidity that its importance had
naturally inspired. The particulars, as stated in one of the Jour-
nals of the day, are as follows: "On Thursday, the 5th of June,
1783, the States of Vivarais being assembled at Annonay, Messrs.
Montgolfiers invited them to see their new aerostatic experiment.
An immense bag of linen lined with paper, and of a shape nearly
spherical, had its aperture, which was on its inferior part, at-
tached to a frame of about sixteen feet surface, upon which it lay
flaccid like an empty linen bag. When this machine was inflated,
it measured 117 English feet in circumference; its capacity was
equal to about 23,000 cubic feet ; and it had been calculated that,
when filled with the vapor proper for the experiment, it would
have lifted up about 490 pounds, besides its own weight, which,
together with that of the wooden frame, was equal to 500 pounds,
and this calculation was found to be pretty true by experience.
The bag was composed of several parts, which were joined to-
gether by means of buttons and holes, and it is sai<I that two men
were sufficient to prepare and*fill it, though eight men were re-
quired to prevent its ascension when filled."

Other accounts give a still more glowing description of this
8

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84 EXPERIMENT BEFORE THE ROYAL ACADEMY.

wonderful experiment ; but, as the one wequoted seems to be given
with soberness and accuracy, we prefer it to any of the rest. The
conflicting opinions in regard to the possibility of such a thing ;
the doubts of others ; with an ardent de^^ee of credulity manifested
by those who had either seen, or positively heard of its having
been done before, all combined to give the occasion an extraordi-
nary character.

This occasion dated an epoch in the history of aeronautic
science. The subject was now taken up with renewed vigor.
Various claims were also set up for its discovery. Cavallo inti-
mated that he had made the first air balloons, but concedes the
right of discovery to the Montgolfiers. He says, in speaking of
this subject, " The weight and elasticity of the air were well
known to the ancient philosophers, as may be deduced from
several passages in their works. Borrelli relates an experiment
of a Florentine, called Candido Buono, which shows that air,
rarefied by heat, becomes lighter, and ascends amid the colder
air. This easy, and at the same time satisfactory, experiment
consists in bringing a red-hot iron under one of the scales of a
balance, when that instrument hangs in equilibrio ; for as soon
as the red-hot iron is brought under one of the scales, the air,
heated and rarelied by it, will ascend, and will impel the said
scale upwards, the opposite scale descending as if a weight were
put to it."

Whatever knowledge may have existed on this point, it is evi-
dent, from the history of the case, that the Montgolfiers did not
make the discovery on that account. And if they even had, it
would not detract from the n^erit of their discovery. It would
seem that they rather based the idea of success in having dis-
covered how to make artificial clouds, supposing they were con-
stituted of a vapor or gas specifically Ugfiter than atmosphere.
This doctrine was even maintained by the advocates of the Mont-
golfierian system, after the hydrogen balloon was introduced.

Soon after the experiment had been made at Annonay, Stephen
Montgolfier arrived in Paris. He was immediately invited to
attend the sitting of the Royal Academy of Sciences, and by that
body requested to repeat his experiment at their expense. He
cheerfully accepted the proposition, and soon constructed a large
balloon of an elliptical shape, seventy-two feet high, and forty-one
feet in diameter. When completed, it was found to weigh 1000
poundjs. It was finished and decorated in a most magnificent
style ; elegantly ornamented over its outer surface with beautiful
and appropriate designs. At a preliminary experiment, it raised
eight men from the ground. On the 12th of September, 1783,
the day appointed for its exhibition before the members of the
Royal Academy, it ascended with a load of from four to five hun-

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ASCENT OF DE ROZIER AND THE DUKE D'ARLANDES. 85

dred pounds. But, owing to a violent gust of wind at the time,
it was damaged in the ascent, which prevented the machine from
attaining a great height. Upon its descent, it was found to be
so much damaged, that a new one of nearly the same dimensions
was ordered to be made. To this was added a basket of wicker-
work. It was then inflated in the presence of the king apd royal
family, at Versailles, and a sheep, a cock, and a duck were
placed in the basket. With these three living animals as its
passengers, it was launched into the upper air, when it ascended
to the height of about 1500 feet. Owing to a similar accident
that befell the other, it did not rise so high as it otherwise would.
The animals, however, landed safely with it at a distance of
10,000 feet from the place of ascent.

This was the first experiment in which any living creature
ascended with an aerostatic machine. Another was now con-
structed which was seventy-four feet high, and forty-eight feet in
diameter. With this large balloon, M. Pilatre de Rozier volun-
teered to make an aerial voyage. This machine had an opening
at the bottom end of about fifteen feet in diameter. Around this
opening was arranged and fastened a gallery of wicker-work,
three feet broad, and around the outer edge of this was a balus-
trade of the same material, three feet high, and arountl the lower
circumference of the balloon, and immediately above the gallery
platform, port-holes were worked in it, for the purpose of intro-
ducing fuel. From around the lower aperture of the balloon,
chains were suspended, to which was fastened an iron brasier,
intended for the fire-place, on which the aeronaut could easily in-
troduce his fuel from the port-holes, as necessity required it.
With this machine, M. Pilatre de Rozier made several ascents to
the height of two or three hundred feet, while it was fastened by
ropes of that length. On the 21st of November, he, in company
with the Marquis d^Arlandes, concluded to make an aerial voy-
age. Accordingly, the balloon was inflated, and the gallery
supplied with fuel, whereon M. Pilatre de Rozier and the Mar-
quis d'Arlandes stationed themselves on opposite sides of the
gallery, when, at a given signal, the balloon was released from
its moorings and left free in the air. It rose majestically amidst
the shouts and applause of a delighted multitude, until it attained
a height of 3000 feet. The whole machine, with fuel and pas-
sengers, weighed 1600 pounds. They remained in the air
twenty-five minutes, and encountered several different currents
of wind. During this voyage, they were several times in immi-
nent danger by the balloon taking fire. The marquis became
greatly agitated at this, and desired to make a precipitate descent,
which might have ended the adventure with serious consequences.
But the coolness and intrepidity of M. Pilatre de Rozier prevent-

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86 ASCENT OF DE ROZIER AND THE DUKE D'ARLANDES.

ed them from incurring this danger, as he had provided himself
with a sponge and water for the emergency, with which he
tery deliberately extinguished the fire, which enabled them to
remain in the atmosphere some time longer. They raised and
lowered themselves frequently, during this excursion, by regulat-
ing the fire in the brasier, and finally landed in safety five miles
from where they started, after having sailed over a great portion
of Paris. Previous to this voyage, M. Pilatre de Elozier ascend-
ed several hundred feet high, in company with M. Girond de
Vilette. We will here give the original documentary account of
this most interesting aerial voyage.

Proces Verbal. — "To-day, November 21, 1783, at the chateau
de la Muette, took place an experiment with the aerostatic machine
of M. de Montgolfier. The sky was partly clouded, wind north-
west. At eight minutes after noon, a mortar gave notice that the
machine was about to be filled. In eight minutes, notwithstand-
ing the wind, it was ready to set off, the Marquis d'Arlandes and
M. Pilatre de Rozier being in the car. It was at first intended to
retain the machine awhile with ropes, to judge what weight it
would bear, and see that all was right. But the wind prevented
it rising \ertically, and directed it towards one of the garden
walls; the ropes made Several rents in it, one of six feet long.
It was brought down again, and in two hours was set right.
Having been filled again, it set off at fifty-four minutes past one,
carrying the same persons. It rose in the most majestic manner,
and when it was about 270 feet high, the intrepid voyagers took
off their hats, and saluted the spectators. No one could help feel-
ing a mingled sentiment of fear and admiration. The voyagers
were soon undistinguishable ; but the machine, hovering upon the
horizon, and displaying the most beautiful figure, rose at least 3000
feet high, and remained visible all the time. It crossed the Seine,
below the barrier of La Conference ; and passing thence between
the Ecole Militaire and the Hotel des Invalides, was in view of
all Paris, The voyagers, satisfied with their experiment, and not
wishing to travel farther, agreed to descend ; but, seeing that the
wind was carrying them upon the houses of the Rue de Seve,
Faub. St. Germain, they preserved their presence of mind, in-
creased the fire, and continued their course through the air till
they crossed Paris. They then descended quietly on the plain,
beyond the New Boulevard, opposite the mill of Croulebarbe, with-
out having felt the slightest inconvenience, and having in the car
two-thirds of their fuel. They could then, if they had wished, have
gone three times as far as they did go, which was 5000 toises, done
in from twenty to twenty- five minutes. The machine was seventy
feet high, and forty-six feet in diameter; it contained 60,000 cubic
feet, and carried a weight of from 1600 to 1700 pounds. Given

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r S JjuvaU Sr*'<iri li'ii Pr<?s».

.MONTGOLFIER'S BALLOOX^^^^^^^Google

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ASCENT OF DE ROZIER AND THE DUKE D»ARLANDES. 87

at the chateau of La Muette, at five in the afternoon. Signed,
Due de Polignac, Due de Guisnes, Compte de Polastron, Compte
de Vaiidreuil, D'Hunaud, Benjamin Franklin, Faujus de St. Fond,
Delisle, Leroy, of the Academy of Sciences."

The following is an extract from a letter written by the Mar-
quis d'Arlandes to M. de St. Fbnd, concerning this first aerial
voyage, dated November 28th, 1783 : " We set ofi* at fifty-four
minutes past one. The balloon was so placed that M. Rozier
was on the west, and I on the east. The machine, says the pub-
lic, rose with majesty. I think few of them saw that, at' the
ipom^nt when it passed the hedge, it made a half turn, and we
changed our positions, which, thus altered, we retained to the end.
I was astonished at the smallness of the noise or motion occa-
sioned by our departure among the spectators ; I thought they
might be astonished and frightened, and might stand in need of
encouragement, so I waved my arm with little success. I then
drew out and shook my handkerchief, and immediately perceived
a great movement in the yard. It seemed as if the spectators
all formed one mass, which rushed by an involuntary motion to-
wards the wall, which it seemed to consider as the only obstacle
between us. At this moment, M. de Rozier called out, ' You are
doing nothing, and we do not rise.' I begged his pardon, took
some straw, moved the fire, and turned again quickly; but I could
not £nd La Muette. In astonishment, I followed the river with
my eye, and at last found where the Oise joined it. Here, then,
was Conflans ; and, naming the principal bends of the river by
the places nearest to them, I repeated Poissy, St. Germain, St.
Denis, Seve ; then I am still at Poissy or Chaillot. Accordingly,
looking down through the car, I saw the Visitation de Chaillot.
M. Pilatre said to me at this moment,' * Here is the river, and we
are descending.' *Well, my friend,' said I, * more fire;' and
we set to work. But, instead of crossing the itver, as our course
towards the Invalides seemed to indicate, we went along the He
des Cygnes, entered the principal bed again, and went up the
stream till we were above the barrier La Conference. I said to
my brave associate, * Here is a river which is very difficult to
cross.' ' I think so,' said he ; * you are doing nothing.'* * I
am not so strong as you,' I answered ; * and we are well as we
are.' I stirred the fire, and seized a bundle of straw, which,
being too much pressed, did not light well. I shook it over the
flame, and the instant afier I felt as if I had been seized under
the arms, and said to my friend, ' We are rising now, however.'
* Yes, we are rising,' he answered, coming from the interior,
where he had been seeing all was right. At this moment, I heard
a noise high up in the balloon, which made me fear it had burst.
I looked up, and saw nothing ; but, as I had my eyes fixed on the

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88 ASCENT OP DE ROZIER AND THE DUKE D'ARLANDES.

machine, I felt a shock, the first I had experienced. The shock
■was upwards, and I cried out, * What are you doing — are you
dancing?' *I am not stirring.' * So much the better,' I
said; *this must be a new current, which will, I hope, take
us off the river.' Accordingly, I turned to see where we were,
and found myself between the Ecole Militaire and the Invalides,
which we had passed by about 400 toises. M. Pilatre said, * We
are in the plain.' *Yes,'I said, *we are getting on.' *Let
us «et to work,' he replied. I heard a new noise in the machine,
which I thought came from the breaking of a cord. I looked
in and saw that the southern part was full of round holes, seve-
ral of them large. I said, * We must get down.' *Why?'
< Look!' said I. At the same time, I took my sponge and easily
extinguished the fire, which was enlarging such of the holes as
I could reach ; but on trying if the balloon was fast to the lower
circle, I found it easily came off. I repeated to my companion,
*We must descend.' He looked around him and said, *We
are over Paris.' Having looked to the safety of the cords, I
said, * We can cross Paris.' We were now coming near the
roofs; we raised the fire, and rose again with great ease. I looked'
under me and saw the Missions Etrangeres, and it seemed as if
we were going towards the towers of S. Sulpice, which I could
see. Raising ourselves, a current turned us south. I saw on
my left a wood, which I thought was the Luxembourg. We
passed the Boulevard, and I called out, * Pied a terre.' We
stopped the fire ; but the brave Pilatre, who did not lose his self-
possession, thought we were coming on mills, and warned me.
We alighted at the Butte aux Cailles, between the mill Des Mer*
veilles and the Moulin Vieux. The moment we touched land, I
held by the car with my two hands ; I felt the balloon press my
head lightly. I pushed it off, and leaped out. Turning towards
the balloon, which I expected to find full, to my great astonish-
ment it was perfectly empty and flattened."

These are the first aerial voyages that were ever made by hu-
man beinss that we have any well authenticated proof of. And
to these all true historians must point as the first practical and
fully successful experiments in navigating the air.

The Montgolfiers were natives of Annonay, and were the sons
of a wealthy paper manufacturer, who had retired from business
and left it in their hands. From the history that is afforded of
them, it appears that they were both attached to the study of
mathematical science. But it seems they were not exactly ac-
quainted with the true nature of the substance that caused the
ascent of their balloons. They attributed the ascending power
of them to a peculiar kind of gas which was emitted by the com-
bustion of chopped straw and wool mixed together. This, how-

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CAVALLO ON INFLAMMABLE AIR. 89

ever, does not, in the least, detract from the merit of their dis-
covery; and so the learned men of that day thought, for, at the
next meeting after their experiment before the B^ysd Academy
of Arts and Sciences of Paris, that eminent body voted Stephen
Montgolfier a gold medal, in honor of having made the most im-
portant discovery of that period.

That the Montgolfiers did not exactly understand the cause or
nature of the material that gave ascensive power to their balloons,
is evidenced by their a£Bdavit which communicated the discovery
to the Royal Academy. In this, the effect of the balloon's ascen-
sion is not attributed to the rarefied state of the air which filled it,
but to a peculiar gas evolved by the burning of straw and wool,
which they termed "certain materials." It was, for a better
name, termed Montgolfier^s gaSf and led even the members of
the Academy to believe, fi)r a. while, that a new kind of gas,
other than hydrc^en, and lighter than common air, had been dis-
covered. A certificate to this effect was signed by the Dukes of
Poliraac and Deguines, the Counts De Polarton and De Vau-
dreuil. Dr. Franklin, and Messrs. Faujus, Delisle, and Leroy, of
the Academy of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Franklin was then in
Parisr, and had been elected to a membership of that noted in-
stitution.

During the latter part of the same year. Dr. Ritteuhouse and
Mr. Hopkinson made some experiments in the city of Philadel-
phia, by conniecting four balloons together, which were inflated
with hydrogen gas. An individual ascended with these to the
height of several hundred feet, but, taking alarm, he was induced
to cut a hole in one of them, which caused him to descend.

Inflammable air, or hydrogen gas, which is its proper name,
was discovered as early as the year 1766. It was even known
to exist long before that time by miners of coal. Its fatal effects
have often been experienced by that class of men. But its pro-
perties were first made known in the year just named, by Mr.
Cavendish, as will be seen by reference to the Philosophical
Transactions of that period.

Tiberius Cavallo says: Soon after this discovery of Mr.
Cavendish, it occurred to the ingenious Dr. Black, of Edinburgh,
that a vessel might be made, which, when filled with inflammable
air, might ascend into the atmosphere, in consequence of its being
altogether lighter than an equal bulk of common air. This idea
of the Doctor had been frequently mentioned, but he himself wrote
a candid account of it to Dr. James Lind, physician at Windsor ;
and here follows part of the letter : —

"EDmBUBGH, Nov. 13^ji, 1784.

<< Dear Si& : The person who first discovered with exactness
the specific gravity of inflammable air was, as far as I know, Mr.

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40 CAVALLO ON INFLAMMABLE AIR.

Cavendish. I never heard of any experiments made with that
intention, before his appeared in the Philosophical Transactions
for the year 1766. It had been my constant practice before, to
show, every year, in what manner it burns when pure and un-
mixed with air, and how it exploded when air is mixed with it
before it is fired ; but Mr. Cavendish made a variety of such mix-
tures by rule and measure, and describes in the same paper the
manner in which they severally exploded. As soon as I read the
above j)aper, it occurred to me, as an obvious consequence of Mr.
Cavendish's discovery, that, if a sufficiently thin and light bladder
were filled with inflammable air, the bladder, and the air in it,
would necessarily form a mass lighter than the same bulk of
atmospheric air, and which would rise in it ; this I mentioned to
some of my friends, and in my lectures, the next time I had occa«
sion to speak of inflammable air, which was either in the year
1767 or 1768 ; and, as I thought it would be an amusing experi-
ment for the students, I applied to Dr. Munro, dissector, to pre-
pare for me the allantois of a calf. The allantois was prepared,
but not until after some time had passed, and when I was engaged
with another part of my course, and did not choose to interrupt
the business then ^oing on ; so I dropped the experiment for that
year, and in the subsequent years I only mentioned the thing as an
obvious and self-evident thing, from Mr. Cavendish's discovery;
but, finding generally some difficulty in providing an allantois at
the proper time, I never made the experiment which I considered
as merely amusing. About two months ago, I was informed, by a
gentleman in the South of Ireland, that he had tried it, and that
it succeeds perfectly well."

These circumstances are related by some writers to show that
the principle of raising aerostatic machines had been discovered
before the experiment Was made by the brothers Montgolfier.
Tiberius Cavallq introduces this letter of Dr. Cavendish's in an
article wherein he himself claims to be the first person who
succeeded in raising balloons. He says, "The possibility of con-
structing a vessel, which, when filled with inflammable air, would
ascend into the atmosphere, had occurred to me when I first began
to study the subject of air, and other permanently elastic fluids,
which was about eight years ago ; but early in the year 1782, 1
actually attempted to perform this experiment ; and the only suc-
cess I had, was to let soap-balls, filled with inflammable air,
ascend by themselves rapidly into the atmosphere ; which was
perhaps the first sort of inflammable air balloons ever made. I
failed in several other attempts of the like nature ; and, at last,
being tiiftd with the expenses and loss of time, I deferred to some
other time the prosecuting of those experiments, and contented

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CAVALLO ON INFLAMMABLE AIR. 41

myself with giving an account of what I had . done to the Royal
Society, which was read at a public meeting of the society on the
2(Hh of June, 1782."

Although Mr. Cavallo concedes the right of discovering the
aerostatic machine, which first proved successful, to the MontgoU
fiers, it is but due to his ingenuity and ability in philosophical
pursuits to give his ideas in full upon this subject.

The following is a copy of the paper presented to the society
by Mr. Cavallo. *^ It has been commonly believed, that common
air would not pervade the pores of paper, such as is used for
common printing, or writing; and, that paper is permeable to
water, and not air, has been alleged by some persons as an
instance tending to prove that some fluids have the property of
passing throi>gh certain substances, and others have not ; although
the particles of the former are of a grosser, heavier, or more of a
tenacious nature towards each other.

^^Admitting, according to the common notion, this impermea-
bility of paper to common air, and presuming that it was imper-
vious to other permanently elastic fluids also, I determined to
make use of paper for an experiment, which, though repeatedly
attempted with other substances, had never succeeded. The ex-
periment was, to construct a vessel, or a sort of bag, which,
when inflated with inflammable air, might be lighter than an equal
bulk of commt>n air, and consequent^ ascend, like smoke, into
the atmosphere; it being well known that inflammable air is
specifically lighter than common air.

^'The weight of inflammable air, the mean weight of atmo-
spheric air, smd the weight of substances of which the vessels
are to be formed, bein^ ascertained, it is easy then to determine,
by calculation, the dimensions of a vessel which, when filled
with inflammable air, might be lighter than an equal bulk of
atmospheric air. In this manner, and for the above-mentioned
purpose, I tried bladders, the thinnest and largest that could be
procured. Some of them were cleaned with great care, remov-
ing from them all the superfluous membranes and matter that
could be possibly scraped oflf; but, notwithstanding all these pre-
cautions, the lightest and largest of these bladders being gauged,
and the requisite calculations being made, it was found that,
when filled with inflammable air, it would be at least ten grains
heavier than an equal bulk of common air, and consequently it
would descend, instead of ascending, in that element. Some
swimming bladders of fishes were also found too heavy for the
experiment ; nor could I even succeed in making durable light
balls by blowing inflammable air into a thick solution of ^ums,
thick varnishes, and oil paint. In short, soap balls, inflated with
inflammable airi were the only things of diis sort that would

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42 CAYALLO ON INFLAMMABLE AIR.

ascend into the atmosphere ; but as they were very brittle, and
altogetjier untractable, they do not seem applicable to any philoso-
phical purpose."

Thus, it is seen that, in the progress of over 2000 years, this
science was gradually built up. Each succeeding generation
adding to it the ideas and recommendations of its most ingenious
artists. As an obvious truth, it naturally inspired the scientific
of all ages to explore its feasibility to human convenience. As
an acknowledged science, and practicable art, it is yet destined
to open to the civilized world a ^rand and expansive field of
happiness. Those who contributed to its discovery deserve the
attention of the historian ; because their perseverance, and inde-
fatigable efforts, devoted to its development, are calculated to keep
alive the energy of those who shall succeed them in endeavoring
to improve its usefulness.

Although Mr. Gallien, in his book published in 1765, asserts
in theory the very thing that was practically demonstrated by the
Montgolfiers in 1782, and Tiberius Cavallo more than theorized
the subject by inflating soap bubbles, still it required much more
than all these intimations and incomplete experiments to demon*
strate to the world that the atmosphere was really navigable to
human beings. Tiberius Cavallo did in reality approach nearer
to a final discovery than any of his predecessors; but from his
own words he makes it appear that little, beyond the partial suc-
cess of his soap-bubbles, was attained in his investigations.
The necessary stimulus — realization of the theory, such as the
experiment at Annonay-*yet wanting, would have left the subject
to slumber with the mysteries unrevealed, had it depended on his
experiment alone, at least for a time to come.

The Royal Academy had the same inducements, in a merely
philosophical point of view, to institute experiments to the as-
cent of bodies in the air, upon Cavallo's communications and
those of Dr. Black, that they had on the information of the Mont*
golfiers' discovery. In short, the merit of any discovery properly
belongs to the actual inventor, to him who first realizes the idea
by putting it in practical operation, just as the Montgolfiers did
with their balloons.

After the decisive experiment had been made by the aerial
voyage of M. Pilatre de Rozier and the Marquis d'Arlandes, over
the city of Paris, and in sight of all the people of that modern
Athens, it naturally gave an impulse to the Subject that operated
more favorably on its progress and improvement than any mere'
theory or simple experiments could have given it for ages. It
was die experimentum crucis of aeronautic science. The news
of it spread like wildfire through every civilized nation on the
earth. America not behind the rest, and with its Rittenhouse

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LEVIATHAN BALLOON AT LYONS. 48

and Hopkinson distinguished our nation^ even on that subject,
for the genius and boldness of its people.

Paris did not long remain alone the theatre of aeronautic ex-
periments. In the following year, a balloon of most extraordinary
size was constructed in the city of Lyons. It was 130 feet high,
and 105 feet in diameter. It lifted up over eighteen tons when
the air was highly rarefied in it. On the 19th of January, 1784,
an experiment was made with it. After the preliminary arrange-
ments of preparing a fire-place over which to inflate it, and a
frame on which to lay it, the inflation was completed in the short
space of seventeen minutes. Seven aeronauts then took their
station on and around the gallery of the balloon. Everything
being now adjusted so as to keep this huge machine in proper
trim, the rarefaction of the air within it being at such a pitch as
to give it a tremendous ascending power, it was thus suffered to
waft itself and passengers into the serene atmosphere above.
. The effect of the ascension, as given by the accounts at the
time, was astonishing in the extreme. The intense curiosity of
the vast concourse of people present seemed at first completely
paralyzed by the grandeur of its ascent ; but, soon after, they
broke out in the most intense and tumultuous shoutings. In
seventeen minutes, the balloon rose 3500 feet high, which was
ascertained by instruments expressly provided for the occasion.

Unfortunately for this magnificent machine, it was made of
material of too frail a quality for so large a balloon, which caused
it to give way on one side when it was at the greatest height,
making a rent of at least fifty feet. This caused the inclosed air
to cool very suddenly, which brou^t the whole concern down
with considerable rapidity. The passengers, however, all landed
safely, having received not even the slightest injury firom the
accident.

In the month of February of the same year, a balloon was con-
structed at Milan. This was only sixty-eight feet in diameter.
Three Italian gentlemen ascended with it, and made a very inte-
resting voyage. They remained in the atmosphere for a consider-
able length of time, and managed to lower and raise themselves
at pleasure by regulating the fire by which they kept up the rare-
faction of the air in thel)alloon. 'They were eminently success-
ful in the whole adventure, which inspired a degree of confidence
in that quarter, in regard to the management and safety of aerial
traveling, that acquired for the subject a fresh spirit of im-
provement.

Having thus followed out the most important experiments and
adventures made with fire balloons on the Montgolfierian princi-
ple, we will now go back a year or two to investigate the intro-
duction and experiments of the hydrogen balloon.

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44

HYDROGEN BALLOON INTRODUCED.

CHAPTER IV,

Introdiictioii of the hjrdfogen balloon undar tlie fluspiees of members of
the Academy of Arts and Si:ieneefi~Tbe inflation— Tore b-ligbt pfoces-
iion witJi it to the Camp of Mar a-^uccesaful termination.

Aftee the subject had been fairly tested in the presence of all
classes of people, and the news clearly brought before the learned
^stitutions of the world, it nalural[y inspired the members of the
French Academy to take up auew the experiments of Cavallo, and
the suggestions of Dr. Black. The certificate, presented to the
Academy by the States of Vivarais, stated that the MontgolHers'
balloon was filled with a gas half as heavy as common air. Now%
as It was known at that lime that hydrogen gas was not more
than one-eighth or one-tenth as heavy as common air, they sup-
posed that the Mootgoifiers had discovered a new kind of gas.
From the large quantities used in their experiments, and the very
short time it took them to generate it, it was evident that it could
not be hydrogen. This, together with the great difference of spe-
cific gravity of the two gases, brought them to the conclusion to
make an experiment with the hydrogen.

When we consider the many and fruitless attempts that had
been made by a number of ingenious men, in various parts of
ii-urope, to contrive a machine or vessel that would be impervious
*° M^ogen gas, and at the same time light enough to ascend
when filled with it, we can duly appreciate the result of this first
experiment. A subscription to defray the expenses incident to
the necessary arrangements was opened by M. Faujus De Saint
^ond. 1 ersons of all classes and ranks, on being apprised of the
desip, eagetly sought an opportunity to put down their names.
V\'ith an avidity of feeling adequate to the interest already inspired
to promote the object, the money necessary to accomplish a full
and complete trial was immediately subscribed. This prelimi-
nary disposition of the people, in regard to furthering an object
which promised to be of vast importance to the civilized world,
reflects honor on the French nation for their liberality of spirit,
and desire to promote scientific objects.

The Messrs. Roberts (brothers) were appointed to construct the
machine, and M, Charles, professor of experimental philosophy,
was appointed to superintend the whole affair. Although the

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FIRST HYDROGEN BALLOON. 45

reader will learn that, under these preliminary arrangements, they
surmounted every obstacle, and accomplished the object of their
design, still they had nothing more to be governed by, than was
known to Gallien, Dr. Black, Cavallo, and others, who preceded
them. It might be inquired, how could they be more successful
now than then, if they had nothing more obvious to direct them
in the present attempt ? Why, because a new life had been given
to the inventive genius. The experiment of the Montgolfiers had
really proved that aerostatic machines could be made and raised.
This fired the ingenuity of these men. They had not the ques-
tion to settle, when their machine was made, whether it would
rise. It had only to be made and filled with a gas (hydrogen),
which they knew to be lighter, and consequently better adapted
to the object in view, than that of their predecessors. To make
a bag that would retain the gas, was the problem to be solved.
And for the accomplishment of this, as it was done, they deserve
great honor. Of such a nature must be the stimulus that is yet
to give the art a valuable feature ! We know that the air is navi-
gable! We know that it is in the elements of philosophy that
balloons can be made to travel in any direction f And, like the
committee appointed to perfect the firststep, we must apply our-
selves with zeal and energy to promote the second.

They constructed a silken bag from hitestring silk, about thirteen
feet in diameter, and of a globular shape. The next step was to
make this bag or balloon impervious to the gas. To effect this, it
was covered with a varnish composed of gum elastic, dissolved in
spirits of turpentine. The balloon had but one aperture, like the
neck of a bottle, into which was fastened a stopcock, for the con-
venience of introducing and stopping off the gas. Th6 whole
machine, when completed, weighed twenty-five pounds.

On the 23d of August, 1783, the balloon being completed, the
next to be done was to make Arrangements for the inflation, and
the appointment of £^ day on which to make the final experiment.
These were matters not to be regarded slightly at that day.
Members of the most celebrated institution of the age had ven-
tured their talents and ingenuity upon the result. To generate
so large a quantity of hydrogen gas at that period, had many ob-
stacles in its way. And on this account a full description of the
manner in which it was conducted should be here given. The
27th of the month was the day appointed for the grand exhibi-
tion. But, in order to have ample time for alterations, and refix-
ing any part of the apparatus that might not answer the purpose,
they commenced the inflation on the 23d. The balloon was sus-
pended from a rope, which was fastened at both ends, to poles
planted some distance apart for that purpose. The top of the
balloon had a sort of button worked in it, to which was fastened

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46 F*IRST HYDROGEN GAS APPARATUS.

the rope, by which it was hanging freely over the inflating appa-
ratus. This apparatus consisted of a series of trays, somewhat
resembling a case of drawers, each drarwer being lined with sb^et
lead) and all of them communicating to a common main pipe,
from which proceeded a hose, or tube, made of the same material
as that of the balloon. This hose communicated to the stop-
cock of the balloon, which made the arrangement of communica-
tion complete. The materials for generating the hydrogen gas
were then placed in these cases, and the process of inflation
was carried on for several hours, with but very poor success.
More gas was wasted than entered the balloon. After having
thus labored, with little success, until two o'clock in the after-
noon, they concluded to remove this apparatus and substitute
another. Accordingly, they next tried a common cask, which was
set up on one of its ends ; in the upper end were bored two holes,
one of which corresponded to the tube through which the ras
was to be conducted into the balloon, the other hole was intended
for the introduction of the iron filings, and the oil of vitriol. The
process of inflation was next commenced with this new contriv-
ance, which soon promised better success than the former. It
will be observed that they had not, in this apparatus, the con-
densing tub| filled with water for the gas to pass through, as we
hav& in the present mode of inflating balloons. This rendered
the inflation very dangerous to the safety of the balloon, from acid
vapor that might pass into it, every time the cask required re-
plenishing with fresh materials, which it did very frequently. To
obviate this difiiculty in some degree, the stopcock in the neck
of the balloon answered a good purpose, as, on the introduction of
new materials, it could be closed to prevent the acid fumes from
entering the balloon during this part of the process. Although
this new arrangement answered the purpose seemingly well at
first, it was discovered, after being used awhile, to present many
obstacles to a successful result. After the operation had been
carried on for several hours, the materials became so much heated
that a great quantity of hot vapor would pass into the balloon along
with the gas. To prevent the balloon from being injured* by the
heat, they kept a constant stream of water pumping against it.
This also answered to condense the hot vapor into water. To
discharge the water from it, it was frequently necessary to de-
tach the balloon from the inflating apparatus to sufier the water
to escape.

After working in this way until nine o'clock at night, they got
the balloon about one-third filled ; and in this state it was left
until the next morning, the inflation being also discontinued
during the nigbt.

The pext morning, at the break of day, the operators returned

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FIRST HYDROGEN GAS APPARATUS. 47

to resume their labors. On arriving at the place^ they 'were ex-
ceedingly surprised to find the balloon completely distended,
although it had been but partly filled the day before. On ex-
amining the machine, they discovered that the stopcock in the
neck of the balloon had been left open, which suffered the com-
mon air to enter, and with the gas already in it, to make it com-
pletely full. This, however, did not diiscourage the experimenters.
They immediately expelled all the air from the ballqon, and
commenced their operations anew^ with apparently more energy
and hope than the previous day. They labored assiduously until
about six o'clock in the evening, when, to their great satisfaction,
they saw the balloon giving evident signs of buoyancy; and at
seven o'clock they found it to exert considerable efiort against the
rope above it, to which it had been suspended. Everything was
now properly secured against all impending danger, and the
operations discontinued until the next day.

The following day, the 25th, they resumed their labors early
in the morning. They did not, on this morning, as the one pre-
vious, find anything wrong, or calculated to mar their future
progress. A fresh supply of gas was introduced, and, at six
o'clock in the morning, the balloon was found to be capable of
lifting up twenty-one pounds. The generation of gas was again
discontinued, and at nine o'clock in the evening, it was found to
have a lifting power of eighteen pounds, having lost three pounds
of levity dunng the day. This was attribute4 to the needle holes,
which were not properly filled up with varnish, and through
which, it was presumed, the gas had leaked. It was again
secured for the night, and the operators retired from their work.

On the following morning, being the 26th, the balloon was
found to have lost a gradual proportion of gas and levity. The
apparatus Was again replenished with the proper materials, and
a further quantity of gas was worked into the balloon. This was
continued until eight o'cbck in the morning, when it was again
detached from the machinery. Having now a strong ascending
power, it was secured by cords, by which it was suffered to rise
to the height of more than a hundred feet, when it was drawn
dovm again. This, as might naturally be supposed, brought
together a great number of people. From these partial flights of
letting it up, and hauling it down again, the assemblage became
so great, that it was found necessary to secure it to its place,
where it had been iiiflated, and a guard of soldiers placed around
it to prevent the crowd from pressing too closely on it, and
causing it some injury. Such was their curiosity^ that they had
already broken through the prescribed limits, and nothing short
of a strong guard was found capable of insuring its safety.

The spot where the operations had been carried on was near

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48 TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION WITH BALLOON.

the place of Victories, and the place appointed for the ascension
of the balloon was the Camp of Mars. The distance between
these two places is about two miles. In order to avoid, as much
as possible, the difficulty of conveying the balloon from the former
to the latter place, amidst so vast a concourse of people as might
be anticipated would be there, it was concluded to move it the
hext morning before daylight.

Accordingly, on the following morning, it being the 27th, at an
early hour, preparations were made for its removal to the Camp
of Mars. It was secured to a cart, and notwithstanding every-
thing was in readiness to proceed before the break of day, an
immense concourse of people had already assembled to escort
the nocturnal traveler. Torches, flambeaux, musical instruments,
guns, and everything that the lively imagination of the people
could suggest, were brought into requisition, to render the pro-
cession grand and animating.

The Camp of Mars was lined in every direction with anxious
spectators. Every house top, avenue, and window, aloqg the route,
was filled with human beings; and, as the strange and novel
machine passed along, in the midst of a strong military guard of
horse and foot, supporting itself in the air, reflecting the light of
the numerous torches, giving it the appearance, at a distance, of
a bright star, the air fairly rung with the shouts of the assembled
and pleased multitude. Having arrived at its place of destination,
and the proper arrangements being made to secure it from the
pressure of the dense throng that already had assembled, it was
again secured to the inflating apparatus, which had also been
brought hither. A fresh supply of gas was introduced to make
up the loss which the balloon sustained during the night. It
also gave the people an opportunity of seeing how the inflation
was conducted. Thus the day passed on, with constantly increas-
ing accessions to the great multitude already present. At length,
the discharge of artillery, at five o'clock in the afternoon, an-
nounced the signal for the experiment. The balloon was released
from its moorings, and rose before the eyes of some hundred thou-
sands of astonished Spectators, amidst a copious shower of rain.
Its ascent was extremely rapid, and in the short space of two
minutes it attained a height of 3123 feet. This was ascertained
by observations made with instruments expressly provided for that
purpose. Above this elevation, the balloon was lost in a dark
cloud. This was signalized by another discharge of cannon.
Soon after, it re-appeared for a moment, but was finally hidden
behind' the clouds. During the time of its visible flight, the very
air was made to reverberate with shouts and demonstrations of
satisfaction — a heavy shower of rain to the contrary notwithstand-
ing. After it had remained in the atmosphere for three quarters

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DESCENT OF BALLOON. 49

of an hour, it descended in a field near Gonesse, a village about
fifteen miles distant from the Camp of Mars. The balloon was
immediately discovered and secured by some peasants, who were
working in a field near its place of descent.

The manifestations of joy, and the satisfactory exclamations of
the vast multitude of people that had assembled on this occasion,
are most graphically described by some of the journals of that day.
Although the ascent of an aerostatic machine was not of itself any
longer calculated to inspire such a lively interest, this was the test
of a new principle, which, if successful, was calculated to give it
a new impulse, on account of its greater feasibility than the rare-
fied air principle.

The libefality and energy that characterized this experiment,
the obstacles that were surmounted in an unexplored and critical
science, the devotion and interest of the people manifested to-
wards a successful result, reflect honor on its projectors. It has
marked an epoch in the history of the world, that will increase in
interest as long as the arts and sciences shall hold an equal pace
with its progressive movement.

CHAPTER V.

Infktaated oonceptions of aerial voyages.

Now that a new door had been opened, through which the
genius of man could take a view into the future destinies of a
new science, it inspiired a feeling which had a tendency to over-
rate the value of the discovery. An overheated zeal, fostered by
an ambitious desire to explore the grand mysteries of the Creator,
necessarily brought about a reaction that was calculated to do
more harm than good, in improving the new science. The in-
fatuation of men carried their minds beyond the legitimate sphere
of their operations. The exploration of their own world and its
mysteries was no longer sufficient to give interest adequate. to
their expectations and attainments. Greater and more magnifi-
cent projects dazzled their bewildered minds. The grand ulti-
matum of human aspirations had been solved in the problem
g[ aerostation. Man could now build himself a '^ castle in the
air," He was no longer subservient to the laws of gravitation,
which bound him to the land, and the water. He felt that more
than Bishop Wilkins' saying had been realized, when he said,
<'It will be as common for a man hereafter to call for his wings,
4

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50 INFATUATED CONCEPTIONS OF BALLOONING.

when about to make a journey, as it is^ now to call for his boots
and spurs." To make a long journey, or to circumnavigate the
earth, fell into insignificance, compared with the projects smd
ideas that were conceived. The earth appeared now related to
man, as the haycock in the field was to the lark, iwhen he
mounted its top with expanded wings, to launch himself into the
immensity of space. Voyages to the moon and neighboring
planets haunted the imagination of more than weak minds.
The binding cord of gravitation had been severed, and there was
no restraint above. No one could define the limit of operations
to this new and important discovery. The traditions of flying
oracles, which were handed down by profane and sacred history,
were now looked upon as realities which had been discovered
and lost to human ingenuity. All the glories of the past, the
present, and the future, seemed to be resolved in the re-discovery
of this grand art. The fanciful dreams and midnight visions of
the Parisians were not the only disturbed slumbers of that period.
All civilized Europe had its genius startled at the news of the
academical experiment. All eyes were turned to Paris, as the
point of embarkation for other worlds. It stood now as a depot
in the solar system. Even the skeptical in religion began to
think that a more exalted destiny awaited man, than to sink in
the earth and sleep forever in its mouldering ashes^

These overwrought imaginings and premature speculations
subsided as the sober and considerate experiments advanced.
Notwithstanding the public mind resumed a natural equilibrium
in regard to aerial navigation, the scientific and ingenious were
not backward in promoting its utility. The first adventurers
were not disparaged in their pursuits by discovering the immuta-
ble laws that confine all things to their legitimate sphere. Al-
though the idea of immigrating to foreign worlds soon vanished
from the minds of men, there still existed and progressed a per-
severance to render the discovery useful to terrestrial purposes,
that conferred an honor on that age.

This will be shown in the historical details that will be given
of the experiments that followed the discovery of the hydrogen
balloon. Although the experiment which was instituted by the
Academy of Arts and Sciences of Paris, to test the use of hydro-
gen gas instead of the dangerous mode of keeping up a rarefac-
tion of air by the use of fire, proved eminently successful, it was
still contended by the friends of Montgolfiers' plan that th?
heated air principle was the best. And it will be observed that
the advocates of the Montgolfierian plan gave strong reasons to
sustain their position. They succeeded in many of their experi-
ments far beyond what the best contrived rarefied air plans war-
ranted. Aerial voyages of great interest and success were made

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FIRST AERIAL VOYAGE WITH HYDROGEN. 61

-^ith extraordinarily large rarefied air balloons, in various parts of
France.

The same perseverance and intrepidity that prevailed in the
promotion of aerial navigation about the time of the discovery of
air-balloons could not fail, if revived at the present time, to give
it an impetus in the scale of improvement, that would, ere long,
realize all that was, upon its first discovery, anticipated by its
sober-minded advocates. But, like every other subject, it must
have its time. Time alone will overcome the doubts and opposi-
tion of those who denounce it through the want of a proper un-
derstanding of its real merits.

CHAPTER VI.

First aerial voyage with a hydrogen balloon — Experiments to regulate its
direction, and rising and falling — Blanchard's voyage across the sea-
Compound aerostat and fatal result — Testa's remarkable voyage.

The successful experiment of the first hydrogen balloon en-
couraged anew the desire for aerial voyages. M. Charles and
the two Messrs. Roberts resolved to undertake an aerial excur-
sion with a balloon filled with hydrogen gas. One was accord-
ingly prepared by the Messrs. Roberts, of varnished silk. It was
of a spherical form, twenty-seven feet in diameter, and had a car
suspended from it for the accommodation of. the adventurers.
To prevent any danger from the expansion of the gas under a
diminished pressure of the atmosphere in the upper regions, the
balloon was furnished with a valve, formed in such a manner as
to permit the free discharge of gas when occasion^ required.
Thus, on the 17th of December, 1783, M. Charles, and one of
the Roberts, having previously ascertained the direction of the
wind by launching a small balloon, ascended from Paris to the
height of 6000 feet ; and, after a voyage of an hour and three-
quarters, descended at a distance of twenty-seven miles from the
place of their departure. After their descent, M. Roberts got
out of the car, which lightened the vessel about 130 pounds,
which enabled M. Charles to reascend ; and in twenty minutes
he attained an elevation of 9000 feet above the surface of the
earth. At this immense height, he says, all terrestrial objects
totally disappeared from his view. The thermometer stood at
47 degrees when he left the earth, but in the space of ten minutes
it fell to 21 degrees. The effects which so rapid a change of

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62 GUIDING BALLOONS.

situation produced upon him were violent in the extreme ; be
was benumbed with cold, and felt a severe pain in his right ear
and jaw. The balloon passed through different currents of air,
and in the higher regions the expansion of the gas was so pow-
erful, that M. Charles was obliged to allow part of it to escape
in order to prevent the bursting of the balloon* After having
risen to the* height of 10,500 feet, he came down about a league
from the place where he left his companion out of the car. The
balloon, including the two aeronauts, thermometer, barometer,
and ballast, weighed 640 pounds, and the hydrogen gas was
found, on calculation, to be about five and one-quarter times
lighter than common air.*

Jean Pierre Blanchard, an ingenious Frenchman, who had
spent a great deal of time in trying to perfect a mechanical con*
trivance by which he might be enabled to fly, was the next to
construct a balloon upon the hydrogen gas plan. This was also
twenty-seven feet in diameter. He ascended from Paris on the
2d of March, 1784, accompanied by a Benedictine friar. After
rising fifteen feet, the balloon was precipitated to the ground with
a violent shock, upon which, the friar, apprehensive of his safety,
was induced to abandon his seat. M. Blanchard then ascended
alone, and attained a height of 9600 feet. He met with various
currents of air. He suffered from extreme cold, and became op-
pressed with drowsiness, and finally descended, after a voyage of
an hour and a quarter. In order to direct his course, he used,
on this occasion, an apparatus consisting of a rudder and two
wings, which were attached to his car, but found that it exerted
little or no influence over the balloon, either in this or in subse-
quent voyages.

In April, 1784, MM. Morveau and Bertrand adopted a similar
expedient, which they found to operate very sensibly on the di-
rection of their balloon. They rose about 13,000 feet high, where
they enjoyed one of the most sublime and magnificent prospects
that the imagination could conceive. The mass of clouds that
floated in silent disorder through the regions below them, pre-
sented the appearance of a serene and boundless ocean, while a
beautiful parhelion of concentric circles, that began to form as
the sun went down, heightened the grandeur of the scene. In
the month of June following, M. de Morveau undertook another
voyage, which, as well as the former, commenced at Dijon. His
balloon was twenty-five feet in diameter, and made of varnished
taffeta.

A similar device for regulating the coarse of the balloon was
resorted to by the Messrs. Roberts, who had before ascended to-
gether. Their former balloon was converted into an oblong
spheroid, forty-six feet by twenty-seven, the longer axis being

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GUIDING BALLOONS. 58

parallel to the horizon, and the car, which was seventeen feet
long, had five wings or oars disposed around it, for the purpose
of steering. The Messrs. Roberts, and M. Collin Hullin, upon
entering the car of this machine, threw out twenty-four pounds of
ballast, which produced a gentle ascent. The current of air
between the altitudes of 600 and 4200 feet was uniform. On
arriving at the height of 14,000 feet, they encountered some
stormy clouds, which they endeavored to avoid, by alternately
ascending and descending. In three hours from their ascent,
they heard two peals of thunder, when the thermometer fell from
seventy-seven to fifty-nine degrees. Finding themselves, soon
afterwards, becalmed, they had recourse to their oars, by the
exertion of which, their balloon, in thirty-five minutes, described
an elliptical segment, whose shortest diameter was 6000 feet.
After traveling 150 miles, in the- space of six hours and a half,
they descended in safety.

The Messrs, Roberts, accompanied by the Duke of Orleans,
and a fourth person, ascended in July, 1784, in a balloon differ-
ent in its structure from any that had hitherto been tried. On all
former occasions, aeronauts had found the method of effecting a
descent by a discharge of gas, attended with inconvenience, and
to obviate this difficulty, the Messrs. Roberts had suspended a
small balloon within the large one. This interior balloon was to
be filled with common air, by means of bellows attached to it by
tubes, whenever they wished to descend, it being justly supposed,
that the addition of common air would increase the weight, as its
diminution would, on the other hand, lighten the balloon. This
expedient, however, though promising in theory, did not answer
in practice. In the space of three minutes, they rose to a height
where not an object was to be seen but the clouds that surrounded
them. The balloon, no longer obeyiqg their management, was
tossed, with the most violent agitation, as if from one whirlwind
to another. The cords, by which the interior balloon was sus-
pended, giving way, it fell down in such a position as completely
to close up the aperture which communicated between the large
balloon and the car. A sudden gust of wind next drove them
beyond the region of the storm ; but the expansion of the hydrogen
within the vessel increasing, they dreaded the bursting of the
balloon, and, being unable to remove the small one, which now
obstructed the aperture,- they continued to ascend. It finally
gave way in two places, and, notwithstanding the imminent dan-
ger to which they were exposed, from the rapidity of its descent
caused by this accident, they all landed without being hurt.

Though several experiments on the ascensive power of balloons
had been made in England, during the course of the year after
their discovery, the first aerial voyage, which was undertaken by

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FIRST AERIAL VOYAGE ACROSS THE SEA.

Vincent Lunardi^ afs ItaliBtit did not take place lill Septerober»

1784* His balloon was thirly-three feet in diameter^ and shaped
like a pear. It was made of oiled silk, with alternate stripes of
blue and red, having the car suspended from a hoop below ihe

balloon J by forty- five cords.

FIRST AERIAL VOYAGE ACROSS THE SEA,

The most remarkable aerial voyage that was made soon after
llie discovery of aerostatio machinery, was accomplished by M.
Blanch a rd, in company with Dr. Jeffries, an American physician,
who was at the time residing in England, On the 7th of January,
17S5» in a clear frosty day, Ihe balloon was launched from the
cliff of Dover, and, after a somewhat perilous adventure, they
crossed the Channel in something less than three hours- The
balloon, af^er its release, rose slowly and majeslically in the air;
they passed over several ships^ and enjoyed a grand prospect of
Ihe numerous objects below^ them* They soon, however, found
themselves beginning to descend, which put them to the necessity
of throwing aver half their balJast, when they were about one-
third way across the Channel. When they got about half way
across, they found themselves descending again » upon which,
they threw over the balance of their sand ; also some hooks they
had with them. All this failed to overcome the gravitating power
of the balloon. They next commenced throwing overboard
their apparatus — cords — grapples, and bottles* An empty bottle
seemed to emit smoke as it descended, and, when it struck the
water, the shock of the concussion was sensibly felt by the
aeronauts, Stiil, their machine continued to descend, when they
next betook themselves to throwing off their clothing; but, having
now nearly reached the French coast, the balloon began to ascend
again, and rose to a considerable height, without compelling them
to dispense with much of their apparel* They passed over the
highlands between Cape Blanc and Calais, and landed near the
edge of the forest of Guiennes, not far beyond Calais, The ma-
gistrates of the town treated the aerial travelers with the utmost
kindness and hospitality. The King of France made M. Blanch*
ard a present of 12,000 livres, as a token of appreciation of the
aeronaut's perseverance and skill, in the newly-discovered art.

Several hundred ascensions had now already been made, and
not a single fatal accident had yet taken place j but we are now
compelled to record one which proved most disastrons to its pro-
jectors, and when we fairly estimate its design, it seems as though
it could hardly have terminated otherwise. Pilatre de Bonier and

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TESTU'S REMARKABLE VOYAGE. 55

M. Romain were anxious to return the compliment of M. Blanch-
ard and Dr. JeflTries, by crossing over the Channel from France
to England. For the purpose of avoiding the difficulty which at-
tended Blanchard's balloon in keeping her up, they constructed
a compound balloon. This was arranged by suspending a fire
balloon underneath the hydrogen balloon. The fire balloon was
intended to regulate the rising and falling of the whole machine.
The hydrogen balloon was of a globular shape, forty feet in
diameter; the other was about ten feet in diameter. After various
delays, occasioned by adverse winds, he, in company with -M.
Remain, set out from Boulogne, on the 15th of June, 1785.
Scarcely a quarter of an hour had elapsed, when, at the height
of about 3000 feet, the whole apparatus was discovered to be on
fire. Its scattered fragmenb, with the unfortunate bodies of the
aeronauts, fell to the ground near the sea shore, about four miles
from Boulogne. They were instantly killed by the tremendous
crash, and their bodies were of course awfully mangled.

TESTU'S REMARKABLE VOYAGE.

" On the 18th of June, 1785, M. Testu ascended from Paris.
His balloon was twenty-nine feet in diameter, constructed by
himself, of glazed tiffany, furnished with auxiliary wings, and

, filled, as had now become the fashion, with hydrogen gas. It
had been much injured by wind and rain during the night before
its ascension; but, having undergone a slight repair, it was finally
launched, with its conductor, at fdur o'clock in the afternoon.
The barometer then stood 29.68 inches, and the thermometer as
high as eighty-four degrees, though the day was cloudy and threat-
ened rain. The balloon had at first been filled only five-sixths ; but
it gradually swelled as it became drier and warmer, and acquired
its utmost distension at the height of 2800 feet. But to avoid
the waste of gas or the rupture of the balloon, the navigator cal-

. culated to descend by the reaction of his wings. Though this
force had little efficacy, yet at half-past five o'clock he softly
alighted in a corn-field in the plain of Montmorency. Without
leaving the car, he began to collect a few stones for ballast, when
he was surrounded by the proprietor of the corn and a troop of
peasants, who insisted on being indemnified for the damage occa-
sioned by his idle and curious visitors. Anxious now to disengage
himself, he persuaded them that, bis wings being broken, he was
wholly at their mercy. They seized the stay of the balloon, which
floated at some height, and dragged their prisoner through the air
in a sort of triumph towards the village. But M. Testu, finding
that the loss of his wings, his cloak, and some other articles^ had

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66 TESTU'S VOYAGE.

considerably lightened the machine, suddenly cut the cord, and
took an abrupt leave of the clamorous and mortified peasants.
He rose to the region of the clouds, where he observed small
frozeti particles floating in the atmosphere. He heard thunder
rolling beneath bis feet, and as the coolness of the evening ad-
vanced, the buoyant power of his vessel diminished, and at three
quarters after six o'clock, he approached the ground with his car
near the Abbey of Royaumont. There he threw out some ballast,
and in the space of twelve minutes rose to a height of 2400 feet,
where the thermometer stood only at sixty-six degrees. He now-
heard the blast of a horn, and descried some huntsmen below in
full chase. Curious to witness the sport, he pulled the valve and
descended at eight o'clock, between Etouen and Varville, when,
rejecting his oars, he set himself to gather some ballast. While
he was thus occupied, the hunters galloped up to him. He then
mounted a third time, and passed through a dense body of clouds,
in which thunder followed lightning in quick succession.

' With fresh alacrity and force renewed.
Springs upward, like a pyramid of fire,
Into the wild expanse, and through the shdck .
Of fightine elements, on all sides round
Environea wins his way.'

" The thermometer fell to twenty-one, but afterwards regained its
former point of sixty-six degrees, when the balloon had reached an
altitude of 3000 feet. In this region, the voyager sailed till half-past
nine o'clock, at which time he observed from his ^ watch-tower in
the sky' the final setting of the sun. He was now quickly in-
volved in darkness, and enveloped in the thickest mass of thunder
clouds. The lightnings flashed on all sides, and the loud claps
were incessant. The thermometer, seen by the help of a phos-
phoric light with which he had provided himself, stood at twenty-
one degrees, and snow and sleet fell copiously around him. In this
most tremendous situation, the intrepid adventurer remained the
space of three hours, the time during which the storm lasted.
The balloon was afifected by a sort of undulating motion upwards
and downwards, owing, he thought, to the electrical action of the
clouds.* The lightning appeared excessively vivid ; but the
thunder was sharp and loud, preceded by a sort of crackling
noise. A calm at last succeeding, he had the pleasure to see the
stars, and embraced this opportunily to take some necessary re-
freshments. At half past two o'clock, the day broke in ; but his
ballast being nearly gone, he finally descend|^ a quarter before
four o'clock, near the village of Campremi, about sixty-three miles
from Paris."

* It is caused by the uprising current of air which always prevails in
thunder storms. This would drive his balloon up to the top of the clouds,
from whence it would fall into the vortex below again.

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INVENTION OF THE PARACHUTE. 6T

CHAPTER VII.

Invention of the parachute— Ezperimentg with it

As the parachute properly belongs to the subject of aeronautics,
we must not defer giving its earliest introduction and use in the
practice of aerial navigation. As the chief danger in the early ^
practice of balloon voyages consisted in accidental and rapid de-
scents, the parachute was introduced to countervail this danger,
and which would also enable the aerial voyager, in case of alarm,
to desert his balloon in mid-air, and drop, without sustaining
injury, to the ground. The French language, though not very
copious, has yet supplied this convenient term, signifying a guard
for fallings as it has likewise furnished the wonls of analogous
comfosiiion^ parapluiey paravent ; and parasol^ to denote a sun-
screen. The parachute very much resembles the ordinary um-
brella in shape, but is much larger. The umbrella itself,
requiring such strength to bear it up against a moderate wind,
might naturally hare suggested the application of the same prin-
ciple to break the fall of a body coming from a great height. To
effect this, nothing was required but to present a, surface having
dimensions sufficient to experience from the air a resistance equal
to the weight of descent, in moving through the fluid with a velo-
city not exceeding that of the shock which a person can sustain
without danger of injury. Accordingly, in the east, where the
umbrella, or rather the parasol, has been from the remotest ages
in familiar use, this implement appears to be occasionally em-
ployed by vaulters, for enabling them to jump safely from great
heights. Father Loubere, in his curious account of Siam, relates
that a person, famous in that remote country for his dexterity,
was accustomed to divert exceedingly the king and the royal
court by the prodigious leaps Which he took, having two um-
brellas with long slender handles fastened to his girdle. He
generally alighted on the ground, but was sometimes carried by
the force of the wind against trees and houses, and not unfre-
quently into the river. Not a great many years ago, the umbrella
was, at least on one occasion, employed in Europe with similar
views, as well as in our own country. In the campaign of 1793,
a French general, named Bournonville, having been sent by the
National Convention, with four more commissioners, to treat with

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58 PARACHUTE EXPERIMENTS.

the Prince of Saxe-Coburg, was, contrary to the faith or courtesy
heretofore preserved in the fiercest wars that have raged in civil-
ized nations, detained a prisoner with his companions, and sent
to the fortress of Olmutz, where be suffered a rigorous confine-
ment. In this cruel situation, he made a desperate attempt to
regain his liberty. Having provided himself with an umbrella,
he jumped from a window forty feet high ; but, being a very heavy
man, this screen proved insufficient to let him down safely. He
struck against an opposite wall, fell into the ditch, and broke his
leg, and was carried in this condition back again to his dungeon.
Blanehard was the first person who ever constructed a para-
chute for the purpose of using it with a balloon, in cases of
accident while aloft. During an excursion which he took from
' Lisle, about the end of August, 1785, during which, he traversed
without halting, a distance not less than 300 miles, he let down
a parachute with a basket fastened to it containing a dog, from a
great height, which fell gently through the air, and let the animal
down to the ground unhurt. Since that period, the practice and
management of the parachute have been carried much farther by
other aeronauts, and particularly by M. Garnerin, who has dared
repeatedly to descend from the region of the clouds with that very
slender machine. This ingenious and spirited Frenchman visited
London during the short peace of 1802, and made two fine as-
cents with his balloon, in the second of which he let himself fall
from an amazing elevation with a parachute. This consisted of
thirty-two gores of white canvass formed into a hemispherical
shape of twenty-three feet in diameter, at the top of which was a
round piece of wood ten inches in diameter, and having a hole in
its centre, admitting short pieces of tape to fasten it to the several
gores of the canvass. About four feet and a half below the top,
a wooden hoop of eight feet diameter was attached by a string
from each seam ; so that, when the balloon rose, the parachute
hung like a curtain from this hoop. Below it was suspended a
cylindrical basket covered with canvass, about four feet high, and
two and a quarter wide. In this basket the aeronaut, dressed in
a close jacket and a pair of trowsers, placed himself, and rose
majestically from an inclosure near North Audley Street, at six
o'clock in the evening of the 2d of September. After hovering
seven or eight minutes in the upper region of the atmosphere, he
meditated a descent in his parachute. Well might he be sup-
posed to linger there in dread suspense, and to
" look awhile

Pondering his voyage ;
He had to crosB *

for no narrow frith
» * * »

He views the breadth, apd, without longer pause,
Downrieht into the world's first region throws
His flight precipitant, and winds with eaae,
Through the pure marble air, his oblique way.''

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PARACHUTE EXPERIMENTS. 69

He cat the cord by which his parachute was attached to the
net of the balloon ; it instantly expanded, and for some seconds
it descended with an accelerating velocity, till it became tossed
extremely, and took such wide oscillations, that the basket or car
was at times thrown almost level or horizontal with the parachute.
Borne along at the same time by the influence of the wind, the
parachute passed overMarylebpne and Somerstown, and almost
grazed the houses of St. Pancras. At last it fortunately struck
the ground in a neighboring field ; but the shock was so violent
as to throw poor Garnerin on his face, by which accident he re-
ceived some cuts, and bled considerably. He seemed to be
much agitated, and trembled exceedingly at the moment he was
released from the car. One of the stays of the parachute had
ehanced to giveaway, which untoward circumstance deranged
the apparatus, disturbed its proper balance, and threatened the
adventurer, during the whole of his descent, with immediate
destruction. At me Ddoment of separating the parachute, the
balloon took a rapid ascending motion, and was found, next day,
twelve miles distant from the place of departure.

From the principles before explained, we mayeafsily determine
the descent of a parachute, when, with its attached load, it is
abandoned in the air. It must, from the continued action of gravity,
proceed at first with an accelerated motion, till its increasing
velocity comes to oppose a resistance equal to the force of attrac-
tion, or to the combined weight of the whole apparatus. After
this counterpoise has taken place, there exists no longer any cause
of acceleration ; the parachute should descend uniformly with its
acquired rapidity. This perfect equilibrium will not, however,
be attained at once. The accumulation of swiftness, produced
by the increasing operation of gravity, is not immediately re-
strained by the corresponding increased resistance of the atmo-
sphere. The motion of a parachute must hence, for some short
time, be subject to a sort of interior oscillation, alternately accele-
rating and retarding. It first shoots beyond the terminal velocity,
and then, suffering greater resistance, it relaxes, and contracts
within the just limits. This unequal and undulating progress
which a parachute exhibits subsequently to the commencement
of its fall, is calculated to excite disproportionate alarms of in-
security and danger. The terminal velocity of a parachute, or
the uniform motion to which its velocity tends, would, according
to theory, be equal, if its surface were flat, to the velocity that a
heavy body must acquire in falling through the altitude of a
column of air incumbent on that surface, and having, under the
usual circumstances, the same weight as the whole apparatus.
But we have already seen that a cylinder of air, one fool
in dialfeeter and height, wei^s only, in ordinary cases, the

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60 PARACHUTE EXPERIMENTS.

seventeenth part of a pound avoirdupois. Wherefore, if the
square of the diameter of a parachute be divided by seventeen,
the quotient will give the number of pounds equivalent to the
weight of an atmospheric column of one foot; and the weight of
the apparatus, being divided again by this quotient, the result
will express the entire altitute of an equiponderant column. Of
the altitude, the square root multiplied by eight will denote the
filial velocity, or that with which the parachute must strike the
ground. But the actual resistance of the air is rather greater
than what theory would give ; and it is besides augmented by
the concavity of the opposing surface, which occasions an accu-
mulation of the fluid.

A parachute of a hemispherical form, twenty*five feet in diame-
ter, is all sufficient to let down an ordinary sized man from any
height in safety. But it will be shown, in the course of this work,
that the balloon itself will form a parachute, in case of bursting
while aloft. This happened to the author of this work during an
ascension he made from Easton, Pennsylvania; and afterwards
in an excursion from the city of Philadelphia, the minute details
of which will be given in another part of this work. Although
the arrangements and descent by parachute are as easy and
simple as are the constructing of and ascending with a balloon,
still there are few who have ever ventured to try it. This may be
ascribed mainly to two causes: First, a want of knowledge of
the scientific principles by which it is governed ; and secondly,
because there appears to be no great utility concerned in its prac-
tice; but merely the novelty of seeing a person, as it were, jump
from the clouds to the earth without being injured.

CHAPTER VIII.

Aerostatic institute — ^The French applying the art to the warlike aggrand-
izement of their nation — Practicing school at Mendon — New method of
generating hydrogen gas — ^Balloons for the French army — Battle of
Fleurus gained by aid of hAlloon reconnaissance — Balloons for surveying,
and electrical experiments.

In the early part of the French revolutionary war, when in-
genuity and science were so eagerly called into active service,
the savans of the French Academy recommended the use of bal«
loons, as a fertile means of reconnaissance. Under these auspices,
an aeronautic school was established at Mendon,. near Paris. It

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AEROSTATIC INSTITUTE. 61

xieas got up with the utmost secrecy, so that the powers opposed
to the French could not avail themselves of its advantages, until
the first projectors had already used it in such an effective man-
ner as to greatly paralyze the allied powers. In order to have it
at once facile and useful, it was necessary to have it reduced to
systematic practice. The management of the institution was
committed to the most eminent philosophers of Paris. Guyton
Morveau, the celebrated French chemist, and M. Contel, super-
intended its operations. Fifty young military students were ad-
mitted to this school for training. A balloon of thirty-two feet
in diameter was constructed, of the most durable materials, as a
practicing machine for these pupils. Although the original plan
of generating hydrogen gas was by decomposing water with the
aid of oil of vitriol, and iron filings and borings, Morveau intro-
duced another method in this case. For this, purpose, six iron
cylinders had been fixed by masonry in a simple kind of furnace,
each of their ends projecting, and covered with an iron lid. Two
sets of metal tubes were also inserted into these lids, one for con-
veying in the water, and the other for carrying off the gas which
was formed from the water. The cylinders being charged with
iron turnings, and brought to a red heat, the humidity of the
water was instantly converted into steam, whose expanded parti-
cles were soon decomposed, by the Oxygen uniting with the red-
hot iron, forming an oxide of iron« while the hydrogen was thus
freed, and forced out by its own pressure, from the other tube, and
from thence through a washer of lime water, to deposit its car?-
bonic acid gas, that might adhere to it, when it was perfectly pure
and ready for the balloon. By this method, they procured, at a
very moderate expense, a quantity of gas sufficient to inflate a
balloon thirty-two feet in diameter, which holds 17,000 icubic feet,
in the space of four hours. The practicing balloon was kept con-
stantly full, so as to be at all times ready for exercise, and when
not in use, it was fastened to the terrace of the lodge, in the open
air. Whenever the weather was fair, the colonel of the corps and
a pupil seated themselves in the oar, when the machine was suf-
fered to rise five or six hundred feet, arranged by cord and wind-
lass. This primary movement became an object of great interest,
from the advantages it seemed to possess. Paris, at this time
being the great military focus of the world, could by these means
view with Argus eyes the movements around the ereat metropo-
lis. Telegraphic communication was greatly facilitated to the
governmental centre by the aeronautic observers. A balloon was
also constructed for this school, which, when filled with hydrogen,
required the strength bf twenty men to keep it to the earth. It
could, af\er the lapse of two months, without, in the mean time^
replenishing it with gas, k-aise into the air two men, with neces-

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62 FRENCH WAR BALLOONS.

sary ballast and all the instruments of observation. The eminent
artist, M. Contel, constructed balloons specially appropriated to
the different divisions of the French army. The Entreprenant for
the army of the north,. th^ Celeste for that of the Sambre and
Meuse, the Hercule for the army of the Rhine and Moselle, and
the Intrepide for the memorable army of Egypt.

In June, 1794, M. Contel ascended in the war balloon Entrt'
prenantf to reconnoiter the hostile army, just before the battle of
Fleurus, accompanied by an adjutant and general. They rose to a
height of several thousand feet, with their windlass machinery so
arranged that they could make it stationary at any given altitude.
They mounted twice in the course of that day, and remained up
each time about four hours. During the second aerial recannats^
sancBy they were discovered by the enemy, causing consternation
and surprise within their lines. A brisk cannonade upon the
aerial man-of-war ship, however, soon followed ; but the observers,
not being very high at the time, soon elevated themselves to a
point at which they finished their observations, in defiance of the
enemy's cannon. Upon this they descended sdfely, and by the
signals communicated to General Jourdan, he was enabled to
gain a speedy and decisive victory over the Austrian forces on the
plains of Fleurus.

The French government also introduced the art of aeronautics
to the utility of surveying and locating geographical lines. M.
Lomet was appointed to superintend these operations. He found
considerable difficulty in his observations from the irregular motion
of the balloon, over which he had no controlling power. He,
however, concluded that the practice of aerial topographing was
of great use in facilitating geographical surveys.

The Abbe Bertholon also used balloons in his electrical experi-
ments. They were sent up attached to long slender wires,
which were fastened to the earth by the intervention of glass
rods, or some other non-conducting substance. The balloons had
fine projecting pointed wires proceeding from them ; these wires
connected with the main conducting wire which went down to
the earth, where it was connected with a prime receiver. By this
method, he was enabled to collect the electric fluid in abundance.
I would, however, caution experimenters who may become en-
gaged in this way. Trying this method with merely a hempen
line for the main cord, which was wetted with a metallized solu-
tion as the balloon ran up with it, I found the sparks so rapid
and powerful, given out from a tin ball six inches in diameter,
which was insulated below, as to make it extremely painful to
draw them off by the bare hand, and they became so extremely
i^pid that I was induced to desist, for fear of serious consequences.
This experiment I made immediately preceding a thunder-storm,

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GAY LUSSAC'S ASCENT. 68

and the balloon was not more than four hundred feet high. Any
danger liable to arise from such experiments might, however, be
avoided, by having the fixtures and instruments properly arranged-
for the purpose.

CHAPTER IX.

Philosophical aerial voyage of Gay Lussac and Biot-^Their experiments—
Second ascent of Lussac — ^His experiments.

** After the capitulation at Cairo, the balloon which had been
sent to Egypt was returned to Paris, after the French army
had returned from the African deserts. Two young and ardent
French philosophers, MM. Biot and Gay Lussac, proposed to
undertake an aerial excursion, in order to examine the magnetic
force at great elevations, and to explore the constitution of the
higher atmosphere and its electrical properties. For such a
philosophical enterprise they were eminently qualified, having
been educated together at the Polytechnic School of Paris, and
both of them deeply versed in mathematics ; the former indulging
in a wide range of study, and the latter concentrating his efforts
more on chemistry, and its application to the arts. Their offer
to government was seconded by Berthollet and Laplace, and the
celebrated chemist Chaptal, then minister of the interior, gave it
his patronage and warm support. The war balloon which had
once been in Egypt was now given to the custody of Biot and
Gay Lussac ; and the same artist who constructed it was, at the
public expense, ordered to refit and prepare it under their direc-
tion. Besides the usual provision of barometers, theriAometers,
hygrometers, and electrometers, they had two compasses, and a
dipping needle, with another fine needle, carefully magnetized,
and suspended by a very delicate silk thread, for ascertaining by
its vibrations the force of magnetic attraction. To examine the
electricity of the different strata of the atmosphere, they carried
several metallic wires, from sixty to three hundred feet in length,
and a small electrophorus feebly charged. For galvanic experi-
ments, they had procured, a few discs of zinc and copper, with
som« irogs, to which they added some insects and birds. It was
also intended to bring down a portion of air from the higher re-
gions, to be subjected to a chemical analysis ; and for this pur-
pose a flask, carefully exhausted, and fitted with a stopcock, had
been prepared for them.

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64 LUSSAC»S EXPERIMENTS.

The balloon was placed in the garden of the Conservatoire des
Arts, or Repository of Models, formerly the Convent of St. Mar-
tin ; and no pains were spared by Contel in providing whatever
might contribute to the greater safety and convenience of the
experimental voyagers. Everything being now ready for their
ascent, these adventurous philosophers, in the presence of a few
friends, embarked in the car at ten o'clock on the morning of the
23d of August, 1804. The barometer was then at 30.13 inches,
the thermometer at 61° on Fahrenheit's scale, and Saussure's hy-
grometer pointed at 80.8°, or very nearly the limit of absolute
humidity. They rose with a slow and imposing motion. Their
feelings were at first absorbed in the novelty and magnificence of
.the spectacle which opened before them; and their ears were
saluted with the buzz of distant gratulations, sent up from the
admiring spectators. In a few minutes, they entered the regioa
of the clouds, which seemed like a thin fog, and gave them a
slight sensation of humidity. The balloon had now become quite
inflated, and they were obliged to let part of the gas escape by-
opening the upper valve ; at the same time they threw out some
ballast, to gain a greater elevation. They now shot up through
the range of clouds, and reached an altitude of about 6500 English
feet., These clouds, viewed from above, had the ordinary whitish
appearance ; they all occupied the same height, only their upper
surface seemed marked with gentle swells and undulations,
exactly resembling the aspect of a wide plain covered with snow.

MM, Biot and Gay Lussac now began their experimental ope-
rations. The magnetic needle was attracted, as usual, by iron ;
but they found it impossible at this time to determine with accu-
racy its rate of oscillation, ovsring to a slow rotary motion with
which the balloon was affected. In the meanwhile, therefore,
they made other observations. A voltaic pile, consisting of twenty
pairs of plates, exhibited all its ordinary effects : gave the pun-
cent taste, excited the nervous commotion, and occasioned the
decomposition of water. By rejecting some more ballast, they
had attained the altitude of 8940 feet, but afterwards settled to
that of 8600 feet. At this great elevation, the animals which
they carried with them appeared to suffer from the rarity of the
air. They let off a violet bee, which flew away swiftly, making
a humming noise. The thermometer had fallen to 66° Fahren-
heit, yet they felt no cold ; they were, on the contrary, scorched
by the sun's rays,* and were obliged to lay aside their gloves.
Both of them had their pulses much accelerated ; that of Biot,
which generally beat seventy-six times in a minute, was raised to

* I have always found the sun oppressive when sailing over dense strata
of clouds, which is caused by reflection. This was the case in. this
instance.

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LUSSAC'S EXPERIMENTS. 65

one hundred and eleven ; while the pulse of his friend. Gay Itus-
sac, a man of a less robust frame, was heightened from sixty to
eighty beats in the minute. Notwithstanding their quickened
pulsation, however, they experienced no sort of uneasiness, jior
any difficulty in breathing.

What perplexed them most was the difficulty of observing
the oscillations of a delicately suspended magnetic needle. But
they soon remarked, on looking attentively down upon the surface
of the conglomerated clouds, that the balloon slowly revolved,
first in one direction, and then returned the contrary way. Be-
tween the opposite motions, there intervened short pauses of rest,
which it was necessary for them to seize. Watching, therefore,
the moments of quiescence, they set the needle to vibrate, but
were unable to count more than five, or, very rarely, ten oscilla-
tions. A number of trials, made between the altitudes of 9500
and 13,000 feet, gave 7'' for the mean length of an oscillation,
while, at the surface of the earth, it required Tj^' to perform
each oscillatbn. A difierence so very minute as the hundred
and fortieth part could only be imputed' to the imperfection of the
experiment; and it was hence fairly concluded, that the force of
magnetic attraction had, in no degree, diminished at the greatest
elevation which they could reach. The direction of this force,
too, seemed, from the concurring circumstances, to have con-
tinued the same; though they could not depend on observations
made in their vacillating car with so delicate an instrument as
the dipping needle.

At the altitude of 11,000 feet, they liberated a green linnet,
which flew away directly; but, soon feeling itself abandoned in
the midst of an unknown ocean, it returned and settled on the
stays of the balloon. Then, mustering fresh courage, it took a
second ffight, and dashed downwards to the earth, describing a
tortuous yet almost perpendicular track. A pigeon, which they
let off under similar circumstances, afforded a more curious spec-
tacle. Placed on the edge of the car, it rested awhile, measuring,
as it were, the breadth of that unexplored sea which it designed
to traverse ; now launching into the abyss, it fluttered irregularly,
and seemed, at first, to try its wings on the thin element, till,
after a few strokes, it gained more confidence, and, whiriing in
large circles or spirals, like the birds of prey, it precipitated itself
towards the mass of extended clouds, where it was lost from
sight.

It was difficult, in those lofty and rather humid regions, to make
electrical observations; and the attention of the scientific navi-
gators was, besides, occupied chiefly by their magnetical experi-
ments. However, they let down from the car an insulated me-
tallic wire of about 250 feet in length, and ascertained, by means
6

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66 LUSSAC'S EXPERIMENTS.

of ftie electrophorus, that the upper end indicated resinons or
negative electricity. This experiment was several times repeated ;
and it seemed to corroborate fully the previous observations of
Saussure and Volta, relative to the increase of electricity met
with in ascending the atmosphere.

The diminution of temperature in the higher regions was found
less than what it generally is at the same altitude on mountains.*
The hygrometer, or rather hygroscope, of Saussure, advanced
regularly towards dryness, in proportion to the altitude which
they attained. At the elevation of 13,000 feet, it had changed
from 80^.8 to 30^. But still the conclusion, that the air of
the higher strata is drier than that of the lower, we are inclined
to consider as fallacious. In fact, the indications of the hygro-
scope depend on the relative attraction for humidity possessed
by the substance employed, and the medium in which it is im-
mersed. But air has its disposition to retain moisture always
augmented by rarefaction, and, consequently, such alteration
alone must materially affect the hygroscope. The only accurate
instrument for ascertaining the condition of air with respect to
dryness is founded on a property of evaporation. But we shall
afterwards have occasion to refer to this.

The ballast now being almost quite expended, it was resolved
to descend. The aeronauts, therefore, pulled the upper valve,
and allowed p&rt of the hydrogen gas to escape. They dropped
gradually, and when they came to the height of 4000 feet, they
met the stratum of clouds, extending horizontally, but with a
surface' heaved in gentle swells. When they reached the ground,
no people were near them to stop the balloon, which dragged
them^ in the car to seme distance along the fields. From this
awkward and even dangerous situation, they could not extricate
themselves without discharging a great quantity of gas, and,
therefore, gave up the idea of sending Gay Lussac up alone to
explore the highest regions. It has been reported, that his com-
panion Biot, though a man of activity, and not deficient in per-
sonal courage, was so much overpowered by the alarms of their
descent, as to lose for the time the entire possession of himself.
The place where they alighted, at half-past one o'clock, after
three hours and a half spent in the midst of the atmosphere, was
near the village of Meriville, in the department of the Loiret, and
about fifiy mileis from Paris.

Several philosophers of Paris now desired that Gay Lussac
should mount a second time, and repeat the different observations
at the greatest elevation he could attain. Experience had in-

* This want of diminution was caused by the reflection of the sun from
the cloud stratum below them.

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LVSSAC'S SECOND ASCENT. 67

Btnicted him to reduce his apparatus, and to adapt it better {o the
actual circumstances. As he could only count the vibrations of
the magnetic needle during the very short intervals which oc-
curred between the contrary rotations of the balloon, he preferred
one about six inches in length, which, therefore, oscillated more
quickly. The dipping needle was magnetized and adjusted by
the ingenious M. Coulomb. To protect the thermometer from
the direct action of the sun, it was enclosed within two concen-
tric cylinders of pasteboard covered with gilt paper. The hy-
grometers, constructed by Richer's mode, with four hairs, were
sheltered nearly in the same way. The two glass flasks, intended
to bring down air from the highest regions of the atmosphere, had
been exhausted, till the mercurial gauge stood at the twenty-fifth
part of an inch, and their stopcocks were so perfectly fitted, that,
after the lapse of eight days, they still preserved the vacuum.
These articles, wth two barometers, were the principal instru-
ments which Gay Lussac took with him. The skill and intelli-
gence of the artist had been exerted in further precautions for the
safety of the balloon.

At forty minutes after nine o^clock, on the morning of the 15th
of September, 1804, the scientific voyager ascended, as before,
from the garden of the Repository of Models. The barometer then
stood at 30.66 English inches, the thermometer at 82^ Fahr., and
the hygrometer at 57J°. The sky was unclouded, but misty.
Scarcely had. the observer reached the height of 3000 feet, when
be observed spread below him, over the whole extent of the at-
mosphere, a thin vapor, which rendered the distant objects very
indistinct. Having gained an altitude of 9950 feet, he set his
needle to vibrate, and found it to perform twenty oscillations in
83", though it had taken 84.33'^ to make the same number at the
surface of the earth. At the height of 12,680 feet, he discovered
the variation of the compass to be precisely the same as below ;
but with all the pains he could take, he was unable to determine
with sufficient certainty the dip of the needle. Gay Lussac con-
tinued to prosecute his other experiments with the same diligence,
and with greater success. At the altitude of 14,480 feet, he found
that a key, held in the magnetic direction, repelled with its lower
end, and attracted with its upper end, the north pole of a needle
of a small compass. This observation was repeated, and, with
equal success, at the vast height of 20,150 feet — a clear proof
that the magnetism of the earth exerts its influence at remote
distances. He made not fewer than fifteen trials at diflerent
altitudes, with the oscillations of his finely suspended needle.
It was generally to vibrate twenty or thirty times. The mean
result gives 4«22'' for each oscillation, while it is 4.216'^ at the

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68 LUSSAC'S EXPERIMENTS.

surface of the earth — an apparent difference so extremely small,
as to be fairly neglected.

. During the whole of this gradual ascent, he noticed, at short
intervals, the state of the barometer, the thermometer, and the
hygrometer. . Of these observations, amounting in all to twenty-
one, he has given a tabular view. We regret, however, that he
has neglected to mark the times at which they were made, since
the results appear to have been very materially modified by the pro-
gress of the day. It would likewise have been desirable to have
compared them with a register noted every half hour at the Observ-
atory. From the surface of the earth to the height of 12,125 feet,
the temperature of the atmosphere decreased regularly from 82^
to 47°. 3, by Fahrenheit's scale; but afterwards it increased
again, and reached to 53°.6 at the altitude of 14,000 feet ; evi-
dently owing to the influence of the warm currents of air which,
as the day advanced, rose continually from the heated ground.
From that point the temperature diminished, with only slight de-
viations from a perfect regularity. At the height of 18,636 feet,
the thermometer subsided to 32°.9, on the verge of congelation ;
but it sunk to 14^.9 at the enormous altitude of 22,912. feet
above Paris, or 23,040 feet above the level of the sea, the
Vttmost limit of the balloon's ascent.

From these observations no conclusive inference, we think,
can be drawn respecting the mean gradation of cold which is
maintained in the higher regions of the atmosphere ; for, as we
have already remarked, the several strata are, during the day,
kept considerably above their permanent temperature by the hot
currents raised from the surface through the action of the sun's
rays. If we adopt the formula given by Professor Leslie at the
end of his " Elements of Geometry," which was the result of
some accurate and combined researches, the diminution of tem-
perature corresponding to the first part of the ascent, or 12,125
feet, ought to have been 40° Fahr. It was actually 34°. 7, and
would no doubt have reached to 40°, if the progressive heating
of the surface, during the interval of time, were taken into the
account. In the next portion of the voyage, from the altitude of
14,000 to that of 18,636 feet, or the breadth of 4636 feet, the
decrement of temperature, according to the formula, should have
been only 16J°, instead of 20°. 7, which was really marked — a
proof that the diurnal heat from below had not yet produced its full
effect at such a great height. In the last portion of the balloon's
ascent, from 18,636 feet to 22,912, a range of 4276 feet, the de-
crease of heat ought to have been 15J°, and it was actually 18°;
owing, most probably, to the same cause, or the feebler influence
which warm currents of air from the surface exert at those vast
elevations. Taking the entire range of the ascent, or 22,912

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LUSSAC»S EXPERIMENTS. 69

feet, the diminution of temperature, according to the same ibrm-
ula, would be for the graduation of temperature in ascending the
atmosphere 85°.4. The decrease actually observed would be
67^,1, which might be raised to 80P, if we admit the very pro-
bable supposition, that the surface of the earth had become heat-
ed from 82° to 94°. 9 during the interval between ten o'clock in
the morning and near three in the afternoon, when the balloon
floated at its greatest elevation.

After making fair allowances, therefore, on account of the
operation of deranging causes, the results obtained by Gay Lus-
sac,lfor the gradation of temperature in the atmosphere, appear,
on the whole, to agree very nearly with, those derived from the
formula which theory, guided by delicate experiments, had be-
fore assigned. This gradation is evidently not uniform, as some
philosophers have assumed, but proceeds with augmented rapidi-
ty in the more elevated regions. The same conclusion results
from a careful inspection of the facts which have been stated by
other observers.

The hygrometers, during the ascent of the balloon, held a pro-
gress not quite so regular, but tending obviously towards dryness.
At the height of 9950 feet they had changed from 57°.6 to 62°;
from which they continued afterwards to decline, till they came
to mark 27°.5, at4he altitude of 15,190 feet. From this inferior
limit the hygrometers advanced again, yet with some fluctuations,
to 35°.l, which they indicated at the height of 18,460 feet.
Above ihis altitude^ the variation was slight, though rather inclining
to humidity. There can exust no doubt, however, that, allowing
for the influence of the prevailing cold, the higher strata of the
atmosphere must be generally drier than the lower, or capable of
retaining, at the same temperature, a larger share of moisture.

At the altitude of 21,460 feet,. Gay Lussac opened one of his
exhausted flasks; and, at that of 21,790 feet, the other. The air
rushed into them through the narrow aperture, with a whistling
noise. He still rose higher; but, at eleven minutes past three
o'clock, he had attained the utmost limit of his ascent, and was
then 22,912 feet above Paris-^or 23,040 feet (being more than
four miles and a quarter) above the level of the sea. The air was
now more than twice as thin as ordinary, the barometer having
sunk to 12.95 inches. From that tremendous altitude, 1600 feet
higher than the summit of the Andes, more elevated than the
loftiest pinnacle of our globe, and far above the height to which
any mortal had ever soared, the aerial navigator might have in-
dulged the feelings of triumphant enthusiasm. But the philoso-
pher, in perfect security, was more intent on calmly pursuing his
observations. During his former ascent, he saw the fleecy clouds
spread out below him, while the canopy of heaven seemed of the

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70 LUSSAC»S EXPERIMENTS.

deepest azure ; more intense than Prussian bloe. This time,
however, he perceived no clouds gathered near the surface, but
remarked a range of them, stretching at a very considerable
height over his head ; the atmosphere, too, wanted transparency,
and had a dull, misty appearance. The different aspect of the
sky w^s probably owing to the direction of the wind, which blew
from the northwest in his first voyage, but in his second from the
southeast.

While occupied with experiments at this enormous elevation,
be began, though warmly clad, to sufler from excessive cold, and
his hands, by continual exposure, grew benumbed. He felt like-
wise a difficulty in breathing, and his pulse and respiration were
much quickened. H|s throat became parched from inhaling the
dry, attenuated air, so that he could hardly swallow a morsel of
bread ; but he experienced no other direct inconvenience from
bis situation. He had indeed been affected, through the whole
of the day, with a slight headache, brought on by the preceding
fatigues and want of sleep ; but though it continued without
abatement, it was not increased by his ascent.

The balloon was now completely distended, and not more than
thirty-three pounds of ballast remained ; it began to drop, and
Gay Lussac, therefore^ only sought to regulate its descent. It
subsided very gently, at the rate of about a mile in eight minutes;
and after the lapse of about thirty-four minutes, or at three-
quarters after three o'clock, the anchor touched the ground, and
instantly secured the car. The voyager alighted with great ease
near the, hamlet of St. Gourgan, about sixteen miles from Rouen.
The inhabitants flocked around him, offering him assistance, and
eager to gratify their curiosity.

As soon as he reached Paris, he hastened to the laboratory of
the Polytechnic School, with his flasks, containing air of the
higher regions, and proceeded to analyze it in the presence of
Thenard and Gresset. Opened under water, the liquid rushed
into them, and apparently half filled their capacity. The trans-
ported air was found, by a very delicate analysis, to contain
exactly the same proportions as that collected near the surface of
the earth, every 1000 parts holding 215 of oxygen. From con-
curring observations, therefore, we may conclude that the atmo-
sphere is essentially the same in all situations.

The ascents performed by MM. Biot and Gay Lussac are
memorable, as being the first ever undertaken solely for objects
of science^ It is impossible not to admire the intrepid coolness
with which they conducted those experiments, operating, while
they floated in the highest regions of the atmosphere, with the
same composure and precision as if they had been quietly seated
in their caoinet at Paris. Their observations on the force of ter-

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EXPERIMENTAL BALLOONS. 71

restrial' magnetism show, most concIusiTely, its deep source aud
wide extension. The identity of the constitution of the atmo-
sphere, to a vast altitude, was likewise ascertained. The facts
noted by Gay Lussac, relative to the state of the thermometer at
different heights, appear generally to confirm the law which theory
assigns for the gradation of temperature in the atmosphere ; but
many interesting points were left untouched by this philosopher.
We are sorry that he had not carried with him the cyanometer,
which enabled Saussure to determine the color of the sky on the
summits of the Swiss mountains ; still more do we regret that he
was not provided with an hygrometer and a photometer, of Les-
lie's construction. These delicate instruments could not have
failed, in his hands, to furnish important data for discovering the
relative dryness and transparency of the different strata of air.
It would have been extjremely interesting, at 3uch a tremendous
height, to have measured with accuracy the feeble light reflected
from the azure canopy of heaven, and the intense force of the
sun's direct rays, and, hence, to have determined what portion
of them is absorbed in their passage through the lower and denser
atmosphere.

CHAPTER X.

Suggeations on the use of balloons soon after their dlBCorery.

<< Balloons have at different times been thought capable of use-
ful application. It has been even proposed to employ their
power of ascension as a mechanical force. This might be ren-
dered efficient, it was believed, to raise water from mines, or to
transport obelisks, and place them on great elevations. We can
easily imagine situations where a balloon could be used with ad-
vantage ; such as to raise, without any scaffolding, a cross or a
vane to the top of a high spire ; but the power would then be
purchased at a very disproportionate expense. It would require
four and a half pounds of iron, or six of zinc, with equal quanti-
ties of sulphuric acid, to yield hydrogen gas sufficient to raise up
the weight of a pound. Balloons have rendered important ser-
vice in reconnoitering the face of a country, and communicating
military signals ; and it is rather surprising that a system, which
promised such obvious advantages, has not been carried much
farther.

'^ But to a skilful and judicious application of balloons, we may

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72 EXP^ERIMENTAL BALLOONS.

yet look for a most essential itnproyement of the infant science
of meteorology. Confined to the surface of this globe, we have
no direct intimation of what passes in the lofty regions of the at-
mosphere. All the changes of weather, which appear so capri-
cious and perplexing, proceed, no* doubt, from the combination
of a very few simple causes. Were the philosopher to penetrate
beyond the seat of the clouds, examine the circumstances of their
formation, and mark the prevailing currents, he would probably
remove, in part, the veil that conceals those mighty operations.
It would be quite practicable, we conceive, to reach an elevation
of seven miles, where the air would be four times more attenuat-
ed than ordinary. A silk balloon of forty feet diameter, if pro-
perly constructed, might be sufficient for that enormous ascent,
though not more than one-fourth filled with hydrogen gas. The
voyager would not, we presume, suffer any serious inconvenience
from breathing the thin air ;* the animal frame adapts itself with
wonderful facility to external circumstances. Perhaps the quick-
ened pulse and short respiration which some travelers have ex-
perienced on. the summits of lofty mountains, should be attributed
chiefly to the suddenness of their transition, and the severity of
the cold. The people of Quito live comfortably 9560 feet above
the level of the sea ; and the shepherds of the hamlet of Anti-
sana, the highest inhabited spot in the known world, who breathe,
at an elevation of 13,500 feet, air that has only three-fifths of the
usual density, are nowise deficient in health or vigor. But the
intenseness of the cold is, probably, what the resolute observer
would have most to dread, at the height of seven miles. This
decrease of temperature, perhaps equal to 148^, might extend
below the point at which mercury freezes ; yet several circum-
stances tend to mitigate such extreme cold, and proper clothing
jQight enable an experimenter for a short time to resist its
effects.

" Much could be done, however, without risk or material ex-
pense. Balloons from fifteen to thirty feet in diameter, and
carrying register thermometers and barometers, might be capable
of ascending alone to altitudes between eight and twelve miles.
Dispatched from the centres of the great continents, they would
not only determine the extreme gradations of cold, but indicate
by their flight, the direction of the regular and periodic winds,
which doubtless obtain in the highest regions of the atmosphere.

* He would suffer from a diminution of atmospheric pressure. At the
surface of the earth, an ordinary sized man sustains an atmospheric pres-
sure of over 25,000 pounds, while at the height of seven miles he would
have but 6500 pounds. From what I have experienced at three and a
quarter miles high, I would suppose very serious consequences would en-
sue at that immense height.

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MOSMENT'S FATAL ASCENT. 73

But we will not enlarge. In some happier times, such experi-
ments may be performed with the zealous concurrence of different
gOTernments; when nations shall at least become satisfied with
cultivating the arts of peace, instead of wasting their energies in
sanguinary, destructive, and fruitless wars."

CHAPTER XI.

Aerial voyage of M. Hosment, from Lisle— Lost his life by it — Noctarnal
aerial -voyage of M. Gamerin, from Paris — His ascent from Tivoli —
Perilous trip — Caught in a thunder storm.

On the 7th of April, 1806, M. Mosment, an experienced aero-
naut, undertook an aerial voyage from Lisle. He ascended at
nooQ^ waving a flag decorated with the imperial eagle of France,
amid the shouts of the assembled spectators. The commence-
ment of bis career was so rapid as to bear him in a very short
time beyond the vision of the crowd. During his ascent, he
dropped an animal attached to a parachute, which came safely to
the ground. About one o'clock, something was obseryed slo.wly
descending through the atmosphere^ which proved on its fall to
be the flag which M. Mosment had carried along with him.
Very soon afterwards, a murmur circulated through the crowd,
and the body of the unfortunate aeronaut was discovered in one
of the fosses of the city, lifeless, and covered with blood. The
balloon reached the ground on the same day, at the distance, of
twenty-five leagues from Lisle ; the ear containing nothing except
an unloaded pistol, a little bread, and a piece of flesh. M. Gar-
nerin ascribes this melancholy disaster to the extreme shallowness
of the car, and the too great distance between the cords whiph
attached it to the balloon ; and is of opinion that M. Mos^ment,
when leaning over the car to drop the animal, had lost his balance,
and was precipitated to the earth.

Of all the voyages which the history of aeronautics presents to
our notice, the nocturnal aerial excursions of M. Garnerin must be
ranked among the most enterprising and adventurous. At eleven
o'clock on the evening of the 4th of August, 1807, he ascended
from Tivoli, at Paris, under the Russian flag, as a token of the
peace that subsisted between France and Russia. His balloon
was illuminated by twenty lamps ; and to obviate all danger of
communication between these and the hydrogen gas which it
might be necessary to discharge in the course of the voyage, the

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74 GARNERIN'S PERILOUS VOYAGE.

nearest of the lamps was fourteen feet distant from the balloon, and
conductors were provided to carry the gas away in an opposite
direction. After his ascent, rockets, which had been let off from
Tivoli, seemed to him scarcely to rise abore the earth, and Paris,
with all its lamps, appeared like a plain studded with luminous
spots. In forty minutes, he found himself at an elevation of
13,200 feet,~when,in consequence of the dilatation of the balloon,
. he was under the necessity of discharging part of the inflammable
air. About twelve o'clock, when 3,600 feet from the earth, be heard
the barking of dogs ; about two, he saw several meteors flying
around him, but none of them so near as to create apprehension.
At half past three, he beheld the sun emerging in brilliant majesty,
above an ocean of clouds, and the gas in the balloon being there-
by expanded, it soon rose 15,000 feet above the surface of the
earth, where he felt the cold exceedingly intense. In seven
hours and a half from his departure, M. Garnerin descended near
Loges, forty-five leagues distant from Paris.

This same intrepid aeronaut undertook a second nocturnal voy-
age on the 21st of September, 1807, in the course of which he
was exposed to the most imminent danger. M. Garnerin prog-
nosticating an approaching storm, from the state of the atmo-
sphere, refused to be accompanied by M. de Chassenton, who
earnestly requested it. He ascended, therefore, alone from Tivoli,
at ten o'clock, and was carried up with unexampled rapidity to
an immense height above the clouds. The balloon was then
dilated to an alarming degree, and M. Garnerin, having been pre-
vented by the turbulence of the mob, before his ascent, from regu-
lating those parts of the apparatus which were meant to conduct
the gas away from the lamps on its escape, was totally incapable of
managing the balloon. He had no alternative left, therefore, than
with one hand to make an opening, two feet in diameter, through
which the inflammable air was discharged in great quantities,
and with the other to extinguish as many of iSe lamps as he
could possibly reach. The aeronaut was now without a regulat-
ing valve ; and the balloon, subject to every caprice of the whirf-
wind, was tossed about from current to current. When the storm
impelled him downwards, he was forced to throw out his ballast,
to restore the ascending tendency ; and at last every resource
being exhausted, no expedient was left him to provide against
future emergencies. In this forlorn condition, the balloon rose
through thick clouds, and afterwards sunk ; and the car, having
struck against the ground with a violent impulse, rebounded from
it to a considerable altitude. The fury of the storm dashed him
against the mountains, and, after many rude agitations and severe
snocks, he was reduced to a state of temporary insensibility. On
recovering from his perilous situation, he reached Mont Tonnerre

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BUOYANT FORCE OF BALLOONS. 75

in a storm of thunder. A very short period after this, his anchor
hooked in a tree, and in sef en hours and a half, after a voyage
which had nearly proved fatal to him, he landed at the distance
of 300 miles from Paris.

We might enumerate a great many voyages undertaken with
balloons about the beginning of the present century; but we have
preferred to take only sueh from among them as seem to be best
calculated to impart useful information on the subject to the stu-
dent of aeronautics. Some of the accounts are also too highly
exaggerated to enter a sober history.

CHAPTER XII.

From the Encyclopaedia Britannica — ^Buoyant force of balloons — Celerity
of ascent — Stability of suepension.

The following interesting calculations made to ascertain the
mathematical buoyancy, expansion, velocity of ascent, &c., of bal*-
loons is taken entire from the Encyclopaedia Britannica, it being
useful to the student of aeronautics; but at the same time it must
be considered as purely theoretical — a part of the science very
essential to the aeronaut, although he will find a great difference
between theory and practice. Upon the latter, we shall treat fully
in another part of this work.

I. Tlie Buoyant Force of Balloons. — Since balloons in their
shape generally approach to the spherical form, it will be more
convenient to ground our calculations on that figure. A globe
one foot in diameter of common air at the level of the sea, and
of the mean density and temperature, is found to weigh about the
twenty-fifth part of a pound avoirdupois. Consequently, if a per-
fect vacuum could be procured, a balloon of ten feet diameter
must rise with a force of forty pounds ; one of twenty feet dia-
meter with that of 320 pounds ; and a balloon of thirty feet
diameter would mount in the atmosphere with the power of 1080
pounds, thus augmenting always in the ratio of the cube of the
diameter. But air expands by heat about the 450th part of its
bulk for each degree on Fahrenheit's scale ; supposing, therefore,
that the air included within the balloon were heated fifty degrees,
it would follow that one-ninth part of this fluid would be driven
out of it by the warmth, and consequently, that the tendency of
the balloon to rise upwards would be equal only to the ninth part
of the entire power of ascension. Were it possible to maintain.

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76 BUOYANT FORCE OF BALLOONS.

a heat* of seventy<-fiye degrees within the balloon, the buoyant
force would yet not exceed the sixth ^art of the absolute ascen-
sional power.

The dilatation which the presence of humidity communicates to
air will, during fine weather in this climate, amount generally to
one-eighteenth part, though it may sometimes reach to more than
the double of this quantity. But in the tropical regions, such
dilatation will commonly exceed the twentieth part of the volume
of fluid. Hence moist air thrown into a bag, likewise wetted,
and sufficiently large, would cause it to rise in the atmosphere.
To succeed, however, in this way, the balloon constructed of coarse
linen would require enormous dimensions, not less than three
hundred feet in diameter.

But it is the union of heat and moisture that gives to air the
greatest expansion. The white smoke with which the balloons
are filled on the Moutgolfiers' plan, was found by cpmputation to be
at least one-third specifically lighter than the external air. This
purer sort of smoke is scarcely anything but air itself charged with
yapor, being produced by the burning of chopped straw and vine
twigs in a brasier, under the orifice of the balloon. It would have
required no fewer than 150^ of heat alone to cause the same ex-
tent of rarefaction.

We have, therefore, sufficient data for calculating the buoyant
force of the t!ommon fire, or smoke balloons. This force being
estimated about twelve and a half pounds avoirdupois, when the
diameter of the balloon is ten feet, would amount to 1562^ pounds,
if the diameter were fifty feet, and to 12,500 pounds if it were a
hundred feet. The weight of the linen case may be reckoned at
two-fiflhs of a pound for a sphere of one foot in diameter. Con*
sequently, a balloon of ten feet diameter would, without its ap-
pendages, weigh forty pounds ; one of fifty feet diameter, 1000
pounds ; and one of a hundred feet diameter, 4000 pounds. Such a
balloon of ten feet diameter would need twenty-seven and a half
pounds to make it rise ; but one of fifty feet diameter would ascend
with a force of 562^ pounds, and one of a hundred feet diameter
would exert an ascending power of not less than 8500 pounds.
There is besides to be deducted the weight of the cordage, the
car, the ballast, and the passengers. It would require, on these
estimates, a diameter of thirty-three and a half feet, to procure
merely an equilibrium between the weight of the canvass and the
buoyant force of the rarefied air.

The hydrogen gas obtained from the action of dilute sulphuric
acid upon iron filings is only six times lighter than atmospheric
air ; but the gas evolved during the solution of zinc in that acid,
is not less than twelve times lighter than common air. The
ordinary way of examining the specific gravity of the dififerent

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BUOYANT FORCE OF BALLOONS. 7T

gases requires a very nice operation-^weighing wilh the most ex-
quisite balance; a serious difficulty^ which long retarded our
knowledge of their comparative densities. In one of the notes
to his " Treatise on Heat," Professor Leslie has pointed out a very
simple method, founded on the principles of pneumatics, for dis-
covering the relative specific gravities of the aeriform fluids.
This con$$ists in observing the time that a given portion of the
gas, under a determinate pressure,'takes to escape through a very
small aperture. The density of the gaseous fluid must be in-
versely as the square of the interval elapsed. Thus, the hydro-
gen gas procured from zinc, but without any depuration, was
found, under the pressure of the same column of water, to flow
thrice ^s fast as atmospheric air. This experiment is very strik-
ing, and requires no miore apparatus than a cylindrical jar, open
below and surmounted by a cap terminating fn a fine tubular
orifice;

On a very moderate supposition, therefore, and after making
every allowance for imperfect operation, we may consider the
hydrogen gas which fills a balloon as six times lighter than an
equal bulk of common air. Consequently, such a balloon must
exert five-$ixths of the whole buoyant force corresponding to its
capacity, or will have a tendency to mount in the atmosphere,
that is equal to the thirtieth part of a pound avoirdupois for a
globe of one foot in diameter. A spherical balk>on of fifteen feet
diameter would hence have a buoyancy of 112j^ pounds; one of
thirty feet, 900 pounds ; and one of sixty feet no less than 7200
pounds. Here follows an estimate of the weight of the silk used
in balloons, which of course is to be deducted from the above
ascensional powers, but which is much lighter than the silk I
would recommend for such purposes. It is, therefore, omitted,
as the aeronaut can make that calculation best from the balloon
actually in use.

But the calculations now given would in strictness require a
small modification. The weight of the envelop and all append-
ages must evidently compress the included gas, and thereby
render it in some degree denser* To compute this minute effect,
we have only to consider that the pressure of a column of atmo-
sphere, at the mean temperature, and near the level of the sea, is
1632 pounds, on a circle of a foot diameter. Thus, in the balloon
of sixty feet diameter, if we suppose the whole load to have been
6000 pounds, the compression of the bag would only amount to
five-thirds of a pound for each circle of a foot diameter in the
horizontal section, or correspond to the 979th part of the entire
pressure of the atmosphere. But the weight of the confined ^as
being 1200 pounds, its buoyancy must have suffered a diminution
of somewhat more than a pound, ox j'^^th from the incumbrance

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78 BUOYANT FORCE OF BALLOONS.

opposed to it. This connection is, therefore, a mere theoretical
nicety, which may be totally disregarded in practice.

11. The next circumstance to be considered in aeronautics, is
the celerity with which balloons make their ascent. It is obvious
that the efficient power of ascension, or the excess of the whole
buoyant force above the absolute weight of the apparatus, would
by acting constantly produce always an accelerated motion. But
this acceleration is very soon checked, and a uniform progress
maintained, by the increasing resistance which the huge mass
must encounter in its passage through the air. The velocity
which a balloon would gain from unobstructed acceleration must,
from the theory of dynamics, be to that which a falling body ac-
quires in the same time as the efficient buoyancy is X6 the aggre-
gate weight of the apparatus and of the contained fluid. Thus,
if a balloon were to rise with a force equal to the eighth part of
its compound weight, the celerity resulting from a constant
acceleration would be expressed by multiplying four feet into the
number of seconds elapsed since it was launched into the air.
Its accelerating advance, however, being opposed, the balloon
may to all appearance attain, though still aflected with partial
oscillations, the final velocity in perhaps little more than double
the time required without such obstruction.

This final velocity, or the velocity at which the ascent becomes
uniform, the resistance from the air being then equal to the effi-
cient buoyancy of the balloon, is easily calculated. The resist-
ance a circle encounters in moving through any fluid in the
direction perpendicular to its plane, is measured by the weight of
a column of that fluid, having the circle for its base, and an alti-
tude equal to the height from which a heavy body in falling would
acquire the given celerity. But near the level of the sea, and at
the mean temperature, a column of atmospheric air seventeen feet
high, and incumbent on a circle of one foot diameter, weighs a
pound avoirdupois; which is therefore the resistance that a circle
would suffer if carried forwards with the celerity of thirty-three
feet each second. According to the same theory, however, which
we owe to the sagacity of Newton, the resistance of a sphere is
just the half of that of its generating circle, and consequently
a velocity of forty-six and two-fifths feet in a second through
the air would in ordinary cases create a resistance of one pound
to a ball of one foot diameter^ In other circumstances, the
quantity of resistance must be proportional to the square of
velocities and of the diameters. Whence, if the buoyant power
were always the same, the velocity of the ascent of a balloon
would be inversely as its diameter.

Suppose a balloon, to have thirty feet in diameter, and ah
ascensional power, of 100 pounds. This effort is evidently the

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STABILITY OP SUSPENSION. 79

same as the ninth part of a pound for a globe of a foot in diameter^
and would, therefore, be countervailed by the resistance corre-
sponding to a velocity of 46| divided by 3, the square root of 9,
or 15| feet a second. The balloon would, therefore, reach the
altitude of a mile in about six minutes* Its accelerating force
bein^ equal to the sixteenth part of its total weight, it might have
acquired the uniform motion of ascent in twenty seconds, or be-
fore it had attained the height of 200 feet. This example differs
very little from reality, and the method of computation will be
easily transferred to other cases.

But the resistance of the air assigned by theory is, from the
circumstances omitted in the simplification of the problem, gene-
rally somewhat less than the results of observation. In low velo-
cities, this difference ampunts seldom to the fifth part of the whole
effect ; but in the high velocities it increases considerably, ex-
ceeding even the third part in certain extreme cases. From the
numerous and accurate experiments of Dr. Charles Hutton, we
may, however, deduce a simple formula for expressing the ter-
minal velocity of balloons, or the celerity of their uniform ascent.
To express the rule in words: As the diameter of the balloon in
feet is to the constant number forty, so is the square root of the
ascensional power in pounds to the terminal or uniform velocity
of ascent each second. To illustrate the application of the for-
mula by an exanrple ; suppose the balloon to have ^ diameter of
sixty feet, with an accelerating power of 144 pounds ; the corre-
sponding rate of uniform ascent becomes eight feet each second,
or about a mile in eleven minutes.

III. The last point which demands attention in aeronautics is,
the stability of the suspension cf a baUoon at any given height in
the atmosphere. The circum^ances which regulate or determine
that stability, requiring little exercise of thought, have been com-
monly neglected, and very seldom examined with due care. It
will be proper to consider,^rs/, the fire or smoke balloons; and,
secondly^ the balloons filled with hydrogen gas.

1. The warm humefied air of the balloon, constructed on Mont-
golfier's plan, suffering less external compression as it approaches
the upper strata of the atmosphere, must, at the same time, ne-
cessarily expand, and partly escape by the orifice above the
brasier. The weight of the included fluid, and that of the part
expelled, constituting its buoyant force, will hence be reduced,
in proportion to the diminished density of the medium in which
it floats. The balloon will continue to ascend till its enfeebled
buoyancy is no longer able to support the incumbent load. At
the height of a mile, above the surface, the power of ascension
would be diminished rather more than one-fifth part ; but, at an
altitude of three miles and a halfj it would be reduced to one-half.

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80 STABIUTY OF SUSPENSION,

At the ordinary temperature, this buoyancy Would sufftv a reduc-
tion of the hundredth part for each ascent of 278 feet.

For example, a balloon of 100 feet diameter, which is about
the largest dimension of any yet constructed, near the level of the
sea, and at the ordinary temperature, would have a power of as-
cension of 12,500 pounds ; but at the height of 8000 feet, or.some-
what more than a mile and a half, where the density is diminished
one- fourth, that power becomes reduced to 9375 pounds, being a
deficiency of 3125 pounds. On the supposition that the balloon
was, at first, so much loaded, as to rest just suspended at the
ground, a ballast of 3125 pounds must have been thrown out, to
make it rise to the altitude of a mile and a half. Hence also the
rejection of 125 pounds would have been sufficient to give the
balloon an elevation of 278 feet. For the same reason, tea pounds
of ballast heaved out would have raised it twenty-two feet at the
surface, twenty-nine feet at the height of a mile and a half, and
forty-four feet at that of three miles and a half.

2. The stability of the suspension of balloons filled with hy-
drogen gas must depend on principles which are very different
and less marked. In these aeronautic machines, after the gas
has been once introduced, it is closely shut up; and, therefore,
having constantly the same absolute weight, it should likewise,
in all situations, exert the same buc^ant force. Hence, if the
balloon were capable of indefinite expansion, it would still con-
tinue to ascend through unbounded space. The determinate
capacity of the bag alone can oppose limits to its rise in the
atmosphere. The upper strata being rarer than those below,
will have less power to keep any given bulk suspended; and the
actual buoyancy being diminished from that cause, the balloon
will find its station at a corresponding height in the diffuse me-
dium. But this diminution of the buoyant force, and the conse-
quent increase in the bulk of the hydrogen gas, must necessarily
be confined within veiy moderate limits, otherwise the thin silk
case would be torn to shreds by the expansive eflTorts of the im-
prisoned fluid. A safety-valve is accordingly placed at the top
of the balloon, calculated to give vent to the gas before the dis-
tension has become such as to endanger the bursting of the
envelop.

A ballodn should not at first be filled completely with hydrogen
gas, but allowed to begin its ascent in a flaccid state. As it
mounts into the rarer atmosphere, it will gradually swell, till it
has attained its full distension, when the safety valve may come
to act. But such dissipation of the gas ought, by a previous
arrangement, to be as much as possible avoided. If the balloon
were intended to rise to* the height of four miles, it would not be
requisite to fill more than half its capacity with the elastic fluid.

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STABILITY OF SUSPENSION. 81

To push the charge any further in this case, vicn\d only occasion
a superfluous waste of materials. By throwing out part of jiis
ballast, the aeronaut may raise himself higher; and, by opeiiing
the valve to permit some of the imprisoned gas to escape, he may
descend again ; but both these expedients are attended by a 'waste-
ful expenditure of power.

It is evident that a balloon can have no stability of equipoise,
so long as it remains in a loose or flaccid state, ' The slightest
action Would then be sufficient to make it rise or fall, since, under
such circumstances, any change of its station could not, in the
smallest degree, affect the measure of its buoyant force. The
general elevation to which the balloon will ascend must be de-
termined by its quantity of ballast, conjoined with the regulation
of its safety yalve; but the strain of the silk envelop itself would
be sufficient to confine the ascent within certain limits, and to
procure the stability of the floating mass. Thus, if a balloon,
fully distended, had yet a slight disposition) to rise, the imprisoned
gas, suffering more and more compression as it gradually ascends,
would become proportionally denser (in reference to its surround-
ing atmosphere), and, therefore, lose a corresponding part of its
previous buoyancy. An equilibrium would hence soon obtain,
which must arrest the floating machine at a determinate height
in the atmosphere.

Suppose a balloon to be capablie, without aiiy danger of bursts
img, of sustaining an expansion equal to the hundredth part of
the elasticity of the included fluid ; the whole buoyancy would,
by such an alteration, be diminished one five-hundredth part, or
its floating power would subside fifly-five feet near the suiface,
and sink proportionally more in the upper regions. To produce
the efiect, it would only be requisite to throw common air into the
balloon, without suffering the hydrogen to escape. On this prin-
ciple, Muesnier, an ingenious French chemist, very soon after the
discovery of balloons, proposed to regulate with nicety their as-
cent and position of equilibrium in the atmosphere. The mode
which he suggested was to place within the principal balloon a
much smaller one,, to be filled occasionally with common air by
help of bellows, or emptied again by opening an exterior valve.
The aeronaut would thus have it in his power, without expending
the charge of hydrogen gas, either to sink gently through a short
space, or to rise again at will, by inflating the inner balloon, or
allowing it to collapse. The adjustment of the height of a bal-
loon could hence be managed with great precision.

The command possessed by the aeronaut of raising or depress-
ing his machine at pleasure, might afford him the means of influ-
encing the direction of its course. From the various motions of
the several ranges of clouds, we may infer that different currents
6

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82 PROSPECTS OF AERIAL NAVIGATION.

exist at the same time in the atmosphere. (I have found five
within the height of one mile and three-quarters.) The aeronaut
haSy therefore, in his ascent, only to seek the current best suited
to his purpose; and, taking his station in that stratum, to commit
his vessel to the guidance of the stream. .

CHAPTER XIII.

Prospects of aerial navigation — ^Fulton and Napoleon — General introdao-
tion of carbuxetted hydrogen auspicioas to aerial nayigation.

We have now taken a review of the experiments and trials ia
the art of aeronautics which transpired within the period of a few
years after its discovery ; and although it is frequently said that
it has not been improved beyond its original invention, it is more
than probable that the reader will come to a more favorable con*
elusion in the perusal of this work. True it may be that, as yet,
no actual demonstration has been made to prore that we can sail
from point to point with a balloon with the same precision and
certainty that we can with steamships. And if we had no other
prospects on which to rest our hopes and anticipations, in acquir-
ing such perfection, we have at least the consolation to know that
steamship navigation, for more than local purposes, was as much
decried, and denounced as visionary, as a means of crossing the
ocean, thirty years ago, as transatlantic balloon navigation is
now. In 1801, Napoleon Bonaparte was rising in the most aus-
picious period of his glory, and his military genius was apparently
concentrated upon the necessity of England's reduction. Con-
cerning this, Alison says a singular circumstance occurred at
that time, which demonstrates how little the clearest intellect can
anticipate the ultimate result of the discoveries which are destined
to effect the greatest changes in human affairs. At the time when
all eyes in Europe were fixed on the Channel, and the orators of
the French tribune were wishing for a " fair wind and thirty-six
hours," an unknown individual (Robert Fulton) presented him-
self to the First Consul, and said : ^< The sea which separates
you from your enemy gives him a great advantage. Aided
alternately by the winds and tempests, be braves you in his inac-
cessible isle. This obstacle, his sole strength, I engage to
overcome. I can, in spite of all his fleets, at any time, in a few
hours, transport your armies into his territory, without fearing the
tempests or having need of the winds^ Consider the means which

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PEOSPECTS OF ApJRIAL^ NAVIGATION. 83

I ofier you." A most singular proposition was this^ truly. Na-
poleon so far entertained it, as to commit the plans and details of
Mr. Fulton to a commission of the most learned men which
France could produce, and this was all that the First Consul's
Vast engagements would allow him to do. The most learned
commission reported to Napoleon that it was "visionary and im-
practicable." Such was the repeption which steam navigation,
that has'done so much, first received at the hands of philosophy.
It is even so vnth aerial navigation at the present day-^-con-
demned, and pronounced " visionary," instead of receiving that
support and encouragement which would at least enable it to
have a fair trial in the several ways that are at present proposed
and urg^d. To hear the murmurings of some, that the art has not
been improved, is one of the most happy omens, to the practical
aeronaut, of what it soon will be. He alone is capable of fairly
valuing this view of the subject, when he compares the know-
ledge and facilities we possess of its operations at the pre-
sent day, with those at the^peripd of its .discovery. The cost of
construction of balloons has been more than one-half reduced
from what it was forty years ago. The means of making them
impermeable to hydrogen gas has also been vastly improved, to
say nothing of what is likely to come out of the important dis-
coveries and improvements in gum elastic and gutta percha.
Then comes the general introduction of carburetted hydrogen, or
coal gas, into every important town in the United States, bringing
within the compass of ordinary means the cost of inflating bal-
loons, for experimental purposes. While the cost of inflating one
of these machines which is capable of carrying an individual,
amounted to at least one hundred and fifty dollars, by the vitriolic
process, it costs but twenty-five or thirty dollars to fill one with coal
gas, capable of raising the same weight, and aflbrds a good profit
to the gas companies at that. Here, then, a wide and desirable
field is opening, and which^ to a great extent, is already opened,
calculated to give the art a new life, by inviting its friends and
promoters to experiments and improvements, who are ever ready
in such laudable objects, when the' means to do so are placed
within their reach. This is th^ more encouraging, because we
are not groping in the dark, seeking an untried, unphilosophical
phantom, but a mathematically demonstrated truth, which is only
awaiting an actual realization. For, that the air is navigable is
no longer to be denied — its practicability, as a generally i;iseful
art, is merely doubted.

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84 PENNIJfGTON»B STEAM KITE.

CHAPTER XIV.

Pennington's flying machine — Connection of balloon with it — Anonymous
claimant to the invention of screw propeller — His yiews on balloon
sailing — Steam not adaptable to balloon propulsion — ^Henson^s aerial
steam carriage — A description of it from " Newton's Journal" — ^Its con-
triyance more ingenious than practicable.

In examining into, and commenting on, this subject^ in its pre-
sent condition, the means and contrivances which have been
resorted to by various individuals, who have, in modern times,
attempted to navigate the air with machines entirely independent
of balloons, should not be overlooked. Although such a method
seems to be behind the balloon principle, from its never yet hav-
ing accomplished any teal action to prove its efficiency, still, its
various contrivances, some of them very ingenious, are not with-
out value, and are, therefore, worthy of being fairly considered in
this work. It is by examining every collatersd and approximating
advantage pertaining to this subject, in the minutest degree, that
we shall be enabled to attain the highest point of perfection in
the shortest possible time.

' The first of these that w^ shall notice is the one suggested by
Mr. John H. Pennington, of Baltimore, Md.

In order that a fair estimation may be made of Mr. Penning-
ton's views on the subject of aerial navigation, connected with
what he claims as his invention, his own explanation is here sub-
mitted : —

" The principle is the lateral pressure of the atmosphere,
acting upon the inclined plane, the propelling power and wheel.
The machine or inclined plane will resemble in fie;ure the trans-
verse section of a spheroid, in either side of which are openings
for the purpose of admitting a pair of beveled wheels, by which
the machine is to be propelled ; and centrally situated between
these is a small engine, by which the wheels are to be put in
motion, by a chain band connected with the Engine. It is pro-
posed to have the engine made of steel, so as to secure the
greatest possible strength in the smallest possible compass — and
to use spirits of turpentine or alcohol, which boil at about thirty-
three and a half per cent, less heat than water ; when 300 per
cent, of strength may be obtained by using these materials^ and

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PENNINGTON»S STEAM KITE. 85

the same proportionate weight of metal being dispensed with,
vhich being calculated to Avork two and a half or three horse
power — and to carry 460 lbs. exclusively of weight of engine,
fuel, and dilating fluid, averaging 500 lbs. more. This would
mak^a total of 950 lbs., which would require an extent in width
of aoout 125 feet by 375. This, multiplied by itself, and one-
third of the quotient deducted, would leave the number of square
feet contained in the area of the disc of the inclined plane of the
machine.

^' The wheels, which are intended to propel the plane forward,
fire spiral or beveled-winged, situated in openings on either side
of the plane, and formed on the common principle of the wind-
mill wheel. To the Icrwer extremity of the plane is attached the
steering power, capable of moving either vertically or horizontally.
To calculate then the power of the machine, it must be considered
in a state of equilibrium ; that is, in the state where the power
just balances it which is to overcome the resistance of the atmo-
sphere. Having discovered what quantity of power will be requi-
site for this purpose, it will then be necessary to edd so much
more as to overcome the friction and weight of the machine itself,
and to give the necessary velocity. The whole machine, then,
in all its simplicity, resolves itself into the principle of the com-
mon boy's kite — ^the beveled-winged wheels, the momentum —
and the engine, the power."

Having met with Mr. Pennington at Winchester, Va., while
making arrangements for a balloon ascension from that place, I
advised him to place a balloon, instead of a kite, as a buoyant
power to his flying machine, which he at once adopted. He has
deposited a model in the patent of&ce at Washington ; and in his
pamphlet, purports to have entered it for letters patent, which, if
so, is more likely to be improved than infringed ; for, thus far,
nothing has been realized by it. The appkcation of beveled
wheels to the propulsion of aerial machinery did not originate
with Mr. Pennington, nor can it be ascribed to any one in par-
ticular, as the use of them would naturally suggest itself to any
one who was engaged in the investigation of aerial navigation.
Mr. C. Green, of London, the veteran aeronaut, used them in an
experimental model of a flying machine, a balloon, at an exhibi-
tion of his air navigating macnine before the Polytechnic School
of London, before Mr. Pennington presented his claim to theif
application for such purpose.

The same principle is claimed as having been recommended
at a period prior to the use of it in steamboats. We will tak^ the
claimant's communication to the ^'Philadelphia Sqn" newspaper
of 1843, in full, as being pertinent to the subject under considera-
tion.

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86 BALLOON PROPULSION.

He says, " Though all the devices and projects directed to the
object contained in the article yon published on * Navigating
the Air,' I consider as ineflScient or flitile^ yet I by no means
think the idea visionary or impracticable, and therefore, they lead
me to recur to a communication of mine, inserted in the ' ^|^ited
States Gazette,' of the 17th of June, 1828, now nearly twenty
years ago, signed E. L. B. E. In it a contrivance is proposed
for the purpose, which all previous and subsequent reflection and
observation confirm roe in believing adequate to eflect it, though
it has not yet attracted the practical attention of any one who may
be competent, through his wealth and skill, to |;ive it a fair trial,
which I should be glad to assist a party in doing. As the date
of that communication is so far in the rear, that perhaps few,' if
any, besides myself, remember anything of it, I will briefly reca-
pitulate its scope. In it I contemplated the accomplishment of
aerial navigation, by means of a mechanical contrivance, derived
from the well-known power and operation of revolviag inclined
planes, as exemplified in a windmill, or in a child's plaything,
displayed in almost every house, on the stove, during the winter.
Therein I held that, as a current of air, actinff against a system of
confined inclined planes, causes them to revolve with great power,
increasing in proportion to their surface and the strength of the
current, so, if the power were reversed, the planes set free, and
the force applied directly to them, they would project themselves
foTtoard with a corresponding force and velocity — ^the same as
does a ship in similar circumstances — for, contrary to the common
conception, three-fourths of a ship's sailing is performed by the
sails acting as inclined planes against the current of wind, instead
of direct line impulse.

" Now, to practically effect my proposition, I contemplate an
oblong balloon, whose capacity should be but a few pounds less
in ascensive power, when provided with a vertical and horizontal
set of rotary inclined planes, than the burden it is to carry. Then,
but a small portion of the power of a man to the horissontal planes,
would cause its ascension, and a proportionate power to the verti-
cal ones, would cause its forward progress. The steering could
be efl^cted exactly in the manner of a ship, bird, or fish. I have,
also, in my head the application of a well-known, very common
principle of power, little inferior to steam, which has but trifling
weight, and requiring neither fuel nor fire, which could as cer-
tainly be brought into action, as that of human or any other force.

<< In the same communication (June 17th, 1828), I proposed the
application of this principle to the propelling of vessels, exactly
as Mr. Loper has since done, efficiently in the fact, and, I believe,
profitably so to himself; with the additional proposition of substi-
tuting inclined planes for the wind, instead of steam power, to

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BENSON'S AERIAL CARRIAGE. 87

move the propellers — and invited the conference of any enter-
prising person, whose means and perceptions might be brought
to favor an experiment ; but, though the communication was copied
into some papers — pailicularly, I remember, the < Boston Galaxy'
— ^I never have heard a word of it since,

**'fdo not mean to imply that Mr. Loper's device is npt intui-
tive with himself, for my observation and experience have in-
formed me of the fact that two persons, or even more, widely
distant and unknown to each other, may hit on the very samef
idea."

The plan laid down above is theoretically correct, and, were it
not for the desideratum existing in the propelling power, it were
worth the while to try it. Human power is insufficient for, and
steam power is not adapted to, ballooh navigation; there are
several insuperable difficulties connected with it, to say nothing
of the danger that would constantly attend its use, arising from
the proximity of fire with so ignitable and explosive a substance
as the gas would be that might in any way escape from the bal-
loon and mix with the air surrounding it.

The next which is worthy of consideration we find in Hen-
son's idea. Many persons in England were sanguine in the be-
lief that his machine was destined to perfect the art of aerial
navigation, and it was seriously contemplated to build one after
his model, with which to cross the Atlantic. Indeed, it was
well calculated to inspire such a belief in the mere theoretical
mind ; but to the practical man it at once occurs, what is to keep
it from tilting over in losing its balance by o, flaw of wind, or
any other casualty, and thus tumbling to the ground, admitting
that it could raise itself up and move forward ?

The principal feature of the invention ' is the very great ex-
panse of its sustaining planes, which are larger, in proportion to
the weight it has to carry, than those of many birds ; but if they
had been still greater, they would not have sufficed of themselves
to sustain their own weight, to say nothing of their machinery
and cargo ; surely, though slowly, they would have come to the
ground. The machine advances with its front edge a little raised ;
the eflect of which is to present its under surface to the air over
which it is passing, the resistance of which, acting on it like a
strong wind on the sails of a windmill, prevents the descent of
the machine and its burden. The sustaining of the whole, there-
fore, depends upon the speed at which it is traveling through the
air, aiid the angle at which its under surface impinges on the air
in its front, and this is exactly the principle by which birds are up-
held in their flight with but slight motion of their wings, and
often with none.

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HENSON>S aerial' CARRIAGE.

Bat then this result, after the start, depends entirely on keep-
ing up the speed, and there remains beyond that, the still more
formidable difficulty of first obtaining that speed. All former at-
tempts of this kind have failed, because no engine existed that was
at once light enough and powerful enough to lift even its own
weight through the air with the necessary rapidity. Mr. Hen-
. son nas removed this difficulty partly, by inventing a steam en-
gine of extreme lightness and efficiency, and partly by another
and very singular device, which requires particular notice. The
machine, fully prepared for flight, is started from the top of an
inclined plane, in descending which, it attains a velocity neces-
sary to sustain it in its further progress. That velocity would be
gradually^ destroyed by the resistance of the air to the forward
flight ; it is, therefore, the office of the steam-engine and the
vanes it actuates simply to repair the loss of velocity; it is made,
therefore, only of the power and weight necessary for Aat small
eflect. Here, we apprehend, is the chief, but not the only merit
and originality of Mr. Henson's invention ; and to this happy
thought we shall probably be indebted for the first successful at-
tempt to traverse at will another domain of nature.

The editor of " Newton's Journal of Arts and Sciences,'* an
excellent English periodical, speaks of it thus: *'The apparatus
consists of a car, containing the goods, passengers, engine, fuel,
&c. ; to which a rectangular frame, made of wood or bamboo
cane, and covered with canvass, or oiled silk, is attached. This
frame extends on either side of the car, in a similar manner to
the outstretched wings of a bird ; but, with this difference, that
the frame is immovable. Behind the wings are two vertical fan-
wheels, furnished with oblique vanes, which are intended to pro-
pel the apparatus through the air. These wheels receive mo-
tion through bands and pulleys, from a steam or other engine
contained in the car. To an axis at the stem of the car, a trian-
gular frame is attached, resembling the tail of a bird, which is
also covered with canvass or oiled silk. This may be expanded
or contracted at pleasure, and is moved up or down for the pur-
pose of causing the machine to ascend or descend. Beneath the
tail is a rudder for directing the course of the machine to the right
or to the left ; and, to facilitate the steering, a sail is stretched
between two masts which rise from the car.

*^ The amount of canvass, or oiled silk, necessary for buoying up
the machine, is stated to be equal to one square foot for each half
pound weight, the whole apparatus weighing about 3000 lbs.,
and the area of surface spread out to support it, 4500 square feet
in the two wings, and 1505 in the tail, making altogether ,6000
square feet. The engine is proposed to be of from twenty-five

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HENSON'S AERIAL CARRIAGE. gg

to thirty horse power. It is stated, in the specification, that, on
launching the machine into the air, an elevated situation must be
selected, and the machine allowed to run some distance down an
inclined plane, for which purpose vertical wheels are attached to
the bottom of the car or boat. When the machine has thus ac-
quired a momentum, the rotary fan- wheels are put in motion to
raise it into the air and propel it ; the rudder appended to the
car is then vfsed for regulating its course.

''In concluding our hasty remarks on this invention, we would
remind our readers that many projects of a like character have
been promulgated to the world by enthusiastic projectors, all of
which have fallen to the ground (we use a figure of speech, for
thej have never risen), from the fact of having overlooked the
laws of matter, and miscalculated the powers of mechanism, in
imitating the functions of animal life.

'' The engraving of this machine represents the aerial steamer
flying.. The bat-like wing, or sail, is the tail which turns on
joints ; aAswering the same purposes as the tail of a bird ; and
can be depressed, elevated, contracted or expanded, at the will
of the commander. The car, containing the steam engine, cargo,
conductors, and passengers, in suitable compartments, is repre-
sented by windows, and three wheels upon which the carriage
can run on land. Aerial goes foremost, and is a little raised:
to the middle of the other is jointed the tail. The carriage is
two hundred and fifty feet by thirty, and the tail is. fifty feet long. ^
The rainbow-like cii'cular wheels are the propellers, answering
to the wheels of a steamboat, and acting upon the air after the
manner of a windmill. The car is seen at one side, owing to
the difficulty of representing it in an engraving underneath the
surface of the carriage, where it is located, between and below
the propelling wheels."

This invention was introduced eight or nine years ago, and
drew the attention and commendation of the scientific both of
Europe and America. It certainly comes nearer to the construc-
tion and consequent physical action of the bird, than any that has
ever preceded it. It, moreover, embraces all the most rational
conceptions, and fine mechanical contrivances, without the inef-
ficient incumbrances, of all other flying machines that have ever
been brought before the public. We might go on and multiply
the description of plans and models that have been suggested of
late years ; but as the ones we have here given seem to embrace
every valuable discovered feature of mechanism, it seems useless
to waste time in their further investigation. Even Messrs. Porter
and Robjohn's California Balloon, which they designed should be
propelled by steam applied to the Archimedes screw-wheel, is but

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90 BALLOON TREATISE.

a repetition of the suggestions made years ago. The propukion
of the spheroidal balloon by steam or any other power, applied
to the windmill-like paddle wheel, was first ^hown by a working
mode], put in motion by a clock spring, by Charles Green, of
England, one of the most experienced aeronauts in the world, before
the Polytechnic School of London, ten or twelve years ago. By
reference to the London paipers of that period, a description will
be found concerning it. Mr. Green has gone farther than this —
he has given us a plan by which a balloon may be made to ascend
and descend without expending ballast or gas, which is certainly
more valuable in the art of aenal navigation than any improve-
ments lately made. And even this idea (*^kedgin|^'') is said to
have been first suggested as available in balloon sailing by Bald-
win, a writer on aeronautics.

CHAPTER XV.

Treatise from the ""WeatminaterRevieV — ^Means of propulsion — ^Electro-
magnetisin and, gun-cotton — Guide rope — Various methods of keeping
balloons at a cert^ height— Friction of guide rope applicable to steer-
ing — ** Kedging."

" The problem of aerial navigation is of course not completely
resolved by the invention of a machine or apparatus capable of
sustaining the human body in the air. It is necessary to dis-
cover, likewise, the means of guiding or propelling such a ma-
chine in any direction. It would, perhaps, at first sight appear
probable that, if means of floating in the air be discovered, a
method of propulsion could be readily found ; yet it has proved
in practice a far more difficult attempt than had, at first, been
imagined ; and the numerous schemes for eflecting this object
have all proved abortive, or been attended with success so insig-
nificant as not to warrant the further prosecution of them. The
balloon invented, the art of guiding or propelling it appears thus
to \>e almost as far from our grasp, and as distant of attainment,
as ever.

** Since the invention of the gas balloon, by M. Charles, of
Paris, but few improvements of importance have been made in it ;
and> as might be foreseen from the original simplicity of the in-
vention, what improvements have been made, are not improve-
ments in the principle, but in minor matters of detail. The most

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BALLOON TREATISE. 91

iflipbrtant improvement since introducedi is one effected in the
early part of the present century, by Mr. Green, well known for
the many successful public ascents which he has since made.
This improYement consists in the use of coal gas instead of pure
hydrogen, which latter gas was employed in the ascents of M.
Charles, and the subsequent ones of Lunardi, Gamerin, and other
aeronauts.

" One of the principal advantages arising from the employment
of coal gas is economy, the saving of expenses being very great;
at the same time, from the greater density of the gas, its use en-
tails this disadvantage, that the balloon is required to be of some-
what larger dimensions than when pure hydrogen is employed
for inflation. The original expense of construction is thus in-
creased, but the disadvantage of the greater cost and siare of the
balloon is more than counterbalanced by the economy and con-
venience attending the use of coal gas ; and, what is of great
importance if balloons are eventually to become of practical
utility, the period which a balloon retains its ascending power is
considerably prolonged, when coal gas is substituted for pure
hydrogen.

** Since the introduction of the use of coal gas in aeronautics,
but few, or rather, perhaps, we ought to say no improvements in
the construction of balloons have been made ; minor improvements
have indeed been made in the form and arrangements of some
parts of the machine, or apparatus connected with it, such as the
ingenious method of liberating the balloon employed by Mr.
Green, whom we have already mentioned ; but these are all sim-
ple contrivances of detail, which in no respect alter the principle
of the machine.

" With the invention of the balloon, we had then obtained th6
means of floatingin the air, and acquired possession of a contrivance
for this purpose; which, except its inability to support very great
weights, left but little to be desired, when considered as destined
merely to support the human body in the air, and to move freely
with the wind. But the employment of such a contrivance can
scarcely be called aerial navigation ; and, in fact, only half the
work had been done ; the ship for navigating the air had been
invented ; the art of sailing is still unknown. We can scarcely
consider ourselves to have succeeded in discovering the art of
aerial navigation until the aeronaut has at his command the
means of varying the elevation of the balloon above the earth,
and of causing it to move in any horizontal direction, at will.
Two methods of effecting this naturally suggest themselves ; in-
deed, the art of aerial navigation may be considered (as that of
ocean navigation now generally is) as divided into two great and
distinct branches ; the one, comprising the manner of directing

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92 BALLOON TREATISE.

the machine by the agency of the wind itself in any direction,
either coincident with or different from that of the wind ; the other,
the employment of artificial means of propulsion, suck as pro-
pellers driven by steam engines, or machinery of a similar nature.
Of the attainment of a practically useful method of propelling
balloons by the motive power of steam, we fear there is little
hope ; and were the attention of projectors directed to a method of
sailing beilloons, rather than propelling them, it is probable some
useful practical progress might soon be made in the art of afsrial
navigation. Attempts at guiding balloons have indeed been
made ; but, being ill directed, have always failed ; and, in fact,
the application of the steam engine to locomotion not having been
made at the time of the invention of balloons, all the early at-
tempts at guiding balloons, or increasing their speed, were I
directed by the analog}', real or supposed, of a balloon and a sail-
ing vessel. The supposed identity of the two cases led imme- |
diately to the trial of sails and rudders applied to balloons ; the
experimentalists not perceiving the considerable and important j
difference existing between the two — a balloon and a ship — appear
to have fancied that the two cases differed merely in that of the
balloon floating in a medium of far less density than water. The
similarity of the two cases is, however, apparent rather than real.
In the eagerness of thcL attempt, it was entirely overlooked that )l
whilst the balloon, entirely surrounded by and immersed in the
fluid which supports it, moves necessarily at the same rate as the
current of air in which it happens to be, a vessel floating on the
surface of the water is impelled by the force of the air, which,
moving at a much greater velocity than any current, either in the
river or the ocean, has, notwithstanding its much less density,
sufficient power to give motion to the vessel. Sails and rudders,
then, when applied to balloons, were found useless ; the first did
not increase the speed of the balloon, the second bad no effect in
guiding it. Sails were, of course, useless, since there was no
wind to fill them — a balloon moving as fast as the wind; and for
the same reason, there being no current, the rudder had no action
on the direction of the motion.

^* The more recent attempts made of late years have almost
invariably been founded on schemes for propelling balloons, and,
in a great number of these, the employment of the steam engine
is a principal feature. The objections to the employment of this
motive power, even if it should be found possible to avail ourselves
of the force of steam for this purpose, would probably prove of
such force as to prevent its introduction to any extent. It may,
no doubt, be urged that, in a medium of so small a density as air,
the actual force required to propel a balloon would be very
small, and that this being the case, the size and weight of the

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BALLOON TREATISE. .98

machinery necessary to impel a balloon need not be very consi-
derable, and that, therefore, it vrould be found possible to con*
struct balloons of sufficient size and ascending power to carry the
necessary machine. But, were it even so, the necessity there
would be of either relinquishing the use of the propeller after a
very short period, or of descending to obtain supplies of fuel and
water, would be found to render its practical application of but
little value. If it also be remembered that to work a steam en-
gine it requires not only an engine and boiler, but a heavy weight
of water and fuel, even if the engine work but for a very short
time, and also engine men and stokers to work the machinery
and feed the fires, the uselessness of the attempt is so evident as
to render numerical calculations unnecessary for exposing its fal-
lacy. The lightest form of marine steam engine m use weighs
about thirteen hundred weight per horse power, and when to this
we add the weight of fuel and water contained in the boiler, and
that of the men necessary for attending the machinery, we arrive
at a sum total for the weight, whatever horse power we may
assume as necessary, entirely beyond the power of any balloon
to support. For, though we may imagine a balloon of such vast
dimensions as to be able to support such a weight, yet the con-
struction of such a balloon would be difficult, and its inflation
almost impossible.

" But, hereafter, one means of obtaining motive |)Ower may be
discovered which will enable ns to dispense with the cumbersome
appendage of a steam boiler, and the weight of fuel and water
necessary for it. Electro-magnetism may, perhaps, stand us
here in good stead ; but, at the present moment, the recently
discovered gun-cotton ofiers, perhaps, the best hopes of success.
The enormous force of this substance, compared with its weight
and the space it occupies, the abolition of the boiler and all fuel
which it will effect, and the fact of no water, either for feed or
condensation being required, are advantages which make us look
forward to a trial of gun-cotton as offering a prospect of greater
success than has hitherto attended alttempts at balloon propulsion*
Gun-cotton might be tried, probably with some effect, on the
recoil principle of the rocket, and the fumific impeller of Mr.
Gordon, as well as with machinery similar to the ordinary steam
engine, such as has recently been patented by Mr. Talbot. The
force of steam not being in this case applicable as a propelling
power, if that of gun-cotton should not be found available, we
must seek in another direction for a motive power, which, with a
small weight, gives an intense force. The great object of the
inventor will evidently be to get rid of a heavy incumbrance,
such as a steam boiler, and to confine his machine within the
most narrow limits possible as to space and weight. The use o£

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94 BALLOON TREATISE.

gun-cottoh in Heu of steam, vould certainly reduce the size and
weight of the machinery, as' far as we can reasonably hope to
reduce it. Our propelling machinery would then, in short, be a
steam engine working without water, without a boiler, and with
but a very small weight of fuel ; but, until this substance has been
successfully applied as a motive power, its application to balloon-
ing must, of course, l)e mere conjecture.

" There can be no doubt that, if ti motive power fit for the pur-
pose could be found, some form of propeller would soon be in-
vented capable of applying this power, with good effect, in the
propulsion of balloons. The numerous experiments which have
been made during the last few years with submerged propellers
applied to steam vessels, m^ke it certain ihat a similar form of
propeller might be used ifor balloons, with a fair chance of a suc-
cessful result, if only a moderate velocity be required. We have,
ourselves, seen a model ballpon furnished with a screw propeller,
worked by clock-work, perform in a satisfactory manner in a
small room, the air being still. The employment of a propelling
power applied to the car of a balloon would, however, experience
a difficulty of ta peculiar nature, which presents itself in all bal-
loon experiments ; this is a constant, though slow, rotation of a
balloon round its vertical axis. The use of the guide-rope,
which we shall presently describe, almost, if noW entirely, de-
stroys the tendency to rotation ; but, one effect of the guide-rope
is to retard the motion of the balloon, while the object of the em-
ployment of a propelling force is, of course, to increase the velo-
city of the balloon, so that the cotemporaneous employment of
the propelling force and the guide-rope is scarcely feasible ; but,
until, by some alteration in the form of balloons, or by the appli-
cation of some mechanical contrivance destined to that effect, the
tendency of a balloon to rotate round its vertical axis be destroyed,
the application of propelling machinery to balloons can be fol-
lowed but by little or no useful effect.

*^ The want of success attending the early attempts at guiding
balloons, appears to have deterred adventurers from repeating
these experiments, or devising new methods for effecting this
object; and, since the beginning of the present century, nothing
of practical utility has been tried. However, Mr. C. Green,
whom we have already had occasion to mention, has broached
an idea which appears to be in the right direction, and which
will, possibly, when modified, be found to be feasible. Mr.
Green having remarked, during his numerous balloon voyages,
that at various heights above the earth he met with currents of
air which carried him in a direction different from that in which
the wind was blowing at the time of starting, conceived the idea,
if it be possible to keep a balloon at a constant elevation above

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BALLOON TREATISE. 95

the surface of the earth, that advantage might b^ taken of this cir-
cumstance, for^ by increasing or diminishing the altitude of the
balloon, a current of air might be found to carry the aeronaut in
any direction he might desire. It hais, indeed, been long known
that the wind, observed at the surface of the earth, does not blow
in the same direction with the current of air moving at some dis-
tance from the earth. This phenomenon occurs not only in our
latitudes, but also in the regions of the trade- winds ; and several
observers, amongst them Sir James Ross, in his recent voyage,
have noticed, when in the trades, small clouds moving at a con-
siderable height above the sea, in a direction contrary to that of
the trade- winds. It is obvious that, if it be true tha^, at some
height or other above this earth, we may find a wind blowing in
any given direction, and supposing we can cause the balloon to
remain invariably at the same height, we might be enabled to
move a balloon ill any direction, merely by ascending or de-
scending until a current of air having the required direction is
met with. . "

'^ Various methods of causing the balloon to remain at an in-
variable height may, doubtless, be supposed ; but the one actually
in use, namely, that of discharging gas or ballast according as it
may be necessary to check a tendency of the balloon to rise- or
fall, is of very limited application, for the quantity of ballast and
gas which can be employed in this manner is jery small. The
power of varying the elevation, or remaining at the same height,
would be greatly extended by the use of condensed or liquefied
gas ; a small receiver containing liquid coal gas, might be 4aken
up in the car, and being connected vnth the balloon by a tube
and stopcock, the aeronaut would be able, by the simple opening
of the stopcock, to permit the entrance into the balloon of a
large quantity of gas. There would undoubtedly be a few prac-
tical difficulties in its application, but none such a;s coukl not be .
readily overcome ; but the danger attending the use of gas in
this form is but slight ; liquefied gas having been in common use
for some years past, for lighting apartments and railway carriages
in France.

"Mr. Green, however, proposes Mr. Baldwin's method, which
is very different from the above. He supposes the aeronaut fur-
nished with a rope of sufficient length to reach from the balloon,
when in the desired current of air, to the earth ; one portion of
the rope resting on and trailing along the surface of the earth or
sea, as the case may be, while the other end is attached to the
balloon or car. If the balloon, from the effects of the sun's rays
on it, rise to a greater elevation, a corresponding length of rope
will be raised off the surface of the ground and supported in
the air, and in the same way, if the balloon sink, an additional

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96 BALLOON TREATISE.

length of rope will be plunged in the water or drag along the
earth. The result will be that, in the one case, the same effect
will be produced as if an additional quantity of ballast were
added to^ or a small volume of gas allowed to escape from, the
balloon ; in the other, the effect will be similar to that of the dis-
charge of ballast from the balloon. It is evident that by this
contrivance the balloon will remain at nearly the same height
from the ground, the effect of any expansion or contraction of the
gas created by increase or decrease of the temperature of the
surrounding air being counteracted by the alteration in the weight
which the balloon has to support, and that without any loss of
either ballast or gas. This method, however, could scarcely be
practicable, except at sea, on account of the damage and diffi-
culty its employment would occasion by the entanglement of the
rope in trees and buildings ; but at sea no difficulty arising from
these circumstances could be experienced, and the experiment is
certainly well worth a trial. At great elevations above the earth,
the weight of the rope would also become so considerable as to
require for its support a large portion of the ascending power of
any balloon.

" One thing is clear, that the friction of the rope on the earth
or in the water, would occasion a degree of resistance sufficient
to retard in some degree the speed of the balloon ; and this would
lead us to hope that this plan being adopted, it would be found
possible to guide or steer balloons. We have already observed,
that to guide or steer balloons, it will be necessary to find out some
method of creating a relative velocity between the balloon and the
wind which impels it ; or, in other words, we must arrange mat-
ters so that the balloon move either slower or more rapidly than
the wind. Now this is effected by the proposed guide-rope of
Mr. Green ; and we may observe, that sailors are sometimes com-
pelled to resort to a similar artifice in order to obtain steerage-
way on a vessel.

" This artifice in navigation is termed * kedging,' and is em-
ployed when vessels are floating down streams or rivers, when
there is no wind. Under such circumstances, a vessel would be
in constant danger of being run on shore, unless steerage-way
could be got on the vessel. This is effected in the following
manner : it is well known that an anchor holds the ground more
or less firmly, according as its distance from the vessel is greater
or less ; and, when the anchor is immediately under the ship's
bow, it has very little or no hold. Now, supposing a vessel be
in a tide-way with no sails set, to obtain steerage-way, the anchor
is allowed to trail along the ground, under the bows of the vessel,
the cable being hove down until nearly vertical ; and the resist-

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• BALLOON TREATISE. 9T

ance thus opposed to the motion of the vessel through the watier,
sufficiently great to enable the vessel to be steered.

" The artifice above, briefly, described, evidently bears a strik-
ing resemblance to the guide;*rope of Mr. Green, and we think
that an attempt at steering balloons, made in conjunction with
the use of the guide-rope, wot^Id be successful. Of course some
practical difficulties would be found to exist, and the form and
arrangement of the steering apparatus, would be a subject for
great consideration. Some difficulty would also be met with from
the rotation of the balloon on its vertical axis.

*^At sea, where this idea holds out great hopes of success, the
lower, end of the guide-rope should be attached to a small boat,
or float, which would increase the resistance, and give additional
steerage»way.

>< The difficulties of steering balloons would then be found, we
think, to be far from insuperable. The rotation of a balloon about
its vertical axis would likewise be found a considerable obstacle
to the use of any propelling power, since the rotary motion of the
baUoon would cai^se the direction of the propelling force to change
at each instant. A balloon always rotates in this manner, but its
rotation is slow, and the fact is not at once perceptible, and only
apparent on regarding fixedly an object, such as a cloud, at some
distance from the spectator, when the position of the observer is
soon found to change. It is possible that, were a form other than
the spherical one, usually adopted,'given to a balloon, this motion
of rotation might be very much diminished, if not altogether
avoided."

CHAPTER XVI.

Rotation of balloons considered — Shape of balloons, also — ^Tfaeiv navigation
demonstrable— Method set forth— Facility of crossing the Atlantic —
Effect of experiment considered— Air and water craft— California Bit
steamez^-Comments on it— "Difficulty of aerial navigation" — ^Pro and
con — ^Its dangers considered, i^

The preceding account, which we have quoted from the
<* Westminster Review," seems to cover the whole ground of the
theory of balloon sailing and balloon steering. The value of its
ideas and suggestions is enhanced by the fact, that what it con-
templates as serious obstacles to the perfection of balloon naviga-
tion, are, to the practical aeronaut, but minor difficulties. The
7

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98 ROTATION OF BALLOONS.

rotary motion of the balloon^ vhile sailing quiescently in the air-
currenty is the effect of so slight a cause, that its reality , under
the present system of aeronautics, presents no formidable obstacle
to the perfection of aerial naTigation« This rotation is attributa-
ble to two causes — the shape of the balloon and the undulatory
motion of the air-currents. The position of the balloon, when
floating in the air-current, while it is in equilibrio with the sur-
rounding atmosphere, may be justly compared, in regard to its
motion round its vertical axis, to a similar shaped vessel with a
string fastened to its upper axis and suspended from the ceiling
of a room. In the latter case, the vessel should have gravity
enough to merely hang down, in order properly to illustrate the
question. It will thus be perceived how very slight must be the
wave of atmosphere to put it in motion, poised as it is, in either
case, upon its centre of gravity. In the case of the suspended
vessel, it would have to overcome the friction of the string by
which it was hanging, and would consequently require more force
to make it vibrate on its axis, than it would with the balloon,
which, while sailing free in the air, would not have to encounter
that part of the friction. Now, it is evident that the effect of so
slight a cause as that which gives rotary motion to a balloon,
would be entirely neutralized by any propelling force that would
move it faster than the air-current ; as, in such case, there must
necessarily be a rudder, which would keep the machine fwrt and
aft with its line of direction, the $ame as a steamboat or ship would
be, when propelled along, and^kster than the current in which
either of them might be sailing. I have, while sailing in the air-
current, reversed the motion of the balloon round its vertical axis,
b^ simply using a palm-leaf fan. There is, however, connected
with this part of the subject, another circumstance worthy of con-
sideration. It is while the baUoon is 'ascending and descending
from one current into another. In such case, the effect of rotation
and counter rotation is of course more violent than when the
balloon is sailing quiescently in the air-current ; and it is similar to
that which a ship experiences when sailing through a bay and
coming suddenly across a current dashing down a river into the
bay. But even this circumstance presents no greater barrier to
the management of a balloon while being propelled by the aid of
artificial motive power, than does the case just mentioned to the
ship's management.

It has been demonstrated, that a balloon of a spheroidal shape,
moving forward with its longer axis in a horizontal position, and
propelled by a motive power applied to windmill-shaped wheels,
is not liable, or at least not much disturbed, by a tendency to
rotary motion. And even a globular-shaped balloon would be
free from such disturbance when propelled forward, and having

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AIR* CURRENTS. 99

a rudder to guide it. But, of course, an oblong shape — \7hieh
comes nearer the shape of a bird or a fish — is best adapted to the
principle of steering or guiding ; while the globular shape, on the
other hand, is best adapted to the method of seeking the air^
currents i;ehich are to toafi it to its deMination. Here are two
principles, by which aerial navigation may be accomplished in a
useful manner. By a combination of the two principles, it is
within th& present known province of mechanical contrivance ;
and requires nothing more than the eflbrt to put it in motion.
While on this subject, let us consider the means of its consumma*
tion. A balloon, fifty by a hundred feet, of a spheroidal shape,
would be capable of carrying 6000 pounds independent of its
own weight, and a due allowance for expansion of the gas. This
would enable us to carry a car, supplied with an engine to be
worked with gun-cotton, sufficiently powerful to propel the balloon
with a speed of eighty miles per hour in a calm atmosphere, forty
miles per hour against a wind of a velocity of forty miles per hour,
and so on in the same ratio against winds of greater or lesser
velocities. In addition to th^ engine, wheels, and rudder, the
balloon would be capable of cairying from 1500 to 2000 pounds
of ballast* Now, with an aerial ship thus provided, I would have
no more hesitation to undertake a trip across the Atlantic Ocean,
than to embark for that destiny in the most approved steamship
now plying between the ^rts of New York and Liverpool.
Indeed, the engine would only b^required to make steerage way,
so as to make the exact point ofdestination ; for, the main part
of the voyage may be certainly accomplished by seeking the
proper currents that will foaft the. vessel in its destined direction.
The engine could be, moreover, employed as a means of elevat-
ing or lowering the balloon, by having a screw wheel adapted to
that purpose, and by such means enable us to seek the proper or
niost advantageous current, without expending any gas or baUast
while in search of it.

Now, an experiment of this kind is really wanted. It is wanted
for two important reasons ; one is, to demonstrate positively and
in reality, that aerial navigation is so far practicable as to enable
us to sail from New York to Liverpool with a balloon, and that,
too, in less than half the time it requires the best ocean steamers
to accomplish the same. The other reason is, to draw the atten-
tion of the community at large towards the improvement of the
art, which will follow just as surely as the experiment will be
accomplished.

Steam, the agent which has revolutionized the moral and com-
mercial world within the present century, would, in all human
probability, be to this day yet what it was in the hands of Savary
and Newcomen, had not a Fulton demonstrated its utility by

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100 COMPOUND CRAFT.

actually building a steamboat, and propelling it up the Hudson
Riyer at the rate of four miles per hour. So with aerial na^iga-
tion — something more than mere theorizing and simple ascents
with balloons is wanting, to bring it to that state of perfection
which art, science, and the genius of our race require of it. So
far, however, our modern projectors of aerial machinery, all seem
to have overstepped the mark. The few who have actually been
engaged in it have rather attempted too much, and therefore
failed in their designs, instead of doing; what was within their
reach, and thereby establishing that conmlence in the community,
which is 60 necessary to the attainment of a high perfection m
anything that concerns the general welfare of a nation. Miscar-
riages in projects connected with an advancing art are more de-
trimental to Its progress than if no experiments were made at all;
while, on the other hand, success in an experiment which gives
the slightest evidence of improvement is generally followed by
rapidly increasing accessions. On this account, it were better
if the friends and promoters of this art would confine their ex-
periments within the range of what is more certain of success,
than to overleap the expectation of moderate advance, and thereby
lose the time and labor devoted to the subject, which, in the end,
brings distrust instead of encouragement.

In attempting too much, we do not simply run the risk of being
defeated in the end ; but we also bring down upon the projects in
such cases, theoretical demonstrations from scientific sources, that
are strongly detrimental to a vigorous pursuit of the subject.
Such has been the case in regard to projects lately suggested in
some of our large cities, concerning aerial navigation. Not many
years ago, it was proposed in the city of New York to form a com-
pany to navigate the Hudson River between the above-named city
and Albany, by a combination of water and air craft machinery.
It was to consist of a balloon and a steamboat. The balloon was
to be oblong or spindle shaped, of the same length as the steam-
boat, and was to be of such power as to buoy up a less weight
than the boat, so much less, as to leave the boat draw water suffi-
cient to make her steerable, and for her propelling wheels to take
effect in the water. Thus combined, the steamboat hanging
underneath the balloon, drawing very little water, the wheels put
in rapid motion, it was to go up or down the North River with a
velocity of not less than a hundred miles per hour.

Now, all this appeared very feasible and interesting in theory,
and a great many sensible people believed it would go into ope-
ration ; but, to the practical mind, it at once proved its own
futility. In a calm atmosphere, and on a straight river, this
might be done ; but in the ordinary and natural requirements of

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OPINIONS OF «' SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN." 101

transportation and its circumstances, it promised no usefulness,
nor even experimental success.

In later times, and in the same place, vfhen half the popula-
tion of our country was infatuated with the gold romance of Cali-
fornia, it was proposed to build a balloon with which to carry
passengers to the gold regions of California at the rate of two
hundred miles per hour. A model of the machine was exhibit*
ed in New York and in Philadelphia. It was simply a spher-
oidal or spindle-shaped balloon, rigged with a pair of pro-
peller wheels and rudder, and a steam engine for propelling
power. The exhibition of this model created a donsiderable
sensation in the minds of the credulous, and it. was asserted at
the time that many persons engaged passage in the contemplated
<< Aerial Steamer." Whether it was seriously intended by these
projectors to build one on a large scale, time, thus far, has not yet
positively developed ; although, it was stated in a respectable
journal of New York city, in the year 1849, that the machine
was actually in course of construction, and the steam engine was
finished.

Had these projectors gone on from their miniature model, to
the erection of one capable of carrying one or two persons, in
order to prove its practicability on a larger scale, there might
have been reason to believe that they harbored an idea of its
general usefulness. But when the project embraced at once so
magnificent a scheme, as that contemplated in the swooping
strides towards the modem El Doradoy with a ear^ of a hun-
dred gold hunters, it seemed too much for sober-minded people.
And, as we stated before, it brought upon itself philosophical cri-
ticism and scientific condemnation, and with that, a good share
of opposition to the hopes and expectations of aerial navigation in
any shape.

The ^* Scientific American," one of the best journals of its kind
then existing in the country, published in the city of New York,
made frequent a.llusions. to the subject of aerial navigation, as
well as to aU matters connected with the progress of the material
world, and, from the assumptions contemplated in the California
project just mentioned, published the following article under the
bead of " The Difficulty of Navigating the Air." It says : " No
body can float in the air unless it be 800 times lighter than water;
such a body, therefore, must of course carry 800 times less power
than might be used in a steamboat. But the utmost power that
a steamboat can carry will not enable it to make the least head-
way against wind blowing 200 miles per hour. How then is it
possible. for a body of 800 times less power to make any headway
against even a wind blowing three miles an hour?

'*In navigating the air, we can obtain nb fulcrum but the air

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102 OPINIONS NOTICED

itself, and thdt is yieldiDg, and but a small portion of even the
power which can be carried could prore effective.

^^ If a body, so comparatively solid as water, caBsec a loss of
power, the loss must be vastly greater in a body 800 times lighter
and exceedingly elastic. When to all this we add 800 times
less power than a steamboat, and at the same time bear in mind
the further fact that a steamboat cannot^ make the least headway
against wind blowing 200 miles an hoar^t is no go."

Seeing the effect of such reasoning, coming, as it did, from a
purely scientific and highly respectable joomaJ, the authd^ of this
work, as an ardent laborer in the cause of improvement, felt it
his duty to notice the above hypothesis in the following brief
manner: —

Gentlemen: In the second number of the present volume of
your journal, you have an article under the head of * The Dif-
ficulty of Navigating the Air.' In it you correctly assume &at
a body must be 800 times lighter than water before it can float
in the air, and that such a booy, therefore, must carry 800 times
less power than a steamboat. You then go on and state that «
steamboat cannot make any headway against a wind blowing
200 hundred miles per hour. Granted. The part of the bo»
above the water is opposed by the wind-^the part below, or in
the water, is against the opposing current of water, caused by
the wind, which is much more opposing than the wind would be
of itself, if blowing against the hull of the boat directly. In the
case of the water, acted on by the wind, it is an accmntdating
force, increased by the duration of the blast and extent of its im-
pact upon the water. But it is even so as you have stated. Yon
then say, * How is it possible for a body of *800 times less power
to make any headway against even a gentle breeze blowing three
miles an hour?' And from the whole calculation you make in
the aforesaid article, you conclude that aerial navigation * is no

Your paper is intended to promote the arts and sciences, and
your opinion on any subject, being its editors, carries with it
weight, and should, therefore, be open to a fair analysis. Now,
if your premises in the question were firm and invariable, the
conclusions could hardly be shaken. Your hurricane would, in-
deed, blow all aerial machiqery its own way, with a velocity
exactly equal to its own (I have experienced this), and it would,
moreover, wreck and founder any ship or steamboat in the water
caught in its track. Not so, however, with aerial machinery !
The air^crafthas but one medium, the water-craft has two; hence
the latter's destruction, arising from the great disparity of density
in the two mediums, and the former's safety from moving in the
simple element. Such a wind, so far from injuring a balloon,

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FRANKUN'S OPINION ON BALLOONS. 108

would only driise it completely round the world in five days, if it
eoDtinued that long. Now, the aerial ship has an advantage,
compared with the water ship, that is seldbm considered. It can
sunnountf or dodge^the ^nogo' barrier in your premises — the
stiBamboat can't. It is not necessary, in aerial navigation, to go
right against the wind; nature is very profuse in its variety of
atmospherical currents, within two miles above the level of the
sea. The greatest obstacle to the perfection of aerial navigation
iiS in the loss of buoyant power required in rising and falling into
the currents that will waft the vessel towards its port of des-
tination. I am not theorizing when I say that nature is pro«
fuse in its variety o( currents ; I know it from the experience of
over a hundred aerial excursions. By the aid of these con-
trary and various currents, I hare avoided the necessity of de-
scending into rivers, forests, lakes, seas, and bays. The upper-
most current I have always found to blow from west to east.
While aloft, I have, within the visible length of a twine string
suspended from the car, seen the effects of two currents besides
the one that moved the balloon. These strings were 500 feet long.
You may often see, as yon no doubt have seen, two, three, and
four different currents of air within the range of the cloud region,
when clouds exist. I have found these various currents just as
numerous in a perfectly clear atmosphere. The greatest deside-
ratum, in aerial navigation, is a power adaptable to raising and
lowering the balloon, without expending any of its buoyant gas.
Steam, I think, is not adaptable to its being made a common use-
ful art. It would do for a demonstrable purpose. But the pro*
gress of improvement may yet give us a power-agent adaptable
to this art, if we should fail to contrive a means by which a bal-
loon may be made to rise and fall by the principle of expansion
and contraction.

FrankKn said the child must learn to walk before it can run,
in allusion to aeronautics ;^and, as this child lay in the womb of
science over two thousand years before it was born (it was
sought after all that time by many ingenious persons), it is cer-
tainly doing very well, considering its infant state. A subject
like this, calculated, when perfected, to bring within the space
of a few weeks the practicability of exploring the whole circum-
ference of the globe, must have its time,^— that time is fast ap-
proaching; but it wants encouragement, especially by the de-
veloping powers, — the scientific press.

The natural elements, so far from presenting barriers and ob-
stacles, as they do to a great extent in ocean navigation, seem to
be peculiarly inviting to aerial navigation. The almost universal
opinion, and to a great extent among really scientific men, that
aerial navigation cannot be turned to a generally useful account,

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104 BALLOONING NOT DANGEROUS.

is almost as prevalent as the opinion that aerial voyages are ex-
tremely dangerous, and is jast as wrongly founded, in my hum-
ble, opinion.

The foregoing article was published in the New York/* Scien-
tific American," and drew from its editors. the following compli-
mentary notice/ [" The above communication from Mr. Wise
is just such a one as we like. It is reasonable, and contains
practical information. His opinions respecting steam as an
aerial propellant accords with our own, and as we have ex-
pressed them on the subject in our last . volume. There is
another thing, besides the discovery of a mor^ compact power,
which would greatly facilitate economical balloon ^lavigation,
namely, a more. buoyant, cheaper gas than hydrogen. A body
of great magnitude is not easily managed — the whole experience
of ballooning proves this. We all know that balloons can as-
cend, float, and move in the atmosphere, and have been propelled
by the Roberts, in Paris. These things are not the subject/of
discussion. It is the practicability of propelling balloons through
the atmosphere as steam vessels on the. ocean. There is no man
to whom we can more confidently Jook for a correct ^.account's of
the economical establishment of aerial navigation than Mr. Wise.
We would be content with a balloon speed of ten miles per hour,
if the balloon could be perfectly controlled by the aeronaut, as a
steed IS by its rider. . .« . i

'' As it respects the last paragraph of the above letter, we must
say that the whole history of ballooning, to scientific men, is full
of facts, affording just grounds for their opinion, that is, respect-
ing its danger. Within. the past three months, one aerial, navi-
gator lost his life in England ; Vardalle barely escaped with his
in our city ; and it was certainly a most wonderful escape of the
celebrated Mr. Green, in one of his late ascents in London. «The
subject of aerial navigation has been before the scientific world
for sixty-seven years, and we know of no practical .imp^royements
that have been made in it since the days of the French Consul-
ate ; while during that period, steam navigation, aiid the science^
of electricity, and other sciences, have advanced with giant
strides ; yet for all this, we never have, and never will ridicule
experiments in aerial navigation. We have hopes like those of
our correspondent ; but so far as it regarded the balloon excite-,
ment that was raised about going to California at the rate.'otTwo
hundred miles per hour, we deemed it our duty to expose the
sham, although believed by thousands, and the. results have
faithfully borne us out in our predictions— yea, in every word."]

Now concerning the danger of ballooning, I still say there is
no just ground for its apprehension. In reference to the cases
just mentioned, it should be recollected that the one which

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PS.Diival'B oteam lith Press.

THE VAUXHALL BALLOON. ^ ,

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GREEN, THE VETERAN AERONAUT. 105

proved fatal to the aeronaut in England, was more from the cause
of imprudence, than the intrinsic peril of ballooning. The bal-
loon and aeronaut were both drifted on to the beach soon after
their descent ; thus showing that, if the individual had trusted
himself to the aid of his machinery, instead of, as may be rea-
sonably supposed he did, swimming to shore, his life would have
been saved. In the case of Verdalle, it must be remembered
that he used a rarefied-air balloon, a contrivance long ago aban-
doned by scientific : men on account of its inutility. As to the
case of Mr. Green, it is of a kind that has so frequently happened
to aeronauts without any serious consequisnces, that it is scarcely
to be counted a peril. Moreover, there has never yet been. a
fatal accident in ballooning in the United States, notwithstanding
many hundreds of ascensions have been made. This latter fact
is a strong ailment in favor of the non-danger of ballooning,
when practiced by ordinarily skillful persons. K we had not the
mathematical science of the art to prove that it is as simple and
as safe as any other mode of travel or conveyance, this fact alone,
the result of many hundred voyages, would indubitably establish
the truth of what has been said of its safety. !

CHAPTER XVII.

Letter from the veteran aeronaat Green — The Taoxhall baUoon^-Aooonnt
of it from "the Mirror" — ^Fimt ascent with it, nine persons went up—
Green's narratiye of the voyage— The enterprise-— Its adyantages — Cost

.^ of. Yaazhall balloon.

DuniKG the early part of last fall, when I had determined to
complete this work during the winter, I wrote to the veteran
aeronaut, Mr. Charles Green, of London, for an account of his
voyage from the English metropolis to Germany, as I had failed
to find it in our libraries. Just as the book was getting ready for
the press, I was fortunate enough in getting from that gentleman
a package enclosing the account wntten mr, as well as several
other papers too valuable to be omitted in this edition of the
work. To show the lively interest this celebrated aerial naviga-
tor still exhibits in the art, a part of his letter may be quoted: —

mghgaU, Deo. 7th, 1849.
Mr. John Wise :

' Esteemed Sir — Having only this day returned from the Con-
tinent, your favor has just come to hand, which I much regret,

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106 GREEN, THE VETERAN AERONAUT.

as I fear this will reach you too late to be of service for your
work.

Herewith you will receive the only copy I have of the trip to
Germaiiy ; likewise all I can lay my hand on relative to Mr»
docking's fatal parachute descent. I have a numerous collection
of articles on aerostation, with many duplicates^ some of which,
in the event of your having a second edition c^ your work, might
be of service; but which at present are much confused and mis*
laid, by my preparations for removal to a new residence after
Christmas.

I am convinced much may be done by the aid of propellers,
not only by causing the balloon to ascend or descend without dis-
charging gas or bsJlast, but in varying its direction in a tranquil
atmosphere, which I have often experienced within a mile of the
earth during the prevalence of a strong wind at its surface.

I likewise consider a guide*line of gutta percha, with compen«
sating appendages as used by me for land or water, indispensably
necessary to the performance of long voyages.

The iftccident you allude to was in a great measure a news-
paper affair, which arose from my assistant suffering the escape
of too much gas as it expanded in the ascent — the balloon being
quite distended on leaving the earth.

I am, esteemed sir, your sincere well-wisher,

CHARLES GREEN.

(From the ** London Mirror" of the 17th of September, 1836.)

THE VAUXHALL BALLOON.

^^Aeronautics, or ballooning, has of late years attracted a very
considerable portion of public curiosity. The early experiments
in the science were fraught with uncertainty and danger, as every
outline of its history narrates ; from Roger Bacon's ^ machine for
flying,' to poor Garnerin's perilous voyage of three hundred miles.
The first balloons, as the reader may recollect, were inflated with
heated or rarefied air. Next, hydrogen, the lightest gas known,
was substituted for the heated air, the result of which application

{iroved a greater impetus than the science had hitherto received,
ndeed, the first ascent in a balloon filled with hydrogen gas,
made in 1783, must still be regarded as the most important
practical improvement in aeronautics.

** Nevertheless, with this grand advance, the balloon has un-
fortunately proved but an abortive instrument in the hands of
science. Its construction, at all times expensive, was, from the
above period till within these fifteen years, too costly to reward

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GREAT VAUXHALL BALLOON. 107

aeronauts, especially as their labors led to no result beyond that
of an exhibition of skill to gratify curiosity. Hydrogen gas,
though a successful substitute, was somewhat too costly for mere
amusement. Besides, there was some uncertainty in its produc-
tion in sufficient volume to inflate large balloons. This uncer-
tainty often led to the disappointment of crowds assembled to
witness balloon ascents, and altogether threw discredit upon per-
sons who professed to be competent to insure success. Hence
the doubt and incredulity with which, more or less, the balloon
announcements were received just previous to the year 1821,

" About this period, Mr. Green (the architect of the balloon
we are about to describe), had first turned his attention to aero-
nautics. In his early experiments, < seeing the great expense,
difficulty, and inconvenience of using pure hydrogen gas, he con-
ceived the possibility of substituting carburetted hydrogen, or .coal
gas, such as is used for illumination ;' and proved the truth of
his theory by ascending with his balloon inflated with co^ gas,
from the Green Park, on the day of the coronation of the late
Kin^ George IV. ; and Mr. Green has since shown the efficiency
of his improvement in 220 ascents from the metropolis and the
various provinces : he is now, therefore, an air-beaten sailor ;
and has encountered many an ill wind in gathering experience
and success to qualify him for more extensive labors.

"From the year 1821, therefore, *the use of pure hydro-
gen has been aJmost, if not entirely discontinued, the expense
of generating it being six times greater than that of coal gas.
But the specific gravity of coal gas being considerably greater
than that of hydrogen, it gives a balloon a much smaller ascend-
ing power ; and the quality of coal used, and the method em-
ployed by different gas companies in its manufacture, are so various
(the specific gravity having been found to vary from 340 to 790),
that it was impossible to ascertain exactly what would be the
power of a balloon inflated with it.' The balloons in which Mr.
Green had hitherto ascended were of such small dimensions as
not to allow scientific men to take with them sufficient apparatus
for making experiments, which circumstance Mr. Green considers
to have caused balloons generally, to be regarded as mere objects
of public exhibition. Xn some measure, therefore, to establish the
utility of aeronautics, Mr. Green proposed to construct a balloon
three times as large as any one in which he had ascended ; in
which project he was joined by the proprietors of Vauxhall
Gardens.

" Our anxiety to introduce this new balloon early to the reader
led us to apply for permission to inspect the machine in the progress
of construction. The application was answe)red by a courteous
invitation to the Garden ; and thither, about a week since, we

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108 SIZE OF VAUXHALL BALLOON.

proceeded on the interesting inquiry. The morning was wet,
plashy, with clouds and sunshine to feed reflection ; for, of the
truth, in Vauxhall Gardens, in such weather, one may suck
^ melancholy from a song.' . .

^^ We reached the building wherein was the balloon; and which
was originally the saloon wherein the Pandean Band were wont to
discourse on their mellifluous pipes. Mythology and the balloon
were no bad associates. Here, half prostrate on the flooring, lay
the huge leviathan of silk, the bag nearly half inflated with the
atmosphere, the valye aperture at the top, and the opening at the
neck, being closed with wooden lids. . Here, too, we met Mr.
Green,' in excellent spirits on having nearly completed his balloon,
after ^ many months of anxious labor,' and in pleasant anticipa-
tion of the success of his first ascent.

^^The balloon is 150 feet in circumference; and the extreme
height. of the whole, when inflated, and with the car attached,
Mr. Green stated, would be 80 feet.- It is formed of 2000 yards
of jsilk,' imported raw from Italy, in part, dyed crimson by Messrs.
Soper, of Spitalfields. The silk is cut in forty-four gores, alter-
nately crimson and white ; their length is 90 feet ; they are joined
by each overlaying the other, and being doubly stitched; and the
seams are overlaid by a cement of such a tenacious nature, that,
when once dry, the joint becomes the strongest part; this cement
or .varnish filling up the minute space left by the many thousand
stitches, which might otherwise allow some escape of ga^.~ The
whole of the silk is also coated with a kind of varnish, formed of
caoutchouc dissolved in turpentine, and mixed with a certain
proportion of boiled oil, the manufacture of which appertains to
Mr. Green's arcana of. balloon , making. The. wooden covering
being removed from. the neck of the bag, we were invited within
the vast machine, on condition of taking off our boots, to prevent
injury to the silk ; but were content to stoop and take a view of
the interior of the vast hemispheroid. The efiect was, indeed,
striking ; the light from the openings in the building streaming
through the alternate gores of crimson and yellow, half the nu,ni-
ber having assumed that color from. the. varnish; Thcappejajance
of so vast, a roof,- unsupported save by air, and ever and anon
rising and falling in graceful undulations, reminded us of the strict
' analogy of the atmosphere to a fluid. As festive associations are
inseparable from Vauxhall, we thought a table might be spread
for a ^ goodly companie' beneath this fairy-like vault, redolent, as
it was, of boiled oil.

^^It has been mentioned that the bag was scarcely half filled;
the weight of atmospheric. air,sufficient to inflate it,*would be about
5346 lbs. ; while the silk so inflated would sustain an atmospheric
pressure of 20,433,600 lbs., or 9122 tons. To inflate the bag with

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ASCENT WITH VAUXHALL BALLOON. 109

pure hydrogen gas, would require about 364 Iba., at a cost of
about 2501. ; the machine would have an ascending power of 4962
lbs. ; and allowing 700 lbs. for the weight of the silk and appa-
ratus, and 362 lbs. for ballast, it would ascend with twenty-eight
persons of the average weight of 140 lbs. each. Now, the cost of
the 70,000 feet of coal gas is but 70/. ; this, indeed, is an ex-
traordinary charge, being at the rate of 20s. for every 1000 feet,
although the j?as for lighting streets or shops is charged at 9s. for
every 1000 feet. Unless the balloon gas be of purer quality
than the latter kind, the company supplying it cannot be com-
mended for their liberality towards experimental science.

" Having inspected the silken bag, we were shown the valve,
of leather upon wooden frame work, and thickly coated with the
varnish. Beside, lay the net for enveloping the silk — an excellent «
specimen^ by the way, of hempen manufacture.

" We now crossed the grove, and ascendied to one of the octa-
gonal supper rooms, wherein was the car for the balloon. It is
of oblong form, with elliptical ends, somewhat deep, and having
a seat around it, the whole beine of strong basket work ; and to
insure safety, the cords by which the car is attached to the silk
bag, are plaited with wicker. At each end of the car, is the head
of a colossal eagle, richly gilt. The draperies for the covering
of the car were in readiness ; they are purple and crimson velvet,
richly embroidered.

ASCENT WITH THE VAUXHALL BALLOON.

** The ascent with this stupendous balloon took place at the
Gardens, on Frida^y, the 9th inst. The day, <big with fate,'
was auspicious in the morning ; but, at two o'clock, the weather
changed, and from that time until half past four, it rained inces*
santly. The balloon having been removed to a piece of ground
adjoining the fire-work walk, the inflation commenced at ten
minutes past eleven, and in the space of twelve minutes the bal-
loon possessed sufficient power to support itself. Thirty-six
policemen were placed around it, each taking charge of one of
the cords connected with the network. In about an hour, an iron
half-hundred weight was also attached to each cord, and shortly
after, five more in difierent parts, making in all, forty-one weights
of fifty-six pounds each. These were soon three feet from the
ground, and the policemen were compelled to pass their staves
mrough several of the meshes, to prevent the cords cutting tBeir
hands. This combined resistance was, however, found insuffi-
cient; and twenty other persons were called to assist the police-
men. By this time, Mr. Green calculates that the petting and
silk must have absorbed 300 lbs. weight of water, besides the

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110 VAUXHALI. BALLOON VOYAGE.

quantity retained on the top of the balloon, by the presanre of the
net on the silk, each mesh forming a small reservoir.

^< The inflation was superintended by Mr. Hutchinson, engineer
to the London Gas Company, and was completed, under all fayor-
able circumstances^ in four hours and five minutes. The labor
of attaching the car to the net was now commenced, and from the
shrinking of the ropes by the w€^, and the adjustment requisite
at the first ascent, occupied some time. Twenty-four bags ol
ballast, weighing together 400 lbs., were then placed in the bot-
tom of the car, and the grapple, or anchor was laid in: this is of
wrought iron, and was attached to an elastic, caQUtchouc cord,
from the factory of Mr. Sirvier, which will, in a great measnre,
prevent any sudden jerk in stopping the balloon in rough weather,
whereby many accidents have occurred. The balloon being now
ready, the party took their seats in the car ; there were nine per-
sons: Mr. Green, Mrs. Green, Miss Mary Anne Green, niece of
Mr. Green, Mr. James Green, his brother. Captain Currie, Mr.
Hildyard, Mr. Holland, and Mr. Edwin Gye, and Mr. WUliam
Hughes, sons of the proprietors of Vauxhall Gardens.

*^ The appearance of the balloon was truly magnificent ; and
though ponderous, nothing could exceed its graceful beauty ; as
shown in the previous engraving, from a lithograph, by Mr.
Cocks, the artist to the Gardens. It should, however, be re-
marked that the network has been added.

*^ Mr. Green had calculated the ascending power of the balloon
from the average specific gravity of the gas made by the dififerent
companies, and found it to be considerably more than he an-
nounced to the public ; for, it was found that, instead of carrying
up from eight to ten persons, the number stated, there was
buoyancy enough to take up twenty persons. Mr. Green was,
therefore, compelled to allow about 15,000 feet of gas (more than
one-fifth of the whole power) to escape, before he could release
the balloon from its moorings ; the ascending power being much
too great, and there not being room in the car for more voyagers.
To this circumstance is to be ascribed the apparent smallness of
the balloon to the distant spectators, and the absence of that regu-
larity of form which is at all times to be remarked in an inflated
body. All being now ready^ the signal-gun was fired, the ropes
were cut, and the balloon shot rapidly into the nether regions.
Mr. Green's narrative of the voyage is subjoined.

NARRATIVE*

" We proceeded at first to the east, but soon took a south-
easterly direction, leaving Greenwich and Woolwich to the left.
The gardens, and every, avenue leading to them, appeared to be

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VAUXHALL BALLOON VOYAGE. HI

one solid mass of human beings ; in facty there was not an ele-
vated spot within two miles of the metropolis, which was not
crowded with spectators. We had ascended about three-quarters
of a mile when we found ourselves in a brilliant sunshine, which
formed a strong contrast to the dense and clouded atmosphere we
had just left The gas now expanded rapidly, and the silk, down
to the bottom of the neck, was completely distended. We, of
course, ascended with great velocity, and in less than five minutes,
the fall of the mercury in the barometer indicated a height of two
miles and a quarter ; this was our greatest elevation, and it being
nearly dark, I thought it unadvisable to ascend higher ; therefore,
suffering a small portion of gas to escape from the valve, we
commenced our descent. We were now nearly opposite Graves-
end, and had crossed the Thames several times. The grap-
pling iron first touched the ground near the village of Cli&, in
Kent ; and, after slightly catdiing several times, took a firm hold.
A slight breeze springing up at this ipoment, the jerk caused the
hoop, to which the grapple rope was fastened, to give way, which
rendered it necessarv to open the valve very wide. This done,
the car soon touched the ground. We then drifted about a hun-
dred yards, and the valve being kept open, the stupendous ma-
chine, which so lately exhibited its giant power, lay motionless
on the ground.

^* All my companions expressed the greatest delight du^g
the voyage, and enjoyed themselves much ; indeed, so loud was
their mirth several times, that I had some difiBculty in making
my directions audible ; for, I assigned a duty to each, such as
watching the rise or fall of the mercury in the barometer and
thermometer, throwing. out ballast, &c. Being forced to take
such a large quantity of ballast, we found the car too small ; but
a new one, much larger, will be constructed for the next ascent.
We slept at the village of Cliffe, proceeding to Gravesend yester-
day (Saturday) morning, and arrived in town at ten o^clock at
night. C. GREEN."

^^ Among the advantages to be gained from the vast increase in
the balloon, Mr. Green states the following : ^ A much greater
elevation will be attained than has hitherto been, and the long
agitated question decided as to whether there are, at a great alti-
tude, currents of air in one direction for several months together*
This, Mr. Green from many observations he has made, believes
to be the case at an altitude where the atmosphere is not acted
upon by the reflection of the sun's rays from the earth, or dense
masses of clouds. Should this theory be correct, a grand step in
the progress of aeronautics will be made. Before the next ascent
of this balloon, a larger car will, doubtless, be provided ; and
Mr. Green proposes a small chamber to be attached in place of

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112 BALLOON VOYAGE.

the car, in ^hich from three to six persons can ascend, with

ample space and convenience for experimental apparatus.' '

*^ It should be added^ that the records of aeronautics present few

instances of such success as has' rewarded Mr; Green and the

Eroprietors of Vauxball Gardens, in the construction of this vast
alloon. The enterprise has, in every particular, been so. well
managed, that too much credit can scarcely be given to the skill,
expenence, and liberality of the respective parties. More than
was promised to the public has been performed ; so' that their
patronage has, in every in^ance, been well bestowed upon this
costly experiment. The expense of constructing the balloon is
calculated at 21002. : the expense of the silk, which is of excel-
lent quality, was 700/.*' ♦

CHAPTER XVIII.

Great aeronautical expedition from London to Weilburg, across the i
Made by Robert HolLond Esq., Monck Mason, Esq., and Charles Ghreen,
aeronaut — ^Written by Monck Mason.

#

" To Robert Hollondy Esq.y to whose liberal and enterprising sptrtf
the late expedition owes its origin and success^ the following
sketch is inscribed^ as a slight testimony of the regard and re*
spect in which he is held by his sincere friend and faithful
servant, M. MASON.

"Paris, Dec. 1836.

ACC0X7NT OF TH£ AERONAUTICAL EXPEDITION FROM LONDON TO
WEILBTJBG.

" The interest with which the public at all times appear to have
regarded the progress of aerostation, and especially the very flat-
tering concern which they have deigned so unequivocally to ex-
press for the successful issue of our late undertaking, have con-
curred in inducing me to abandon the usual path of communica-
tion hitherto adopted upon such occasions, and confirm me in
the opinion that some account, more accurate and detailed than
is generally to be found in the columns of the public press, might
not prove unacceptable to those for whose sympathy and conside-
ration we can never acknowledge ourselves suflSciently grateful.
In this belief, which I hope-may not be deemed fallacious, I have
seized the first vacant moment since our descent, to embody in
the present form all those incidents and observationli to which a
voyage so singular is so amply calculated to give rise. It is

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FROM LONDON TO WEILBURG. 118

true that many of these have already reached the public ear
throiigh the medium of the public press, while at the same time,
DO doubt, much of the interest which owes its origin to the un-
certainty and supposed peril of such exploits must have already
subsided in the knowledge of the result, and of the leading fea-
tures, which our duty to the public made it imperative upon us
immediately to divulge* It is not, however, in the mere issue,
successful or unsuccessful, that the chief merit or importance of
such an enterprise can alone be said to consist. Designed with a
view to special ends, and undertaken for the sole purpose of as-
certaining and establishing the efficacy of certain improvements
in the art, from which most beneficial results t^ere, and I am
now happy to add are^ most likely to accrue, it becomes no less
an obligation to ourselves than to the world in general, to make
them partakers in the knowledge of whatever interesting or im-
portant circumstances either accompanied the progress of our
expedition, or may justly be expected to attend the adoption of
those improvements, the. merits of which it was our sole object
in the present instance to confirm.

** From the time of the first discovery of the properties and
power of the balloon,* up to a late period (already a lapse of
more than half a century), a variety of obstacles apparently in-
surmountable continued to obstruct the progress, and paralyze
the efforts of all who sought to render it obedient to the sway of
human will, and isubservient to the purposes of human life, llie
chief of these impediments consisted in the uncertainty and ex-
pense attending the process of inflation from the employment of
hydrogen gas; the dangers considered inseparable from the prac-
tice of the art ; the difficulties which hitherto have baffiied all at-
tempts to give a direction to the ungovernable mass, and the im-
possibilitv which all previous aeronauts have experienced of re-
maining m the air a sufficient time to ensure the attainment of a
sufficient distance.

<^To remove these obstacles and reduce the aerial vehicle to a
more certain issue, a vast extent of actual experience, united to an
intellect capable of turning it to a proper account, was absolutely
required; and it would be an act of much injustice were I not to

* It may not be uninteresting to those concerned in the aDnals of aeros-
tation, to mention that the widow of the celebrated Montgolfier, the first
inventor of the balloon, to which his name continues to be attached, is at
this present moment living in Paris; and, though in her eighty-second
year, in the perfect enjoyment of all her faculties, ardent in the advance-
ment of the art, and hospitable in the reception of those who cultivate it.
I had the pleasure of dinmg at her table, since our arrival, and of hearing
firon^her own lips many of those curious anecdotes illustrative of its origin
and progress, wnich, indeed, appear at all times to have accompanied we
first dawning of great and important discoveries.
8

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114 BALLOON VOYAGE

declare, that it is to the combination of both these in the person
of Mr. Charles Green, that vre are indebted for the entire results
of all that is beneficial in the practice, or novel in the theory of
this, the most delightful and sublime of all sublunary enjoyments.

"It was to him, and to his discovery of the applicability of
coal gas to the purposes of inflation, that we owe the removal of
the first of those impediments in practice, which till then had
continued to weigh down with a leaden hand the efforts of the
most indefatigable and expert, and had, in fact, bid fair to quench
the incipient science in its very onset.

"Up to the period of that discovery, the process of inflation
was one, the expense of which was only to be equaled by its
uncertainty : twoj and sometimes even three days of watchful
anxiety have been expended in the vain endeavors to procure a
suiEciency of hydrogen to fill a balloon, from which, on account
of its peculiar aflinities, it continued to escape almost as fast as
it was generated ; during all which time the various casualties of
wind and weather, the inevitable imperfections of a vast and
cumbrous apparatus, and above all the enormous expense attend-
ing this operation, were to be incurred and endured, for the sole
purpose, and with the sole object of remaining for a few hours
helplessly suspended in the air. Under such disadvantages, all
prospect of advancement in the art had speedily disappeared;
and it was only by the timely intervention of Mr. Green's ingeni-
ous application that the art itself was saVed from a premature
extinction — aerostation had gone to sleep, when, roused by this
discovery, she awoke to redoubled efforts, and rendered that, in
the hands of the skilljvij a profession and a profit, which before
had ever been a matter of doubt, difficulty, and distress.*

" With respect to the next of those impediments, which in the
opinion of mankind might have continued to oppose the adoption
of aerostation as an organ of general utility — I mean the danger
usually considered as consequent upon the exercise of the art,
much is not required to prove the fallacy of such fears; two
hundred and twenty-six ascents,! undertaken at all periods of the
year, without one disappointment to the public, and without one

* Independent of the diminutioEi of expense and risk, from the employ-
ment of coal gas, in preference to hydrogen, for the purpose of inflation^
there are other advantages of great importance, one of which merits special
notice. I allude to the superior facility with which the latter is retained
in the balloon, owin^ to the greater subtility of the particles of hydroeen,
and the strong affinity which the^ exhibit for those of the surroundincr
atmosphere. In a balloon, sufficiently perfect to retain its contents of
coal gas unaltered in quality or amount for the space of six months, an
equal quantity of hydrogen could not be maintained in equal purity for
an equal number of weexs.

t The amount of Mr. Green's public asoents, up to the present period.

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FROM LONDON TO WEILBURG. 115

solitary instance of fatal consequences, or even of an accident of
disagreeable results (except from the intervention of malice),*
ought to be a sufficient proof of how little danger is to be appre-
hended in the practice of aerostation, vrhen, under the manage-
ment of a skillful leader, and with the aid of those improvements
to which his experience has given rise. It is not from the bun-
gling eflbrts of unqualified persons that any judgment should be
formed on this or other matters of practical detail; and where
that skill is present, without which no one has a right to expect
success, and those precautions have been observed which experi-
ence has shown to be requisite, I do not hesitate to say, that the
practice of aerostation is as devoid of extraordinary danger as
that of any other mode of conveyance hitherto adopted. f

'•'Great, however, as are the merits of Mr. Green's previous '
discoveries, they may be said to yield in importance to that
whereby he has succeeded in enabling; the aeronaut to maintain
the power of his balloon undiminished during the continuance of
the most protracted voyage it could ever be required to perform.
In order fully to comprehend the value of this discovery, which
more immediately formed the object of our late enterprise, it is
necessary that some idea should be had of the difficulties it was
intended to obviate, and of the effects they were calculated to
produce upon the further progress of aerostation. When a bal-
loon ascends to navigate the atmosphere, independent of the loss
of power occasioned by its own imperfections, an incessant waste
of its resources in gas and ballast becomes the inevitable conse-
quence of its situation. No sooner has it quitted the earth than it is
immediately subjected to the influence of a variety of circumstances
tendingto create a difference in its weight; augmentingor diminish-
ing, as the case may be, the power by the means of which it is

* In an ascent from Cheltenham, a few years ago, in which Mr. Green
was accompanied by Mr. Griffiths, some malicious scoundrel contrived to
sever the ropes of the car in such a manner as not to be perceived befor^
the balloon had reached a considerable elevation, whereby the parties were
precipitated to the ground, and very narrowly escaped destruction. Neither
the author of this premeditated villainy, nor the aesign it was intended to
answer, has ever yet been discovered, although a reward of one hundred
guineas was immediately offered for his detection.

t It will be obserred, that no reference is here made to the state of the
art in respect of the power of piiding the balloon according to a given
direction ; the want of which, is generally considered as the most effectual
obstacle to its further progress and adaptation to the ordinary purposes of
human life. As the discussion,^ however, of this question would tend to a
considerable digression, and as it likewise formed no part of the project in
pursuance of 'v^ich our late expedition was undertaken, I have thought it
preferable to omit all mention of it for the present, reserving for a future
opportunity^ a more elaborate investigation of the case^ than would be hero
eitner consistent or agreeable.

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116 BALLOON VOYAGE

supported. The deposition or evaporation of humidity to die
extent, in proportion to its size, of several hundred weight ; the
alternate heating and cooling of its gaseous contents by the re*
motion or interposition of clouds between the object itself and
the influence of the solar rap, with a variety of other more secret,
though not less powerful agencies, all so combine to destroy the
equilibrium which it is the main object of the aeronaut to pre-
serve, that scarcely a moment passes without some call for his
interposition, either to check the descent of the balloon by the
rejection of ballast, or to control its ascent by the proportionate
discharge of gas ; a process by which, it is unnecessary to observe,
the whole power of the balloon, however great its dimensions,
must in time be exhausted, and sooner or later terminate its career
.by succumbing to the laws of terrestrial gravitation. By the
simple contrivance of a rope of the requisite magnitude and ex-
tent, trailing op the ground beneath (and if over the sea, with a
sufficient quantity of liquid ballast contained in vessels floating
on its surface), have all these difficulties been overcome, and aU
the features of the art completely and effectually reversed.
Harnessed to the earth or ocean, by a power too great for her to
resist, it is in vain the balloon endeavors to change the level
of her onward course ; every foot she would have been otherwise
compelled to add to her elevation now only adds to her weight,
by her endeavors to abstract from the earth a further portion of
that rope which is dependent upon its surface ; while, on the other
hand, every foot she would have been inclined to descend, had
she been at liberty as heretofore, how only abstracts from the
weight which draws her downward, by throwing on the earth the
labor of supporting an additional portion of the guide-rope, which
she would otherwise have had to sustain without relief. Limited
to one unalterable plane, all the fluctuations above mentioned,
whereby her irreparable stock of power became subjected to in-
cessant waste, have thus completely been avoided, and not only
her ascensive force maintained in its full vigor throughout a
period determinable solely by her own imperfections, but at all
times, and under all circumstances, over the boundless ocean
without a landmark in the densest fog, and throughout the darkest
night the exact direction of her course, as well as the very rate
of her progress, determined with the utmost facility and most in-
fallible results.* The main feature, however, in this discovery,

* The progress of the guide-rope being delayed to a certain extent by
its motion over the more solid plane of the earth's surface, while the move-
ment of the balloon is as freely as ever controlled by the propelling action
of tibe wind, it is evident that the direction of the latter when in progress,
must ever be in advance of the former; a comparison therefore of the re-
lative positions of these two objects by means of the compass, most at all

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FROM LONDON TO WEILBURG. 117

is the altered aspect under which it enables the aeronaut to regard
the perils of the sea, and the consequent extension it bestows
upon the hitherto limited sphere of his relations. The oceaU)
now no longer the dreaded enemy of the aerial voyager, becomes
at once his greatest friend ; and instead of opposing his progress,
offers him advantages more certain and efficacious than even the
earth itself with sdl its presumed security, is calculated to con-
tribute.

^'Such then was the actual state of aerostation when Mr.
Robert Hpllond, a gentleman who had long cultivated a prac-
tical acquaintance with the art, revived to afibrd an opportunity
far a full display, and unequivocal determination of the merits of
these discoveries, by undertaking at his own expense to fit out an
expedition, under the guidance of Afr. Green (in which he was
so kind as to include me), for the purpose and with the intention
of starting from London, and proceeding (in whatever direction
the winds at that time prevailing might happen to convey us), to
such a distance as would suffice to answer the ends for which the
voyage was especially designed. Accordingly, the proprietors,
Messrs. 6ye and Hughes, having kindly conceded the use of
the great Yauxhall balloon and of their premises, for the purpose
of the aspent; after several unavoidable delays, occasioned
chiefly by the weather, the day of departure Was fixed for Mon-
day, November 7th, 1836, and the process of inflation having been
commenced at an early hour, everything was got ready for start-
ing by one o'clock in the afternoon of the same day.

*^ The appearance which the balloon exhibited previous to the
ascent, was no less interesting than strange. Provisions, which
had been calculated for a fortnight's consumption in case of
emergency ; ballast to the amount of upwards of a ton in weight,
disposed in bags of difi*erent sizes, duly registered and marked, to-
gether with an unusual suppler of cordage, implements, and other
accessories to an aerial excursion^ occupied the bottom of the car ;
while all around the hoop, and elsewhere appended^ hung cloaks,
carpet-bags, barrels of wood and copper, coffee- warmer,M)arome-

times indicate the exact direction of her course ; while with equal cer^
tainty, an estimate can at once be obtained of the yelocit;^ with which she
is procee4ing, by observing the angle formed bv the guide-rope and the
vertical axis of Uie machine. In proportion as this angle enlarges, an in-
crease in the rate of the balloon may be infallibly inferred ; and, vice versi,
its diminution will be found to correspond exactly with the diminished
velocity of her advance. When the rope is dependent perpendicularly,
no angle of course is formed, and the machine may be considered as per-
fectly stationary, or at least endowed with a rate of motion too insignificant
to be either appreciable or important.

* A machine had been contrived for the purpose of warming, coffee and
other liquors, wiUiout the intervention of fire, by the means of slaked

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118 BALLOON VOYAGE

ters, telescopes, lamps, wine jars and spirit flasks, with many other
articles, designed to. serve the purposes of a voyaee to regions,
where once forgotten, nothing could be again supplied.

^^ Among the other matters with which we had taken the pre*
caution to provide ourselves, were passports directed to all parts
of the continent, specifying the peculiar nature of our voyage,
and entitling us to exemption from the usual formalities of office.

" In addition to these, we were also charged with a letter to
His Majesty the King of Holland, from Mr. May, His Majesty's
Consul-General in London ; which was put into the post-office
at Coblentz, on the evening of the day succeecling our de-
parture.*

*^ Thus prepared, and duly accoutred, at half<past one o'clock
the balloon was dismissed from the ground, and rising gently
under the influence of a moderate breeze, bore speedily away to-
wards the south-east, traversing in her course the cultivated
plains of Kent, and passing in succession nearly over the towns
of Eltham, Bromley, Footscray, and others, whose variegated
outlines beautifully diversified the rich landscape that lay be-
neath us. The weather was uncommonly fine for the time o(
year ; a few light clouds alone floated in the sky, and at least as'
useful as ornamental, served to indicate the existence of difierent
currents at difierent altitudes ; an information of which, it will

lime, which answered the purpose sufficiently well, although the danger
which it was intended bj these precautions to avoid, is really not such as
to require the aid of such appliances ; with that degree of prudence and at-
tention which can at all times be commanded, no real peril is to be appre-
hended from the use of actual fire. During the whole night, we had a
lamp constantly burning, nor did we at any time suffer anxiety on account
of its presence, or perceive any occasion, even temporarily, to wish for its
extinction.

* Of the due arrival of this letter, and his Majesty's gracious reception
of it, we received the following testimony in a letter from Mr. May, shorir
ly after we reached Paris.

London, November 28, 1836.
Sib — Perceiving from the accounts in the newspapers that you and your
friends have arrived at Paris, I lose no time iii having the satisfaction of
thanking you very sincerely, for the care taken of the letter I took the
liberty ot entrusting to your kindness, for the purpose of having it for-
warded to the king, at the Hague ; it reached its destination on the 12th
of November, through the post-office at Coblentz, and his majesty was
very much gratified at receiving a letter from England, by so novel a mode
of conveyance as a balloon. The king has written a memorandum on the
letter "to 6c carefullt/ preserved ;*' wismng to keep it as a remembrance of
this, as yet, extraordinary occurrence. I congratulate you and your com-
panions on the success of your enterprise, and remain with great regard^
sir.

Your most obedient, humble servant,

J.W.MAY.

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FROM LONDON TO WEILBURG. 119

be seen hereafter, we were enabled to avail ourselves with much
effect.

" Continuing in a south-easterly direction, ai forty-eight mi-
nutes past two* we crossed the Medway, at the distance of about
six miles to the west of Rochester, and In little more than an
hour aftert were in sight of the city of Canterbury, the lofty
towers of its cathedral bearing distant about two miles in a west-
erly direction. In honor of the mayor and inhabitants of that
city, under whose patronage our celebrated pilot had twice be-
fore ascended, we lowered a small parachute containing a letter
addressed to the mayor, and couched in such terms as our hur-
ried passage would permit us to indite.j:

^* In a few minutes after, § we obtained our first view of the
sea, brightening under the last rays of a setting sun, and occu-
pying the extreme verge of the horizon, in the direction in which
we were now rapidly advancing.

During the latter period of this part of oiir voyage, the balloon,
perhaps owing to the condensation occasioned by the approach-
ing shades of evening, had been gradually diminishing her alti-
tude, and for some time past had continued so near the earth as
to enable us, without much exertion, to carry on a conversation
with such of the inhabitants as happened to be in our immediate
vicinity. So close, indeed, were we, at one time, as to be able
distinctly to observe a covey of partridges, which either our ap-
proach, or some other equally dreaded apparition, had dislodged
from their resting place, and sent to seek a refuge on the borders
of a wood which lay adjacent. A whole colony of rooks, alarmed
no doubt by our formidable appearance, rose, likewise, in dis-
may, and, after rending the air for miles round with their cries,
and vainly trying the protection of the neighboring woods, finally
dispersed, scattering themselves in every direction over the sur-
face of the earth beneath.

" It was at this period of our voyage that the first opportunity
occurred of showing how far it was possible for the skUlful and

* The times and distances, as well as the direction of our course by the
compass, during the voyage, being taken from the notes kept by Mr. IIol-
lond on the occasion, will account for the exact correspondence on these
points, between the diflTerent relations already before the public, which,
without this explanation, might perhaps appear to border a little on the
extraordinary.

t Fiye minutes past four.

i Of the due receipt of this letter, as well as of one to, the same effect,
wMch we subsequently addressed to the mayor of Dover, we have since
been informed ; though the others which we discharged by similar means,
at different periods of our voyage, we have reason to believe, never reached
the hands for which they were designed.

i Fifteen minutes past four.

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120 BALLOON VOYAGE

experieDced aeronaut to influence the course of his aerial vessel,
by availing him«elf of the advantages which circumstances fre-
quently place at his disposal. Shortly after we had lost sight of
the city of Canterbury, a considerable deviation appeared to have
taken place in- the direction of our route. Instead of pursuing
our former line of south by east, which was that of the upper
current, by means of which we had hitherto advanced, it became
apparent that we were now rapidly bearing away upon one which
tended considerably to the northward, and which, had we con-
tinued to remain within the limits of its influence, would have
shortly brought us to sea, in the direction of the North Foreland.
As it had all along been an object to proceed as near to Paris as
circumstances would permits* we resolved to recover as soon as '
possible the advantages which a superior current had hitherto
afibrded us ; and accordingly rose to resume a station upon our
previous level. Nothing could exceed the beauty of this ma-
noeuvre, or the success with which the balloon acknowledged the
influence of her former associate. Scarcely had the superfluous *
burden been discharged proportioned to the efiect required, when
slowly she arose, and sweeping majestically round the horizon,
obedient to the double impulse of her increasing elevation and
the gradual change of current, brought us successively in sight
of all those objects which wje had shortly before lefl: retiring behind
us, and in a few minutes placed us almost vertically over the cas-
tle of Dover, in the exact direction of crossing the Straits between
that town and Calais, where it is confined within its narrowest
limits.t

^^ It was forty-eight minutes past four when the first line of
waves breaking on* the beach appeared beneath us, and we
might be said to have fairly quitted the shores of our native soil,
and entered upon the hitherto dreaded regions of the sea.

^^ It would be impossible not to have been struck with the
grandeur of the prospect at this particular moment of our voyage ;

* The proprietors of the balloon having contemplated making an ascent
from Pans, and Mr. Hollond having imdertaken to transfer the balloon
thither, it became a consideration with us, not to increase our distance
from that capital, more than was consistent with the main object of the
expedition.

t It was undoubtedly at this period of our voyage, while the rapidity of
our course appeared to be delayed, by the circuitousness of our route, the
length of time we consequently remained in sieht, and above all, the recti-
linear direction of our approach, that originated the observation contained
in the newspapers, that the progress of the balloon did not exceed the
rate of four or five miles an hour ; an assertion which a slight considera-
tion of the time we had left London, and the distance we had accom-
plished, would have been sufficient to disprove. According to the above
method of calculation, the mean rate of our course, up to the time referred
to, was somewhat more than twenty-five miles an hour.

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FROM LONDON TO WEILBURG. - 121

the more especially aa the approaching shades of night rendered
it a matter of certainty that it would be the last, in which earth
would form a prominent feature, that we might expect to enjoy
for a considerable lapse of time. Behind us, the whole line of
English coast, its white cliffs melting into obscurity, appeared
sparkling with the scattered lights, which every moment aug-
mented, among whicli the light-bouse at Dover formed a conspi-
cuous feature, and for a long time served as a beacon whereby
to calculate the direction of our course. On either side below
us the interminable ocean spread its complicated tissue of waves
without interruption or curtailment, except what arose from the
impending darkness, and the limited extent of our own percep-
tions ; on the opposite side a dense barrier of clouds rising from
the ocean like a solid wall* fanta^stically surmounted, throughout
its whole length, with a gigantic representation of parapets and
turrets, batteries and bastions, and other features of mural fortifi-
cations, appeared as if designed to bar our further progress, and
completely obstructed all view of the shores, towards which we
were now rapidly drawing. In a few minutes after, we had
entered within its dusky limits, and for a while became in-
volved in the double obscurity of the surrounding vapors, and of
the gradual approach of night. Not a sound now reached our ears ;
the beating of the waves upon the British shores had already died
away in silence, and from the ordinary effects of terrestrial agi-
tation our present position had effectually excluded us.*

** In this situation, we prepared to avail ourselves of those con-
trivances, the merits of which, as I have already stated, it was
one of the main objects of our expedition to ascertain ; and con-
sequently to provide against the loss of power by the increase of
weight proceeding from the humidity of the atmosphere, natu-
rally to be expected on the approach of night, we commenced
lowering the copper vessels which we had provided for the oc-
casion.

. "Scarcely, however, had we completed our design, and were

* I scarcely know whether it is an observation worthy of beins commit-
ted to paper, that the sea, unless perhaps under oiroumstanoes or the most
extraordinary agitation, does not in itself appear to be the parent of the
slightest sound; unopposed by any material obstacle, an awful stillness
seems to reign over its motions. Nor do I think that even under any cir-
cumstances, no matter how yiolent, can any considerable distnrbance arise
from the conflict of its own opposing members. The impossibility of ever
haying been placed in a situation to brin^ ibis fact under the cognizance of
our senses, is no doubt the reason why it has never before been noticed.
On the shore or in the sea, no one has ever been present, independent of
that material suppoil;, the absence of which is necessary to the snccess of
the experiment ; it is in the balloon alone, suspended in elastio ether, that
such a phenomenon could either have been verified or observed.

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122 BALLOON VOYAGE

patiently awaiting the descent we had anticipated, when the faint
sound of the waves beating against the shore again returned upon
our earSy and awakened our attention. The first impression which
this event was calculated to convey, was that the wind had
changed, and that we were in the act of returning to the shores
we had so shortly before abandoned. A glance or two, however,
served to show us the fallacy of this impression ; the well-known
lights of Calais and of the neighboring shores were already glit-
tering beneath us; the barrier of clouds which I have before
mentioned as starting up so abruptly in our path, as abruptly ter-
minated; and the whole adjacent coast of France, variegated with
Ughts, and ripe with all the nocturnal signs of population, burst at
once upon our view. We had, in fact, crossed the sea ; and in
the short space of about one hour, from the time we had quitted
the shores of England, were floating tranquilly, though rapidly,
above those of our Gallic neighbors.

"It was exactly fifty minutes past five when we had thoroughly
completed this ttajet; the point at which we first crossed the
French shore bearing distant about two miles to the w^estward of
the main body of the lights of Calais, our altitude at the time
being somewhat about three thousaad feet above the level of the
ocean. As it was now perfectly dark, we lowered a Bengal light,
at the end of a long cord, in order to signify our presence to the
inhabitants below ; shortly after, we had the satisfaction to hear
the beating of drums, but whether on our account, or merely in
performance of the usual routine of military duty, we were not
at the time exactly able to determine.

" Before dismissing the sea, a word or two seems required to
counteract a vague and incorrect impression regarding its peculiar
influence upon the buoyancy of the bdloon, arising from the dif-
ficulties experienced by Messrs. Blanchard and Jefiries in their
passage of the same straits in the year 1785, and the apparently
unaccountable remotion of their difiiculties as soon as. they had
reached the opposite coast. So many, however, are the circum-
stances within the range of aeronautical experience to which,
without intruding upon the^ marvellous, or calling new affinities
into existence, these efiects' can be satisfactorily attributed, that
the actual difficulty lies in ascertaining to which of them they
are most likely to have owed their origin : of these the increase
of weight by the deposition of humidity on the surface of the bal-
loon, occasioned by the colder atmosphere through which the first
part of their journey had to be pursued, and the subsequent
evaporation of the same by the rise of temperature to which they
necessarily became subjected as soon as they came within the
calorific influence of the land, is in itself quite sufficient to ex-
plain the difference that existed in the buoyancy of the balloon,

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FROM LONDON TO WEILBURG. 128

during the difibrent stages of its progress. Even in the absence
of any humidity whereby the actual weight of the balloon could
have been increased, the mere diminutionof temperature, by con-
densing its gaseous contents ; and their subsequent rarefaction by
the altered temperature they were sure to encounter when they
reached the opposite coast, are more than enough to account for
much greater effects than even those to which it is here intended
to apply. As far as we were concerned, certainly no such un-
common impression was observable, nor did we experience any
diminution of ascensive power in our transit across the sea, be-
yond what we should have expected under similar circumstances
over a similar extent of land.

*' The night having now completely closed in, and no prospect
of any assistance from the moon to facilitate our researches, it
was only by means of the lights which either singly or in masses,
appeared spreading in every direction, that we could hope to take
any account of the nature of the country we were traversing, or
form any opinion of the towns or villages which were continually
becoming subjected to our view.

" The scene itself was one which exceeds description. The
whole plane of the earth's surface, for many and many a league
around, as far and farther than the eye distinctly could embrace,
seemed absolutely teeming with the scattered fires of a watchful
population, and exhibited a starry spectacle below that almost
rivaled in brilliancy the remoter lustre of the concavfe firmament
above. Incessantly, daring the earlier portion of the night, ere
the vigilant inhabitants had finally retired to rest, large sources of
light, betokening the presence of some more extensive community,
would appear just looming above the distant horizon in the direc-
tion in which we were advancing, bearing at first no faint resem«
blance to the effect produced by some vast conflagration, when
seen from such a distance as to preclude the minute investigation
of its details. By degrees, as we drew nigh, this confused mass
of illumination would appear to increase^ in intensity, extending
itself over a larger portion of the earth, and assuming a distincter
form and a more imposing appearance, until -at length, having at-
tained a position from whence we could more immediately direct
our view, it would gradually resolve itself into its parts, and
shooting out into streets, or spreading into squares, present us
with the most perfect model of a town, diminished only in size,
according to the elevation from which we happened at the time
to observe it.

"It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to convey to the
minds of the uninitiated any adequate idea of the stupendous
effect which such an exhibition, under all its concomitant pecu*
liarities, was calculated to create. That we were, by such a

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124 BALLOON VOYAGE

mode of conveyance, amid the vast solitude of the skies, in the
dead of night, unknown and unnoticed, secretly and silently re-
viewing kingdoms, exploring territories, and surveying cities, in
such rapid succession as scarcely to afford time for criticism or
conjecture, was in itself a consideration sufficient to give sub-
limity to far less interesting scenes than those which formed the ,
subject of our present contemplations. If to this be added the
uncertainty that from henceforward began to pervade the whole
of our course — an uncertainty that every moment increased as we
proceeded deeper into the shades of night, and became further
removed from those landmarks to which we might have referred
in aid of our conjectures, clothing everything with the dark mantle
of mystery, and leaving us in doubt more perplexing even than
ignorance as to where we were, whither we were proceeding, and
what were the objects that so much attracted our attentioQ — some
faint idea maybe formed of the peculiarity of our situation and of
the impressions to which it naturally gave rise,

*^ In this manner, and under the influence of these sentiments,
did we traverse with rapid strides a large and interesting portion
of the European Continent ; embracing within our horizon an
immense succession of towns and villages, whereof those which
occurred during the earlier part of the night, the presence of their
artificial illumination alone enabled us to distinguish.

"Among these latter, one in particular, both from its own
superior attractions, the length of time it continued within jour
view, and the uninterrupted prospect which our position directly
abdve it, enabled us to command, captivated our attention and
elicited constant expressions of mingled admiration and surprise.
Situated in the centre of a district which actually appeared to
blaze with the innumerable fires wherewith it was studded in
every direction to the full extent of all our visible horizon, it
seemed to offer in itself, and at one. glance, an epitome of all
those charms which we had been previously observing in detail.
The perfect correctness with which every line of street was marked
out by its particular line of fires ; the forms and positions of the
more important features of the city, the theatres and squares, the
markets and public buildings, indicated by the presence of the
larger and more irregular accumulation of lights, added to the
faint murmur of a busy population still actively engaged in the
pursuits of pleasure or the avocations of gain, all together com-
bined to form a picture which for singularity and effect certainly
could never have been before conceived. This was the city of
Liege, remarkable from the extensive iron works which, abound-
ing in its neighborhood, occasioned the peculiar appearance
already described, and at the time led to that conjecture con-

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FROM LONDON TO WEILBURG. 125

cerning its identity, the truth of which a subsequent inquiry
enabled us to confirm.

** This was the last spectacle of the kind which we were des-
tined to enjoy. Scarcely had we completely cleared the town
and the fiery region in which it was embosomed, ere an unbroken
obscurity, more profound than any we had yet experienced, in-
Tolred us in its folds, and effectually excluded every terrestrial
object from our view.

*< It was now past midnight, and the world and its inhabitants
had finally committed themselves to repose. Every light was
extinguished, and every sound hushed into silence ; even the
cheerful tones of the vigilant watch-dog, which had frequently
contributed to enliven our course during the previous portion of
the night, had now ceased ; and darkness and tranquillity reigned
paramount over the whole adjacent surface of the globe.

*^ From this period of our voyage until the dawning of the fol-
lowing day, the record of our adventures becomes tinged .with
the obscurity of night. The face of nature completely excluded
from our view, except when circumstances occasionally brought
us into nearer contact with the earth, all our observations dunng
the above period are necessarily confined to a register of inci-
dents and sensations mingled with vague conjectures, and clouded
with the mystery wherewith darkness and uncertainty were des-
tined to involve so large a portion of the remainder of our expe-
dition. The moon, to which we might have looked up for
companionship and assistance, had she been present, was no-
where to be seen. The sky, at all times darker when viewed
from an elevation than it appears to those inhabiting the lower
regions of the earth, seemed almost black with the intensity of
night ; while, by contrast, no doubt, and the remotion of inter-
vening vapors, the stars, redoubled in their lustre, shone like
sparks of the whitest silver scattered upon the jetty dome around
us. Occasionally faint flashes of lightning, proceeding chiefly
firom the northern hemisphere, would for an instant illuminate the
horizon, and after disclosing a transient prospect of the adjacent
country, suddenly subside, leaving us involved in more than our
original obscurity. Nothing in fact could exceed the density of
night which prevailed during this particular period of the voyage.
Not a single object of terrestriiil nature could anywhere be dis-
tinguished; an unfathomable abyss of ' darkness visible' seemed
to encompass us on every side ; and as we looked forward into its
black obscurity in the direction in which we were proceeding, we
could scarcely avoid the impression that we were cleaving our
way through an interminable mass of black marble in which we
were imbedded, and which, solid a few inches before us, seemed
to soften as we approached, in order to admit us still farther

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126 BALLOON VOYAGE

within the precincts of its cold and dusky enclosure. Even the
lights which at times we lowered from the car, instead of dis-

Selling, only tended to augment the intensity of the surrounding
arknesS) and as they descended deeper into its frozen bosom,
appeared absolutely to melt their way onward by means of the
heat which they generated in their course.

" The cold, during this part of the night especially, was cer-
tainly intense, as could be perceived not less from the indications
of the thermometer (ranging variously from within a few degrees
below, to the point of congelation), than from the effects which it
produced upon the different liquors wherewith we were provided.
The water, coffee, and, of course, the oil in our several vessels
were completely frozen ; and ,it was only by the actual applica-
tion of the heat of the lamp that we were enabled to procure a
sufficiency of the latter to supply our wants, during the long term
of darkness to which we were about to be subjected.

" Strange, however, as it may appear, while all around bore
such unequivocal testimony to the severity of the cold, the effects
produced upon our persons, undefended as they were by any ex-
traordinary precautions, were by no means commensurate to the
cause, nor such as even, under ordinary circumstances, we might
fairly have expected to encounter. The reason to which may be
attributed this unusual exemption from the consequences of a low
temperature, is the absence of all current of air, the natural re-
sult of our situation, and one of the peculiar characteristics of
aerial navigation.*

" To this intensity of cold, preceded by a long subjection to
the action of a humid atmosphere, while floating at a lower ele-
vation, is likewise to be attributed the occurrence of an incident,
which, for the impression it is calculated to produce upon the
minds of those who experience it for the first time, and in igno-
rance of its cause, merits particularly to be noticed.

" It was about half-past three in the morning, when the balloon,
having gained a sudden accession of power, owing to a discharge
of ballast, which had taken place a few minutes before, while
navigating too near the earth to be considered perfectly safe in a
country, with the main features of which we were totally unac-
quainted, began to rise with considerable rapidity, and ere we
had taken the customary means to check her ascent, had already
attained an elevation of upwards of twelve thousand feet. At
this moment, while all around is impenetrable darkness, and still-

* After what has been stated respecting the temperature to which we
were subjected, it will be unnecessary to offer any further disproval of the
absurd reports which were circulated concerning its seventy, and the
serious consequences which we were supposed to aave suffered from our
exposure to it during the night.

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FROM LONDON TO WEILBURG. 127

ness most profound, an unusual explosion issues from the ma-
chine ^bove, followed instantaneously by a violent rustling of
the silk, and all the signs which may be supposed to accom-
pany the bursting of the balloon, in a region where nothing but
itself exists to give occasion to such awful and unnatural disturb-
ance. In the same instant, the car, as if suddenly detached from
its hold, becomes subjected to a violent concussion, and appears
at once to be in the act of sinking, with all its contents, into the
dark abyss below. A second and a third explosion follow in
quick succession, accompanied by a recurrence of the same
astounding effects; leaving not a doubt upon the mind of the
unconscious voyager of the fate which nothing now appears capa-
ble of averting* In a moment after, all is tranquil' and secure;
the balloon has recovered her usual form and stillness, and no-
thing appears to designate the unnatural agitation to which she
has been so lately and unaccountably subjected. The occurrence
of this phenomenon, however strange it may appear, is,, never-
theless, susceptible of the simplest resolution, and consists in the
tendency to enlargement from remotion of pressure which the
balloon experiences in rising from a low to a higher position in
the atmosphere, and the resistance to this enlargement occasioned
by the net-work previously saturated with moisture, and subse«>
quently congealed into^ the elliptical form which the dependent
weight of the car obliges it to assume, whenever the shrunken
capacity of the sphere it encompasses will admit of its longitu-
dinal distension. As this resistance is occasioned by the inter-
vention of a nan-elastic medium (the ice) which has bound the
meshes of the net- work in their contracted form, it. is evident that
the liberation occasioned by their disrupture will not take place
until the internal pressure of the balloon has reached a certain
amount; when suddenly that liberation is accomplished, attended
by those collateral effects which we have already attempted to
describe. The impression of the descent of the car in the above
representation is evidently a false one ; the car, so far from sink-
ing, actually springs up ; it is the unexpectedness of such a move-
ment, and its apparent inconsistency with the laws of gravitation,
that occasions the delusion, the reality of which the concomitant
circumstances essentially tend to confirm.

'< Several times, during the latter part of the night, we had
approached so near to the earth, as to be enabled to observe,
imperfectly, it is true, some of its most prominent features, and
to obtain some faint idea of the nature of the ground beneath us.
At these times, we appeared to be traversing large tracts of coun-
try partially covered with snow, diversified with forests, and
intersected occasionally with rivers, of which the Meuse, in the
earlier part of the night, and the Rhine, towards the conclusion,

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128 BALLOON VOYAGE

formed, as we afterwards learned, the principal objects, both of
our admiration and of our conjectures.

^' Large masses of fleecy clouds would, at times, likewise oc-
cupy the lower regions of the atmosphere, intercepting our view
as we descended, and for a while leaving us in doubt whether
they were not- a continuation of those snowy districts which we
so frequently had occasion to remark.

" From out of this mass of vapors, more than once during the
night our ears became assailed with sounds bearing so strong a
resemblance to the rushing of waters in enormous volumes, or the
beating of the waves upon some extensive line of coast, that it
required all our powers of reasoning, aided by the certain know-
ledge we had of the direction we were pursuing, to remove the
Qonviction that we were approaching the precinctjs of the sea, and,
transported by the winds, were either thrown back upon the shores
of the German Ocean, or about to enter upon the remoter limits of
the Baltic.

'^ It would be endless to enumerate all the conjectures to which
this phenomenon ^ave rise, or the various manners by which we
endeavored to explain its occurrence. Among them those which
seemed to obtain the greatest credit, were that the sound pro-
ceeded from some vast forest, agitated by the winds ; some rapid
river rushing impetuously oyer a broken and precipitous channel;
or, finally, that the misty vapors themselves, by the mutual action
of their watery particles, or their precipitated deposition upon the
irregular surface of the earth beneath, had occasioned the mur-
murs which, multiplied throughout so large a spaoe, came to our
ears, in the formidable accents to which we have above alluded.
According as the day drew nigh, these appearances vanished,
with much of the doubts to which they bad dven rise. Instead
of the unbroken outline of the sea, an irregiuar surface of culti-
vated country began gradually to display itself; in the midst of
which the majestic river we had noticed for some time back,
appeared dividing the prospect, and losing itself in opposite direc-
tions amid the vapors that still clung to the summits of the hills,
or settled in the valleys that lay between them. Across this river
we now directed our course, and shortly after lost sight of it
entirely, behind the gently swelling eminences by which it was
bordered on both sides.

^< It was about six o'clock,* during an ascent which occurred

* The time referred to here, and elsewhere, throughout this narrative,
is that of Greenwich. Upon the completion of the voya^, a difference,
amounting to about thirty-four minutes, was found to exist between Uie
times indicated at its two extremes ; the chronometers of Weiiburg beinr
so much in advance of those of London. This difference was occasioned
by the easterly direction of our course, and the difference in latitude, to
the extent of eight degrees twenty minutes, between the two places.

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FROM LONDON TO WEILBURG. 129

shortly after we had crossed this river, that the' balloon having
reached a considerable eleyation, showed us our first view of the
sun, and gladdened us with the prospect of a speedy approach of
day. Powerful^ indeed, must be the pen which could hope to do
justice to a scene like that which here presented itself to our
view. The enormous extent of the prospect* — the boundless
variety it embraced — the unequaled grandeur of the objects it
displayed — the singular novelty of the manner under which they
were beheld — andUie striking contrast they afforded to that situa-
tion and those scenes, to which we had so long and so lately been
confined, are efiects and circumstances which no description is
capable of representing m the light in which they ought to be
placed, in order to be duly appreciated. Better by far to leave it
to a fertile imagination to fill in the faint outlines of a rough and
unfinished sketch, than by a lame and imperfect coloring, run the
risk of marring a prospect, which, for grandeur and magnificence,
h«s certainly no parallel in all the vast and inexhaustible trea-
sures of nature.

" This splendid spectacle, however, we were not long destined
to enjoy ; a rapid descent, which shortly after eiasued, for a while
concealed it fiiom our view, and once more consigning us to the
shades of night, which fiftill continued to reign unbroken through-
out the lower region of the air.

^^ Again we rose within the reach of this delightful prospect;
and 9gain did we lose sight of it, amid the vapors and obscurity
that accompanied our descent ; nor was it till we had three times
made the sun rise, and twice beheld it set, that we could fairly
consider it established above the horizon, and daylight complete
upon the plane of the earth beneath us.

^^ From this time forward all our observation was principally
directed to the nature of the country, and its adaptation to the
descent which we had now resolved to effect the first fittjng op-
portunity. To this step, the uncertainty in which We necessarily
were, with respect to the exact position we occupied, owing to
our ignorance of the distance we had come, especially determined
us. For a long time past, the appearance of the country, so unlike
any with which we were acquainted, had led us to entertain

* If we only reflect, that our position, when at this altitude, could enable
us to behold objects at a distance of above one hundred and fifty miles
on every side of us ; had these objects been sufficiently great, or suffi-
ciently striking to fix the attention, some idea may be had of the vast
extent of our prospect, at this particular moment of our voyage. We shall
then be seen occupying the centre of a circle, whose diameter extending to
above three hundred miles in length, afforded us a horizon, the circumfer-
ence of which, extending an equal number of leagues, comprised within its
cirouit an extent of visible surface, little short of eighty thousand square
miles.
9

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130 BALLOON VOYAGE

serious doubts as to whether we had not already passed the limits
of that part of Europe where we might expect to find the accom-
modation and conveniences which our own comfort, and the safety
of the balloon, imperatively demanded. This opinion, the large
tracts of snow over which we had passed, during the latter part
of the night, bearing a strong resemblance to all we had hitherto
pictured to ourselves of the boundless plains of Poland, or the
barren and inhospitable Steppes of Russia, considerably tended
to confirm ; and as the region we were immediately approaching
seeroed to offer advantages which, under these circumstances, we
Could not always hope to command, we resolved not to lose the oc-
casion it so opportunely appeared to have afibrded us. As soon as
we had come to this determination, all preparations were speedily
commenced for the descent ; the guide-rope was hauled in (an ope-
ration of much labor, owing to the bad construction and imperfect
action of the windlass), the grapnel and cable lowered, and every-
thing got ready, that we might be able to avail ourselves of the first
and fittest opportunity that might occur. To this intent, likewise,
we quitted our exalted station, and sought a more humble and
appropriate level, along which we continued to range for some
time, and to a considerable distance ; the yet eariy hour of the
day, deterring us from completing the descent, in the fear of not
obtaining^ that ready assistance from the inhabitants, which it is
always the main object of the aeronaut, if possible, td secure. As
the mists of the night began to clear away from the surface of the
soil, we were delighted to perceive a country intersected with
roads, dotted with villages, and enlivened with all the signs of
an abundant and industrious population. One or two towns,
likewise, of superior pretensions, were distinctly to be seen;
giving promise of accommodation and advantages, which in our
present emergencies, and under our present convictions, were not
to be neglected. Accordingly, having pitched upon the spot
most proper for the purpose, the valve was opened, and we com-
menced our descent. The place so selected was a small grassy
vale, of about a quarter of a mile in breadth, embosomed in hills,
whose sides and summits were completely enveloped with trees.
Beyond this, on the opposite side, lay another valley of the same
description ; the only one visible for many miles, where we could
conveniently effect our landing; an endless succession of forest
scenery, completing the landscape in the direction in which we
should have to proceed. Into the former of these we now preci-
pitated our descent, with the design of alighting, if possible, in
the centre, clear of the woods, that enclosed it on all sides. In
these hopes, we were, however, disappointed ; the wind suddenly
increasing as we approached the ground, so much accelerated the
onward progress of the balloon, that before the grapnel could take

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FROM LONDON TO WEILBURG. 131

effectual hold of the s^il, vre had passed the middle of the valley,
and sweeping rapidly over the ground, were borne close against
the wooded declivity that flanked its eastern terminatioix. To dis-
charge a sufficiency of ballast to raise the balloon, ^nd carry her
clear of the impending danger, was th^ natural remedy. An
unexpected obstacle to this operation here again presented itself:
the sand, which forms the ballast, frozen, during the night into
a solid block of stone, refused to quit the bag in the proportion
required ; and no time remained to search for one more suited to
the occasion. Not a moment, was, in fact, to be lost ; the valley
WBis passed, and the branches of the trees, that clotted the oppos-
ing precipice, were already within a few feet of the balloon ; the
grapnel continued to drag, and no chance appeared of arresting
her progress onward. In this emergency, one alternative alone
remained, and the sack itself, with all its contents, to the amount
of fifty-six pounds in weight, was at once consigned to the earth.
In a moment, the balloon, lightened of so large a portion of her
burden, had sprung up above one thousand feet, and clearing the
mountain at a bound, was soon in rapid progress to the realms
above. To counteract the consequence of this sudden accession
of power, and avoid being carried beyond the reach of the second
valley, which we have already described, as the only other avail-
able spot for our descent, the valve was again opened, and issue
given to a large quantity of gas ; sufficient, as was calculated, to
check the course of the balloon, in time to enable us to attain the

Eoint to which all our views were now directed. A second time,
owever, were we doomed to be disappointed. No sooner had we
completed this manoeuvre, than by another caprice of nature, the
wind suddenly abating, we found ourselves at once becalmed,
and rapidly descending into the bosom of the woods that capped
the summit, and clothed the sides of the intervening eminences.
From this dilemma, we were only relieved by the timely discharge
of a further portion of our weight; not, however, before the ac-
celerated descent of the balloon, had brought us within a cable's
length of the ground,* and almost in contact with the upper sur-
face of the wood. Here, for a few moments, we con^nued to
hover; the grapnel struggling with the topmost branches of the
trees, and grasping and relinquishing its hold, according to the
varying impulse of the slight wind that prevailed at our elevation.
While in this situation, we perceived, standing in the path of the
wood, two females, the first inhabitants we had noticed, lost in
astonishment, and absolutely petrified with gazing upon so
astounding an apparition. It was in vain we addressed them

* The leneth of the cable, to which the gn4>nel is attached, is about one
hundred and twenty feet.

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132 BALLOON VOYAGE

with a speaking-trumpet, in the hopes of procuring the assistance
of some of the male population, which we conjectured could not
be far off; the sound of our voices, proceeding from such an alti-
tude, and invested with such an unearthly character, only aug*
mented their astonishment, and added to their fears; they flal
incontinently, and without waiting farther pariey, sought the
shelter of the neighboring coverts.

'^ After continuing for a few minutes longer in these straits,
we at length reached the confines of the wood ; when, resolving
not to be again baffled in our designs by the treacherous incon-
stancy of the wind, the valve was opened to its fullest dimen-
sions, and the grapnel taking hold shortly after, we came to the
ground with considerable, though by no means, disagreeable
rapidity.*

^' As soon as the descent was completed, and the power of the
balloon efficiently crippled to permit one of the par^ to quit the
car,t the inhabitants who had hitherto stood aloof re^rding oar
manoeuvres from behind the trees, began to flock in from ^
quarters; eyeing at first our movements with considerable sus-
picion, and not seldom looking up in the direction from which
we had just alighted, in the expectation no doubt of witnessing
a repetition of this, to them, inexplicable phenomenon.

** A few words in German, however, served to dissipate their
fears and secure their services; when, as if eager by present as-
siduity to make amends for former backwardness, they absolutely
seemed to contend with each other in their ezertioiis to afibrd us
assistance and execute our several behests. To this kindly feel-
ing we endeavored to contribute by every means in our power.
Our stock of biscuits, wine, and brandy, quickly disappeared,
with a relish which the novelty of the journey they had so lately
performed, tended no doubt, considerably to augment. The
brandy, in particular, so much stronger than any they had ever
before essayed, attracted their special admiration; and as they
each in succession drank off their allowance, seemed by the

* Too much praise cannot be pwen to Mr. Green for hu excellent con-
duct throughout the whole of this intricate pilotage. It is not by reading
a mere description of the difficulties encountered, and the manner by which
they were counteracted, that a correct judgment can be formed upon the
proper merits of such a case as this ; a farther consideration is necessary;
the Knowledge that these difficulties did not proceed from the same source
as the remedies by which they were defeate<L In this li^t it is, that the
conduct of our celebrated captain has a right to be criticised ; the impedi-
ments were those of uncontrollable nature— the victory, -and the means
employed to secure it, were all his own.

t It was half-past seven o'clock when this occurrence took place, and
our descent could be fairly said to be completed. The duration of our
voyage may therefore be calculated at exactly eighteen hours.

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FROM LONDON TO WEILBURG. 183

exdamation of ^Himmlischer Schnapps,'* whieh accompanied
every draught, as well as by the upward direction of their eyes,
to denote the quarter from which they now became fully con-
vinced a beverage so delicious could alone have proceeded.
From them we now also learned where it was that we really had
alighted, and for the first time became aware that we were in the
Grand Duchy of Nassau, and about two leagues from the town of
Weilburg, the nearest where we could . expect to meet with the
accommodation which the circumstances of the case rendered
desirable.f Thither, therefore, we determined to proceed, and
having procured a cart and horses for the transportation of the
balloon, we quitted this, to us, ever memorable spot, and attend-
ed by an amazing cohcourse of persons of every rank, age, and
sex, set out for Weilburg, which a few hours enabled us to attain.

*^ The fame of our adventure had, however, already preceded
ns. On our approach we found ourselves greeted with acclama-
tions, and a ready welcome and honorable attentions awaited our
arrival ; all the resources of the town were immediately placed at
our disposal ; the use of the archducal manege was tendered for
the occupation of the balloon ; ^nd sentries, more indeed as a
guard of honor than protection, stationed at the doors and avenues
leading to the place of its reception.

*^ Here then we resolved to remain until our future movements
diould be determined by the. return of the letters we had dis-
patched to Paris immediately upon our descent. In the mean-
time we took advantage of this delay to open and inflate the bal-
loon, as well for the purpose of drying and examining it, as to
make some return for the obligations we were under, by con-
tributing; to gratify the curiosity of our hospitable entertainers.
It would be scarcely credible were I to relate the interest where-
with the inhabitants seemed to regard this, to them, novel exhi-
bition; the numbers that poured in to witness it from all quarters
for many a league around, or the grateful acknowledgments with
which they never ceased to overwhelm us during the fortnight it
continued open to public inspection.

** Nothing in fact could surpass the courtesy and attention that
we experienced from this simple-hearted and hospitable com-
munity during the whole period of our residence at Weilburg.
Every one seemed to vie with each other in conferring favor and

* The literal interpretation of the above expresBion is — " Celestial dram."
t The exact spot where the eyent took place was in a field a(yacent to a
mill, known by the name of Dillhausen, situated in the yalley of Elkern,
in the commune of Niederhausen, about two leagues from the town of
Weilburg; already, by a curious coincidence, noted in the annals of aeros-
tation as itie place where the celebrated M. Blanchard effected his landing
aiter an ascent which he made at Francfort in the year 1785.

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134 BALLOON VOYAGE

contributing to our entertainment; balls, dinners, conceits, and
other amusements in honor of our adventure were given without
intermission, and the congratulations of the city were presented
to us by a deputation of the principal citizens, headed by their
chief civil officer, in the form of a document duly signed and
sealed by the competent authorities. Among the festive recrea-
tions to which our unexpected arrival at Weilburg gave rise, we
must not omit to mention the ceremony of christening the balloon,
which took place the day previous to our departure; the Baron de
Bibra, Grand Maitre des Eanx et Forets, and the Colonel, Baron
de Preen, being the godfathers; the Baroness de Bibra and the
Baroness de Dungern the godmothers, on the occasion. The bal-
loon having been inflated to the greatest size the dimensions of
the place would admit, eight young ladies, in company with Mr.
Green, entered within the gigantic sphere, and the name of * The
Great Balloon of Nassau' having been bestowed by one of their
number, Mdlie. Theresa, the lovely and amiable daughter of the
Baron de Bibra, accompanied by a copious libation of wine, the
ceremony was concluded with a collation, consisting of the re-
mains of our stock of provisions which had been unconsumed at
the time of our descent.

^^From such an universal display of hospitality and kindness
it would be difficult to single out any to whom in particular our
thanks are due : among those, however, whose station and cir-
cumstances entitle them to especial notice, were the Baroa de
Bibra, Grand Maitre des Eaux et Forets ; the Baron de Dungenii
Grand Ecuyer de son Altesse, pensionne ; the Colonel, Baron de
Preen, and their respective ladies; M. Hutschsteiner, Premier
Conseiller de Medecine ; M. Giesse, Premier Conseiller de Jus-
tice; lA, Freydemann, Superior of the University, and M. Bar^
bieuxy likewise attached to the same establishment, together with
a variety of others, the mere repetition of whose names would
prove but a little recompense for the kindness we received at
their hands. Through the Baron de Bibra, likewise, we took the
opportunity to present to his Highness the Archduke of Nassaq
the flags* which accompanied the expedition, as a slight token of
the hospitable reception we had experienced in his territories,

* Besides the usual national insignia, these flags presented a series of
allegorical representations descriptive of the rise and progress of aerosta-
tion. Independent, however, of any merit which thev might possess from
their execution or design, there was one circumstance m their history which
rendered them inyaluable in the eyes of the aeronaut ; they had already
performed two hundred and twenty-one voyages in the air; having been
the constant companions of Mr. Green's excursions ever since his fifth
ascent, wherein he had the misfortune to lose hid balloon and all it con-
tained in the sea off Beechy Head.

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FROM LONDON TO WBILBURG. IS$

yrith a request that they should be preserved in commemoratioii
of the occurrence, among the archives of the Ducal Palace at
Weilburg, where they now lie alongside of that which half a
century before M. Blanchard deposited in like manner to perpe-
tuate the remembrance of a like event.

^^ Thus ended an expedition, which, whether we regard the
extent of country it passed over, the time wherein it was per-
formed, or the result of the experiment for the sake of which it
was undertaken, may fairly claim to be considered among the
most interesting and important which have hitherto proceeded
from the same source. Starting from London, and traversing the
sea, which mere accident alone prevented from forming a more
important feature in our route, in the short space of eighteen
hours, we performed a voyage which, including only those devia-
tions we have since been enabled to ascertain, rather exceed than
&Ils short of an extent of five hundred British miles.

'^It would be endless as well useless, to enumerate all the
places of name or notoriety, which a subsequent examination of
the map, aided by the reports of our appearance at different
stations by the way, showed us to have either passed over or
approached at some period or other during this extraordinary per*
egrination. A considerable portion of five kingdoms, England,
France^ Belgium, Prussian Germany, and the Archduchy of Nas-
sau; a long succession of cities, including London, Rochester,
Canterbury, Dover, Calais, Cassel, Ypres, Courtray, Lille, Auden-
aerde, Ath, Brussels, with the renowned fields of Waterloo and
Genappe, Namur, Liege, Spa, Malmedy, Coblentz, and a whole
host of intermediary villages of minor note, were all brought
within the compass of our horizon, which our superior elevation*

* The propriety of economising our resources during the commence-
ment of a voyage, the duration of which was a matter of uncertainty,
occasioned our mean altitude to be rather under than over the extreme of
aeronautical adventure. In the mornine, however, as these necessities
became less urgent, and we could affotd to devote something to mere
amusement, we frequently rose to an elevation of about twelve thousand
feet, occasionally higher. At no time, however, did we experience the
slightest effect upon our bodies, proceeding from the diminished {jressure
of the atmosphere. Nor, from what my own observations, and still more
those of Mr, Green (whose experience in such matters far outweighs that
of all the aeronautical world together), would lead me to assert, do 1 believe
that any such effects as are currentlv attributed to this diminished pres-
sure have any existence at all ; at least, at any elevation to wl^ich any
person has hitherto been enabled to arrive. The impressions experienced
m the ascent of high mountains, which have no doubt led to the adoption
of such opinions, and induced aeronauts with more regard to feme than
veracity, to anticipate and assert effects they thought thev would Jiave ex-
perienced had they reached the elevation thev fain would, have the credit
ioT, owe their existence to another cause, and proceed from the inordinate

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186 BALLOON VOYAGE FROM LONDON TO WEILBURG.

and various aberrations enabled us to extend &r beyond what
might be expected from a mere consideration of the line connect-
ing the two extremities of our route.

^^To all this there was but one drawback, in the time of year
in which the experiment was conducted, and which by curtailing
our daylight, devoted to the obscurity of night so large and inter-
esting a portion of the expedition. Over Uiis, however, we had
no control ; the constant occupation of the balloon for the pur-
poses of public exhibition during the summer months, left no
chance of its being procurable at a better season of the year,
especially for a project such as ours, the determination of whidi
as to time and distance was a matter of complete uncertainty. ~
The excursion must therefore have been undertaken as it was, or
altogether abandoned ; of these alternatives Mr. Hollond unhesi-
tatingly preferred the former.

^'£re concluding this hasty narrative, a word or two is re-
quired concerning the success of that experiment which formed
the main feature as well as the chief object of the expedition.
This success, I feel no hesitation in now declaring to be complete;
and the discoveir itself one, the entire result of which on the
future progress of the art, it would be impossible at present to
anticipate. With such an instrument as this there now seems to
be no limit to the powers of aerostation ; no bounds to its sphere
of action. All the theoretical objections which a hasty consider-
ation of the means might otherwise have suggested, experiment
has now proved to be erroneous; and perhaps the best answer
that can be given to those who might be inchned to question the
practicability of its employment, or cavil at its effects, is, that by
such means alone have we been enabled, without let or hinderance,
danger, or difficulty, to traverse so large a portion of the European
continent; descending at a distance of about five hundred miles
from the place of our departure, with power enough to have en-
abled us, had we been so intentioned, to have continued our
course throughout the whole circumference of the globe."

mosoolar exertion and its consequenoes upon the circulating system,
developed in the attempt.

I am aware that great names appear in array asainst such an opinion ;
and likewise that nothing but the having amved at the same altitade,
without experiencing the same results, can authorise the flat denial of an-
other's experience. If, however, at an altitude of three miles and three-
quarters no symptom wJhatever is to be felt of those effects, which, at a
quarter of a mile farther evince themselves by such tenrific consequences,
the world is at least at liberty to exercise its own judgment upon the
case.

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PS.I)ur«J« Steam litLPxcss.

MR. COCKING'S PARACHUTE.

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C0CK1NG*S FATAL PARACHUTE DESCENT

137

CHAPTER XIX.

FMftI Plfftdiute descent of Mr, Cocking, from the Nassau Balloon, at Loa-
don^-Aeoount from the London " Penny Mechanic'' of July 29th, 1857*

We regret to have to state that the experiment of the descent
of the parachutej has terminated fatally to Mr. Cocking. In con-
sequence of the announcement that he was to ascend in his para-
chute suspended to the great Nassau balloon^ a great number of
persons, among whom were many of the first nobility of the
coun!r)% assembled in the gardens to witness the experiment.
Without the gardens^ upon Vauxhall bridge, and upon MiObank,
the crowd was immense* It was in circumference 107 feet four
inches. From the bottom of this machine, which was constructed
of fine Irish linen, a basket of wicker was suspended, in which
Mr. Cocking placed himself. The distance between the basket
and the car in which were Mr. Green and Mr. Spencer, was be-
tween forty and fifty feet. The ascent of the balloon took place
about twenty minutes before eight o'clock. When Mr. Cocking
entered the basket of the parachute he was perfectly collected,
and exhibited no appearance of want of nerve or indecision*

At twenty minutes to eight o'clock, everything being in readi-
ness, and the parachute attached to the car of the balloon, the
ascent took place. Nothing could be more majestic. The weight
and great extent of the parachute apparently rendered the motion
of the balloon more steady than on any former ascent^ and the
almost total absence of wind assisted in keeping the balloon in a
perfectly peq>endicular position. There was not the slightest
oscillation ; the balloon and parachute sailed through the air with
a grandeur which exceeded anything of the kind ever before wit-
nessed, and continued in sight for about ten minutes. A good
deal of ballast was discharged almost immediately over the en-
closure, after which the huge machine rose rapidly, but not so
suddenly as to break the even current of its course. It was ex*
pected by those in the gardens that Mr. Cocking would have
descended so near Vauxhali as to afford them a view of his de-
scent. This was not the case. He was lost in the clouds, and
the company were, for some time, left in conjecture, but certainly
not in anticipation of the result of the experiment. A son of Mr.
Gye was the first person who announced to our informant the

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188 COOKING'S FATAL PARACHUTE DESCENT.

fatal catastrophe. This gen|Ieman followed on horseback, and
arrived in a field, near Lee, in Kent, just in time to learn that
the parachute had descended "with such violence, that Mr. Cock-
ing had lost his life in his experiment. The intelligence was not
suffered to transpire for some time, in hopes that the account
might be incorrect, and that Mr. Cocking mi^ht have only been
stunned, or have fainted, it being remembered that something of
this sort occurred on the descent of M. Garnerin some years ago.
It was, however, very shortly ascertained that the intelligence
was too true. It appears that the descent of the parachute was
made over a field close to Lee, thai, on approaching the ground,
the parachute, from some cause or other, most probably from the
hoop which distended the external circumference, being composed
of a hollow tube of tin, collapsed, and consequently opposed no
resistance whatever to the atmosphere, but turned over and over
in the air, and came down with a frightful velocity. Mr. Cock-
ing was not, as we are informed at present, thrown out of the
basket, but he received a dreadful wound on the right temple,
and had his ankle dislocated. He moved his hand once afier his
fall, but exhibited no other signs of life. Several country people,
who were close by, procured a wattled hurdle, placed him upon
it, and conveyed him without delay to the Tiger's Head Inn at
Lee. He was immediately attended by Dr. Chowne, who was
on the spot ; but all medical assistance was unavailable. The
arteries of his arms were opened, but it was to no purpose ; life
had fled. It is but justice to say, that this fatal result is attribu-
table in no manner to any person connected with Vauxhall or
with the balloon. Mr. F. Gye endeavored, but in vain, to per-
suade Mr. Cocking to have the hoop of the parachute of ash,
but that unfortunate gentleman, from a notion that tin wouJd be
sufficiently strong and much lighter, refused to listen to his sug-
gestion. •

" The inflation," says Mr. Green, " commenced about twelve,
under the able direction of the engineer to the London Gas Com-
pany, and was completed by five o'clock. Prior to the parachute
being attached to the balloon, I caused a trial to be made, with the
view of ascertaining whether the buoyancy of the latter was suffi-
cient to carry up the former with safety. The result of this trial
was, after some arrangements with respect to the ballast, of which
I was compelled to give out about 650 lbs. in weight, in every
respect, satisfactory. The abandonment of this large quantity of
ballast I found to be absolutely i:equisite, in order with safety to
commence the ascent. The balloon was then allowed gently to
rise a sufficient height to be conveyed over the parachute ; but
in consequence of the great and unavoidable delay which was
necessarily caused in affixing the two machines, the gas in the

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COOKING'S FATAL PARAOHUTE DESCENT. 189

former became very considerably condensed, from a redaction
of its temperature. It, thereupon, became a matter of compulsion
that I should get rid of IQO lbs. more of the ballast, -which I
emptied out o| the bags through a tube, constructed of canrass,
and about fifty feet in length. The object in having this tube
was, that any ballast I might deem it advisable to throw out dur«
ing our voyage, should take such a course as would entirely clear
the broadest expanse of the parachute. The connexion between
the balloon and. the parachute was at length completed by the
rope of the latter being made fast to the liberating iron, by which
Mr. Cocking was to free himself from the balloon.

'^It is but justice to myself, I should here state, that I had on
several occasions expressed my determination not to liberate the
parachute from the balloon, upon the ground, setting aside any
other considerations, that I might select a moment for the severance
when Mr. Cocking was not altogether prepared or ready for his
descent, and. therefore, if any accident were to accrue to him, that
I of course should be regarded as the responsible party, and the
one to whom blame would naturally attach.

"Mr. F. Gye, everything being in readiness, about twenty-five
minutes to eight o'clock, gave the signal for the whole of the ap«
paratus to be released from its trammels, and we instantly rose
very steadily, taking an easterly course. '

"Mr. Cocking had always desired that we should ascetid to an
elevation of 8,0^0 feet, about one mile and a quarter, at which
height he proposed to detach himself from the balloon, and to
commence his descent. Finding, therefore, that our upward
progress was very slow, I requested Mr. Spencer to discharge
some more ballast, and he accordingly, threw the contents of a
bag, weighing twenty pounds, through the tube already named.
This proving of little avail, I directed a second sXkd then a ^hird
bagfuU to be got rid of by the same means.

"As soon as we had attained the height of 5,000 feet, I told
him that it would be impossible to get up as high as he desired
in a sufficient time for him to descend by the light of day. Upon
this Mr. Cocking said, ^ then I shall very soon leave you ; but tell
me whereabouts I am ?' Mr. Spencer, who had a few minutes
before caught a glimpse of the earth, answered, ^ We appear to be
on a level with Greenwich.' I then asked him if he felt himself
quite comfortable, and whether he found that the practical trial
bore out the calculations he had made? Mr. Cocking replied,
* Yes ; I never felt more comfortable or more delighted in my life.'
Shortly afterwards Mr. Cocking said, ^ Well, now I think I shall
leave you.' I answered, 'I wish you a very good night and a
safe descent, if you are determined to make it, and not to use the
tackle' (an apparatus, constructed under the direction of Mr. F.

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140 COCKING»S FATAL PARACHUTE DESCENT.

Gye, to afibrd us the facility of assisting Mr. Cocking to haul him«
self up into the car of the balloon if necessary). Mr. Cocking, to
this question, made no other reply than ^Good night, Spencer;
good night. Green.' At this instant I desired Mr. Spencer to take
fast hold of the ropes, and like myself, to crouch do^n in the car.
Scarcely were these words uttered, before we felt a slight jerk
upon the liberating iron, but quickly discovered, from not hating
changed our elevation, that Mr. Cocking had failed in his attempt
to free himself. Another, but more powerful jerk ensued, and m
an instant the balloon shot upwards with the velocity of a sky-
rocket.

^^ The effect upon us at this moment, is almost beyond descrip-
tion. The immense machine which suspended us ^between
heaven aad earth,' whilst it appeared to be forced upwards with
terrific violence and rapidity, through unknown and untraveled
regions, amidst the bowlings of a fearful hurricane, rolled about
as though reveling in a freedom, for which it had long struggled,
but of which, until that moment, it had been kept in absolute
ignorance. It at length, as if somewhat fatigued by its exertions,
gradually assumed the motions of a snake working its way with
astonishing speed towards a given object. During this frightful
operation, the gas was rushing in torrents from the upper and
lower valves, but more particularly from the latter, as the density
of th'e atmosphere through wluch we were forcing our progress,
pressed so heavily on the valve at the top of the balloon, as to
admit of comparatively but a small escape by that aperture.

*^At this juncture, had it not been for the application to our
mouths of two pipes leading into an air-bag, with which we had
furnished ourselves previous to starting, we must, within a mi-
nute, have been suffocated ; and so, but by a different means,
have shared the melancholy fate of our friend. The gas, notwith-
standing all our precautions, from the violence of its operations
on the human frame, almost immediately deprived us of sight,
and we were both, as far as our visionary powers were concerned,
in a state of total darkness for between four and five minutes.

^^ As soon as we had partially regained the use of our eyes, and
had somewhat recovered from the effects of the awful scene in
which, from the circumstances we had been plunged, our first
attention was directed to the barometer. I soon discovered that
my powers had not sufficiently returned to enable me to see the
mercury, but Mr. Spencer found that it stood at 13,20, giving
an elevation of 23,384 feet^ or about four miles and a quarter. I
do not conceive, from the length of time I had been liberating the
gas, that this was anything like our greatest altitude, for we were
evidently effecting a rapid descent.

^* Recollecting the late hour at which we quitted Vauxhall, I

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X' iy-

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MR. HAMPTON'S ASCK NT FROM CREMORNE HOUSE, CHELSEA

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MR. HAMPTON'S ASCENT. 141

now began to be anxious about the timey and on applying to Mr.
Spencer, ascertained that it wanted not more than a quarter to
nine o'clock. From this I was aware, notwithstanding, in our
then position, we were blessed with a magnificent light, that on
emerging finom below the clouds, darkness would have assumed
her sable hue over the earth, and that we should have much diffi-
culty, therefore, in ascertaining the nature and character of the
country, supposing us to be over the land, on which we must
effect our final descent. I consequently became extremely
anxious to make our way through the clouds as quickly as possi-
ble, which having done, we proceeded until we had reached
within some 300 feet of the ground, ^when we found it requisite,
from our inability to ascertain the nature of the ground, the whole
country beneath us offeHng the appearance of thick woods, to
cast out every article of ballast and movable matters, even to
ropes and empty ballast-bags, in order to prevent us from coming
in contact with what was supposed to be trees» After calling
out for some time, and hanging out the grapnel, we heard voices
in reply, and the parties speedily drew us to a safe place of landing
which proved to be close to the village of Ofifham, near Town
Mailing, seven miles west of Maidstone, and twenty-eight from
London.

^^ At half-past ten o'clock this morning, we quitted Town Mail-
ing, and it was not until our arrival at Wrotham, at which place
I inquired whether they had heard where Mr. Cocking had de-
scended, that I became acquainted with the unexpected and
melancholy result of his experiment."

CHAPTER XX.

Mr. Hampton^s ascent from Oremome House, Chelsea, Thursday, June
13, 1839 — ^And desoentwith his paraohuteT-Deecription of his parachute
— ^Aerial nocturnal excursion from MarseilleB to Turin, by Mr. Arban.

'^ Mr. Hamptok commenced his career as an aeronaut at the
Eyre Arms Tavern, St. John's Wood, on the 7th of June last,
where he met with great difficulties, but his judgment and intre-
pidity soon overcame them. It was on his ascent afterwards at
Rochester, that he particularly displayed great presence of mind,
and determined spirit, for, on that occasion, shortly after he had
left the earth, the wind shifting, drove his balloon seaward, and
it desoended on the ocean, aome miles from the coast : while in

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142 MR. HAMPTON'S PARACHUTE DESCENT.

this perilous situation, he clung to his balloon, until rescued by
a trading vessel, which landed the aeronaut, with his Albion bal-
loon, at Whitstable. He ascended next at Canterbury, when the
balloon not being sufficiently buoyant from a want of gas, the in-
trepid Hampton cut away the car t6 lighten the balloon, and he
ascended standing on the hoop to which the ropes that passed
over the balloon were attached, and descended safely. In the
course of last summer, Mr. Hampton ascended from Cremome
House, and also at other places, with the greatest facility, and
descended without accident. At length he determined to outstrip
all competition, by descending from his balloon by means of a
newly-constructed parachute : the Montpelier Gardens, at Chel-
tenham, was the place chosen for this daring exploit ; but the sad
fate of Mr. Cocking, and the censure which the proprietors of
Vanxhall Gardens incurred, by permitting the descent from the
Nassau, balloon, induced the owner of Montpelier Gardens to with-
hold his consent to Mr. Hampton's experiment ; but in order to
gratify the curiosity of the immense concourse of ^ectators that
were assembled upon that occasion, he consented that the balloon
and parachute should be exhibited, but to ascend no higher thai\
sixty feet from the earth for fear of accident ; when Mr. Hampton
had reached this altitude, he could not resist the desire he had
of putting his parachute to the test, and accordingly severed the
rope which passed over his balloon, the two ends being held by
men stationed in the gardens for that purpose. The astonish-
ment of the spectators may be imagined, when they beheld the
intrepid aeronaut majestically soaring towards the clouds. When
about two miles from the earth, he determined upon descending;
but, unlike Garnerin, who depended upon the atmospheric pres-
sure, Mr. Hampton opened his parachute before he separated it
from the balloon. The wind was very high. It appeared, when
viewed from below, to be driven, along at a great rate ; and was,
perhaps, the most boisterous Mr. H. ever experienced, the wind
carrying him over the Leckhampton hills with great violence. He
was not up more than twenty minutes, and descended at Cobber-
ley. This ascent was in May, 1839.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PARACHUTE.

^^The engraving shows the admirable construction of the para-
chute : the upper part is in the form of an umbrella, and about
fifteen feet in diameter, with an ornamented border. The ribs
are eight feet long, and expand from the top of the parachute to
its extremities ; they are formed of very thick whale-bone,
utrongly fastened by brass clamps; the ribs are connected to the

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BALLOON VOYAGE ACROSS THE ALPSf. 148

copper tube by stretchers, made of bamboo. At the ends of the
ribs curtains are suspended, two and a half feet deep ; and, by
an admirable contrivance^ Mr. Hampton, when in his seat in the
parachute, can, by a rope which runs from the cak* to the cur-
tains, either contract or enlarge them, in the same manner as the
sailor furls his sails. In order to guard against every possible
accident, the car of the parachute is strongly guarded by iron
hoops, to prevent the possibility of its receiving* injury on its
reaching the earth. Mr. Hampton, while in the car, can, by a
pulley which runs through a copper tube (connecting the balloon
to the parachute), o^n a small valve in the balloon, by which
means he can let as much gas escape as he may think necessary
immediately previous to his descending. When Mr. H. imagines
enough gas is let off, he severs the rope which holds the para-
chute to the balloon (this rope also is conveyed to the balloon
through the tube, which is eleven feet high, the altitude of the
parachute) ; and he descends.

'^The engraving represents the manner of Mr. Hampton's as-
cending, with the lop of the parachute closed, and also as it
appears when expanded ; with the mode the gas escapes from
the balloon; and his mode of descending, as also that of his
balloon ; and his reaching the earth at Cobberley.

**The ascent at Cremome House on Thursday last, was a
pleasing sight, not so repulsive to the feelings as that of the
ascent of Mons. Garnerin, some years since.

" Shortly before the ascent, the rain impeded the progress of
making the necessary preparation ; indeed, for some time it
was imarined no ascent would take place. At length, between
eight and nine o'clock in the evening, the car was affixed to the
balloon, and everything being ready, the undaunted aeronaut
gently ascended, amidst the cheers of the assembled company.
When he had been up a short time, he severed the rope which
connected the parachute with the balloon, and descended in fine
style, alighting on the Fulham-road in perfect safety.

*' He was conducted back to the Gardens, accompanied by an
immense concourse of people, who were not sparing of their ap-
probation of his daring exploit,"

AERIAL NOCTURNAL EXCURSION FROM MARSEILLES

TO TURIN.

Mr. Arban, the aeronaut, ascended in his balloon' from the
Chateau de Fleurs (the Vauxhall of Marseilles) at half past six
in the evening of the 5!d of September, 1849, and alighted at the
Tillage of Pion Forte, near Turin, the following morning, at half

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l44 BALLOON VOYAGE ACROSS THE ALPS.

past two, haying accomplished the distance, about four hundred
miles, in eight hours. The particulars of this interesting Toyage»
as related by Mr. Arban himself, are as follows : " I ascended
from the Chateau de Fleurs, on Sunday evening, the 2d instant,
at half past six. At eight I was over the wood of Esteret, where
I ascertained I was at the height of 4000 metres. The tempe-
rature of the air was cold, but dry ; my Centigrade thermometer
marked four tegrees below zero. The wind was south-west and
sent me over Nice. ^ For nearly two hours I was surrounded by
very dense clouds, my cloak no longer sufficed to keep me warm ;
I suffered much from cold feet. I neverfheless determined to
proceed and traverse the Alps, from whicli I knew I was not far
distant.

" My provision of bdlast was enough to raise me above the
highest peaks. The cold gradually increased, the wind became
steady, and the moon lighted me like the sun. I was at the foot
of the Alps ; the snows, cascades, rivers, all were sparkling ; the
ravines and rocks produced masses of darkness which served as
shadows to the gigantic picture. The wind now interrupted the
regularity of my course ; I was occasionally obliged to ascend,
in order to pass over the peaks. I reached the summit of the
Alps at eleven o'clock, and as the horizon became clear, and my
course regular, I began to think of supping. I was now at an
elevation of 4600 metres. It was indispensably necessary for me
to pursue my journey and reach Piedmont. Chaos only was
under roe, and to alight in these regions was impossible. After
supper, I threw my em|)ty bottle into the snow beneath, where
possibly some adventurous traveler will one day find it, and will
be led to conclude that another before him had explored the
same desert regions.

^' At half past one in the mornin? I was over Mount Misso,
which I knew, having explored it m my first journey to Pied-
mont. There the Durance and the Po take their source. I re-
connoitred their position, and discovered the magnificent plains
of the mountain. Before this certainty, a singular optical delu-
sion, occasioned by the shining of the moon upon the snow, made
me at first think myself over the open sea. But as the south-
west wind had not ceased to blow, I was convinced by this fact,
as well as by others I had noticed, that I could not be over the
sea. The stars confirmed the accuracy of my compass, and the
appearance of Mont Blanc satisfied me that I must be approach-
ing Turin. Mout Blanc to my left, on a level with the top of
which I \vas, being far above the clouds, resembled an immense
block of crystal sparkling with a thousand fires.

*< At a quarter to three, Mount Vise, which was behind me,
proved to me that I was in the neighborhood of Turin. I deter-

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BALLOON VOYAGE ACROSS THE ALPS. 145

mined to alight, which I did without much difficulty, having bal-
last enough to go much farther. I alighted near a large farm-
yard, where I was surrounded by several watch-dogs, from whose
caresses I was protected by my cloak. Their barking awakened
the peasants, who were more surprised than frightened at seeing
me. They admitted me to their house ; informed me that it was
half past two, and that I was in the village of Pion Forte, near
Stubini, six kilometres from Turin. Ipassed the remainder of
the night in the farm house, and in the morning the peasants ac-
companied me to the mayor, who delivered me a certificate,
attesting my arrival, &c. After packing up my balloon and car,
I set out for Turin, where I arrived at nine in the morning.'^

In this voyage the aeronaut sailed from west to east, from Mar-
seilles to Nice, a distance of about a hundred miles. Crossing
the mountains at a point where the Cottian Alps meet and form
an angle with the Maritime Alps, he was swept along their eastern
side in nearly a northern direction. Had he ascended higher,
he would no doubt have been carried towards Genoa.

10

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PART 11.

COMPRISING A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE AUTHOR'S FIFTEEN
YEARS' PRACTICE IN THE ART OF AERONAUTICS.

CHAPTER I.

Introduction of the subject — ^First American aeronauts.

As this part of the work is more especially intended to direct
the student of aeronautics in his researches, and to enable hina to
attain that degree of perfection and consequent success in its
practice which the art at present affords, it will be necessary to
detail such of the hundred aerial voyages of the author as will
throw the most light in that direction. Another science, so inti-
mately connected with this as to be necessarily inseparable, may
also be noticed in this connection, as far as the author's observa-
tions have extended, without being considered digressive. It is the
science of meteorology. Everything which is calculated to im-
prove the art, and afford facilities for its vigorous prosecution,
becomes auxiliary to it, and should not remain unnoticed. The
want of such infor^mation and assistance is known to no one bet-
ter than to the author ; therefore, its due appreciation, he trusts,
will enable him to make this part of the book what he ardently
desires it to be — a usefully instructive forerunner, bringing
into the field of aeronautics a numerous and effective army of
experimentalists, through whom the art will rapidly attain a
practical position which will place it in advance of all other con-
trivances for transporting passengers to and from all places on
the globe. The very easy manner in which any ordinarily
skilful person will be enabled to build a balloon, and ascend
with it, by the rules and instructions which will be given,
will convince him that such expectations of its prosperity are
founded upon plain and comprehensive principles. It will be
discovered that ballooning is not that mysterious, hap-hazard,
and dangerous art, which it is so universally believed to be, and
which has no foundation in fact. And it will not be sufficient to

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INTRODUCTION. 147

make the subject merely plain enough to be acquired by any or-
dinary mind, but the reasons why so many more fail in minor
experiments, than succeed, will also be given. Failures in the
incipient prosecutions of experiments very often deter the student
from trying to go further, while success in such cases is sure to
fire the mind and genius of the operator with a spirit of encour-
agement and progressiveness. For this reason,- particular in-
structions will alsQ be given in the art of making and sending up
toy balloons. This will be useful, because the same laws and
principles govern these operations, as apply to those on a larger
scale. Indeed, the toy experiments require a nicer perception of
discrimination and calculation to make them terminate success-
fully, than do the larger operations. This very difficulty was the
cause of retardation in discovering the means of elevating bodies
in the air, by atmospheric buoyancy. This same difficulty has,
since the discoteiy made by the Montgolfiers, made many a dis-
appointed investigator abandon the subject, from the belief that
iX was extremely precarious, and deficient in common principles,
when but a slight hint in the right quarter would have enabled
him to have gone on rejoicing.

None but an ardent laborer in the art can feel and appreciate
the want of correct information, and its ready means of acquire-
ment. What few receipts were extant, when the author com-
menced his first operations, for making elastic varnishes, and
preparing the muslin or silk of which the balloon was composed,
did more to retard his progress than if he had never seenthem,
because th^y were not from practical hands. This difficulty was
only overcome by close application and a gradual research of
seven years' practice. In this part of the construction of bal-
loons, an important discovery — the making of an elastic varnish
— will be laid before the reader. Its great merit consists in hav-
ing no affinity for oxygen, and yet a quickly drying property,
retaining its elasticity under great changes of temperature, and
being free from the danger of spontaneous combustion, thereby
giving great durability to the balloon, and also relieving the aero-
naut from the trouble and perplexity caused by the adhesiveness
so common to balloon varnishes. Indeed, everything pertaining
to the construction of balloons and their requisite paraphernalia,
shall be laid down in a plain, practically comprehensive manner,
in its proper order, so that any one who can read may be able to
understand it.

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148 FIRST BALLOON ASCENT IN AMERICA.

CHAPTER II.

First balloon ascension in the United States — ^Durant, the first American
aeronaut — The author's first ascent — ^Details of the trip — Conclusions.

The first aerial voyage in the United States \vas made by M.
Blanchard, a Frenchman, in January, 1793, f|pm Philadelphia,
at which Gen. Washington was a spectator. Gilleo and Robert-
son, also Frenchmen, were the next after Blanchard. No Ame-
ricans were engaged in the business until Mr. Durant, an inge-
nious citizen of NewTTork, took it up after Robertson. He made
a number of aerial voyages, which were shortly followed by
others made by new adventurers in the art.

When I first conceived the idea of making a balloon, I had
never seen an ascension with one, nor had I any practical know-
ledge of its construction. It will, therefore, be interesting, as
well as instructive, to give a particular history of my first expe-
riment in detail. In the spring of 1835, living at that time in the
city of Philadelphia, I resolved to build a balloon on, a very eco-
nomical plan ; as I intended merely to gratify my desire of sail-
ing aloft to enjoy a prospect that I had ever considered must be
grand and sublime, I did not wish to incur any more expense
in the construction of a machine, than was essentially necessary
to such a consummation. My first step was the study of the
atmosphere — its nature and its buoyant power. This opened a
field of speculative philosophy, which was well calculated to
cause me to rub my forehead, and strain my imagination, being,
as I was, a novice in such studies. This naturally led me into
the study of pneumatics, and hydrostatics, and I was, indeed,
amazed at the immense power the atmosphere possessed in ele-
vating bodies or vessels which were exhausted of air, and filled
with a substance easily to be made, that would be from twelve
to fourteen times lighter than air. This capability of the atmo-
sphere in elevating bodies seemed to me of such enormous
extent, that I was almost led to the belief that the very earth
upon which we live was floating in an immense elastic medium,
on the principle of a balloon. The very moderate size of four
hundred feet diameter of a balloon would make it capable of
raising two million and ninety thousand pounds, when inflated

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BALLOON MAKING. 149

with hydrogen gas. This would raise up and carry off thirteen
thousand men of one hundred and fifty pounds each.

No wonder that the citizens of London became alarmed during
the French consular war, when they mistook the appearance of a
Tast flock of birds coming towards the metropolis, for Napoleon's
army, apparently coming down upon them with this (then new)
contrivance.

After I had made myself tolerably well acquainted with the
science that governs the art of ballooning, I next sought informa-
tion upon the probability of success, should I undertake the expe-
riment. My first step in this matter was to consult a number of
scientific gentlemen, by which means I might learn whether my
deductions and conclusions squared with those whom I knew to
possess the proper information. The result of this determined
me to go on. Accordingly, the material for the balloon was pro-
cured, which consisted of fine domestic muslin, such as is used
fi^r shirting, commonly denominated '^ long cloth." It was re-
quisite that this should be made air-tight, or as nearly so as pos-
sible, with a varnish that should neither crack, nor become
adhesive, when dried. Having a practical knpwledge of the
composition and nature of varnishes, I saw in this no inconsid-
erable difficulty to be overcome. Although the receipt books
abounded with prescriptions of elastic varnishes, and even a few
specially for coating balloons, it was evident to my mind on
perusing them, that they were mostly the productions of theoreti-
cal minds, or at least were not written by practical operators.

The varnish most likely to answer of all that came under my
notice, seemed to be that of "bird lime." Of this article I pro-
cured eight pounds, which, together with the requisite quantity of
linseed oil, and the common metallic driers used in oil varnishes,
composed the varnish for the balloon. The muslin was hung up
in the same manner as it is hung up about factories — that is, by
its one edge on hooks, hanging loosely down. It was thus coated
over and dried in the sun, and then coated a second time. After
the second coat bad dried, which took nearly a week, it being in
winter, it was cut into properly shaped segments and sewed
together. This being done, it was now taken into a large room
and filled with common air, and coated a third time. This
stopped up the needle holes and to some extent perfected the
coating of the whole machine, for, upon trial of its capability to
hold air or gas, it seemed impermeable enough to answer tly pur-
pose of a mere aerial pleasure ride. This method of trying its
quality consists in merely filling it with common air, and suffering
it to remain for a day or two in this condition, to see what amount
it loses. This machine being twenty-eight feet in diameter, and
when half filled with common air, would lose about twenty per

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150 FIRST EXPERIMENT.

cent, of it in twenty-four hours, so that its real loss when fiRed
was equal to ten per cent, in twenty-four hours, and this was far
from what a good balloon ought to be.

The balloon thus finished, the next step was to procure a net-
work for its rigging, by which the car and other paraphernalia
were to be attached. This was composed of cotton seine twine,
and knit by a woman who was accustomed to knit fish-nets, and
was the best part of the whole machinery. The car consisted of
a basket about two and a half feet in diameter at the bottom,
gradually expanding to its top, and was about three feet eight
inches deep, by the by a Tery awkward shape, as the sequd proved
it to be.

Thus provided, the next arrangement was the procurement of
an inflating apparatus, and materials for generating hydrogen gas.
Fifteen casks of a hundred and thirty gallons capacity each were
used as retorts. These were arranged in a semi-circular form
around a gas receiver and made to communicate with it by the
gas bubbling up through a head of fifteen inches of water through
recurved tin tubes, which connected each retort with the receiver.
This being got in readiness, nothing remained but to put the
machinery in operation and make the experiment. Having now
been at considerable expense, although the strictest economy had
been observed, my financial condition did not allow me to under-
take the additional expense of materials for inflation, unless it
should be based upon some remunerating arrangement. It was
suggested by some friends, that a public exhibition of the con-
templated ascension, at fifty cents admission, would meet the
expenditures of inflation. This all appeared very reasonable to
me in itself; but from the intimations that had already come to
my knowledge, of a want of confidence in the public as to my
ability of making a successful experiment, it somewhat dis-
couraged me in such an undertaking. Not that I really doubted
a successful termination of the afiair under a fair trial; but be-
cause balloon ascensions, from repeated failures in their attempts,
and mobs, had become synonymous ideas with a great portion of
the people who were attracted by them. Even many of my inti-
mate acquaintances shook their heads in doubt as to its feasibility ;
indeed, as to its possibility, looking on it, as the mass of the
people did, as a precarious, mysterious, and not easily to be
accompfished experiment. The simplicity of the science itself,
togetlpr with the confidence of those of my scientific friends
whom I had consulted, and who seemed to have as little doubt of its
possibility as they had of that of running a steamboat or locomo-
tive engine, was enough to outweigh the forebodings of the timid
and skeptical, in my mind ; but still, this did not answer to allay

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FIRST EXPERIMENT. 161

popular excitement, ni^hich must certainly accompanj a public
balloon ascension at even that day.

However, all things considered, I decided upon the plan of a
publicly advertised ascension, and as a first experiment too, to
take place at the corner of Ninth and Green streets in PhiladeK
phia, on the 30th day of April, 1835. This announcement
brought down upon me from many of my friends, all the fore-
bodings that timid minds could predict on the anticipation of a
balloon riot. You are going right in amongst the butchers, said
some, and they are a very determined, rough class of people, be-
sides many other imaginative terrors, of which, had I believed
the one-tenth of them, I should have been appalled and driven
from my determination. But I reasoned in this way, that if the
butchers were so formidable a people, they would be equally
effective in protecting me in any lawful calling in which I itiight
be engaged. And so I found it to be the case, too, while fixing
up my apparatus, which occupied me several days, during which
time I became acquainted with many citizens of the district in
which I had announced to ascend, and among them were a num-
ber of the victuallers of the place, who tendered me the warmest
assistance and encouragement, believing, as they did, that I was
at least serious and honest in my intentions, if not capable to
accomplish them.

The 30th of April turned out to be a blustery stormy day, and
these very people who were accounted as not willing to take any
excuse for a postponement or delay of a balloon ascension, were
the first to advise me to put it off until the 2d day of May, which
was accordingly done. This turned out to be a day in every
respect favorable to the experiment. The balloon was brought
upon the ground, which, with the car and net-work, weighed
186 pounds. The inflation was commenced, and everything
went on steadily for three hours, when the time for the ascension
arrived, it being announced for four o'clock in the afternoon.
The balloon was little more than half full, which caused many
to think it would not be able to carry its freight ; but, as the
balloon was twenty-eight feet in diameter, half its capacity filled
with hydrogen would make an ascensive power of 375 pounds,
so that the question with me was, whether it was half full. Upon
consulting Professor J. K. Mitchell, who was present, and who
was my friend and adviser in this matter, he concluded it was
sufficiently inflated to carry me up. By the time the car was
harnessed on the balloon rigging, another half hour passed away,
without the least manifestation of discontent by those who were
inside the arena, but with no inconsiderable tumult among the
dense crowd that had assembled round the outside, and even
they seemed to be more moved by anxiety to learn the result, than

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152 AUTHOR'S FIRST VOYAGE.

a desire*to mob the balloon^ for, as I mentioned before, they too^
had come to the conclusion that '^ he will go up if he canJ*^

Everything being apparently in readiness now, I stepped into
the car of the balloon, took in about fifteen pounds of sand in
two small sacks, a barometer and thermometer, and thea at*
tempted to ascertain the precise ascensive power the balloon pos-
sessed. But, as everybody around me knew it was my first ex-
periment, and as none of the most considerate could get near
enough to the machine to enable me to poise it properly for start-
ing, and those who had hold of the ropes and car seemed to
labor under the belief that I was not over-anxious to leave the
earth, because they could not understand my intentions when
desiring them to hold on to the machine until I had it properly
graduated, I was of course bound to submit to their proceedings.
Thus, before I could even properly arrange my instruments or
make the least calculation of the balloon's upward power, as I
could not get them to let it swing by a cord which I had attached
to the car for that purpose, some crying '^ send him up,'' with
powerful efibrts on their part to suit the action to the word, while
others were equally determined to hold it down, which struggle,
however, terminated in a few minutes in favor of the ascendant
party ; with a considerable projectile force added to the balloon^
I was in a few momeiits grazing the chimneys of the neighboring
buildings. My first act upon this was to get rid of the two small
sacks of sand, which relieved the balloon sufficiently, in addition
to a rebounding force it got by the car striking the top of a chim-
ney, to send it over a vacant lot in which it descended. An in-
dividual who happened to be on the spot took hold of the car
at my request, and held it steady until I handed out the instru-
ments to another who immediately appeared, and in a few
moments an immense crowd assembled round the balloon, it
being but three or four hundred yards from where it had started.
The scene here presented a mixture of excitement and confusion,
without the least disposition of violence towards the balloon, and
yet of such a nature as to make it morally impossible to do any-
thing with system or order, that it required an almost superhu-
man effort to make oneself heard in any words to that eJQfect.
Afler having handed out my instruments, as also my boots and
coat, which, together with the sand, amounted to at least eight-
een pounds, I roared at the top of my voice, " For God's sake,
gentlemen, will you give me a chance .to make the ascension?"
This seemed to have the desired effect, and a number of voices
responded to it in a desire to learn my wants. \ told them it
was necessary to give me a free space for the car to float in with
but one person to hold it, and if it would not show a tendency to
ascend without being pushed up, as it had been in the arena, it

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AUTHOR'S FIRST VOYAGE. 168

was impossible to make the ascension without putting more gas
in the balloon. A circle was immediately formed ; the car was
clear ; the person in question had his hand on it ; it showed un-
mistakeable symptoms to rise, as it required considerable effort
to hold it down ; and without further delay I ordered him to let
go, and before I coald fairly say good-by, gentlemen, the aerial
ship was speeding me rapidly above the reach of obstructions.
Now followed a scene worthy the pen of a poet. The first second
or two of the balloon's ascent caused a stillness in the immense
mass of people below that seemed as though they were fixed im^
mo¥ably to the spot, when all of a sudden, the very air began
to reverberate with the shouts that followed. The multitude
appeared to be as much rejoiced at the result as I possibly could
be myself; and I must confess it was one of the happiest moments
I ever experienced in my life, for, but a few minutes before,
from the circumstances attendant, the success of the experiment
for the time seemed to rest upon a very doubtful contingency —
that of getting back to the inflating apparatus. Up, up I soared,
almost perpendicularly, to the distance of several thousand feet,
when a gentle bree^^ wafted the machine in a south-westerly
direction — the balloon still rising — until it reached a point at the
intersection of Market street and the Schuylkill River, which is
about one mile and a half from where it started. Here it be-
came stationary, or nearly so, and just at a point where the bal-
loon had reached an altitude equal to its ascensive power, where
was also a point of two currents of air traversing each other;
the one from the north-east, which wafted the machine thither,
was here traversed above it by a current from the west.

Having now lost sight of the great throng of people that sur-
rounded me at starting, and standing over a large city, at least a
mile above it, solitary and alone, with a low melancholy mur-
muring noise rising up from it ; the balloon slowly writhing and
twisting, as it were, between two contending currents, causing a
fluttering breeze around me, while I was standing in the car
without hat, coat, or boots, looking around, below, above, and in
every direction, strange emotions pervaded my mind. Grandeur
had ever been a delightful theme to me, but this was more than
grandeur. All the higher faculties of the human mind became
gradually aroused ; I was gently awakening from a magnificent
dream, casting my eyes upon a scene of reality that appeared far
more grand and magnificent than the dream itself; strange feel-
ings were passing through my mind ; I felt composed in body,
but there was .an indescribable commotion agitating the inner
man, and it was some time before I reasoned the soul and body
into their natural state of equilibrium. Although the atmosphere
at this height was cold, the perspiration now began to roll from my

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154 SUBLIMITY OF THE VOYAGE.

forehead in large drops. By a comparison of the previous few
hours with the present position then occupied, I became enabled
to look and reflect in a more natural spirit, but still, the vastness,
grandeur, and sublimity of the scene around me kept me in a
mood far different from what I had ever before experienced.
The mind appeared to expand itself commensurately with the
magnitude of the scene that surrounded it. Here was an im-
mense community of human beings swarming underneath my
feet, sending up a humming buzz from their apparently con-
densed cells; there, the ample folds of the Delaware were rolling
themselves into the heaven-curtained clouds of the distant hori-
zon ; above me stood the huge distended balloon, swelled, as it
were, in pompous pride of its exalted position, floating like an
independent Sphere, with its single inhabitant, in the great ethe-
real ocean of the universe. It was a soul-inspiring scene, and
one that will never be erased from my mind as long as its facul-
ties shall live.

The balloon was retained in the eddy it had reached for seve-
ral minutes, and until it was lightened sufficiently to rise above
it, which was done by cutting off and tBrowing overboard a
heavy flower-wreath which had been twined around the car.
These flowers, as they fell from the car, were taken for birds
by those who watched the progress of the balloon with telescopes,
as I was afterwards informed. Besides this, the car was hang-
ing so near the balloon, that I was enabled to detach the tin tube
which was in the neck of it, and which, in this instance, was
unnecessarily heavy, but, as the disposal of the wreath had light-
ened the machine sufficiently to enable it to rise above the eddy,
I did not throw it overboard at that point, and upon considera-
tion found it would not be safe to do so until I should get over a
place where no human beings would be endangered by its descent.
After the balloon had risen above the lower current, and the eddy,
which invariably exists between two currents, it took off in a
direction eastward, nearly on a line with Arch street. This I
,was enabled to tell by the map-like appearance of the city, the
market-houses being in the next street south of it, which made a
good mark to distinguish the streets by. As I passed slowly
over the city, its murmuring noise rose up in modulations of vari-
able intensity, giving it a melancholy musical effect, in some
measure resembling the sound of an ^olian harp. The current
from the west being very gentle, it required full twelve minutes
to carry the machine from the Schuylkill to the Delaware, during
which time I feasted my eyes upon the panoramic scenery of the
city and its precincts, occasionally running the eye along the
serpentine folds of the Delaware to where it was lost in the clouds
which skirted the horizon all round. The Schuylkill seemed of

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AUTHOR'S FIRST VOYAGE. 155

too little interest, when viewed from that height, in comparison
whh its larger neighbor. When I reached the Delaware I threw
overboard the neck-pipe of the balloon, which made a rushing
sound in its descent until it splashed into the water, which I
beard distinctly, although I was over a mile above its' surface.
As I crossed the Delaware, the view up and down for a distance of
twenty or thirty miles each way, was picturesque and grand be«
yond conception, and yet more natural in appearance than land
scenery. This effect of the river scenery caused a degree of
composure in my mind, which, until now, had been strained far
beyond a normal condition, that enabled me to investigate and
observe in a more ratiocinative manner. Before this, amazement
was the only resultant of all observation on this magnificent plani-
sphere. Although the boats and ships on the river looked very
diminutive, still, the scene had the miniature appearance of a na**
tural reality. This was not the case in taking a grand and
general view over the whole visible plain beneath ; for, in such
an observation, a regularity and exactness developed itself in the
scene, which gave it more of an artificial than a natural aspect.
A perfectly formed circle encompassed the visible planisphere
beneath, or rather the concavo*sphere it might now be called, for
I had attained a height from which the surface of the earth as-
sumed a regularly hollowed, or concave appearance, an optical
delusion which increases as you recede from it. At the greatest
elevation I attained, which was about a mile and a half, the ap-
pearance of the world around me assumed a shape or form like
that which is made by placing two watch crystals together by
their edges, the balloon apparently in the central cavity all the
time of its flight at that elevation ; the river each way, cut off
at the intersection of the upper and lower concavo-spheres. At
one time this crevice, if I may so term it, was apparently filled
in with clouds iJl around, while at the close of the voyage the
visible horizon was clear of them, which gave it, as I before
stated, a very artificial appearance. I could not help but think
at the time that, had the Roman Inquisition which made Vincent
Galileo recant his doctrine of the rotundity of the earth, in favor
of the planispheric theory, occupied my position, they would
have insisted to his swearing that our earth was hollowed or con-
cave on its outer surface, instead of flat, as they made the philo-
sopher swear it was.

After I had crossed the Delaware and reached a point five or
six miles on the Jersey side of it, I made preparations to descend,
as I discovered the balloon was now gradually sinking from the
loss of gas through its imperfection, which made me feel as sor-
rowful as Adam when he was expelled from the garden of Eden.
After being in the upper regions of the atmosphere one hour and

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156 DESCENT.

a quarter, I made a safe descent near Haddonfield, a village
about nine miles distant from Pbiladelpbia, and returned home
that evening, ¥rhere I received the congratulations of many
friends.

Now that I had really enjoyed the pleasures of an aerial voy-
age ; viewed the earth from a point in space which was isolated
and unobstructed ; feasted my eyes upon one of the most interesting
and richest scenes that mortal man could imagine, and had ac-
quitted myself in an experiment publicly announced in a credit*
able manner, it might have been supposed that my desires and
ambition in this matter had been fully satisfied. But, such was
not the case. I had now visited the ^rine of intellectual grand-
eur, and its attractions were seductive. I had dreamed a mag-
nificent dream; which, I felt convinced, could be realized. Such
were my reflections, when recurring to this event/ Although
many of my friends desired me, in the most persuasive manner,
to give up the idea of repeating the experiment, looking upon it
as an extremely dangerous business, I resolved in my own mind
to pursue it as long as it afibrded me the same enjoyment which
I experienced in my first essay. Besides, I formed an opinion
that aerial navigation was destined to move with the progressive
order of the day ; and I felt it a duty devolved upon me not to
let it sleep for the want of active investigation, however slow its
improvement might be. Such considerations induced me to go
on, and on I did go, as the sequel will show, for fifteen years
already, with, at least, well-founded hopes of its approaching
general usefulness, if not with considerable improvement in the
way of having simplified the art, so as to bring it within the
reach of experimenters at a reasonable cost and a certainty of
success, that must ere long give it a valuable feature.

CHAPTER III.

American aeronautfl — ^Death of James Mills — ^Difficulty in the construc-
tion of balloons — ^Author's second experiment — Failure, and its cause
— Hints to aeronauts in such predicaments.

About this period (1835), a considerable number of experi-
mentalists in ballooning made their appearance in various parts
of the United States ; but, unfortunately for the progress of the art,
the most of them were not philosophically acquainted with the sub-
ject. For this reason so many failed in the simple process of a bal-

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AMERICAN AERONAUTS. 157

loon ascension. This bad a tendency to confirm the opinion
which previously existed^ that to make a balloon ascension was a
▼ery mysterious and difficult matter. The most successful of this
numerous corps of aeronauts, were Mr. Jameis Mills, of Balti-
more, Mr. Richard Clayton, of Cincinnati, and Mr. William
Paullin, of Philadelphia. These gentlemen made a great num-
ber of ascensions in various parts of the Union, and Mr. Paullin
extended his operations into South America lind the West Indies.
Mr. Mills died at York, Pa., while having announced his eleventh
ascension, and it was generally reported that he had come to his
death by suffocation from gas. This opinion originated from the
fact that he was found dead in the room where he had his bal-
loon, and where he died from apoplexy while in the act of re«
pairing it. «

All these aeronauts labored under the same difficulty which
gave me so much trouble and perplexity during the first five or
six years of my operations— the v^ant of an elastic varnish, which
should at once combine the qualities of impermeability, elasticity,
and non*adhesiveness. From this difficulty I did not suffer so
much with the first balloon I made, because it was composed of
domestic muslin, a fabric which is more capable of absorbing
Tarnish than silk is ; but it gave a disadvantage in the immense
weight of the machine, being four times that of one of silk of the
same dimensions. Cumbersome and imperfect as this first ma-
chine was, I used it in six experiments before I abandoned it.
My second trial with it was from the same spot where I had
made the first, but I failed in getting the balloon sufficiently in-
flated, from an accident that occurred while filling it, from the
breaking of a carboy of vitriol, which splashed some acid over
the balloon and damaged it so much, that it could not be re-
paired sufficiently on the ground to make it answer for the ascen-
sion then to be made. This would not have occurred had the
balloon been further from the inflating apparatus, which is easily
done by using a longer conducting hose to pass the hydrogen
from the receiver to the balloon, a precaution which I afterwards
invariably. adopted. Upon this accident, when all efforts on my
part had failed in overcoming the difficulty, I candidly stated to
the audience assembled what the reality of the case was, and
when they saw that my heart was as full of sorrow as the bal-
loon shatdd have been full of hydrogen, they not only sympa-
thized with me, but unanimously resolved not to take back the
fee of admission which I proffered them, and, moreover, cheered
me up by requesting me to repair the balloon and try it again on
some other occasion.

This was all done in the arena in a spontaneous, but syste*
matic manner, and I mention it as an instance to shovr, that, at

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158 SECOND EXPERIMENT.

even a great gathering of people to witness a balloon ascension,
they are not unreasonable nor evil disposed towards the aeronaut',
when they are convinced that he is guiltless of any intention to
deceive them. And when the aeronaut is in such a predicament
it is an easy matter for himself, or any friend of his, to explain
things satisfactorily, which is always better than to look upon the
public as an uncivilized and vicious throng, and under such de*
lusion attempt to skulk from anticipated vengeance which has no
real existence. The very act of attempting to sneak from such
responsibility carries with it a degree of suspicion calculated to
inspire mistrust, and has caused the destruction of more than one
aeronaut's property, when a little common sense would have saved
it, and his credit too.

Having devoted this short chapter mainly to an unsuccessful ex-
periment which had been attempted as a public balloon ascension,
it may be very properly concluded, by advising all experimentalists
in ballooning, and it pertains equally strong to ail progressive ex-
periments, whether for public amusement, or pioneering trials, to
never promise more than they really intend to accomplish. The
observance of this rule has saved me a good deal of trouble.

CHAPTER IV.

•Author's third experiment — Perilous situation — ^Balloon bursting — ^De-
scent and its incidents — Woman more presence of mind than man — Two
more experiments — Sixth and last experiment with muslin balloon — ^Un-
fortunate result — Near proving fatal.

The third experiment I made is one full of interest as well as
instruction to the student of aeronautics. And as the main object
of this part of the work is to lead the practitioner into the fullest
knowledge of the art, a detailed account of the experiment and
its circumstances should be related. On this occasion I attained
the greatest elevation in the whole course of my practice; and it
must be borne in mind that it was the largest balloon used in my
whole fifteen years' experience. Upon the size of the balloon
depends the altitude to be attained, and this machine, requiring
to be but half filled in order to carry its passenger with conside-
rable ballast, was capable of attaining a height in the atmosphere
where the air is but half the density of that on the surface of
the earth. Such a height was attained on this occasion, and,
although the ascension was a most complete and satisfactory one

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THIRD EXPERIMENT. 159

to all who witnessed it, there were defects in the rigging of the
balloon which developed themselves in the high and rarefied re-
gions of the atmosphere, that placed me for a while in a very
perilous situation. The ascension was made from the town of
Lebanon, Pa., on the 4th of July, 1835, and the weather was ex-
tremely warm.

At three o'clock P. M. I left the earth with a breeze from the
north-west. In a few minutes after, a panoramic view of innu-
merable villages, with the broad dazzling sheet of water of the
Susquehanna, was unfolded to the view. I crossed the Reading
and Harrisburg turnpike at the first gate below the town, and al-
though I started off with an ascending power that raised me more
swiftly than was the horizontal velocity of the wind, I was in-
duced to part with a bag of sand of about six pounds weight, as a
proffer to the toll-gate keeper, who very humorously hailed me to
pay toll as the balloon passed over his gate. This caused the
balloon to rise with amazing rapidit}', rushing up through the
strong horizontal wind, which was blowing with a speed of at
least thirty miles per hour, and giving the occasion much the
appearance and spirit of that in which a fiery charger is dash-
ing along in mettled pride, heeding no restraint. This soon
brought me in contact with a thick hazy mist, which was egtered,
and in a few moments passed. Above this were a clear sky
and brilliant sunshine, but so cold now, that my hands became
numb, and a painful earache seized me. The balloon was still
ascending rapidly, and my next impression was to discharge gas
and lower into a more congenial climate, but in this I was foiled,
and up boomed the buoyant courser with unabated career. The
cord by which the valve was worked was sufficiently strong to
perform that office, but no allowance was made in its appropria-
tion to unforeseen necessitiesr-such as slight entanglements with
other parts of the balloon rigging — getting into folds of the flaccid
part of the balloon — which latter liability occurred on this occa-
sion, and deprived me of the use of that all-importaUt regulator.

Having now got far above the mist, and not less than three
miles abo,ve the earth, in a temperature of 43^, having been within
twenty-five minutes transferred from a warmth of 94°, which the
thermometer indicated when I left the earth — the world below
scarcely visible from the intervening discolored stratum of air;
my ears buzzing like a bee-hive, which for a while I took to be a
commotion of the gas in the balloon endeavoring to escape
through its tightly distended envelope; the valve rope broken off
inside the machine; the aerial ship still bounding and gyrating
upwards, I felt a degree of excitement that can be better imagined
than described.

All this difficulty arose from a want of practical knowledge in

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160 PERIL OF THIRD EXPERIMENT.

the art \vhich must be acquired in this, as in any other business,
before we can avoid consequences arising from such deficiency.
In the first place, the valve rope was too frail in this machine.
Instead of a substantial cord (cod-fish line I find the best) this
was only common- seine twine. The car was also rigged too near
the balloon ; this may have been observed already by the intelli-
gent reader, where it is motioned in the account of the first
voyage, that the car was so near the balloon that I was enabled
to untie the neck-pipe in the lower orifice of it. On this occa-
sion I had it hanging at least three feet lower from the balloon
than before ; but when I got to a height in the atmosphere where
the gas sustained but half the pressure it did at the time of leav-
ing the earth, it naturally dilated accordingly, and all the part of
the balloon that was flaccid when it started was now required for
its increase of bulk. For this increase the space within the cords
and net- work between the equator of the balloon and the concen-
trating hoop above my head to which the car was hanging, was
insufficient. Having no way to let ofl* gas, even the lower orifice
of the balloon containing the neck-pipe, which answers for a
safety valve when properly rigged, was doubled up between the
concentrating hoop and the lower side of the balloon, which was
now swollen to its utmost tension. I endeavored to reach the
lower part of the balloon with a knife, but by straddling across
with my feet in the open-work of the basket, it could not be
reached by at least two feet. From the hissitig noise of the gas
which was making its wlay through the small channels of the
compressed neck of the balloon, I knew that something must
give way soon. As I did not know at that time that so large a
surface of fabric as is contained in a machine of that size, would
inevitably meet with friction enough, in fdlling through the atmo-
sphere, to bring it to a velocity where an acceleration must
cease, and that at a point where its speed will not cause serious
consequences from contact with the earth, I was apprehensive
that it might be my last voyage.

In another moment a report like that of suddenly bursting an
inflated paper bag, such as boys frequently amuse themselves
with, informed me that the balloon had rent, and at the same time
some of the cords — two of them — separated from the concentra-
ting hoop ; and that side of the balloon at which this took place,
as quickly bulged out, and immediately the atmosphere round the
machine got filled with a whitish filmy vapor. This was the
consequence of a mixture of warm hydrogen vrith cold atmo-
sphere. The hydrogen in a balloon is always warmer than the
surrounding air^ when the sun is shining on its globular surface.
The explosion was caused by the neck-pipe being pressed between
the concentrating hoop and the lower* surface of the balloon, and

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BALLOON BURSTING. 161

this pipe being tin and pressing also against two of. the net-cords
^hich were brought to an angle by being forced out a little by the
muzzle of it, caused them to break at the same time. Although
the breaking of two cords next to each other out of the twenty-
four — which was the number in this machine — did not seem to en-
danger my situation much, but seemed rather to have relieved
me to some extent from the very precarious condition in which
I had been a few moments previously, it still destroyed that
mathematical strength existing in its complete state, which made
me feel anxious to return to terra-firma. I looked at my watch
and found the time to be five minutes past four.

After the explosion of the lower part of the balloon, it com-
menced a tolerably rapid descent, and as the atmosphere had got
considerably clearer than it had been when I started, I could
more easily distinguish the face of the country beneath. On ob-
servation, I found the balloon was gradually descending on the
village of Womelsdorf. Here I received a salute from a volley
of musketry, by a company of volunteers who were celebratins
the National Republican birth*day at that place. Although I had
determined to let the balloon sink to the ground as soon as it pos-
sibly would from its own gravitation occasioned by the loss of the
gas through the rent, for I had no control of the valve, this salute
of firing and shouting inspired me to, rise again, and accordingly
papers and ballast were thrown overboard, sufficient to send the
piacfaine up at least two miles high. No sooner was this height
attained, than it again commenced to descend very gradually,
which brought me to the earth about four miles west of Reading*
Here an incident occurred which was as amusing to me as it was
terrifying to the individual who was a party thereto. Being likely
to descend in a cluster of trees, I thraw out some ballast to cross
them — at the same time the grappling hooks took hold in a
branch of one of the trees, which was broken off and dragged
along. At this moment I perceived a countiyman mounting the
top rail of a worm-fence about a hundred paces ahead of the bal-
loon, to which point the wind was driving it. I hailed him to as-
sist, for the balloon was floating the length of the grapple rope
above and dragging the limb of the tree along below. He looked
in every direction but upwards, and in another moment the limb
and grapple came square up against the panel of fence upon
which he was sitting, and threw it down, pitching the man head
foremost into the meadow before him, from which he sprang terror-
stricken, if fleetness of foot is any evidence of such feeling, for
he was soon out of sight, leaving roe to manage the best way I
could, which was by being driven up against a woods. Here I
got the assistance of two women who had been working in the
bay-field, and who promptlj^came to my assistance when I called
11

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162 ASCENSION AT LANCASTER.

theiDy although thej were much excited, having never seen snch
a contrivabce before, as they informed me. Had it not been for
these Amazonian ladies, I should inevitably have gotten into the
woods, for a brisk gale was just passing over at the time.

Thus ended a voyage, after having been in the atmosphere one
and a half hours, full of interest, excitement, and a great deal of
instruction. So far were these difficulties from discouraging me,
that they, upon the other hand, dictated me to go on and perfect
the deficiencies in my apparatus.

In the following August, I made two ascensions with this same
balloon from Reading, Pa., neither of which would be calculated
in its description, to throw much instruction upon the subject to
the learner. The first was cut short from a want of excess of
ascending power, making the duration of the flight short in time,
and but four or five miles in distance. The second was similar
to the first. This balloon, being a very inferior one from the
beginning, had now become even worse. Its repairs and its re-
coating made it very cumbersome, and rendered it impossible to
give the satisfaction due the citizens of Reading, for the very
liberal encouragement they extended to me on the occasion.

Having realized money enough from these ascensions to build a
silk balloon with, in the coming winter, I determined to make
the last experiment with the muslin machine on the 1st of Octo*
her following, from the city of Lancaster. It now weighed over
two hundred pounds without the net-work and car, and from this
it will be perceived that it required as much gas to raise it with
an individual, as would a silk balloon of the same size require to
carry two individuals ; or, it took as many cubic feet of gas to
raise this machine from the ground alone, as it would take to raise
a silk one with a passenger. A silk one of the same power weighs
from forty-five to sixty pounds. Thus, it will be seen that the
expense of inflating this cumbersome machine was almost double
that of a silk one, to say nothing of the advantages in easy man-
agement, a silk one possesses over a muslin one.

Having announced a public ascension from the city of Lan-
caster, for the 1st of October, I took the precaution of having an
abundant supply of material for generating a large quantity of
gas ; being desirous that nothing should occur to prevent the
occasion from being satisfactory in every respect. But in this I
was doomed to disappointment ; and a relation of the cause will
be useful to those who may become engaged in similar experi-
ments. The day for the ascension turned out to be a fine clear
one, with a strong wind from the north-west ; and everything
connected with the inflation and preparatory arrangements went
ofi" in a satisfactory manner, and when the time had arrived for
the, ascension, the balloon was filled^o an extent which gave it

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PERILOUS EXPERIMENT. 163

an ascensire power 6f a hundred pounds more than the whole
weight it was required to raise, which enabled me to carry a
quantity of ballast/that wou^ld secure me in choosing a place of
descent, that might require a dozen of ups and downs during the
Toyage. Thus provided, everything was got in readiness for a
start, and when the machine was released from its moorings it
required the strength of four men to hold it from being dragged
along by the force of the wind. The arena being on one side of
the street, and a range of two story buildings on the other, it was
necessary that the balloon should rise with a motion equal in
velocity to that of the wind, in order to clear the tops of the
buildings. And it was also necessary, in order to accomplish
this, that the balloon should be detached at the right moment, for
the wind would press the balloon down, so that it would stand
at an angle of 45^ with the car, and if the car should be released
at such a moment it would swing like a pendulum, and before
the balloon could attain a sufficient elevation to clear obstruc*
tions, it would be dashed against the. buildings. All this I was
well aware of, and mentioned it to some of the persons to whom I
confided the charge of the car when about to start ; but, as the
sequel will show, they were very near having me " killed with
kindness." The chafing^ tossing, and plunging gambols of the
balloon, when it was only restrained by the holding of the car,
soon produced the like, or at least, corresponding actions and
emotions in a great portion of the audience and those who had
charge of the car, and several times the machine dragged all
those who had hold of it halfway across the arena, when they as
often took it back again to the place from where I desired to
start. Seeing now that'the excitement increased with the wind,
I found the sooner I should start the better, and I struck upon this
plan : two strong cords were tied to the basket at a quarter of its
circumference apart ; each of these cords was six feet long, and
held by two men ; by these the whole machine was restrained,
and the order for starting was this — when I cut the one cord it
was the signal to let the other go, as I could not cut them both
at one time.

I now watched the moment when the balloon was rising in her
vibrations caused by the gale, and at that moment cut the cord,
but the other two, instead of being punctual in letting go theirs,
clung on to it until the machine dragged them along with several
more who quickly seized hold of it on seeing its furious career,
until they were all brought up against the side of the enclosure
next the houses, where they all let go just at the moment when
the baHoon was most depressed by the gale, and the consequence
was, the car was dashed wit|| a tremendous swing against the
eaves of a two-story house (I was on my one knee at the time, or

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164 ABANDONMENT OF THE MUSLIN BALLOON.

I should most certainly have be^n pitched to the ground), severing
the cords on the side of the basket \vhich struck, letting that side
down and spilling me out on the very apex of the house, stunned
by the concussion.

In a few moments I recovered my senses ; my first impressions
were like those of awakening from a dream ; but, on getting up on
my feet over the apex of the house, the shouts of the vast concourse
of people below soon woke me into stern reality ae^ain. Looking
up in a south-easterly direction, I beheld the balloon plunging
furiously into a chasm of dense, black clouds, and so ended the
experiments with a machine that had given me much more trouble
than reputation as a skilful aeronaut.

CHAPTER V.

Abandonment of the old, and construction of a silk balloon — Spontaneous
combustion of oiled silk — Strange coincidences — Their causes — Ascent
from Lancaster with new balloon — Comments on It-rEffects of the sun
above the clouds — ^Experiments on echo— Rising and falling through the
cloud stratum — ^Final descent at nighir^Balloon moored to Mr. Stump's
house — Terrific explosion of balloon — ^Persons injured by it— Accident
to the aeronaut — His return home.

Havino now abandoned the muslin balloon as an aerial ship,
I procured a lot of ^ilk to build a new one with. But as it is not
stated in the previous chapter what became of the old machine,
having left her at a point in the clouds, it will be no more than
justice to her history to give her final exit. Having risen to such
a height in the atmosphere that the dilatation of the gas filled
the whole cavity of the balloon, and its ascending power being
capable of carrying it up much beyond that point, the expansive
power of the gas of course burst it. From the appearance of
some green foliage of trees that was in the car when it started,
having turned black, it must have attained an immense height in
the atmosphere ; for having a six inch neck-tube in it which was
open when it ascended, it rose to a much greater altitude than
that at which it became completely filled by diminution of atmo-
spheric pressure. It descended near Bordentown, a point north
of east from Lancaster, about seventy-five miles distant.

During the winter of 1835 and 1836, 1 constructed a new one
of twenty-four feet diameter, and of a pear shape. The silk was
of a kind termed India sarcenet ; itVas white, and in sixty yard

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I?ILK BALLOON. 165

pieces. This silk was coated with, a vaniish composed of Unseed
oil and gum-elastic (caoutchouc). The gum»elastic was dissolved
in spirits of turpentine, which was afterwards boiled up in drying
oil. After I had the silk coated twice, and it had become seem-
ingly very dry, the segments or gores for the balloon were cut
out in readitiess for sewing them together. A dozen of these
were cut out, rolled up, and laid on a pile in a dry loft, where
they had remained from one morning to the next, during which
time spontaneous combustion had so far progressed, that in a few
hours more from the time I discovered it, the pile would have
been in a blaze, and no doubt, would have set the building on
fire. A portion of the gores had already become a putrescent
mass emitting heat and smoke, and were rendered useless. This
liability has proved fatal to many an aeronaut's balloon, and it is
one which I have entirely overcome, as will be seen under that
part of this work which will treat upon the construction of balloons.

This machine was finished in the spring of 1836, and was
named the '* Meteor," and, lest the coincidence of its fate with
its name, and that which occurred during its manufacture, should
be construed by superstitious reasonings, as it was attempted at
the time, it is well enough to state here, that the very circum-
stance of spontaneous combustion in the silk, suggested the name
which the balloon received. The sequel will show that this
machine ended its career in a globe of consuming fire. Besides
this, two members of my family dreamed that this machine took fire
while sailing aloft, and even advised me to abandon its use while
finishing it, for some of the silk which was in the damaged lot
was used in its construction. Now I looked upon it that these
dreams and forebodings were suggested, or rather took their origin
from the same cause, as did the name of the balloon ; the sponta-
neous combustion of the silk in question. The smell and smoke
that arose from it filled them with alarm and apprehension of fire
in connection with balloons, which naturally engendered such
dreams.

The "Meteor" being completed, was found upon trial to be
very air-tight — an essential quality in a balloon. The citizens of
Lancaster, desirous of having an aerial experiment on a most
liberal scale, contributed an amount of money so as to have the
ascension free, from the common. Accordingly, an invitation was
extended to the people of the county, to witness the spectacle on
the 7th day of May, 1836.

Everything for tlxe occasion being got in readiness, the day
arrived. I will now quote from the newspapers of the day
the account of the operations as far as stated by them, consider-
ing them impartial historians of facts that transpired under their
conductors' eyes. " On the afternoon of Saturday last, a most

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166 ASCENT FROM LANCASTER.

brilliant balloon ascension was achieved by our townsman, Mr. J.
Wise, from the common near the bead of West Orange and
Chestnut streets. The* circumstances under which this truly
splendid ascension was accomplished, entitle it to honorable
mention and particular commendation.

" The day was extremely disagreeable ; a succession of showers,
ushered in by the morning's dawn, and continuing with intervals
of most undesirable brevity^ left but little reason to induce the
belief that an attempt would be hazarded — much less that, if
made, it would be successful. Occasional glimpses of sunshine
only served, like hope deferred, to make the heart sick ; for they
were invariably and rapidly succeeded by pelting raind. Not-
withstanding all these apparently insurmountable obstacles, Mr.
Wise persisted in his determination to attempt an ascension ; and
at the meridian hour his ifitentions having been announced to the
public, and spread like wildfire through the city, the crowd began
to assemble. By three o'clock the ground was pressed by the feet
of many thousands ; and amid the war of the elements, the process
of inflation was commenced. From the state of the atmosphere
this necessarily proceeded but slowly ; but the impatience of the
vast assemblage was properly restrained, and their curiosity
gratified from time to time, by the letting off of a number of
small untenanted balloons — one of them of most fantastic shape
(Flying Dutchman], and whose aerial gambols were productive
of infinite diversion.

'* Soon after five o'clock, the rain having ceased, and the bal-
loon being properly inflated, the intrepid adventurer calmly took
possession of the frail vehicle prepared for his reception ; the
glittering ball rose slowly and majestically above the ocean of
heads ; the cords which bound it to the earth were severed ; and,
amid the waving of hands, and the shouts of the multitude,
winged its way to the regions above.

** As it rose, Mr. Wise was discovered standing very composedly
in his little car, and acknowledging the salutations which accom-
panied his departure. The balloon rose steadily upward for a
few minutes, then shaped its course in a direction nearly south
of east (in nautical phrase), and, in something less than a quar-
ter of an hour, slowly entered the yawning chasm of a huge
black cloud, at an immense height, and apparently hovering over
a surface of the earth many miles distant from the starting point.
After this, the good people of Lancaster beheld him no more.

" Mr. Wise has not yet been heard from ; nor can it be satis-
factorily ascertained that he has been even heard of. As might
be expected, rumors are rife ; serious apprehensions are enter-
tained for his safety, as his course was nearly direct for the
Chesapeake ; but we hope for the best, and trust that next week,

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INFLATION AND WEATHER. 167

-we shall have the pleasing intelligence to announce that he h^s
returned to the warm welcome of his many friends.

" Since the above was in type, we have received the Philadel-
phia Public Ledger of yesterday, which says that Mr. "Wise ar-
rived in that city on Tuesday. At half-past eight o'clock in the
evening of Saturday last, he let off the gas, and descended near
Port Deposite«(Md.). The anxiety manifested by the citizens to
give him assistance, placed the lights brought by them in contact
with the escaping gas, which immediately exploded, causing the
entire destruction of his splendid balloon, instruments, clothes,
&c., and so severely burnt and injured Mr. Wise, thait he is now
confined to his room in Philadelphia."

The following is an extract from another of the Lancaster
papers, concerning this ascension : ^^ The balloon ascension on
Saturday last, unfavorable as \vere the circumstances under
which it was accomplished, was one of the best we have ever
seen. The heavens were overhung with clouds from ^ morn till
dewy eve ;' there was a continued succession of drizzling showers
during the whole day, and the air was so saturated with mois-
ture, and (apparently) so * heavy,' that there were few, we ima-
gine, who did not feel strong doubts of the ability of the aeronaut
to accomplish his object. The interest, excited in behalf of Mr.
Wise, however, was dieep and general. He was surrounded,
during the. whole process of inflation, with a friendly and sympa-
thizing crowd, among whom were many of our most respectable
citizens. The hostility of the elements, and the gloom of the day
were, in a measure, counteracted (to the aeronaut) by the kind
assistance of some, by the good feeling and forbearance of all.

" The atmosphere being really lighter^ and less favorable to the
evolution of gas than in clear weather, and a greater quantity
of hydrogep being required, for the same reason the inflation of
the balloon necessarily required a longer time than was antici-
pated. It was, therefore, half past five before the process was
completed. Without further loss of time, and with the coolness
and self-possession of a veteran in his dangerous vocation, Mr.
Wise stepped firmly into his car, quickly adjusted and regulated
his ballast and appliances, cut the cord, and was rapidly borne
upward, amid the loud ^god speeds,' of an immense and grati-
fied assemblage. The coUrse of the balloon was directly south,
the aeronaut standing up and waving hid bkt as long as he con-
tinued in sight. His * vessel,' however, soon plunged into the
clouds and disappeared. Above, we have no doubt, a kinder
sky, and a bright and genial sun threw light and warmth over
his aerial path, and compensated him, by the splendors with
which he was suddenly surrounded, for the gloom which attended
his departure.

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168 ASCENT THROUGH THE CLOUDS.

" P. S. — ^No certain tidings have yet been received of the
aeronaut. Rumor has landed him near Belle Air, Maryland,
about forty miles distant, but such does not appear to be the
fact."

Having now given the disinterested testimony of the journals
of the day, of this experiment, as far as their immediate observa-
tion enabled them to do so, leaving me as it were entering into a
world, which was divided from the one I left, nine minutes before,
by a thick barrier of clouds, the balance will be related from the
notes kept by the way.

In about two minutes after I entered the cloud stratum, the
balloon emerged from the top. Just as it was penetrating the
upper surface of the stratun^. I found the cloudy vapor quite
warm, and immediately, on emerging from it, this warmth was
increased to a degree of temperature above that of comfortable
feeling. A pungently stinging sensation was also produced upon
those parts of my persdn which were exposed to the sun's rays.
This I attributed to the hydrogen, which was let off while passing
through the clouds, some of which hung to me in passing through
it. Having started with considerable ascensive power, and hav-
ing nearly one hundred pounds of ballast in the car, a consider^
able quantity of gas was discharged while passing through the
clouds, which was intended to counteract, in a measure, the m-
creased ascending velocity the balloon would attain, as soon as
she would get under the direct influence of the sun's rays, above
the stratum. Notwithstanding this precaution, as soon as the
bariier was passed, the balloon, in a few moments after, sped up
at a furious rate, until it reached a height at which the barometer
stood at nineteen inches, and the clouds appeared at an immense
depth below me. Not experiencing much warmth by the reflec-
tion of heat from the clouds at this distance above them, and the
balloon, now moving in an angular direction to that of the clouds,
their upper surface lit up in a brilliant white light, gave it the
appearance of a vast circular ocean of snow, rolling along in a
wave-like motion, in the most majestic grandeur, and the cold
frosty state of the atmosphere, from which it was beheld, rendered
this snow scene most impressive.

I next discharged gas until the barometer stood at twenty-three
inches. At this height, it being but a short distance above the cloud
surface, I found the temperature very congenial, and continued the
rest of the voyage, varying by barometer from twenty-three to
twenty-two inches. In the rise and fall of the balloon above the
clouds which occupied twenty minutes, it described a spiral
circle ; and, on coming near to the surface of the cloi^ds, I re-
cognized a familiar tune of martial music, which I afterwards
learned was the very tune played by the musicians of the city

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EFFECTS OF ECHO. 169

battalion of volunteers, who on this occasion formed a cordon
arounll the ascension ground, they being invited to attend and
parti(^pate in the enjoyment of the spectacle. An opening in
the clouds which occurred for a moment, also developed to me
a wattrcourse below, whicji I took for the Conestogo. My course
now hy, as near as I could judge, towards the south ; but in
order :o be more certain concerning my whereabouts and direction,
discharged gas and darted down through the clouds; but when
belo\« them, the country appeared so rough with forest hills, and
the sDace between the hills and the lower cloud surface so shallow,
I quiZkly threw out some ballast which .sent me up again partly
into f)e clouds. Hearing a cowbiell and the sounds of a wood-
chopper's axe, I hailed in the following manner: ^'Halloo/' to
whicn I heard the reply, "Halloo." I next inquired, "How far is
this from Lancaster?^' which in a few moments was returned by
*^ H<ko far i$ this from LanctuierV^ Believing this to come in
resppnse as an inquiry to know whether i wished to learn that
factt "the distance to Lancaster^" I repeated it again in very
meisured accent. This was again responded to in like measured
acoent, apparently to my mind as an intent of mockery. Being
in ihe clouds, and not able to see things either above or below, I
felt somewhat nettled at such clownish display of wit, and in a
very audible tone of voice, while the foregoing was still reverber-
atjng on my ear, sung out, " Your are a fool," which in a very few
seconds was answered in an equally distinct and measured tone
oL " You are a fool," when it suddenly flashed upon my mind
tj(at it was the echo of my o>Vn voice, which opinion was ratified
* y the dying reverberations of "you are a fool," which had now
ecome as numerous as though a whole regiment had caught the
/watchword and were passing it in quick succession through the
/ whole line. Involuntarily I exclaimed to myself, " Fooled, sure
y enough." Being determined to find out my whereabouts, I let off
/ sufficient gas to get below the clouds, when I observed through a
/ spy-glass a little clearing in which was a cottage, and before it a
man. His face was turned upwards, apparently drawn in that
direction by the dialogue I had with myself, and which no doubt
he had heard. I inquired of him whether he saw me, for I was
then standing up in the car and waving a flag to draw his atten-
tion. He answered, "Yes; who are you?"' I replied,*An angel
of light." Upon which he cried out, "Is your name Wise?"
To this I responded, "Yes; how far is this from Lancaster?" to
which he answered, "Sixteen miles," upon which I bid him
«<good by," threw out some ballast, and went up through the
clouds again. As I was passing up I heard him say, "God bless
you, man."

Having now become interested in thiftsingular phenomenon of

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170 CROSSING THE FALLS.

echO) I continued making experiments in it. I found when sail-
ing some hundred feet above the cloud stratum, that the echoing
sound was short, pot near so sonorous or musical to the ear as
when in the clouds or immediately beneath them. Still I could
hear the reverberations until they became blended into mere
uridulatory sounds. When at a considerable elevation above the
clouds, one or two thousand feet, I could discern no echo, and
the report of a rifle was short and sharp; so also the sound of a
bell, and the chopping of an axe. From these experiments, I
think one loud clap of thunder, occurring when a dense stratum
of clouds is extended over a great portion of surface, is sufficient
to cause that long continued rumbling thunder which we often
hear, one echo inducing another, until by multiplication they be-
come so numerous as to blend into a mere rumbling vibration in
which it is neutralized and lost, as are the waves which are
caused by throwing a stone into water.

The wind just above the cloud region appeared to be vibrating
from various points of the compass, causing the balloon to describe
a kind of zig-zag course in a southerly direction, necessarily making
the progress in that direction somewhat slow for aerial traveling.

Knowing my course would carry me on to the bay shore, and
having been aloft nearly two hours, it was evident that I must be
nearing the Chesapeake unless the balloon was making a different
course from that of her first sixteen miles. Consequently another
gradual descent through the cloud stratum, which was still very
dense, was made, which brought the machine over Conewingo
Falls in the Susquehanna River. The roaring noise as it met my
ears, while yet in the clouds, gave me some foreboding that I had
reached the bay shore, taking the noise of the fails for that of the
bay surf. My anxiety was relieved from this, and increased in
another quarter; for, in coming through the plouds, the falls were
immediately underneath me, the balloon descending very rapidly,
and the opposite side of the river lined with highlands and trees,
and it was not until a great quantity of ballast was discharged
that the balloon overcame the obstacles. I hailed some indivi-
duals living at the falls, who invited me to descend and partake
of their hospitality, which, however, the position I was placed in
compelled me to decline. Before I made this reconnoissance, the
sun was nftar the horizon above the clouds, and when my vessel
got below them I found the earth shrouded in a gloomy twilight.
The Chesapeake lay some miles to the south, and the direction
the balloon was making would carry it along its western border.
The large quantity of ballast discharged in crossing the falls,
caused the balloon to rise to a great height above the clouds,
bringing, as it were, the sun above the horizon also,, which but a
few minutes before was sinking behind a bank of clouds, and had

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DESCEl^T AT NIGHT. 171

now become elevated twelve to fifteen degrees. This phenom-
enon interested me more than it deceived me, but was still the
cause of keeping me aloft until it had got d4irk below, which
circumstance cost me my balloon and a most terrific accident.

Seeing now, at even that height, that the day god was fast
sinking in the cloud horizon, T commenced a gradual descent,
and before I reached the upper -surface of the clouds the sun was
lost behind their western bound. The descent through this
vaulted ceiling of the earth was dark and gloomy in the extreme.
A deathly silence, equaled only by the impenetrable darkness
that surrounded me on all sides,^ made the descent awful, and
yet grand and imposing. As soon as the clouds were cleared, a
few scattered lights were visible, which apprised me that I was
coming on land, and in a few moments after I felt my drag-rope,
which was four hundred feet long, glide gently over tree tops,
and' in a few moments more I felt, by its motion, that it was
dragging apparently over smooth ground, and hearing at the
same time human voices not far off. The grapple-iron was im-
mediately thrown out, which as quickly brought up the vessel
near a fence. Having hallooed considerably while descending
from tbe clouds to the earth, and hearing no response, I ne^t be-
took myself to loading my car with stones which were within my
reach. Having accomplished this in a manner sufi&cient to keep
the balloon anchored by the car in case the grapple-iron should
slip its hold, I commenced hallooing again, which was immedi-
ately answered by a colored man, as I judged from his dialect.
He cried, " Where are you?" I answered, " Here, with a bal-
loon." He replied, " I know dat." This surprised me, and I
cried out, "How do you know it?" He answered, "I smell de
balloon." This surprised me still more, but he having in the
meantime come up to me, informed me, upon inquiry, that he had
helped to fill a balloon at Baltimore the fall previous, and that as
soon as I told him I was there with a balloon, he concluded I had
come from Baltimore with one, having no doubt of what I told him,
because he smetied the hydrogen. Uneducated man as he was, I
found him one of remarkably quick perceptive faculties, and just
such an one as an aeronaut is glad to meet with on his descent. He
informed me that I had landed - between Belle- Air and Port De-
posite, on the plantation of Mr, Stump, in Harford county, Md.
By his assistance the balloon was moored near the house of Mr.
Stump, when we roused the family, they having retired to bed at
an early hour. Here we found plenty of assistance, Mr. Sturap
giving me a very cordial reception, at the same time ordering his
colored men to render me all the assistance necessary. As it was
drizzling, and the grass was wet, I determined to discbarge the
gas from the upper valve of the balloon, and thus be enabled to

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172 TERRIFIC EXPLOSION OF BALLOON.

fold the whole machine into the car beneath it, as it gradually
co11apse4* This process being, necessarily slow, and the atmo-
sphere very humid, it became impregnated with the hydrogen for
some distance around the balloon. Being some distance from
the house, and having a lantern standing at least fifty feet from
the balloon, I apprehended no danger from the escaping gas.
Things went on in this way until the balloon was emptied to
within a thousand cubic feet of gas, her upper end being now
drawn down and one of the men with his hand. pressing open the
upper valve, while I was standing at the other end carefully fold-
ing the loose silk into the cslr. While thus engaged, Mr. Stump
standing about thirty feet behind me, and some half dozen more
persons near and round the machine, either the lantern, or some
other light which had in the meantime been brought to the scene,
ignited the explosive mixed atmosphere that was hovering around
the balloon, making a report like a park of artillery, throwing
me violently back at least ten feet from the place I was stand-
ing, setting fire to the clothes of some, and severely scorching the
faces and hands of others, and even Mr. Stump did not entirely
escape the effects of it, although a considerable distance from the
machine.

I quickly sprang upon my feet again, and jumped on to the
remainder of the balloon which was burning in the car, and which
was thus extinguished by tramping it out — the gas that had by
the sudden explosion been liberated from the balloon, in the mean
time rose rapidly into the air ^* like a consuming fire," with a
rushing noise, until, at a considerable height, it was totally con-
sumed like a dying meteor.

There I stood in deep reverie, scarcely able to realize the events
of the last few hours, with feelings like a person awakening from a
dream, in which all the magnificence — sublimity — solemnity — ^ter-
ror — consciousness of approaching death, that the human mind is
capable of conceiving, agitating my thoughts. For, at the mo-
ment of the explosion, the death pang flitted through my miad.
In a few moments I was aroused from my fixed position by an
agonizing pain through my whole body, which soon concentrated
itself in my hands and face. I felt as though the very heart's blood
was oozing through the skin, and I was soon made sensible that
I was wofully scorched in those parts — the watery fluid of the
system was oozing out in profuse drops, and some of the poor
negroes had fared no better than myself in this respect, which
their agonizing screams too plainly told. Mr. Stump, who was
more of a spectator than an immediate sufferer in this terrific
affair, being a very considerate gentleman of advanced years,
came up to me and desired me to accompany him to the dwelling,
for, by this time I had become almost totaUy blind, and moreover

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EFFECTS OF EXPLOSION. 178

began to feel vecy sick from the excruciating pain caused by
the burns. It also pained me that I had been the cause of Mr.
Stump's men being burned, but he, on learning this, begged me
not to trouble my mind about that. He also extended me all
the care an4 comfort my condition required, and the following
morning, at my earnest request, I was furnished with a vehicle *
to take me to Port Depbsite. Here I had my burns dressed, and
on the following Tuesday morning left for Philadelphia, much
against the advice of the physician who attended to me at Port
Deposite, and reached Philadelphia on Tuesday evening, where
my family resided at the time, with my hands and face very much
swollen and inflamed. By dint of blood-letting, wholesome diet,
and the constant application of cooling cataplasms, I was out in
ten days afterwards with a new skin on my hands and face, de-
termined to make a new balloon, feeling satisfied in my own
mind, that all my suflerings were overpaid by the learning I had
received in the adventure.

On my arrival in Lancaster, I met with a most honorable and
hospitable reception, as well as with the means, supplied me by
a voluntary contribution of the citizens, to procure a new bal-
loon. Thus ended an experiment which had taken me throu^
an ordeal that was well calculated to make impressions on my
mind that will never be i erased while living, and to which I in-
variably recur with the most vivid sensations of satisfaction,
painful as were some of the exciting incidents connected with it.

CHAPTER VI.

Promptings of the author's profession— ^Spirit of development — ^Construc-
tion of a new balloon — ^Itii failure— Abandonment of the art for a year —
Mr. Cooking's fatal ezperiment-^Aeport of it in the United States^—
Causes the author to make another ascent — Account of same — ^Balloon
inflated with coal gas — Newspaper extracts of the occasion — Particulars
of the experiment — Successful termination.

Havdyg now completely recovered from the accident that had
befell me in the last experiment, and feeling as though I had been
fully initiated into a most fascinating art, I Irmly resolved to make-
it my future profession. The scanty knowledge that was in ex«
istence at the time, leaving the few persons who were engaged
in the art to grope their way through an unexplored region with-
out a guidfi — even without well-directed theoretical instructions —

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174 SPIRIT OF PROGRESSION.

also had a tendency to bring me to such a resolution. How
could it be otherwise to an observing and investigating mind? A
Tast field of science lay open to the investigation of man! It
required him but to lay his hand upon the lever of the atmosphere,
and elevate himself into and above the region of clouds, where a
new life— a new spirit — a new world of science and art developed
itself to his searching imagination! Geography, topc^raphy,
natural philosophy, atmospheric phenomena, meteorology, astro-
nomy, all assume a new feature. The ability to explore the sur-
face of the bottom of the ocean would no doubt be a. grand privi-
lege. The ability to make a supra-mundane voyage — to sail
above and below the cloud-vaulted canopy of the sky — to glide
through nature's rain and snow-making laboratory while in full
tide of operation — lit up with. electric lights — the facility of soar-
ing above these scenes, while the harmles*s thunder rattles beneath
you, and the zig-zag coruscations of electricity look like spark-
ling diamonds shooting athwart snow banks — your vessel all the
while moving with a i^mooth, apparently motionless, but grand
and majestic pace — twenty, forty, and not unfrequently eighty
miles per hour, is even a greater privilege. But it is not yet
properly — nay, it has not yet begun, to be appreciated; the
human family has not yet been initiated in this grand prerogative.
The day of steam-power transition must attain its acme ; then the
new-born art will be seized upon and be made to run a career
that will leave railroad and steamboat transition as far in the
background, as they have left the stage coach and horse boat.

This epoch is fast approaching. The ultimatum of steam tran-
sition is approximating ; the introduction of a more facile mode is
becoming the theme of the age, the pole star of genius ; the pre*
sent century will enjoy its great advantages — its world's civil-
izing eflects. Such is the spirit of this unexplored subject.
With such a field in view, it was a sufficient apology — a sufficient
stimulant, for even an humble searcher in progressive science
and art to take upon himself a voluntary pioneership in the ex-
ploration of a new and promising estate which has been opened
to the human family.

Had I been content with the mere knowledge of constructing
a machine by which we can attain an elevation and flight in the
atmosphere*, my labor on the subject would have ceased with the
knowledge. I had now acquired. But there it did not, could not
rest. That simple part of it wanted improvement. A balloon
capable of remaining in the atmosphere three or four hours \Cas
but an imperfect machine, compared to what it ought to be, in
order to make experiments that would give the subject a consid-
eration worthy of its magnitude. I might have gone on well
enough in merely making balloons and balloon ascensions as a

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BALLOON EXPERIMENT. 175

matter of novelty and amusement, but the mind in its prd^ressive
spirit yearned for a more extended and useful application of the
art. And yet to undertake this in a professional way, depending
upon public forbearance while prosecuting the subject under pub-
lic patronage as a source of amusement for them, had before it
many difficulties. A failure in what should be announced as a
public exhibition was almost a certain signal for the demolition
of the unfortunate aeronaut's property, with no small degree of
condemnation on his bead as an impostor. And yet, under these
foreboding auspices, I launched out into the world with the new
business, determined to experiment in the way of improvement
as I went along, let the consequences be what they might ; and,
although this determination frequently brought me into most em-
barrassing predicaments — often into feelings of intense chagrin —
still, through an experience of fifteen years in this profession, I
never met with any attempt to violate my property or person,
but, on the other hand, with encouragement and praise when I
succeeded; with sympathy, kindness, and forbearance, when I
failed. This obligates me to give to my countrymen and the
world, all the knowledge I have acquired in the practice of the
art.

As the last used balloon had been coated with a solntion of
gum elastic, which had made it very impermeable to the hydro-
gen, I determined to coat the next one with the same substance,
prepared in a different manner. I dissolved the gum by heat
alone, not knowing at the time that under such a process it loses
all its elastic property, which it never regains after being melted.
It even loses its elasticity to a great extent when dissolved in
spirits of turpentine. And thus far, there is but one solvent for
it known, under which it resumes its elastic property when used
as a varnish, which will be treated on under the head of balloon
construction in this work.

Accordingly, I finished a twenty-five feet diameter balloon,
coated with this new kind of varnish, which seemingly promised
to answer a very good purpose, although on completion it showed
a want of elasticity, such as is necessary to overcome the effect
of folding up the machine. She was named the '^ Experiment,''
and an unfortunate experiment she proved to be. When folded
up and packed away for a few days it acquired heat (affinity for
oxygen) until it became a putrescent mass. From this I at-
tempted to restore it by the application of drying oils, and under
this, as well as other ineffisctual applications, I failed three suc-
cessive times in getting it sufficiently inflated to carry out the
object announced — a balloon ascension. These experiments were
made in Lebanon and Dauphin Counties, Ea., and served ta
make me pecuniarily bankrupt in the business, and almost so in

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176 PARACHUTES AND OPINIONS.

reputation as an aeronaut. The third trial I let the balloon off
by itself, determined to get rid of so unprofitable a machine.

I now returned to Philadelphia, and got employment at philo-
sophical instrument making, which afforded me a pleasure, as
^ell as a gradual acquirement of means with which to resume
the balloon business again. While thus engaged, a good oppor-
tunity was afibrded me of studying and practicing in the science of
electricity — a subject that mingles with the minutest details of
all human operations. The profession of ballooning had given
me an uncontrollable desire to study such subjects. These things,
in the meantime, were preparing me better than I had been be-
fore, to engage in my favorite avocation again^ as soon as oppor-
tunity should offer.

While thus engaged, and during the latter part of the summer
of 1837, the London newspapers brought us over an account of
a most melancholy accident which had befallen Mr. Cocking, an
aged and scientific gentleman of the city of London, while at-
tempting a descent with a newly invented parachute. The old
plan or form of the parachute being concave, or rather hemi-
spherical, made it liable to violent oscillations while descending
through the air, being considered very objectionable and un-
pleasant. Mr. Cocking proposed to construct one which should
not be liable to such action, but should descend with a uniform
and steady motion. This was to descend on the principle of
cleaving or wedging through the air, instead of, as in the old
plan, compressing the atmosphere. Its form was that of an in-
verted cone, or we might say funnel-shaped. The upper part, or
large opening of it, was forty feet in diameter; the lower opening
^as four feet in diameter. It had hoops in the upper and lower
openings to keep it distended. Around the lower hoop the cords
"were attached, to which the car or basket containing the aeronaut,
Tvas fastened. The lower orifice also served to let a column of air
pass through which would act the part of a centre pole — rushing
through it from bottom to top, and steadying it in its descent. The
upper hoop was composed of two inch tin tubing, the lower one
of wood. '

With this machine attached to Mr. Green's large balloon, he
ascended, in company with Mr, Green and another person, from
the city of London, to an altitude of about 8000 feet. This
parachute was fastened to the bottom of the car in which Mr.
Green and his partner were stationed, and was so contrived that
Mr. Cocking could detach it without the assistance of those in the
balloon car.

According to the account given, Mr. Cocking betrayed con-
siderable excitement while ascending, as related by Mr. Green.
When at the altitude above mentioned, he requested Mr. Green

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PARACHUTES AND OPINIONS. 177

to detach the parachute, but the veteran aeronaut not having
sufficient confidence i'n the structure of the ne;w invention, re-
fused to do so, and desired Mr. Cocking to do it himself if be
was determined to try the experiment, of the successful result
of which Mr. Green expressed some doubts. Upon this, Mr.
Cocking gave notice that he would detach himself, which he in-
stantly did. The parachute did not fall far before the upper
hoop kinked and finally broke, causing the parachute to collapse.
The unfortunate experiment resulted in death. The balloon,
when released from this T«?eight, sped upwards at a furious rate,
the aeronauts with it betaking themselves to some air-bags car-
ried along for the emergency, from which to inhale pure air
while passing through the escaping hydrogen that was now being
let oflf as fast as possible, to overcome the balloon's rapid ascend-
ing motion.

The account of this catastrophe was severely commented upon,
both by the foreign and American newspapers, almost univer-
sally condemned by them as a fool-hardy attempt, with no possi-
ble chance of success in its trial or practice. And, although Mr.
Cocking was represented as a man of no inconsiderable scientific
attainments, still, he was denounced as being supremely visionary
and unscientific in this particular instance.

Looking at this contrivance of Mr. Cocking^s with an unpreju-
diced eye, it struck me as remarkably ingenious, embracing none
but true principles, adaptive to the end for which it was intend-
ed ; and so confirmed was I in this conclusion (and am yet),
that I would not have hesitated to repeat the experiment with a
similar machine, with no other alteration than a tough wooden
hoop in the top of it instead of a tin one as was in his ma-
chine. I ventured this opinion in' a Philadelphia newspaper at
the time, and promised to demonstrate its truth before the sum-
mer shoold pass by, by experiment with a true model of this new
invention in leaving down, from a great height, a living animal.

Having a short time before this received a letter from Mr. Geo.
Diehl, of Lebanon county, informing me that he had recovered
the balloon " Experiment,'* which I had the summer before sent
adrift as good for nothing, and which, he told me, was at my
service if I wanted it. I at once determined to send for it and
endeavor to repair and enlarge it, so that it might answer for a
single ascension by being inflated with carburetted hydrogen gas,
which was now beinff extensively manufactured by the Philadel-
phia " City Gas-works." Accordingly, this machine was pro-
cured, but it was in a very damaged and mellow condition ; it
bad, however, lost much of its adhesiveness. With this I deter-
mined to make the experiment. To make it large enough to
carry the required weight when filled with coal gas, it had to be

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178 ASCENT WITH AN OLD BALLOON.

enlarged so as to hold several thousand cubic feet more than was
its present capacity. This was done by cutting it apart at its
equator and inserting a belt, which was soon accomplished by
merely pasting in the band by the adhesiveness of the old Tarnish,
lapping the edges about one inch and pressing them together
with a warm sad-iron. The belt was composed of black silk,
Tarnished with bird*lime Tarnish, which was all Tery good ; but
the old part of the balloon was so mellow as to be scarcely able
to bear its own weight when lifted up by any part of it. How-
ever, I knew that if it would bear the test of inflation, it would
have less force to bear when freed in the air with its burden.
This is a mathematical principle in ballooning that very few
people believe in, and much less willing to test its truth.

Thus provided, an announcement was made to the Philadel-
phia public, that a balloon ascension would be made from the
corner of Filbert and Broad streets, with a balloon inflated with
carburetted hydrogen, on Monday morning at 10 o'clock, Sep-
tember 18th, 1837, in which I would show that Mr. Ck)cking's
plan of a parachute embraced the true principles of safe and
pleasant descent from great altitudes, which would on this oc-
casion be shown, in comparison with the old fashioned parachute
with which living animals should be let down fipQm the height of
a mile, and which should land on the earth in perfect safety.

Before giving my own description of this experiment, an ex-
tract from one of the newspapers of the day will be given.

THE BALLOON ASCENSION AND DESCENSION.

^'The ascension of Mr. Wise of yesterday, was truly an im-
posing and pleasing sight; and from the unbounded applause
that greeted the intrepid aeronaut, both in and out of the enclosure,
we should suppose that the gratification of Mr. Wise and his
auditory was mutual. At about half past eight o'clock, the hum
and bustle of the various pedestrians that were wending their way
westward, bespoke the citizens alive to the amusement of the
morn ; and at about half past nine the streets, trees, fences, and
tops of houses in the vicinity of the arena were completely stud-
ded with men, women, and children, and naughty boys. About
ten o'clock Mr. Wise prepared to depart; the aerostadt was har-
nessed to the car, and all the paraphernalia for the perilous voya^
properly arranged. Poor Tabby and Tray were by no means
disposed to become encased without some show of resistance, and
our canine friend, especially, seemed to dispute for his liberty
with a growl; pussy, by her looks and gestures seemed fully
aware of the ca^( astrophe) that awaited her feline dignity, but

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PARACHUTE EXPERIMENTS. 179

nolens volens, was forced to submit. At length the cords were
cut, and the pilgrim of the air gave us his adieu, amid hearty
ebeers. The balloon ascended in nearly a perpendicular line
with the yard, and then gently glided to the east; when be at-
tained a height of about two thousand feet, poor Tray was cur-
tailed of higher honors, and was made to descend to a level with
his fellow animals of this lower sphere. He descended in the
parachute o'f Mr. Wise's construction, which seemed to oscillate
rapidly to and fro; he descended, however, we believe, in perfect
plight. Now came poor Tabitha's turn, in imitation of the un-
fortunate Cooking; she, however, escaped his melaticholy fate,
and seemed to descend in a more regutar and steady position than
her canine companion. We believe the plan of Mr. Cocking to
be more free from oscillation than the common one; both, how-
ever, we believe to be a presumptuous and hazardous experiment,
without any beneficial results. We gazed upon the balloon until
it was lost to our sight."

The above humorously written account is a fair sketch of what
it relates. As regards thfe parachutes, which were both exhibited
in the arena with their occupants, many comments were passed
upon their respective capacities of resistance to the air in falling
through it, and the Cocking parachute was almost universally
condemned; a few scientific persons only agreeing that it would
answer the purpose for which it was designed. And I would
here remind the reader, that, although public opinion is generally
correct upon matters of common import, it is not always so upon
matters peculiarly scientific. In this case, the public mind seemed
mainly influenced by the accident which had befallen the ^unfor-
tunate inventor of the machine ; had the accident happened with
the old-fashioned concave parachute, and the newly invented one
now brought in competition with it, the latter no doubt would
bave received the most confidence, as regarded safety and utility .-
This dread of consequences and accidents sometimes influences
the minds of scientific men, upon new experiments, as was the
casein my first announcement of exploding the balloon at great
heights, letting the gas rush out instantly, and depending upon
the friction of the balloon through the atmosphere for a safe de-
scent. The sequel, however, in both the cases just mentioned,
proved that science was correct, and public opinion wrong.

The day of the 18th of September was clear and calm, and
well for me it was so, for the old machine was extremely mellow,
and would not have stood much of a blast. When the inflation
bad been nearly completed, a stone which had been thrown at
one of the small pioneer balloons by a lad, fell against the large
balloon, and cut a hole of about seven inches length through it;
TbiS) with much difficulty, was repaired by pulling the machine

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180 RELEASE OF PARACHUTES.

to one side so as to reach the spot from the top of a cask, and
putting over the hole, by slipping under the net-work, a piece of
oiled silk coated with adhesive varnish. This accomplished, I
started off, ascending perpendicularly to the hei^t of over half a
mile.

When but a few hundred yards east of this p<Hnf, the coacave
parachute was dropped, which, in two seconds afterwards com-
menced to oscillate with great violence, to which the dog, its oc-
cupant, gave the most ample testimony, by a yelp corresponding
to each vibration, as far as I could hear him. Seeing it safely in
the hands of some individuals below, the Cocking parachute was
next put to the test. I made particular preparations to watch its
whole descent, with a spy-glass for the occasion. When it was
dropped it oscillated a little for a few moments, and then com-
menced describing spiral circles of perhaps a hundred feet diam-
eter (this is a mere guess calculation however), the parachute all
the while revolving on its own vertical axis, which motion was
in the same direction as its spiral motion, and thus it continued
gyratinfi^ with a double motion, but apparently very smoothly and
gracefully, until it reached the top of a dwelling in Eleventh
street, where it lodged safely, and was taken in from the dormant
window.

Upon the release of these parachutes, the balloon commenced
a rapid ascending motion, which, together with the expansion of
its gas, and the friction of the net-work, by some means dis-
placed the patch from the rent the balloon had received while
being inflated, which soon caused it to gravitate as fast, as it had
but a few moments before inclined to an opposite direction. Being
at thi? time at a point over Green street near the Delaware, and
the balloon going north-east, it was inevitable that it must de-
scend in the river. Determined, if possible, to cross it and reach
the Jersey shore, I threw everything disposable — sand, ropes,
grapples, newspapers, instruments, hat, coat, boots — overboard, in
order to check the rapid descent of the balloon. But it was
scarcely checked before it commenced sinking again, even more
rapidly than before. Although it had reached a point near mid-
way the Delaware, the under current of the air drove it near the
shore, and almost in contact with some shipping lying at Coates
street wharf, from which it was immediately rescued by persons
who had assembled to witness its descent. Thus ended an ex-
periment which fully vindicated the scienti/ic character of an in-
dividual who had been much condemned for his temerity in an
experiment that proved fatal to him, from the cause of a mechani-
cal defect in his machine (the upper hoop being tin, instead of
tough wood). Even with this defect in the upper hoop, causing
his parachute to coUapse, he would have descended without very

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NEW EXPERIMENT. 181

serious consequences, by the friction of this vast surface through
the atmosphere in a collapsed state, had he not lost his presence
of mind, ^hich caused him to receive the shock all at once.

I will not forget to mention that on this occasion sixteen hun*
dred pay auditors honored me ivith their presence inside the
arena, notwithstanding the ascension was made in the morning,
a part of the day which many thought would be unpropitious to
a pecuniary success of the experiment.

CHAPTER VII.

Construction of a netr balloon — ^First experiment >ritli it — ^Had to be
sewed — Incident showing how balloon could easily be filled with air —
Second experiment with it — Made privately — Philosophical experiments
for Professors J. K. Mitchell and Espy — ^Indian Ghiefd present — ^Keo-
kuk's scrutiny of the affair — ^Black Hawk's remarks — Newspaper notices
of it — ^Account of the voyage — Transparent appearance of Delaware
River when viewed from balloon — ^Encounter of whirlwind — Nearly de-
scending in the fiery pines of Jersey — ^Final descent.

Having succeeded so well in the last experiment, and that, too,
with a machine once before totally condemned, and now enlarged
by the insertion ^of a belt, without a stitch of sewing in it, and the
whole affair ending in the most satisfactory manner to th'e public,
as well as with a replenishment of funds sufficient to enable me
once more to engage in my favorite avocation, I now determined
to build an entirely new machine. The white India sarcenet silk
was again used in the construction of this machine, and this time
the varnish was composed of a composition of India rubber
(caoutchouc), well boiled drying linseed oil, and bird-lime. This
varnish dried very well in the sun, in about two days for each
coating, of which the silk got three before it was cut in gores to
shape the balloon with. This silk, thus prepared, when its edges
were overlapped, and then pressed together with a hot iron, seem-
ingly cemented in a very solid manner. As the belt in the bal-
loon I had just used, was cemented in this way, ^nd answered
the purpose so well, the whole new machine was cemented to-
gether by the same process. When it was completed and tested,
as to its impermeability to common air, it proved to be the most
air-tight machine of any I had yet made.

With this, I proposed an ascension from the same place where
the former one had been made from, also to take place in the

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182 RESULTS OF NEW EXPERIMENT.

forenoon, and inflated with carburetted faydn^en, or, as it in com*
monly called, coal gas.

The day turned out to be a cloudy one, with ^slight sprinkles ci
rain, and by the time the balloon was nearly filled, being about
one hour before the time announced for the ascensian, it was dis-
covered to have an opening near its top, of several inches in
length, which, upon close examination, turned out to be an open-
ing of one of the cemented seams. Seeing there was no time to
be lost, and as it was impossible to make any successful repairs
to it at the time, I concluded to make a short trip with it out of
town, and at least save the credit of having made the ascension,
brief as it might be.. Accordingly, the car was hitched to it, and
ofi"! started, but with all I could do, throwing out all the ballast,
the first few squares of its flight, it attained but an inconsiderable
height, for the opening in the seam increased, upon its ascent,
and the machine came down very suddenly, in Chestnut street
near Schuylkill Seventh street, dashing the car against the third
story of a house, while the balloon swung over its top, brining
the cords of the rigging to an angle over the eve of the buildmg,
keeping the whole machine in that position for some time.

An innnense crowd of people soon assembled around the place,
where the balloon was thus stationed, for it was only three squares
from the place it first started. As a great tumult was going on
below, and as I had not exactly accomplished what was designed
in the announcement, I beckoned to the crowd below to be heard,
which was immediately granted by a momentary^ silence, when I
asked them what they wished me to do. To this I got a ^ousand
or more replies, all tending to the same end, of saving myself and
the balloon, by all their various plans and suggestions. By this
time, a gentleman in the house came to the window and ofiered
me his assistance. Upon this, I fastened a rope to the car, and
threw the other end down in the crowd, requesting them to take
charge of the balloon, while I would get into the third story
window of the house, which was accordingly done. When I got
down, this immense crowd showed the most manly regard to rae
and my property; the balloon was towed back to the arena
with care and oider, where it was emptied of the gas, and care-
fully folded and sent to my dwelling. These kindnesses made
me feel more chagrined at the discomfiture of this experiment,
than if violent demonstrations had been exercised towards me for
my non-fulfilment of the announcement, which was almost uni-
versally the case towards my unfortunate predecessors in this
vocation.

1 determined now, that hereafter, my experiments should be
more in a way that would at least insure a greater certainty of

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PRIVATE ASCENT. 183

success in the mere novel part of the business, that of making a
handsome ascension.

This balloon vras immediately put under the needle, and a
substantial seam put through each joining. While this part of
the work was going on, an incident occurred, from the effect of
one of the lady's fans, who were sewing at the balloon, which led
to a discovery of inflating these machines with common air, that
did away with the tedious and troublesome method, heretofore
practiced by American aeronauts, of filling with a large pair of
bellows. It was simply this : By holding open the neck of the
balloon, and fanning into it, with a common feather or palm-leaf
fan, the machine could be filled in less time than an hour, while
the old method took a day, to say nothing of the trouble it took to
rig up a smith's bellows.

Now, although this method of cementing the seams did not
answer the purpose in this case, it is not wholly to be condemned.
There may be a cement made to answer the joining of the seams
without sewing them, though both these principles combined make
the surest and best finish.

After this balloon had been oyerhauled by a thorough repair
and improvement, she promised to do more service than any I
had yet made. It so happening that about this time several im-
portant Indian delegations were m Philadelphia; it was proposed
by Mr. John Cash, and several other gentlemen of the city, par-
ticular friends to the progress of the art, that a private ascension
be got up, and that these Indians, as also k company of *^ Florida
Volunteers," be invited to iittend the experiment. The whole
expense was defrayed by the first named persons, and I cheer-
fully volunteered my services and the balloon. Professor J. K.
Mitchell also took an assisting and scientific interest in the expe-
riment, and provided me with several air-bottles, made expressly
for such purpose ; and I was further provided with a " wet- bulb"
and common thermometer to make some experiments with for
Professor Espy.

In October, 1837, every arrangement being completed, the
Indians, with the celebrated chiefs. Black Hawk and Keokuk,
the Prophet, and Black Hawk's son at their head, and the Florida
soldiers, together with a numerous company of invited guests,
being assembled for the occasion, at a few minutes after one
o'clock, preparations for a start were made. Just at this moment
the chief Keokuk, with the characteristic sagacity of the red
man, requested me, through his interpreter, to allow him to make
an examination of the whole machinery and apparatus. To this
I cheerfully assented, offering at the same time to give him such
explanations as he desired. It was evident from the manner of
his procedure that he had some doubts as to the fairness and

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184 INDIAN CHIEFS AND BALLOON ASCENT.

reality of what was to be done, apparently thinking that tt was a
sort of a JQggle to be played upon them by a ^^ pale-faced medu
cine TTian." Everything in the car was observed and scrutinized
by him with a keenness that would have done credit to a philo-
sopher. (Indeed, I looked upon him as a great natural philoso-
pher.) A large brass speaking trumpet that lay in my car elicited
from him particular inquiry. Havine jnst before told him that I
would sail above the clouds, he asked me who I intended to talk
to there, with this instrument. I told him it was intended to talk
down, not up. He also inquired the particular use of the grap-
pling iron, and the philosophical instruments, contained in the
car; the use of the latter he could not satisfactorily comprehend.
He next asked permission to make a test of the upward power of
the balloon, which was promptly granted him; several of the
cords by which the machine was held down were brought toge-
ther and placed in his hands. Upon these he gradually brought
his weight, at the same time scrutinizing the others that were fast
to weights, whereupon he nodded assent and belief in its powers,
and at once acknowledged an abandonment of his skepticism
upon the affair. Black Hawk, who until then had maintained a
sullen silence and apparent unconcern of the whole afiair, called
me to him and informed me that this affair was very interesting
to his companions, but that he had seen such things before. This
was the truth ; for some years before he witnessed^ in company
with General Jackson, who was then President of the United
States, an ascension from the Battery in New York. The Pro-
phet and young Black Hawk listened and observed very atten-
tively to all that passed, but made no inquiries, being apparently
satisfied with what they heard.

This investigation being got through with, I shook hands as a
farewell, with the chiefs, and started oflf. At the moment of de-
taching the balloon, the Indians a)l simultaneously sprang on
their feet and gave a wave of the hand with a faint but shrill
shriek, which I took as a parting salute, and responded to it in a
similar manner as nearly as I could.

The following is an extract from a Philadelphia newspaper,
concerning this experiment : —

THE BALLOON:— SEE THE BALLOON!

" At about the hour of two, yesterday afternoon, these words
were issuing from the mouth of every little urchin in the streets,
which caused older heads to cast their eyes upwards in order to
discover the cause, which was soon perceived in the rapid move-
ment of a balloon towards our sister State, New Jersey, to which
there appeared to be attached a somebody^ or something that gave

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CONJECTURES OF THE BALLOON ASCENT. 186

evidences of living flesh and blood. Various were the conjectures
as to the occupant of the car attached — some supposed it to be
Clayton of the ^far West^'^ others, that Paullin was taking a ride
to himself for the benefit of his health, made rather precarious
since his fall at Trenton^— and some intimated that it was a man
from Lancaster, Baltimore, or somewhere else.

'^ Yet such was the fact ; — Mr. Wise had undertaken this ascen-
sion in a private manner, and the way it was done has hardly
been surpassed by any ascensioa heretofore witnessed in this
city. The place of departure was at the corner of Green and
Ninth streets," and although no public notice was given, yet the
street was crowded to excess, and the inclosure selected for filling
tlie balloon occupied by the aeronaut's friends, and the deputation
of Indian chiefs now in the city, among whom were Black Hawk,
Keokuk, &c. He ascended almost perpendicularly for several
hundred feet, when a light westerly breeze wafted him towards
the Jerseys, and in less than twenty minutes he was lost to our
visioi\ in the blue ethereal sky. The balloon ascended to about
the height of one mile, and when last seen was traveling a south-
easterly course.

**The Indians appeared to be much delighted with the scene
before them, and Keokuk, in particular, seemed to view it with

treat astonishment, it being the first he had ever witnessed. On
eing informed by the interpreter that the balloon was going up
with a man attached to it, he appeared to doubt its power to ac-
complish it, and to satisfy himself, went forward and took hold of
several cords and bore his weight upon them ; then nodding his
head as assenting to the correctness of the interpreter's statement,
took his seat. ,

'^We had not heard of Mr. Wise's place of descension when
our paper went to press."

On this occasion the inflation was effected by the decomposition
of water under the iron and vitriolic process. > The voyage was a
pleasant and interesting one, although some incidents occurred
that were calculated to inspire apprehension ; but these served in
a measure to enhance the interest, as well as to destroy the mono-
tony of a mere aerial excursion. The atmosphere being veiy
clear, prevented the possibility of making the particular experi-
ments desired by Professor Espy, they being based upon a cloudy
atmosphere. One of the air-bottles provided by Professor J. K.
Mitchell, had to be parted with in the emergency of one of the
incidents above referred to.

I noticed on this occasion, while crossing the Delaware. River
at the height of a mile, that the water appeared much more trans-
parent when viewed from that height, than when viewed from a
boat, or from its banks. And so remarkable was this phenomenon

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186 ^ DESCENTT ON FIERY WOODS*

that, notwithstanding the constantly muddled condition of that
river in the vicinity of the place where it was crossed, I could
trace the geological structure of its bottom for some distance above
and below the point of ^^rossing. After I had crossed the river,
the balloon moving south of east, sufficient ballast was discharged
to raise her 9000 feet high, when her course became due east,
with a speed so moderate, that it was only by the change of topo-
graphical scenery that I could discern its onward progress. The
day was a remarkably pleasant one for the lateness of the season,
and at this immense height the thermometer ranged at 42 degrees.
It must, however, be observed, that the thermometer was not
screened from the reflected heat of the sun by the balloon, which
I afterwards discovered made a great difference in the indications
of this instrument when carried aloft.

I enjoyed a range of vision from ninety to one hundred miles
in diameter. Seeing that Philadelphia was now verging into the
western horizon, and that Mount Holly and Vincent Town were
pas^ng beneath me in the same direction, and knowing that to-
wards the east scarcely anything but forest and cea could now
be expected, I commenced a rapid descent at half-past three
o'clock, some distance to the east of Vincent town. The first
thing; that obstructed me in this design was the contact of a whirl*
wind, which enveloped the whole machine in a cloud of dust,
sand, and dry vegetable matter. This so tossed about the aerial
ship that I was obliged to take refuge in the bottom of the car,
the better to maintain my centre of gravity. After being thus
swung about for a minute or two, and carried upriijtid south-east-
ward for a considerable distance, for so short a time, the whirl-
wind dispersed, and the balloon began to descend again. Having
before this seen clouds of smoke ascending from the pines to the
south-east of me, which I then took for collieries, I now found it to
be the pines on fire, and the balloon fast descending right into it.
Knowing the consequences of such a catastrophe from sad expe-
rience, the ballast yet remaining in the car was quickly disposed
of. Finding this not to check the balloon sufficiently from falling
into the fiery desert below, the speaking trumpet and air-bottles
had to follow, which fortunately enabled me to cross the confla-
gration. The balloon now rose again to the elevation of 3000
feet, and rapidly traversed the pines towards Barnegat Bay, and
for a moment I thought of continuing the voyage to the beach ;
but when the heaving ocean showed itself in the eastern horizon,
swelling its bosom, as it were, up into the blue vaulted heaven,
it looked to roe like too much risk for the advantage likely to be
gained by a landing on the beach sand. Consequently I deter-
mined to make a descent in the pines, which was accomplished
at half-past four o'clock. The descent was made with consider-

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BALLOONING AT EASTON, PA: 18T

able force, but the trees were so close to each other that the
balloon did not slide down through them, until she was half dis-
charged of her gas. Having before the descent kept an eye to
the necessity of finding my way out of the pines, I rolled up the
balloon, stowed it in the car, and then struck to the north for a
road I had observed, which was soon reached, as well as meeting
some huntsmen, who assisted me in conveying my machinery to
Burr's saw mill, which is thirty-eight miles from Camden, and
about forty from where I started.

CHAPTER VIII.

Experiment at Easton, Pa. — ^Fsilure and its oonseqnencea — Ascent from
the public square at Easton — ^End of cause of failures — ^DecompoBition
of bialloon — Prospects of future operations — Simplicity ef the art — Suc-
cess of pupils.

Although this last constructed machine seemed to be a very
good one, and answered the purpose of an ascension admirably
in its last trial, still it was defective in a part that only develops
itself after the lapse of time (affinity for oxygen), and which
doomed me to the chagrin of one more failure, and the last, hap-
pily, that I had the mortification to endure, except in one case
where the voyage was incomplete, though not essentially a failure
of ascent.

In the spring of 1838, 1 nfrent to Easton, Pa., to gratify the
citizens of that beautiful town with a ** balloon ascension.'' The
balloon having now lain over winter, had become harsh and fra-
gile — a property that 'gum*elastic varnish is subject to, rendered
drying by metallic dryers, which also under increase of tempera*
ture is extremely liable to spontaneous combustion. This caused
me to fail in getting the balloon sufficiently inflated the first time
I tried it in Easton, and although thousands of people from all
parts of the surrounding country had assembled to witness the
sight, no evil consequences, except my extreme mortification,
ensued from the disappointment.

To make a brief account of this part of the afiair, and to show
the character of the Eastonians under such circumstances, I will
here make one extract from an Easton newspaper, consequent
upon the occasion, to wit : ^' Wise^s Balloon Ascension, — On
Tuesday evening last, a meeting of the friends of Mr. Wise was
held in- the court house, when it was decided that the ascensioii

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188 BALLOONING AT EASTON, PA.

shoald take place on Saturday the 26th of May, inst., between
the hours of eleven and one o'clock on said day (from the centre
square). The same collecting committee ibrthe different blocks,
will take up a collection on the day of the ascension. Their
names are: Joseph Barnet, L. A. Buckley, Edward J. Seip,
Thomas Sletor, John Finley, H. Haniman, John A. Shouse, John
A. Innes, H. S. Heckman, Doctor J. P. B. Sloan, W. Green,
Geo. W. Barnet.''

Such was the result upon the failure at Easton. Though an
entire stranger in the place, the first intimation from the people to
me upon the unfortunate experiment I had just attempted, was
that I should try it again at the expense of the citizens, which
was cheerfully complied with, and accomplished to their utmost
satisfaction and a handsome remuneration to myself.

Of this voyage I published an account in the Easton news-
papers. It was a magnificent and interesting one ; but, as the
details embrace no peculiarities nor phenomena but what have
occurred in those already given, the newspaper notice of the
occasion wilt suffice. *'0n Saturday last, 26th of May, 1838,
according to advertisement, Mr. Wise made his promised
balloon ascension from this borough. The arrangements for in-
flating; the balloon were simple but efiectual, and shortly after
11 oxlock A. M. all was ready for a ride in the clouds. At
about fifteen minutes before 12 o'clock Mr. Wise placed himself
in his car, and cutting the cord which restrained the aerial vessel,
at once rose majestically into the heavens. Many thousands
were spectators, and we believe that not one hut acknowledged
the perfect beauty and sublimity of the ascension. Mr. W. re-
peatedly waved bis flag and hat in return to the cheerings of his
friends below, until at length his buoyant vehicle penetrated a
dense cloud at some two thousand feet elevation. Here he was
lost sight of by the spectators, and although occasional glimpses
were had of the voyager at different places, nothing definite as to
his whereabouts was known until the arrival of the Morristown
stage with the aeronaut, balloon, &c., at about 10 o'clock P. M."

This voyage was ended at the foot of Schooley's Mountain, a
distance of about twenty miles from Easton eastward, in one hour
and a half from the time of starting. The thermometer stood at
74^ at the moment of ascension, and fell as low as 36^ during
the flight of the balloon. Two ascensions had now been made
with the machine. Before its last trial it had to be recoated with
a purely linseed oil preparation, in order to make it pliable and
impervious to the gas. Upon this it answered the purpose very
well ; but as the weather grew warmer, the balloon oeing packed
up, it commenced its attraction for heat, and when iii the early
part cd July following, I returned to Easton to make preparations

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BALLOONING AT EASTON, PA. 189

for another ascension, the people baving determined for one in
the following August, I found the balloon in a state of decomposi-
tion. It had been packed up in a box, which upon being opened
did not develop that characteristic inclination of ienition, as had
been observed by me in oiled silks before. This time it had
commenced going into ashes by forming holes in various parts of
its central mass, and it was. not until the box had been opened,
the balloon unfolded with its decomposed parts exposed, and then
folded up again and left lay in that way for several hours, that it
gave symptoms of ignition. And these symptoms were so intense
that the whole mass was thrown into a trough of water to prevent
its inflammation.

With the destruction of this machine by spontaneous combus-
tion, also ended the mode of preparation which caused it, and
which heretofore had been the most perplexing and obstructive
hinderance to my progress in practical ballooning. During the
past winter I had instituted various experiments upon elastic
varnishes, and in the end discovered that linseed oil alone con-
tained the elements necessary to a pliant, fast drying, and non-
adhesive varnish, and was not only free. from the property of
acquiring heat or oxygen spontaneously, -but possessed the other
property of being a non-conductor of these elements.

After this discovery, my career as a practical aeronaut became
easier and more successful. This had the good tendency of
establishing in the common public mind, that it was governed by
principles as comprehensive and systematic as were those of sail-
ing a boat, or running a steam engine ; and the dissemination of
these principles it is now my object to bring to the understanding
of every mind that is capable of conceiving the single rule of
three in arithmetic, so that we shall soon see the atmosphere as
full of balloons as are the rivers and bays npw of pleasure yachts.
But its danger, exclaims a hundred voices! But my hundred
ascensions under disadvantageous circumstances is the reply!
And if that is not satisfactory, then I can say that already half a
dozen persons have taken my balloons with no other knowledge
than the simple instructions given them on a sheet of paper, who
have made balloon ascensions as successful as myself. Some of
these have since constructed their own balloons.

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100 CAMBRIC MUSLIN BALLOON.

CHAPTER IX.

C^^nstmctioti of cambric mualin bftlloon — New prineiplo inroKed m ii —
Second Bscent from Eaaton— ThuDtler »torm — ^Parachutes — ExptoeioD of
Tmllofin ftbove the clon43^De«c«Mt with it collapsed — Letter from iiti
unknown friend about it— Aeeeot from Allen town, Pa.

JtJLY having already numbered a third of its days — my second
ascension from Easton advertised to come off on the 11th day of
August following— my balloon totally ruined and unfit fnr use,
placed me in a predicament which required all my energy and
knowledge in the by^iness, in order to make the affair tenninaEe
in a salis^iactory manner The people of Easton and its* ueigh'
borhood having treated me so generously before^I was determined,
if possible, not to forfeit a continuance of such treatment by any
delinquency of mine thereafter — not even by a postponement of
the time of the contemplated ascension. Consequently^ tha con-
struction of a cambric muslin balloon was determined on, as in
this material facilities were afforded (hat did not exist in silk*
The muslin being [auch wider, required less sewing. Its pre-
paration with varnish could also be effected quicker than thai of
silk, as it could be soaked in varnish for the first coating, and
would require but one more coat^ put on with the brush, while
silk required three coats at least, and all put on with the brush.
Under these anspices the new* balloon was commenced, and as it
was to be coated wiih the newly invented varnish, tt was also
determined that it should become the test of a new principle of
descent* Having, however, always met with so much opposition
to every new proposition in aeronautics that I suggested, I de-
termined to keep the new idea to myself, until it should have
passed the ordeal of actual experiment* It was the explosion of
balloons at great heights, depending upon their friction through,
and resistance of, the atmosphere, for a safe descent* The idea
of such an experiment — bursting one's balloon a mile or two
above (he earth, and permitting, inevitably, the gas to rush out
of it instantly, may startle the reader, even the student of the
science ; nevertheless, it was made, repeated, and can be made
again, with a certainty as great, and principles as comprehensive,
as that a pocket handkerchief will not fall as rapidly to the ground
when thrown out of a third story window, as will a brick.

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BALLOONING AT EASTON, PA. 191

The cambric muslin machine was completed in due time, being
of a globular shape, twenty-four feet in diameter, and different
from all former ones made by me, only in not having a double top
for several yards across, immediately around the valve. This
precaution in the construction of balloons arises from the greater
strain falling upon that part of the machine in consequence of the
network being slightly fastened to it at that point, to keep it to
its proper place while the balloon is inflating, as also the valve
being inserted there, which must undergo some stress in working
it. Although I had not announced that I would attempt the ex-
plosion of the balloon when up in the atmosphere with it, neither
had I positively determined to make the experiment on that occa-
sion, but everything necessary to such an experiment was ob-
served in the construction of this machine.

The fixtures necessary to this are simply contrived in the fol-
lowing manner. The top of the balloon is of the single ma-
terial, muslin or silk, as the case may be, and at three difierent
points round the valve are small holes the size of a five cent
piece; through these holes strong twine cords are passed, coming
down over the outside of the balloon four or fivQ feet, where they
are firmly sewed to corresponding seams. In the inside of the
balloon they are brought together in one common joining, from
which proceeds a single cord down through the neck of the ma-
chine into the aeronaut's car, where it can be used for the pur-
pose of its design. Where these cords pass through the envelop
of tbe balloon around the valve, suitable pieces of oiled silk are
cemented over the holes to make it air-tight.

Thus prepared, and the 11th of August, the day for the ascen-
sion, being at hand, nothing remained but to go on with the ex-
periment. The day was fine in the morning, but at noon the
heavens indicated an approaching thunder storm, which, by ten
minutes before two o'clock, passed over \vith no other injury than
the wetting of the network of the balloon, and the dispersal of a
portion of the audience, who, for a brief space of time, were
driven to places of shelter.

At a few minutes before two o'clock, the balloon was detached
from terra-firma. I had with me two parachutes containing ani-
mals, one a cat, the other a dog; and as the balloon approached
a dense body of black thunder clouds, some vivid flashes of light-
ning, accompanied by violent peals of thunder, greeted my up-
ward passage. This gave the first part of my voyage a terrific,
but grand and imposing appearance. It seemed to me as though
heaven's artillery ^vas celebrating the occasion as a progress of
the new-born science, and it inspired me with a determination to
try the new experiment of atmospheric resistance as a means of
safe descent in the event of explosion of the balloon at great

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I

192 EXPLOSION OF BALLOON AT EASTON, PA.

heights. As soon as an altitude of about 2000 feet was attained,
the conical parachute with its occupant (this was one on Cock-
ing's plan) was detached, whi<;h landed in safety near Lafayette
College, at the head of the town. Soon after this the balloon
attained an altitude of about 4000 feet, at which point the oiled
silk parachute with its occupant was detached. This' was to
foreshadow the effect of the experiment of exploding the balloon,
and was so contrived as to have an apparent disadvantage com-
pared with that of the large machine. This small one was no-
thing more than a balloon in a collapsed state. When thrown
overboard, it fell some distance before it expanded completely,
and afler it had expanded, it fell with a very irregular vibratory
motion, which was not the case with the other one. Upon this,
I concluded, however, that the experiment would not be hazard-
ous, if not disagreeable. I was also assured, from my experience,
that a balloon in a flaccid state, or only partly so, would invert,
that is, the lower part cave into the upper part, and assume a
hemispherical shape in a rapid descent.

When an altitude of about 13,000 feet was attained, the bal-
loon became fearfully expanded — to its utmost tension ; and, hav-
ing but an inch diameter-tube in the neck, the gas began to issue
through this orifice with considerable noise. I would here ob-
serve, however, that any slight sound, occurring in so perfectly
quiet a place as is that of a balloon a mile or two above the earth,
makes apparently a great noise. At this period of the voyage it
was evident, that unless gas was speedily let off, the balloon must
burst from expansion ; for she was still rising, and the explosive
cord, being tied rather short, had also become tense, and must
evidently be tending towards a rupture at the points it passed
through the balloon.

At this critical moment I became somewhat excited, and as I
looked over the side of my car, I observed the sparkling corus-
cations of lififhtning springing from cloud to cloud a mile beneath
me, as the thunder storm was passing its last remnants below.
The storm was moving from S. W.'to N. E. and the balloon was
sailing from N. W. to S. £., passing New Village and Asbury,
and I could now see the earth in that direction. I took out my
watch — noted on my log book the time — twenty minutes past two,
and as I was about returning it to my pocket, thinking at the
time whether it were not best to relieve the explosion rope — dis-
charge ballast, and abandon, for the present, the idea of this ex-
periment, the balloon exploded! Although my confidence in the
success of the contrivance never for a moment forsook me, I must
admit, that it was a moment of awful suspense. The gas rushed
from the rupture in the top of the balloon with a tempestuous
noise, and in less than ten seconds, not a panicle of hydrogen

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PSJ3uviJ« Steam litriPr9»«.

DESCENT NEAR E ASTON PENNSYLVANIA.

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LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN FRIEND. 198

remained in it. The descent at first was rapid, and accompanied
^'ith a fearfully moaning noise, caused by the air rushing through
the network, and the gas escaping above. In another moment I
felt a slight shock. Looking up to see what caused it, I disco-
vered that the balloon was canting over, being nicely doubled in,
the lower half into the upper; it had fallen, condensing the column
of air upon which it was falling, until it bad arrived at a point
where it was so dense that the force of the whole weight pressing
down on it was arrested, which caused the parachute to tilt over.
The weight of the car, however, countervailed the tilting tendency,

S'ving it an oscillating motion, which it retained until it reached
e e^rth. The velocities of these zig-zag descents were marked
by corresponding notes of the wind, as it whistled through the
rigging of the balloon. On reaching the point where the lowe>
current of air traversed the upper, another and more violent
shock than the first, was the result. From this point the oscilla-
tions became more severe, each one causing a sensation in me
similar to that a person experiences when dreaming they fall.

The wind from the S. W. drifted the machine several miles in
its direction before it fell to the earth. As I neared terra-firma,
all the ballast was thrown overboard, but when I struck, it was
with a violent concussion, for the machine was just then at its
maximum velocity of descent. The car struck the earth obliquely,
and I was thrown about ten feet forward from it. The balloon
had fallen alongside of me, and so complete was the collapse
where the lower part had doubled into the upper, that it was with
difficulty separated again. The car had turned bottom upwards,
and there I stood congratulating myself on the result of this ex-
citing experiment — the perspiration rolling down my forehead in
profusion, for the atmosphere below felt oppressive. The landing
was made on the farm of Mr. Elijah Warne, about ten miles from
Easton. Before many minutes had elapsed after this descent, I
had resolved to repeat th^ experiment, in Philadelphia, at the
first opportunity.

On my return to Easton, the day after the ascension I received
the following letter:—

" New Village, August lltJi, 1838.
'^ Mm. Wise, Master of the Aerial :

" I hereby certify, that my first sight of your air ship was
north of Henry Snyder's ; it then apparently passed not far from
William Kinney's, then directly between the inhabitants of New
Village and the sun ; we saw the gas rushing from the balloon
like the steam from a boiler ; it created between us and the sun
the colors of a rainbow, and it was some time before we got a
second sight, when you appeared to be lowering. As the size of
18

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194 ASCENT FROM ALLENTOWN. PA.

the balloon became larger, we could discover a black spot under-
neath, about twenty feet. I pursued on foot until I saw you
alight near Thomas Thatcher's.

" From your most afiectionate,
** but not acquainted, friend,

"WILLUM SHARPS.
" N. B, And others,"

From this it appears that spectators on the earth could not see
the balloon at the time it w^s falling during the collapse. Its de-
scent for the first few seconds must have been faster than at any
other period of its fall, and during that time it affected me more,
too, for the sensation caused a dimness of sight, and I closed my
eyes momentarily from the effect.

On the 8th of September following, I made an ascension from
AUentown, Pa. I bad resolved that after this one was accom-
plished, to go to Philadelphia and repeat the experiment of ex-
ploding the balloon at a great height in the air. The AUentown
ascension was a very complete one ; the following extract from
the journal, always kept during my ascensions, embraces the
most interesting features connected with, that trip.

The balloon was now perfectly stationary over the outskirt
of the town. I next concluded on starting a fresh interest to the
spectators below. Having all the ballast bags filled with dust,
several of them we^e emptied overboard, which, for a moment,
enveloped the balloon in an artificial cloud, which presented a
very interesting phenomenon to the lookers-on. This sent the
balloon up about two thousand feet more, approaching at the
same time a solitary cloud. As I passed the angle of reflection
of this cloud, a very sensible heat was felt, showing clouds to be
good reflectors of heat, as they are of light. When the balloon
got in proximity to the cloud, it became somewhat agitated, mak-
ing rotations one way, then another, at the same time the cloud
apparently receded from the balloon, as by repulsion. Here
several more bags of dust were discharged, which clung much
more to the balloon than did the former; even the heavier parti-
cles were now attracted to the surface of it and remained there
some moments. When the machine had risen considerably
above this point, the dust fell from it in a cloud. This was a
very interesting part of the voyage, and convinced me that the
science of electricity and meteorology would bt much improved
by the aid of balloons.

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ASCENT FROM PHILADELPHIA. 195

CHAPTER X.

Consultation upon exploding ballt>on again^ — ^Announcement to do so in
Philadelphia. — Newspaper eomraenta on it — Explosive contrivance — <
Balloon burated from top to bottom— Its descent, and motion—Place of
descent^ — Eiplofiion of balloon while aloft not fat^l to tho aeronaut— A^
mospheric resistance not fully appreciated by theoriiti.

Having arrived in Philadelphia in the month of September im-
mediately following ray experiments at Easton and AIlento%viij I
consulted several scientific gentlemen upon my intention to an-
nounce that I would make an ascension, and explode the balloon
when over a mile high. Although they did not seem to doubt the
philosophy of atmospheric resistance, nor the theory of converting
the balloon into a parachute, still, they most earnestly attempted
to dissuade roe frora ray intentions, as they considered it a risk
of life. Could they have persuaded me with half the philosophy
against it, that I had contemplated for it, it would never have
been attempted by me*

Feeling convinced that all was right, an announcement was
made that such an experiment would be made on the 1st of Oc-
tober, 1838, from the corner of Seventh and Callowhill streets.
The day was a remarkably fine one, and the balloon moved in
five different directions during her flight. The editorial notices
of five principal newspapers of Philadelphia will be first given,
before I shall give my own account of it.

1st. ''Mr. Wise ascended yesterday afternoon, at half past four
o'clock with his balloon. The sky was perfectly clear, and the
balloon passed slowly to the northwest; in about twenty minutes,
the rich blue of the heavens was marked with a thin, filmy w^hite,
which w'as the gas escaping from the top of the balloon. At five
o'clock, and for half an hour, we watched at a distance from the
city, the balloon, far to the west, which resembled some large
planet pouring out a flood of light. This was caused by the rays
of the sun. The reflection was exceedingly brilliant, and the
whole balloon seemed a ball of fire, while the hoop in the centre
looked like a dark belt (it had no hoop in the centre). This was
one of the most beautiful sights we have ever seen of the kind."

2dp "Mr. Wise yesterday afternoon, as per notice, made an
aBcensioQ in his parachute balloon in the handsomest possible
f
I

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196 CONVERSION OF BALLOON INTO A PARACHUTE.

style. There was scarcely a breath of air stirring, and he rose
almost perpendicularly to a great height, and was out of view at
the writing of this paragraph, having been up about an hour. He
went up without any difficulty — how he gets down we'll tell to-
morrow,*'

3d. ^'Mr. Wise, the aeronaut, made a successful ascension on
Monday. The balloon passed oyer the Schuylkill, and Mr. Wise
eventually descended, according to his promise, by letting off the
gas gradually at an extreme height ; by means of a cord and pul-
ley, he converted the balloon into a parachute, and thus came
down. It was a most fearful undertaking, and was anticipated
by competent scientific authority as calculated to carry with it
destruction of life."

4th. ^'Mr. Wise made yesterday afternoon one of the most
beautiful ascensions that Philadelphia ever witnessed. About
half past four be left 'old mother earth,' and like an arrow from
a well strung bow, reached the welkin, cheered in his upward
flight by the shouts of the dense mass which filled the neighboring
streets. At six o'clock he was yet in sight, there being iio breeze,
and apparently in the ^iatu quo of ten minutes after bis departure.
The explosion, which was to make of his aerial vessel a para*
chute, did not take place, owing, we suppose, to the fact that he
could not get beyond the precincts of dangerous obstructions to
such a daring attempt. At one time the appearance of the bal«
loon was beautiful; the gas issuing from it seemed like smoke,
and the sun shining upon the lower part of the balloon, which
was considerably depressed and exhibited a tremulous motion,
gave it the appearance of being on fire. We did not learn where
he descended."

5th. ** Mr. Wise's ascension yesterday afternoon from the en-
closure, corner of Seventh and Callowhill streets, was one of the
most beautiful we ever saw. We did not witness the process of
inflation, as at the time of our entering the enclosure, half past
four o'clock, the pipes communicating the gas to the balloon had
been withdrawn, and th^ aeronaut having entered the car, was
arranging his cords and other fixtures. This was speedily ac-
complished, and at twenty-two minutes before five o'clock, the
cord which confined the voyager to the earth was cut by Mr.
Wise, and bidding the assembled thousands 'good-by,' he soared
aloft almost perpendicularly, though bearing a little south for some
twenty minutes, after which, at a height of some several thousand
feet, a different current of air wafted him to the north, until he was
brought to a position almost directly perpendicular to the place
of starting. At this altitude he encountered another current of
air, by which he was rapidly carried in a west by north direction
finr several minutes, when a small doud of gas was suddenly dit-

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DESCENT NEAR FHILADELPHIA. . ^^aio

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CONVERSION OF BALLOON INTO A PARACHUTE. 19T

covered to have issued from the balloon, and isoon after another'
of about the same quantity, after which the object of attention
seemed gradually to descend fdr a short time, until it had arrived
at an atmosphere of sufficient density to exactly weigh it. It now
pursued the even tenor of its way in a direct course, W.N.W.,
until nearly out of sight from the enclosure, when at about half past
five o'clock, the balloon seemed suddenly converted into a para-
chute, and commenced a rapid descent. We i^atched its descent
with a spyglass, until so low that the buildings hid it from our
view, say at an angle of some ten or twelve degrees from the
horizon. We know not at what distance from the starting point
the descent was made, but should judge it to have been several
miles. We hope, at least, that the intrepid voyager reached the
earth in safety, though we had some fears from the apparent
rapidity of his descent."

Such were the notices of some of the public journals of the day.
They all but one agree as to the conversion of the balloon into a
parachute, and that one saw it at the time it was forming into
such a shape, when he perceived the depression in its lower part.
In this last arrangement I had a pulley fixed into the valve disk,
on the inside of the balloon, through which a cord passed, whose
one end was fastened to the lower part of the balloon, by which
that part might be drawn up into the upper, as the gas rushed
from the top. I found this part of the contrivance utterly useless.
When the balloon was exploded, the lower part did not imme-
diately invert, as in the fotmer experiment of this nature, for, on
this occasion, it bursted open from top to bottom, and caved in
sidewise. I was^ at the first discovery of this, somewhat alarmed,
fearing that it might come down with a continuous accelerated
velocity, from which anxiety I was, however, soon relieved. It
caught the wind like the main sail of a ship, and slid down upon
the atmosphere, in a spiral course, with a uniform velocity. The
descent was made a mile or two on the west side of the Schuyl-
kill, and not less than several hundred persons had followed from
the city, and were on the ground, where and when it was made.
The concussion was not near so violent, as the apparent rapidity
of the descent would seem to have warranted, and was not harder
than that which would follow the jumping from an elevation of
ten feet to the ground.

As the machine was descending, the lower part, one third the
length of the whole balloon, hung loosely in the net- work, swing-
ing to and fro, and occasionally pressed upwards, slightly, by the
current of the air. The resistance of the machine against the
atmosphere acted on the principle of the inclined plane, sliding
obliquely down oyer it, describing spiral circles, until it struck
the earth.

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198 SECOND ASCENT FROM ALLENTOWN, PA.

Since this experiment, balloons have exploded for aeronauts
"while alofl with them, and in no instance have their persons been
seriously injured ; but every newspaper and periodical account of
them, setting them down as miraculous escapes. And the mira-
cle is always in the height from which the machine falls to the
earth, the resistance that the atmosphere must present to it never
hardly taken into account. We might as well call the descent of
the flying squirrel, from the high forest trcfe to the earth, without
sustaining any bodily injury, a miracle, for its surface, compared
to its weight, is not in a greater ratio than is the weight of a man
compared to the surface of a common sized balloon, whatever
shape the latter can assume.

This is a principle in aeronautics which has never yet bebn
duly considered, although a very ingenious mathematical deduc-
tion upon the descent of parachutes has been given in this w(H^k.
Meteorological and astronomical deductions are yet much to be
facilitated bj the science and practice of aeronautics. There are
things in its philosophy that men have not yet dreamed of. There
are sublimities in its practice that the world has not yet been fully
prepared to realize.

Although the principle of atmospheric resistance is a self-evi-
dent thing, and its application to a safe descent from great heights
has been demonstrated, there are yet very few persons who are
willing to believe it so well established as to entitle it to be prac-
ticed with impunity.

CHAPTER XI.

Second ascent from Allentown, Pa. — ^Electrical phenomenon — Descent and
collapse of balloon — Third ascent from Allentown — Neglect at starting —
Descent of small ptoachute — Predicament from neglect — Thundergust—
Phenomenon attending it— Reflections in a critical case — Parisidoxical
descent — Appearance of the gas when released at great heights — Peril
overcome — "Misfortunes never come single-handed" — ^Descent and its
consternation — Danger of being shot — ^Wcnt up again — Final descent —
Next experiment — ^Novel ascent — ^An amateur — His opinion of aerial
voyages— Its healthfulness.

In. the spring of 1839 I was invited to make another ascension
from Allentown, Pa., which was readily accepted. The ascen-
sion wa« made on the 27th of April, at about two o'clock in the
afternoon, and the following extracts from the log-book of the

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THIRD ASCENT FROM ALLENTOWN, PA. 199

trip will be found interesting. At twenty-five minutes past two
o'clock my vessel stood over the town of Bethlehem, and had
also reached the clouds, and the course changing from E. to S«
S. £.9 the thermometer standing at 36^. This temperature felt
unpleasantly cold; my ears began to ache violently, accompanied
by a crackling, noisy sensation ; my nose began to bleed, and I
felt very much distressed for a few minutes. The balloon be-
came rapidly distended, and highly electrified, and an open sack
of saAd lying in the car showed strong electrical effects by a por-
tion of it being drawn up against the balloon, from which it would
drop down again, keeping up this motion for over a minute.
When the balloon left the earth the gas in it was of a milky
color, but now, when it had risen to a height where the machine
had become fully distended by diminution of atmospheric pres-
sure so that I could look in through the neck of it, the gas had
become perfectly transparent. While this change of color in the
gas was going on, it gave out water, which dropped freely from
the lower orifice of the balloon, and it also emitted a strong sul- .
phurous odor. Some powerful electrical effect must have pro-
duced these phenomena, and I always found strong electrical
effects when passing from one current of air into another.

On this occasion, the wind was v^ry strong when I descended,
which was forty-two miles from Allentown, and having the ex-
plosive apparatus in the balloon, and failing in the first landing
to get a hold with the grappling-iron, I found it very convenient
to explode the machine the second time it touched the earth.

On my return to Allentown, the citizens of that place expressed
a dejBire to have a third ascension. This was made on the last
Saturday of May, 1839, and, as it was attended by circumstances
for a while placing my life in jeopardy, as well as bringing
into use a mode of causing the balloon to descend which would
seem paradoxical, an account of it wilt be here given. At the
time it happened, no particular account of the circumstances al-
luded to were given in the papers relating the voyage, for the rea-
son that I was fearful it might increase the belief that ballooning
was extremely dangerous.

At half-past 2 o'clock in the afternoon, everything being in
readiness to detach the balloon from the inflating apparatus and
prepare for the ascent, and just at the time this was all accom-
plished, and nothing more remained to be done but to draw the
valve cord out of the neck of the balloon, where it generally
remains during the inflation, a gentleman from th^ South was
introduced to me, who commenced a conversation which drew
my attention from the preparation of the valve rope, and while
conversing with him, I being in the car at the time, the balloon
was let up the length of the restraining rope^ where^ after a few

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200 STORM SCENE ABOVE THE CLOUDS.

minutes of adjustment of things in the car, I bid him and all
others a good-by and cut off the rope. The last fibre of the cord
^'hich held me to the earth had scarcely been severed before the
thought flashed on my mind that the valve rope had not been se-
cured. But it was too late, now, to remedy the mistake — the bal-
loon was mounting rapidly — for a moment I began to despond^—
and I would have given everything possessed by me in the world
to be down on the earth but one minute — it was an intensely
painful moment — but I rallied my spirits quickly — took off my
hat and swung it around, which was vociferously responded to
from below.

I had with me a parachute containing an animal, and knowbg
that the disposafl of this would send me higher from the earth,
I at first felt an inclination not to part with it ; but upon reflection
of its being announced to be done, and the people of course wait-
ing for its descent, it was at once thrown overboard. I watched
its progress until it reached the earth, when it was picked up by
some men, and oh! how I wished myself there too. However,
having over a hundred miles between me and the Atlantic Ocean,
I felt hopes that something might be done in the interval that
would enable me to get down. My first observation in view of
this was to ascertain the velocity of the balloon in her eastward
course. This was found to be about fifty miles per hour, and
convinced me that the Atlantic was likely to be reached before
the ascending power would give out so as to let me down. I
could not persuade myself that the balloon was in a bad enough
condition to meet such a hope, for it had just undergone a thorough
repair, and was in good condition, a quality, in this instance, not
very desirable. While thus meditating upon the best means of
effecting a descent, I foiind that already a great portion of Jersey
had been traversed, as Princeton was not far ahead of me. The
current of wind below, just in the cloud region, was moving from
the southwest, and the one the balloon was sailing in was from
the northwest. To the north the atmosphere was clear, to the
south it was charged with clouds. The lower current was carry-
ing in it a thundergust which presented a beautiful phenomenon.
As I was over a mile above it, and four or five miles off, it gave
me an opportunity to scrutinize its operations sidewise and alwve.
The storm and the balloon were also moving towards the same
point, so that I was continually nearing it, but so high above it
that no danger was to be apprehended from its effects. The rain
was pouring down from it and made a noise like a mill-dam.
The clouds were rolling over and against each other; the light-
ning flashing in zig-zag flashes through them as long as their
side view was open to my sight. Presently, it was all overcast
below me, the thunder rattling like small arms without any of the

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PEEILOUS SITUATION. 201

rolling reverberations that are heard below. The most splendid
part of this scene appeared just where the storm was passing
some dense clouds that were moving in the upper current, that
had recently made their appearance. Several times the surface
of the lower stratum swelled up suddenly like a boiling cauldron,
which was immediately followed by the most brilliant ebullition
of sparkline; coruscations. Twice it swelled up, or rather shot
up like an immense pyramid, which was also quickly followed by
an evolution of promiscuous flashes, and then quickly disappeared
again, as though it had dissolved. It was a magnificent sight;
but, in recurring to my critical situation, its charms passed from
my mind with its departure to the north of me.

As soon as the storm had passed off, which was in about fifteen
minutes, the sky became cl^ar to the south and. east, Princeton
was some distance to the north of me, and I was moving nearly
due east. Less than an hour would now take me on to the At-
lantic ; it was alreadv in sight to the northeast and the east. The
balloon, seemingly, had not yet lost any of her altitude of the last
hour. I had plenty of ballast to go up, but no control of the valve
to get down. It was an embarrassing moment. First, I looked
at my stock of provisions, which consisted of about a half pound
of water crackers ai\d as nuich cheese, together with a bottle of
porter, which was«handed me by a friend' at the time of starting.
This all seemed w«ll enough to hold out with, even to cross the
ocean, for, at the rate I had been moving, less than three days
would take me across. But the balloon, good as she was, it could
not be reasonably expected that she would hold out, although be*
tween forty and fifty pounds of ballast were to be depended on.
The neck of the balloon, as is usual in common aerial voyages,
vras left open, and the natural affinity of gases for atmosphere
must, in less than three days, so deteriorate the hydrogen in it,
as to bring it down. This hope now fled.* What was to be done!
A thousand things were running through my brain — even that of
jumping overboard when on the confines of land, and plunging
in the ocean — faint hope — it were worse than sticking to the
ship, r

The proud and boundless Atlantic was now distinctly seen
swelling its mighty crest to the arched roof of heaven, in the east,
dashing its angry foam into the face of the clouds. This aroused
all my energy, all my fertility of mind. I had been endeavoring
to split my little flag-staff*, in order to splice it and tie a pen*
knife to the end of it, with which to cut the balloon ; but it would
not answer. My next effort was to burst the balloon by violent
jerking of the car — the explosive rope was not in the machine
now — but this also failed, and only went to show how immensely
strong a network and balloon really were. Now a new idea

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202 MISFORTUNES NEVER COME SINGLY.

flashed on mj mind — I can get dawnby going up — and in anotker
moment one bag of sand after the other went overboard, until half
the ballast was gone ; the baUoon was mounting rapidly — ^tbe visible
horizon was fast contracting — the yawning Atlantic was thus shut
out of view. The atmosphere grew extremely cold at the height
I had now attained ; but tfie excitement of the occasion kept me
warm enough. The balloon was now completely distended, the gas
was copiously discharging itself at the neck; which, having no
tube in it, was now open in a circle of eighteen inches diameter.
As the gas mingled with the outer air it had the appearance of a
white cloud. By violent jerks in the car, impulsive volumes
were discharged from the neck, the balloon still rising. In ten
minutes after I had commenced this, the balloon had attained her
maximum height, and immediately after began to sink rapidly.
The valve-rope in the meantime partly rolled out of the neck, so
that I could rea£h it with the flag-staff; my peril was at an end,
and I felt as happy as Archimedes, when he cried out Eurekoy
and I really did cry out "Victory! victory!'' as the threatening
Atlantic came to view by the rapid descent. The immense dis-
charge of gas, and the rapid admixture of atmosphere and
hydrogen within the balloon, consequent to the free connection
by the large opening of the neck, and a rapid descent, brought
the machine down to the earth fast enough without the use of the
valve-rope, which had now been brought within my reach. Al-
though the peril of perishing on the ocean was now ended, and I
was almost in contact with terra-firma, the old proverb of " mis*
fortunes never come single-handed" was yet to be realized.

On reaching the earth, my grappling iron took efiect in a Jer-
sey farmer's peach orchard, which so alarmed a negro who was
ploughing in the next field, as soon to infect his horses, two boys,
and two dogs near him, and to create a perfect bedlam amongst
them. The horses ran away with the plough, snuffing the air like
war steeds — the boys screamed — the dogs barked — the horses
snorted and reared up in the fence-corner — the negro layj)ir his
back looking up in terror — the balloon was serging up and down,
ripping the grappling iron from one peach tree to another ; and
now the contagion had spread to the house and the barnyard, the
poultry were in a clatter — the matron of the domicil standing
Defore the door of the house, clapping her hands together in an-
guish for the safety of the boys, who were still screaming — the old
man next made his appearance with gun in hand, a^id in a grufi*
voice exclaimed, "Where is it, where is the d — -^ thing?"
Terror next beset me, for a shot from the old man's blunderbuss
was more than suspicious, the moment his eye should catch the
balloon, to which his back was yet turned, and I made no delay
in cutting in twain the grapple-rope. As the balloon rose^ the

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A NOVEL ASCENT. 208

old man cried out in a satisfactory manner, as he stood in a half-
stooped position, << There, there it goes." And I did go, although
the country for two or three miles around was alive to the descent
of the balloon, wiUi footmen and horsemen wenduig their way
towards it. I went five miles further, and landed finally on the
ground of John Dye, Esq., on a spot called the "Devil's Half
Acre," six or eight miles from Hightstown, in Middlesex County,
New Jersey.

The length of this voyage, as made b^ the course of the balloon,
was about a hundred miles, and occupied two hours and a half,
it being five o^cIock when I landed. AAer this a number of as-
censions were made by me in various parts of Pennsylvania, but,
as many of them in their accounts would embrace only a repeti-
tion of what has been said, such only as will afibrd new peculi-
arities and instruction to the student will be related.

While getting ready for a second ascent from the village of
Kutztown, in Berks county. Pa., inihe summer of 1839, it began
to rain very hard, and continued the remainder of the day. A
young man, who had attended as a spectator, expressed a great
desire to accompany me in the voyage, and as the weather turned
out to be very unpleasant, I offered to let him occupy my place,
which he accepted. As the newspaper account dves the sub-
stantial particulars of it, it may be properly quoted.

"A Nov£L Ascension. — Mr. Wise was to have made a bal-
loon ascension at Kutztown on Saturday, the 20th inst., and was
to have been accompanied on his voyage by Mr. Wellington
Dunlap, a young man of Berks county. In consequence of the
rain that afternoon, the balloon and net had become so wet and
heavy that it would not carry two persons, and, at the earnest
solicitation of Mr. Dunlap, Mr. Wise consented to Mr. D.'s
making the voyage alone, and gave him the necessary instruc-
tion for the management of the balloon. He ascended through a
heavy shower of rain, as was estimated, about a mile, and, after
remaining in the air about thirty-five minutes, descended within
three miles of the place whence he started, highly delighted with
his voyage, and the result of his experiment. Mr. Dunlap is
under the impression that ^ his trip was a greater benefit to his
health than all the medicine he has taken for ten years past.
The novelty of the voyage, the pure air which he breathed, and
the freedom with which all the circulating fluids of the system
are allowed to act in so rare an atmosphere, all combine to pro-
duce a salutary effect. There is some philosophy in his idea,
and if we were sure, as we often heard Mr. Wise say it was the
case, of there being no danger in the experiment, we should be
half inclined to recommend it."

Now this young man had never witnessed an ascension before

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204 DOUBLE BALLOON ASCENT.

this, and had I not been confident that there was no particular
danger in the experiment, he should never have gone up by my
consent. The only risk that I incurred was the loss of the bal-
loon, by his getting disconcerted in the descent, of which he was
cautioned before he started.

CHAPTER XII.

Double balloon ascents from Philadelphia — Conyenation while aloft —
Singalar aiivcurrent — Subject for meteorologists — ^Electricity and air-
currents — Descents of the rivals.

On the fourth of July, 1840, it was announced that Mr. PauK
lin and myself would ascend, each in his own balloon, but in
company with each other, from the Pennsylvania Farmer Hotel
yard, in Philadelphia. The ascensions were to be made at me*
ridian day, and the balloons were to be inflated with carburetted
hydrogen gas, procured from the Northern Liberty Gas Com-
pany's pipes. I had now abandoned the cambric muslin balloon,
which had served me well for a dozen ascensions, and was then
sold to an amateur aeronaut, and had a silk one in use, prepared
with the newly discovered varnish, and it was of a size suffi-
ciently large to Carry a passenger and ballast when filled with
pure hydrogen, being twenty-three feet in diameter, but too small
in capacity to carry a passeng^er and ballast in the car when in-
flated with the carburetted hydrogen. This latter gas could
raise up only forty pounds where the pure hydrogen could raise
up sixty pounds, so that it was one-third less in power. By dis-
pensing with the car, and substituting for it a light board to
which the cords of the net-work were fastened, it would be re-
lieved of some weight. In order to make this gas answer the
purpose for this occasion, this had to be done, or the balloon
would have to be enlarged, and as the former seemed the least
trouble, I determined to make the ascension without a car. Mr.
Paullin*s balloon was large enough to carry him with the car,
and all its rigging.

Everything being ready and the balloon filled, at half past
twelve o'clock, I proposed to Mr. Paullin that we should start and
detach from the earth at the same time. Accordingly, the signal
for the start was given, upon which I cut loose and ascended five
or six hundred feet before Mr. PauUin's balloon followed. It

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MEETING OF THE TWO BALLOONS. 206

seems he was apprehensive of the balloons coming in contact if
started at the same moment, an event which I had anticipated
also, but had no fears of its consequence, on account of the
elasticity of such bodies as balloons. When about a mile xkbove
the earth, Mr. PauUin's balloon approached so near to mine, being
about fifty feet below and twenty or thirty feet to the west of me,
that we could easily converse with each other. At the start I
was standing on the board which served me for a car, but now
1 was sitting on it with my feet hanging down. Mr. PauUin
' hailed me, and said he was afraid his balloon would strike against
my feet if he should suffer it to rise higher. It had been an*
nounced in the advertisen^ nt of the occasion, that the aeronauts
would contest which should ^^'stand highest in the estimation of
the public." Mr. Paullin was of course desirous to mount above
me, and his balloon being larger than mine gave him some
advantage in that respect. I told him he should not get above me
if I could get hold of his balloon, as I was determined to hold it
down. It had now got very near my feet, and I was ready to
seize it with one hand ; the other was required to steady myself
with, when it apparently glanced to one side and rose up by mine
thirty or forty feet off. As Paullin passed, he cried out " Wise,
it looks dangerous to see you sitting on that board." I replied,
"Never mind the danger, I'll be after you presently," His
balloon now stood about two hundred feet from mine and a little
above me. He said, " What do you think of the sight ?" I replied,
"It is a magnificent one; do you see the Liliputians on the Dela-
ware.^" Paullin said, " I feel a breeze coming." His balloon
now went up several hundred feet above the height of mine, and
as I was intently watching it^ . motion, I observed it suddenly
agitated, so much that Paullin lowered himself in his car, for he
had been standing up until then. His balloon shrugged up in
the .net-wx)rk, wrinkling it a little above where the net-work
diverges from the silk, as though it had been drawn up under the
net ; and in another moment it shot off southward, immediately
over the Delaware, at a velocity of a mile a minute, for a distance
of five or six miles down the river. This phenomenon was the
more remarkable, because my balloon was not in the least affected
by it, though not three hundred feet from Paullin's. It could not
have been a general layer or current just above the place occupied
by my machine, as I threw off some ballast, and my vessel rose
up at least two thousand feet higher, without being affected by it.
This circumstance showed that a rapid current of atmosphere
existed which was neither wide nor deep^ as my machine was
not far off in a horizontal direction, and crossed the path of
Paullin's balloon at a right angle, but a few hundred feet above
it, without falling into the, rapid canent. This is a meteorological

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206 ASCENSION FROM LANCASTER. PA.

fact that is not alluded to, if it is known by, the theorists of that
science. There is an inseparable connection between electrical
and atmospherical currents. All my experience in passing through
these currents traversing each other, has dcTeloped this fact.

While I remained almost stationary over the city for half an
hour after Paullin's balloon had been drifted off, I perceived that
he made several efibrts to land; but as often struck the surface of
the river, until, by going up again to a consideraUe height, he
was drifted some distance over the river into Jersey, where be
effected a dry landing some distance below Woodbiiry. Half an
hour afterwards my descent was made near Red Bank, not much
over half the distance from the place of departure, that Paullin's
was.

CHAPTER XIII,

Ascension from Lancaster, Pa. — ^Effect of rough workmanship in balloon
machinery — Breaking of Talve-spring — Sudden descent — Ascension from
Chambersburg, Pa. — Scenery — Singular appearance of South Mountain
— Descent — Its magic effect on a cripple— Second ascent from Cham-
bersburg — Rainy day — Sombre appearance of the earth — Passage
through the rain clouds — Grand spectacle above the elouds^-Harbor in
the distance — ^Illusion — Second stratum of clouds — ^A heavenly mansion
between the two — Its sublimity.

On the 5tb of August, 1840, 1 made an ascension from the
county prison yard, in the city of Lancaster. It was a remark-
ably fine day for an aerial voyage, and a very trifling defect in
part of the machinery made it a very brief one, much to my dis-
appointment. As regards the satisfaction of the spectators on
this occasion, the following extract from one of the Lancaster
newspapers may be considered as a fair exposition : —

« Everything was in complete order, and ready at the time fixed
for his departure. He went up in splendid style to an immense '
height, the balloon moving rapidly upwards in a westerly direc-
tion. When about a mile and a half high, the parachutes, each
containing a cat, were detached, and both landed safely; the bal-
loon still continuing to ascend.

*^ At this period of his flight, the aerial vessel floating towards
the east, Mr. Wise began to make preparations for a descent,
intending to come down within speak|ng distance of the earth.

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BALLOONING A FINE ART. 207

and then to resume his onward coarse. The valve at the top of
his balloon was opened to permit the gas to escape, and could
not be shut again, the spring having broke. His descent was, for
this reason, extremely rapid, but he landed in safety near Diller-
ville, a mile or more from the starting point, having been, we
should judge, about twenty minutes in the air. There was still
in the balloon a sufficient quantity of gas to have re-ascended,
could the valve have been closed, but this was not in the power
of the aeronaut, as the valve is on the inside of the balloon; and
under these circumstances it was inexpedient to attempt the fur-
ther prosecution of the voyage.

^' We have heard but one opinion expressed in relation to this
ascension. All concur in saying it was the most gratifying ex-
hibition of the kind which has yet been witnessed by the citizens
of Lancaster.''

Here then, an aerial voyage was abridged to the distance of a
mile or two in length, and a space of time less than twenty
minutes, for which the most ample arrangements had been made
to have it of long duration and interest, in the way of coming
down, holding up a few moments for refreshments, then go up
again, and thus make it interesting alon^ the way, as well as at
the points of departure and final termination.

Now the practice of this art is a fine one, indeed it maybe very
properly termed one of the " Fine Arts;" and though its science
is not intricate, the mechanical workmanship connected with its
practice, requires skill, mathematical exactness, and the highest
degree of finish, in order to prosecute it with success. The valve
in my balloon requiring some repairs before the occasion just re-
ferred to, and thinking that a watchmaker would coil and finish
me a wire spring much neater than I had made them myself, I
preferred, on this occasion, to have one made by such a mechanic.
Accordingly, one was made and inserted in the valve, but the
mechanic who made it not observing the precaution of applying
a wooden clamp or piece of leather around the wire when screw-
ing it in his vice, thus bruised and weakened it, from which
damage the valve-spring broke when worked in the cold region
of the atmosphere.

When this happened, the balloon was a mile and a half high,
and the force of the air against its lower surface, caused by a
rapid descent, made the gas escape with considerable violence
from the aperture at the top. Persons who witnessed it from an
oblique position, remarked that it threw out a ** stream of vapor
embellisned with the colors of the rainbow." The balloon came
down with a rolling, surging motion ; and my descent, when near
the earthy would have been as hard as when the descents were
made by parachute, had not a large quantity of ballast been

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208 PECULIAR SCENERY.

thrown out when within' a few hundred feet of the earth, which
checked its velocity to a moderate degree. .

During the latter part of the same month I made an ascension
from Chambersburgy Pa., of which the most interesting incidents,
as related in the journal kept at the time, will be here given : —

Here the balloon shifted from a northerly to an easterly direc^
tion, the atmosphere becoming extremely cold. At this time the
scene presented a sublime appearance. Around and beneath me
[^ the clouds rolled in majestic grandeur, occasionally rising into
i peaked summits, like to! canoes, and then dissolving down again
into the mass below. The valley beneath, where it could be
seen, presented the most gorgeous landscape scenery that I ever
beheld. After rising about a mile and a half above the clouds,
a most magnificent prospect of the country on either side of the
mountains that enclose the Cumberland valley, presented itself to
my view. Looking over the North Mountain, the eye was greeted
by a succession of valleys, rising up out of the earth as it were
by magic, to the view, as the balloon rose higher, beautifully
variegating the scene. The valleys had a lively color, and ap-
peared like circular pea-green bands laid down between dark-
green plats of verdure —

" Like diye bound with laurels fast.
Whose verdure must forever last."

Looking over the South Mountain, the scene was entirely differ-
ent. Here an extensive landscape was presented, circumscribed
by rugged and massive clouds, interspersed with numerous roads
which looked like so many white lines tortuously spread over its
surface, and one which meandered from the base of the mountain
upwards, until its further extremity was lost apparently in the
clouds above, which formed the horizon of my view, giving to it a
magic appearance. This mountain had a very different aspect
' from the others which were in view. Its dark foliage, inter-
. spersed with innumerable whitish looking tortuous lines, being
^ roads and paths, gave it a very unique but beautiful appearance.
All this time I continued ascending by a gradual discharge of
ballast, until the clouds had sunk so apparently low, as to hover
immediately over the surface of the earth. The cold had now
become intense, and yet the rays of the sun coming in contact
with my person, caused a piercing sensation, like that from needle
points, on those parts where it shone. I also suffered a violent
pain in the ears, and joints of the jaws, followed by a slight
dimness of sight.

At ten minutes before four o'clock, I descended on the farm of
Joshua Kanagy, This old gentleman was so crippled with rheu-
matism that he was obliged to walk on crutches, and on these he

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BALLOONING AT CHAMBERSBURG, PA. 209

hobbled towards the pjace of descent, where the balloon was
fastened to an apple tree by the grappling iron, chafing and surg-
ing under a brisk breeze that was blowing at the time, and the
old gentleman seeing this, and also observing me at the same
time in the car, and thinking that his assistance was necessary
in the emergency, becoming more excited every jump he made
with his crutches, until at length he became so impatient from
his slow progress, that he dashed his crutches aside, and ran the
balance of the distance between him and the balloon, with as
much nimbleness as a hale young man.

When I returned to Ch^mbersburg, which was the same
evening of the day the ascension was made, having landed only
about twelve miles off, the citizens had already determined to
itiduce me to a repetition of the experiment, being so highly
pleased with the one I had just made for them. This came off
a few weeks afterwards, the day appointed for it bringing with it
rain, which gave an entire new feature to the voyage. '

At twenty minutes after three o'clock, the balloon was freed
from her moorings, and described a semicircle in her upward
course, making a half tour round the town. The borough had "^
a very sombre appearance, caused by the dark shadow which
covered the earth — objects, however, were more distinctly visible
than in clear weather, and this is always the case when looking
down upon the earth from a balloon ; where the sun shines on the
earth there is more of a quivering haze covering it, than where it
is in shadow. The scene below had a melancholy aspect — all \
nature seemed to be in a state of mourning.

Before I passed the limits of the borough, a parachute contain-
ing an animal was dropped, which descended fast and steady,
and just as it reached the earth, my aerial ship entered a dense
black body of clouds. Ten minutes were consumed in penetra-
ting this dismal ocean of rainy vapor^ occasionally meeting with
freat chasms, ravines and defiles, of different shades of light and
arkness. When t emerged from this ocean of clouds a new and "'
wonderfully magnificent scene greeted my eyes: A faint sun-
shine shed its warmth and lustre over the surface of this vast
cloud sea. The balloon rose more rapidly after if got above it.
Viewing it from an elevation above the surface I discovered it to\
present the same shape of the earth beneath; developing moun-/
tains and valley, corresponding to those on the earth's surface.
The profile of the cloud surface was more depressed than that on
the earth, and in the distance of the cloud valley a magnificent
sight presented itself. Pyramids and castles, rocks and reefs,
icebergs and ships, towers and domes; everything belonging to ;
the grand and magnificent could be seen in this distant harbor ;
the half obscured svin shedding bis mellow light upon it gave it a
14

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210 AN AERIAL CITY ABOVE THE CLOUDS.

r rich and dazzling lustre. They were really ^^ castles in the air,"
] formed of the clouds* Casting my eyes upwards, I was astonished
' in beholding another cloud stratum, far above the lower one ; it was
what is commonly termed a ** mackerel sky," the sun faintly shining
through it. The balloon seemed to be stationary; the clouds
above and below appeared to be quiescent ; the air castles in the
distance stood to their places ; silence reigned supreme ; it was
solemnly sublime; solitary and alone in a mansion of the skiels,
my very soul swelled with emotion ; I had no companion to pour
out my feelings to. Great God, what a scene of grandeur! Such
were my thoughts; a reverence for the works of nature; an
admiration indescribable. The solemn grandeur — the very still-
ness that surrounded me seemed to make a sound of praise.
This was a scene such that I never beheld one- before or after
^ exactly like it. Two perfect layers of clouds, one tiot a mile above
the earth ; the other, about a mile higher; and, between the two,
a clear atmosphere, in the midst of which the balloon stood quietly
in space. It was, indeed, a strange sight ; a meteorological fact
which we cannot possibly see or make ourselves acquainted with,
without soaring above the surface of the earth. Why is it that the
cloud surface corresponded to the earth's surface? What causes
two distinct cloud strata, one a mile above the other, in the
sky at the same time? The elevated towers or projections that
j appeared in the distance on the surface of the lower-stratum are
common to the cumulus cloud, lind on this occasion was beauti-
fied by the peculiar light cast through the upper stratum. But
the distinct regions or vaults of clouds, and the lower one pre-
I senting in its upper surface the same irregularities as the earth,
; are questions for science yet to explain.

^ I remained in this magnificent heavenly mansion for an hour,
and during that time did not move two miles in a horizontal di-
rection, as it was perfectly calm and serene. The day was of a
murky character; warm and rainy, and at the time the balloon
entered the cloud region it was raining slightly, otherwise it had
no peculiar characteristic. The lower stratum of clouds I Judged
to have been from two to three thousand feet in thickness, as it
took seven minutes in passing through. During the descent, and
while in tbe^clgud ocean, the sound of my voice produced a very
distinct echo. '

I made a final descent about five miles firom Chambersburg, at
thirty-five minutes past four o'clock*

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ASCENT FROM DANVILLE, PA*

Sll

CHAPTER XIV,

AtcetLt from Danvillei Pa, — Appearauce of the clouds — Paising ov&r Potti-
yiUe — Orwigsburg — Schujlkill Jlaven— Atmosphere cold ovor moua-
tainotis regions — Appearance of a bread-basket thrown overboard — Iti|
descent seen by persons below — Crossing Keadiog, its afipect— PulsaU^ry
motion of balloon — Hrperitiieats on it — Descent-^ Warmth when Bailing
over Talleja, &c*

The next ascension, worthy of note, of which a description

will now follow, took place at DanTille, Pa,» in June, 1841. By
reference to my aerial log book of the ascension in question, I
find that, at two o*clock thirty-five tninufes, I lost sight of Ban*
tiliej and in a few rnoraents afterwards passed into the clear sun*
shine above, in which the gas began to expand and cause the
halloon to ascend with an increased rapidity » The Susquehanna
"was now lost to my view by the intervention of clouds, and the
country beneath presented one vast wilderness as far as the eye
could reach ; the atmosphere was extremely cold for the height,
over this extensive coal region. The clouds beneath me were
sufficiently broken to afford tne constantly occurring g!irapses of
things below J and I never before found them so extremely diver-
sified in their upper surface* On this occasion there were two
strata, but not of that distinctive character which were met with
in a former voyage. The lower bed was cumuiosiraiuSy resem-
bling uneven and rugged precipices; the upper was more of a
cirraairatus^ and consisted only of patches here and there, but
very high above the lower layer*

At two o'clock forty-five minutes, I crossed the Pottsville road
between the Bear Gap and Northumberland road, traveling at the
rate of about fifty- five miles per hour. At three o'clock, I crossed
Pottsville, and again brought to view the cultivated fields of the
husbandman. My altitude was so great that I could not recog-
nize the town until crossing Schuylkill Haven and coming in
sight of Orwigsburg. The cold atmosphere became so uncom- "
fortable that it impelled me to descend, but after lowering some
distance, I found the valley in which it had been my intention to
descend, had been passed, and the chain of Blue Mountains al-
ready reached, which required me to seek refuge in the clouds
again.

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212 BALLOONING AT DANVILLE. PA.

At three o'clock forty minutes, the clouds began to thicken be-
neath me, so that I could at intervals only see the face of the
earth. Perceiving a village which the balloon was about crossing,
I threw from the car a new bread basket, which had been placed
in it at the time of starting, intended to serve me as a temporary
seat should I prolong my voyage. As it fell towards the earth it
presented a beautiful appearance to my view ; it had not gone
far before it assumed a rapid rotary motion, bottom downwards,
its upper being the concave side, looking like a beautiful rosette
set into a circular motion on its centre. Jts descent on the earth,
as I was afterwards informed, caused considerable astonishment
to several persons who saw it coming down ; they not knowing
anything of the balloon above them at the time. At 4 o'clock,
I passed the town of Reading a little to the west of it. This
place had a handsome aspect; the white streets crossing at right
angles^ and the beautiful spires and domes, white as snow, with
their glittering balls and vanes, made the prospect highly inter-
esting,

I found the atmosphere much colder in crossing this mountain-
ous region than it usually is in crossing over a level and cultivated
country, at the same height. During this voyage I observed a
peculiar motion in the balloon, which had on former occasions
drawn some attention from me, but which had not been closely
investigated. It is this: When a balloon is sailing along with a
steady current, while in equilibrium with the atmosphere, it re-
volves slowly on its vertical axis. This rotation is not at all times
a smoothly continued circulation, but is pulsatory, like the
notched wheel in a clock which is actuated by the pendulum. At
first I attributed this motion to my breathing, believing the vibra-
tion of the lungs sufficient to give a corresponding motion to so
delicately balanced a thing as a balloon is when suspended in
space. I held my breath as long as I could, and this was done
several times; but the pulsations of the balloon were not inter-
rupted by it; on the other hand, they seemed more audible during
these experiments. Upon timing these pulsations I found them
to be every two and a half seconds, and this seemed to be regular
as far as my observations indicated. This left me at a loss to
account for this motion, as it seemed not to be caused by my
breathing, and did not correspond to the beat of my pulse.

At twenty-five minutes past four o'clock, I descended near the
house of Mr. Wm. Mcllvain, near Morgantown, about seventy
railes from where I started, in a straight line, where I was cordially
received by this gentleman and his hospitable lady.

My l,anding here was caused by mistaking the Downingtown
turnpike road for the Pennsylvania railway, which was some
eight or ten miles farther to the south. During this voyage I also

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BALLOONING AT LEWISTOWN, PA. 213

distinctly felt the difference of temperature in crossing large
valleys, where a degree of warmth rose up quite congenial to
one's feelings while in a frosty region. This, I presume, arises
from- a greater quantity of the sun's rays being reflected upward
from a valley than from level ground. I forgot to mention that
the pulsatory motion of the balloon was not perceptible when it
was rising or falling, and is only to be detected when the machine
sails a considerable length of time at a great altitude in a steady
horizontal direction. Fluctuations of the balloon by rising and
falling from any cause soon neutralize this delicate motion.

CHAPTER XV.

Ascent from Lewis town, Pennsylvania — Figure of the town — ^Mountaiiw
and valleys — Their appearance — Juniata river — The narrows — Opinions
of their formation — Viewing objects from high isolated positions —
Regular order of nature — Ascent from Bellefonte, Pennsylvania — ^Black
balloon — Effect of its color — Current from west to east — Ascent from
Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania — Unfavorable weather — Novel way of going
up— Reference to second ascent from Danville — Letting persons up by
a rope — Lady went up first — A mania ensued for going up— Profitable
business.

A NUMBER of aerial voyages will now be passed over, with ex-
tracts only from the journal of some, and details of such when
they are new, interesting, and instructive ; and such as afford
nothing but a repetition of what has been given, will not be no-
ticed at all.

In April, 1842, I made an ascension from Lewistown, Pa.
AAer rising to a considerable altitude, my journal says: At
this point, as usual, symptoms of excited electricity were power-
fully exhibited by the attractive force of the upper part of the
balloon as it passed slowly through the eddy between the upper ,
and lower currents of air. Rising above this point by a circuit-
ous ascent, the country for many miles round became visible.
The borough of Lewistown represented a figure like the letter Y.
While still ascending, mountain after valley, and valley after
mountain sprung up out of the body of the earth as by magic.
The sublime workmanship of Him that made the heavens and
the earth, burst upon the vision with amazing grandeur, and
smiling nature, clad in her vernal garb, looked up toward heaven
with a pleasing countenance. For an hour or more, new and

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214 CONTEMPLATIONS WHILE ALOFT.

beautiful scenes were continually developing themselves. The
mountains appeared to range in astonishingly exact parallel
semicircles, alternated by the gayer colored valleys between
them.

The Juniata River, meandering through the mountains, added
much to the beauty of the scene ; and my attention was particu-
larly drawn to that portion of the river which passes through the
narrows just below Lewistown. The probability of the impres-
sion which has obtained with many persons, that the river has, by a
sapping, percolating process, worked its way through the mount-
ain, is entirely destroyed when the place is viewed from the
point where I passed it. From there it has the appearance of an
original formation coeval with the earth's adaptation to water
courses ; and were it otherwise, it might have worked its way
through some distance above, by a shorter, and apparently easier
route, or continued seven or eight miles further in the upper val-
ley to where it blends with the one on the other side, into which
tbe.river runs.

A calm and deliberate contemplation of the workmanship of
the earth, when viewed from a high, isolated position, bringing
it in view as a whole, leads the mind to very different supposi*
tions and conclusions, to what it would arrive at when viewing
it fro^ its own surface. It may be properly illustrated by the
comparison of looking at a rivulet, or the great river that rises
from a number of them ; or, in viewing a single house, or the
whole city. The earth, viewed from a great height, assumes a
regularity of order, skill, and arrangement, which cannot fail to
strike the mind of an observer with force and admiration.

In May following, I made an ascension from Bellefonte, Pa.
The last paragraph of the log-book of that voyage says : I have at
present in use a black balloon, which creates a congenial atmo*
sphere around itself in the cold upper regions of the air, from the
radiating superiority of that color over a lighter one, It is now
beyond a doubt, in my mind established, that a current from
west to east in the atmosphere is constantly in motion within the
height of 12,000 feet above the ocean. Nearly all my trips are
strong proofs of this.

Soon aft^r this, one was made from Wilkesbarre, on a very
unpropitious day. As it was a novel mode of going up, the
account given by the " Wilkesbarre Farmer" may be quoted :
^* The day was unfavorable ; the rain fell in torrents a short
time before the aeronaut started, saturating the netting and silk of
the balloon, and rendering it, therefore, necessary to dispense
with the car. But the storm did not trouble the operator. He
said he meant to go up, and he did go. A board about twelve
by seven inches, notched at the ends, was attached to the cords,

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LETTING PERSONS V? BY ROPE. 216

and astride of this Mr. Wise went up i&ost beautififlly, cheered
by the' shoots of the people assembled. He made but a short
trip, landing at the foot of the Kingston Mountain, west side of
the river, on the farm of Mr. Joshua Pettebone, where every as-
sistance was rendered, and especially by our friend Mr. Seaman,
who., having a horse and buggy ready, put off the moment Mr.
Wise did^ and brought him and his balloon safely back in two
hours from the start.''

A number of ascensions of which the accounts have been
omitted, had nothing fnterestingly new or instructive connected
with them, excepting, perhaps, the second one made from Dan-
ville, on which occasion I landed near to that place, and after
eoming down, offered to let some persons go up the length of a
rope, which the bystanders every one of them refused to accept.
At this time a rustic looking young country girl came along from
town, where she had been at the balloon ascension, and was invited
by me to take a seat in the car, which she did, and was soon let up
two or three hundred feet, much to the satisfaction of herself and
amusement of the bystanders. After hauling the machine down
again and handing the young lady oat of the car, I prevailed on
a trumpeter, who was now standing by with his instrument, to
make a similar adventure, which he did, and when up gave a few
blasts with his trumpet, which acted like magic in bringing the
people across the Susquehanna bridge, which was between the
place where the balloon now was and the town.. Upon this a
perfect mania ensued among them to get into the car and ascend
the length of the rppe, which was four hundred feet long ; some
going the whole length, others not aspiring to more than half,
and some even less. Having first charged nothing, the business
got too pressing, upon which a quarter of a dollar a trip was
levied, and this not abating the pressure of busiaess, it was
raised to half a dollar per ride, at which it was kept up until I
had realized eighty dollars, and^ was then only compelled to clbse
the " fun" on account of the immense throng which had sur-
rounded the balloon making further operations in this way im-
practicable. Some paid for two and even three trips up before
they left the car.

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216 BALLOONING AT YORK, PA.

CHAPTER XVI.

Ascension from York, Pa.^ — Two failures had l>een made there by Mr. Pmv
ker — Its effect on the people — ^The day for mine was nnfavorable — ^The
populace woald not hare it put off — My predicament — ^Reason, and
compromise— Decision — ^People reasonable— " York Gazette" account
of it — The start — Scenery, and clouds — ^Tore the balloon in the douda
— Consequences — Scene aboTe the clouds — ^Phenomenon — ^Thunderstorm
— ^Brilliant image on clouds — Sensations — ^Beflections— Balloon speed
—Descent— Another ascent provided for on my return— Extracts from
" York Gasette."

While I was remaining at Wilkesbarre, a very flattering invita-
tion from Messrs. Glossbrenner and Morris, oif York, Pa., who
were then on a visit to the Wyontiing Valley, was tendered me,
to come to their borough and make an ascension, which I cheer-
fully accepted. The late Mr. Mills, a very successful aeronaut,
had made a very satisfactory ascension from York the summer
previous, and died there while making preparations for a second.

A Mr. Parker, who professed to be an aeronaut, volunteered to
make the ascension which Mr. Mills had made preparations for,
but he failed in getting up with the balloon; and shortly after-
wards tried and failed again, which exasperated the populace to
such a degree that it became necessary for Mr. Parker's safety,
to put him in the hands of the sheriff of the county. This double
failure had a tendency to make the people of that county rather
suspiciously inclined towards balloon experiments. Many of the
country people believed it to be a plotting humbug in order to
delude them into the town; others doubted ihe sincerity of
balloonist's intentions of going up, looking at it as a dangerous
business. These circumstances made it a delicate matter for me,
in case I should be so unfortunate as to fail in getting up, and
although I had now acquired a reputation as a ^'successful aero-
naut," it only made it worse for me, in the event of any accident
that might foil me in making the ascension according to announce-
ment. The balloon which I had then in use was not throughout
of strong material, being made of black silk, a part of which
being of a different texture from the other, was very mellow. How-
ever,* an ascension was determined on, let the consequences come
as they would. The last Saturday in August, 1842, was appointed

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PREDICAMENT AND CIRCUMSTANCES AT YORK. 21T

for the experiment ; and as it was one fraught with interest on
various accounts, a detailed description of it will be interesting.
As fate would have it, the day turned out with boisterous and
stormy weather. The atmosphere was continually charged with
black thunder clouds, and incessant squalls of wind alternated
the strong gale from the west which blew all day. The people,
no ways daunted from the last summer's failures, poured into
town in a continuous stream. Twelve o'clock came, the time for
commencing the inflation, but it brought no hopes of success in
case it should be attempted. The people began to gather round
the enclosed arena, which occupied a large open common on the
outskirt of the town, and frequent and determined were the threats
from their lips of what would be done in case they should be
^^ humbugged again." As the time passed on, my friends also be-
came uneasy, they thinking 1 was rather timid. Thus things went
on until near two o'clock, the time announced for starting on the
voyage, and things were coming to a crisis ; already from eight to
ten thousand persons had assembled on the common, and more
than threat had already commenced to develop itself in some
angry countenances. The last consolatory words from my parti-
cular friends were, '^ You are in danger of violence." I had re-
monstrated against their advice of going on, as I contended that
a failure would be more fatal to all concerned than . a postpone-
ment to a better day. But they told me a postponement was out
of the question under the circumstances. Now, as I had no con-
fidence in the strength of my balloon holding out under such
squalls, and as a postponement would not be tolerated, I determined
to reason with the people, and at once went to the outside of the
arena, mounted a table, beckoned the immense crowd to listen to
me for a minute, which, after one very refractory individual had
been quieted, was granted.

I made a brief statement of facts and circumstances, as con-
nected with the occasion, and mebtioned to them that God made
the weather while I professed only to make ascensions, and then
put the question to them whether I should go on under the cir-
cumstances, or postpone it to a better day, with the proviso, how-
ever, that they would buy tickets under the risk of a failure, and
that they were not to mob me, nor suffer me to be mobbed, nor
ask their money back if I should fail on account of the weather.
It was unanimously agreed that I should go on, with a loud pro-
mise, "We will stand by you through thick and thin." Just at
this moment a gentleman stepped up, who I iearned was Doctor
Ness, and in a proper and terse manner substantiated my expla-
nations.

In another moment the gas retorts were in active operation, as
no time was to be lost in getting the balloon inflated. This pro-

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218 ASCENT FROM YORK SATISFACTORY.

cess had not gone on long before every one present began to
realize the truth of my remarks.

The balloon stood the blast, and at four o^ clock was sufficiently
inflated to prepare her for the flight. As the inflation and start
are sensibly and graphically described by the "York Gazette,"
its article relative to this occasion may be properly quoted : ** Mr.
John Wise, the celebrated American aeronaut, made from an en-
closure at this place on Saturday last, one of the most beautiful
balloon ascensions ever witnessed in Pennsylvania, or probably in
the Union. An immense crowd was assembled to witness the
ascension ; the number is variously estimated at from six to ten
thousand persons.

" There was quite a strong breeze early in the morning, and
it continued to blow up to, and beyond the hour at which the in-
flation was to have commenced. This occasioned some delay,
as it is exceedingly difficult to inflate a balloon in a strong wind,
and in four cases out of five, when it is attempted, the balloon is
torn during the process. At about two o'clock, though the wind
had not entirely ceased, Mr. Wise, anxious to gratify the thou-
sands who had assembled, many of them from a considerable
distance, to witness an ascension, determined, at the risk of
destroying his new and costly balloon, to commence the infla-
tion. Then the danger became evident to all; for, although the
wind was very slight, yet as soon as the balloon had been swelled
by the gas to a height of six or eight feet so as to present any
surface to the wind, it became as fractious as a drunken Mohawk.
Mr, Wise found it necessary to have the assistance of about a
dozen of his friends, who were all kept quite busy in preventing
it from tearing itself to pieces.

" The excellent preparatory arrangements, however, of Mr.
Wise, and his unruffled temper and systematic method of con-
ducting the process, overcame all the difficulties ; and at about
four o'clock he attached his car to its aerial steed, entered it as
coolly as though about to seat himself for a ride upon an " am-
bling pad pony," and was launched, amid the cheers and shouts
of congregated thousands, into the air.

" He cleared the enclosure by about ten feet, and sank a few
feet immediately on the outside, but by throwing out a por-
tion of his ballast he was enabled to rise sufficiently as he moved
ofi" beautifully in an easterly direction. He seemed, to those
who saw him from the point at which he started, to rise as he
receded, keeping on in one direction until lost to their view be-
hind a cloud about five miles distant.

** We never saw a more gratified multitude than were assem-
bled on this occasion. All seemed delighted, and to be at a loss
for words to express their admiration of the sight presented by

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BALLOON AND LOCOMOTIVE SPEED. 219

the daring aeronaut as he replied from his seemingly perilous
height by a graceful wave of his hat to the cheers that continued
to greet him as long as his features could be distinguished."

Narrative of the journal : —

At fifteen minutes pa;st four o'clock, the aerial ship United
States. was released from her moorings under a heavy blow from
the south*west, gliding swiftly near the surface of the earth until
her ascending power was inqreased by a discharge of about forty
pounds of ballast ; when at a distance of several miles from t)ie
common, the ascent became very rapid. At eight minutes after
the start I passed through some filmy clouds, going nearly paral-
lel with the railroad all the time, and in a few minutes overtook
the locomotive, which- had started about fifteen minutes before the
balloon did. At four o'clock thirty minutes, I commenced pene*
trating a dense stratum of clouds, after having enjoyed a magni-
ficent view of the country for thirty miles round, bringing into
view over fifty towns and villages, innumerable streams of water,
with the beautiful Susquehabna in their midst. On entering the
clouds the atmosphere grew cold ; but after passing through the
lower stratum, and getting into the shadow of cloud patches far
above the lower layer, the cold became so intense as to convert
my breath freely into hoar-frost. I did not suffer much from this
cold atmosphere, as the excitement of the day had suppliM me
with a fervor that lasted through the whole voyage, and it would
be a senseless being indeed that could pass through such icenes
without excitement. While passing through the clouds, the bal-
loon rising at a furious rate, I attempted to open the valve to dis-
charge gas, but was prevented by the lower part of the balloon
having so closely taken the valve rope into a fold, it being flac-
cid, that it became impossible to work the rope through. This •
would of course become relieved by the expansion of the gas,
which would unfold it as it would rise into a rarer region of the
atmosphere ; but as the balloon was mounting so rapidly, and the
air quite cold enough already, I was determined to arrest its up-
ward progress by a violent tug of the valve rope, which succeed-
ed in releasing it, and bringing with it a strip of the balloon five
feet long and seven inches wide at one end, tapering to a point at
the other. This piece came clear out of the balloon and dropped
down by the car, so near that I reached for it as it fell past. Be-
ing from the lower side of the balloon, it would cause no serious
consequences, unless in case of a rapid descent it might by the
rush of air^ against it cause it to slit upwards, and open the whole
side of the balloon, an accident which would not endanger my life.
After having risen some distance above the clouds into a clear
sunshine, the temperature became more congenial, and a most .
brilliant cloud scene lay beneath me; a spacious snow-white ^

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220 PASSING OVER A THUNDERSTORMr

concavity, \vith here and there a pyramidical pipjection jutting
from the common surface. To the south-east a violent ebullition
in the cloud ocean indicated the formation of a thunder storm,
which soon developed itself in uprising cloud columns discharg-
ing electric flashes and rattling thunder. The shadow of the
balloon was visible on the surface of the clouds below, and after
getting so high that it became completely distended, I discharged
gas from the valve, while it was at the same time copiously dis-
charging from the hole which had been made in tearing out the
pieoie with the valve rope. The gas escaping from the rent be-
low assumed a white milky color. Looking down upon the clouds
at this time, a most beautiful phenomenon presented itself, like
that on the disk of a camera-obscura. Around the dark shadow
of the balloon there appeared a bright blue ring, and on the out-
side of this ring surrounding it, there blazed out a brilliant halo
of fiery red. This splendid image increased and diminished in
size as the balloon was lowered or elevated above the cloud
stratum. I gazed on it until my eyes became dazzled and pain-
fully affected by its brilliancy, and I could not refrain from ejacu-
lating over the transcendent privilege of viewing such celestial
grandeur ; for, at this time, a combination of scenes and circum-
stances never before witnessed at one time, conspired to make
the scene grand beyond the power of description.

When my aerial ship had passed over the thunderstorm and
got some distance ahead of it, I gradually descended, reaching the
cloud ocean in five or six minutes ; and when in this cold misty
sea, my feelings became painfully depressed; the transition from
80 beautiful a haven assisted in no small degree, in producing the
gloomy and morbid sensations that followed. I really felt like an
expelled intruder, who had been driven from a usurpation. As
soon as I got through this gloomy abode of the clouds, and in
view of as beautiful a prospect as the eye ever gazed on, the fertile
landscape of Lancaster county, my spirits became somewhat re-
vived, besides, I was now viewing the place of ray birth, the
town, the street, the pleasure grounds of my youthful days, dreams,
enchantments, realities, doubts, all seemed to have held their sway
within the last hour. Such voyages are strange and exciting
things.

After sailing over the city of Lancaster, my course was parallel
with the Pennsylvania rail-road, down which a locomotive was ply-
ing with a train of cars, which was soon overtaken and passed,
showing that steam cannot compete with balloon speed, when they
both move in the same direction. At thirteen minutes past fiye
o'clock, I landed on the farm of Wm. Hiester, Esq., near the village
of NewhoUand, about thirty-nine miles from the starting point,
being at the rate of fifty miles per hour in the horizontal direc-
tion.

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CURI0UI3 APPEARANCE OF THE EARTH. 221

When I returned to York, th^ citizens had already contributed
an amount considerably orer and above the sum demanded by
me as an inducement to make a balloon ascension, for another
balloon voyage from their place.

This ascension took place on the twentieth of August following,
on which occasion the day turned out to be of fine clear weather,
and a very calm atmosphere. The " York Gazette," in noticing
this voyage, indulges in the following remarks : •' We considered
his thirty-sixth ascension the^^fi plus ultra in grandeur, but it was
far exceeded by the last. Mr. Wise, on this occasion, was favored
by almost a perfect calm; and having cut his cord, he ascended
almost perpendicularly to a height of four or five thousand feet*
He receded from the spectators so slowly that they could dis-
tinguish his features for about three minutes, and his form five
or ^ix minutes, after his departure. In all this time he was
receiving and gracefully acknowledging the reiterated and thun-
dering peals of applause from delighted thousands. We never
witnessed a crowd so completely carried away by their feeling of
unmixed gratification. They did not seem to be able to find words
commensurate with their enjoyment ; but every moment, shouts,
spontaneous and simultaneous, would be sent up to the car ojf
the aeronaut from countless throats, and the calm and collected
occupant of the apparently frail vessel could be seen, with his head
uncovered, returning the salutations as they reached him, from
a height so tremendous, that his form appeared to be reduced to
the proportions only heard of in fairy tales.

" It is safe to predict, that not one of all the vast crowd as-
sembled on Saturday, will ever again witness on earth a spec-
tacle so unutterably grand and sublime as that presented by Mr.'
Wise, in leaving the earth on his thirty-seventh aerial voyage.^'

In lieu of the account from my log-book, the above has been
quoted. The voyage being over nearly the same course as the
one preceding it, and nothing of a new character having oc-
curred in its progress, it would consist of a mere repetition of what
has been said. The remarks of the "Gazette,^* however, go to
show what enthusiasm prevailed at these exhibitions, ivhen they
were conducted with system and decorum. The editor of the
"Gazette'* is a close observer of the progress of the age, and at
this time paid particular attention to the practice and philosophy
of aeronautics. The following is taken from his paper of that
period : —

"Curious Appearance of the Earth. — Clayton recently made
a successful ascension in a balloon from Columbus, Ohio. Among
the remarks in his journal of the aerial trip, we were struck by
the following : —

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222 VERTIGO AND ISOLATION.

, ^^ From the questions that I am frequently asked, an idea seems
r to exist x^ith many that aeronauts lose sight of the earth vrhen
I at a great height. This is a mistake; they never do, except
"when clouds intervene or night appears. On the contrary, the
earth is always like an immense concave map, painted different
, colors, which designate not the different townships or counties,
/ as maps generally do, but the various products of the soil.
j^ i( i That the earth, which, in reality is convex, should appear to
the aeronaut to be concave, may at first seem strange to many,
but a moment's reflection will render it clear. His horizon is
frequently upwards of a hundred miles from him. Draw a right
angled triangle, and make the base line fifty or sixty times as
long as the perpendicular, the hypotbenuse and base will then be
f nearly in the same line. The horizon appears to the aeronaut to
be on a level with the car of the balloon ; but the part of the
earth directly underneath him seems at a great distance from him,
consequently the whole surface of his scene appears concave.'
" Mr. Wise, in a very interesting lecture on the subject of
P aerostation delivered by him in York, on Wednesday evening
last, also mentioned the apparent concavity of the earth, when
' seen by the aeronaut from his car at great altitudes. He also
spoke of the entire absence of vertigo or giddiness when at the
loftiest point in the air he has yet reached in his car. He states
that he is as susceptible as others, perhaps peculiarly so, of the
giddiness experienced so generally on ascending any considerable
height ; and we chanced to see him under the influence of this un-
pleasant sensation, a few months ago, as we sat together upon the
highest point of * Prospect Rock,' near Wilkesbarre, a point from
which we could look down upon the lovely valley of Wyoming in
its whole length and breadth. On that occasion we expressed sur-
prise that Ae, accustomed as he was to ascend for miles into the
air, should be rendered giddy by a situation that affected us so
but slightly. He then made a remark which we recollected on
hearing it, to have seen published somewhere, that the sensation
is lost to the aeronaut as soon as he becomes entirely separated
from the earth. While. a single cord remains to attach him to
the earth, his steadiness may be seriously affected ; but when the
last connection is severed he is not disturbed by a height that
; would under ordinary circumstances stagger the most daring, and
send an iron nerved man reeling from his elevation."

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ASCENT FROM GETTYSBURG, PA. 223

CHAPTER XVII.

Ascent from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania — Experiments on the spiral ascent
of bodies — ^Refraction of light — Parhelion — Its effects — ^Waving motion
like aurora borealis — ^Experiments on it — Peculiar brilliancy of a moun-
tain scene— Peouliarity of atmosphere and clouds-*-I>escent — Second
ascent from Gettysburg — ^Made by an amateur — ^Historical description of
it — Humorously but graphically written — Perilous descent of the
amateur.

In September of 1842, 1 made an ascension from Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania, of which the following account was written at
the tipae. During the preparatory arrangements for my thirty-
eighth aerial voyage, made from Gettysburg on the 10th inst.,
it was suggested by Professor Jacobs, of Pennsylvania College,
in company with several other scientific gentlemen, to make some
experiments upon the spiral ascent of the small balloons that were
to be sent off as pilots. Having noticed that they revolved on
their vertical axes when ascending, in a direction opposite to that
of the revolutions of the hands of a clock lying with its face up-
wards. Professor Jacobs proposed that the remaining two pilots
should be started with a rotary motion, opposite to that which
they assumed when let off uninfluenced. Accordingly, they were
started with considerable impetus in that way, but that motion sub-
sided in a very short time, and the other, or contrary motion, took
effect, and continued as long as they could be seen, which was
until they passed into the clouds. The large balloon also revolved
in the same way on this occasion ; and in pursuing these experi-
ments, by throwing down when above the clouds, substances of
different kinds and shapes, they all fell with the same rotary
motion. The atmosphere at the time of starting on my voyage,
twelve minutes before 4 o'clock, was perfectly calm, and the
upper heaven was completely partitioned off from the earth by a
thin layer of clouds. The height from the earth to the clouds
was 3900 feet by measurement. The atmosphere became slightly
colder as I ascended higher until entering the clouds, where it
was somewhat warmer than just beneath them ; and when entirely
above them the sun's rays had a powerful effect upon my body
and upon the balloon, as its accelerated upward motion quickly
told.

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224 BALLOONING AT GETTYSBURG, PA.

The phenomenon of refracted light which had so much inter-
ested me on a former voyage, made its appearance again upon the
thin layer of clouds beneath, and my particular attention was '
now directed to its operation. The parhelion was this time more
perfectly formed in regular prismatic rings, the cloud stratum
being thin on which it was refracted, and consequently did not
reflect so much dazzling light as before, when it was thicker. It
appeared too on this occasion that the cause assigned to its pro-
duction on a former voyage, was not altogether essential, being
a profuse escape of gas, as on this it originated from the mere
diffusion of gas round the balloon. The air being very calm,
suffered the balloon to remain a longer time in the same spot, and
consequently a rarer and more refractory medium would be formed
around it, enhanced by the radiating power of its color (black).

The shadow of the balloon was well defined on the clouds, and
the prismatic colors forming rings around it were brilliant; there
appeared also another, but dim shadow, immediately opposite the
main one, much narrower and fainter, and they each crossed or
rather laid on the prismatic rings, as represented in the engraving,
reaching from near the centre to some distance over the outer
ring.

The smaller shadow was continually expanding- and contract-
ing, sometimes getting nearly as wide as the main one, and then
contracting into a mere line again, resembling in its action the
waving motion of the aurora borealis. This motion I thought
might have been caused by the different degrees of thickness of
the cloud stratum on which it was formed, as also the difference
of distance between the balloon and the surface on which it acted,
as the clouds were moving along, while the air ship was appa-
rently becalmed ; this would continually change the condition of
space between the object and its shadow, as it would the density of
the substance that formed its screen. The parhelion and shadows
varied in size as the balloon ascended or descended, which I caused
it to do several times to a degree of not less than six to eight hun-
dred feet. What appeared most remarkable to me, was the ap-
pearance of this phenomenon after the balloon had descended be-
tween the clouds and the earth. While coming down over an
open space in the clouds, I noticed the parhelion disappear in it,
and in another moment discovered it on the green surface below,
being a woods, not with its regular rings, but in a red fiery halo
blending all the colors in it, and when it passed from the woods
it was still perceptible on the green fields, but more diffuse than
when on the woods. When I got below the cloud stratum the
balloon moved slowly in a horizontal direction, at the rate of
about a mile in eight minutes, and whenever it would pass an
opening in the clouds^ so that it fell in the sun's rays, the fiery

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P S.Duval8 St«am lith.Pr©«».

PARHELION.

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AN AMATEUR AERONAUT. 225

halo .made its appearance at the corresponding point on the sur-
face of the earth. The appearance of the phenomenoh on the
earth's surface was much like the reflected glare in the sky^ of a
night, during a conflagration.

During the early part of the voyage, there appeared a magnifi-
cent sight in the west. No clouds being in that direction, at a
point some miles ofi*, a portion of the mountain region was re-
ceiving a. flood of light from the sun, which gave it a peculiar
lustre, such as I bad never seen before, though it has often hap-
pened that the sun was shining only in spots upon the earth which
were visible to me* While in the clouds I noticed them to have a
more milky looking aspect than is usually the case ; and it was
noticed by the spectators below, who informed me of it afterwards,
and they further remarked, that 'Mhe balloon looked white," the
moment of its submersion in the clouds, until it vanished from their
sight. After I bad been above the clouds for more than half an
hour, I came down once so low that the spectators from the town
saw it for a moment, and they informed me that it was not far
from the point where it had entered them at the start, making it
evident that the balloon was almost totally becalmed while above
the cloud stratum. It was a peculiar state of the atmosphere
throughout.

After remaining in the atmosphere eight minutes less than one
hour, the greatest part of the time above the clouds, I came down
to terra-firma, two and a half miles from the point where I had
started.

These interesting facts were observed and noted with as much
precision and deliberation as if they had been observed from my
private chamber, and they were submitted to my friend, Profes-
sor Jacobs, who had been with me during the inflation, engaged
in observing the experiments made before the start, and it was
he that took the altitude of the clouds.

The people of Gettysburg were so much pleased and interested
with this ascension, that they determined to have the experiment
repeated in a few weeks afterwards. In the mean time, by their
particular request, I entertained them with a public lecture on the
subject of aeronautics, in th£ court house. Touching strongly
upon the simplicity of the science during this lecture, and por-
traying the magnificent grandeur of its developments to the prac-
titioner of aeronautics, it inspired some of the hearers vrith an in-
describable desire of its enjoyments, but only one of them was
willing to believe implicitly what I had said of its nan danger
as practiced by me. This individual was Colonel John M'Clellan,
of Gettysburg. On the following day he made me a proposition to
take him along on the contemplated voyage to be made in a few
days from that place. The time being too short to make the extra
15

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AN AMATEUR AERONAUT.

arrangements necessary to carry another individual besides my-
self, I mentioned it to the colonel, and at the same time informed
him that if he did not wish to wait for another opportunity, he
might take my place on the Saturday following for half the price
of what I had asked to take him with me, which would make it but
fif y dollars instead of a hundred. He answered that he thought
he would take me up at that. I did not believe, however, that he
would go by himself, inasmuch as we had already spoken of
making it suit to take him up at Emmetsburgh. When the day
came for the ascension, the colonel made his appearance about
half an hour before the time announced for starting, gave me
the fifty dollars, security for the safe return of the balloon, and
took some hasty instructions for the management of the machine
while aloft, and also to effect a systematic descent. These were as
promptly given him, and after this no persuasion, neither from his
brothers and sisters, nor from me, would induce him to relinquish
his desire for the present ; and so I sent him up, confident that
he would come down safe if he did not give up the ship, and my last
injunction to him was, "Stick to the ship." He went up in gal-
lant style, throwing out ballast until he mounted to an altitude
of about two miles, and then passed out of sight. He went about
twenty-five miles, landing a few miles west of York, Pa., and
was from thence escorted into York by some dozen acquaintances,
who saw the balloon descending, and finding with it to their great
astonishment. Colonel John M'Clellan, of Gettysburg, instead of
the individual with whom they had an understanding to meet, if
he would come down near York. Indeed, I regretted that I had
to forego the pleasure of paying my York friends a visit via the
clouds, when I saw the favorableness of the breeze, and the per-
tinacity of the colonel's intentions.

When arrived at York and surrounded by a host of friends,
the colonel was requested to give a detailed verbal description
of his adventure, which he did, and with a great deal of accu-
racy, showing, that before he commenced coming down, he had
been a deliberate observer. Mr. Glossbrenner, editor of the
*' York Gazette," being present, took notes and made a publica-
tioa of it in his next paper. It is written with some humor, but,
nevertheless, with a graphicness and accuracy in regard to the
appearance of things, that could only come through the sugges-
tions of an actual observer. This description has already be-
come a historical fact, and is as follows : —

« BALLOONING EXTRAORDINARY.

" A daring feat was accomplished on Saturday last, by a citi-
zen of our neighboring town of Gettysburg. Mr. John Wise, the

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BALLOONING EXTRAORDINARY. 227

American aeronaut, par excellence^ had announced his intention
to make his thirty- ninth balloon ascension on that day,, from an
enclosure in Gettysburg ; and with his usual punctuality, was
ready on the day and hour promised. His balloon was inflated ;
his ballast, grappling-iron, &c., duly stowed, and he was about
to step into the basket. At that moment, Mr. John M'Clellan, a
young gentleman of Gettysburg, inquired of Mr. Wise whether it
would not be possible for ttoo persons to ascend with the power
then in the balloon. On receiving a negative reply, Mr. M'Clel-
lan seemed much disappointed ; said he was determined to have
a ride, and inquired the price at which Mr. Wise would permit
him to make the voyage alone. * One hundred dollars, sir,'
said Mr. Wise, who did not appear to consider the inquirer to be
in earnest. 'Iwill give you fifty dollars!' * Agreed — fork
over!' The joke was * carried on,' and the cream of it was
soon transferred to the pocket of the aeronaut, and his substitute
w^s snugly seated in the car, vociferating his direction to * cut
loose!' Mr. Wise thought that matters had now gone far
enough, and requested his customer to get out, as the time had
arrived at which he had promised to be off. But he refused to
do so, and insisted that he had regularly hired and paid for a
passage * in this boat,' and go he would. As Barney O'Rear-
don said to the man in the moon, 'when the latter respectable
personage told him to ' lave his hould ;' * the more he bid him,
the more he wouldn't!'

" Mr. Wise then let up the balloon a short distance by a rope,
thinking, probably, that as. there was considerable wind, and the
air horse consequently turbulent, that his substitute would have
his courage cooled, and ^give in.' But this was no go; and
thinking that be had as good a start as ever he would have, Mr.
M'Clellan cut the rope, and was off I After he found that it was
the determination of Mr. M'Clellan to go, Mr. Wise had but time
to give him a few hasty and imperfect instructions in regard to
the management of the balloon, and in a few minutes the daring
amateur aeronaut had ascended to a height of about two miles.
Here he struck a current of air which bore directly towards York.
He says that the earth receded from him very rapidly after he
had thrown a bag or two of sand upon it ; that Gettysburg passed
off towards Hagerstown, and that he saw Carlisle, Hanover, Ab-
bottstown, Oxford, and Berlin strolling about ; and that soon
after, just ahead of him, he saw old York coming full tilt up the
turnpike toward him, apparently taking an afternoon walk to
Gettysburg. Having determined to stop at York, and fearing,
from the remarkable speed at which our usually staid and sober
town was traveling, that she would soon pass under his balloon j
and give him the slip, he pulled the string attached to the safety

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228 BALLOONING EXTRAORDINARY.

Talve, in order to let off a portion of gas. ThisTalye is so con-
structed, that when a rope attached to it is pulled, the valve
opens to the interior and again closes by the force of a spring
when the rope is let go. Unfortunately, however, the inexperi-
enced aeronaut pulled too violently at the valve rope, tore the
valve door completely off its hinges, and brought it down into the
car. When this occurred he was more than a mile high, and be
immediately, and with fearful rapidity descended, or rather fell
to the earth. When the valve door came off, the gas, of course,
escaped rapidly, but the balloon caught sufficient air to form a
parachute, by which^ the fall was moderated, and we are happy
to say that the voyager reached the earth about five miles from
York entirely uninjured. He says that as soon as the valve door
came down upon him, he knew that something had 'broke loose;'
and just then remembering that Mr. Wise had told him to be on
his guard when he descended and throw out his grappling-iron,
he was preparing to get at it among the numerous things in the
basket, ' when the earth bounced up against the bottom of the
car!'

'< When first seen from York, the balloon was about thirteen
miles off, nearly due west. It appeared to be approaching di-
rectly toward our town, until the valve was pulled and it bad
fallen considerably. As it fell, it seemed to find a current that
bore it rapidly toward the north. The spot at which it landed
is about north-west of our borough.

*' The escape of the gas was distinctly seen from York ; and
as the balloon neared the earth it had lost its rotundity, and
appeared to the gazers here to come down heavily^ like a wet
sheet."

This was another proof of the efficacy of atmo^heric resistance
in bringing large surfaces falling through it, down with a mode-
rate velocity.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Balloon campaign of 1843 — Transatlantic project — Ascent from Carlisle,
Pa. — ^Rev. Mr. Thorn's communication — ^Account fi^m aerial log-book
— "Beautiful and interesting spectacle" — Mr. Forney's description —
Landing at Lancaster — Entry in the city — ^Reascension from Centre
Square— Descent, &c.

In the spring of 1843, the inhabitants of Cariisle, Pa., invited
me to make an ascension from their borough* During the winter

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BALLOONING AT CARLISLE^ PA. 229

wbich had just passed, I bad consulted some gentlemen of the city
of Philadelphia, upon getting up a project of crossing the Atlantic
with a balloon. From the facts and deductions laid before them,
they were willing to promote the enterprise in case I would un*
dertake it. This stimulated my exertions to a furtherance of
this project,' and I had determined to spend all my time and
talent to its consummation. But as soon as these gentlemen saw
that my whole energy was directed in that way, they began to
evince conscientious scruples as to the responsibility that would
fall on them, in case of my being *^ sacrificed to my too ardent
conTictions" of success, and so my fond hope was doomed to
wait a while longer. I determined, however, to try Congress at
its next session, thinking that I could give them facts sufficient to
induce them to appropriate so trifling a sum as it would require,
to consummate this first step,- in an art that promised so much
benefit to the human family. As I could now do no better, I
concluded to make a summer^s campaign of aerial voyages, and
accordingly went on to Carlisle to begin, ; intending at the same
time to keep in view, and embrace every opportunity, that would
tend to enable me to carry out this desirable project.

The ascension from Carlisle was announced to come off the
third Saturday in May, 1843. It turned, out to be a very inte-
resting one, as I had promised my friends in Lancaster city to
▼isit them via the atmospheric current that always blows from
u>est to east in the higher regions of the air.

Rev. Mr. Thorn, of Carlisle, a gentleman of the highest
integrity, and well trained scientific mind, took a lively interest
in the experiment, and is the author of the following eloquent
description of the first balloon ascension made from that place.

" The balloon ascension advertised by Mr. Wise, the cele-
brated aeronaut of forty aerostations, took place in this borough on
Saturday last. The day was preceded by clouds and gusts of
wind, ensued by rain, accompanied with the most vivid flashes of
lightning and heaviest peals of thunder with which we have been
visited for a length of time ; and indeed, so marked, according
to human calculation, was the appearance of a continuance of
such weather, so subversive to successful exhibitions of this kind,
that many persons imagined the feat would be abandoned or de-
ferred. At about nine o'clock in the forenoon, however, the clouds
began to disperse, and the sun, that bright orb of day, displayed
his Creator's power, by dispelling the mists and density of the
atmosphere in which we had been enveloped, and substituted in
its stead, the most clear and effulgent sky we ever beheld. At
ten o'clock, hundreds of persons from various parts of the adjoin-
ing country, began to rush into our town, and to collect in various
groups in our principal streets, which, together with the appear*

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230 REV. MR. THORN'S REMARKS.

ance and drill of Captain Washington's superior company of U. S.
mounted Artillery with their cannon and accoutrements, gave an
enlivening and imposing scene to our borough. Soon after twelve
o'clock, the process of inflation of the balloon was^ commenced ;
at two o'clock, preparatory arrangements were made by Mr. Wise
for his ascent, which, in half an hour, were ready. Previous to
it, however, he with great politeness came forward, and in a very
respectful manner, gave an invitation to the ladies composing
the assemblage within the inclosure, to approach within the limits
prescribed for them, that they might have a more clear and dis-
tinct view of the interesting^ scene they had convened to witness
— which they accepted. He then proceeded to an interchange
of salutations with the friends and Acquaintances he observed
around him — bade Mrs. Wise and his son, a promising lad of sis
years of age, an affectionate farewell ; but with the entire confi-
dence that the separation would be temporary — an absence of a
few hours only. After which, making a general obeisance to all
around, he stepped into, what appeared to us, a little brittle and
insecure basket, with a fearless, unfaltering and dignified mien.
He then examined with composure, the various articles which
had been deposited therein, apparently with a view to adjust their
balance, and to ascertain whether anything, which might be
required on his voyage, had by any omission been left behind. —
Perceiving, to use a familiar phrase, * that all was right,' and that
the most intense interest was depicted in the countenance of every
beholder, he gradually, but beautifully and majestically ascended,
amid the cheers, plaudits and acclamations of the surrounding
multitude, and the transporting strains of a fine band of music,
discoursing an inspiring tune. Thus did the successful aeriel
navigator depart from the scenes of terra firma, to indulge from
his cloud skirt height in fancy's visions on the baseless fabrics
* of the world's ideal,' and of the skies unknown.

" The balloon arose, diverging but little from the direct line
with which it set out ; and the aeronaut continued several hundred

Jards above the spectators for a considerable time, waving his
at in recognition of the cheers which were complimenting him
from below. The atmosphere calm and the sky serene, he
remained in sight nearly an hour ; some viewing him with tele-
scopes, while he could no longer be seen with the naked eye.
The following memorandum, being a description of the voyage,
and written by Mr. Wise during his voyage, will doubtless be
read with absorbing interest by every one. An incident related
by him, relative to his descent at Lancaster, tends to increase the
confidence that is already reposed in him as a scientific aeronaut,
and of the management and direction he is capable of giving to
his balloon. He had informed his friends and acquaintances at

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• REV. MR. THORN'S REMARKS. 231

Lanoaster^ that it was bis intention to land there on this occasion,
as it lay east from Carlisle — a direction, he says, he can always
attain — and visit his domicil. The citizens being thus apprised
of his design, were awaiting his arrival, and when he came
within a distance of being heard, they called aloud to him and
said, • Wise, you have redeemed your pledge !'

"Such being the favorable circumstances under which this
experiment was made and ended, permit me to observe, that the
remark is occasionally made in opposition to the science of aero-
nautics, that inventions of this kind are not to be encouraged or
witnessed, because, through the perversion of men, they occa-
sionally lead to vain and pernicious amusements. Admitting
this to be the case, is this a reason why it should be decried
and condemned any more than many other useful ^rts f But the
objection usually, if not invariably, arises from persons of narrow
minds and contracted views, relative to the progressof the human
mind in the enlightening and renovation of mankind. Air bal-
loons are destined ere long to be brought to such a state of per-
fection, and be made capable of raising and carrying so much
weight, as to be applied to highly useful and important purposes.
Let encouragement be given to these experiments ; let ^ the
soul of fire, the invention ever new,' the * lively cheer of vigor
born,Vand the incitement to continual exertion, both mental and
bodily, by the emulation of ingenious men, be patronized sufficient
to enable them to conduct their operations on an extensive
scale, and time and experience will make them subservient to
numerous philosophical uses, and bring to light many things
which pass in the atmosphere ; such as the formation of rain,
of thunderstorms, of vapors, hail, snow, comets, meteors in
general ; and which, for the want of a method of ascending into
it, cannot be known with precision.

" They may tend also to the general improvement and amelio-
ration of mankind, in effecting the designs of a beneficent Provi-
dence, to a lost and ruined wprld. Is it not possible, nay, is it
not probable, that ere long, if suitable inducements be held out
to the promoters of this science, a contrivarice or means of con-
ducting expeditions through the atmosphere in a horizontal direc-
tion will be discovered, by making these machines subject to the
helm of the aeronaut ? And if so, may they not be converted to
purposes of mercy ; by exploring countries hitherto inaccessible ;
bringing together parts of the earth which are. now estranged to
each other, and spreading knowledge to all mankind ? Many are
the good and sensible men, who are of the opinion that every part
of the habitable globe must yet be explored, and its inhabitants
visited with the salvation of God. And who knows, but that by
balloons, this may be effected ? Who will have the presumption

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282 BALLOONING nt. MILLBRISM; «

to say that such a consumation inrill never be realized ? And if
realized^ Vfill it not present a literal fulfilment of ' Angels flying
through the midst of the (aerial) heavens, having the everlasting
gospel to preach to them that dwell upon the earth, and to every
kindred and nation ?'

** To these high and beneficent purposes we may add the
gratification of curiosity and pleasure, as a very strong indnce-
meut to an encouragement to the practice of the art, in which
with any tolerable degree of caution and information, there appears
very little of real danger. We have heard from Mr. Wise, and
all who have tried the experiment testify to the sam^ that the
beauty and grandeur of the prospect afforded by an aerial excur-
sion cannot be exceeded, much less described. Nor do aero-
nauts ever experience the least of that giddiness consequent upon
looking from, great heights connected with the earth; nor have
they any of that sickness arising from the motion of a vessel at
sea. Many have been carried by balloons at the rate of thirty,
forty and fifty miles per hour, without feeling the least incon-
venience or even agitation of the wind, for the reason that the
machine moves with the wind and its velocity."

The following is an extract of the most important part of the
journal kept on the occasion: Left the earth at two o^clock thirty-
five minutes; the lower current of wind from southwest moving
moderately. At three o'clock, I passed on the south side of Mechan-
icsburg, at an altitude of about a mile, and still ascending.
When at a considerable height above the clouds, another current
blowing from northwest was encountered. This gave me an
opportunity of making north or south latitude while pursuing my
voyage eastward, as the occasion required, by sailing with one or
the other of these currents. While nearing the Susquehanna
River, a magnificent view was opened ; York, Carlisle, Harrisburg,
and even Lancaster^ were embraced in this grand panoramic view,
with all its innumerable villages and variety of splendid scenery.
Upon its beauty I will not attempt to descant ; it must be witnessed
to be appreciated. Although the Creator has allowed me to en-
joy this sublime privilege, he has «not endowed my humble capa-
city with language adequate to express its grandeur. In viewing
this scene of earthly glory, I was forcibly struck with the idea,
that we are not of near so much importance in the eyes of
Deity as man presumes himself to be ; and not more so to the
Creator than the minutest animalcule is to man. And now, in
reference to the puerile fanaticism of '* Millerism," I would remark
that the world, clothed in her verdant summer garb, looked so
young and so beautiful, and so far from having the slightest
appearance of decay, or an intention of committing suicide by
elementary self-destruction, that she reminded me of a gay

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BEAUTIFUL AND INTERESTING SPECTACLE. 288

and blooming maiden just emerging from the days of her inno-
cence into sober womanhood. If any of the deluded followers
of Miller doubt this, let them go aloft of a fine summer's^, day,
and view the earth, and if they then don't abandon their non-
sensical Tiews, nor feel ashamed of their narrow-minded concep-
tions of the goodness and greatness of the Creator, they must
indeed, be weak in the spirit, as well as in the flesh.

[The Miller fanaticism was raging at that time in that neighbor-
hood.]

At three o'clock twenty minutes, I passed over a vast body of
clouds, which reflected a powerful heat against the balloon,
causing it to rise to a great height while in the field of reflected
rays, and, therefore, obscuring from my view Harrisburg, and to
the south, as far as York, the whole of the country. The current
below, however, being nearly at right angles in its direction to
that above, consequently, soon cleared the space beneath me.
My course now lay down the west side of the river. Seeing the
necessity of making more south latitude in order to reach my
port, until a point was reached nearly over the mouth of'Codorus
Creek, I soon after descended into the lower current, coming from
the southwest, by which I could reach a point near the city of
Lancaster, which was now in full view. This took me over the
town of Marietta a little after four o'clock, and almost in a direct
line for Lancaster. At fifteen minutes before five o'clock I reached
a point within % few hundred yards of the city bounds, where I
came down. Seeing the people rushing out of the city, a-foot
and a-horse, old and young, great and small, rich and poor, inter*
mingled with strains of music and the ringing of bells, I was soon
encircled by my fellow citizens of Lancaster, into whose custody I
most cheerfully submitted myself, and will now let the balance
of this interesting experiment be detailed by my old and esteemed
friend, John W. Forney, Esq., of the <* Lancaster Intelligencer and
Journal," who was an eye witness of the scene.

BEAUTIFUL AND INTERESTING SPECTACLE.

"About a quarter before four o'clock on Saturday last, a black
speck, no bigger than a man's hand, was seen a little north-west
of this city. Some pronounced it one of Miller's * signs' — some
declared it to be a new and unrecorded phenomenon — and while
all were thus arguing as to its character, the speck grew larger
and largeri until, at last, the impression began to prevail that it
was no less a personage than the great aeronaut, our townsman,
Wisey who had started that afternoon from Carlisle, a distance of
some fifty-four miles by rail-road ; and, with a precision equal to

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234 BEAUTIFUL AND INTERESTING SPECTACLE.

that of the recent discoverer of aerial nayigatioOy in England,
he had directed his chariot with such admirable generalship
through the regions of space, as to hang suspended, a little more
than two hours after his departure from Csirlisle, over his native
city ! The day was one in which all the clearness and modera-
tion of May were combined, and the whole of the town had an
opportunity to enjoiy the rare and interesting sight. As the aero-
naut gradually approached our ancient city — his balloon slowly
increasing its dimensions — every man, woman and child was out
to watch its movements. At last, after having hung for nearly
an hour in full view, he calmly and gracefully descended in his
chariot of the clouds, a short distance south-west of the city,
where he was followed by crowds of horse and footmen.

^' Supposing all to be over, the curious spectators retired; when,
about five o^clock, the whole town was asain astir, to witness
the aeronaut's triumphal entry into his native city. This was a
singularly novel and interesting sight. Standing in the car of his
balloon, the huge globe above still distended, almost touching the
sides of the houses, and apparently eager for flight, he sailed
through the streets at a slight elevation from the ground ; his airy
chariot drawn, or rsXher guided^ by a number of young men and
boys who had attached themselves to the rope which led from his
car. In this way, :with hat in hand, and amid the cheers of his
fellow-citizens, Mr. Wise passed through West King Street, and
halted in Centre Square, immediately fronting North Queen Street.
Here he was again greeted with the cheers of the people ; but the
sport was not yet over. After a rest of about fifteen minutes, it
soon became evident that Mr. Wise was about to attempt an
ascension from Centre Square ! — a rather contracted area, by-the-
way, and too much walled in with houses, we should suppose, to
make a balloon ascent either safe or pleasant. But Mr. Wise is
not one of your holiday soldiers — his whole demeanor on Saturday

£ roved him to be cool, collected and intrepid, even to a fault,
[aving divested himself of nearly all his clothing but his panta-
loons, even to his shoes, and detached the car from the balloon
(the gas having been expended so much as to render the balloon
incapable of carrying a heavy load), Mr. Wise took his seat on
a narrow board attached to the cords of the balloon, and giving
the signal to Met go,' away he shot like an arrow from a well
strung bow, and nearly in a straight line, leaving behind him
hundreds who were amazed at the singular boldness of the daring
feat. He ascended, we should suppose, nearly a mile, and was
fast fading from sight, when he began to descend, and actually
alighted about two squares from the place of starting ! This un-
paralleled performance was accomplished with great ease and
rapidity, and proves Mr. Wise to be an able and experienced

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TRANSATLANTIC PROJECT. 285

aeronaut. When he reached terra firma, he was again taken in
charge, and escorted or rather sailed to his residence through
North Queen and East King Streets, where he was congratulated
by the hearty cheers of his fellow-citizens.

"Taken altogether, last Saturday evening will long be remem-
bered with pleasure by our citizens. It was no less gratifying to
Mr. Wise to make so grand a triumphal entry into his native city,
than it was to his friends and fellow-citizens to see the skill and
ability he displayed in managing his steed of the air. We are
pleased to learn that a handsome collection was taken on the spot,
as an earnest of the public gratification, and paid over to Mr.
Wise.

CHAPTER XJX.

Determination to cross the Atlantic by balloon — Intention of proclama-
tion — Publicity of it — Comments on it — "Ballooning extraordinary" —
Another extract — ^Volunteers for the project — Officers of the navy — Their
letter.

After my Carlisle ascensional again appealed to my friends for
their assistance to enable me to carry out the transatlantic project,
but got no further with them than a promise to promote my pe-
tition which I had determined to lay before the next Congress.
Believing that something would certainly come out of that, and
always looking ahead in matters of this kind, I deemed it advisable
to make a sort of a world's proclamation of the contemplated
enterprise, which was done for the following reasons. Although
I believed, and do still, that the solar current which I have inva-
riably found above, blows clear around the earth, still, a voyage
across the Atlantic might subject the navigators to local currents
and storms, and at best, to all the omissions, imperfections and
unforeseen necessities attendant upon all first trials of this nature;
consequently, there should be a general khowledge Aroad, before
the experiment would be made, so that in case of th€ balloon
giving out from any cause, while over the ocean, any ship at sea,
being in sight of it, would come to its assistance.

I prepared the proclamation and handed it to Mr. Forney, of
the " Lancaster Intelligencer," who prefaced it with his own
remarks ; and a number of speculative commentaries were written
by other persons concerning it, as it passed through the news-
papers. Some of these will be related, and it will be observed

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286 TRANSATLANTIC PROJECT.

how difficult it is, in looking at new projects,* to separate the ideal
from the real merits of the case. However, the proclamation has
gone forth in the world, and the substance of it will follow, just
as certain as steam followed horse-power.

AERIAL VOYAGE ACROSS THE OCEAN.

^* The following announcement of Mr. Wise, the distinguished
aeronaut, is one that cannot fail to excite public attention in a
very great degree. Though the scheme may look somewhat
Quixotic, we have no doubt Mr. Wise possesses the nerve to
attempt, and, we believe, has the ability to carry it out! Our
New York friends therefore, must not be astonished to see our
intelligent and scientific aeronaut arrive in their city, next year,
with his * large balloon,' and take his departure thence for the
regions of the Old World. — Would it not create a stir that would
far exceed the reception of a hundred Presidents, though every
man was a Tyler? And, then, what a sensation he would produce
in England, as, coming alon^ the channel, he made preparations
to settle down his aerial chariot in the heart of the great London
world — or, missing this, suppose him dropping in upon the
Frenchmen, at Paris, or Calais, or Bordeaux — or, going further
still, suppose him wafted into Constantinople, dashing down
unceremoniously, and without notice to the Sublime Porte ! Why,
our townsman would become more justly renowned than did
Captain Ross in his voyage to the North Pole, or Lewis and
Clarke in steering up the Mississippi — or the ambitious searcher
after the still mysterious source of the Nile ! [Not at all, for it
is too easy a thing to accomplish.]

^^ Mr. Wise speaks for l^imself, however, in a tone of eaqr
confidence that will surprise no one who knows his courage and
resolution : — "

** J. W. FoRNEV, Esq. — You will confer a favor to the enter-
prise in contemplation, by giving the following proclamation
publicity, for general notice to the civilized world.

TO ALL PUBLISHERS OF NEWSPAPERS ON THE GLOBE.

*^As it is my intention to make a trip across the Atlantic
Ocean with a balloon, in the summer of 1844, and as the descent
or landing of balloons, in my experience, has almost universally
created unnecessary alarm and consternation to the people near
by, I therefore give this general notice to the sea-faring com-
munity^ of all climes, that should they, during any time hence-

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TRANSi^TLANTIC PROJECT. 287

forth, chance to be in the vicinity of a balloon, either on the
ocean or in the atmosphere, they need not be under any fearful
apprehensions, but endeavor to give aid to its adventurers.

'*It must not be inferred from this, that its success is considered
improbable, but merely to be prepared for all emergencies.

•* Having, from a long experience in aeronautics, been convinced
that a constant and regular current of air is blowing at all times
from west to east, with a velocity of from twenty to forty, and even
sixty miles per hour, accordingto its height from the earth; and hav-
ing discovered a composition which renders silk or muslin imper-
vious to hydrogen gas, so that a balloon may be kept afloat for
many weeks, I feel confident, with these advantaged, that a trip
across tbe Atlantic will not be attended with as much real danger
as by the common mode of transition.

*'The balloon is to be one hundred feet in diameter, which will
give it a net ascending power of twenty-five thousand pounds —
being amply sufficient to make everything safe and comfortable.
A sea-worthy boat is to be used for the car, which is to be
depended on, in case the balloon should fall to accomplish the
voyage. The boat is also calculated on, in case the regular cur-
rent of wind should be diverted from its course by the influence
of the ocean, or through other causes. The crew to consist of
three persons, viz. : an aeronaut, a sea navigator, and a scien-
tific landsman.

" Therefore, the people of Europe, Africa, Asia, and all other
parts, on the ocean or elsewhere, who have never seen a balloon,
will bear in mind, that it is a large globe made of cloth,
ensconced in a net-work, with a sloop hanging underneath it,
containing the latest news from the United States, and crew
of the world's obedient servant."
" Lancagter, June, 1843."

This announcement was generally published throughout the
Union, and throughout civilized Europe, and although its sub-
stance has not yet been accomplished, its postponement is attri-
butable to a single cause — want pf pecuniary means to do it
right. If Congress will not give the small appropriation neces-
sary — ten or fifteen thousand dollars — to give it effect (I will not
say to make an attempt, because its consummation is as certain
as that a sail-ship can do it), our wealthy merchants of Philadel-
phia and New York cities should take it in hands, since it would
enhance their facilities so much.

The following is another among the many commentaries that
were elicited by the announcement, and, although it breathes a
progressive and well tempered spirit, it is nevertheless strongly
tinctured with that inseparable sentiment so common to human

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288 TRANSATLANTIC PROJECT.

nature, which undervalues projects that emanate from persons
whom it is intimately acquainted with, and who have never yet
accomplished great undertakings. However, the article contains
so much good sound sense, along with its humor and irony, that I
will cheerfully bear the latter, in consideration of the former, and
publish it for what it is worth.

BALLOONING EXTRAORDINARY.

^^ That daring and (as the phrase goes) intrepid aeronaut, Mr.
John Wise, of Lancaster, has issued a formal proclamation to the
world, announcing that in the summer of 1844 he contemplates
making a balloon voyage across the Atlantic, having from long
experience in aeronautics become persuaded, that such a mode
of transition is not only feasible, but attended with fewer risks
than those in ordinary use. He deems this timely notice due the
sea-faring community, who, in looking aloft may chance to descry
him in the clouds, and who might otherwise be induced to class
his ' coming' among the many mysterious ^ signs and wonders*
of the age.

" But pray, why should not a trip across the Atlantic, in one of
these silken cloud-coaches, be entirely practicable ? To us, it is
true, the project may look like the effervescense of a disordered
intellect, and we may decry the undertaking as part and parcel
of the impossible — but how many years is it, since the man who
first threatened to cross the ocean in a simple steam-carriage, with
no sails but a kettle filled with boiling water, was laughed at as a
creature fit only for the friendly ministrations of the keeper of a
mad-house? A shaved head and a strait waistcoat were the pro-
mised rewards of the original projector of that most noble enterprise.
— And yet the foaming billows of the great deep are at this day
hourly plied by the rushing steam-ship, bounding and pufiSng
recklessly along, as though it were itself the victim of the mad-
ness ascribed to its projector, but landing, nevertheless, its pre-
cious freight unharmed upon the distant shores ? Now, if such
stupendous and astonishing results have been realized, what may
not man, under the irresistible dominion of the great master-spirit
of the age, Progress — what may he not accomplish ? If the one
event has been taken out of the narrow bounds which encircle
the diminished catalogue of impossibilities, and has only, like the
rising and setting of the sun, ceased to astonish because of its
familiarity, why may not the exercise of human effort also con-
summate the other ? And then, after Mr. Wise shall have once
successfully pioneered the perilous pathway, and demonstrated
that fewer lives are lost by traveling in balloons than by steam
and canvass, why should it not ultimately become the universal

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PUBLIC COMMENTS. 289

means of locomotion ? Why not, under the gaidance of skilful
and experienced air- navigators, also adapt balloons to the uses of
commerce, as a means of import and export ? If men, women,
and children, can be suspended for weeks over land and sea, in
vessels of silk, upheld by gas, and ultimately reach in safety their
places of destination, why not also thus convey the chosen
product of every land and clime ? Why not balloon a load of
cotton at Charleston, and in ^ few days receive the vessel *bock
agen,' freighted with British cloths or a cargo of teas from the
* Celestial Empire.' And then, too, such a 'reform' would
spare to our trusty and well-beloved benefactor. Uncle Sam, the
necessity of maintaining at such a heavy expense the Jfavy^ there
being no longer any use for ships and the like, although it might,
in turn, subject him to the almost constant tricks of smugglers,
owing to the uncertainty of the landing-places. If, therefore, we
have not ourselves been all this time engaged in building * air
castles,' Mr. Wise may yet be destined to soar above the fame of
such common men as Robert Fulton and Oliver "Evans."

Another writer says: "We publish below an announcement of
the enterprising and intrepid aerial voyager, Mr. Wise, proclaim-
ing his intention of crossing the Atlantic in a balloon ! We are
not prepared to express an opinion as to the feasibility of this pro-
ject, but we do not doubt that Mr. W. is ready to attempt it."

Such were some of the nuiperous commentaries and opinions
upon this contemplated expedition, which is yet to give the art
an impulse that will waken it to its real iherits. The following
letter, received by due cdurse of mail, post marked New Castle,
Delaware, June 28th, shows that there were not wanting proper
persons necessary to fit out the expedition under skilful manage-
ment.

PhUaddphia, June 27th, 1843.
Mr. Wise :

Sir. — Perceiving by the newspapers that you meditate an at-
tempt to cross the Altantic Ocean in a balloon next year, and
that it is your intention to have with you a scientific person, and
a navigator, and as we heartily enter into the spirit of your enter-
prise, and at the same time place ev^ry confidence in your ability
to complete the undertaking, we cheerfully offer yon our services
in the latter capacity (that is as navigators).

If you should conclude on accepting of our company, we are in
hopes you will inform us at as early a period as possible, so that we
may signify our wishes to, and obtain the necessary permission
from the Navy Department.

Very respectfully, your obedient servants,

ARCH. M'RAE,
SILAS BENT,
Patted Midshipmen U. S. Jfavy.

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240 SECOND ASCENT FROM CARLISLE.

CHAPTER XX.

Second ascent from Carlisle — ^Editorial note of it — Narrative — ^Entering a
storm cloud — Iloar-frost in it — Hail and snow forming in it — Could not
get out of it — Terrific predicament — Remained in it twenty minutes —
An age of time it seemed — Escape from it and descent — Professor Espy's
interrogatories concerning it — Petition to Congress for an aerial project

On my return to Carlisle, it was determined that I should be re*
quested to repeat the experiment, as the first had only enhanced
the desire for a second, in those that witnessed it, and many
people from the surrounding country who had not seen it, were now
very anxious for an opportunity of witnessing such an achieve*
ment. Consequently, the 17th of June was appointed for the oc-
casion.

One of the newspapers prefaced the narrative of this voyage in
the following terms: "Our own thoughts were a good deal bent
toward Bunker Hill on Saturday, but nevertheless, we had on the
same day in our own town a spectacle of an elevated character
and of a thrilling and exciting interest. As upon the former oc-
casion, Mr. Wise's forty-first ascension with his balloon, drew
together an immense concourse of the ' beauty and chivalry' of
Cumberland and Perry counties. It is not necessary to say more
than that it went off with the greatest eclat and seemed to have
given the highest gratification to all who witnessed it.

"We are indebted to Mr. Wise for the narrative of his aerial
voyage, which is subjoined. It will be seen that he encountered
insuperable difficulties, and not a little danger, which brought
him back to earth a^ain after a trip of a few miles. Mr. Wise
is to be congratulated on his safe and fortunate escape from the
dangers of that * long low black' cloud, which from his descrip-
tion one might judge to be the very dominions of the evil ^prince
of the powers of the air.' The narrative possesses much interest."

NARRATIVE.

According to announcement, I started oti Saturday last on my
forty-first aerial excursion, from the Centre Square of Carlisle, at
precisely fifteen minutes past two o'clock in the afternoon, it

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CAUGHT IN A STORM CLOUD. 241

being the 17th of June, 1843. A slight breeze from the west
wafted me a short distance in its direction horizontally, after
which the ascent became nearly perpendicular until the height
attained was about 2500 feet, when the balloon moved off towards
the east with a velocity much greater than that of its ascent.
The first thing that drew my attention, was the immense ocean
of heads that was presented in the square below. There appeared
to be infinitely more people on the immediate ^ronnd than was
usually the case, and the whole scene was rendered highly ani*
mated and imposing by the fine appearance of the military, and
their repeated salutes of thundering artillery, at the departure of
the "Comet.** When I had reached a point about two miles east
of the town, there appeared, a little distance beyond and above
me, a huge black cloud% Seeing that the horizontal velocity of
the balloon would carry it underneath and beyond the cloud,
tising slowly as it did, and being desirous to gratify the spectators
with the novelty of seeing a balloon pass through a cloud, pre-
parations were at once made to effect it by throwing out some
ballast as soon ^s its border should be reached. Harrisburg was
now distinctly in view, and the balloon moving jdirectly for it ; I
was hesitating, with the bag of ballast in my hand, whether I
should throw it out for the purpose designed, or continue straight
on as I was then going, to the place just mentioned. At this
time I had reached a point underneath the cloud, which was ex-
panding, and immediately felt an agitation in the machinery, and
presently an upward tendency of the balloon, which also com-
menced to rotate rapidly on its vertica,! axis. I might now have
discharged gas and probably passed underneath it; but, thinking
that it would soon be penetrated, and then might be passed above,
as it appeared not to be moving along itself, I made no hesitation
in letting the balloon go on its own way. This part of the feat,
however, I had reason to regret soon afterwards ; although at the
present time, it gives more real pleasure in contemplating its
terrific grandeur and reality, than anything that has ever tran-
spired in my aerial adventures. The details that shall here be
given of this terrible scene may be relied on, as I was sufficiently
composed to appreciate its grandeur and observe its physical
operations. The cloud, to the best of my judgment, covered an
area of from four to six miles in diameter; it appeared of a cir-
cular form as I entered it, considerably depressed in its lower
surface presenting a great concavity towards the earth, with its
lower edges very ragged and falling downwards with an agitated
motion ; and it was of a dark smoke color. Just before entering
this cloud, I noticed, at some distance off, a storm cloud, from
which there was apparently a heavy rai» descending. The first
sensations that lelcperienced when entering this cloud, were ex-
16

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242 TERRIBLE SITUATION.

tremely unpleasant. A suffocating sensation immediately ensued
its entrance, 'which was shortly followed by a sickness at the
stomachy arising from the gyrating, swinging motion of my car,
causing. me to vomit several times in quick succession most
violently, which, however, soon abated and gave way to sensa-
tions that were truly calculated to neutralize more violent symp-
tbms than a momentary sqaeamishness. The cold had now be*
come intense, and everything around me of a fibrous nature
became thickly covered with hoar frost; my whiskers jutting out
with it far beyond my face, and the cords running up from my
car looking like glass rods, these being glazed with ice and snow,
and hail was indiscriminately pelting all around me. The cloud
at this point, which I presumed to be about the midst of it, from
the terrible ebullition going oh, had not that black appearance I
observed on entering it, but was of a light milky color, and so dense
just at this time, that I could hardly see the balloon which was
sixteen feet above the car. From the intensity of the cold in this
cloud, I supposed that the gas would rapidly condense, and the
balloon consequently descend and take me out of it. In this,
however, I was doomed to disappointment, for I soon found my-
self whirling upward with a fearful rapidity, the balloon gyrating
and the car describing a large circle in the cloud. A noise re-
sembling the rushing of a thousand mill-dams, intermingled with
a dismal moaning sound of wind, surrounded me in this terrible
flight. Whether this noise was occasioned by the hail and snow
which were so fearfully pelting the balloon, I am unable to tell,
as the moaning sound must evidently have had another source.
I was in hopes, when being hurled rapidly upward, that I should
escape from the top of the cloud ; but, as in the former expecta-
tions of an opposite release from this terrible place, disappoint-
ment was again my lot, and the congenial sunshine invariably
above, which had already been anticipated by its faint glimmer
through the top of the clouds, soon vanished with a violent down-
ward surge of the balloon, as it appeared to me, of some hundred
feet. This only subsided to be hurled upward again, when,
having attained its maximum, it would again sink down with a
swinging and fearful velocity, to be carried up again and let fall,
which happened eight or ten times ; all this time the storm raging
with unabated fury, while the discharge of ballast would not let
me out at the top of the cloud, nor the discharge of gas out of
the bottom of it, though I had expended at least thirty pounds of
the former in the first attempt, and not less than a thousand cubic
feet of the latter, for the balloon had also become perforated with
holes by the isicles that were formed where the melted snow ran
on the cords at the point where they diverged from the balloon,
and would by the surging and swinging motion pierce it through.

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letteH from professor espy. 248

I experienced all this time an almost irresistible inclination^ to
sleep, notwithstanding a nauseating feeling of the stomach, causing
me to vomit several times, and the terrible predicament I was
placed in, until after eating some snow and hail mixed, of which
a considerable quantity had lodged on some canvass and paper
lying in the bottom of the car. After this, I felt somewhat easier
in mind and in body (for it is no use to say that I cannot be
agitated and alarmed), and I grasped a firm hold of the sides of
the car, determined to abide the result with as much composure
and observation as the nature of the case would admit; for I
felt satisfied it could not last much longer, seeing that the balloon
had become very much weakened by a great loss of gas. Once
I saw the earth through a chasm in the cloud, but was hurled up
once more after that, when, to my great joy, I fell clear out of it,
after having been belched up and swallowed down repeatedly,
by this huge and terrific monster of the air, for a space of twenty-
minutes, which seemed like an age, for I thought my watch had
been stopped while in it, till a comparison of it with another
afterward proved the contrary. I landed in the midst of a pouring
rain, on the larm of Mr. Goodyear, five miles from Carlisle, in
a fallow field, where the dashing rain bespattered me with mud
from head to foot, as I stood in my car looking up at the feat fill
element which had just disgorged me.

The density of this cloud did not appear alike all through it, as
I could at times see the balloon very distinctly above me, also,
occasionally, pieces of paper, and whole newspapers, of which a
consideiable quantity were blown out of my car. I also noticed
a violent convolutionary motion, or action, of the vapor of the
cloud going on, and a promiscuous scattering of the hail and
snow, as though it were projected from every point of the com-
pass.

Such is the history of this short but magnificent trip, and I
can assure my readers, that when I again meet clouds of this
character (which I shall name the cloud of terror), I will en-
deavor with all my skill, to avoid them.

After this account had been published and found its way in
the newspapers, I received the following letter from Professor
Espy, at Washington City, which was promptly answered.

Washington CUy, July 5th, 1843.

Dear Sir : I was much interested with the account you gave
in the public papers of your balloon ascension on the 17th of last
month from Carlisle.

You will confer a great favor on me if you will answer the fol-
lowing questions : Was there any rain or hail at the surface of
the earth under the cloud which you entered ? Did you descend

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244 PETITION TO CONGRESS.

through the base or lower part of the cloud, or did you get out of
the cloud and descend in the clear air? Was the cloud into
-which you ascended surrounded by clear sky, or was the whole
sky covered with clouds? Have you any reason to think there
was an upmoving current of air going up into the base of the
cloud and continuing in the cloud itself, or did the Telocity of
your upward motion merely correspond with the buoyant power
of the balloon ? What was the cause of your ascending and de*
scending eieht or ten times, and how did you judge that this as-
cending and descending really occurred ? . Had you a barometer ?
Do you suppose the cloud was colder than it was on the outside
of the cloud at the same height ? Or not so cold ? Are you
sure your balloon was torn by the hail? Or might not you have
ascended much higher by a very rapid motion^ than you supposed,
and your gas have escaped by expansion through the bottom of
the balloon ?

If there was a strong current of air under the cloud and in
the cloud upwards — might you not in the time have gone so high as
to diminish the pressure on your body so rapidly that part of the
noise which you heard was the ringing of your ears ? And might
not the sickness have been from the same cause?

If you find time to answer any of these questions, I will be much
obliged to you. Yours, very respectfully,

JAMES P. ESPY.

When Congress had assembled at Washington, the following
petition was submitted to their consideration, and when we take
in view the small amount ($15,000) it would have taken to
prepare the experimental outfit, backed as it was by competent
authority, it seems little encouragement is to be expected from
that quarter, in any new enterprise, no matter how plausible,
unless it carries with it some partisan force and object, calcu*
lated to promote aspiring and factious individual interests in
some political fortune.

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.

To the Honorable^ the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of .America in Congress assembled: —

The petition of the subscriber, citizen of Lancaster, Pa., most
respectfully showeth, that, from an experience of a number of
years in the practice of aeronautics by the subscriber, it has
been fully demonstrated that there exists in the atmosphere a
constant current of wind, moving from west to east, with a ve-
locity of from twenty, forty, and even sixty miles per hour, ac*
cording to its height from the earth.

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PETITION TO CONGRESS. 245

This current is moving in that direction, ^jbile the local cur-
rents may be, and are, moving in various other directions : This
eastward current is governed by a great general cause, blowing
at all times — making it feasible to travel the globe in that direc-
tion by aerial machinery, with great facility.

Your petitioner would further state that the art of making
aeronautic machines has been so far improved that they may be
kept afloat for any reasonable length of time, even for years, and
as long as a ship can be made to endure the sea for common
purposes.

The main object of your petitioner is, to bring into useful
requisition, for the purpose^ of speedy 'and safe transition of persons
and merchandise, that great natural and unoccupied element, the
atmosphere.

Your petitioner does not pretend to have discovered or solved
any great new-fangled problem; but would most earnestly press
upon your consideration known factSj which must be explored,
before any great benefits can be derived therefrom.

From the improved state to which aeronautic machinery caii
be perfected, and the advantages continually at hand from the
local currents of wr, it is even now feasible to travel eastward
with a velocity that will circumnavigate the globe in from thirty
to forty days, with an ability to vary from a straight course
thirty or forty degrees from the latitude of departure, which
would enable us to leave dispatches in Europe and China, and
return by way of Oregon Territory to Washington City.

This has been demonstrated by experiments made by your
petitioner, in reaching points sixty and ninety miles distant from the
place of departure, with a precision not surpassed by ship sailing,
aided by the local currents in varying from the great eastward
current.

From these considerations, your petitioner is induced to ask
your honorable bodies to make a naval appropriation to carry this
project into practical operation. Its practicability having already
received the confidence of scientific men, and an earnest and
voluntary offer by several oflScers of our navy, to accompany
the first experimental adventure.

Your petitioner, therefore, prays you to make an appropriation
for an outfit to this effect, viz. : The construction of an aerostadt
of 100 feet in diameter, of substantial domestic cotton drilling;
a sea-boat capable of enduring the ocean, for a car, and so con-
structed that the masts and rigging may be stowed away, ready
for erection into sea-service at any time that emergency might
require. The sea-boat to be of 10 or 12,000 pounds weight ; an
aerostadt of 100 feet diameter, having an ascending power of

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246 ASCENT FROM HOLLIDAYSBURG.

over 25,000 pounds, which will be sufficient to carry the outfit
and crew.

Should this meet with your congressional approbation, your
petitioner will readily submit a plan in detail, and will cheerfully
superintend the construction of the machinery at his own expense,
asking nothing more than the command or directordiip of the
first experimental aerial voyage round Jhe globe.

The whole cost of the experiment^ will not be more than a
fraction of that of the late *' Exploring Expedition ;" and promises,
at least, greater results.

For a favorable decision of your honorable bodies, your pe*
titioner feels in duty bound to pray.

JOHN WISE.

Lancaster City, Dec. 20, 1843.

This petition was received, read, and referred to the Committee
of Naval Afiairs, where it sleeps, soon to be awakened up again
by the unconquerable force of human destiny.

CHAPTER XXI.

Ascent from Hollidaysburg, Pa. — Balloon "Yesperas^' — ^HoIIidaysburg
papers — Narrative — ^Dijfficalty of inflation — ^Net brok^— Ascent — ^Atmo-
sphere squally a mile up^Net giving way — ^Fearful apprehensions — ^Ex-
pedient — Descent — ^Went up again, hanging outside of the car — Dashed
into a tree — ^Escape of baUoon — Came down in Catskill Mountains,
N.Y. — ^Alarmed the people— Recovery of balloon, &c.

A NUMBER of voyages were made during the summer of 1843,
from Lancaster, York, Pa., Winchester, Va., and the next sum-
mer from Fredericksburg, Va., none of \9hich elicited anything
remarkably new or extraordinary, from what has been already
related. But the next one, which was made from HoUidaysburg,
Pa., is one full of interest and instruction. This was made with
a balloon composed of a new kind of material — Tassore silk, a
fabric made by the natives of China from the cocoon of the wild
silk-worm which browses upon the wild shrubbery. The Comet
was sold to Mr. Crever, a pupil of mine, who made several very
splendid ascensions with her. The following extracts are taken
from the "Beacon Light" and "Register," of HoUidaysburg,
which go to show the nature of the preparatory circumstances, as
viewed by disinterested spectators. The " Beacon Light" says :

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ASCENT PROM HOLLIDAYSBURG. 247

" The projected ascension of Mr* Wise, on Saturday (May the
4th, 1844), attracted general attention in HoUidaysbarg and its
vicinity, and public expectation was on tiptoe to behold a spec-
tacle, sublime in itself, and possessing, in addition, to a large
majority of our population, all the charm of entire novelty, no
other attempt to visit the upper air ever having been made in
these parts."

««««•« rpjjg preparations vrere made, the basket
secured, the intrepid aeronaut took his stand in his frail car of
wicker-work, and, having received letters for Harrisburg, Lan-.
caster, and Philadelphia, and risen nearly to the top of the enclo«
sore with a rope attached, ' cut the connection' with mother
earth, and moved off to the north-east, immediately over the town.
The balloon rose slowly until the disposal of a few bags of ballast
relieved her of a portion of her burden, when she arose beautifully
to a great height, her daring tenant waving his hat to the crowd
below, who, widi upturned faces, and hats waving, cheered him
on his venturous way. After attaining this elevation, the balloon
encountered a current of ^LiiJUmiTig to the eastf in which direction
it moved off like a thing of life, and in a few minutes was entirely
lost to view." • * ♦ • * ^*

The " Register" has the following : " The ascension of Mr.
Wise, in his new and beautiful balloon * Vesperus,' took place on
Saturday last, according to notice given. The day was entirely
too stormy for an undertaking of the kind, and, in the opinion of
every reasonable man, would have justified Mr. Wise in postponing
the adventure ; but, trusting in the excellence of his vessel ana
his skill as an aeronaut, he determined to make good his appoint-
ment and to satisfy every individual of his numerous audience.
He accordingly,' after a most laborious and oftentimes discou-
raging effort, succeeded in sufficiently inflating his balloon, and
getting ready for the voyage, and at the hour appointed cut loose.

*^ The ascent, although evidently hazardous, from the rupture
in the network by which he was attached to the balloon, and
from the unsteady and squally state of the atmosphere, was sub-
lime beyond description. When the cord was cut, he rose slowly
from the arena, barely clearing the top of the enclosure, and
taking a northern direction he swept across the town, just escap-
ing the house tops ; but, discharging a couple of sacks of ballast,
he soon mounted high into the aerial regions to mingle with, as
we supposed, the less angry elements above. But in this we
were mistaken, for, long before the * Vesperus' was out of sight,
she was observed to be rocking strangely, as if the elements were
no more friendly with her in her elevated position than when
bound to earth. The account subjoined, by Mr. Wise, gives a
fall history of this part of the adventure.

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248 ASCENT FROM H0LLIDAY8BUR6.

** The ascent of a balloon is a spectacle that to be realized
must be xvitnessed. No description can convey a just idea of its
sublimity and beauty, as, like some creature of life, it smoothly
and silently, and steadily mounts upwards, with its golden sides
glitterinfi^ in the rays of the sun, and its tiny basket and well-
arrangea cordage swinging gracefully beneath. And then as the
intrepid aeronaut waves his hat at a fearful altitude and sends
down a faint response to the loud huzzas below, and every breast
heaves deeply with the conflicting emotions of admiration, fear,
sympathy, and desire for like adventure, a thrill runs through the
soul that no description can produce, however true and vivid.

** We need only add here, as the evidence will be given again,
that Mr. Wise's conduct on the occasion was highly satisfactory
to all concerned, and must greatly increase his reputation as an
aeronaut ; for we venture to say no other individual ever attempted
an ascension under like unfavorable circumstances.

^* At about eight o'clock in the evening we heard of bis return,
and, repairing to the U. S. Hotel, we found Mr. Wise, somewhat
disheartened about the loss of his balloon, and looking rather worse
for the trip— his outer man having suffered considerably from his
adventure among the branches of the tree on which he lodged."

NARRATIVE.

The process of inflation was commenced at eleven o'clock
A.M., under very disparaging circumstances, as the elements
had combined from all points of the compass to a general and
boisterous storm. Nothing, in short, but the most indefatiga-
ble energy and perseverance on the part of Mr. Downy and
Mr. Wo<>Js, who had taken a most important charge under their
hands, that of keeping the *' Vesperus" to her place, could have
enabled me to have made an ascension under such a war of the ele-
ments. During the process of inflation in the beginning, the
reaction of the gas from the balloon, caused by a sudden flaw of
wind, blew ofi* the gasometer, which was soon replaced by my
energetic friend Mr. Hinkle, and the inflation resumed, but under
so much violence of the apparently frantic gamboling of the
*^ Vesperus," surging to and fro the persons who were holding on
to it, that I began to fear of their ability to endure the rough
usage they were laboring under all the time, sometimes being
partly raised up and then dashed to the ground, as by a mad*
dened steed. However, after getting the assurance of those
gentlemen that they would hold on, to use their own words, ^* to
the last ribbon," I retained my confidence in accomplishing the
ascension, until I received the heart-sickening information from

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UNDUE APPRKHEN^SION OF DANGER. 249

my friends that the network was fast giving way about the top of
the balloon. I now began to give up hopes of getting up, and
even feared that the balloon would break through her trammels
and escape; but Providence sent a gleam of sunshine, with a short
abatement of the storm, during^ which time a good supply of gas
was worked into the " Vesperus," sufficient for a long voyage.

At precisely three minutes past two o'clock, I mounted the car,
and having ballasted the vessel while it was restrained by a cord,
feeling, as I supposed, the rupture in the network increasing
at every surge, which by this time had got so large, that a bulb
as big as a hogshead was protruding through it, my preparations
were speedily completed. Kilowing now that time was precious,
I cut the rope and gave my friends below a parting salute, which
was heartily responded to by a thousand voices.

When afloat, I began to congratulate myself upon the victory
that was gained over such formidable obstacles below, and felt a
composure that the network would stand it safely now, as the
balloon was free in the air. She took a northerly direction,
ascending rapidly all the while, until an altitude of about a mile
was attained, where a violent gale was encountered which made
the balloon surge ofTin an easterly direction, swinging the car to
and fro, and making the network crack at every surge, which
alarmed me about my personal safety. Looking over the edge of
my car at the immense depth to the surface of the earth, my heart
began to sicken at the idea of falling 'that immense distance with
nothing hut the network and car to rely on ; and my sensations
were rendered still more gloomy by the lowering appearance
of the. heavens in every direction, as around and beneath the
clouds could be seen discharging torrents of rain and wind, with,
as I supposed, the moral certainty of the balloon's escaping from
the network in a very few more surges. I conld see the valleys
west of the Alleghany Mountain, on which the sun was shedding
its beams of light and life.

I looked up at the balloon, and it appeared to me that the car
was receding from it gradually, by the giving way of the net-
woric, and at this crisis an expedient flashed across my mind —
the valve rope would bear the weight of a hundred pounds, and
the top of the balloon was equally strong — my weight was thrown
upon it at once. This necessarily opened the valve to its full ex-
tent, and must soon bring the machine down to the ground.
The velocity of the wind was about fifty or sixty miles per hour, and,
between this and a rapid descent, terra firma was reached about
sixteen miles east of HoUidaysburg. As soon as practicable, an
anchor was thrown out, which grappled in a fence and capsized
it, when the machine bounded across the field, where it caught in
the next fence but broke it, carrying with it a fence rail, causing

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250 LANDING ON TOP OF A TREE.

the car to bound and rebound from the earth and dashing head-
long into a very rugged piece of mountain woodland. At this
juncture, I clasped several of the net cords in my one arm and
made a spring overboard, for a fence that was intercepting mj
path, and unfortunately for me, at the same time the rail was
loosened from the anchor, when the balloon rose with a suddea
bound — my body outside of the car — one foot fast in the rigging,
and my arm clasping several of the net cords. My right hand
was still free, with which I quickly grasped the valve rope which
had been tied to the rim of the car, and secured it in my teeth,
holding the valve open, when in another moment I found myself
dashed into the top of a high tree, where I quickly grasped
the limbs, still clasping the cords in my left arm. This brought
the balloon to for a moment, when with my right hand a hitch
round one of the limbs was taken with the anchor rope. This
was followed by a squall of wind which warned me to release my
arm hold of the cords, one foot still in the car, when, to my
utmost dismay, I found my foot tangled in the rigging. There I
was, holding on to the top of the tree with a death grip — head
down and feet up, the balloon surging and drawing the top of the
tree which I was holding to in the direction of the squall, only
abating momentarily for a more violent surge, and I could no
longer keep the valve open with my teeth, the rope had become
too long, and I could not take a shorter hold, in the dilemma,
without incurring another risk — that of letting one hand loose
from the tree top ; but things were growing desperate, and I made
a violent but successful effort to loose my foot, at the same time
grasped the valve rope in my hand, and in another moment a
terrible crash indicated the balloon was off— having broken the
anchor rope, and jerked through my hand the valve cord, burning
it as though a hot wire had passed through it, and I left hanging
in the top forks of the tree where I had fallen.

As soon as I had recovered a reasoning position, I looked
upward and just saw the balloon dashing furiously off and
upward into a dense black cloud, some distance to the northeast.
In referring to my machinery, I found that I had taken unneces-
sary alarm ; the cracking noise of the network must have arisen
from the surdng motion of the balloon, for the network had gone
through double the force since landing, and not torn off yet,
proving that it was all-sufficient to have borne its load to its desti-
nation, which greatly enhanced my chagrin, since the wind and
weather were so favorable to have reached Philadelphia before
dark. I began to reproach myself with unnecessary fear, until I
saw my hat, map, newspapers, canvass, handkerchief, &c., scat-
tered about below, when I began to think it might have been
worse, though I should never see the ** Vesperus" again.

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BALLOON ESCAPED. 251

After solUoquiziDg in the tree top awhile upon the day's adven-
ture, I thought it time to come down, for I was near a hundred
feet from the ground, learine part of the anchor rope dangling in
its top, as a port of entry lor the next aerial traveler who may
chance to land there.

Within a few weeks afterwards, I learned that the " Vesperus"
had landed, the same day of her departure from HoUidaysburg, at
half past six o'clock, on Mr. Van Valkenburg's field in the
Catskill Mountains in the State of New York. I repaired thither
and recovered the balloon. The persons in the neighborhood
were much astonished at its arrival, and it was under considera-
ble apprehension they were induced to examine it. Mr. Van
Valkenburg's son was out in the field ploughing round the
hemlock stumps when the balloon was coming down, and upon
seeing it in the air thought it was an immense bird of prey
pouncing down upon him, which alarmed him to a degree that
after he had fled to the house he was affected with violent spasm3.
— The balloon was suffered to roll and toss about the hemlock
stumps for some time before it was secured. The next wonder
to the persons that secured it was, the newspapers that had
remained in the car, they bearing the date of the day on which
they found it, and HoUidaysburg was a place they knew nothing
of, until they looked over their geographies ; and then its being
several hundred miles off over the mountains and rivers, puzzled
them still more. The balloon was cut in six sections when I got
it, Mr. Van Valkenburg informing me that an individual who had
come along that way, and who professed to be well informed in
such matters, cut it up in that manner for them. The shrubbery
which had been twined around the car before it started, had
turned entirely black, showing that it had been in a high frosty
atmosphere. The balloon had no doubt bursted from the expan-
sion of the gas, which caused it to come down so soon.

Before I took it away all these wonderments of the people were
explained to them, and they expressed a great desire to have an
exhibition of such a novel kind in their neighborhood. This
machine was fixed up again, and after making a number of trips
with it, two from the city of Columbia in South Carolina, I sold it
to a gentleman of that State.

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252 ASCENT FROM WEST CHESTER, PA.

CHAPTER XXII.

Ascent from West Chester, Pa. — ^Extracts from aerial log-book — ^Descent
in a thunder storm — Car struck with lightning — Alarm of it — No serious
consequences — Another ascent from West Chester — ^Nezt ascent was
made from Utica, N. Y. — First ever made from that city — *' Daily
Gazette's" account of it — ^Anotiier from Utica — ^Project of war
balloon to reduce the castle of San Juan de UUoa at Vera Cnu — Ofifer
to goTemment — Comments on it — ^Letter to the war department eon-
cerning it.

A NUMBER of ascensions -were made which will be passed over
silently on account of them not comprising anything that would
sufficiently vary from those already recounted. The next one
worthy of note was made from West Chester, Pa. On this
occasion, it was my intention to sail as near the surface of the earth
as practicable, with a balloon 6f limited size, and the log-book of the
Toyage will show how &r I succeeded in that respect. A balloon
of twenty-one feet diameter is very liable to fluctuate in height,
compared to that which a fifty or hundred feet diameter one
would be. There also occurred an electrical discharge in the
ending of this voyage that is worthy of note.

A West Chester newspaper notices it in the following lan-
guage : '* Mr. Wise, the aeronaut, made a voyage to the clouds
from this borough, on Saturday last. A dense concourse of
witnesses were present, assembled from hill and valley, and town
and country — of the young, the old, the gay, the beautiful —
sturdy manhood and sweet and blooming maidenhood — it was a
great day. Hundreds were there, all agog, with eager curiosity,
to see the last wonder of the world — l£e navigation of the air!
The day was damp, which detained the ascension for an hour or
so; but it did not stop it — for a little after four o'clock, the
balloon was filled — the car attached, and the daring adventurer
mounted his impatient courser — the cords were cut; and now he
rose from the earth, gradually, easily at first, but majestically,
amid a thousand cheers which welcomed him to the skies ;
upwards he went — and onward — onward, with the winds, until
he dwindled to a speck and was lost in the clouds. So ended
the grand sight. All was joy and exhilaration, and manv a
youth will, fifty years hence, relate the vision of that day.

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INTERESTING VO:r AGE— CONVERSATION. 258

Nothing 'occurred to mar the harmony of the daj except the
accidental bursting of one of the sand bags as the aeronaut
ascended from the enclosure, on the outside. The following is
from his log-book."

AEBIAL LOG-BOOK OF FIFTY-FOURTH ATMOSPHERIC VOYAGE.

BALLOON ROUGH AND READY.

West Chester, Pa,, An^st 8ih, 1846.

Four o'clock iSfteen minutes, started with a southerly breeze,
at the rate of twenty-five miles per hour.

Four o'clock twenty minutes, atmosphere to the soiith and
east perfectly clear. Can see Philadelphia as distinctly now as
it has been seen at other times when not more than three mUes
off. The rain in that direction has cleared the atmosphere. See
some sails on the Delaware — sun shining against them gives
them a golden hue — ^vessels as distinct to my view as though I
were on the river bank. Four o'clock thirty-five minutes,
rumbling thunder to the far north. Four o'clock forty-five
minutes, crossed Pennsylvania railroad.

[It may be here observed that the balloon was sailing towards
the nortb-east, and a thundergust was moving from the north-
west, about fifty or sixty miles to the north-west of me — thus mov-
ing at right angles with each other, and the remarkable result of
the balloon meeting the storm at the point of intersection.]

Five o'clock, lost sight of West Chester. Came down now
within good speaking distance of the earth, and so low that the
Delaware vanished from view. Thunder pealing louder now,
but no lightning perceptible. Talking to the people below as I
passed alone. Dogs barking at the balloon, and poultry dis-
mayed in the barn-yards, keeping an alarming clatter. Dis-
tributing newspapers to persons below who run and pick them
up. Balloon moving rapidly. A man on horseback in hot pursuit.
" Come on, come on, I'll give you the latest news from West
Chester." Several papers were dropped now. There,-he grasps
at one from his horse. " Have you got it?" " Fe*, «r." ** Good*
by, sir," said I. " Come down^'^ sdtjs he.

Five o'clock ten minutes, crossed Schuylkill above Norris-
town — threw out ballast and ascended very high. Can see all
around to a great distance. Phoenixville, a little up the river.
Groing too much east to reach Reading. Come down again to
within good speaking distance of the earth.

Five o'clock twenty minutes, near the Trappe, and over the
Reading and Philadelphia pike. Invitations from all around me
to " come down ;" threw over some newspapers to the people-

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264 BALLOON STRUCK WITH LIGHTNING.

inquired if I could get supper there. " Yes, anything you want."
To cap the climax, one of them sang out — ^* Came downy and I
trill give you a botUe of brandy. ^^ " Thank you, sir ; spvrited
enough ; I believe I'll go a little further."

Five o'clock thirty-five minutes, thundergust approaching the
track of the balloon. Low enou^ to bear the wind rustling in
the trees. A great many persons following the balloon. Some
give up the chase ; others strike in with fresh vigor.

Five o'clock forty-five minutes, moving parallel with the Nor-
ristown and Sumanytown road. Storm and balloon converging
to the same point — vivid flashes of lightning were now occasion-
ally to be seen In the north.

Five o'clock fifty-five minutes, a man on a black horse in hot
pursuit up the road — horse's head and tail in a straight line. The
race is beautiful and exciting. He is losing ground every jump.
Now he holds up a mile behind.

Six o'clock, and moving over a thick wood. Here I ceased
taking notes — the car was near the tree tops — ^thick woods under-
neath, and a roaring thunder storm just ahead. Already its com-
motion was acting on the balloon, and it would not do to seek
shelter amon^ the trees below, and yet the alternative was to do
that or sail nght into the teeth of the storm, for there was not
ballast enough left to ensufe an ascent above it before getting into
its midst. Indeed, it required all my ballast to keep above the tree
tops until the woods were passed, and this bronght me right into
the thundergust. A number of persons were following me from
the woods s^t, but they could not keep pace with the balloon,
falling back three quarters in the mile. As soon as a clear spot
was attained, the anchor was thrown out, and the moment it
struck the ground a vivid flash of lightning hurled the balloon
against a tall oak tree. What appeared to me remarkable in this,
was the absence of a report, but the fire flashed from my car and
flag, the latter hurled out of the basket where it had been stuck in
the wicker-work. This flash reminded me of the sparks that fly off
from a piece of white-hot iron just taken from the forge on the
anvil, and struck with the blacksmith's hammer; and the noise
was very similar to that also. Just at this moment, a young man
was running to my assistance, intending to catch hold of a drag
rope which I had thrown out and requested him to take and make
a hitch to a tree with, of which there were plenty around. But the
flash brought him up suddenly, and made him stand aghast, and
immediately retire. The balloon was now tangled in the oak tree,
and the smoke I had observed at the time of the flash, which,
with the sulphurous smell, had alarmed me, was the gas issuing
from the breaks it received against the scraggy branches of the
tree. Fortunate it was, that there was no escape of gas at the

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ASCEKT FROM UTICA. N. Y. 255

time of the electrical flash, or an explosion might, and would, in
all probability, have been the result.

The persons who had ibllowed me from the woods, now came
up, and before we could roll up the balloon^ the gas having
escaped readily from the breaches in it, we were enveloped in a
terrible storm of thunder, lightning, and pouring rain.

When I returned to West Chester, arrangements were made
for another ascension from that place, on the 24tb of the same
month, but nothing of importan^ce was elicited in its adventure.

In the beginning of the following September, I made an ascen-
sion from the city of Utica, in the State of New York, having
received an invitation from there. It was the first ascension ever
made from Utica. The ** Daily Gazette" of that place spoke of
it in the following tone: ^^All who witnessed this ascension,
agree to its being one of the most beautiful, interesting, and sub-
line sights that can be seen. Its peculiar attractiveness, however,
cannot be described. There is something in the rise of any in-
animate body in the air, that always singularly interests us; wit-
ness the kite and ordinary paper balloon. The philosophy of this
feeling we do not profess to understsind ; perhaps it is the satis-
faction of overcoming the usual course of nature. Be that as it
may, this feeling is immeasurably heightened on beholding a
body of the size of "Mr., Wise's balloon, some twenty feel in
diameter, cleaving its way through the air to the skies. Even
without the additional interest of a person ascending with it,
the ascension of so large a body would at any time fix the atten-
tion of a whole population for hours. But when there is con-
nected with it the idea of a human being carried by its resistless
power thousands of feet into mid air, and suspended over the
earth at this dizzy height, with nothing but a slender willow
basket between him and inevitable destruction, the excitement
and interest become almost painful by their intensity. No one
will forget the sight till his dying day.

" The ascension of Mr. Wise was an unusually beautiful one.
He rose from the garden at an angle, moving off north-westwardly,
and at the same time rapidly ascending, so that before he had
passed the city limits he was greatly above our highest steeples.
Having ^ne perhaps a couple of miles in that direction, con-
tinually increasing his distance from the earth, the balloon, taken
by another current of air, was borne more northwardly, and for
a short time seemed bound for Trenton Falls, till an eastwardly
current took it and passed it, hovering over the Deerfield hills,
in review of the city. In less than thirty minutes, this great
fabric, which, had gone out of the garden with such a rush, hav-
ing gradually diminished to a mere speck against the clouds,
went down out of sight beyond the hills.

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256 VOYAGE DESCRIBED W A SPECTATOR.

** Mr. Wise says that, immediately on riisiDg, tlie ivfaole country
around was visible to him ; the Tillages, the streams of water,
the fields and forests ; the whole appearing as if scattered upon
a Tast plain, and like an immense garden of indescribable
beauty. He was so much elated by the richness and beauty of
the prospect, that he could not forbear ciying out with enthusi-
asm, * Hurrah for old Oneida.' His field of vision extended about
thirty miles each way. The south was everywhere full of the
evidences of a fertile and thickly settled country, the distant vil-
lages appearing like dots on the surrounding verdure, the roads
traceable for miles like yellow threads, the water in a thousand
places flashing in the sunlight. To use his own expression, * if
the felicity of heaven is comparable to the pleasurable enjoyment
experienced when thus viewing the earth beneath one, it is worth
a lifetime's devotion for its attainment.' He says he was sur-
prised at the appearance of Utica, which from his ground view
he had taken to be a very regular place, but from his elevation,
it was the most singular place he had ever seen. The streets
were a perfect snarl, the plan of the city exhibiting entire irregu-
larity and its boundaries presenting several sharp points. To
the west he could see part of a lake (Oneida), and along the
north-east, for an immense extent, lay an unbroken wilderness
(* John Brown's tra^'). The fear of getting into this region,
and being thus unable to fulfil his engagement at the garden, at
eight o'clock the same evening, kept him from going above the
clouds, which he reached at one portion of his voyage.

'^The course of his voyage he describes as being something like
the letter S. When he appeared to us, sailing along this side of
the summit of the Deerfield hills, he was, in fact, three or four
miles the other side, and the descent we witnessed was made at
about that distance beyond the top of the hill where he appeared
to land. His highest point was made as he was coming from
the north, eastward towards the railroad.* He then attained a
height of about five thousand feet, or nearly a mile. As he passed
along he could hear the shouts from the farm houses below, but
could not distinguish persons. At the easternmost point of his
trip, seeing a village (Russia), with a convenient steeple for him
to descend upon, be discharged some of the gas and commenced
descending, but as he thought probable, he came again into the
westerly current of air which he took on first ascending, and by
which he was carried three or four miles, at the height of a few
hundred feet only from the earth. In this way he passed over a
large forest, and coming to a suitable field, he threw out his line
and drew his balloon towards the ground, and finally catching
hold of a stake in the fence, made fast, forty-five minutes from
the time he left the garden, ten miles from the city. He employed

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CAPTURING VERA CRUZ WITH BALLOON. 257

a couple of men to tow him back to Utica, intending to make
his first landing in the City Garden, but a storm coming on when
he had got within sight of the town, he discharged the gas and
packed up his balloon."

In two weeks, another ascension was made from Utica with
about the same success and details.

Our government being now at war with the Mexican nation,
and hostility between the two countries growing stronger every
day, it was determined by our war department that the formidable
Castle'of San Juan de Ulloa should be reduced. Various projects
were under consultation at Washington designed to such an end,
upon which I thought it proper to submit the following to our
government : —

EASY METHOD OF CAPTURING THE CASTLE OF VERA

CRUZ.

The present condition of the war with Mexico will require our
forces to reduce Vera Cruz. And it is acknowledged on all sides
to be an extraordinarily well fortified point of defence, almost im-
pregnable to the common mode of warfare, and at best cannot be
taken in that way without a great sacrifice of life and ammu-
nition. I will, therefore, suggest a plan to our war department,
which will render the capture of the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa
as feasible and easy as the launching of a frigate.

Although the plan I shall propose may seem novel to many,
still a brief detail of it, I think, will satisfy the most incredulous of
its efficiency. In the first place, it will require a balloon of com-
mon twilled muslin, of about a hundred feet in diameter. This
machine, properly coated with varnish, will retain its buoyancy
for many days or weeks. It will be capable, when inflated, to
raise over 30,000 pounds. Say 20,000 independent of its own
weight, network, car and cable. It can be inflated in a day, or
less time if necessary. The process of inflation may be accom-
plished on land, or on board a man-of-war at sea, as circumstances
may require. The car to be ladened with percussioned bomb
shells and torpedoes to the amount of 18,000 pounds, which will
leave two thousand pounds for ballast and men. Thus it will be
ready to be placed in a position for deadly action, in a very short
time. The cable by which it is to be mancBuvred may be at
least five miles long, so that the balloon at a mile of elevation
would leave the vessel, or land position, which act as the
retaining point, out of the reach of the castle guns,' and under the
cover of our own batteries. The man-of-war balloon hovering a
mile above the castle like a cloud of destruction, would be en-
17

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258 PROPOSITION CONSIDERED.

tirely out of danger of the enemy's guns, since they could not be
made to bear on an object immediately above them. The position
of the balloon as to height, and distance from the retaining point,
could be maintained by keeping a proper eye to its ballasting.
As it would become lightened by the discharging of shells and
torpedoes, an adequate quantity of gas can also be discharged.

If a gun from the castle could be ever made to bear upon the war
balloon, it would soon be silenced by the rapidity, precision and
certainty with which the deadly missiles could be showered down
upon them.

With this aerial war ship hanging a mile above the fort, sup-
plied with a thousand percussioned bomb shells, the Castle of
Vera Cruz could be taken without the loss of a single lifjs to our
army, and at an expense that would be comparatively nothing to
what it will be to take it by the common mode of attack.

Through the medium of your journal I would most respectfully
suggest this plan to our government, and will tender my services
for its construction, and when constructed, will, if necessary,
most cheerfully undertake its directorship into actual service, at
a moment's warning.

Yours, respectfully,

JOHN WISE,

Lancaster, Oct. 22d, 1846.

The proposition drew out a great many opinions and comment-
aries upon the plan, one of which we will state, taken from the
'* Philadelphia Public Ledger^" " The public have been amused
by the many comments upon Mr. Wise's plan of taking San
Juan de Ulloa by balloons, lading them with men and explosive
bombs, raise them over the devoted castle, and let the bombs fall
upon it and blow up by concussion. This new method of besieging
a fortress has been discussed in every vein of seriousness, wit or
contumely, as the idea seemed feasible, funnyor absurd to various
minds. At a recent party in Frankfort, Ky., the subject became
a topic of conversation. After a number of persons had said their
say^ pro and con, a distinguished wit — an ex-governor of the
State — was called upon for his views touching the same. With
^reat dignity he pronounced the plan an admirable one, and the
inventor a man of military genius ; but, he added, ^ I think it
will be a very troublesome matter to enlist volunteers for that
service.' "

. Soon after this, the following note was addressed to the War
Department: —

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LETTER TO WAR DEPARTMENT. 259

Lanccuter, Dec. 10th, 1846.
Ex' Governor Marcy, Secretary of War of the United States.

Sir : — ^You have no doubt seen, and perhaps somewhat con-
sidered over the plan and proposition I suggested through the
Eublic prints, for the reduction of the Castle of San Juan de
Uoa by balloon. Wer^ it not for the incredulity and prejudice
that invariably meet new ideas and projects, I should from the
commencement have submitted it to the War Department, for
scrutiny. But believing that it would best be tested by ^' public
opinion" in bringing out serious objections to its feasibility, I
chose the course of having it first analyzed in the popular
crucible. By this course I would be enabled to discover, what
in my first conceptions of the plan might have been overlooked,
and thereby save myself the trouble of further urging its merits
towards action, as also any formal application for its considera-
tion by the War Department.

So far from any well-founded objections having as yet been
urged against its practicableness, I have some of the best minds
in the country to sustain the project. And upon a mature and
deliberate review of the whole subject, in its minutest details,
I write to you with a most unwavering conviction, of not only
its practicability, but my ability to give it the desired effect. It
will be unnecessary for me at present to enter into any detailed
account of the necessary requisites to its consummation, but I will
state, that the cost of outfit, independent of the war projectiles,
would be but a trifling matter, compared with th^ magnitude of
the work it would be capable of accomplishing. As to the ob-
jections that may, or can be urged against its feasibility, I am
ready to rebut them Avith mathematical and philosophical demon-
strations. Should the war department desire to have further
explanations of its character, or to have any objections to its
practicability refuted, they will be explained and met by me
upon the first intimation of such a request. The novelty, or
chimericalness of its character, will, T trust, have but little
weight upon the minds of the intellect composing our govern-
ment in deterring them from a fair and impartial scrutiny of a
subject so pregnant with national welfare.

It has been hinted that it would be difficult to get men that
would act in such an enterprise. — This belief is as unfounded as
any other I have yet urged against it. It would require but nine
assistants in the bomb-car, and that number I will guarantee to
secure from our own city.

With an earnest solicitude for its early consideration, I remain
your fellow citizen,

JOIDf WISE.

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260 ATTRACTION OF GRAVITATION.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Career of 1847 — ^Philosophers should go up with balloons — Earth's attrac-
tion — ^Ballooning only ahead of the age — ^Letter from Professor Henry*,
Secretary of " Smithsonian Institution'' — HoUowness of the globe de-
monstrable by the laws of atmospheric pressure — Matter and its laws —
Another ascent from Utica — ^Next from Syracuse, N. Y. — ^Narrative of
it.

In the summer of 1847 I commenced the season's ballooning
campaign in the city of Lancaster. Having sold the old Rough
and Ready to Mr. Smith, of Utica, a gentleman of high scientific
attainments, a new one was made during the winter, which also
was named ".Rough and Ready." The following extracts are
from the journal of this first ascension with the new balloon,
which was made on the 7th of June : to wit — I will not on this
occasion rehearse the beauties of the Conestogo Valley ; but, that
the magnificence of the scenery, and natural inspiration of the
observer arising from a combination of causes while sailing
through the ethereal heaven over such a specially blessed land,
must approximate the state of heaven's bliss, I am justified to
assume.

It seems to me ^remarkable that a subject which is theoretically
so well understood and so practically safe, as is ballooning, and
which holds out such extraordinary inducements to the scientific
world, and such grand mental exaltations and developments of
nature's poetry, should be so sparingly enjoyed by the philosopher
and poet. The United States has never yet been honored with
an ascent of one of its notable men with, a balloon, while France
and Italy each have the credit of one of these rare instances.

Now whatever may be the force and condition of the earth's
attraction near any part of its surface, I find that at the height of
a mile or two from it, light bodies show a remarkably diminished
degree of attraction of gravitation. From a series of experiments
made with sand, pith balls, slipis of paper, and ribbons, it seedis
that the balloon and its appendages, attracted them more than
the earth did, when they came in close proximity to any part of
the machine, or, I might say, when within its individual atmo-
sphere. Frequently, the ribbon, or slip of paper, as the case
happened to be, would vibrate between the car and the body of

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ATTRACTION OF GRAVITATION. 261

the balloon, /idUng up and down agreeably to the jarrings and
motions incident to it. Whether this is attributable to the power
of the balloon's attraction, from its being at the time a perfectly
isolated body, or from a diminution of gravitation agreeably to the
distance from the earth, I had not at the time the means of test-
ing. ' On a future occasion I will test it with a delicate spring
balance, in weighing a body at the earth's surface, and weighing
it again at a great height. If the earth is hollow, as the economy
of nature indicates it to be, and the law of gravitation arises from
the actiuil weight or quantity of matter ^ a height of three miles
from the earth would, no doubt, show an appreciable difference
in the weight of bodies. There is a connection between an in-
flated and duly ballasted balloon and the earth, so extraordinary,
which I have for a lotigtime observed, which makes me think that
the law of attraction of gravitation is governed by the actual
weight of bodies, and not by tKeir surfaces. This has been indi-
cated to me in the practice of ballooning, too strongly, to go un-
observed, and yet there are so many causes affecting the position
of a balloon when near the earth, that I would rather seek its
solution by the actual trial of weighing a given body at the two
remotest attainable points, than to depend on hypothetical sta-
tics alone, which do not sufficiently explain this phen6menon of
a balloon's labor when near the surface of the earth.

There are so many influencing causes to be taken into con-
sideration in connection with the effects here mentioned, that
nothing short of repeatedly varied experiments will be sufficient
to determine definite conclusions. We have now systems and
sciences, connected with this subject, which are based so much
on hypothesis alone, that we should be very cautious in con-
clusions upon experiments, ^nrhether they may, or may not, be
fully corroborative of repeived theories.

In concluding this account I would remark, that ballooning is
aboat half a century ahead of the age, but if the spirit of me-
chanical progress, necessarily requisite to a high attainment of
scientific principles, keeps pace with the onward march of intel-
lect, our children will travel to any part of the globe without the
inconvenience of smoke^ sparks^ and sea-Hckness^ and at the rate
of one hundred miles per hour. .

While on the subject of attraction of gravitation, it will not be
out of place here to state that I addressed a letter to Professor
Joseph Henry, on that question, and also regarding the atmo-
spherical currents, and here is his reply :

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262 LETTER FROM PROFESSOR HENRY.

^miihaonian LuHtiOum, May 8th, 1849.
My Dear Sir:

The inquiry with regard to the hollowness of the interior of the
earth could not be solved by any yariation of gravity above the ex-
terior surface, for it can be mathematically demonstrated, that the
attraction of a solid globe, and also of a hollow sphere, are the same,
as if all the matter of each were concentrated in its centre. The law
of diminution of gravitation, as measured above the earth, would
be the same in both cases. A spring balance, if sufficiently deli-
cate, would indicate a difference in the weight of a body sus-
pended from it at different elevations. But this, as I have said
before, would give no information as to the hollowness of the earth.

I have no doubt that there are great currents in, the upper
regions of the atmosphere, and particularly the return currents of
the trade winds, which should blow continually from south-west
to north-east. Should you conclude to make another aerial
voyage, I should be pleased to suggest some observations.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOSEPH HENRY,
Secretary to Smithsonian Institution.
John Wise, Esq.

It is proper to state that I made the particular inquiry of Pro-
fessor Henry, whether there was a difference between the laws of
electrical attraction and attraction of gravitation, as laid down in
received hypothetical science. My own hypothesis is, that as the
atmosphere finds its minimum density at about forty-five miles
above the surface of the earth, it must necessarily find its max-
imum density forty-five miles under the surface of the earth,
which, according to the law of atmospheric pressure, would bring
the air to about the density of water, at that depth below the
earth's outer surface, which I presumed to be the thickness of its
crust, or shell. According to this law of atmospheric density,
and the equally well known law of water's slowly increasing den-
sity at great depths — that is, its incompressibility, these two
elements could not exist as different or distinct bodies forty-five
miles below the earth's surface, but must minde into one body
or one mass from their equal densities or specific gravities, and
their equally well established fluidities, and therefore, the relation
of distinction in these substances, so important on the earth's
surface, must there cease, and the reasonable presumption fol-
low, that a new order of things exists from this point inward.
From these established laws of pressure and density, and the
fact that water and air are found in the depths of the earth, and
the reasonable hypothesis of the earth's hollowness, and its inner
cavity being necessarily filled with an atmosphere or fluid of some

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ATTRACTION CONSIDERED. 268

kind as dense as water^ many of the phenomena which we now
only know by their actual existence, may be solved by these
laws and principles : particularly those of tides, spouting springs,
aurora-borealis and volc^anic eruptions.

In thus following out these inductive reasonings, I perceived
that the weight of the earth would not be much, if any, less, by
being hollow, than if it were composed of clay, rock and water all
through, which, however, cannot be the case under the known
law of atmospheric pressure and density, as, at the very moderate
depth of fifty or sixty miles under the earth's surface, air would
be vastly denser and heavier than water, clay or rock. There-
fore, wiiether we assume the earth to be hollow, or solid all
through, judging from matter and its laws as existing, there could
be no solution as to the certainty of the one or the other by. the
test of weighing a body at the points mentioned with a delicate
spring balance.

Pursuing the investigation of matter, and its conditions, under
the well-known laws which govern it, we cannot conclude, that
at the outer borders of our atmosphere a vacuum commepces;
but we must rationally conclude, that a new order of matter com-
mences, different from a merely highly rarefied condition of air.
Caloric, or what we know by imponderable matter, may at that

Eoint assume a character of substantiality sufficiently dense to
eep the earth afloat in it. An atmosphere of high pressure steam,
seems to be nothing more than water minuteljr divided and highly
charged with calorific atoms, a condition which may be induc-
tively attributed to the medium existing between the planets, and
which commences where, our atmosphere ceases to exist.

Having in the beginning of this work stated that meteorology
should not pass unnoticed, the remarks just made concerning the
internal condition of the eaith having naturally growp out of it,
will not be considered impertinent to the subject.

During the summer of '47, a third ascension was made from
Utica on the 5th of July, in which a distance of five miles was
made before the descent. No particular journal being kept of the
trip, the following notice from the Daily Gazette, of that place,
will suffice : — '* In about an hour, or an hour and a half, the
aeronaut returned with his balloon still inflated, himself in the car,
which hung a few feet above the ground, the whole drawn for-
ward by a barouche and accompanied by a crowd of the curious,
by whom it was escorted in triumph through the streets to the
place from which it ascended. Here a cord was attached to the
balloon, and a number of ladies tried a short aerial voyage.
None of them have, as yet, however, sent us any account of their
discoveries." ,

The next trip was made from Syracuse, N.Y., July 17th. Part

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264 BALLOONING IN YORK STATE.

of the journal will be quoted : — Onondaga Lake looked like a
tiny fish pond, and the salt sheds around the northwestern part of
the town had the appearance of so many market houses strung in
parallel rows at diifereot places. Salina, Geddes and Liverpool
looked like elongations of the Vena Porta of Syracuse. To the
east of me, and apparently not far oflf, lay two considerable vil-
lages, which I cannot name. The great Erie canal also seemed
awakened to the scene of the day — the numberless craft on its
water held up to see the balloon, the crews of which sent loud
and repeated cheers jTor miles each way. The town appeared
like a perfect beehive, and the arena, graced with a tremendous
throng — yes, a tremendous throng of Onondaga's fair daughters,
had all the appearance, when looked upon from so great a height,
of one of Aladdin's enchanted scenes. All nature sang in one
harmonious strain of music — softly and sweetly faded the shouts,
the murmurs, the seolian-like concert of nature's revelry upon my
ears, as^ the last boundary of hearing was passing by.

And now I was far, far above the sphere of human recreation —
no sounds, no cheering longer greeted my ears — the fair town of
Syracuse, like her ancient prototype, was fast fading away in
the distant mist — nature with her sweetened voice and fairy
green was dying away in the evanescent vapor of a doubtful
reality — the cold, chilly atmosphere of a two miles' height, made
me shudder involuntarily ; in spite of all my efibrts to the con-
trary my teeth chattered with all the fervor of a cold ague. How
changed ! in a few moments, from the arena of nature^s most
gorgeous scenery, I ^as transferred as it were, into the icy
chamber of death. Oneida Lake appeared to be gaping eagerly
to receive me in its cold embrace.

Suddenly, I awoke from my revery ; I looked around once
more, above, below, to earth ;'I caught hold of the valve rope —
soon the vapor was shooting upwards by me ; I was falling rapidly
into a more congenial climate, and in a few moments more was
down in a hemlock clearing, tearing up fences, limbs of trees, &c.,
until the grapple iron finally took substantial effect in. a hemlock
stump, about six miles from Syracuse.

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SPLENDID SCENES IN THE LAKE-COUNTRY. 265

CHAPTER XXIV,

Ascent from Auburn, N.Y. — ^Narrative of its extraordinary magnificenoe
and grandeur — ** A speck in the horizon" — Ascent from Buffalo City,
N.Y. — ^Windy weathei>— View of Niagara Falls from balloon — ^Disap-
pointment of expectations — ^Looked like a frothy bubble — Another
ascent firom Buffalo— Driren out on Lake Erie— Rescued by "brig
Eureka/' Captain Bumell — ** Buffalo Courier'^ notice of it — ^Ascents
from Rochester — Oswego — One from Washington City, D. 0.

On the 24th of July, 1847, 1 made an ascension from Auburn,
a flourishing and beautiful town, situated about twenty-five miles
west and a little south of Syracuse, making it a favorable point to
reach Syracuse from, by the upper current which always blows
from west to east. It was a magnificent Toyage, and the main
part of the journal is worth a perusal here, to wit : — Up, up I
soared, almost perpendicularly, until an altitude of at least a mile
and a half was reached, when I began to look around me, and
then, great God! — ^yes, I made the exclamation again as I
was sitting with my pencil and log-book in hand riveted to the
sight — great God ! what a scene of grandeur ! Oft have I elijoyed
and reveled in the intellectual indulgences of nature's luxuries.
Many, many beautiful and magnificent scenes have I witnessed,
but this surpasses all. Such were my involuntary exclamations.
I looked around again and again, still the reality seemed like a
splendid dream — an enchantment — it was too rich a scene to be
deprived of, by a short trip. After I had viewed, and reviewed
the vast panoramic plain, and wondered at, and admired the
handiwork of the Creator — its amplitude and order, I would try
to settle my mind down to a cool and descriptive standard, but
admiration and amazement had enchained my thoughts alone for
nearly one hour, and ejaculations flowed over the glorious spec-
tacle beneath me. The vastness of the scene, ^extending nearly
a hundred miles each way (the atmosphere was very transparent),
beautifully interspersed with lakes ; the innumerable villages,
many of them glittering with silvery domes and spires ; the tiny
and tastefully decorated prison-house at Auburn ; the thousands
of variegated gr9ss-plats ; the solden tinge of the waving grain
fields ; the glossy surfaces of the lakes dazzling in the sun-
beams; the lights and shadows over the general surface caused

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/^

266 A SPECK IN THE HORIZON.

by a partly clouded sky ; the huge precipices of clouds lying to
the east and partly beneath me ; the wide mirror-like surface of
Lake Ontario, with its fringed southern border ; the cities in the
evanescent distance decorated with brilliant specks, with a thou-
sand other things, so completely absorbed my mind, that when I
looked at my watch I found that I had been aloft one hour and
ten minutes.

Looking up at the balloon, I found her discharging gas at the
safety valve. Although but half filled when she left the garden
at Auburn, the immense machine was now full and distended to
the utmost tension, showing that my altitude was over two miles.
A cluster of detached clouds was hanging between me and Syra-
cuse some distance off. Here I took another observation of the
lakes, and counted thirteen in view — Lake Ontario looked like an
immense sea, its northern boundary lost in the distant heavens.
After being aloft one hour and a half I found myself crossing
Onondaga Lake, having northed too much for Syracuse, and
making direct for Liverpool, a village five or six miles above the
latter place, near which I made a landing, breaking the Oswego
telegraph wires with the g^rappling iron.

The balance of the account is best told by the Syracuse
Journal.

A SPECK IN THE HORLZON.

^^ When Mr. Wise had determined upon making an ascension
fron\ Auburn on Saturday, he assured several of his Syracuse
friends that should the weather prove favorable, he would endea-
vor to pay them a flying visit, and possibly take tea with them
on Saturday evening. This was thought a very good joke.

^'A few minutes before five o'clock Saturday afternoon, as a
number of the more credulous were on the." look out," they
thought they espied something far at the southwest that might be
a balloon. It was no bigger than a man's hand, to be sure, but
it moved Mike a thing of life' through vast expanse, guiding
itself majestically like some proud

< Lord of the boundless realm/

and gradually increasing in size as it approached. Ere long, all
doubt was at an end. The balloon and its voyager were now
fairly in view. It was a gtorious, a beautiful sight ! and thou*
sands in all directions were wrapped up in its admiration. The
course of the balloon was to the northeast, and it passed directly
over Geddes, thence over Onondaga Lake to Salina, when Mr.
Wise began to descend. In lowering his ship, a sub-current of
air CBTti&i him toward Liverpool, and at thirty-five minutes past

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ASCENT FROM BUFFALO, AND NIAGARA FALLS. 26T

five o'clock, he landed on Mr. Waterbury's farm, about six miles
from this village. There he was soon met by numerous friends,
in carriages, from Syracuse, who had followed his course.

^'In making his descension, Mr. Wise still kept the balloon
inflated, and soon made his appearance in our streets, seated
comfortably in his car, ready for another trip to the * ether blue.*
A farmer's wagon piloted the aeronaut and his apparatus through
Salina street to the Syracuse House., Here, as may readily be
supposed, a large crowd gathered. Mr. Wise was. evidently ,
much pleased with the success of his journey, and the welcome
he had received. To gratify curiosity, and at the request of
many, he prepared and made an ascension ' from in front of the
Syracuse House about seven and a half, amid the shouts of the
crowd. He traveled a short distance west, landing .somewhere
in the vicinity of Geddes. At half-past ei^ht o'^clock he returned
to Syracuse, and redeemed the promise.to take tea with his friends."

My next ascension was made from Buffalo, and the first
successful one that had ever been made from that place, as I was
informed.

AERIAL LOG-BOOK OF SIXTY-SECOND VOYAGE.

MEMORANDA.

Buffalo City, Morns' Garden, Jaly Slst, 1847.

Four P. M. precisely, started with aerial ship " Rough and
Ready" under ballast and brisk gale from the S. S. W., wind
moving at the rate of a mile per minute. Started with considera-
ble ascending power, but the current was so strong, that in order
to make a more perpendicular, rise thirty .pounds of ballast were
thrown overboard, which having lightened the vessel, and a
strong gale blowing against it as it rose, caused it to pitch anc)
gyrate with a desperate motion, which turned the balloop about
one third round in the network, and made the valve partly
unmanageable.

My first observation was the place I had left, which was five
minutes afterwards. The city, although covering much territory,
seemed compressed into an area of a hundred yards square.
L^e Erie appeared tapered off to a narrow ragged pond on its
eastern extremity, then it diverged into two narrow silvery
threads, which re-united again around a small green plat« |
Upon reflection I concluded this must be Grand Island, and j
immediately my attention was drawn to a search for Niagara ,'
Falls, as I heaitl a slightly nishing noise of waterfall. My eye -
soon rested upon it, and after scanning it for a few moments I
involuntarily cried out " Is that the falls ?" And no wonder, for .

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268 COMING DOWN ON LAKE ERIE.

^ it looked like a cascade, such as we see in pleasure gardeas. I
; was disappointed, for my mind bad been bent upon a soliloquy on
' Niagara's raging grandeur, but it was a bubble ; it looked too
« small.

The scenery of the great panorama surrounding it could only

absorb my mind. The little frotby bubble had too much the

appearance of a foaming glass of London brown stout, and it

' was insufficient of itself to excite an idea beyond that. It looks

like a little humbug when viewed from the clouds. The scenery

j around was not so pleasing as that presented around Auburn, and

: Syracuse, and 'Utica. Here the country appeared dry when

viewed away from Lake Erie. A vast plain well wooded, with

few roads and less villages, it was altogether of a barren cast.

I made a landing at Williamsville, and was within a few feet
of grappling into their church steeple, which might have caused
serious consequences to it at the rate the balloon was moving, had
it caught into it. This is distant from Buffalo twelve miles.

The Buffalo " Express" says . of this experiment : — " The
ascension was made under disadvantageous circumstances, but so
perfect and so beautiful was it, as to settle in the minds of the
people of Buffalo — a large concourse of whom honored the occa-
sion with their presence on the outside of the Garden-r-the fact
that this aeronaut never fails."*

A week after this another ascension was m^de from this place.

AERIAL LOG-BOOK OF SIXTY-TIHRD VOYAGE.

Buffalo City, August 6th, 1847.
Left Morris' Garden at precisely six minutes past four o'clock
with the aerial ship << Rough and Ready." Wind from the north,
balloon rising slowly. Threw over some ballast — men, women
and children scrambling out of the way. Ascent became more
rapid. Rising, and moving along parallel with Main street*—
a little east of it. As I rose, the current bore for the lake ; began
to feel chilly upon the thoughts of a ducking. One mile out on
the lake, threw out more ballast to reach the great, eastward
current. Got up a mile and struck a current at the rate of
twenty miles per hour up the lake. This won't do, I shall get
out ten or twelve miles before I can reach it, and then probably
be blown into Canada, where I would stand a chance of arrest for
contraband. Opened valve and came down within speaking dis-
tance, just over a brig ^ing into Buffalo. '< Ahoy, what vessel?"
"Brig Eureka, Captain Bumell." "Will you lower a boat,
captain, if I come down ?" "Certainly, sir," answered Captain
Bumell. " Then I'll be down presently." Came down with all

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RESCUED BY BRIG EUREKA. 269

dispatch — the brig laid too, but I got astern of her several miles
before her boat was lowered, and by that time my car struck the
water.

The balloon first rebounded and • glanced over 4he water in a
ricochet manner, until sufficient gas was discharged to sink the
car some depth in the water. This retarded its progress up the
lake and I found the yawl, sent from the brig, was gaining on
me. In a half hour longer the boat was alongside and toak me
in tow. The gas was soon all discharged, and in another half
hour I was safely aboard of the brig Eureka, in company with the
generous Captain Burnell, who took me into port that evening.

The Buffalo Daily Courier made the following notice of the
ascension: — ^< Yesterday afternoon, according to previous an-
nouncemeut, Mr. Wise made his sixty-thira ascension, from
Morris' Garden, corner of Main and Tupper streets. Great in-
terest was evinced throughout the length and breadth of the city,
to see it. All sorts, sizes and conditions of people were as-
sembled to witness his flight. We were glad to see a ^ood num-
ber on the insidte of the Garden. The outride^ and indeed the
adjacent streets and lanes^ were filled with carriages, and a mass
of human beings, all anxious to see what they could. After there
had been several pioneer balloons sent up, and the curiosity of
such as chose to examine the principal one had been satisfied,
Mr. Wise prepared himself in the car for his lofty voyage. About
four o'clock, after some preliminary trials, he gave the word 'let
go,' and amid the cheers and hurrahs of the enthusiastic assem-
blage, he floated off most grandly. The ease and self-posses-
sion which he evinced ; the confident air he assumed, showed to
our mind conclusively that he was master of his profession.
After he was up, he went immediately over the city, in the direcj-
tion of the lake, thus affording an excellent view of the ascension
to the thousands on the housetops, etc."

Ascensions were made from Rochester and Oswego, N. Y.^ the
same summer; both of these trips were of short duration, owing
to the proximity of the lakes. In the account of the one from
Rochester, the following, in relation to sounds, occurs :— There
is but one point of peculiarity in the circumstances of my voyage
'made on Saturday the 14th of Au^st, which is worthy of par-
ticular notice. I have always noticed that certain sounds, pro-
duced at the surface of the earth, have a remarkably peculiar eflect
upon the ear of the aeronaut when immediately over them. Water-
falls are of this kind in their noise. Even a common mill-dam
produces a wonderful noise to one's ears when a mile above it.
The Genesee Falls made a noise to my ears when above them
over a mile, an hundred times louder than did Niagara wh«n I
stood upon its brink.

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270 SCIENTIFIC FACTS.

I noticed the same peculiarity, particularly in the returning echo
of my own voice, when over Lake £rie. There, the sounds of
voice from the persons on board the brig Eureka were remarkably
1 clear and distinct to my ears when immediatelv over them, but
I still not so much so, as was the echo sound of my own words.
This appeared even louder than the original utterance, and the
enunciation quite as distinct. In the case of the words spoken
from the brig the^ became fainter and very indistinct after I got
at an angular position from them. From this it appears that the
occasional sounds which greet my ears so distinctly when sailing
alone at great heights, must arise from points immediately under-
neath me. The same peculiarity holds good in vision. Imme-
diately below one, objects appear very distinct but very dimi-
nished from their real size, while at a great angular distance they
appear diffused.

In my voyage from Auburn there appeared a very striking
phenomenon regarding vision. I noticed in the account of it the
lucidness of the atmosphere.. But there appeared also a looming'
up of objects in the distance. Lake Erie, which was over a
hundred miles off, seemed elevated ten or twelve degrees above
the horizon and yet composed part of the visible horizon.

Sound and vision are propagated distinctly in perpendicular
lines from the earth's surface; — rwhen heard and viewed in angu-
lar directions the resulting effects are diffused in both cases.
This I have also noticed in the music when ascending. The tune
played by a band of music as I ascended perpendicularly above
them was distinct and clear, and when moving off in a rapid
horizontal direction, it became very diffuse in a short distance.
The firing of cannon, when it is done immediately underneath
the balloon, agitates it violently, often with considerable depres-
sion in its lower side, but when the firing is at an angular dis-
tance, though much nearer than the perpendicular position just
mentioned, it is not near so perceptible.

In 1848 I made but one ascension, which took place from
Washington City on the 3d of May, of which the '^National
Intelligencer" makes the following notice: — <*In the presence of
an immense multitude of spectators, who assembled within the
arena and in the grounds and streets contiguous to the City Hall,
Mr. Wise, the intrepid and skillful aeronaut, ascended with his
splendid balloon about a quarter past five o'clock yesterday
afternoon. The aeronaut took a south-easterly direction, and was
visible to the naked eye for nearly an hour after the ascension.
As he soared aloft, the spectators greeted him with repeated
cheers, which he returned by the waving of his handa and hand-
kerchief. It was a beautiful and gratifying spectacle."

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PART III.

INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ART OF MAKING BALLOONS, PARA-
CHUTES, AND ALL KINDS OP AERONAUTIC MACHINERY.

ALSO,

DIRECTIONS IN THE PROCESSES OF INFLATION AND PRACTICE OF

AIR SAILING.

CHAPTER I.

Introduction — ^Atmosphere considered as a baUoon medinm — Cause of"
failures in small experiments — Table of surfaces, capacities, and powers
of balloons — Metal balloons — Materials for experimental balloons—*
Hints for yarnishing silk or muslin for balloons.

When we, are abput to constract a thing, it is always necessary,
in order to be the more perfect therein, that we should know what
it is for, aad in what manner it is to be used. Then, as balloons
are intended to sail in the air, and must therefore be adapted to
that element, it will be proper first to learn the nature and
buoyancy of the atmosphere. This element surrounds our globe
as one vast ocean of about forty miles in depth, as is theoretically
assumed. Its pressure on the surface of the earth is equal to
about fifteen pounds for every square inch, which will balance
a column of quicksilver of two and a half ieet in height, and a
column of water of thirty-four feet in height, at the level of the
sea. Its specific gravity is one oqnce and two-tenths per cubic
foot, and thus, if we make a body of any material, of the size of
a cubic foot, which shall weigh less than one ounce and two*
tenths, it will float in the air and rise up in it, but it will not, as
in the case of water, rise to the surface, for the reason that the
atmosphere grows gradually thinner, and of course specifically
lighter, as you ascend in it, therefore, the body, which was
lie^hter than an equal bulk of air at the surface of the earth,
will just rise to the height in the air where it becoknes equal
to it in specific gravity. The atmosphere being an elastic hodj^

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272 ATMOSPHERE CONSIDERED.

differing in this respect from water as a resisting medium, may
be properly illustrated by layers of wool piled upon each other,
in .which case the lower layer would, of course, be most com-
pressed, while each succeeding layer above would be less and
less compressed, as is the case with the layers of atmosphere.
And every elastic substance on the earth partakes of this same
property as it happens to be placed in the different regions of the
atmosphere. Even the human body expands when elevated in
the air, and an old wrinkled man will grow full and plump as a
youths if he ascends two or three miles high with a balloon.'

By observation and calculation it has been ascertained that at
the height of three and a half miles the air is but one-half as
dense as at the level of the earth, at seven miles only a fourth, at
ten and a half only an eighth, at fourteen only a sixteenth, and
at Seventeen and a half miles only one-thirty-second of the dens-
ity it is at the level of the earth. From this it will be seen that
we must be kept within the reasoi>able range of about three miles
from the surface of the earth, in aerial navigation. *

If the great ocean bed of the sea were to be emptied, and we

were to operate with balloons from its bottom level, they would

T)e required of only one-half the size we have them here, to do

the same amount of lifting up, computing the depth of the ocean

at three and a half miles.

But computing the atmosphere at what it really is where we
enter it with balloons, at one and two-tenth ounces per cubic foot,
and it does not vary much from, this for the first mile of height, it
will be seen that we may make our machines of very substantial
material, if we make them but large enough, since the cubic
contents of globular bodies, or those approaching that form, in*
crease much faster than their superficies. In estimating the
ascensive power of balloons, which are to be inflated with hy-
drogen gas, we may safely calculate upon one ounce of ascensive
power for every cubic foot of capacity. With but ordinary care,
in generating hydrogen gas, we get more, but it is always best to
keep on the safe side of the exact estimates. And here I would
remark, that there is nothing connected with aerostatics, that has
so much discouraged experimentalists who were trying it on a
small scale, as the difficulty in succeeding with the ascension of
small balloons, where, if they had tried it with some of a larger
size, they would, in all probability, have gone on rejoicing. The
most of these experiments have b^en attempted with balloons of
from two, three, to five feet capacity, and of course requiring
them to be not more than so many ounces in weight when the
fiiel was in them, and then requinng at that a high degree of
rarefaction to enable them to rise, so that in most cases these ends
were not attained, on account of the machine being heavier than

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TABLE OF BALLOON SURFACES AND POWERS. 273

the air it displaced, and the consequence \7as a failure of the
desired result, and an abandonment of its further investigation,
all for the want of properly understanding its first principles,
which are so plain and simple that a child may understand them.
A chs^ter to the construction and sending up of toy balloons will
be specially given ip another part of this work.

The followmg table exhibits the diameters, surfaces, capacities,
and ascensive powers of balloons computed at one ounce of power
for every foot capacity, so that, if carburetted hydrogen, or coal
gas is used, allowance must be made accordbgly. The minute
fractions of feet and ounces will not be noticed, as they are of no
consequence in the mere practice of the art. The surfaces may
be converted into square yards by dividing them by 9.

FMt diaaratar.

SarftcMln

Capaeitin te

P.Mdia«eeniiT.

.qawa fML

cable fe«L

power.

1
2

•If

4

Sf

3

28

14

1*

4

50

38

2

6

78

65

4

6

113

113

7

7

164

179

11

8

201

268

17

9

264

381

24

10

314

528

33

11

380

697

44

12

462

905

57

13

831

1,150

72

14

616

1,437

90

15

707

1,767

110

16

804

2,145

134

17

908

2,572

161

18

1,018

3,054

191

19

1,134

3,591

224

20

1,257

4,189

261

21

1,385

4,849

302

22

1,520

5,576

348

23

1,662

6,371

398

24

1,810

7,238

452

26

1,963

8,181

611

26

2,124

9,203

675

27

2,290

10,306

644

28

2,463

11,494

718

29

2,642

12,770

798

• If eariy » peand.

18

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274 LAROE BALLOONS.

Feet diameter.

■quara feet.

Capacitiee in
cubic feet.

power.

30

2,-827

14,137

884

31

3,019

15,598

975

32

3,217

17,157

1,072

33

3,421

18,817

1,176

34

3,632

20,580

1,286

35

3,848

22,449

1,403

36

4,072

24,429

1,527

37

4,301

26,522

1,658

38

4,536

28,731

1,796

39

4,778

31,060

1,942

40

5,026

33,510

2,094

45

6,362

47,713

2,982

50

7,854

65,450

4,091

55

9,503

87,114

5,445

60

11,310

113,098

7,069

65

13,273

143,794

8,987

70

15,394

179,595

11,225

75

17,671

220,804

13,800

80

20,106

268,083

16,755 ,

85

22,698

321,566

20,097

90

' 25,447

381,704

23,856

95

28,353

448,922

28,058

100

31,416

523,599

32,725

200

125,664

4,188,792

261,800

400

502,656

33,510,336

2,094,400

800

2,010,624

268,082,688

16,765,200

The great advantage in enlarging balloons arises from the
fact that their powers increase faster than their surfaces. When
yon double the diameter of one^ you require four times as much
silk to make it, but you get eight times as much capacity, and
consequently eight times as much power; therefore, whenever
you double the capacity of a balloon you save My per cent, in
its construction, compared with the ratio of its power. And there
IS another advantage in the enlargement of balloons — we need
not confine ourselves to frail fabric for their construction, for, at
a very moderate size, we can use copper or iron to make them of.
If we use copper in the construction of a balloon of two hundred
feet diameter, which weighs one pound per square foot, and de-
duct this from its ascensive power, we shall have remaining
sixty<eight tons of lifting power ; and if we allow room for ex-
pansion of gas for an altitude of about two miles, and allow five
or six tons for the car and its fastenings, we will have left a lift-
ing and carrying power of about forty-five tons. To inflate a
metal balloon, if it were made not to be susceptible of collapsing,

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MATERIAL FOR MAKING BALLOONS. 275

it would be necessary to insert a muslin balloon in it, filled with
atmospheric air, and the hydrogen gas passed in between the
muslin and copper surfaces, which would exclude the. inner bal-
loon as the copper one would fill up. A copper balloon's ascent
and descent would have to be regulated by a drag rope, on Mr.
'Green's plan, and the expansion and contraction of the gas in it
would have to be provided for by an elastic diaphragm, and an
opening in the bottom of the machine to conununicate between
the diaphragm and the atmosphere.

But our object for the present must be to instruct in the art as
it is, and those plans of a larger scale will soon follow in the
wake, when the genius of our country is once properly awakened
to its importance.

We can easily operate with balloons of one hundred feet
diameter, made of silk or twilled muslin, and one of such
capacity has a power of about ten tons, independent of append--
ages, and room for expansion of gas..

Having now before as the calculations of size and powers fit.
ballooDS, the next consideration will be the material of which
they may be made. For balloons, for experimental purposes,
to make ascensions with, and under a capacity of thirty feet
diameter, silk or cambric muslin is generally used. Although
cambric muslin makes a very good machine, ,and costs a trifle
less per square yard than Indian silk, still, silk is the cheapest in.
the long mn. Any pliable silk will answer the purpose ; but the
India silks are the most economical and durable for balloons.
India sarcenet makes a very light machine ; but the India tassore
is the kind I have preferred when not wishing to use the pongee,
which is dearer. The tassore is made from the product of the
wild silkworm, which browses on the shrubbery in the fields, and
is the strongest article I have ever found for balloons, in pro*
portion to its weight ; and it is the cheapest silk per square yard
of any that comes to our market. I have never yet had any aiffi>-
culty on account of durableness, in strength, or in the impervious*
ness of the machine, while using one made of this kind of silk.
It is imported in twelve yard pieces, and varies in width from,
thirty-four inches wide to forty. Sometimes it is strongly stiffened
or dressed with a starch made of rice and urine^ which it is best
to take out by rubbing the silk between the hands, when it will
fall out in a fine dust resembling flour.

Thus prepared, the silk is next to be coated with varnish. The
first coating may be put on by soaking the silk in warm varnish,
and leveling it nicely over with a palate knife or smooth spatula,
after it is stretched out on frames, or hung up bv its ed^e. L
have always, however, preferred the brush to lay the varnish on
with, and the thinner the coatings were put on, the better it

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276 PUTTING ON VARNISH.

turned ou{ in the end. I find that the same freight or quantity
of varnish put on in fonr layers, that is, in four coatings, will
make the silk a great deal more air«tight, than when put on in
only two layers or coatings. This is easily accounted for. Var-
nish membranes or coats, like all other membranaceous sub-
stances, are vascular and porous, and, by dividing the quantity
spread over any surface into many layers, you obstruct the pores
of the one by the laying on of the next. The pores of the second
coat not coming exactly over the pores of the first, and so with
the third coating in regard to the second, and so on. This holds
good in silk or muslin.

CHAPTER II.

Of oils — ^TestB — Table of specific gravity of oils — Preparation of author's
invented balloon varnish — ^Varnish for recoating balloons — Bird-lime
vamish — ^To make bird4ime-*Caoutchouc, or gum-elastio — Caoutchou-
cine.

The greatest difficulty I had to overcome in the practice of
ballooning, was the invention of a good varnish for coating the
material of the balloon. I have before stated the vexations and
dangers that attended the use of gum-elastic varnish, and, although
I shall not recommend it as a substance well adapted to balloon
varnish, I will not condemn it. I have my doubts, however,
whether it contains in any form or preparsftion as used for a var-
nish, the unchangeably elastic property which is found to exist in
Unseed oil when properly prepared. At all events, I have never
found gum-elastic varnish to attain a drying property without the
addition of metallic oxides in its composition. These oxides have
a strong affinity for heat (oxygen), thereby being liable to fermen-
tation and spontaneous combustion — ^the very plague-spots in
aeronautics. There is perhaps nothing so commonly used as
linseed oil, about which there is, chemically or experimentally,
so little known. Even the oil itself is not very well known by
those who use it. Other oils are frequently sold for linseed oil,
and as often used for it, by those who are in the habit of its daily
use.

It will, therefore, be well to lay down the tests for the various
kinds of oil first. By this the student will know how to avoid,
in the beginning, thai which might cause him perplexity and
failure in the end.

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OILS AND TESTS. 277

OIL TEST.

Doctor Ure says r M. Heidenreich has found, in the application
of a few drops of sulphuric acid to a fihn of oil, upon a glass
plate, a means of ascertaining^ its purity. The glass plate sb>uld
be laid upon a sheet of white paper, and a drop of the acid let
fall on the middle of ten drops of the oil to be tried.

With the oil of rape-seed and turnip-seed^ a greenish-blue ring
is gradually formed at a certain distance from the acid, and some
yellowish-brown bands proceed from the centre.

With the oU of black mustard^ in double the above quantity,
also a bluish-green color.

With tohale and cod oil^ a peculiar centrifugal motion, then a
red color, increasing gradually in intensity ; and after some time,
it becomes violet on the edges.

With oi/ of cameliney a red color, passing into bright yellow.

Olive oUy pale yellow, into yellowish green.

on of poppies and sioeet almonds^ canary yellow, passing into
an opaque yellow.

Oil of Knseedf a brown magna, btcoming black.

Of tallofv or olei'ney a brown color.

In testing oils, a sample of the oil imagined to be present
should be placed alongside of the actual oil, and both be com-
pared in their reaction with the acid. A good way of approxi-
mating to the knowledge of an oil is by heating it, when its
peculiar odor becomes more sensible. '-

Specific gravity is also a good criterion. The following table
is given by M. Heidenreich : —

1

Sp. gr.

Oleine, or tallow oil . . .

0.9003

Oil of turnip-seed

0.9128

Rape oil . .

0.9136

Olive oil ... .

0.9176

Purified whale oil •

0.9231

Oil of poppies . . .'

0.9243

Oil of camelina .

0.9262

Linseed oil . . ' .

0.9.347

Castor oil . . ...

1 -L. a1__x 1?_^ 1 _!1 •_ Al_ ^ l_

0.9611

• _x •- At _ !•

It will be seen that linseed oil is the heaviest in the list except
the castor oil.

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278 BALLOON VARNISH.

PREPARATION OF BALLOON VARNISH.

Take pure linseed oil, as much as ^ill fill half the vessel, and
not over, and put it over a fire. Let it heat gradually up to a
degfree at which it will char wood. Biefore it arrives at that heat,
it will show symptoms of boiling, which is, however, nothing
more than the boiling of the small quantity of water that is gene^
rally in solution with the oil. Before the oil begins to boil, it must
be brought to a much greater heat, and, as before stated, to that
degree at which a piece of wood immersed in it will be quickly
carbonized. At this point, it will have to be closely watched, for
soon it will commence an intensely heated reaction, beginning to
foam and emit dense vapor, when, if not well secured from
the air, it will soon burst out in a flame. By using a boiler with
a close cover, which has a very small air-hole in it, the operation
mav be continued briskly for at least an hour, and if not kept up
so briskly, for two hours or more. The best way to tell when it
is boiled enough, is to take out a little with a spatula occasionally,
and putting it on a piece of glass or tin to cool, when it will be
found thick and very stringy, when sufiSciently done. It will
also be of a deep reddish color when done. If the oil is of a good
quality and well boiled, or we might rather say decomposed in
this way, it gets very thick when cooled, and in appearance very
much resembles Indian rubber, and in elasticity superior to it.
Its nature becomes entirely changed, as the fatty adhesive pro-
perty of it seems to be destroyed in it. After being prepared in
this way, it should be stood in the light for a while, when it will
settle, separating the pure portion by its floating above the black
carbonaceous matter at the bottom. Before using it, it must be
thinned with spirits of turpentine, and this should be highly recti-
fied in order to make the varnish dry readily. This varnish will
dry in the sun in five or six hours, and requires no driers of
metallic oxides to facilitate its progress.

Silk or muslin, when poated with this valuable preparation,
possesses the peculiar property of being a non-conductor of heat,
instead of the dangerous property pertaining to most oil varnishes,
of contracting heat (affinity for oxygen). Balloons prepared with
this varnish have been suffered to remain packed up in a chest
for months without the slightest development of heat or adhesive-
ness — a difficulty which cost me more perplexity the first five
years of ballooning than all other obstacles put together.

This varnish improves by keeping, and if kept in a glass
vessel it will improve and become clear fastec than when kept in
a vessel where the light is shut from it. By keeping it for three
or four hours in an intense heat when preparing it in the boiler, it

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BIRD LIME VARNISH. 279

will upon cooling get almost as solid as Indian rubber. It may
be diluted with turpentine as soon as sufficiently cooled down
to bear it when first prepared, or it may be partly warmed, when
it- has been suffered to cool and settle after being prepared
without having been thinned at the time.

This varnish does not dry so well in the shade, and, as it
becomes necessary to varnish a balloon sometimes after it is made,
which is generally done in a room, the following preparation will
be found to answer the purpose very well : —

Take umber made fine two ounces, common yellow ochre four
ounces, and litharge one ounce, to half a gallon of the above-
mentioned varnish, and boil them well together for half an hour.
This will dry very rapidly in the shade or the sun, and should be
used very" thin for re-coating. A half gallon of it can be diluted
with turpentine so as to be sufficient to coat over a balloon of
twenty-five feet diameter, if made of silk. Cotton ones take a
little more.

Having now given what I deem to be the best composition for
coating hydrogen balloons, it will not be improper to mention such
others as may be used.

BIRD-LIME VARNISH.

This makes a very good balloon varnish, and is composed
in the following manner : Take bird-lime four pounds ; boiled
oil four pounds. Boil these together until they are perfectly
incorporated, then add six pounds more of boiled oil, and one
pound of litharge (oxide of lead) ; boil again until the whole
mass becomes well intermixed and stringy ; this can be ascer-
tained by occasionally taking a little out with a spatula and
putting it on glass or tin and trying it. When done and partly
cooled off, add to this quantity about three quarts of turpentine
and let it settle, when it is ready for use. - This varnish dries
very readily in the sun, and should be applied lukewarm.

As bird-lime is an article rarely found in this country, it will be
proper to state how it is made : Take the middle bark of the
white holly in any quantity; boil it for seven or eight hours
in water, or until it gets soft ; then drain off the water and place
it in a pit three or four feet deep in the ground, and surround
it with stones ; let it remain in this place until it passes by
fermentation into a mucilaginous state ; then take it out and
pound it, or run it through a crushing mill ; after this wash it in
several waters, then take it out and let it ferment four or five
days to purify itself.

As gum-elastic has 'been recommended for balloon varnish,

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280 CAOUTCHOUC, OR GUH-ELASTIC VARNISH.

as well as the first hydrogen balloon having been coated with a
solution of ity we will here give what knowledge we have of it.

CAOtJTCHO0C, OB 6UM-ELA6TIC.

This substance exudes from certain plants when incisions are
made into them, in a milky-like fluid state, and congeals when
left exposed long to the atmosphere, and when hardened in this
manner is of a lightish-yellow color. It is generally imported
from South America, and that which we get in the shape of shoes
and bottles is of a blackish-brown color, which it acquires from
being dried in smoky places. It is remarkable for its elasticity,
from whence proceeds its popular name. It is soluble in various
oils, such as cajeput, sassafras, and naphtha, but its most common
solvent is spirits of turpentine. When dissolved in any of these
substances and used as a varnish, it never regains its former
elasticity, but it is said to recover its elasticity when precipitate
from cajeput oil by alcdiol.

I believe it would dissolve in very high pressure steam, as it has
been so softened by steam of four atmospheres, as readily to yield
under the palate knife. By proper distillation it yields a volatile
liquid of the specific gravity of 0.64, which is extremely light !
To this substance chemistry has assigned the name of caatU'
choucine. It is perfectly limpid, and it is said to be a perfect
solvent for the gum it is made of. And it is also stated, that
Indian rubber, or as it is also called, gum-elastic, dissolved in this
liquid and applied as a varnish, will recover its original elasticity.
With this I have not yet tried experiments in coating balloons,
because the linseed oU preparation answers the purpose so well,
but I have no doubt this camUchoucine preparation would be very
good, if it would not be too expensive.

There are many other preparations recommended in receipt
books for coating balloons with, but none that I would recom-
mend the experimentalist in aerial machinery to have anything
to do with. The application of metal leaf, such as Prince's metal,
Dutch gold, and others, I have found to do very well in making
aerial vessels tight, when applied before the varnish has been
quite dry; but these are too expensive for large balloons. They
answer an admirable purpose for small cNrnamental balloons, or
any kind of aerostatic figures.

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INSIDE VIEW OF THE VALVE.

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SHAPE OF BALLOONS. 281

CHAPTER III.

Soale to shape balloons — ^How to make a pattern — How to cut material eoo-
nomicall J — Pear-shape — ^Diameter to circumference — Seams, how joined
— ^Filling it with common air — ^Neck of balloon — Testof baUoon — ^Valye,
how made — ^Net, how made — ^Rigging and car.

Balloons are generally made of a globular shape, or approxi-
mating to it. The following scale will answer to form the seg-
ments for a balloon of globular shape, no matter what the width
of the material is of which it is to be made. The piece intended
for a pattern segment has a line drawn through its middle in
length, and one across the middle. This will divide it into four
quarters. One quarter is divided by seventeen cross lines at
equal distances apart, making eighteen parts of the quarter section.
Now whatever the breadth of this half segment may be, it is to be
multiplied by the logarithms in the scale, which will ^ve the
length of the line of each division, where the curve line is to in-
tersect it. These points once secured, it is easy to draw the curve
line with a steady hand. I have generally made a board pattern,
as I could by it cut one or more segments at a time, by running
a sharp knife round the edge of it.

In making my scale for a pattern, I merely use a strip of wood
which in length is equal to the half bireadth of the segment, being
the length of the lower line from the centre to the edge. This I
divide into ten parts, each part into ten more, thus making tenths
and hundredths, which answers aH practical purposes. Now for
the length of the first line it will take eighty-seven-hundredths
full, for the second line, one-tenth, seventy-three-hundredths a little
full, for the third line, two-tenths, fifty-hundredths full, and soon.
Such a scale can be made very easily with common dividers.

To cut and use the material the most economically, the balloon
should be made pear shaped, which is a very good form. In
doing so, the pieces which are cut from the sides of a piece that
is two-thirds the length of a segment, will make the lower third
of it by sewing their straight edges together and butting it on
the other. This will make the central, or equatorial part of the
balloon, cylindrical for six or eight feet. For a common experi-
mental balloon, capable of carrying a man and all necessary ap-

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282 SEWING.

pendages I have preferred the shape made by cutting the seg-
ments from a scale calculated for twenty-four feet diameter, and
putting in as many. segments as would make the machine only
twenty-one feet in its transverse diameter, and twenty-two yards,
or sixty-six feet round its equato^, since the circumference to the
diameter is as twenty-two to twenty-one, gaining one foot in the
circumference for every seven feet diameter, over and above
three times the diameter. This is a mathematical truth balloon
makers must not overlook. Making them on this scale elongates
the balloons from top to bottom somewhat, and makes them of a
longish pear shape — a form I have found very favorable to manage
in merely experimental operations.

After the varnished material has been properly prepared and
cut out, the next process will be to sew it together. This can
be done by any seamstress who possesses ordinary ingenuity;
but at first will come a little awkward on account of its being an
unusual kind of material to sew at. The edges are made to
overlap each other about three-eights or a half an inch, and sewed
with a common running stitch, as represented in the cut.

SEAM.

After the seam or seatas are sewed they must be coated over on
both sides with a drying varnish. One part of drying copal varnish
and one part balloon varnish mixed make a very good compo-
sition for this purpose. This stops up the needle holes and insin-
uates itself between the lap of the seam and consolidates it,
which also gives the balloon strength, by forming a sort of rib
work in it. Many seams in a balloon, made in this manner, are
beneficial to it, because it gives it superior strength ; and when
they are neatly done, without puckering, they add to its beauty.
In joining the segments, care must be taken to bring them out in
equal length, as any material variation from this would destroy
its mathematical figure, and impair it^ symmetry and strength.

In cutting out the segments, allowance must be made in their
lower ends, so that when the balloon is sewed together it will have
an open neck of eighteen inches diameter, whieh will admit a
man's body, as it is necessary to go inside of the balloon in
arranging the valve and its cord, as also to examine the perfec-
tion of the machine. By using the strips which are cut frpm the
sides of the upper half of the segment for the lower part of the
balloon, the neck will be handsomely shaped from them. When
the balloon is completely sewed together it should be blown up,
which is easily done by placing a hoop in the neck to keep it
open, and then driving air into it with a common palm leaf fan, or

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VALVE. 283

a good feather fan, and left for a day or tvro to see how it holds
the air. As it holds common air, so it will hold hydrogen, with
the odds in favor of hydrogen. About the diffusion and affinity of
gases, something will be said hereafter. If the balloon seems not
tight enough upon such trial, the application of a very thin coat of
varnish, as prescribed in the article of balloon varnish, will be
found to produce a very beneficial effect. I have generally coated
the material three times before sewing it together, and after being
joined, coated the -seams well, and then used the balloon for one •
voyage, after which I gave it a complete coat of varnish, when it
could be used for eight or ten voyages before it wanted recoating.
The heaviest glazed side should be inwards, as there may by
carelessness in the process of inflation some fumes of the heated
acid pass into the balloon.

When the balloon is formed, it wants a valve placed in Its
top, and if it is desired to have more than one, others may
be placed in its side, about or above the centre. In common
balloons I have found one amply sufficient, as it can be made
large or small to suit the fancy of the aeronaut. Indeed, I never
used a balloon with more than one valve in it ; but Mr. Green of
London has several in his lare;e Nassau Balloon, as I have been
informed. In so large a machine it may be highly necessary.

In balloons of from twenty to twenty-five feet diameter, I have
used valves of the following dimensions and construction : — Two
disks of wood one foot in diameter, and each three eighths of an
inch in thickness, are smoothly leveled off. On their inside sur-
faces are glued a layer of sheep-skin leather, so that the leather
projects half an inch over the outer edge of the disk: this is
to protect the silk or muslin of the balloon from the more harsh
edge of wood. When the disks are thus prepared, they should be
screwed together with five-eighths inch wood screws. Then a
hole four inches square is cut through the centre of it.

VALVE.

The clapper, which is four and a half inches square, so that it
overlaps the opening a quarter of an inch all around, is covered
with strong pliable sheep-skin leather, which should project about
half an inch at the binder edge to answer for the hinge of
the clapper, and by which it is tacked down to the disk. In place
of this, however, light brass hinges may be used, just as the me-
chanic fancies. In the rear of the clapper is inserted a wire coil
spring which curves over and on the clapper, touching it a little
behind its middle, and pressing on it to an extent of several

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284 BALLOON NBT.

pounds at least, making it self'shuttingj since the pressure 0f the
gas against it means nothing, as is otherwise supposed it does.
This kind of spring is, used in the common spring mou8e->trap, as
also in locomotive engine pipes^at their joints to let them down
by, from which th^ idea of it will be properly presented. I have
used various other kinds of springs, but none answered so well as
the kind here described.

When the valve is made, one disk is placed inside the balloon
at its top centre, and the other disk on the corresponding outside,
and thus screwed together, clasping the silk, which ought to
be doubled for a yard or so at the top, between. The piece in the
opening part of the valve is then cut out, so that when the clap-
per is drawn open a free communication is opened for the gas to
escape. On the inside of the valve clqiper a wire ring is
screwed or clinched, from which the valve rope proceeds down
through the neck of the balloon into the aeronaut's car.

On the outside of the valve disk several small rings may
be screwed tow&ich the net may be fastened with slight twine to
keep it to its place while the balloon is being inflated. This fiw-
tening should not be too strong, as the net would bring an
unequal stress upon that point of the machine in case it should
have slipped from its centre, if they were too strong to resist its
accommodating itself to the weight below which regulates its dis-
position over the surface of the balloon.

Spanish cedar I found to be the best wood for valve disks and
clappers. It is light, substantial, and unchangeable, when pro-
perly seasoned ; and it is a wood that is easily worked. On the
inner side of the disk two ledges, each three-eighths of an inch
thick and three-fourths of an inch wide, should be screwed on, a
little on each side of the olapper* This will keep the disk from
warping, and the surfaces level and gas tight between the
clapper and disk.

NET-WORK OF BALLOON.

When the balloon is made and its valve properly inserted, it
wants a net-w^ork to cover it over for the purpose of distributing
the power it is to produce over its surface equally. This may be
composed of any sort of twine. Silk makes the lightest and best ;
but I have always used a cotton twine as being in every way
well adapted to the purpose. It is soft and elastic, and can be
procured from the rope and twine sellers of any required strength.
The weight, or strength of the twine governs the size of the
meshes of the net. If a light twine is used the meshes should be
smaller than for a heavier kind. The last two nets I made were

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BALLOON RIGGING. 285

of cotton twine, having thirty-six threads in it. It was about the
tenth of an inch in thickness. The meshes were of three dif-
ferent sizes ; commencing from the centre of the net, they were
laiit over a five-inch board, which makes a mesh ten inches long
when drawn its full length, and five inches square when opened.
This size meshes were continued for one-third the distance of the
net from the centre to its lower edge ; from this point the meshes
were made over a six-inch b6ani for the pext third; and from
this they were made over a seven-inch board for the balance of
its required size. The size of the net is to be so regulated that
the meshes will assume an oblong shape over the upper surface
of the balloon, lliey should stand twice as long as broad when
the net bears its burden. At its lower part the meshes should
become more oblong, for which the allowancis must be made
accordingly.

For beginning a balloon net, a round block or board about
eight inches in oiameter, with its edge slightly grooved, answers
a ^ood purpose. Around this groove a quarter-inch cord is to b^
spliced. Before this cord is put on, there should be as many
curfs cut in the edge of the block as it will require loops to begin
on. At each of these curfs a loop is to be made for the beginning
of the net, the last loop having its end for the beginning of the
knitting process, from which it can be knit round and round to
the required size. Its increase of size is made by throwing in
hatf'mesheSf and these must be regulated according to the mathe-
matical increase of the balloon, which the common arithmetician
can calculate by the increased size of his pattern segment.

The net should come down some distance below the equator of
the balloon, and ought to cover two-thirds of the machine, but
half-covered may do. This embraces the fair mathematical pro-
cess of construction, but a net is of such an accommodating and
elastic nature, that almost any form or shape will answer, pro-
vided it is big enough. It may be begun by simply knitting a
square piiece of the size of a yard, and then commence knitting
around and increasing it according to the size of the balloon it is
to cover. I saw one knit in this way by Mr. PauUin, which an-
swered the purpose very well, but the first directions are the best,
and will recommend themselves from their simplicity and compre-
hensiveness. A much lighter twine maybe used than above
stated by making the meshes smaller, but in that I have expe-
rienced a difficulty in the part of the net where the main cords
were attached to it, in landing in strong winds, by its tearing,
although more strands were fastened to the main cord ; while
with the heavy twine in the net I never had a single striind of it
broken, though branches were torn from trees and fences pulled

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286 HYDROGEN GAS.

down in the progress of the balloon^s landing, all of which force
came upon the netting.

^ From the loweir edge of the net proceeds the cords to which
the car of the aeronaut is suspended. For a twenty-two feet
diameter balloon twenty attachments are sufficient -SbiMt attach-
ments converge into one joining six Or eight feet below the net, which
will make but ten main cords to come down to the concentrating
hoop, at which point the connection of the car to the net should
be made. This I have always done by simply tying the ropes
together, but the aeronaut may use his own fancy for that. Th€
concentrating hoop should be at least six feet below the lower
extremity of the balloon, when it is all rigged. From the con-
centrating hoop down to the balustrade hoop twenty cords pro-
ceed, and these should be worked in with the wicker work of the
ear, going clear down its side, across the bottom and up the other
side, in order to make the car perfectly secure in its bottom.

The tying, splicing and Joining of the various cords, may all
be done according to the operator's particular taste and fancy.
Much ingenuity and ornament may be exercised, as is the case
in the French aerial machinery. Solidity and safety should,
however, be the main point of consideration.

CHAPTER IV.

Weight of Hydrogen — ^Vitriolic process of inflation — Strength of snlphuric
acid — Apparatus illustrated — ^Balloon, how kept under process of in-
flation — Pure hydrogen process of inflation — Garburetted hydrogen for
balloons^'-Its consideration Id the future prospects of aeronautics.

After the balloon is made and properly rigged, it is ready for
actual service ; but in order to make it useful it must be inflated
with a substance lighter than atmospheric air. The lightest of
all ponderable substances, that we have any knowledge of, is pure
hydrogen gas. This gas exists as an elementary component part
of almost every substance in the world, and particularly in matter
of a combustible nature. In most cases it is evolved', compounded
with other gases, particularly from bituminous coal, when it is
mixed with carbon — generally termed vapor of carbon. From
this it can be -separated and purified by passing it through porce-
lain or earthen tubes heated white hot, where it deposits its carbon.
The most ready means of procuring it pure is by the decompo*
sition of water, of which it is a constituent. The gaseous corn-

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INFLATION AND MATERIALS. 287

bination of water consists of mte atoms of oxygen and one atom £ ^g'^
of hydrosfen. The one atom of hydrogen is twice the bulk in
size of the nine atoms of oxygen when liberated in their gaseous
states. Hydrogen is sixteen times lighter than oxygen, and over
fourteen times lighter than common air. Thus, if we use pure
hydrogen for ascending power, we shall have full thirteen-four*
teentbs of the atmosphere's buoyancy, which would be seventy
pounds for every thousand cubic fieet of gas in the balloon. But
in generating hydrogen by decomposing water with oil of vitriol
and iron or zinc, it is liable to impurities, so that we get only
from sixty to sixty^five pounds to the thousand cubic feet. But
by decomposing water in passing its steam or vapor through
heated iron turnmgs, we, get the hydrogen pure, and an ascending
power of seventy pounds for every thousand feet. And so we
will by passing coal-gas (carburetted hydrogen) through heated '
porcelain or earthen tubes in which it deposits its carbon, and is
consequently purified.

VITAIOLIC PROCESS^ OF INFLATION.

The readiest means for procuring a large quantity of hydrogen
gas in a short time, is by the vitriolic process. With eight or
nine common rum puncheons of 130 gallons each, for retorts as
gas generators, 5,000 cubic feet of hydrogen can be evolved in
one hour. To efiect this with eight casks — air tight ones— -each
one must contain seventy gallons of dear water, and 125 pounds
of iron in the shape of turnings, or borings of clean cast iron,
or card teeth, or fine particles in any shape, and if nails or other
heavy scraps are used it will require more in proportion, since
the time of oxidation is according to the surface presented by the
iron to the acid. Into each of these casks 144 pounds of oil of
vitriol of the specific gravity of 1.85, which is the common strength,
must be poured at once, which in one hour will produce 600
cubic feet, or more, of hydrogen gas. The proportions in weight
are as follows i-^Water 560 pounds; oil >of vitriol 144 pounds;
iron turnings 125 pounds. In operating on a small scale, the
formula is: — Vitriol one pound; iron one pound; water four
pounds, which will produce four cubic feet of hydrogen. In the
arrangement with the eight casks they may be all put in opera-
tion at once, or only a part of them at a time, just as the operator
may prefer, or as his arrangements for cooling and washing the
gas may permit. It should be run through a head of water of
eight or ten inches, supplied with ice, and if ice can not be pro-
cured, a tunning stream of cool water passifig through the cooling
tub will answer equally welK There should be a peck of lime

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288 INFLATION.

dissolved in the water of the cooliDg tub to absorb any carbonic
acid gas that may be generated, as this gas is heavier than
atmospheric air.

This process takes place under the law of chemical affinities.
The water being composed of oxygen and hydrogen in liquid
combination, these must be separated and rendered gaseous — >
at least the hydrogen, which we want, must be rendered so.
Iron exposed to water extracts from it the oxygen without any
other agent, but this is greatly facHitated by adding sulphuric
acid, or, as it is commonly called, oil of vitriol. This acid is
formed of water highly impregnated with oxygen^ and it has a
powerful effect in separating the atoms of which iron is com*
posed, when water is present to supply oxygen to unite with the
atoms of the dissolving iron. Now the oxygen of the water
having a stronger attraction or affinity for the atoms of iron than
it has for the hydrogen wifh which it is associated, it leaves the
latter and incorporates with the former, and the hydrogen is set
free, as is also the caloric of fluidity. The iron and sulphuric
acid mingle with the undecomposed water in the retort, and the
hydrogen passes off through the tubes and up through water,
into the balloon — the caloric is absorbed and diffused, the greater
portion of it. neutralized in the cooling tub.

In testing sulphuric acid, it is compared in its weight to that
of water. Good sulphuric acid is nearly twice as heavy as
water. As, for instance, a certain measure of water will weigh
100 grains, an equal measure of good sulphuric acid will weigh
185 grains — this is its officinal strength, and when weaker than
this it is not well adapted to the evolution of pure hydrogen by
decomposition of water.

The apparatus as shown in the plate is the kind I have always
used. The casks may be arranged in one or two sets. The
number of casks used as retorts, can be varied according to size.
If they hold but sixty-five gallons a piece, sixteen can be used,
and even barrels can be used, if only the number is increased
in proportion to the diminution of their capacities. For the
larger kind of casks two inch tin tubes are sufficient to pass the
gas from the retorts to the coding tub. The cooling tub should
hold at least 160 gallons of water, and of a shape which will re*
cetve a common sized hogshead with its under end open, into it,
with space enough between it and the inside of the tub for the
gas pipe to pass down between them, and its recurve terminate
under the inverted hogshead, or gasometer as it is called. These
gas tubes should have flanches half an inch from the end which
goes in the head of the retort, by which they may be securely
tacked down with 16 ox. tacks, with putty under the flanch to
make an air>tight joint The tube which passes the gas from

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PURR HYDROGEN. 289

the cooling tub or gasometer to the balloon is also to be made of
tin, and with a flanch, but of four inches diameter. From this
main tube to the balloon the gas passes through a hose made of
stout muslin rendered air tight with balloon varnish, and the
connection at the entrance of the balloon is made by a short
four inch tin tube.

While the balloon is under the process of inflation, it can be
handily kept to its place by the net cords being fastened to
weights. Although I have always commenced the inflation with
the balloon lying on the ground, I do not hesitate to recommend
the plan of banging it up as represented in the plate, since by
such plan the net can be more easily adjusted and kept to its
proper centre, than by the other. There should be extra ropes
proceeding from the net by which the balloon is held down dur-
ing its inflation, so that the car may be harnessed to the rigging
without disturbing the weights which hold it down, and these
should only be loosened when everything is ready for a start.

PURE HTDROOEN PROCESS.

This is done by passing steam through iron turnings, heated
red hot in iron cylinders or retorts. Such an apparatus would be
more economical than the one just described, for a stationary
one, and where continuous quantities were required. The retorts
must be made, of heavy cast iron, three quarters of an inch in
thickness, and of ten or twelve inch calibre, and about eight feet
long. Three of these, set in a furnace of firebrick similar to
the retorts in gas houses, would be capable of generating fifteen
thousand cubic feet per day. The ends of the retorts must come
a little outside of the furnace, and must be so contrived as to
receive the steam in one end, through a tube which can be regu-
lated by a valve, and another tube from the other end through
which the gas passes into a cooling vessel, and from thence into
the balloon. One end of the retort must be provided with a
bolt-head which can be taken ofi* and put on when required, for
the. purpose of taking out the residuum and introducing fresh iron
turnings. Gas made by this process is pure and inodorous, and is
fourteen times lighter than common air, and will give seventy
pounds ascending power for every thousand cubic feet.

CARBURETTED HYDROGEN.

As stated in the preceding article, this also is an economical
preparation, where things in regard to inflating balloons may be
19

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290 COAL GAS.

kept at one place. However, this kind of gas being «) generally
introduced through the streets of all cities and towns, its use to
the aid of aeronautics is destined to become an important branch
of its consMfnption. ' The companies generally have large gas
holders at their works, from capacities of twenty thousand cubic
feet up to one hundred thousand, and some to a million. In the
smaller works, a day or two's notice for a supply sufficient to inflate
an experimental balloon of eight or ten thousand cubic feet
capacity, would enable them to work into their gas bolder that
much more than their regular consumption, without injury or in-
convenience to their wDrks. In the larger works, as they exist
in our principal cities, such a quantity would scarcely be noticed
in their regular operations.

This gas is evolved from bituminous coal, subjected to a red
heat in iron retorts — and of late they have commenced intro-
ducing earthen retorts for such purpose. The process is very
simple, as heat alone evolves the gas, together with some tar
and ammoniacal liquor, which is deposited as soon as it gets to a
cool place, and the gas for purification is passed through dry
lime. It can also be purified by passing it through wet lime, as
described in the vitriolic procesa. It is composed of two atoms
of hydrogen, and one atom of carbon. The first portions of the
gas as it is evolved from the coal, is heavier than the latter, but
its general specific gravity is about one-half that of atmospheric
air. A ton of bituminous coal will yield ten thousand cubic feet
of gas sufficiently carburetted for illuminating purposes, and will
yield considerably more of a lighter specific gravity, which would
answer admirably for balloons, but which is never extracted by
the gas-lighting companies, on account of its want of carbon, and
consequent poor illuminating power.

It may yet become a business question with the gas^-lighting
companies whether they may not, profitably to themselves, erect
a gas-holder expressly to collect these lighter portions of the gas
to supply aeronautic purposes — especially in the larger works.
From the gas, as now manufactured by the baking of bituminous
coal, we can get one-half of atmospheric buoyancy, being thirty-
five pounds ascending power for one thousand cubic feet of gas.
Hence, a balloon capable of carrying an ordinary sized man
should not be of a less capacity than ten thousand cubic feet.
This would be sufficient to allow for expansion of gas where the
balloon attained a height of one and a half miles. But by a very
simple process, and by the additional cost of probably an amount
equal to first cost, it could be rendered nearly twice as powerful
in its levity, by extracting its carbon from it, in running it
through heated earthen tubes. Indeed, the art of gas-lighting,
like the art of aeronautics, is just at the present time opening

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BALLOON SAILING. 291

itself to the uses of mankind in a tangible manner, and is, as it
were, but on the threshold of common comprehension. Its on-
ward progress is destined to carry on its wings the barque which
shall glide us from clime to clime ,as smoothly as the vapor
cloud.

For an aeronautic establishment, a gas work could be erected
which would render the cost of inflating balloons with purified
gas a comparative trifle, compared to what it is at present. Such
an establishment in any' of our large cities would soon pay a
profit equal to the best gas^lighting company's stock. The re-
cresttive effects upon invalids would soon bring it into repute far
beyond any other means that have been yet established for such
purposes; to the elucidation of which a chapter will be specially
devoted in the concluding part of this work, since the author
himself has been a case of chronic dyspepsia, and can therefore
speak from experience.

It should have been mentioned in the vitriolic process, that
zinc, in a granulated or otherwise divided states answers quite as
well as iron for decomposing water.

CHAPTER V,

Directions in balloon sftiling— Grappling irons — Guide line — ^Index — In-
Btruments — ^Descent on woods and waters — How to manage — ^To col-
lapse balloon — How to fasten grapple ropes — Caution afler descent —
Folding of balloon — ^Height instrument — Parachute— How made — Par-
achutes in the vegetable and animal kingdom — Pope's and Darwin's
ideas.

Having a description of the process of making and inflating
balloons, our next object will necessarily be to learn their man-
agement while using them as a means for navigating the atmo«
sphere. In order to be fully prepared for an experimental voyage,
the aeronaut should be provided with two grappling inons of
about two and a half pounds weight each ; or they may be hea-
vier if he is not particular in the economy of carrying weight. —
The ropes attached to these irons should be from two to three
hundred feet in length, and should be strong enough to bear a
strain of four or five hundred pounds. A short rope of thirty
feet, capable of bearing a strain of a thousand pounds, should be
carried along to attach to the strongest grapple instead of its
thinner rope, to be used when a landing is to be effected under a

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292 BALLOON SAILING.

strong \^ind. But in such case it is better to choose a landing
place behind a hill, or a \;('ood, which forms an excellent harbor
for the balloon, and which can as readily be attained by the
practical aeronaut, as the bay or breakwater can by the argonaut
or water sailor. A line of six or eight hundred feet, capable
of bearing a hundred pounds strain, should also be carried along,
which answers a very good purpose when descending in calm
weather, as by this the aerial vessel may be inoored to any required
place by any person who may be at the point of its descent.
This rope also answers another useful purpose. By having light
ribbons tied on it, one at its lower extremity, one a hundred
feet higher up, and a third another hundred feet above that, the
aeronaut can tell the direction of a contrary current that he may
be descending into, some time before he reaches it, a knowledge
of which may be very essential to his proper and safe landing. —
He should also be provided with an index of rising and falling.
This is a light ribbon a foot long, fastened to the end of a three
feet stick, which may project from the side of the car. When
the balloon rises the ribbon hangs straight down and is tremu-
lous ; when the balloon descends the ribbon coils upward,
and under a rapid descent it stands straight upward with a trem-
ulous motion. Pieces of paper thrown overboard also indicate
the rise and fall of the machine, but not so well as the index ; for,
when the vessel is sailing along in equilibrio, neither rising nor
falling, paper will still descend, but the index ribbon does then
not move, it hangs perpendicularly down and quiescent, apparently
as perfectly becalmed as though it were in an exhausted receiver;
and it makes no difrerent!e whether the balloon is at the time sail-
ing at the rate of one mile per hour, or at the rate of one hundred
miles per hour.

When the aeronaut is sailing along with the wind, his vessel
becomes part and parcel of that element as far as velocity of
horizontal motion is concerned, and the whole machine is re-
latively becalmed; therefore, it is plainly seen that sails or rudder
would be of no avail under such circumstances. The aeronaut
experiences no cutting breeze^ as does the traveler on a steam-
boat or railroad car.

A compass and map should always be carried along to enable
the aeronaut to tell where he is going, and the nature of the
country over which he is sailing. When immediately above the
clouds, the aerial ship sails in the same direction with the clouds,
and in such cases it is impossible to tell what direction the
balloon is making, or whether it is making any headway at all. —
I have sailed in the current which moved the clouds immediately
beneath the air ship, and made headway at the rate of fifty-two
miles in forty-two minutes, without at the time seeing that I was

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BALLOON SAILING. 293

going at any velocity at all. This is easily comprehended, since
the clouds that were with me at the start, were also with me at
the end of the voyage, so that everything held the same relative
position during the whole flight. When the clouds are broken so
that the aeronaut can see the earth at places, it is otherwise, for he
can then see objects moving as it were. But, when the air ship
is permitted to rise a considerable height above the clouds, it gen-
erally gets into another current, in which case the course of the
clouds forms an angle with the line of direction of the balloon^
which enables the aeronaut to tell his course, as well as his
speed, which he is at the time making.

After the aeronaut has sailed as far as he desired, or reached
his point of destination, his next object will be to effect a good
landing. If he is a novice in the art, some difficulties may beset
him, since practice is the only scho(^ in which we can acquire
substantial learning, but at the same time proper directions will
l^e of great use to this branch of the business. If the balloon
happens to come d.own when all the ballast has been expended, it
will then be impossible for the aeronaut to govern its descent to
any degree. He may avoid coming down on an isolated object,
by exerting against the air a common fan, sufficient to diverge
from such point, so as to escape a tree, or a house, if it should
be in the way. But a river or forest he cannot avoid under
such circumstances, and he should not, dierefore, be alarmed.
If he eome down on a forest in a strong wind the car will rebound
the moment it strikes the elastic branches of the tree tops, and
the machine will thus ricochet along without any unpleasant con-
sequences to the aeronaut, and at the first clear space he can
make his descent. On such occasions he must remember to
keep his grappling irons inside of his car until the moment
arrives for their use. If the balloon happens to come down on
a river or lake, there is no cause of alarm, as the car will not
sink many inches in the tvater, and if it is in the form of a boat
it will sail as well on the water as it did in the air, the bal-
loon acting as a sail. If it be calm weathef, the car or boat
may be paddled along with very little effort. If the weather is
calm, in coming down on a woods the aeronaut can easily guide
his bark by the tree tops to such point where the most room pre-
sents itself to let the balloon through as it gradually collapses.

The balloon may be provided with a collapsing rope, which I
would recommend to novices, since they might become unneces-
sarily alarmed in a first adventure when landing under a high
wind. A common twenty- three feet diameter balloon, upon
which all our directions are based, will chafe very fiercely under
a gale of wind when the grapple has taken effect. In such case
the explosive cord may stand the inexperienced aeronaut in good

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294 DESCENDING.

need, as by a sudden jerk of it the balloon can be exploded in*
stantly, when it falls to (he ground powerless. This consists
in fastening a stout line securely against the outside of the
balloon at a point a little below its equator — ^from this let it run
up four or five feet, or more, there enter the balloon, at which
entrance it must be secured by cementing a piece of oiled silk
over the aperture to make it air tight — from this point the line or
cord proceeds down through the neck of the machine into the
aeronaut's car. It must be marked to distinguish it from the
valve cordy as they are about of the same strength.

The anchor ropes, or more properly speaking, the grappling-
iron ropes, roust be fastened at the upper edge of the car, as then,
when the balloon draws one way the grapple draws the other,
and these two forces being in opposite directions and both pro-
ceeding from the same point, the car is not much disturbed by it.
To fasten the rope at the bottom of the car, as has frequently been
recommended, would, in a heavy wind, cause it to be tilted over.

When the aeronaut has made his descent and is discharging
the gas by the valve, he should not leave the icar until the bal-
loon is nearly exhausted. Though many persons may come to
the place of his descent and become engaged in rendering him
assistance, still, if they have been unaccustomed to such operations,
they are very apt to become alarmed when a squall of wind hap-
pens to agitate the balloon, and let it go. This happened to me
on one occasion when the balloon was more than two-thirds ex-
hausted. I had the top of the balloon drawn down and had
hold of the valve, when a squall of wind alarmed the persons who
held by the cords, which they let go, and, seeing this, I held
firmly to the valve disk, but the machine rolled off with a violent
surge, jerking me several feet from the ground, and leaving in
my hands the whole valve with part of the balloon remaining to
it, and from which cause it came down again after it had drifted
off nearly two miles.

After the balloon is emptied of its gas the net should be taken
off, then it may be rolled up and packed in a canvass bag, or
one made of stout twilled muslin, which the aeronaut should
always carry with him.

These are general directions and recommendations suggested
to the young practitioner of aeronautics, upon which it is desirable
he should improve as fast as the progress of the art will inspire
him to do. As for philosophical instruments, log-books and jour-
nals, he will of course exercise his own pleasure and judgment.
The barometer is an instrument which it is very difficult to carry
along and bring down safe in rough weather. It should be sus-
pended from the concentrating hoop, and there it is even liable to
derangement when landing under squally weather. As an instrii-

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PARACHUTES. 295

ment for measuring altitudes based upon the diminution of atmo-
spheric pressure, I have used a common porter bottle, to the neck
of which was joined a bladder of the same capacity as the bottle.
The bottle being filled with air of the density at the point of
starting, and the bladder tied on then in a collapsed state, the
expansion of the air in the bottle would gradually fill the bladder
as it rose up in the rarer regions of the atmosphere. When the
bladder became completely distended it indicated a barometrical
height of about fifteen inches, or over three miles high from the
level of the sea. A height indicating instrument might be made
on this principle, which would tell it with as much exactness as
the barometer, and would not be so liable to derangement as an
aeronautic instrument. The one I used would only tell one point
with exactness — that at which the bladder became filled, the
intermediate points were merely calculations from . guesswork of
the amount of distension in the bladder.

To explode the balloon when high in the air and convert it
into a parachute, the manner of doing it, and the fixtures neces«
sary to its operations, have all been described. The parachute,
as a distinct machine from the balloon, will be our next subject
of consideration.

PARACHUTE.

The concave parachute, for experimental and scientific illus-
trative purposes, may be considered the best. This can be
formed of almost any kind of cloth material, but common domestic
muslin, of a substantial texture, answers the purpose very well.
One sufficient to let down an ordinary sized man in safety should
be twenty-two feet across when opened, and should be of a shape
considerably more flattened than a hemisphere. If of a hemispheric
shape, it need not be more than twenty feet across when opened,
as this form will condense a column of air more rapidly than a
flatter form will in its descent. This calculation is for a mini-
mum size, which may be increased by the aeronaut as he fancies,
since an increase of size will cause a corresponding retardation
of velocity in its descent. The segments of which the parachute
is to be formed may be cut by the scale for cutting balloons, and
may be so varied as to give it a more flattened form than a half
sphere. These segments may be joined by a lap, or a welt seam,
according to fancy, since its object is merely strength. The
parachute may be covered with a net, or with cords. The latter
is the most simple, and answers the purpose perfectly well, when
properly arranged. The apex, or centrsd joining of the parachute
must be formed of a block of wood with a hole through it suffi-
ciently large for a rope to slide through. The cords which sus-

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296 PARACHUTES.

tain the car of the aeronaut dre faatened to this block and proceed
down along each seatn on th6 outside of the canvass, and should
be fastened along the seam, and at the edge of the parachute
where they pass over it. The car is rigged to these cords as
represented in the plate of Hampton's parachute, and is supported
by the rope with which it is fastened to the balloon, and which
passes up through the hole in the block. When the parachute is
detached from the balloon, by loosening this r6pe there is some
danger of the rope flying against the inside of the parachute and
injuring it. To obviate this, it may be guided safely by passing
it through tin tubes setting upon each other from the car to the
block, which fall away as soon as the parachute is detached from
the balloon. For the further security and certainty of the imme-
diate opening of the parachute, a six-feet diameter hoop may be
suspended from the inside of the block, which will keep the para-
chute that much open, ready at once to receive a column of air
in its descent. For safety and certainty Mr. Hampton's para-
chute is the best.

It has been suggested by some writers on this subject that the
parachute be made with a shutter or valve in its top, thinking
that such contrivance would answer to regulate its descent in
making it uniform, and prevent the violent oscillations which arise
from the condensation of the atmospheric column upon which the
machine acts i^hen coming down. This method promises very
well in theory, as^ column of air rushing up through the open
shutter of the parachute as it was falling, would seem to act the
part of a guide pole, over which the machine would slide down
perpendicularly with a uniform motion. But when we consider
the elastic nature of the atmosphere, and the very exact propor-
tions of the opening for the column of air to pass through to that
of the surface of the impinging material and the weight which
drags it along, and then its liability of falling through various air
currents which would strike it laterally, it would seem to pro-
mise but little advantage in practice. However, it would be
worth the trial, and, although parachuting seems to be of no
great practical consequence to the art of aeronautics, its science
embraces the highest mathematical considerations and properties
connected with it.

We have a beautiful illustration of this principle in various de-
partments of nature. The flying squirrel moves in parabolic
curves from tree to tree on the parachute principle. The pollen
of plants is carried from one place to another by this mode; the
beautiful parachutes springing from the common thistle and the
dandelion plants have been noticed by the common observer; in-
deed, nature uses the atmosphere as its common highway, upon
which it has, continually, myriads of its vehicles floating for the

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RAREFIED AIR BALLOONS. 297

purpose of interchanging, interpregnating, and improving the
vegetable kingdom, upon the aeronautic parachute principle.
The phenomenon of frequent occurrence, and erroneously believed
to be a deposit of sulphur, which is frequently seen on the surface
of our rain-water casks after thunder showers, is nothing morie
thauB deposit of pollen which has.been caught with its parachutes
in the stormy elements, and which destroyed the little air vessels
and dashed the pollen down with the rain, and which for a long
time was viewed as a mysterious freak of nature. In the ocean we
also have the principle naturallv illustrated. The nautilus, and sea
anemone, move altogether on this principle. The former embraces
the principles of navigation and parachuting, and Pope very beau-
tifully saj^s of it —

" Learn of the little nautilus to sail,
Spread the thin oar, and oatoh the driving galq."

If nature works upon this principle so extensively, it is
certainly well worth our while to study it deeply, since it is well
known that our Highest attainments in the arts and sciences are
but attempts to imitate nature in her more perfect works. By so
doing we shall soon realize the prophetic expectations of Darwin,
expressed in his inspired poetry of —

" Soon shall thy arm, uncono^uered steam, afar
Drag the slow.harge, or drive the rapid oar ;
Or, on toide waving mngs expanded^ bear
The flying chaript through the fields of air I"

And if not by steam power, by some power more adaptable
to the ends of aerial navigation, which the progressive spirit of
the present age is fully competent to bring out.

CHAPTER VI.

Rarefied air balloons — Laws regulating them — Their powers considered —
How to construct them — How to inflate them — ^Experiment illustrated —
- An ascent with one described.

RAREFIED AIR BALLOONS.

Although rarefied air balloons have almost fallen into disuse,
since tBe hydrogen balloon has been rendered more available as
an aeronautic machine, still, a description of the mode of manu-

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298 RAREFIED AIR BALLOONS.

facturing and inflatiDg them should be imparted to the stodent
and experimentalist of the art.

The ascent of rarefied air balloons is governed by the same
pneumatic law which applies to hydrogen balloons. The means
by which the machines s^e rendered specifically lighter than
common air, are, however, very different. In the hydrogen bal-
loon the buoyant agent is a permanent body, unchangeable in its
nature under ordinary circumstances. In the rarefied air balloon
this agent is not permanent, but dependent on another, which
requires a continuous application of combustible material to keep
up its buoyant property.

Common air expands by heat and contracts by cold. When a
body or portion of it is heated more (ban that by which it is sur-
rounded, it will rise, and if it is rendered colder it will sink in it.
On this principle the rarefied air balloon depends for its buoyant
power. Common air increases one-four-hundred-and-eightieth of
its bulk for every additional degree of heat it gets, and since its
weight is as its density, it follows that this increased bulk weighs
one-four-hundred-and-eightieth less than an equal bulk of air
whose temperature is one degree less. Consequently, as we in-
crease the temperature of the air in the balloon, so we increase
its ascending power, and so long as the temperature exists, so
long its proportionate ascending power continues, and as soon as
this temperature diminishes,, so soon also diminishes this power.
Hence, in order to keep a rarefied air balloon afloat in the atmo-
sphere any length of time, it becomes necessary to carry with it
fuel for the purpose of keeping up the heat of the air with which it
is filled. If we send them up with a heated body of air in them,
and no fire along, their flight must be necessarily brief, as an
equilibrium between the enclosed and outer air will soon follow
in the high and colder region of the atmosphere to which they
will be driven. The rarefaction of common air by this process,
seems to come justly under the principle of dilution, since from a
given body of common air a portion is expelled, and in its stead
a lighter substance (caloric) is placed. On the same principle,
that if we take a bottle full of water and force into it, while.it has
vent, a portion of spirits of wine, a part of the water will be ex-
pelled, and the bottle will be filled with a compound fluid spe-
cifically lighter than water, and if the bottle were porous, as is
the case with the rarefied air balloon, and placed, or immersed
into a body of water, an equilibrium would soon be brought
about between the inner and outer liquid, unless some con-
trivance attended the bottle, by which a stream of spirits of wine
was forced into it faster than the difliision of the liquids would
compensate for. Hence, by increasing the temperature of a
given quantity of confined air, we drive a portion of it out, and

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CONSTRUCTION OF RAREFIED AIR BALLOONS. 299

pat in its place an equal balk of caloric. The latter substance is
the material cause of heat, and occupies space.

As common air is expanded by heat to the extent of one-four-
hundre^-and-eightieth of its bulk for every additional degree of
Fahrenheit it attains, it follows that a balloon whose capacity is one
thousand cubic feet, and filled with air one degree warmer than that
which surrounds it, must be one-four-hundred-and-eightieth light-
er than the weight of an equal bulk of that whichr it displaces.
Now, as common air weighs one and two- tenth ou nces per cubic foot,
a thousand feet weighs twelve hundred ounces, and the one-four-
hundred-and-eightieth part of that makes two and one-half ounces,
sot that for every additional degree of heat put into this quantity
of air, we drive out two and one-half ounces of ponderable mat-
ter, and occupy its place with caloric or imponderable matter.
Increase this heat to a hundred degrees above its common tem-
perature — being that of the atmosphere at the time of making the
experiment, and we shall have gained sixteen pounds ascending
power nearly. If the atmosphere at the time of the experiment
is fifty degrees, the heat inside the balloon will be one hundred
and fifty degrees. If we use a balloon of ten thousand feet
capacity, we will, at this rate, gain an ascending power of one
hundred and sixty pounds nearly, and fromlhis we see that rarefied
air balloons must be made of very large dimensions in order to
carry u{) aeronauts, as it is not very practicable to attain a degree
of rarefaction much beyond that which we have just mentioned.
And in order to succeed in going up with one, it should hold
from fifty to sixty thousand cubic feet. The only oiie that I ever
saw used in the United States with which a person ascended on
this principle, held about sixty thousand feet, and the aeronaut
carried no fire up with him.

CONSTRUCTION OF RAREFIED AIR BALLOONS.

Common stout muslin answers the purpose very well, and in
order to make it retain the heat better it should be coated slightly
with a composition of common ochre, glne and water, made into
a consistency of what is termed size^ or common water color. —
Before this is put on, the lower part of the balloon should be
soaked in a solution of alum, or sal ammoniac, which renders it
non-combustible, and avoids the danger of the machine taking
fire while in process of inflation. The segments should be joined
by a lap seam substantially sewed, which makes the machine
firm, and it must be remembered that the rarefied air balloon car-
ries no net- work over its surface, therefore, its main strength inust
depend on the material it is made of and its seams. The form

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800 INFLATION OF RAREFIED AIR BALLOONS.

of the balloon should be oblong, of such proportions as when the
machine is forty feet in its transverse diameter it should be sixty
feet in its perpendicular diameter. This dimension is a con-
venient size for one to carry up an aeronaut. To form such
a one the segments must be cut by a pattern for a forty feet
diameter balloon — that is the upper half of them — their central
parts straight, making its shape cylindrical one-third of its height,
and the lower parts tapered off, so as to finish the machine with
an opening in its lower part of thirteen feet four inches, being
one-third of its transverse diameter. This makes the machine
globular at the top, cylindrical along its middle, and egg
shaped in its lower part. In the lower orifice a hoop of tough
wood must be inserted, and as this carries the whole weight of
the aeronaut and his appendages, it is best to make the lower
part of the balloon of stronger material, for a distance of five or
six feet up from the hoop.- This hoop need not be sewed in, if
the lower edge be worked full of loop holes, by which it may be
strung fast with stout twine. From this hoop proceed the cofds,
in the same manner as they are described to do from the net of
the hydrogen balloon ; and the same rule and rigging from this
point apply in both cases.

The foregoing plate represents a sectional view of a rarefied air
balloon in process of inflation. A Frenchman by the name of
Verdalle made several ascensions with a balloon of this kind from
the vicinity of the city of Philadelphia in the fall of 1849. His
machine was about forty by sixty feet in size, and was composed
of black twilled muslin. When prepared for inflation it >vas sus-
pended from a rope which run across from two poles erected for
that purpose, so that just before starting he could loosen the one
end of it and draw it out of the ring at the top of the balloon. —
The process of inflation on the occasion" where I was an eye wit-
ness, was conducted in the following manner : —

The balloon was suspended from a rope as represented above
— its lower part touching the ground. Inside of the balloon on
the ground stood a common sheet iron furnace surmounted with a
flue about six feet high. Near the balloon on the outside was
provided a quantity of straw, about a common cart load, tied up
in suitably sized fagots. These were handed through under the
hoop, which was held down close to the ground by assistants, and
only raised when necessity required it. In the inside were other
assistants who took the straw and fired it through the furnace, the
blaze striking out at the top as represented in the plate. One of
the inside assistants was provided with a sheet iron paddle of Suf-
ficient size to cover the opening of the flue, which acted as a
daniper. This became occasionally necessary from the intensity
of the fire and discharge of flakes and sparks. Several times

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CONSIDERATIONS. 801

these flakes did ignite the balloon in small points, but it was as
often pulled. down and the fire extinguished, which burned slow-
ly and without a blaze, owing to its being prepared with non-
combustible glue^size. There was also in readiness a demijohn
full of spirits of wine with which to saturate the straw fagots at
the close of the inflation, for the purpose of raising the rarefac-
tion in the balloon to the highest degree at the time of starting, as
Monsieur Verdalle carried no fire up with the machine to prolong
his voyage with. After the balloon was fully distended with
heated air, the tope by which it was at first suspended was with-
drawn, and the car was at the same time attached, on which the
aeronaut mounted, when the huge machine was released and it
mounted quickly but gracefully into the space above.

This ascension was made near sunset about the middle of Oc-
tober. The evening was calm and clear. The balloon ascended
over half a mile in height, which it attained when about a mile off
ffom where it started. It then commenced descending, coming
down with a gently accelerated velocity, and Janded about two
miles from where it started. When it struck the earth it fell
upon its side, which made it evident that the air then contained
in it could not be much rarefied. In descending it would of
course have a column of cold air rushing into it all the time,
which would soon bring the air it contained to the temperature of
the surrounding atmosphere, and the lalter part of its descent
would be regulated by the resistance of the air to falling bodies,
which in so large a surface as presented in the machine just
mentioned, would soon stop its acceleration.

Although these kind of balloons hold no comparison to those
of the hydrogen principle in aeronautic improvements, but as a
means of demonstrating aerostatic principles they are very con-
venient and economical. Such a machine as the one just de-
scribed can be inflated sufficiently to carry up a man, and the
whole cost of such inflation would not exceed five dollars. And
beyond such use they are not to be recommended, since, in order
to make long voyages with them, fire must be carried along, which
makes it very dangerous, unless some better mode than that of
carrying it along on an opea brazier will be invented.

True it is, that we may discover a means by which caloric
may be retained or confined in non-conducting vessels the same
as \ye now retain hydrogen. Such a method once discovered,
and a vessel invented for its use, we may easily conceive a
further discovery by which caloric might be abstracted from the
surrounding atmosphere as we traveled through it and required
it for use. Such a principle, and its use as above described, is
as compatible with the laws of nature and progress of science,
as was the discovery of the common water pump and its applica-

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802 PILOT BALLOONS.

tion to common use, by merely destroying the equilibrium of the
atmosphere between the inside and outside of the pump. In the
case of the balloon it only requires a destruction of equilibrium
of the caloric inside and outside of it. Even the levity of hydrogen
is owing to the superior affinity of the atoms of which it is com-
posed for caloric over those of nitrogen and oxygen, which mainly
constitute our common atmosphere. Indeed, chemical science is
opening the door to the highway of aerial travel.

CHAPTER VII.

Pilot balloons, how made— How coated with oil — ^How to inflate them —
Oum-bag balloons — ^Derices — To soften gum-bags — ^To distend them —
Small fire balloons, to make — Philosophical principles which govem
their ascent^To make them ascend — Things can be sent up with thjm.

PILOT BALLOONS.

The small balloons which are generally sent up at balloon as-
censions, to show the various directions of the upper currents of
the atmosphere, are called pilots. They may be sent up inflated
with hydrogen gas, or with rarefied air. The former kind are
generally used as pilots, and the latter as toy balloons, made
and sent up for mere amusement, with sometimes a piece of fire-
works attached to them, which produces a very brilliant efiect of a
dark night. Those made to ascend with hydrogen need not be more
than eighteen or twenty inches in diameter to make them capable
of ascending, and are made in the following manner: Take good
close tissue paper (the English is the best) and cut it into seg-
ments suited to the size of the balloon to be made. These are
then cemented together with a solution of gum- Arabic. Theseg-
ments should be cut so as to form a neck to the balloon when it
is completed. In pasting them together the segments should
first be folded once longitudinally, then by placing one on the
other so that 'its edge is a little behind the lower one,, the gum
can be spread along the projecting edge of the lower one, when
it can easily be folded up and over the edge of the upper one. —
Then another one is placed on the top of the upper and the same
process gone through with, which is continued until all the seg-
ments intended for the balloon are put together, when the edges
of the lower and upper segments are to be joined, which completes
the machine in a regularly folded manner. Care must be taken

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PILOT BALLOONS. 808 .

while the joining is going on so that the folds are not pasted
together, which may be avoided by running the finger between
them occasionally as the work is going on. When the balloon
is done its neck should be lined around its lower edge with a
strip of muslin ^bout a half an inch wide, so as to prevent it from
tearing when it is placed over the tube from which it is to be
inflated. Before they can be inflated and sent up they must go
thh)ugh another process. .Paper of any kind is too porous of
itself to retain hydrogen gas. Therefore, just before they are to
be used they must be coated with common linseed oil, which can
be spread on with a soft brush or tuft of raw cotton: this can be
done very handily by laying one fold out after the dther^ so that
when the pilot is oiled all over it is folded up again as it was
when the oiling was commenced. The pilot unfolds itself as the
gas is introduced. A pilot of two feet diameter made in this way
and inflated with hydrogen and its neck tied up, will ascend up
to and through the clouds— ''the porosity of the envelop will allow
an escape of gas adequate to its expansion as it rises.

Devices of meA, animals, fishes, &c., can be made in this way,
and sent up. A corpulent figure, representing the ^^ Flying
Dutchman," and sent up on occasions of balloon ascensions, has
invariably produced a high degree of satisfactory merriment.

Small hydrogen balloons of two or three feet diameter, can be
made by an expert hand from the common India rubber bottles
which are kept at almost every drug store. These retain the gas
for a long time. Some years ago one of this kind was made
by Profi^ssor J. K. Mitchell, of Philadelphia, and sent up from
there, which went some hundreds of miles before it descended,
and then caused quite a consternation in the neighborhood where
it came down, which, if my recollection serves me right, was at
the head-waters of the Potomac river. They are made by the fol-
lowing process : — the gum-bag is filled with ether and also placed
in a vessel of ether so that all its surface is exposed to the solving
liquid. When it gets soft, which may be in a day or two,
according to the strength of the ether and the nature of the gum,
and which must be looked to from time to time, the bag may be
taken out and emptied of the ether and blowed up. This is the
most critical part of the process. Some parts may be more
softened by the ether than others, and these will consequently
expand faster than the others, therefore, these parts must be pro-
tected, and the thicker and stubborn parts may be from time to
time dipped into some ether. By placing the hands on the thin
parts when blowing into the bag, these parts will be relieved and
the stress exerted upon the rest of the surface. A few experi-
ments by a skillful hand will enable him to make them nicely.
Care should be taken to select the most perfect bags. The bag

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304 SMALL FIRE BALLOONS.

may be weighed, upon which it will be ascertained to what di-
mensions it must be expanded to make it light enough to carry
up what it is designed for when inflated with hydrogen. When
it is sufficiently expanded it should remain a while in that form,
so as to give the membrane that set.

SMALL FIBE BALLOONS.

These are nothing more than rarefied air balloons, and get the
appellation of " fire balloons" from their always being sent up
with fire in them. Small ones of this kind are made of the same
material and put together in the same manner as the hydrogen
pilot, of which a description has already been given, only that
the fire balloon need not be oiled. The same proportions as set
down for the large rarefied air balloon may be observed in these
small ones. They may also be made globular, but the most con-
venient shape is the egg shape, that is like an egg with its pointed
part cut ofif. They are generally made with long necks, which
IS wrong, and is the cause of them taking fire, and so frequently
failing in getting them ofT at all. These misconceptions arise
from a want of the scientific knowledge which governs the art.
Indeed there are many mechanical geniuses who are entirely
ignorant of science, and this desideratum makes them throw
away many an hour and many a day, by which they might adorn
their characters and elevate their class, aud the race of mankind,
if they had also studied philosophy with their arts.

Fire balloons should never be made of less dimensions than
three feet diameter. Though they can be made and elevated of
even smaller size, still, it requires a good deal of care and nicety,
and delicate construction, to make one of three feet diameter
ascend handsomely. The experimejitalist, if he be a novice in
the undertaking, had better make his machine larger than three
feet, and success will then be easier attained. By making it still
larger, say ten or twelve feet in diameter, he need no longer con-
fine himself to tissue paper, as he may use some heavier and
cheaper, though tissue is the best. Some few years ago a lady
made an ascension from Padua, in Italy, with a tissue paper fire
balloon covered over with a net- work. We may presume she
carried no fire with it. The account of it stated that the balloon
bursted in coming down, but the lady came ofl* with no other in-
jury than a considerable jar.

In making small fire balloons we must not calculate on more
than one-third of an ounce of ascending power for every cubic
foot of capacity in the machine. Thus, if we look at the table
of capacities and dimensions of balloons, we find a three feet

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SMALL FIRE BALLOONS. 805

diameter one to contain fourteen cubic feet. Hei^e, one of this
size with air highly rarefied would raise about five ounces, and
hence, if the balloon and sponge containing the alcohol weigh
more than five ounces it will not rise, at least not by raising the
temperature of air in it one hundred degrees above its surrounding
atmosphere. Thus it will be seen that an experiment of this kind
tried on a small scale requires to be conducted with a degree of
nicety aad skill, which becomes less imperative as the magnitude
of it is increased.

In the construction of small fire balloons a li^ht wooden hoop,
or it may be of light wire, must be inserted in its mouth so as to
keep it apart. Two cross wires must be fastened on this hoop,
and where they cross each other there may be a little wire cup or
basket formed in which to place the cotton ball, or sponge, which
contains the spirits t)f wine. A iisg' of cotton tied round and Xovw
round with thread to keep it more together answers very well,
and I hs^ve generally preferred it to sponge. To send one up
when of a small size, a quantity of alcohol, more than it is able to
carry, may be placed in the wire basket, which will inflate it and
in the mean time grow lighter, so that by the time the machine is
properly inflated and rarefied its fire burden will have become
light enough to be carried up by it, and there will at the same
time be remaining enough of fire matter to keep up the rarefaction
after the balloon has started. Besides this, the burden continues
to get lighter on its voyage as the matter in the basket consumes.
In machines of a lai^er size, a small furnace capped, with a
stove-pipe or other kind of tube may be used, by consuming
paper or straw in it, or anything that gives out little smoke and
much heat, which will inflate it with more economy than alcohol,
and the latter substance may be applied to the basket just before
the machine is l«t up. Such as these may have parachutes at-
tached to them with small animals, and regulated by a slow match
to burn off the string which connects the parachute with the
balloon.

20

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306 PERMEABILITY OF HYDROGEN.

CHAPTER VIII.

General remarks on the art — ^Philosophy of vamishrooating to render
stuff impervious to gas — ^Experiments on the diffusion of hydrogen in
balloon — ^Escape of experimental balloon — Double envelop prepared
well, vrould retain gas lon^ enough to go round the vrorld withr-Aerial
voyages are life conservative — ^Its philosophy considered — Its effects ajs
experienced.

Hating detailed the manner of constructing and managing
balloons on the most improved methods, some general remarks
will properly conclude this part of the work.

Gold-beater's skin has been highly recommended by some
persons, as making a very impervious envelop for gas. I have
tried this and found it even inferior to varnished silk or muslin.
It seems that all animal membranes are porous and naturally
adapted to the passage of gases and liquids. The membrane of
lungs lets the oxygen of the atmosphere pass through while it
obstructs the atoms of nitrogen with which the oxygen is diluted.
Animal* membranes have a peculiar texture, adapted to the trans-
mission of some liquids and gases, and not to others. And
there appears to be a peculiarity of shape, size, or roughness to
each gas, to which the porosity of any substance must be
adaptable in order to let it pass through. The very best method
that I have yet discovered to effect this, is to coat the material
intended to retain the- gas with linseed oil varnish in very thin
layers. If put on thick in one coating it seems to get porous in
drying, and so will a thin coat, but by repeated layers each suc-
ceeding one will cover over the pores of its antecedent.

This nature of porosity applies also to membranes of ^m
elastic, and when this substance is to be used for gas envelops
it makes a joQore impervious coating by being laid on in repeated
layers, than when put on in one heavy coat. The affinity which
gases have for each other is remarkably strong, and in some
cases, it will pervade any substance that may intervene.

I made an experiment with a silk balloon which held thirty
cubic feet, coated like the balloons commonly used by me for
ascensions. This was filled with hydrogen evolved from water
by sulphuric acid and iron turnings, and fastened to a weight in the
cellar — there being a circulation of air through the cellar as in

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AERIAL VOYAGES HEALTH PRESERVATIVE. 807

common cas^s. The first, second, and third days the balloon
gradually diminished its bulk, and its greatest diminution was
about one-tenth, and it also lost about one-tenth of its ascending
power. The fourth day it seemed to be increasing its bulk, and
the fifth it was very perceptible. On the sixth it was nearly as
full as it was when first put down, and on the seventh it showed
that it would burst if sufiered to go on increasing in bulk in the
same ratio a day longer, upon which I relieved it by opening its
neck, which had been well tied up, and then it soon lost its
ascending power. Before I opened the neck I tried its ascending
force and found it bad not lost as much the three last days, as it
had the three first.

This same balloon was taken and re-coated three times more,
but the whole of these coatings did not increase its weight quite
half as much as the whole weight of its former coating amounted
to. Upon being filled again with hydrogen, it did not lose as
much in the first ten days, as it had on the former occasion in
thirty-six hours. After this it was used for several days in
electrical experiments, during which it got ofi" with several hun-
dred yards of twine, and I never heard of it afterwards. It must,
soon after its release, have got vent sufficient to allow an escape
of gas by expansion, but may have reached the Atlantic before
it came down, as the last course it was seen sailing was due east,
and it had but one hundred and thirty miles to go in that direc-
tion to get to sea.

To make a balloon that would retain its hydro^n for months,
or a greater length of time, out^)f cloth material, it only requires
the substance to be coated, silk or muslin it may be, in thin
layers ; and from experiments, I find that two layers of silk or
muslin, coated in this way and laid together, so as to make a
double envelop, increases its imperviousness in a remarkable
degree.

AEEIAL VOYAGES AEE LIFE CONSEBVATIVE.

If aerial navigation, or ballooning as it is, had not the strong
claims on our energies and encouragements from the auspicious
developments that are now so rapidly succeeding each other in
the arts and sciences, it would of itself, in its present simplicity,
command an attention and desire to seek its use, as we seek
life itself, were it only generally and properly comprehended in
its health-promoting, life-saving, and soul and body invigorating
capabilities. Human beings will seek distant climes under' all
the tortures and enervating vicissitudes of long and perilous sea
voyages, for the purpose of relieving their constitutions from the
devouring efiects of chronic diseases, but many of them only

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AERIAL VOYAGES HEALTH PRESERVATIVE.

attain their graves in the silent deep while in search of the goal
of health. The elysian fields of health are much easier to be
(bund by the use of balloons. Milton says : —

" The riv«r of life, through midst of hearen,
Rolls o'er elysian flowers her amber stream."

And if Milton had never expressed the idea in his heaven-boAi
poetry, the laws of life, and the philosophy of its circumstances,
would be amply sufficient to sustain what shall be written on this
point. With such auxiliaries, in connection with the progressive
spirit of the age, the doctrine about being set forth will not be
considered vainglorious, but real 'glorious, in the cause of the
alleviation of the human family from the pains and evils that
flesh is heir to.

That atmospheric pressure has a great deal to do, if not all to
do, with the mechanical functions of life, must be admitted by all
sound reasoning on the subject, and if reasoning alone will not
answer, the experimeTttum crucis is demonstrable by sending
chronically diseased persons through the healthy fields of life in-
spiring air above the earth, and examining the results. From
ntch arg^uments have proceeded my conclusions. When I first
engaged in the business of aeronautics I was suffering from
chronic dyspepsia, added to a severe affection of the lungs caused
by a long continued inhalation of dust composed of rose-wood
and the fine particles of slass, arising from the use of glass paper
upon such wood, which my business then subjected me to
(piano forte making).

From the devouring ravages of such a complicated disease the
practice of ballooning relieved me, notwithstanding the perplexi-
ties attending the first six or seven years while engaged in it,
were of themselves more than sufficient to countervail any ordi-
nary life conserving operations.

That atmospheric pressure has a powerful influence on the
lungs, was known long ago. Doctor Arbuthnot, a celebrated
English physician and writer says of it : — " The pressure of the
air upon the lungs is much less than it has been computed
by some ; but still it is something, and the alteration of one-
tenth of its force upon the lungs must produce some difference
in elutriating the blood as it passes through the lungs."

This elutriation is the very fulcrum of the life principle — upon
that it rises and falls — grows weaker and stronger — languishes or
fires up. In the lungs the life principle is generated — they form
the medium through which the electricity of life is abstracted from
the oxygenated atmosphere, where it is thrown back by their
action an asphyxiated death vapor. It is there that motive power
is acquired and applied through the blood to the heart (the work-

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ELECTRICAL STIMULUS ALOFT. 809

ing cyHnder and balance wheel of the animal system), which re-
turns like the exhausted steam of a low pressure engine^ to be
again calorified, or electrified, only to repeat its offices over and
over again. This, although perhaps not exactly to be found
written in books of animal physiology as here stated, is neverthe-
les9 borne out by the present known science of animal life, and
identifies the old doctrine of blood oxygenation, with the present,
of blood electriziation.

The atmosphere exerts a pressure of from twenty-five to thirty
thousand pounds upon the human body of full grpwtb, and, if, as
Doctor Arbathnot says, the alteration of one-tenth of this force
produces a great difference in the elutriation of the blood in the
lungs, such change is acquired at a very moderate height in the
atmosphere, and one-fourth, and even one-half the difference'
of the whole pressure can easily be acquired by the use of bal-
loons. By elutriation he means the changing of tb& blood from
its black to its ^Iivid red color. But I hear a scientific voice say
we can acquire this change of pressure pro and con by the air
pump and condensing machine ! So we can, but under very dif-
ferent circumstances from those under which we acquire it in the
pure upper regions of the atmosphere! In the exhausted re-
ceiver the air would soon become asphyxiated, and every new in-
halation would be followed by a discharge of death vapor, to say
nothing of the monotony of such a remedy. This is not the case
in the upper regions of the atmosphere ; there the advantages
come even in a stronger ratio, than the disadvantages do in the
other case.

Let us consider them. All diseases indicate a want of life —
electrical stimulus. I know Doctors say, sometimes men die of
too much health. In such cases of disease they might be put
under the air condensed process, if the truth of such a cause of
disease and death could be unequivocally established. At all
events if there be such a disease the human family has never yet
suffered much from its ravages. However, if it be so, the reverse
of the case ought to hold out, that we might get too sick to die,
which seems to be neither philosophical nor logical.

Now, as we rise up in the atmosphere there are two causes act-
ing in beautiful harmony upon the invalid calculated to produce
the most happy results. While the most sublime grandeur is
gradually opening to the eye and the mind of the invalid — the
atmospheric pressure is also gradually diminishing upon the mus-
cular system, allowing it to expand — the lungs becoming more
voluminous, taking in larfi;er portions of air at each inhalation,
and these portions containing larger quantities of caloric, or elec-
tricity, than those taken in on the earth, and the invalid feels at
once the new life pervading his system, physically and mentally.

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810 BALLOONING AND INVALIDS.

— The blood begins to course more freely when up a mile or two
with a balloon — ^the excretory vessels are more freely opened —
the gastric juice pours into the stomach more rapidly — the liver,
kidneys, and heart, work under expanded action in a highly ca-
lorified atmosphere — ^the brain receives and gives more exalted
inspirations — the whole animal and mental, system becomes
intensely quickened, and more of the chronic morbid matter is
exhaled and thrown off in an hour or two while two miles up of
a fine summer's day, than the invalid can get rid of in a voyage
from New York to Madeira, by sea.

The appetite is extraordinarily affected in a balloon ascension,
and this feature of the effects of aerial voyages never diminished
in the least with me for fifteen years. It always gave me a
ravenous appetite for animal food.

The pneumatic effects as above stated will not be questioned
by any person acquainted with the nature of the atmosphere, and
the consequent results upon the human system as described, are
as natural to them, as it is for night to follow day. .

It would seem as though nature itself cried aloud to us upon
this subject, inviting us to its elysian fields to drink in the fluid of
life and relieve poor enervated humanity.

THE END.

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