Wonderfull Balloon Ascents
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Fulgence Marion >> Wonderfull Balloon Ascents
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M. Gray, professor at the seminary of Rodez, presented us some
years ago with the following letter from the Abbe Carnus, upon
the aerial voyage which he undertook, August 6th, 1784:--
"The progress of the Montgolfiere was so sudden that one might
almost have believed that it arose all inflated and furnished out
of some chasm in the earth The air was calm, the sky without
clouds, the sun very strong. Our fuel and instruments were put
into the gallery, my companion, M. Louchet, was at his post, and
I took mine. At twenty minutes past eight the cords were
loosened, we waved a farewell to the spectators, and while two
cannon-shots announced our departure, we were already high above
the loftiest buildings.
"To the general acclamations of the crowd succeeded a profound
silence. The spectators, half in fear, half in admiration, stood
motionless, with eyes fixed, and gazing eagerly at the superb
machine, which rose almost vertically with rapidity and also with
grandeur. Some women, and even some men, fainted away; others
raised their hands to heaven; others shed tears; all grew pale at
the sight of our bright fire.
"'We have quitted the earth,' said I to my companion.
"'I compliment you on the fact,' he answered; 'keep up the fire!'
"A truss of hay, steeped in spirits of wine accelerated the
swiftness of our ascent. I cast my glance upon the town, which
seemed to flee rapidly from under our feet. Terrestrial objects
had already lost their shape and size. The burning heat which I
felt at first now gave place to a temperature of the most
agreeable kind, and the air which we breathed seemed to contain
healthful elements unknown to dwellers on the lower earth.
"'How well I am!' I said to Louchet; 'how are you?'
"'As well as can be. Would that I could dispatch a message to
the earth!'
"Immediately I threw over a roll of paper on which I had written
the words, 'All well on board the City of Rodez.'
"At thirty-two minutes past eight our elevation was at least
6,000 feet above sea level. A flame from our fire, rising from
eighteen to twenty feet, sent us up another 1,000 feet. It was
then that our machine was seen by every spectator within a
circuit of nine miles, and it appeared to be right over the heads
of all of them.
"'Send us up out of sight,' said my adventurous confrere.
"I had to moderate his ardour--a larger fire would have burnt our
balloon.
"From our moving observatory the most splendid view developed
itself. The boundaries of the horizon were vastly extended. The
capital of the Rouergue appeared to be no more than a group of
stones, one of which seemed to rise to the height of two or three
feet. This was no other than the superb tower of the cathedral.
Fertile slopes, agreeable valleys, lofty precipices, waste lands,
ancient castles perched upon frowning rocks, these form the
endlessly varied spectacle which the Rouergue and the
neighbouring provinces present to the view of those who traverse
the surface of the earth. But how different is the scene to the
aerial voyager! We could perceive only a vast country, perfectly
round, and seemingly a little elevated in the middle, irregularly
marked with verdure, but without inhabitants, without towns,
valleys, rivers, or mountains. Living beings no longer existed
for us; the forests were changed into what looked like grassy
plains; the ranges of the Cantal and the Cevennes had
disappeared; we looked in vain for the Mediterranean, and the
Pyrenees seemed only a long series of piles of snow, connected at
their bases. Our own balloon, which from Rodez appeared about
the size of a marble, was the only object that for us retained
its natural dimensions. What wonderful sensations then arose
within us! I had often reflected upon the works of nature; their
magnificence had always filled me with admiration. In this
soul-stirring moment how beautiful did nature seem--how grand!
With what majesty did it strike my imagination. Never did man
appear to me before such an excellent being His latest triumph
over the elements recalled to my mind his other conquests of
nature. My companion was animated with the same sentiments, and
more than once we cried out, 'Vive Montgolfier! Vive Roziers!
Vivent ceux qui ont du courage et de la constance!'
"In the meantime our fuel was getting near the end. In eighteen
minutes we had run a distance of 12,000 feet. 'Make your
observations while I attend to the fire,' said my companion to
me. I examined the barometer, the thermometer, and the compass,
and having sealed up a small bottle of the air at this elevation,
I asked my companion to reduce the fire. We descended 1,800
feet, and at this height I filled another bottle with air.
"Afterwards we felt the refreshing breath of a slight breeze,
which carried us gently toward the south-east. In six minutes we
had run 18,000 feet. Then, having only sufficient fuel to enable
us to choose the place of our descent, we considered whether we
should not bring our aerial voyage to a termination. We had
neither lake nor forest to fear, and we were secure against
danger from fire, as we could detach the grating at some distance
from the earth. At fifty-eight minutes past eight all our fuel
was exhausted, except two bundles of straw, of four pounds each,
which we reserved for our descent. The balloon came gradually
down, and terrestrial objects began again to resume their proper
forms and dimensions. The animals fled at the sight of our
balloon, which seemed likely to crush them in its fall. Horsemen
were obliged to dismount and lead their frightened horses.
Terrified by such an unwonted sight, the labourers in the fields
abandoned their work. We were not more than 600 feet from the
earth. We threw on the two bundles of straw, but still gradually
descended. The grating was then detached, and I had no
difficulty in leaping to the ground. But now a most surprising
and unlooked-for event happened. M. Louchet had not been able to
descend at the same moment as myself, and the balloon, now free
from my weight, immediately re-ascended with the speed of a bird,
bearing away my companion. I followed him with my eyes, and it
was to my agreeable surprise that I heard him crying to me, 'All
is well; fear not!' though it was not without a species of
jealousy that I saw him mounting up to the height of 1,400 or
1,500 feet. The balloon, after having run a distance of 3,600
feet in a horizontal direction, began gently to descend at four
minutes past nine, at the village of Inieres, after having
travelled 42,000 feet from the point of departure. When it had
touched the ground it bumped up again two or three feet. M.
Louchet jumped out, and seized one of the ropes, but had much
difficulty in holding the balloon in hand. He cried to the
frightened peasants to come and help him. But they seemed to
regard him as a dangerous magician, or as a monster, and they
feared to touch the ropes lest they might be swallowed up by the
balloon. Soon afterwards I came to the rescue. The balloon was
in as thorough repair as when we began our journey. We then
pressed out the hot air, folded up the envelope, placed it upon a
small cart drawn by two oxen, and drove off with it."
Chapter IV. Serio-Comic Aspect of the Subject--The Public
Duped--The Abbes Miolan and Janninet at the
Luxembourg--Cariacatures--The "Minerva" of Robertson, and its
Voyage Round the World.
The discovery like that of balloons could not be made public in
France without being travestied, and without offering some comic
side for the amusement of the wits of the day. Under some old
coloured prints, designed with the intention of satirising such
unfortunate aeronauts as had collected their money from the
spectators, but had failed in inflating their balloons, is
written, "The Infallible Means of Raising Balloons"--the
infallible means consisting of ropes and pulleys.
While caricature was thus turning its irony upon the efforts of
believers in the new idea, serious pamphlets were being written
and published with the same object. One of these declares that
the discovery is IMMORAL, I. Because since God has not given
wings to man, it is impious to try to improve his works, and to
encroach upon his rights as a Creator; 2. Because honour and
virtue would be in continual danger, if balloons were permitted
to descend, at all hours of the night, into gardens and close to
windows; 3. Because, if the highway of the air were to remain
open to all and sundry, the frontiers of nations would vanish,
and property national and personal would be invaded, &c. We do
not wish to gather together here the stones which critics threw
against the new discovery, unaware all the time that these stones
were falling upon their own heads.
It is only fair to state that after the first ascents the public
were often duped by pretending aeronauts, whose single aim was to
sell their tickets, and who disappeared when the time came for
ascending. The result of these frauds was that sometimes honest
men were made to suffer as rogues. Even in our own day, when an
ascent, seriously intended, fails to succeed, owing to some
unforeseen circumstances, the public frequently manifests a
decided ill-will to the aeronaut, who is perfectly honest, and
only unfortunate.
The famous ascent of the Abbes Miolan and Janninet, at the
Luxembourg, may be cited as among the failures which suffered
most from the satire of the time. Their immense balloon,
constructed at great expense at the observatory, was expected to
rise beyond the clouds, and a multitude, each of whom had paid
dearly for his ticket, had assembled at the Luxembourg. The
morning had been occupied in removing the balloon from the
observatory to the place of ascent, and at midday the inflation
of it began. The rays of a burning July sun--and one knows what
that is in the Luxembourg in Paris--streamed down on the heads of
the thousands of spectators. From six in the morning till four
in the evening they had waited to see the unheard-of wonder; the
ascent, however, was to be so imposing, that nothing could be
lost by waiting for it.
But at five in the afternoon the heavy machine was still
motionless--inert upon the ground. We need not attempt to
describe the scene which took place as the impatience of the
multitude increased. Sneers of derision made themselves heard on
all sides. A universal murmur, rapidly developing into a
clamour, arose amongst the multitude; then, wild with
disappointment, the frenzied populace threw themselves upon the
barricade, broke it, attacked the gallery of the balloon, the
instruments, the apparatus, trampling them under foot, and
smashing them in bits. They then rushed upon the balloon and
fired it. There was then a general melee. Far from fleeing the
fire, every one struggled to seize and carry off a bit of the
balloon, to preserve as a relic. The two abbes escaped as they
best could, under protection of a number of friends.
After this there fell a perfect shower of lampoons and
caricatures. The Abbe Miolan was represented as a cat with a band
round its neck, while Janninet appeared as a donkey; and in a
coloured print the cat and the ass are shown arriving in triumph
upon their famous balloon at the Academy of Montmartre, and are
received at the hill of Moulins-a-Vent by a solemn assembly of
turkey-cocks and geese in different attitudes. Numerous songs
and epigrams, of which the unfortunate abbes were the subjects,
also appeared at this time. The letters which composed the words
"l'Abbe Miolan" were found to form the anagram, Ballon
abime--"the balloon swallowed up."
The most extravagant balloon project was that of Robertson, who
published a scheme for making a tour of the world. He called it
"La Minerva, an aerial vessel destined for discoveries, and
proposed to all the Academies of Europe, by Robertson, physicist"
(Vienna, 1804; reprinted at Paris, 1820), Robertson dedicated his
project to Volta, and in his dedication he does not scruple to
say: "In our age, my friendship seeks only one gratification,
that we should both live a sufficiently long time together to
enable you to calculate and utilise the results of this great
machine, while I take the practical direction of it." The
following is this aeronaut's prospectus:--
"There is no limit to the sciences and the arts, which
cultivation does not overstep. We have everything to hope and to
expect from time, from chance, and from the genius of man. The
difference which there is between the canoe of the savage and the
man-of-war of 124 guns is perhaps as great as that of balloons as
they now are and as they will be in the course of a century. If
you ask of an aeronaut why he cannot command the motions of his
balloon, he will ask of you in his turn why the inventor of the
canoe did not immediately afterwards construct a man-of-war. It
must be recollected that there have not yet elapsed forty years
since the discovery of the balloon, and that to perfect it would
be a work of difficulty, as much from the increased knowledge
which such a work would demand, as from the pecuniary sacrifices
and the personal devotion which it would involve.
"Thus this invention, after having at first electrified all
savants from the one end of the world to the other, has suffered
the fate of all discoveries--it was all at once arrested. Did
not astronomy wait long for Newton, and chemistry for Lavoisier,
to raise them to something like the splendour they now enjoy? Was
not the magnet a long time a toy in the hands of the Chinese,
without giving birth to the idea of the compass? The electric
fluid was known in the time of Thales, but how many ages did we
wait for the discovery of galvanism? Yet these sciences, which
may be studied in silent retreats, were more likely to yield
fruit to the discoverer than aerostatics, which demand courage
and skill, and of which the experiments, which are always public,
are attended with great cost."
Robertson's proposed machine was to be 150 feet in diameter, and
would be capable of carrying 150,000 lbs. Every precaution was
to be taken in order to make the great structure perfect. It was
to accommodate sixty persons to be chosen by the academics, who
should stay in it for several months should rise to all possible
elevations, pass through all climates in all seasons, make
scientific observations, &c. This balloon, penetrating deserts
inaccessible by other means of travel, and visiting places which
travellers have never penetrated, would be of immense use in the
science of geography: and when under the line, if the heat near
the earth should be inconvenient, the aeronauts would, of course,
easily rise to elevations where the temperature is equal and
agreeable. When their observations, their needs, or their
pleasures demanded it, they could descend to within a short
distance of the earth, say ninety feet, and fix themselves in
their position by means of an anchor. It might, perhaps, be
possible, by taking the advantage of favourable winds, to make
the tour of the world. "Experience will perhaps demonstrate that
aerial navigation presents less inconvenience and less dangers
than the navigation of the seas."
The immensity of the seas seemed to be the only source of
insurmountable difficulties; "but," says Robertson, "over what a
vast space might not one travel in six months with a balloon
fully furnished with the necessaries of life, and all the
appliances necessary for safety? Besides, if, through the
natural imperfection attaching to all the works of man, or either
through accident or age, the balloon, borne above the sea, became
incapable of sustaining the travellers, it is provided with a
boat, which can withstand the waters and guarantee the return of
the voyagers."
Such were the ideas promulgated regarding the "Minerva." The
following is the serious description given of the machine. The
numbers correspond with those on the illustration.
"The cock (3) is the symbol of watchfulness; it is also the
highest point of the balloon. An observer, getting up through
the interior to the point at which the watchful fowl is placed,
will be able to command the best view to be had in the 'Minerva.'
The wings at the side (1 and 2) are to be regarded as ornamental.
The balloon will be 150 feet in diameter, made expressly at Lyons
of unbleached silk, coated within and without with indict-rubber.
This globe sustains a ship, which contains or has attached to it
all the things necessary for the convenience, the observations,
and even the pleasures of the voyagers.
"(a) A small boat, in which the passengers might take refuge in
case of necessity, in the event of the larger vessel falling on
the sea in a disabled state.
"(b) A large store for keeping the water, wine, and all the
provisions of the expedition.
"(cc) Ladders of silk, to enable the passengers to go to all
parts of the balloon.
"(e) Closets.
"(h) Pilot's room.
"(1) An observatory, containing the compasses and other
scientific instruments for taking the latitude.
"(g) A room fitted up for recreations, walking, and gymnastics.
"(m) The kitchen, far removed from the balloon. It is the only
place where a fire shall be permitted.
"(p) Medicine room.
"(v) A theatre, music room, &c.
"--The study.
"(x) The tents of the air-marines, &c. &c."
This balloon is certainly the most marvellous that has ever been
imagined--quite a town, with its forts, ramparts, cannon,
boulevards, and galleries. One can understand the many squibs
and satires which so Utopian a notion provoked.
Chapter V. First Aerial Voyage in England--Blanchard Crosses the
Sea in a Balloon.
In spite of their known powers of industry and perseverance, the
English did not throw themselves with any great ardour into the
exploration of the atmosphere. From one cause or another it is
the French and the Italians that have chiefly distinguished
themselves in this art. The English historian of aerostation
gives some details of the first aerial voyage made in this
country by the Italian, Vincent Lunardy.
The balloon was made of silk covered with a varnish of oil, and
painted in alternate stripes--blue and red. It was three feet in
diameter. Cords fixed upon it hung down and were attached to a
hoop at the bottom, from which a gallery was suspended. This
balloon had no safety-valve--its neck was the only opening by
which the hydrogen gas was introduced, and by which it was
allowed to escape.
In September, 1784, it was carried to the Artillery Ground and
filled with gas. After being two-thirds filled, the gallery was
attached with its two oars or wings, and Lunardy, accompanied by
Biggin and Madame Sage, took his place; but it was found that the
balloon had not sufficient lifting power to carry up the whole
three, and Lunardy went up alone, with the exception of the
pigeon, the cat, and the dog, that were with him.
The balloon rose to the height of about twenty feet, then
followed a horizontal line, and descended. But the gallery had
no sooner touched the earth than Lunardy threw over the sand that
served as ballast, and mounted triumphantly, amid the applause of
a considerable multitude of spectators. After a time he
descended upon a common, where he left the cat nearly dead with
cold, ascended, and continued his voyage. He says, in the
narrative which he has left, that he descended by means of the
one oar which was left to him, the other having fallen over; but,
as he states that, in order to rise again, he threw over the
remainder of his ballast, it is natural to believe that the
descent of the balloon was caused by the loss of gas, because, if
he descended by the use of the oar, he must have re-ascended when
he stopped using it. He landed in the parish of Standon, where
he was assisted by the peasants.
He assures us again that he came down the second time by means of
the oar. He says:--"I took my oar to descend, and in from
fifteen to twenty minutes I arrived at the earth after much
fatigue, my strength being nearly exhausted. My chief desire was
to escape a shock on reaching the earth, and fortune favoured
me." The fear of a concussion seems to indicate that he
descended more because of the weight of the balloon than by the
action of the oar.
It appears that the only scientific instrument he had was a
thermometer which fell to 29 degrees. The drops of water which
had attached themselves to the balloon were frozen.
The second aerial journey in England was undertaken by Blanchard
and Sheldon. The latter, a professor of anatomy in the Royal
Academy, is the first Englishman who ever went up in a balloon.
This ascent was made from Chelsea on the 16th October, 1784.
The same balloon which Blanchard had used in France served him on
this occasion, with the difference that. the hoop which went
round the middle of it, and the parasol above the car, were
dispensed with. At the extremity of his car he had fitted a sort
of ventilator, which he was able to move about by means of a
winch. This ventilator, together with the wings and the helm,
were to serve especially the purpose of steering at will, which
he had often said was quite practicable as soon as a certain
elevation had been reached.
The two aeronauts ascended, haying with them a number of
scientific and musical instruments, some refreshments, ballast,
&c. Twice the ascent failed, and eventually Sheldon got out, and
Blanchard went up again alone.
Blanchard says that, on this second ascent, he was carried first
north-east, then east-south-east of Sunbury in Middlesex. He
rose so high that he had great difficulty in breathing, the
pigeon he had with him escaped, but could hardly maintain itself
in the rarefied air of such an elevated region, and finding no
place to rest, came back and perched on the side of the car.
After a time, the cold becoming excessive, Blanchard descended
until he could distinguish men on the earth, and hear their
shouting. After many vicissitudes he landed upon a plain in
Hampshire, about seventy-five miles from the point of departure.
It was observed that, so long as he could be clearly seen, he
executed none of the feats with his wings, ventilator, &c., which
he had promised to exhibit.
Enthusiasm about aerial voyages was now at its climax; the most
wonderful deeds were spoken of as commonplace, and the word
"impossible" was erased from the language. Emboldened by his
success, Blanchard one day announced in the newspapers that he
would cross from England to France in a balloon--a marvellous
journey, the success of which depended altogether upon the course
of the wind, to the mercy of which the bold aeronaut committed
himself.
A certain Dr. Jeffries offered to accompany Blanchard. On the
7th of January the sky was calm, in consequence of a strong frost
during the preceding night, the wind which was very light, being
from the north-north-west. The arranged meets were made above
the cliffs of Dover. When the balloon rose, there were only
three sacks of sand of 10 lbs. each in it. They had not been
long above ground when the barometer sank from 29.7 to 27.3. Dr.
Jeffries, in a letter addressed to the president of the Royal
Society, describes with enthusiasm the spectacle spread out
before him: the broad country lying behind Dover, sown with
numerous towns and villages, formed a charming view; while the
rocks on the other side, against which the waves dashed, offered
a prospect that was rather trying.
They had already passed one-third of the distance across the
Channel when the balloon descended for the second time, and they
threw over the last of their ballast ; and that not sufficing,
they threw over some books, and found themselves rising again.
After having got more than half way, they found to their dismay,
from the rising of the barometer, that they were again
descending, and the remainder of their books were thrown over.
At twenty-five minutes past two o'clock they had passed
three-quarters of their journey, and they perceived ahead the
inviting coasts of France. But, in consequence either of the
loss or the condensation of the inflammable gas, they found
themselves once more descending. They then threw over their
provisions, the wings of the car, and other objects. "We were
obliged," says Jeffries, "to throw out the only bottle we had,
which fell on the water with a loud sound, and sent up spray like
smoke."
They were now near the water themselves, and certain death seemed
to stare them in the face. It is said that at this critical
moment Jeffries offered to throw himself into the sea, in order
to save the life of his companion.
"We are lost, both of us," said he; "and if you believe that it
will save you to be lightened of my weight, I am willing to
sacrifice my life."
This story has certainly the appearance of romance, and belief in
it is not positively demanded.
One desperate resource only remained--they could detach the car
and hang on themselves to the ropes of the balloon. They were
preparing to carry out this idea, when they imagined they felt
themselves beginning to ascend again. It was indeed so. The
balloon mounted once more; they were only four miles from the
coast of France, and their progress through the air was rapid.
All fear was now banished. Their exciting situation, and the
idea that they were the first who had ever traversed the Channel
in such a manner, rendered them careless about the want of
certain articles of dress which they had discarded. At three
o'clock they passed over the shore half-way between Cape Blanc
and Calais. Then the balloon, rising rapidly, described a great
arc, and they found themselves at a greater elevation than at any
part of their course. The wind increased in strength, and
changed a little in its direction. Having descended to the tops
of the trees of the forest of Guines, Dr. Jeffries seized a
branch, and by this means arrested their advance. The valve was
then opened, the gas rushed out, and the aeronauts safely reached
the ground after the successful accomplishment of this daring and
memorable enterprise.
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