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diff --git a/75423-0.txt b/75423-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c4ce8be --- /dev/null +++ b/75423-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6928 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75423 *** + + + +[Illustration: HENRY COXWELL. + +(_From a Photograph by Messrs. Negretti & Zambra._)] + + + + + MY LIFE + AND + BALLOON EXPERIENCES, + + WITH + A SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER + ON + MILITARY BALLOONING. + + BY + HENRY COXWELL. + + London: + W. H. ALLEN & CO. 13 WATERLOO PLACE, S. W. + 1887. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE + + Boyhood and Youth 1 + + First view of a Balloon 8 + + Juvenile Conflicts 11 + + Launch at Chatham Dockyard 23 + + School-boy Observations of Green’s Balloon 32 + + Settling in Life 38 + + The Vauxhall Balloon 41 + + Departure for Amsterdam 43 + + First Ascent 48 + + Lieutenant Gale’s Balloon 55 + + Nocturnal Ascent 59 + + Ascents from Chelmsford 66 + + Engagements in Belgium 69 + + The Field of Waterloo 88 + + Ascent at Cologne 108 + + Exhibition at Berlin 116 + + Narrow Escape in Hanover 131 + + Ascent at Leipsig 147 + + 1852 148 + + 1853 155 + + The beginning of Military Ballooning 167 + + Military Ballooning during this Century 176 + + Air Torpedoes and Bombshells 185 + + Military Ballooning in the Year of Jubilee 189 + + Remarkable Ascents during this Century 202 + + Ascent, over five miles high, by Green and Rush 217 + + A Jump out of the Car in America 224 + + An Englishman’s Parachute Descent in 1839 225 + + Channel Ballooning 227 + + + + +MY LIFE + +AND + +BALLOON EXPERIENCES. + + +Not far from Rochester Castle, at Wouldham, on the banks of the Medway, +I first saw the light of day, at the parsonage house, on March 2nd, +1819. + +Should this allusion to my birthplace lead to the inference that I am +the son of a clergyman it will not be correct, although I am a grandson +of the Rev. Charles Coxwell, of Ablington House, Gloucestershire; but +my father was a naval officer who had seen a tolerable share of active +service, and who now sought repose in a secluded spot which presented +a striking contrast to the deck of a man-of-war, and to those bustling +scenes of warfare which he had so far participated in as to sustain +personal injury, and to require retirement for the sake of his health. + +Before I was old enough to remember any of the first associations +of childhood in this rural abode at Wouldham, our family changed +residence, so that my earliest recollections date from the time shortly +after we had left the parsonage and had taken up our abode on board His +Majesty’s ship “Colossus,” my father having accepted command of the +vessels in ordinary at Chatham. Here we stayed for three years, and, +young as I was, I do not forget being ducked every morning from the +stage of the old seventy-four, nor the swinging round at tide-time of +the black old hulk, and of frequently being pulled ashore in a dinghy +to the marine stairs, where a landing was effected on a plank. + +In taking a retrospective view of boyhood, the next circumstance which +impressed me was my being taken to a school at the marine barracks, +where one Sergeant W---- superintended an elementary school for the +sons of officers. Our usher, a corporal, was said to have had a +Cambridge education, but I suppose he went wrong in some weak point +before he enlisted; an under teacher was the master’s son, Jack W---- +as he was familiarly styled, a precocious lad who betrayed a decided +proclivity for the young gentlemen’s tarts, so that at last Jack was +regarded as a person who could instruct in _meum_ and _tuum_, but +certainly did not set an example to the pupils in distinguishing +between them. + +After I had been some time at this school, an event occurred which +excited the curiosity of all the boys, and which cannot well be +forgotten by those who broke through the rule of not leaving without +permission. One morning, Sergeant W---- and the second in command +appeared at their respective desks in full uniform rather earlier than +usual, and appointed W---- junior to be a monitor, as some important +duty, either on parade or in another remote part of the barracks, was +coming off. “Mind nobody leaves his seat until we return,” was the last +injunction as the sergeant marched out followed by the corporal, whose +general appearance was more intellectual than martial; his red-tailed +coat and black trowsers were conspicuously a misfit, and as he wore a +thin pair of spectacles, no doubt rendered indispensable by university +studies, the usher did somehow or other disturb the gravity assumed by +the obedient scholars. Jack in office, however, otherwise W---- junior, +was fully equal to a demonstrative attitude, and by a vigorous smack of +the cane on an old desk, that had never yet felt paint, struck terror +among us, so that for a few minutes order reigned supreme. Some wicked +wag, however, soon observed that, for his part, all he was afraid of +was that Jack would not remain in office up to the dinner-hour, by +which certain vile insinuations as to the appropriation of cakes, +&c., were conveyed to the nearest boys; this caused an insubordinate +titter, which again brought down the sturdy cane, this time with such +a threatening thump that its actual use on the hands was held to be +highly probable, especially as the talkative lad in the first class +again ventured a piece of undertoned information, albeit of a graver +kind. + +“Don’t you know,” he said, “it is punishment morning, and the masters +have left to witness the flogging.” + +Now before the lash was mitigated, or abolished, at any rate when I +was a youth, military floggings were of such frequent occurrence that +punishment morning was generally once-a-week; the elder pupils knew all +this, but some of the new boys listened with eager attention, if not +with fear, to the announcement. + +“Hush,” cried one, who heard a tramp on the parade ground, a fact which +indicated that the Royal Marines were at that moment marching down to +the rear, where the halberts were invariably pitched, and where five +or six privates were not unfrequently strapped up in succession, each +to undergo from fifty to two hundred lashes, according to the articles +of war, as at that time interpreted. No sooner was it buzzed about +what was to take place than one of my own class--I will not name the +incorrigible--enquired if there was any chance of having a peep. + +“No, it is not allowed,” said the big boy, “and anyone found looking +out of the barrack windows, commits a serious offence; but if,” he +continued, with a patronizing air, “you can get behind the green baize +near the door, you and I will slip out and see what is going on.” An +opportunity having presented itself, we deserted forthwith. I was +then led to a hole in a window-frame which had been plugged up, and +evidently used on former occasions. + +The Chatham Division of Marines was now to be seen drawn up in square. +The red-painted triangle was ready for the first delinquent, and we +readily recognized the portly frame of the sergeant-major whose voice +disturbed the stillness of the ranks, by saying, “Number one, strip!” I +was struck with the apparent alacrity with which the man took off his +undress jacket, pulled off his shirt, and drew his belt tightly round +his waist; it was the work of a moment; there was no flinching, and he +walked over to the halberts, where his hands and feet were strapped, in +a firm way, which was very sensational and attractive to us ensconced +youngsters. A drummer was immediately at hand in a white jacket, +and the cat hung in his right hand until the sergeant-major cried, +“one” when suddenly the drummer threw himself into position, and the +cat flourished high over his head and fell evenly between the white +shoulders, producing a foul red mark on the fair form which shrugged +perceptibly, but less so as the work proceeded, so that by the time the +first complement of twenty-five lashes had disfigured the poor man’s +flesh, he appeared to be cat-hardened, for no cry or groan escaped his +lips, he took his hundred-and-fifty, and when cast loose, his shirt and +a great coat being thrown over his back, he marched off under escort +to the infirmary, for another kind of dressing, with an amount of +unflinching courage worthy of a better cause. + +Number two was a different kind of man altogether; he was stouter, and +his skin looked redder, there was no manifest fear in him; indeed, +he assumed a defiant swagger, and looked round as if for approbation +during the process of securing, nor did the first few strokes make him +writhe like his predecessor, but no sooner had number twelve sounded, +than a piercing groan was uttered, when the fifes and drums were called +into requisition to drown his shrieks; and then, it may as well be +confessed, we withdrew to the schoolroom, after witnessing that which +did upset us, and was calculated to sicken persons in more advanced +life. + +The next incident mentally photographed on my mind is one which +took place at the village of Gillingham, situated about three miles +from Chatham. Our house had a commanding view of the river Medway +right away to Sheerness. After leaving the “Colossus,” we had taken +up our quarters in the neighbourhood where a great number of +officers resided. The guard-ship “Prince Regent” lay at her moorings +three-quarters of a mile distant, and my eldest brother, a mate, was on +board awaiting a lieutenancy. He frequently came on shore and visited +us at home; but he had gone away to some foreign station before the +winter of 1827 set in, or he would have accompanied my sisters to the +Rochester ball, probably, in the place of my father who generally +required a little persuasion on the part of the girls before mixing +with the red and blue coats when they were going in for dancing. The +forthcoming Rochester assembly was duly prepared for, of course it was +a carriage drive, and in those days the return journey was not always +considered safe, although highway robbers were getting less frequent; +still it was well to be provided with firearms. + +A day or two before the said ball, I was myself an eyewitness of sundry +preparations in the domestic circle; first, there was the coming and +going of dressmakers, and such sort, and on my respected parent’s +side, there was an inspection of small arms, and well I remember it; +the taking down of a naval trophy, very like a horse-pistol, which +was cleaned, and afterwards charged with powder and ball, but the +ammunition was not needed, for the assembly took place, and the girls +were safely housed without any adventure. + +On their return the pistol had been placed on the top of an old +escritoire, and on the following Sunday, during divine service in the +parish church--and I may add in our house as well, my mother being +an invalid, and a younger sister being therefore called upon to read +prayers--just at this serious moment I was wandering about the house, +no doubt in search of mischief, when I espied the pistol, and enquired +of Mary the housemaid who was busy bed-making, what that was on the +drawers. Mary had enough to do in minding her own business, so that I +was requested rather pettishly not to bother her. I insisted, despite +this protest in the bed-room, and examined the pistol, asking the +domestic to allow me to snap the flint and steel in the direction of +her foot. I could not keep in check a desire to embark in this little +experimental trigger pulling; of course I had not the slightest idea +that my pistol could by oversight or neglect have remained charged, +nor was I sufficiently practised in gunnery to see the propriety of +examining the pan, or thrusting down the ramrod to ascertain if all +was clear. My idea was to strike sparks from the flint, and I did so, +but “gracious goodness,” as Mary exclaimed when she flew back as if +killed--and no sooner had she shrieked than my own mother and sister +followed suit--not only had I discharged the contents close to the +girl’s foot, but the bullet had gone right through the floor, down +into the room close to my parent’s sofa where she was reclining. What +consternation ensued I cannot describe; had I shot anybody or wounded +myself? Master Henry was most frightened, I am sure, as the pistol fell +from my hand, and I stood pale and amazed, until reassured that no +one was hurt, and that I was not supposed to have had any deliberate +intention of shooting Mary or my dear mother. It was a close shave for +all there, and I required protection on the maternal side after my +father returned from church. + +“The young rascal,” he said, “had no business prowling about on a +Sunday morning; it was only a few days previously,” he continued in +a great rage, “that gunpowder had exploded in his pocket.” This was +a fact. I had collected some half cartridges which the soldiers had +dropped at a review, and was about trying my hand at springing a mine, +when my father came in sight, and to avoid detection I thrust a lighted +slow match in my pocket, when some loose powder ignited; being now +called upon for an explanation as to handling the pistol, I pleaded +ignorance as to its being loaded, &c., &c., and as the fault lay really +on my father’s side, I was pardoned, and I believe kissed by Mary for +not having deprived her of existence. + +Scarcely six months had elapsed after this first experience of +shooting, ere the village talk turned upon a promised balloon +ascent from the Rochester Gasworks, by Mr. C. Green; several of my +schoolfellows and neighbours were going over to witness the first event +of the kind in that part of Kent. My father had determined not to go +to Rochester, but to be satisfied with a distant view from Chatham +Lines, where I myself, and my brother and sisters, were to assemble on +the occasion. I had strict orders to carry with all possible care an +old spy glass, of about sixteen inches round by two feet and a half in +length. Such a telescope under a boy’s arm now would inevitably excite +ridicule as to its much vaunted day and night powers. I cannot speak +very positively at the present time, though I still possess the said +instrument, and occasionally hand it about as a curiosity, on account +of its having been my father’s and the one that was taken to the hill +overlooking the gas-works to enable me to obtain a good view of Mr. +Green’s balloon, in the year 1828. + +It was my lot on that day, as youngest son, to stand erect with back +towards my father, with the spy glass on my right shoulder to admit of +his getting the first view of the balloon. “There it is sure enough,” +was the intimation which only served to make me unsteady and anxious to +see what manner of thing a balloon could be. “Steady young gentleman,” +said the captain, “your sisters and friends wish for a good view. Now +then, take your line straight over Master Henry’s shoulder, as if you +were aiming point blank at that black gas holder, you will see the +balloon half full.” After our party had taken their turns and had +commented on what they saw, I was myself raised to the highest pitch +of expectancy, and could not for the life of me get a proper focus +or catch sight of the object for some time. At length I sighted the +variegated dome, and indulged in a long and selfish gaze; so much so, +that other boys with natural longing gave signs of impatience by elbow +digs, and at length shook the glass and compelled me to look no longer. + +After the inflation was completed, we could perceive the balloon being +let up by ropes, and my father volunteered the opinion that persons +were in the car, though I question whether the captain knew much of +such affairs, or whether he had ever been nearer a balloon than he was +that day. + +When the partial ascents were over, a number of old naval officers, who +appeared to be tired of waiting, gave it out as their belief that the +real ascent would not be long delayed. I remember the steady gaze of my +father, as he held up the old glass with a fixed look. He was silent +for some time; at length he exclaimed “look out boys,” a request we +attended to and were not kept waiting as in another ten seconds “she’s +off, she’s off,” resounded on all sides, and in less than a minute the +balloon had risen high into the atmosphere, and was gliding away over +Chatham Dockyard. Before the balloon reached the open sea an upper +current perceptibly wafted it inland; it seemed to go on bravely in +spite of danger, and many were the speculations as to where it would +fall. After being up for more than half-an-hour it was pronounced to be +over the Thames, and it could be seen through the clear air until it +was reduced to a mere speck. We heard next day that it alighted safely +in Essex. + +It would, no doubt, be instructive to ascertain how far an imposing +spectacle influences the various members of a juvenile community. A +balloon ascent seen by children, generally, cannot produce a desire +for soaring, or aëronauts would be as plentiful as blackberries. In my +case, young as I was, Mr. Green’s ascent, created an interest which +never left me. It was not long before I invested my weekly allowance +of pocket money in sundry sheets of tissue paper, beginning on the +housetops with tiny parachutes, and progressing towards a rudely +constructed paper Montgolfier, which would not rise, and which did +burn, so that my first efforts, like those of most boys in aërostatics, +were unsuccessful; but, being taken with the amusement, I stuck to it, +not persistently, but with frequent flashes of enthusiasm, which are +evidence of a strong taste in that direction. + +But there were other exciting pastimes in our seaport town which soon +proved as attractive as those miniature balloon experiments. I must +advert to a few of them, after stating that it had been deemed a fit +and proper time to remove me from my first school and to place me in +one of a higher class, kept by the Brothers B----, in Gibraltar Place, +Chatham. The boarders and day-scholars of this establishment were of +a mixed character, that is to say we had the military element, the +naval boys, and a fair contingent of commercial lads--some from London, +others from Canterbury, Dover, Hythe, and various parts of the country. +Our masters had first-rate pretentions to classical and mathematical +proficiency, and although excellent specimens of good teaching were +to be found among our ranks, yet there was one propensity which was +very strong among us, and that was pugnaciousness. I regret, even at +the present time, to avow that we were known under the sobriquet of +“B----’s bulldogs.” Not only individually but collectively did we earn +and deserve this title; whether it was because there were two or three +other schools in our immediate vicinity whose playgrounds bordered upon +our own, and which led to competitive trials of strength, or whether it +was owing to a martial spirit bred in the very bones of the officers’ +boys, I really cannot now take upon myself to decide, but that we were +continually in hot water there remains no manner of doubt; and when I +think of the efforts, the gigantic efforts--if large canes, veritable +cats, and formidable birches are to be accounted as such--that were +made to cure us, I am surprised that more of the fire was not taken out +of us. + +Perhaps in that day and generation we were not properly handled and +tamed; something was wrong, that is certain, or we should never have +been known as “B----’s bulldogs.” It is just possible that some of +the more grave and studious of my schoolfellows would object to this +undignified portraiture I am giving of a few of our weak points, I beg +to qualify my description by adding that it does not follow that one +and all were by nature and habits addicted to fighting, but a large +proportion were that way inclined, and I may truthfully add, that +a certain number were known to belong to a band of volunteers--not +such as emulate the regulars in the present day, but to a regiment of +young aspirants shouldering wooden guns and going forth to battle, +the exciting causes being some imaginary affront or some kind of +puerile knight-errantry, which would now be suppressed as unbecoming +and scandalous. No doubt certain allowances should be made for the +degenerate days of a youth before the Reform Bill had passed; and as +one or two of my companions are now staid, distinguished men, long +passed the meridian of life, they will not blush at my disclosures, +for the history of my boyhood is not designed to include by name any +associate. All I aim at is to describe the early scenes of my life, +which cannot well be omitted from this narrative, as they really +occurred. + +As a specimen of the way in which we sometimes spent our half-holidays, +that is at the tender age of ten, I will give the following anecdote, +though I had better have passed it over perhaps. On one occasion I had +orders to join the small army to which I belonged, as there was some +chance of active service being engaged in on those wide-spread Chatham +Lines, where the members of our little force might, it was thought +possible, on a certain Wednesday afternoon, be provoked into mimic +warfare. We had recently, when exercising, suffered insult from the +wild half-ragged boys of Brompton, who were mostly soldiers’ sons, and +had a grudge against us on account of our superior personal appearance, +no less than for affecting to be armed and equipped as if we were men, +and equal to doing battle as such if need be. Well, the said boys +guessing that we should be out for drill not far from the trenches had +there assembled. + +We fell in regardless of these tormentors, and Colonel H----, that is +our superior officer, who was the son of a live infantry Hibernian +colonel, had given orders to “ground arms,” when with some truth, but +much sarcasm, one of the urchins cried out “ground broomsticks”--of +course in open defiance to us and our leader, who had Irish blood in +his veins. + +It was only a few seconds ere our next instructions were to “shoulder +arms, and prepare for action.” So far from “broomsticks,” ours were +wooden guns, in fair imitation of muskets, and the officers had swords, +purchased from a pawnbroker, unless, as in my case, they had been +provided from home in the shape of naval or military weapons, which +had been worn by their fathers in the days of Nelson or Wellington. +Without much ado or parley, we were preparing for close quarters, when +to our surprise, the enemy opened fire with stones, having provided +themselves with these formidable missiles with which they assailed us +at a disadvantage. + +Colonel H----, though hit at the outset in the hand, motioned us to +deploy and fall back temporarily towards the sally-port, with a view of +exhausting their resources, before a retaliatory step was taken on our +side. + +This strategic movement was well timed, as the ragged ruffians +redoubled their onslaught, but as anticipated, were soon short of +ammunition. + +Perceiving at a glance that they were pressing for the bridge, in +order to replenish their pockets with stones, the word “Charge” was +given, and away we darted at the double, H----, himself, drawing his +sword and cutting at the thin air a slashing swish, just to let them +see it was the genuine cold steel he was leading us with, but--bless +the boys!--away they went, helter-skelter, before our colonel had +authorised us to use the butt-ends of our guns if necessary. + +They beat us, though, in activity, and kept up their chaff while +running away. H----, I remember overtook the ringleader, who had a head +like a mop, while his garments, such as they were, happened to be made +of patches of old uniforms, partially tattered and torn. + +This fellow, with a jeer enough to provoke a saint, exclaimed “Shure +we’ll meet yer on Saturday afternoon, at Tom-all-alones, ye know the +locality, I believe.” + +“Agreed,” replied our leader, who brought us to the halt with no great +reluctance, being himself a stout lad of about fifteen years of age. + +“We are masters of the field at any rate,” he said. + +Not one of our party failed to cheer at the unexpected retreat of our +opponents; we were ill-matched so far as numbers, and stone-throwing +powers were concerned, but as H---- explained, we should have a better +chance on next meeting, as the soil was of clay at Tom-all-alones, +which is situated below the Brompton barracks, where there were at that +time model earth-works, and the sites of recently sprung mines to take +possession of. + +We agreed also upon the advisability of securing the services of the +naval brigade, which had among those enrolled, some schoolfellows, +including my brother, who was just fifteen months my senior, and +thoroughly in advance of me, and indeed of his years, as regards acts +of downright daring. + +On the following half-holiday, the combined forces, composed of +day-scholars, proceeded in two divisions to the proposed scene of +action. As it happened, we were the first on the ground, and no time +was lost in taking possession of an earth-work, or rather clay-work, +not long thrown up by Colonel Paisley and his Engineer detachment. +Guessing what would be the tactics of the rebels, no time was lost in +preparing a pile of balls, as in all probability we should be attacked +with such, at the commencement of the expected onslaught. + +Having added to our numbers since the last brush, we awaited with +confidence an attack, nor were we long in doubt as to the arrival of +the enemy, as their outposts were descried in the distance, and soon +a scattered and disorderly force appeared on the rising ground to our +left; on they rushed, without any apparent organisation, but this time +they had sticks in their hands, and some were seen to have something in +their pocket handkerchiefs which were slung on one arm. + +The Brompton lads had evidently heard that we were at the place +appointed, but they halted on perceiving how favourably we had +established ourselves, and that we had manufactured a conical heap +of clay balls. It was not long before they followed suit, their +bull-headed leader, who gave the challenge, being conspicuous by his +clothes and size. While thus preparing for an attack they withdrew +to a heap of moist clay, where they could be seen pressing the earth +into round shot. Some one of ours proposed to sally out and disperse +them, but H---- thought we had better hold our own, as possession of an +earth-work was nine points in our favour. + +They were quicker and greater adepts at their work than we had been, +and the chances were that they would lick us at out fighting, so that +H---- sent, or sanctioned, a sortie by way of diversion, when a party +of our naval fellows made a dash at them when least expected, but in +numbers our men, like the six hundred riding at the Russian batteries, +were quite unequal to the contest, and suffered terribly; my brother +and several others came in bleeding, but our foes were disturbed and +brought to close quarters, where they resolutely let fly as if they +expected to dislodge us in no time, but we were several feet above +them, and they would have to scale our ramparts before driving us out. +In less than five minutes the exchange became uncommonly smart and hot. +I was also disfigured, as the clay begrimed not only our jackets but +our faces and hands. + +No great length of time elapsed before it became as plain as a +pike-staff that we were getting the worst of it, and no wonder. H---- +discovered the reason, “those ruffians,” he cried, “popped in stones +beneath their clay, we must at them at once; are you ready?” + +“Then hurrah, and away, show no quarter.” + +Down we rushed, the foul play that had been detected animating us with +the pluck and dash of adult warriors. + +“Let ’em have it,” cried H----, unmindful of a wound in the head which +caused the blood to flow copiously. I, too, was hit, as indeed were one +and all of us, but “onwards boys,” was the word, and just as we were on +the point of crossing sticks and guns, they fell back suddenly, but not +before a personal exchange of compliments came off between our colonel +and the burly leader on the enemy’s side. In fact H---- closed with +him, and laid hands on his throat which brought him to the ground. + +This incident gave a turn to the fortune of war, and at the real +tug which decides so many battles we were again the victors, most +unmistakeably so this time, as it became a total rout, and the +ringleader was not released until he rendered up his stick and pledged +himself never again to oppose or make light of us while exercising. + +It was not very long after this scrimmage that a painful circumstance +occurred, and as it concerned three of us who had fought in company, +and who were shortly after fated to have a difference among ourselves, +I may as well mention it at once. I do so with twinges of regret even +at this distant period of time, as I was led, almost unwittingly, into +a fresh squabble which disfigured, I am aware, my early doings. + +It was in this wise. My brother who was in the last affair (not an +elder brother who was in the Royal Navy), had some high words with my +colonel, H----, who had led us twice into action as recounted. H----, +by design or inadvertence, had cast a slur on our father--not that I +heard it or was aware of it until John, my brother, came in one day and +said, “Henry, we are going to fight H----.” + +“Indeed,” I cried with doubt and pain; “what for, he is my colonel, I +have had no quarrel with him?” + +“Well, it is all settled; he has insulted papa. Here’s Johnson, he will +tell you all about it, and when it is to come off. Owing to H----’s +size and age he is going to take the pair of us.” + +“You see Master Henry,” said Johnson, who was a marine bandsman, and +who assisted, when off duty, in our house, “the captain, your father, +has been grossly insulted.” + +“Only you make that clear, Johnson, and I am ready,” was my reply. + +“Well, you had better step up into my room, young gentlemen, at once, +as time is on the wing, and will brook no delay.” + +The bandsman having disclosed the nature of the aspersion, and the +hour having been fixed for the encounter, I found myself with no way +of escape consistent with honour and respect for a parent; so that I +may as well make a clean breast of another blot on my life’s history by +avowing that, the same evening, in a back yard, on suitable premises, +rented by one McMollon, a linesman, Johnson had arranged for the +meeting to take place; and for the better understanding of the why +and wherefore, as also of the respective characters of Johnson and +McMollon, I must unavoidably state that these worthies were, to some +extent, rivals, as Johnson was in our employ and McMollon was not, +though he wished to be. The former, moreover, was a Royal Marine of the +Chatham Division, while the latter was of another cloth altogether: and +then again the bandsman was a Man of Kent, while the soldier hailed +from the other side of St. George’s Channel, so that their brogue and +tastes were quite opposed. + +McMollon considered that H---- had not insulted Johnson’s “bhoys,” as +he accentuated his allusion to us, and the Englishman swore in strong +Saxon that H---- had, and that the affair should be fought out. + +Preliminaries having been settled, an adjournment took place to +Johnson’s private quarters, which were located near our back garden, as +was McMollon’s house and yard, though they were fully a stone’s throw +apart from the bandsman’s rooms and from our place. + +On entering Johnson’s room, he threw off his coat, and then drew with +a piece of chalk a line across the floor, and brought us up to the +scratch, as he roughly named the place of demarkation. He then threw +himself into a pugilistic attitude and thus addressed us:-- + +“You are going to face, young gentlemen, a strapping young fellow, +whose hit may prove like the kick of a horse. From what I know of +you both, I have no fear whatever of the issue, if you follow my +advice; but if he lands his left on Master Henry’s nose and his right +between Master John’s eyes, by taking you apart and dropping on to you +unawares, then I’ll not answer for the consequences. Now look here! I’m +your opponent; please to foot the chalk line, and square up like men. +Capital--anyhow as a sample. Now, please not to forget that in round +one Master Henry must hit for the wind, and you, Master John, must play +for the face--left and right like a sledge-hammer. No. 2 then recovers +himself, and next pops in another compliment on the nob, as we call it +in the classics; and if you land your blows, as I expect you will, Col. +H---- will be taken all aback, and round one will soon be over.” + +“But hold; look here Johnson,” I said, “supposing that when I aim at +the wind I catch one in the eye, how then?” + +“Oh! that’s what we’re coming to. If you, after a spurt in sparring, +throw your guard well over your face, and butt in smartly at the same +time, you score a shot between wind and water, and then the figure-head +is open for master John. Come now, just go through it.” + +But without further shocking or harassing the refined minds of my +readers, suffice it to say that we were put through these tactics +ultimately to the satisfaction of our accomplished instructor, and by +the time we faced H---- in McMollon’s yard, we came up with an air of +confidence which seemed to gladden the bandman’s heart. + +H----, on being supported by McMollon, merely buttoned his blue jacket, +but we, in obedience to Johnson’s request, took off ours and then +tucked up our sleeves. We cut a poor figure, however, in a physical +aspect, as opposed to our big antagonist, who smiled as if he could +knock us to pieces, if he were so disposed. + +“Faith, be jintle with them, Misther H----” said McMollon, when +Johnson--unmindful of swagger--put us forward with calm assurance, +and we lost no time in obeying his orders; perceiving that we stood +well as to position, he cried out “Now lads,” when in I went, to the +astonishment of H---- and his second, while my brother hit out well +from the shoulder, as told to do at rehearsal. + +“Follow up, Master Henry,” cried Johnson, “ding dong, go it, the pair +of you.” + +But, at this interesting moment, a manly figure came forward and, +pushing our backer aside, he dealt us both two sharp cuts on the back +with his walking-stick. It was my father! + +“Disgraceful!” he exclaimed. + +“How is this, Johnson, a pugilistic encounter?” + +“The truth is, it is all about yourself, Captain.” + +“Eh, what do you say, about me?” + +“Well, the fact is, Master H----, yonder, insulted your good name, and +the young gentlemen took it up.” + +“Oh! that’s it; well, I shall return in ten minutes, and if all this is +not over I shall be very angry.” + +Pater then, to the bandsman’s delight, went away; an act which was +interpreted to mean, “go in and win,” which we did in a very short +period of time, to the dismay of McMollon, who now rounded on Johnson, +but the royal marine, of the Chatham division, was nothing daunted, +though a much smaller man; his coat was off, and he was well to the +front in no time. + +“Shure the captain’s coming; don’t get yourself into trouble, now,” +cried McMollon, and with this excuse he declined to be mixed up in +the fray; and it is due to H---- to admit that, after the contest, he +explained that his insinuations were entirely misunderstood, and that +the Coxwells were far too touchy. This remark had in it some semblance +of truth, perhaps, but the explanation being accepted, we shook hands, +and were as good, if not better friends than ever. + +As a description of my boyish pranks will lead to an inference that +the game of soldiers was to me a labour of love, still it must not be +supposed that I was indifferent to nautical pursuits and ship-building. + +There was a fine field at Chatham for youths who aspired to serve their +country, and who had a liking for naval architecture. Much of my spare +time was spent in the machinery and dockyard departments. The parents +of some of my schoolfellows resided in the great naval depot, and +there were about half-a-dozen of us who inherited a strong bent for +everything appertaining to the wooden walls of Old England. + +We had heard our fathers’ stories of sea fights, and cutting out +expeditions, of the days of two broad-sides and board, of chasing +foreign frigates, and of attacking the combined fleets of France +and Spain, until a lively interest in such undertakings was pretty +generally felt among us. Ready access being afforded to see the dry +and wet docks, slips, and gun wharf, we were fairly posted up in all +that was going forward to maintain, at that time, our supremacy on the +seas. + +Although the dimensions of Chatham Dockyard have vastly extended since +the year 1831, still they were of no small magnitude then. There was +generally a first-rate on Number One slip, and a couple of ninety +gun ships close at hand, while lower down the yard an eighty-four +and several frigates, corvettes, and brigs of war were to be seen +in different stages of advancement. The dry docks too--especially a +new stone one--were invariably occupied, and in the river there was +constantly a vessel in commission, so that we frequently put off to +visit the officers, and to watch the progress of fitting out. + +We had been observing for some time the completion of His Majesty’s +ship “Monarch,” and were eagerly looking out for her launch, not +because it would be a novelty to us--for we seldom omitted such +ceremonies--but we had agreed to be on board as she went off the +stocks. From some cause, better known to the Admiralty than to us, the +launch had been put off from time to time, until we grew impatient. At +last we noticed that the cradles were up, and that a coat of yellow +paint had been laid on, and finally we ascertained that when the next +spring tide served, this splendid eighty-four was destined to take the +water. + +The day having been fixed, we either obtained or _took_ a whole +holiday--a half-holiday was no kind of use to us. We did not care to +arrive with the fashionable visitors who gathered about half-an-hour +before the christening. What we wanted was to be present during the +preliminary operations of removing the supports, and splitting out +the blocks from beneath the keel, and, in fact, of witnessing the +mechanical process of transferring the entire weight of a stupendous +ship on to the “ways” down which the “Monarch” was to slide. + +From an early hour in the morning every available shipwright was at his +post accomplishing this task. It would never do to remove the spars +that propped up each section of the enormous hull until the day of the +launch; the strain would be too great on the timbers were this done +until the cradles are driven tight by wedging, which was just what we +took delight in. All hands were summoned for this office, when the +blows from a thousand hammers struck home and blended in one harmonious +sound. + +The master shipwright and Bardoe the pilot were to be seen in company +during these preparations. An important personage was Bardoe; he was a +bluff, stalwart seaman, with a voice to be heard the other side of the +Medway, a Newcastle man by birth, and one to be obeyed, but gentle, +communicative, and a decided favourite with us boys. + +“Now young gentlemen,” said the pilot, “you are here betimes, pray keep +out of mischief and mind your heads, they are just going to knock away +some of those props; and let’s see, you want to go with us, don’t you? +I hardly know what to say about it to-day; I shall have a large gang of +convicts aboard to assist in ‘bringing her up,’ and my orders are to be +strict about visitors.” “All right Mr. Bardoe, you’ll find room for us +I daresay.” + +The tide was now flowing freely, and the yard began to be astir +with strangers. Many persons, quite ignorant of the details of +shiplaunching, were seeking information, and with no little pride we +undertook to enlighten a few, explaining the principle of launching, +and then conducting the inquirers to the dog-shores, comparatively +small pieces of timber, but forming the last connecting link, which, +being knocked away by falling pieces of iron, admit of the vessel +gliding into the stream. + +Around the bows, and on either side of the “Monarch,” spacious stages +were erected for the accommodation of the public. Hosts of civilians +in gay dresses were arriving, and what with military uniforms, and +a strong muster of blue-coats, appearances were becoming uncommonly +lively. + +Nor was the scene less stirring afloat, as aquatic parties were +rowing hither and thither, and a long line of boats began to take up +their positions in close proximity, not without peril, as the swell +becomes great when a quantity of water equal to the displacement of a +man-of-war is set in motion, and the boats’ crews have to look out in +case of being upset. + +As it was drawing near to one o’clock the Marine band marched down, and +began playing inspiriting tunes. We then mounted the last ladder by +the ship’s side, and caught Bardoe’s eye; he was rather stiff with the +responsibilities of office, and had just given orders to clear away the +ladder which was moving already, so that no further person could enter +the ship. “Look alive young gentlemen,” Bardoe sung out, “tumble in +through a port-hole”; a privilege which we were not long in availing +ourselves of. + +A stir with Bardoe’s gang of convicts next drew our attention. The +pilot had ranged his men to let go the anchors at a given order, +and for this they had to hold themselves in readiness. Presently a +tremendous thumping was heard under the “Monarch’s” bows, and then a +cheer arose. “Look out,” cried the pilot, “she is being christened”; +then all was silent, and a voice was heard, “Are you all ready Bardoe”? + +“All ready, Sir,” was the prompt response. + +Another sound was then heard: “Down goes the dog-shores!” exclaimed +Bardoe; then followed a slight tremble from stem to stern. “There she +goes,” resounded on all sides, as we began moving down the slip with a +pace which was at first easy, but which soon became accelerated to a +rapid, resistless, majestic descent, increasing as we took the water, +so that it seemed as if nothing could check our way until we reached +the opposite bank of the river. Bardoe had his eye on the stream, and +at the proper moment sung out lustily, “Stand by, my lads, let go,” +when down fell a huge anchor, and then a second one, which lessened +our speed. “Pay away handsomely,” exclaimed the pilot. “Port your helm +hard.” “Port it is, Sir,” by which movement the “Monarch” was brought +round skillfully, and prevented from touching the river mud. + +There were two sentries on board having muskets loaded with ball +cartridge, as at times, an escaped convict would swim the Medway and +land unscathed on the Upnor Castle side of the river. Nothing of this +kind was attempted, however, on board the new line-of-battle ship which +had now entered her proper element, so that we landed in a boat without +having witnessed anything more sensational than the launch. A passing +reference to this scene may be considered by the reader as inapplicable +to the life of a balloonist; but I cannot well omit subjects of the +kind, if I faithfully chronicle the incidents of my early life, which I +am determined to portray to the letter, even if the general character +of my boyhood suffers thereby. + +“Why not point out how you progressed with your studies, where you and +your friends worshipped, how many prizes you had for good conduct, and +such like?” asks a well-wisher to whom I read some of these pages in MS. + +“The fact is,” I replied, “a very little of that sort of thing will +go a long way,” and we may come to it by and bye, but as I was a lad +of action, and have in after life stuck to my colours, though it was +thought I was cut out either for a parson or a soldier officer; I +must be true to my bent, and as to pretending that I was studious, or +intellectually inclined--well I will not affect anything of that sort, +having ever alluded to myself as a practical man; at the same time I do +hope, that by being straight-forward as to my plan and intentions, I +may not prove altogether dull in this truthful narrative. + +“Still harping upon those horrid uninteresting experiences of your +early life and doings?” yes, and I must hark back upon a few other wild +acts and thereby risk further censure with an obtuseness deserving of +reprehension. + +In this fresh adventure, I was all alone in my glory, having embarked +single-handed in a little practice with firearms. + +My first essay with a horse-pistol, already described, when I nearly +shot a servant and my own relations, did not produce that dread that +might have been expected. Certainly I was now older, and had fought +with a wooden gun, had watched soldiers load, present, and fire, but +the fright attending my first efforts ought, by good right, to have +made me nervous on this score for many a year to come. + +In one of my father’s rooms which was not marked strictly private, +there were some guns, swords, pistols, and a frightful old Spanish +blunderbuss with a bell-mouthed barrel and a bayonet affixed, which +was kept down by a catch. Whether it was that I had a coarse, depraved +taste in occasionally looking over this armoury, I cannot say, but +the blunderbuss took my fancy vastly. One day I became bold enough +to borrow it for a trial, and I surreptitiously provided myself with +ammunition, going among the ramparts in quest of something to let fly +at. As may be guessed, I made a poor hand with birds, owing to the +bell-mouthed weapon scattering so much. Annoyed at this, a packet of +ball cartridge was undone and I resolved to engage in target practice. +Following a road which led to the Spur battery, a disused sentry-box +presented itself, and as nobody appeared to be about, I made a circle +on one side, took aim, and fired! + +Just as I was examining the effect, a file of the guard came in sight, +and I was sorely perplexed as to how to avoid detection, especially as +I noticed that daylight was let into the sentry-box on both sides; the +ball having penetrated through and through. + +There were deep trenches on one side of the road and high palings +on the other, so that escape was impossible. Only one remedy was +applicable, and that was to keep moving with a view of diverting +attention from the damaged property; but the corporal was not to be +hoodwinked, he instantly detected what I had been at, and challenged me +to stand until I was overtaken. + +In less than a minute I was a prisoner, and was marched off to the +guard-house. Here I was examined by a sergeant and sent with an escort +to the upper barracks. + +On my way there I became the object of derision. When I was taken into +the presence of some officers on duty, I felt my position the more +keenly as Major O---- was my father’s friend and frequently visited our +house. + +It was impossible to suppress a smile at my grotesque appearance, +carrying as I did the old blunderbuss, and I almost hoped that Major +O---- did not recognise me, as he turned his back and looked out of the +window. + +The offence I had been guilty of having been notified, Major O----, +still gazing on to the parade, enquired if any sentry was on duty at +the time I fired. The information tendered being in my favour, Major +O----, without deigning to inspect me, ordered the sergeant to proceed +to my parents, and to request that I should not be permitted to handle +so dangerous a weapon for the future. + +Slight as the sentence might have appeared, yet to me it was a +heavy one, as I was in no way prepared to face my father under the +circumstances. + +On my way home I explained to the sergeant that we knew Major O----, +and I asked if he would mind going in the back way. To this proposition +he assented, and fortunately so, as the first person encountered was +our cook, who was a Scotchwoman and who espoused my cause, and insisted +that the sergeant should take some refreshment in the kitchen before +lodging his complaint in the parlour. + +Cooky then stated that the captain was not at home, but that she would +undertake to deliver any message appertaining to my delinquency, when +the sergeant stated his orders from Major O----. + +The cook observed that it was sure to be right, and that the major +would be at our house that evening to a party. + +Sure enough the major came, and I saw him, but the cook had failed to +see my father, and the reticent major did not allude to the morning’s +interview, but politely left me in doubt as to whether he knew me or +not. + +Among the various localities in which in some capacity or another I +well remember to have figured, was Gillingham Reach; here we were +accustomed to bathe, and three of us, viz., my brother, self, and +Stanley R----, a schoolfellow, had been disporting ourselves one day +for some time, where the stream ran fast, and I got out of my depth. + +R---- was a splendid swimmer, and was far out in the tide, but I +disappeared and was beyond the reach of my brother, who, like myself, +could not swim. + +Fortunately for me my friend Rudd was just in time to save my life, a +service which I am proud to acknowledge in these pages with his full +name. + +Somewhat lower down, at a hard where boats could be pulled up, my +brother and I wandered one afternoon with a view of going off to one +of the ships in ordinary. We waited for a long time hoping to see a +waterman, but as no one appeared we took French leave and rowed away in +a flat-bottomed boat which had previously been pulled up high and dry. + +It happened to blow a strong westerly wind, but, boy-like, we took +little heed of this until we got well out into the middle of the +Medway. Then we discovered our mistake, as the wind and tide were +setting one way; we missed the ship, and were swept down the river in +the direction of Long Reach. All the efforts we made to pull were of no +avail, but it so happened that our course was towards the guard-ship +“Prince Regent.” We managed to row as nearly as possible in this +direction with a view of obtaining assistance, but the waves were very +rough, and had it not been for a seaman who hailed us out of the port +bow we should have been carried away to Sheerness, and perhaps to sea. + +This worthy, perceiving that we had no control over the boat, sung out +lustily, “Pull in shore, my lads,” a piece of advice which we were just +enabled to put in practice; by so doing, we crossed the river, and, +although we were taken a long way on the weather side, yet here we +were less exposed to the wind and tide. My brother then took off his +clothes, and pushed the boat up by the stern. It was a long and tedious +undertaking, but we got back safely and deposited the boat as we found +it, without complaint or even detection. + +In the year 1832, my father was taken seriously ill with a pulmonary +complaint, brought on by injuries he received in boarding a Spanish +line-of-battle ship. Several of his ribs were broken in this action, +and he was never able to go to sea again, as it brought on spitting of +blood. In the month of June he breathed his last, and as my mother was +an invalid, and the neighbourhood was not considered to suit her case, +we soon left the seaport and moved to Eltham, which was not far distant +from Woolwich, where my eldest brother was previously stationed in a +frigate. A school was selected for myself and second brother in the +vicinity of Woolwich Common, where young gentlemen, as at Chatham, were +prepared for the Military College. + +During our stay at Eltham, I frequently used to spy balloons in the +air, as they came from some of the Metropolitan gardens. Often have I +watched them career along with a degree of interest which fast gained +upon me, so that nothing would do, but I must go up to London and see, +if possible, Mr. Green. + +I was walking out one evening, when an object emerged from the clouds, +which was rapidly descending. I perceived the grapnel at the end of a +rope, and knew all about it in a moment. + +Here was a chance of witnessing a descent. My heart leaped with joy, +and I stood still until I made out the balloon’s course. + +That being settled, I struck out like a hunter over hedges and ditches, +and came up at the death before the gas had been exhausted. + +It was Mr. Green’s balloon! The aëronaut was very busy, and, as I +thought, rather ill tempered with the people for not standing back as +he ordered them. + +In my anxiety to get a close view, I first came in contact with the +celebrated aërial voyager. I was pushing my way to the front ranks, +and was looking at the valve, when I was admonished for my pains, and +informed that I had better go to Greenwich Hospital. This advice raised +a laugh, though I was at a loss to understand the reason, until my +personal appearance became the subject of observation; then I perceived +the force of Mr. Green’s remark. + +It appeared that my face was covered with scratches and blood. I had +unflinchingly taken the shortest route, and, in my excitement, had +bounded through every obstacle that came in my way, even hedges and +ditches, so that, without knowing it, I was the veriest object among +the crowd, my clothes being bedaubed and torn; whilst my hands and face +were scored terribly. + +The ardent desire to have a close view of a balloon having been +gratified, I now determined to watch the newspapers for the next +ascent, and to be present at the inflation; but as aërial voyages +were not quite so frequent about this time as they became a few years +later, I had to wait some months; and as a change had taken place in +my scholastic movements, I was not exactly master of my time, having +become a parlour boarder at a fresh school, viz., at Northampton House, +Camberwell. + +It seemed a very long while before I heard anything in reference to +an intended ascent. At last a placard caught my eye as I was out +exercising with my schoolfellows. + +Mr. Green was going up from the Surrey Zoological Gardens, and as our +playground was not more than a mile distant in a straight line, I +expected to get a tolerable view, especially as there were some stately +elms in our grounds, which I was bent upon mounting. + +Long before there was any chance of catching sight of the balloon, +I had climbed up the highest tree by way of reconnoitering. The +boys generally manifested great interest in the affair; but my zeal +was acknowledged to be in advance of the rest, and I was considered +an authority on the matter, and looked up to as one who could give +information of the proceedings. + +Twice had I perched myself on a lofty branch before I could announce +anything satisfactory; at last I perceived the top of the balloon and +communicated afterwards that it was filling out and getting higher, so +that there was a general look-out, and when I signified that she was +off, a cheer arose greeting the information, and there was a cry of +“bravo Harry,” as if _I_ had committed myself to the realms of space +instead of to the tree top as a mere look-out. Not many days passed +before the faculty of imitation was brought into play, so far as we +could manage it, in the hour allotted to recreation. + +As to a balloon, we could not improvise one of any magnitude, but +I bethought me that a car might be manufactured, and that we could +attach this to a strong branch of an elm, and swing off as if we were +emulating Mr. Green. A wooden construction was forthwith knocked up, +and cords attached to take an equal bearing, and then a good thick +rope was fastened to the whole and made fast to an elastic arm of the +chosen tree; a second cord was fixed to the body of the tree by which +the car was drawn in and secured. I then took my seat and invited a +passenger to accompany me; it wasn’t every lad who cared about the +venture, but I found a companion and let go the side rope. We swung +out to a considerable distance, and fancied ourselves aëronauts; but +the sport was cut short by the head master who would not sanction that +particular kind of ballooning, as he considered it more perilous to +life and limb even than a more extended flight in _nubibus_. + +On the following Whit Monday I ascertained that Mr. Green was to make +another ascent from the Surrey Gardens, and I obtained permission to +devote that day to aëronautics. On my arrival in the morning I found +that I was the first visitor, and that the gate had not been thrown +open. When I had hung about and paraded up and down for more than an +hour the gate-keeper took pity on me, and I was allowed to enter; not +of course without paying. I found my way to the spot selected for +filling, but no gas had gone in as yet, in fact Mr. Green and some +other men were laying the balloon out, which suited me admirably, as I +wished, beyond all things, to see the process from its commencement. + +I was wondering whether the aëronaut would recognise me as the boy with +a scratched face who made himself conspicuous at his former descent. +The aëronaut, however, was intent upon his business and anxious to +proceed with it, as I inferred from repeated references to an enormous +silver watch. + +Presently a workman presented himself with a large iron key to the +gas valve, and this man, although a rough lazy-looking fellow, was +pronounced by Mr. Green to be the most welcome visitor he had seen yet, +by which I took it that he meant no offence to me, but that he was the +individual who could render him the most important service. Shortly +after the man with the key disappeared, the silk began to rise, and the +aëronaut was all astir in allowing gas to flow towards the valve, and +to expand the top part first. + +I had a good opportunity of noticing every movement that was made, and +in my eagerness to gather information I followed Mr. Green about, and +almost fancied that he looked upon me as if I were too officious. I +would fain have spoken to him, but there was a peculiar curl about his +lips which conveyed the idea that I had better mind my own affairs, and +leave him to himself. Still there was something strongly characteristic +about his bearing I thought, he was very precise and skilful in his +manipulations, and looked to me like a man who engaged in his vocation +from motives of scientific interest, rather than from those of vanity. + +I felt rather glad when the public began to assemble, especially on +the arrival of some of Mr. Green’s friends, as I heard the passing +conversation, and got some information in that way. + +“Well Mr. Green,” said one gentleman, “who is going up to-day”? + +“You are Sir, if you think proper, your twenty pounds is just as good +as another’s.” + +This interrogator confined himself to the one question, only he +seemed quite satisfied. For my part I received a wet blanket to all my +youthful aspirations. If that is the fee I thought, it will be many a +day and year before I can think of ascending. + +Although there was a splendid collection of animals to be seen, and +many other things besides, yet I never left the balloon until it was +filled and away. I question whether, among the young people assembled, +there was a more attentive visitor than myself. The only drawback +to the great pleasure I derived in seeing a balloon filled, was the +appearance and manners of those connected with the undertaking. + +I had read of Pilatre de Rosier, a man of high attainments, of +Gay-Lussac, the eminent French chemist, and of Lunardi, the Secretary +of the Neapolitan Ambassador; and I thought that the aërial party I +had seen fell short of my expectations in more respects than one; but +if the standard by which I ought to have judged was competency and +professional aptitude, then I felt that credit for all that kind of +thing was eminently due to the Greens. + +Some time before my visit to the Surrey Gardens I had been amusing +myself in making boats and in fitting them up for a miniature race in a +large fish pond. + +All my carpenter’s tools and ship-building knowledge were now +thrown aside for Montgolfiers and air balloons. I could hold forth +on aërostation and illustrate the principles of that science with +tolerable proficiency by the time I was fifteen years of age. But I was +devoting too much time to this kind of work, that is, if the opinions +of my well wishers and friends were correct. + +My elder brother, who was a wise and good man, thought it high time +that more serious tastes appertaining to a profession should take the +place of mere airy nothings, which appeared to absorb so much of my +attention. It was pointed out, that as our prospects in life had been +changed through certain property having passed into other hands, and +as our interest, owing to the death of my father, was less likely than +formerly to get myself and second brother into the navy and army, we +should prepare ourselves, if need be, for commercial engagements, which +would, perhaps, prove more advantageous and profitable than the kind +of occupation we had been led to expect that we should ultimately be +engaged in. + +Although my eldest brother was a naval officer, yet he was of a +philosophical and religious turn of mind, and his actions added such +weight to his convictions, that he may be said to have been our second +father in all kinds of excellent advice. It was not that he evinced +the slightest indifference to any branch of science, on the contrary, +he frequently used to converse with me about balloons, and was, to a +certain extent, pleased that I had possessed myself of some information +on the subject; but he laid stress upon the folly of one in my position +thinking very much of such things, and I must needs own that his +arguments had their temporary influence, and subdued for a while a +passion which was seen to be growing by none more than those who were +near and dear to me. + +It was the year 1835, when I had shot up a few inches and had changed +a blue jacket for a black tail coat, that the reality of life, and +the importance of doing something, came pretty strong upon my mind. +My brother John had already been despatched to a counting-house in +Amsterdam, he had finally given up all hope of going to sea, and +knew there was very little chance for me as regards the Army. Family +affairs, and what is called destiny, seemed to be dead set against our +serving our country, although no two boys ever longed to do so more +than ourselves. + +My eldest brother, too, had left the service, not on account of natural +distaste to it, for no officer was ever more zealous, but, owing to +religious scruples, he had resigned his commission just as he had +completed a course of study on board the “Excellent.” + +These slight references to domestic matters being essential, and indeed +inseparable from my own life, I mention them--though with all possible +brevity. + +The tail coat and other indications of becoming a young man, did not +produce a positive and settled belief in any special line of life for +which I considered myself suited. I was by no means quick in forming an +opinion myself. One of my sisters--I had two at that time--used to say +I should make a good clergyman. Perhaps I might have done so, many a +youth mistakes his calling; but the truth is that I hardly knew what to +turn to. + +In the meantime I used to indulge, oftentimes clandestinely, in my +favourite pastime by visiting the public gardens of London; I should +state by-the-bye, only to see what was going on in the aëronautic way. + +During the following year something remarkable, in that line, had +engaged public attention. It was the building of a very large balloon, +at Vauxhall Gardens, by Messrs. Gye and Hughes, under the personal +superintendence, and according to the plans of Mr. Green. This was +something new and absorbing, that diverted my fancy from other affairs, +and set me reading the papers and talking about the matter, until I +became a perfect bore to my associates. I soon learnt full particulars, +including the number of yards of silk to be employed, its texture +and quality, the cubic contents of the balloon, and how many people +it would raise, &c., &c., all of which induced me to believe that +everybody was as interested in the affair as myself. + +I prattled and enquired, until it occurred to the home minister, in +other words, to my elder brother, that some step had better be taken to +settle my mind in a solid and business train of thought. + +Would I go to Holland, and become a merchant’s clerk? + +No objection--I would try my hand at it, but I questioned whether I +could stand it. + +Was there anything to prevent my starting at once? + +Nothing particular, only I should like to see the first ascent of that +large balloon which was to ascend shortly. + +What were such vain and trifling affairs compared with Henry’s future +prospects? asked my sage mentor. + +“Just so, but a week’s delay won’t make much difference,” was my +answer, “especially as I have as yet no regular engagement.” + +“Shall we arrange that you join your brother in September, at +Amsterdam?” + +“Yes, after the 9th, I shall be ready to leave.” + +The launching of the Vauxhall balloon was a day “big with fate,” and +the morning was auspicious; but at two o’clock the weather changed, and +from that time until half-past four it rained incessantly. Thirty-six +policemen were placed around the balloon during the inflation, each +taking charge of one of the cords connected with the network. Forty-one +iron weights, of fifty-six pounds each, were attached to the cordage; +these were soon three feet from the ground, and the policemen were +then compelled to pass their staves through the meshes, to prevent the +cords cutting their hands. This combined resistance was, however, found +insufficient, and twenty other persons were called to assist. By this +time the netting and silk must have absorbed 300 lbs. weight of water, +besides a quantity retained on the top of the balloon. The inflation +was completed in four hours and five minutes; twenty-four bags of +ballast, weighing together 400 lbs., were then placed in the car, and +the grapnel was attached with an elastic cord of caoutchouc and hemp, +which was designed to prevent any sudden jerk in stopping the balloon. + +The aërial party consisted of nine persons, including five of the +family of the Greens, besides Captain Currie, Mr. Hildyard, Mr. +Holland, Mr. Edwin Gye and Mr. William 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. Mr. Green found +that the ascending power was considerably more than he had announced to +the public, he was therefore compelled to allow 15,000 cubic feet of +gas to escape before he could release the balloon from its moorings, +there not being room in the car for more voyagers. + +All being ready, the ropes were loosened, and the stupendous machine +shot rapidly into the upper regions. It proceeded at first to the east, +but soon took a south-easterly direction. + +The gardens, and every avenue leading to them, appeared to be one solid +mass of human beings; in fact there was not an elevated spot within two +miles which was not covered with spectators. + +The course of the balloon was along the Thames, in the direction of +Gravesend. The grappling iron first touched ground near the village of +Cliffe, in Kent; and, after slightly catching several times, took a +firm hold. The voyagers enjoyed themselves much. + +This imposing spectacle having passed off satisfactorily, and a large +amount of curiosity having been gratified on my side, I was now ready +to start for Amsterdam. A berth was secured on board the “Romona,” +and I left St. Katherine’s Wharf in tolerable spirits; but in passing +Southend and Sheerness I fell into a dejected mood, when I contrasted +my youthful longings with the present mercantile mission to Holland. +It was of no use, our interests with the Navy and Army authorities +had been neglected, the heads of the family had taken a more serious +turn, and it was absolutely necessary that I should do something for my +living. + +On leaving the Nore and getting well out to sea, our passengers on +deck had wonderfully decreased; there was a stiff breeze on, and the +attendance at dinner fell short of the steward’s expectations. Those +who were equal to feeding became none the less sociable, and I was glad +to sit by the side of a communicative young merchant bound for the +Rhine. Among other topics, the subject of aërostation was broached by +my fellow-traveller; he, too, had seen the ascent of the great balloon, +and longed some day, like myself, to have an aërial excursion. + +The more we got away from land, the stronger it came on to blow, in +fact we had a very dirty night of it, but crossed the bar all right +soon after daylight, and got up to Rotterdam about the time we were +expected. My brother John, who was there to meet me, proposed that +we should go to the Dutch capital by a canal boat: I was agreeably +surprised to find how fluently he could chat to the men, and with what +apparent ease he smoked an enormous pipe and drank black coffee. + +After a week’s wandering about Amsterdam, I was introduced for the +first time into a counting-house. I made a great effort for some weeks +to take an interest in the proceedings and to do as I was requested, +but natural aptitude failed me. I did not take kindly to a single duty +and became conscious that I was looked upon as a dunce. A sharp bilious +attack followed my novitiate, and it was pretty evident that whatever +my element might be, I was not in it at that particular time and place. + +As the long evenings came on, my brother used to read and translate the +newspapers. + +About the second week in November he observed some intelligence which +was sure to please and excite me. + +“Now, do pay attention, Henry,” he added, “Mr. Green has crossed the +Channel, with two other gentlemen, in the Vauxhall balloon, and landed +in Germany.” + +“Read on, I am all attention John.” + +I then heard the full particulars of that extraordinary voyage. The +result was a balloon fever, which was by no means suited to my position +at that time. + +My brother and Herr von L---- observed in me a greater distaste +than ever to counting-house duties, and I was heartily glad when an +unexpected turn in our affairs was brought about, by which we were to +leave Amsterdam and return home. + +A change of our family residence was the next movement of any +importance in my history. We had resolved upon going up to London. My +brother John was now provided for, and I was to watch his advancement, +and, if possible, follow in his steps, as there would be no difficulty +in getting a berth for me. + +Eventually I tried my hand at it, but it was of no use; I sickened and +gave it up, much to the disappointment of my friends. + +Whatever was to be done with me now? That, indeed, was a serious +question. + +“I think,” said an observing acquaintance one evening, as he placed his +hand towards his mouth as if in the act of removing some artificial +teeth, “I have thought of an occupation that will suit Henry. This +morning,” he said, “I had occasion to visit my dentist, and he inquired +if I knew of any youth of a mechanical turn of mind who would like to +become his pupil.” + +The idea was no sooner broached than it struck me as being in the right +direction. + +I caught at it and agreed to turn it over in my mind, nor did I fail to +do so. Forthwith I waited upon several surgeon-dentists, and at last +had an interview with a very clever practitioner, who had formerly +been a surgeon in the navy. This gentleman was eminently calculated to +ingratiate himself, and to present to my notice the kind of work which +a dental student would have to perform. + +It was not long before an agreement was drawn up, and I embarked in the +undertaking. + +The right vein was here hit upon, it was thought. I set to with a +will, and ere many weeks had elapsed, I brought home such specimens of +workmanship as warranted the expectation that I should soon take to, +and excel in my new vocation. + +As it happened, both departments of dental surgery became equally +attractive; that is the surgical as well as the mechanical. By the +time I was proficient and just of age, I became entitled to an amount +of cash, which enabled me to order a brass plate and commence business +with patients on my own account. I had to form a connection, however, +and to bide my time for the coming in of fees. + +Unfortunately, perhaps, this uphill beginning left a deal of spare time +on my hands, so that ever and anon I required--or thought I did--a +little recreation. + +In taking up a newspaper to see what was going on in the way of +rational amusement, I happened to observe an advertisement of an +intended balloon ascent by Mr. Hampton. + +This notice, coupled with a desire for change, led me to decide upon an +outing. My taste for ballooning grew apace, and soon became a passion. +Whenever an ascent was advertised I was almost sure to be there, and, +as a strong liking for any adventurous and scientific calling leads to +acquaintance with kindred spirits, I became familiar with a number of +regular attendants at balloon _fêtes_, and soon acquired a reputation +for knowing as much--and some said more--than many of those who had +been brought up to it. + +From my seventeenth up to my twentieth year I had seen most of the +aërostatic sights that had engaged public attention near London. I had +witnessed a balloon race from Vauxhall, and saw the aërial competitors +come in actual collision without doing injury. I had seen Mrs. Graham +ascend and her husband as well. I had seen the great Nassau balloon +before and after it took Messrs. Hollond, Green, and Mason to Germany, +as already described. + +In the year 1837 I went into ballooning with a will, and my visits to +the balloon grounds were regular, but I was prevented from seeing Mr. +Cocking’s parachute attached to the great balloon, although I saw it +suspended in the air from London Bridge as it bore down Eltham way, and +was struck with its cumbrous and rigid convex form, so ill adapted, +I thought, to offer sufficient resistance, and to possess adequate +strength for reaching the ground in safety. + +After the death of Mr. Cocking I saw Mr. Hampton descend in a parachute +from Bayswater, and this led to my becoming acquainted with that +gentleman some little time afterwards. + +I was disappointed of an ascent with Mr. Hampton, as his balloon +“Albion,” which was rather small, would only take the aëronaut when I +wished to make my maiden ascent. This was the year (1837), a period +when I became a diligent student in aërostatics, and, it is not too +much to say, that I had shown similar application in dental surgery, +indeed I found that all I was called upon to learn was so easy and +pleasurable in acquisition that I made light of my duties, and failed +not to devote considerable attention to my hobby as well. + +One day I met Mr. Hampton in Westminster, full of trouble and anxiety +at the way he had been treated by those who had reason, as he alleged, +to be his friends. We walked and talked together, entering upon a +chapter of misfortunes, which touched me much at the time, and induced +me not only to sympathize with him, but to use my best endeavours to +assist his cause. + +There is no necessity for entering into the way in which he had lost +his balloon, suffice it to say that I did all I could to redeem it, and +in return the aëronaut took great pains to give me all the information +he could about aërostation, and he promised the moment he had a new +balloon to take me up with him, and he moreover presented me with a +good portrait of himself, the massive frame to which was made by Mr. +Hampton’s own hands. This intimacy, and the espousal of the aëronaut’s +cause, drew upon me the frowns of several persons connected indirectly +and professionally with ballooning. + +Knowing some of Mr. Charles Green’s friends I was rather hankering to +see more of the air-captain, as the Germans style us, but I knew by +experience that “two of a trade seldom agree,” and I was naturally +reluctant to offend my patron by being intimate with Mr. Green, whose +fame was of long standing and very properly universal. + +Circumstances soon brought us together, but on meeting I was impressed +with the belief that I was regarded as the advocate of an opposition +aëronaut, and not as one upon whom Mr. Green would lavish his +experience, or whom he would take up either as a paying passenger +or pupil. I was evidently considered a dangerous fellow, and as Mr. +Hampton had once stated that he thought I should one day become an +aëronaut, although at the time I had no serious intention of doing so, +this was quite sufficient to cause me to be shunned by all the family +of the Greens, or, if not exactly shunned, at least viewed with caution +and suspicion. + +For three years I was in the habit of meeting Mr. Hampton and of +talking over ballooning, until I grew well nigh surfeited with the +tongue part of aërial voyaging, and longed for the reality, which +was delayed until the year 1844. Mr. Hampton was then enabled with +my assistance to start a new balloon, and I had an opportunity of +seeing the construction of it. His first engagement with this was at +the Old Vauxhall Gardens, in Birmingham, and thither I went to be his +companion, but, to my mortification, the balloon would not raise two +persons, so that I had to remain on terra firma, and suffer the taunts +of several spectators, who chose to attribute to motives of fear my +getting out of the car after having been once in for the ascent. + +My third attempt was successful. Mr. Hampton was solicited to make an +ascent from the White Conduit Gardens, Pentonville, on Monday, August +19th, 1844, and I was without fail to accompany him. + +Many years had elapsed since the ascent of a balloon from these famed +gardens; the attraction was accordingly very powerful. + +The balloon was filled at the Imperial Gas Works, Battle-bridge, and +the car placed on a cart, to which it was secured by ropes; it was +conveyed to the gardens by six o’clock on Monday morning, an extra +supply of gas being provided to keep up the loss by condensation. + +Before the public entered the grounds, it was rumoured by the +privileged few who were present that a _Mr. Wells_ was to be the +aëronaut’s companion, as that gentleman had recently been disappointed +at Birmingham. Some other persons, mentioning my name, declared that +Mr. Coxwell was to be the favoured party. + +An appeal was then made to me for authentic information, and as I was +now within a stone’s throw of my residence in the Barnsbury Road, +Pentonville, where I had recently commenced practice, it was expedient +I should frankly declare that I had previously assumed the name of +Wells in order to prevent anxiety among my friends, and that the +candidate _Wells_ and the aspirant _Coxwell_ were one and the same +person. + +This being understood, and the motives which actuated me in taking +upon myself an _alias_ being respected, Mr. Hampton, at six o’clock, +accompanied by Mr. Wells (as “the Illustrated News” recorded it), +stepped into the car, and the balloon rose in majestic style, +travelling easterly over the metropolis, and descended in a field +belonging to Mr. T. Rust, at East-ham Hall. + +This, then, was my first real ascent; but such was the amount of +thought I had bestowed on the subject in previous imaginary flights, +built upon the descriptive accounts of others, that I seemed to be +travelling an element which I had already explored, although, in +reality, I was only for the first time realising the dreams of my +youth. In most respects I found the country beneath, including the busy +humming metropolis, the River Thames, shipping, and distant landscape, +pretty much as I expected, and had been tutored to see in the mind’s +eye; but the extraordinary and striking feature of this ascent was +the enchanting way in which these appearances unfolded themselves +in a manner so opposite to what one would picture by looking at a +balloon in the sky. This is owing to the peculiarly imperceptible way +in which a balloon rises, and herein consists the difference--the +delightful, fascinating difference--between heights accomplished by +balloon ascents, and altitudes attained by climbing hills, mountains, +monuments, and buildings. In Alpine travels the process is so slow, and +contact with the crust of the earth so palpable, that the traveller is +gradually prepared for each successive phase of view as it presents +itself; but in the balloon survey, cities, villages, and vast tracts +for observation spring almost magically before the eye, and change +in aspect and size so pleasingly, that bewilderment first, and then +unbounded admiration is sure to follow, and when one reflects that +all these wonderful panoramic effects are produced by the noiseless, +unobserved, ascension of the balloon, we are reminded of the motion of +the earth which rolls us round the glorious sun, and the heavenly orbs, +so that they, the sun, stars, and planets, appear to be rising and +setting. + +It is just so with the balloon--a wide-spread carpet of variegated +country is changing form, hue, and dimensions, or rather appearing to +do so, as the observers rise and descend, and assume various elevations. + +Our journey only lasted twenty-five minutes, but it seemed to me when +we descended that the balloon had not been more than five minutes in +the air. After we anchored I felt that it was a tantalising short-lived +piece of grandeur and only enough to whet the appetite for more. + +But a second chance was at hand. Mr. Hampton had been asked to ascend +from Bromley, in Kent, where such an exhibition was quite a novelty. +The undertaking, however, was of too formidable a character for the +small gas-works and diminutive pipes in that locality. Visitors who +congregated in a meadow selected for the festivities were not gratified +with the ascent on the day it was announced to take place; consequently +fresh exertions had to be made in the production of gas, and not until +the following evening was the balloon fit to ascend, and, even then, +it would barely take two, so that I had another narrow escape of being +left behind after arranging to go. It was necessary to part with very +nearly all the ballast in order to rise. + +We started sluggishly, but got up two thousand feet, and there had a +splendid view over the garden of England, as the county of Kent has not +inaptly been styled. Short and sweet was the order of this second trip +of mine, but, as we had a remarkably picturesque country to gaze upon, +I was much annoyed at not being longer aloft, and I don’t know but that +I vowed--at any rate the idea flashed through my mind--that I would +one day have a balloon of my own, even if it were for unprofessional +ascents, as these hasty, short views were most aggravating and by no +means worth the expense. + +Shortly after my being thus initiated into practical ballooning, Mr. +Hampton undertook a tour to Ireland; but there, in Dublin, he had the +misfortune to descend near a house, the chimney of which was on fire, +and his balloon, blown in that direction by a sharp breeze, ignited, +but the aëronaut happily escaped with his life. + +It was a long time before Mr. Hampton was in a condition to ascend +again. In the meantime other balloonists had made my acquaintance, +viz., Mr. Gypson, and Lieut. Gale, both of whom sought co-operation, +and frequently offered me seats in their cars, as some acknowledgment +for the advice and assistance I had rendered them. + +Mr. C. Green invariably gave me the cold shoulder. I was rather +sensitive about this at the time, but in later years, when I began to +obtain a reputation for myself, I came to the conclusion that it was +the greatest compliment the greatest aëronaut of the day could award +me, inasmuch as it indicated that I was somebody to be studiously kept +in the background for an obvious purpose. + +During the autumn of 1845, I projected and edited “The Balloon or +Aërostatic Magazine,” a publication designed to advance aërostation. +A good reception greeted the little serial on the part of the press, +but the demand for information on this subject was not equal to my +enthusiasm, and as a monthly repository of travels by air, it did not +pay, so that its periodical appearance was discontinued, and afterwards +it was only published occasionally. + +In the year 1847, three new balloons were constructed by the aëronauts, +Green, Gale, and Gypson, respectively. Mr. Green, junr, also made one +about this time, intending to use it principally on the continent. + +With two out of these four balloons, I had a great deal to do, as will +soon be seen. + +Let us commence with Mr. Gypson’s, as it was the first on the stocks, +and the first to make a perilous ascent and descent. When this balloon +was finished, Mr. Gypson and myself determined upon a private ascent; +we desired a long trip, and would not even object to cross the Channel, +if the breeze should waft us in that direction. The Imperial Gas Works, +at Haggerston, in London, was the place we started from. The new +machine was taken there to be inflated on the day selected, which was +favourable, the wind being from the S.S.E., so that we had a long run +before us, and a good opportunity of reaching Scotland. + +Owing to the close proximity of the balloon to the gas-holders, +the filling proceeded very rapidly; it appeared to me that the +inflation should be checked somewhat, but the aëronaut considered +his arrangements equal to any pressure that could be put on by Mr. +Clarke, the gas-engineer. It was soon evident that the network was not +liberated so quickly as it should have been; the consequence was that +a lateral and unequal strain began to be imparted, and just as I had +gone away to speak to some gentlemen who had arrived, by invitation, +the netting began to break towards the lower part, but the damage was +not apparently sufficiently serious to prevent the ascent being made. +We therefore got into the car, and notwithstanding several broken +meshes, prepared for a start, but while sitting in readiness, a sudden +gust drove the silk with considerable force towards the fractured +cordage, which continued breaking, until the lower part of the silken +bag protruded, and then, the entire balloon surged through the opening, +leaving the network behind, which dropped on our heads, so that the +balloon itself escaped, leaving us in the car to receive the ironical +congratulations of our friends, who had come to see us go up. + +Not many seconds after the silken bag had bounded away, it split up, +and descended in a brickfield, not far distant. It is almost impossible +to imagine a more ridiculous position for expectant voyagers to be +placed in than this. + +The assembled spectators pronounced it a mercy that we had not +ascended, and that the breakage had not happened in the air. They +believed we must have been killed had not the balloon escaped just when +it did; but I was of a different opinion, believing that if once we had +got away, no bad results would have occurred while we were travelling +aloft. + +The balloon was forthwith repaired, and a second private attempt made +on March 18th in the same year. This time we had a successful day, and +came down all right at Hawkhurst, in Kent, not far from the residence +of Sir John Herschel. In the evening we were invited to Collingwood, +where we spent a most agreeable and instructive time with the eminent +astronomer. + +Soon after this event Lieutenant Gale’s balloon was launched at the +Rosemary Branch Gardens, Peckham. + +Here, too, I was invited, and almost persuaded to make the first trip; +but as I had condemned certain new fashioned valve-springs, which I +considered unsafe, I preferred to witness rather than participate in +the ascent. Mr. Gale wished also to use a pair of supplementary small +balloons to receive the expanded gas; but these, I thought, were open +to objection, so that I could not possibly join the lieutenant at the +time he was applying appurtenances, which I had pronounced dangerous. + +The balloon, a very fine one, was duly filled, and the ascent nicely +made. A Mr. Burn took my place, and I was rather joked, I remember, +when the new balloon floated majestically in the still atmosphere. + +Events, however, soon took a sudden turn. Gale had promised to travel +far down towards the coast, and had, it appeared, suddenly altered his +mind, as the balloon began descending fast. + +“Perhaps,” said some one, “he has forgotten something as it is coming +down so soon, and will go up again and continue his journey.” + +But the rate of descent increased so rapidly, that Mrs. Gale ran to me +and inquired anxiously for my opinion. + +I was obliged in candour to say, as I was considered an authority, +that I feared the flat valve-springs had not quite answered Gale’s +expectation; “but he will be all right,” I said, encouragingly, “even +if he has a good bump.” + +Ballast was soon observed to pour out profusely, and there was no doubt +of the voyagers being sensible of the frightful pace at which they were +coming down. The lower part of the balloon was seen to contain no gas, +so that its collapsed condition was visible to everyone present. + +Several persons started off to see the cause of so sudden a descent. As +to myself I remained with Mrs. Gale, making light of what really looked +serious, in order to allay her alarm. + +A messenger soon arrived to say that neither the aëronaut nor his +companion were seriously hurt, but that they alighted with terrific +force at Peckham Rye, owing to the valve-springs not having acted +properly. + +Gale, himself, soon put in an appearance, inquiring for me. He said, +“You are quite right as to those springs; I will abandon them, and you +shall ascend next time.” + +It was not long before I did so. + +Pleasure gardens in and about London were rather numerous in the +year ’47, and the Royal Albert Grounds, near Hoxton, were just in +their palmy days. It was here I made the next ascent with Lieut. +Gale, and one or two with Mr. Gypson also; but as these gentlemen +were competitors for aëronautic fame, I was constantly risking the +displeasure of both by not adhering entirely to one. + +During the same summer I made a variety of aërial journeys with each of +these aëronauts, but, two especially, were connected with considerable +personal risk. + +The first was with Lieut. Gale, when we descended in a rough wind in +Gloucestershire, after having started from Bristol. + +A new fangled grapnel was used in this trip, and one ill adapted for +arresting the progress of a balloon in a strong wind. It was on the +ball and socket principle; but the socket, which was of brass, was +inside the crown of the prongs. I prophesied before any strain was +thrown upon the grapnel that it would break. It did so in trailing over +a field, when the balloon dashed into a large oak tree, cutting asunder +a thick branch, which ripped the silk from bottom to top, so that the +gas escaped instantly, and we pitched to leeward of the tree with no +trifling concussion, by the way, but got no broken bones or serious +injury. + +The second affair was, without doubt, the most perilous descent in the +annals of aërostation. + +In the year 1847, the far-famed Vauxhall had not altogether lost its +_prestige_; but still, exciting amusements were indispensable to its +continued existence, and aëronautics had enjoyed long-continued popular +favour in that establishment. But a nocturnal voyage with fireworks +displayed under the balloon, was not of frequent occurrence, and a +night ascent with Mr. Gypson’s balloon was decided upon as an opportune +attraction. + +My own seat in the car was owing to special invitation on the part of +the proprietor, but two other candidates--viz. Mr. Albert Smith and +Mr. Pridmore, only secured places on the afternoon of the ascent. + +Mr. Albert Smith at that time was a popular writer; and, as he had +already made a day ascent, he wished to see London by night, and to +give an account of it to the public. + +When the balloon was filled during the afternoon, in the Waterloo +Grounds, the air was calm and hot, with every prospect--as far as +appearances went--of a fine summer evening. It was just the sort of +weather for an aërial journey in the dark, there was no rustling +of leaves, or wild gusts to induce the least apprehension of a +disagreeable landing. + +The inflation was completed with the utmost ease, and just before the +variegated Vauxhall lamps were lighted, a circular framework, with +Darby’s fireworks attached, was duly placed in position, so that it +could be fixed on when the moment arrived for starting. + +About this time it was observed that the atmosphere became oppressive, +and that a threatening murky mist arose in the east; not long +afterwards, distant thunder rumbled, and people began to scan the +firmament, as if it looked uninviting, and as if the terrestrial +sight-seers would be safer that night than the air explorers. As for +us, we drew together and exchanged opinions, like mariners before +leaving a port when dirty weather was looming on the horizon. + +The lessee of Vauxhall Gardens, Mr. Robert Wardell, having noticed +lightning playing over the city, came forth, with other interested +parties, to look around him; and soon a grave discussion was going on +near the car, for the storm was fast brewing, and there was doubt as to +whether it would be safe to venture. In the midst of great diversity +of opinion, a direct appeal was made to me, and I gave it in as my +conviction that, if the ascent were made quickly, and everything well +managed, there need be no apprehension. + +The fireworks--weighing over 60 lbs.--were now connected, and gentlemen +were requested to jump in; for my own part, I decided upon jumping up +on the hoop, so as to see the neck clear, and report to Mr. Gypson when +the upper valve required opening. + +I had never made a night ascent previously, but had formed my own +opinions as to the particular line of action desirable, and especially +under existing circumstances, when the air was highly charged with +electricity, and when a large amount of weight was about to be lost +owing to the combustion of the fireworks. + +We left in grand style. A salvo of garden artillery announced the +slip of the cable, and the most beautiful red and green fires changed +the hue of the silken globe as it rose over the heads of the people; +and just as these grew faint the aërial pyrotechnics burst forth, and +the cheers rose lustily as each device engaged attention--for every +piece was artistically arranged; and when the Roman candles shot out +their many-coloured stars, and petards burst with a crashing sound, +and golden and silver showers enlivened the darkness of mid-air, every +spectator seemed to be in ecstacy; nor was there a single shout of +dissatisfaction or fear, until nature--as if displeased with man’s +efforts to light up the elements--broke out in apparent discontent; and +a wide-spread flash, with deep-toned thunder overhead, arrested public +admiration, and produced a death-like pause, both with us in the car +and those on the earth--all of whom had seen us enveloped, apparently, +in a flame of fire. + +Our own feelings at this critical period can very well be imagined. +We were now some 4000 feet high, in a storm of thunder and lightning, +our fireworks were hardly spent and the balloon was mounting rapidly +and was fully distended, so that close watching, and a proper line of +action, could alone secure our safety. + +When, after another flash or two, the gas rushed out of the safety +valve, I looked at Mr. Gypson, wondering how he intended to act, and it +was not long before I came to the conclusion that the upper valve ought +to be opened so as to remove a visible strain on the lower hemisphere +of the balloon. Had _I_ seized the line and opened the valve I should +most assuredly not have done wrong, but I simply, by pointing and +hinting, endeavoured, with too much deference, to persuade him to do as +I thought expedient. + +He was not, evidently, quite of the same way of thinking as myself; at +last I cried out, “if the valve is not opened the balloon will burst.” + +Hardly had I uttered the warning when the car appeared to drop suddenly +some six or eight feet beneath the balloon. + +We all looked up, of course, affrighted, thinking that the netting was +giving way at the top, and Mr. Albert Smith was impressed with the +idea that I had pulled the valve line, and broken the framework; but +on looking upwards the sparks from the expiring fireworks, aided by a +flash of lightning, disclosed the awful fact that the balloon had rent +fully sixteen feet, and that we were falling headlong right over the +west end of London, with myriads of gas lamps beneath us, and houses in +such close proximity, that death stared us all in the face, and seemed +inevitable. + +Situated as I was, on the hoop, with a better opportunity of observing +the torn silk and network than the rest, I noticed after the first +shock to the nerves, that the line which connected the neck of the +balloon was unduly tightened, and it immediately occurred to me if I +cut that, the lower part of the balloon would the more readily form a +resisting surface or parachute. + +Much against the wishes of my companions I severed this cord, and a +check was soon observable, but the sparks from the paper cases shot up +among the gas through the tear in the silk, and once more the thunder +roared, and lightning flashed, so that a more frightful descent to the +earth could not possibly be imagined. + +As the gas-lit metropolis appeared to come up towards us--for, strange +as it may seem, there was no sense of giddiness or dropping--we +collected the ballast bags and disconnected the grapnel rope in order +to let them go just as we came in contact with the ground. + +Fortunately, or rather say providentially, the balloon fell in a newly +formed street in the Belgrave Road, Pimlico, while the network caught +in some scaffold poles, which helped to break the force of collision. + +Only one of the four of us was hurt, and that was myself, who received +a cut in the hand from a bystander while he was trying to let us out of +the network, which fell over our heads when the car touched the road. + +Albert Smith and Mr. Pridmore lost no time in going back to Vauxhall +Gardens to assure people of our safety; but the general public were +not aware of the accident, although some few, who narrowly watched the +course of the balloon, noticed that it appeared to be falling quickly +and surrounded with sparks. + +Almost the first person Albert Smith was said to have encountered on +entering Vauxhall, was his brother, who looked amazed at seeing him, +but observed a certain pallor and other indications of something being +out of order. + +“Good gracious, Albert,” he said, “I could have declared I saw you go +in the balloon.” + +“So you did,” was the reply, “don’t be alarmed, an accident happened, +but no one is hurt. Come and tell Mr. Wardell particulars.” + +After Mr. Gypson and I had returned with the luggage on top of a cab, +a consultation was held as to the cause of the rupture; one thought +the valve was broken, and another that the balloon was struck with the +electric fluid, but the proprietor, as well as myself, knew the precise +cause of the burst, and when an examination was made on the following +morning, the valve line was found not to have been pulled, so the rent +could clearly have been prevented had the valve been opened in time. + +Divested in this way of a great deal of the horror associated with the +stormy state of the weather, the accident assumed a more simple and +comprehensible form. + +No wonder, therefore, that after talking these points over, Mr. Gypson +and I agreed, that in order to demonstrate that the balloon was not +wanting in strength, it would be well to make another ascent by night +with fireworks. Mr. Albert Smith was again invited, but a certain +pressure, exercised perhaps wisely, by his friends prevented him from +ascending again. + +Mr. Pridmore, too, although as brave as need be, did not join us; but +that very night week, with double the weight of fireworks, we ascended +again with the restored balloon, and this time all went well, and we +came down at Acton, having with us a third voyager, in the person of a +captain, who had accompanied us under circumstances characteristic of +an Englishman, and, perhaps, worth narrating. + +Some little time before starting the said captain applied for a seat +in the car, and I was asked to negotiate for him, in doing which I +thought it but right to explain that an accident had happened the week +previously and that Mr. Gypson was by no means desirous of taking a +third person on the present occasion. + +After I had again alluded in unmistakable terms to the perilous +descent, the captain, in no way discouraged, said: + +“Well sir, you are taking a great deal of trouble to inform me of that +which is patent to everybody who reads, but I suppose the odds are that +to-night there will be no smash.” + +“Just so,” I added encouragingly, when the gallant gentleman stepped +forward and took his place. + +After the balloon was packed up at Acton I fancied that our companion +looked as if he was happy and self-satisfied, he begged of us to go +with him to his club, adding that he could well afford to offer an +entertainment as he had made a wager of one hundred pounds that he +would ascend that night, a decided opinion having prevailed at his club +that he dare not do so, as a terrible catastrophe would be sure to take +place, and so thought the public apparently, for Vauxhall was filled +to such an extent that the garden officials described the crowd as so +thick that one might have walked on people’s heads. + +During the winter of 1847 Lieutenant Gale found that the expenses +of establishing himself in popular favour were heavier than he had +anticipated. He was associated with two other gentlemen in the +proprietorship of his balloon, but his individual responsibilities +caused a split, so that the aëronaut and his partners separated. + +When Gale lost or threw up all controlling power over the balloon, +the then sole owners having as they said a considerable amount of +confidence in my judgment, called upon me, and proposed that as I had +ascended so frequently and had encountered so many dangers, that I +should make a series of ascents on my own and on their account, and +that if I would manage the balloon that was styled Gale’s, but which +was really theirs, I should have every facility for doing so, as Gale +would have nothing more to do with it. + +Such a thought never having entered my head, and being moreover +engaged as a dentist, I at once declined, but not without explaining +that my relatives had always discountenanced my balloon ascents, and +would raise most positively a great outcry if ever my name appeared in +a public capacity as a professed aëronaut. + +Shortly after this refusal we again met in company with several of the +admirers of aërostation, and whether by design or casual conversation +I know not, but certain it was that gossip turned upon my former +aërial adventures, and upon the advisability of my making it at once +a business affair as well as a pastime. All the arguments I raised +against the proposal were swept away by overwhelming opinions as to my +aptitude and so forth. + +“Look,” said one, “you are certainly risking your life without any +profit, and the chances are you frequently dip your hand pretty deeply +into your pocket minus any return.” + +“Again,” said another, “look at the hair-breath escapes you have had, +perhaps if you were to run alone these would be diminished.” + +“And then,” suggested a third, “by being your own pilot you might +attain to success and honour.” + +This last inducement proved more weighty and seductive than the two +former, and when the question was simply put whether if I would mind +a run over to Brussels, just to put them right there for one or two +ascents, I consented, but had no idea at the time that I was doing an +act which would lead to my becoming a practical balloonist. + +In the spring of 1848, therefore, I agreed to manage the said balloon, +but before ascending I christened it the “Sylph,” and that word was +painted three times in giant characters round the equator, so that +wherever it appeared, or whichever way it turned, the name was always +prominent. + +My first ascent, as director in the Belgian capital, was to take place +in the month of May, but a voyage by private arrangement was set on +foot by way of a trial trip, and one of the owners, a Mr. S----, was to +entrust his life to my care, and we were to go whither the winds blew +us, on a sort of pleasure trip. The “Sylph” received a good supply of +gas at the Independent Gas-works at Haggerston, London, on April 10th; +early in the afternoon we ascended, and after being nearly three hours +aloft came down near Colchester, passing directly over the county town +of Essex. + +This led on our way back to a call at Chelmsford, and as I knew several +persons in that town who now learnt that I was commanding officer of +the good craft “Sylph,” nothing would satisfy them but getting up an +ascent there, and although I was averse to any undertaking of the sort +in England, still I was over persuaded, and the rumour rapidly gained +circulation that I should make a public ascent from the gas-yard of +the town shortly, and that as it would be the first thing of the kind +from Chelmsford for seventeen years, the inhabitants would hail such an +exhibition with much pleasure and good attendance. + +The first of my two ascents from this town took place April 28th, 1848. +The weather was not exactly propitious, for the morning rose somewhat +sulky. + + “And her sick head was bound about with clouds, + As if she threatened night e’er noon of day.” + +In this state of things, a postponement was contemplated, but soon +after midday, the sun, “of this great world the eye and soul,” +scattered the clouds and revived the preparations; there was, in fact, +a complete revolution in the weather, and the curious began to gather +in and take up their positions, while the bright eyes of many Essex +ladies were directed, not to the six points of Chartism, just then +famous, but to the one point where the silken craft towered above +the adjoining buildings, as it was influenced by the breeze in the +gas-works. + +The visitors having been treated with a series of partial ascents, at +six o’clock the balloon rose. In the car were Mr. Chas. Livermore, of +Felstead, and Mr. Isaac Livermore, of Dunmow, together with Mr. Church, +the engineer of the gas-works. + +We were greeted in our course by thousands of applauding voices-- + + “Followed far by many a wond’ring eye, + They glide majestic ’twixt the earth and sky.” + +The “Sylph” took a direction over the Hanning fields, and ultimately +descended near Rettendon Common. + +On May the 5th, a second illustration was made from the same locality. +This time the atmosphere had all the sunshine and softness of balmy +spring, the visitors were far more numerous than on the former +occasion, and the reserved seats were filled principally with ladies, +many of them from the leading families of the neighbourhood. + +Captive ascents were found to be impracticable this day, but at length +Mr. Ram, of Newland Hall, with two other gentlemen entered the car, +and we mounted over the irregular forces who garrisoned the housetops +in rapid style, and moved towards the Roothings. + +Strange to say, the descent was made near Good Easter, where Mr. Ram +lived, and here I kept the balloon all night; the following morning, +soon after sunrise, I began taking people up, the length of the +cable, and after breakfast Mr. Ram’s daughters had a panoramic view +of the Hall and Park; the elder young lady would fain have ascended +altogether, but papa had made up his mind to do so once more himself, +so that soon after 11 o’clock we started again with the same gas, and +after being up nearly an hour, descended at Forth-end, near Felstead. + +Before starting from the gas-works, on the 5th instant, I made the +following estimate of the weight of the “Sylph” and its appendages:-- + + Balloon, netting, and car 400 lbs. + Mr. Ram 160 ” + Two other gentlemen 304 ” + Myself 148 ” + Grapnel and rope 52 ” + Coats, instruments, &c. 30 ” + Ballast 160 ” + ---------- + Total 1254 lbs. + ========== + +being the weight which 32,000 feet of carburetted hydrogen gas would +sustain at a specific gravity of about 440. + +The temperature of the air on the earth was sixty-two degrees; at the +greatest altitude, viz., three-quarters of a mile, forty-nine degrees. +Temperature of gas on the earth, as obtained by placing a thermometer +in the neck, sixty-three degrees; ditto in mid-air, forty-four degrees. +Force of expansion, as indicated by the pressure gauge, 5·10, or half +an inch; rate of travelling, twenty miles an hour; direction of wind, +N.W. + +About the middle of the merry month of May Mr. S---- and I formed part +of a group of passengers at London Bridge Wharf, on our way to the +Antwerp steam-boat. + +Everybody but ourselves was looking after the porters and their +luggage. We appeared to be gazing at the clouds, but were in reality +watching a large wicker basket which was suspended some thirty feet +under a crane, and was ready to be swung in on deck directly the mate +saw all clear below, and sung out “lower away.” + +This basket, owing to its unusual size, attracted general attention, +a bystander, who took it for a large bread basket, observed that the +passengers would be well off for the “staff of life,” even if they +lacked delicacies. But the interest taken in the huge basket rather +increased than diminished when the mate, a little angry with the +seamen, cried out “bear a hand there, stow away that balloon.” + +“Belongs to you Sir?” added the officer, directing a patronizing glance +towards me, whereupon a hundred eyes or more followed suit, and my +connection with the supposed bread basket was established beyond the +shadow of a doubt. Assuming, rather than feeling, the required amount +of nerve to endure this introduction to the ship’s crew, I nodded an +affirmative, and tried to suppress a rush of blood to the cheek, but +it would not do. I looked ashamed of this branch of publicity, and +proposed to go below and see after our berths. + +The first person I met in the chief cabin was an acquaintance, but glad +enough was I to find that he had not noticed our luggage, and what +was more, that he was merely seeing a friend off to the continent. No +sooner had we deposited our portmanteaus in the sleeping berths than +I proposed to go on deck again, whispering to my friend as we went up +the companion ladder, “out of the frying-pan into the fire.” “That +gentleman,” I added, “knows my family well, and I would rather not be +identified with the big basket so uncommonly close to London Bridge.” + +“That’s all a matter of taste,” observed Mr. S---- consolingly, “many +men would be proud of the position.” + +“But you know I am not, and you are aware of my reasons for not caring +about being thought a professional aëronaut.” + +“All right Mr. Coxwell, take it quietly and pass for an amateur.” + +The vessel had not rounded the Isle of Dogs when we found ourselves in +earnest conversation with an elderly gentleman, who was much interested +in aërostation. It came out, too, that he had ascended himself, and +that he was intimate with some of the aëronautic celebrities of the +present century. + +“Do you know,” said our communicative fellow-traveller, “I never could +thoroughly understand the cause of the fatal descent of that poor man +Cocking; being abroad at the time I had not the opportunity of keeping +pace with our home newspapers.” + +In reply I said, “You are aware that the principle of his parachute was +diametrically opposite to Garnerin’s, which had descended successfully. +Cocking’s was a sort of inverted cone, while that previously employed +was more like an umbrella turned upside down with a weight appended to +the stick.” + +“Exactly,” said our intelligent acquaintance, “and the tendency of a +rush of air was not to collapse but rather to keep it distended.” + +I fully agreed, and added that “Two objectionable circumstances +attended the use of Garnerin’s parachute, namely, the length of time +which elapsed before it expanded, and the violent oscillating movement +which accompanied the descent. In order to obviate these deficiencies +a variety of plans had been proposed at different times, amongst which +was that of Cocking’s.” The inverted cone principle, however, was not +an idea originating with Cocking, although he had lectured on the +subject in 1814 before the Society of Arts. + +“Towards the end of the last century this kind of parachute was +proposed in Paris, and revived by Sir George Cayley, and again more +fully developed by Mr. Kerr in the Encyclopædia Edinensis.” + +“Pray,” inquired our friend, “do you happen to know the weight and +diameter of Cocking’s parachute?” + +“Yes; the computations which appeared in the public press, previous to +the inquest, were loose and incorrect. They were to the effect that the +entire weight was 393 lbs., whereas, from the evidence taken before +the coroner, it appeared that the apparatus weighed 413 lbs., and Mr. +Cocking 170 lbs. The terminal velocity, therefore, would have been +nearly twenty feet in a second had the parachute not collapsed. Its +diameter was thirty-four feet.” + +“Of course one of smaller dimensions on the concave plan would descend +less rapidly?” + +“Oh, certainly a parachute on the Garnerin principle would bring a man +down at the rate of twenty feet in a second, even if it were fifteen +feet in diameter.” + +“According to the most reliable tables of atmospheric resistances, a +weight of one pound under a square foot of sustaining surface would +cause it to descend at the rate of 1320 feet per second, or fifteen +miles an hour.” + +“But as this is a far greater rate than is consistent with safety, the +diameter should be at least twenty-five feet.” + +“Then how is it that scientific men and practical aëronauts did not +point out these faults?” + +“They did; but poor Cocking was so confident and determined, that no +sooner was a large balloon built by the Vauxhall proprietors, Messrs. +Gye and Hughes, than he proposed appending a parachute to it, and he +threatened in the event of refusal, to construct another balloon and +offer opposition to Vauxhall.” + +“Indeed, and I have no doubt that pecuniary inducements had their +weight. But what did Mr. Green say?” + +“Green, to do him justice, never liked the experiment, and he has been +heard to say since, that for no amount of money would he repeat his +experience on July 24th, 1837.” + +“He is said at first to have declined to connect his name with it, but +he was bound to ascend with the great balloon when called upon by the +proprietors, as there was a legal difficulty in evading the ascent.” + +“It has been suggested, and with some show of practicability, that +he might by stratagem have brought Cocking down without allowing him +to descend with his parachute alone, but Mr. Green distinctly stated +on the other hand, that his individual impression was, that having +withstood the pressure of the atmosphere in the ascent, the parachute +would go down safely.” + +“What with the danger to Mr. Green and his companion, Mr. E. Spencer, +owing to the loss of so great a weight, it is evident that it was an +ill-judged affair from first to last.” + +“Most decidedly. Now please to tell me where this frail structure gave +way.” + +“The upper circle was made only of tin hooping, soldered together, and +this broke before even the ascent was made.” + +“It transpired, afterwards, that Cocking in all probability twisted the +cord round his wrist, the better to enable him to effect his liberation +by pulling hard at the trigger; in so doing it is conjectured that he +was jerked against the smaller circle at the apex of the cone, and that +his own body produced a fracture in the framework, which added to its +weakness.” + +“This concussion may have deprived him of sensibility as well, a wound +found on his temple tends to confirm this view of the catastrophe.” + +Thus ended our dissertation on parachutes; but long ere our further +chat had ceased, we had approached the mouth of Father Thames, where a +fresh breeze and a lively motion caused many passengers to go below, +and others to obey the steward’s call to dinner. _We_ responded, and +went through not only the ceremony, but the enjoyment of, a generous +repast, without feeling indisposed. On landing at Antwerp an Englishman +presented himself on the quay, whom we took, and rightly so, for a +gentleman who had entered into the balloon speculation at Brussels, and +who had in consequence engaged my services to ascend. + +He was a red-haired, gaunt person, extremely short-sighted, and wore +a cap and close-fitting dress-coat, which had seen more sunny days +and was conspicuously short in the sleeves. But, notwithstanding his +optical infirmity, he was a match for the sharpest porter, and by tact +he was soon up with the steward and ascertained our names and errand +with astonishing sharpness. + +In introducing himself, he brought his hand down upon the great basket, +or balloon car, with some degree of familiarity, saying, “Well, here +you are,” as if he had been intimately acquainted with us previously. + +It was, however our first meeting, and was essentially of a business +character, but anything like a stiff commercial view of this +preliminary interview was soon removed by a jaunty nonchalance on his +part. He then drew out a showy cigar case, and almost immediately +replaced it, saying, “Wait a bit, we will go over to the hotel and +breakfast first,” which we decided to do, after his perceiving that the +cigar case was empty. + +All doubt being then removed, Mr. S---- and I looked at each other, as +much as to say, perhaps he is a capital fellow, notwithstanding his +manner, looks, and short-comings. + +After refreshment, our long-haired short-sighted, short-sleeved +countryman proposed, or rather peremptorily decided upon pushing on to +Brussels forthwith. + +Matters were not quite so forward as he could wish, and although +the ascent was positively announced, and the king had promised his +patronage, still there was much to be done, and for his part he had +quite lost faith in Frenchmen and Belgians. What all this meant, we +could only surmise and think over privately. + +On arriving at Brussels we found that the intended balloon ascent had +received such careless attention, that the prospect of its taking place +on the day announced was doubtful in the extreme. + +It seemed that a company had been formed to carry out this little +enterprise, and that one Frenchman, two Belgians, a Dutchman, and +an Englishman, had united their abilities and purses to put it into +execution. + +The Englishman was clearly neither the treasurer nor principal. The +Frenchman had chiefly to do with the Prado Gardens, whence the “Sylph” +was to rise; and whether the Dutchman or the Belgians were the sleeping +partners, or the capitalists, they deposed not, nor could we gather, +although it soon became evident that the relative positions of each +member of so complicated an association, required to be well and at +once understood by me, before proceeding further in the matter. + +I said, therefore, to the British representative of this amalgamated +balloon company, that I was under the impression I was purely and +solely engaged by the lessee of the Prado to make these ascents, and +that he was a well-to-do and competent proprietor. + +“So I thought,” observed the seedy Englishman. + +“It appears to me that there are a prodigious number of cooks to +prepare this simple mess of broth, and I tell you candidly,” I +continued, “that unless the cash for the first ascent, and the +requisite supply of gas are forthcoming within twenty-four hours I +shall retire from Brussels but not without publicly alleging as a +reason, that I have been deceived by the party inviting us to come +over.” + +On due inquiry, I ascertained that no pipes had been brought into the +gardens of adequate size for the inflation, and that it was intended, +without my approval or consent, to accomplish that all important task +at a distant gas-works, outside the capital, and then before daybreak, +to pass it over the housetops, and finally deposit it in the Prado, +until such time as the public had assembled. + +Now, although this process is one which I have frequently accomplished +under favourable circumstances as to wind and locality, still to drag +a balloon through Brussels, and risk its contact with high houses and +chimneys, was an injudicious beginning, and I protested emphatically, +and indeed declined it altogether. + +I had, however, stood out, according to the letter of my own request, +for cash and a supply of gas, and these terms, after no small +altercation, were agreed to. + +The cash was to be paid just when my part of the contract was about to +be fulfilled; but the gas could not be delivered in the gardens, as the +cost would be enormous, no such large pipes as those required being in +the neighbourhood. + +When the Englishman, with short sleeves and sight, first wrote to us in +London, I was assured that “all the customary facilities for filling +balloons would be found in the Vauxhall of Brussels,” and “that no +doubt or hesitation need be felt on that score.” + +But surely such discordant bickerings and confusion of languages, as we +had, never before preceded the arrangements for this kind of work. + +There was no money, no head, no gas, and no order in any step that had +been taken, until I personally superintended the whole affair. + +A certain amount of pressure and decision, however, brought this +heterogeneous mixture of nationalities entirely to book, but they _had +me_ on one point, and at a tremendous advantage, namely, I was driven +to fill the “Sylph” at the gas-works, and endeavour to transport it +through the town. + +This attempt was made in May, 1848, and on that occasion grey-eyed morn +broke in with a high dawn and a reddish sky, an appearance which was +interpreted as being very fine by those who assembled for an exciting +view before breakfast. + +We soon beat to quarters, as nautical men say, and, although we had +“time by the forelock,” we were none too soon, as I was most anxious +to be moving before the morning breezes were astir; and, though I had +little time for noticing the barometer, still I had observed a decided +drop, and did not altogether admire present appearances. + +No sooner was the gas turned on than the “Sylph” began to display its +proportions satisfactorily, and the lookers on threw themselves into +various postures indicative of approbation. + +“_Ah! Monsieur Coxvel_,” said one of the party, stroking down his +beard, “_you vil hav vun vary fine day; no vind, no nothink. Your +transport vil no be difficile._” + +Hereupon I glanced around the horizon, but returned the weather wise +Belgian no reply. He then looked with such a scrutinizing glance, as to +provoke an expression of discontent. + +“_Ah! vat you mean_,” inquired he, “_vy you frown?_” + +The fact was, a small solitary, dark-looking cloud had made its +appearance to the westward; and, although a goodly distance off, was +wending its way up with great rapidity. The configuration of this +little intruder on the blue sky was such as to forbode wind. + +“Gentlemen,” said I to those who were helping, “there is a fresh wind +springing up, at no great distance from the earth, and if it does not +extend downwards before reaching the gardens, we may consider ourselves +fortunate.” + +Several bystanders protested against the probability of this, and +discussed the matter with flourishing action of the hands and much +useless talk. + +The Frenchman and the English agent grew quite warm as they expressed +opposite views about the matter; but the Dutchman, who was one of the +party, avowed his firm belief that squally weather was approaching, +and the way in which he gave a furtive and semi-nautical glance above, +showed at once that he shared my opinions and fears. + +Our attention was directed as quickly as possible to securing the net +lines to the hoop, so as to get a fair and equal bearing from a strong +centre, and we had just completed this necessary precaution, when the +long grass around us bent to leeward with a low, murmuring sound, and +in less than half-an-hour after the first symptoms of an approaching +gale, one fitful gust broke upon us, creating, as it acted upon the +partially-filled balloon, a flapping, blustering sort of music, which +only loud Boreas is accustomed to indulge in. + +Around the hoop and in the car were placed about forty +half-hundredweights, in order to steady the restless machine, which on +being filled and let up to the extent of the netting rolled round in +graceful sweeps over our heads. + +The manager of the gardens, a sturdy Frenchman, was for a precipitate +dash through the city, regardless of all risk, but the adventurous +Englishman asked “How would Monsieur act if the balloon were his own +property?” + +“_Vat you vil do?_” said the military looking Belgian, who promised us +“_no vind, no nothink_.” + +“Why Sir,” I replied, “the fact is we have to contend with a most +formidable opponent, and I think we can’t do better than act purely on +the defensive, the assaults of this strong wind are quite as much as +the balloon can bear, and if we attempt to charge in the teeth of the +wind we shall only be repulsed, perhaps with heavy loss.” + +As there appeared to be some doubt about the correctness of my views, +which required translation, I ordered a general move forward, by way +of demonstrating whether it were possible to keep on or whether it was +better to lay-to until the wind dropped. + +Our forces, so to speak, were thus divided:--twenty burly mechanics +at the car, six to each guy-rope, about thirty to two ropes fastened +to the hoop with a view of pulling the balloon along, myself in the +car giving directions, the Englishman, whose sleeves were shorter than +ever, at my right acting as interpreter, Mr. S---- on my left pulling +for example’s sake; the manager of the Prado public garden, with +subordinates, and small fry, were at their posts shouting vociferously, +and thereby confounding the interpreter. + +Away we marched, to the infinite delight of the Frenchmen, for a few +steps right bravely, but suddenly, flap, round, up, down, went the +“Sylph,” upsetting several of the party, and at last we were driven +further back than we had actually advanced, which proved sufficient to +convince everybody present as to who was right and who were wrong. + +We now essayed to move laterally towards a somewhat sheltered spot, but +here a fresh difficulty soon presented itself in the shape of a file of +soldiers, who drew up near the balloon. An officer then advanced and +summoned me to his presence. + +There was something decidedly ominous in the undertoned conversation +betwixt the officer and myself. I could perceive that all persons +present preserved silence, and displayed a large amount of curiosity to +ascertain what was going to happen. + +The effect of the wind, which was gradually increasing, was not so +apparent when the “Sylph” was sheltered behind some trees as it was +previously, when each blast came upon us in its full fury, without +break or hindrance. I therefore betook myself to the car and stowed +away the sand-bags, getting rid of some half-hundredweights in their +stead. Lastly I attached my liberating iron to the hoop, and passed +into the hands of the workmen a rope connected therewith, which they +were requested to hold, and I then informed the assistants that I +wished to learn what ascending power the gas had, to effect which it +would be necessary to allow the car to rise once or twice a few feet +above the ground. + +I noticed that the Belgians, Dutchman, and Frenchman, who were most +interested in these proceedings, stood aloof in earnest conversation. +Quite unexpectedly I found a pair of long hands and bare wrists over +the side of the car, and before I could make the first trial with the +balloon the Englishman, although short-sighted be it remembered, had +vaulted in by my side, without explaining himself or asking of me +an explanation, but I guessed when I put out a few bags of sand to +equalize his weight that he knew as much of my real intentions as I did +myself. + +The moment I found the balloon had a buoyant tendency, I suddenly and +unexpectedly pulled the trigger, when away went the “Sylph” with a +bound, allowing the holders of the rope to go head-over-heels, and +everybody else to be seized with the conviction that the balloon had +broken away from its moorings. + +My intrepid companion was not long in convincing me that he overheard +the officer’s secret request, which was, that “owing to the then +unsettled state of political affairs persons were not allowed to +collect in numbers in the public thoroughfare, and that if I found it +impossible to reach the Prado, the authorities requested that I would +let out the gas and stop the proceedings.” + +“In what way did you pledge yourself to the official?” asked my +countryman, as he looked down upon the receding knot of astonished +spectators beneath. + +“Just allow me to let off a little gas, and I will tell you; we are +rising fast notwithstanding our rapid movement forward. Replying to +your question then, I merely promised the officer that the balloon +should be removed with all possible expedition. It is not likely that +I was going to haul down my colours, or in other words, to let out the +gas without ascending.” + +“But my partners in this speculation, the Frenchman and the others, +will hardly comprehend this hasty exit.” + +“Indeed they will,” I replied, “the officer will surely intimate his +instructions, and my own way of executing his orders will not be +displeasing in the long run.” + +“What a magnificent view of fair Brussels, but how insignificant in +size. Look at the Tower of Malines.” + +“And far beyond,” I added, “you can see Antwerp.” + +“I knew by your preparations you were going to ascend.” + +“Did you,” I observed, “well, I told no one of my intentions, not even +Mr. S----, I thought it would be better to clear off first and explain +afterwards. It would have been useless to keep the balloon where it +was, and I have no doubt the friends with whom you are connected will +appreciate my motives by and bye.” + +“We are now passing over a village,” said my companion, “which I have +just recognised, and you will be astonished to hear that we are least +sixteen miles from Brussels, and that we have not been up more than a +quarter of an hour.” + +“I am not surprised at our rate of travelling, but rather at your good +sight in picking out a place well known to you.” + +“Ah,” said the Englishman, “mine is a long sight, you will hardly +believe that I command the entire panoramic view as clearly as you do; +for instance, do you see anything besides those microscopic dots in +that green patch? I mean anything besides the cows which graze in the +meadows to the right of the farm-house.” + +I looked attentively, and just detected a number of ducks, chiefly +white ones, on the banks of a pond, but should not have noticed them +unless I had examined minutely. + +“How far do you suppose those insignificant specks are down?” + +“I should guess 3000 feet, but not having my instruments I cannot +accurately ascertain our height or the temperature of the air; indeed, +we have little time even for landscape viewing, as I suppose we +both wish to make Brussels again to-night, there to account for our +unceremonious flight.” + +I now let off some gas, and in a few minutes we found ourselves +travelling with considerable velocity across a large common, where +there were canals and banks in which the grapnel was likely to get hold. + +I prepared my companion for a rough landing, telling him he must not +mind it, as it was his own seeking. + +To do him justice he seemed to like the aërial mode of transit, and +when the iron took in a water-course and hung fast in the bank, causing +the balloon and car to roll over, and then to break away again, he +became conscious of the terrible force of the wind, and prepared for a +succession of bumps and shocks. + +We were soon trailing along towards another canal, the car keeping just +clear of the ground, when I found that it was a good spot to catch in, +and begged my fellow-traveller to keep fast and look out for squalls. +Fortunately this we held fast, but the wayward “Sylph” struggled hard +for freedom, and we were thrice driven down with unpleasant violence +before I crippled the balloon so as to be able to get out. + +We lost no time in returning from whence we came. + +On the whole, people were well pleased, both those who were present at +the start and those who had only heard of the peculiar circumstances +under which it became expedient to make the ascent thus early in the +morning. + +The newspaper accounts of this first attempt of mine in Belgium +eulogised it as “daring and extraordinary.” Public attention therefore +was not only called to it, but to another, which was spoken of as +certain to take place, provided the gas directors would bestir +themselves for the public good. + +Thus politely challenged, how could they reasonably refrain from +obliging? + +To do them justice, they came forward readily, and in less than a week +a six-inch main was introduced into the Prado Gardens. + +On the 2nd of June a large attendance of the inhabitants of Brussels +testified the pleasure they derived from a close inspection of the +balloon. They were invited to see something like novelty in connection +with the ascent, as I had undertaken to show, on a miniature scale, how +practicable it was to discharge aërial shells from a balloon, supposing +they were needed in warfare, when it was not possible to bombard in +the usual way, owing to the intervention of hills, water, or other +impediments. + +As there was hardly a breath of air stirring during inflation, the +“Sylph” stood proudly erect, and seemed to bask in the sunshine, +occasionally evincing a tendency to rise into the upper air, as if to +escape the heat below, by soaring into the refreshing coolness of the +skies. + +A Belgian pyrotechnist having made the explosive shells, in strict +accordance with my instructions, and in exact imitation of a model to +scale, I was rather anxious to have them all brought out and adjusted +before the last moment of setting off. + +Great interest was manifested and some apprehension felt about these +fireworks, which I had promised to ignite when 2,000 feet high. + +The danger connected with their use rested in a great measure with the +manufacturer. + +If my instructions were rigidly adhered to, they would go off as +certainly as a well-made military shell from a mortar. I had taken +the precaution of attaching them to a separate battery, which was +ready to lower when the balloon left the earth, and I could then pass +down a rope ladder, something after the plan of Lieut. Gale, and by +communicating with a fuse at a safe distance from the gas, the shells +would be ignited. + +Being perfectly satisfied with the entire disposition of this part of +the contrivance, I invited my intended fellow travellers to enter the +car. These were Mr. N----, a railway engineer, and Mr. S----. At eight +o’clock p.m., barometer 30·2 and thermometer 66°, we set out for a +calm, delightful journey. + +The “Sylph” rose almost perpendicularly, so that there was no necessity +for hurry in lowering the battery, or in going down to fire the shells. + +In less than two minutes, a bluish outburst of smoke, followed by +a sharp sound, announced that the first aërial shell had burst in +mid-air; a second ring of smoke formed higher up near the balloon, and +then a third and fourth exploded at about the original range, the rest +following at stated intervals, and with remarkable precision. + +Cheer succeeded cheer as each “bang” reached the earth. + +“Look out for the next,” cried Mr. N---- as the twelfth shell darted +down towards the housetops, and then detonated with a loud ringing +report, which echoed in the still air like distant artillery. “That, +indeed, is a splendid sight.” + +“And sound too,” added Mr. S----. “How many more are there to go off +now?” + +“As many more,” I replied, “but there is no danger, they are all +trimmed to a nicety, and made to fall at least 300 feet before +exploding.” + +“If these things were used on a large scale, how would you manage their +ignition?” enquired the engineer. + +“That might be by concussion, supposing the shells were formed like a +pear, with two or three nipples at the heavier end, and by fuse as well +in case of failure when striking, but we will speak of these matters +by and bye; please to note down, barometer 25·4 and thermometer 47° +Fahrenheit; we have been so busy as not to have observed the pressure +and temperature, which were considerable.” + +“It does not feel so much colder,” observed Mr. N----. + +“No,” I answered, “for my part, it appears to me warmer, owing to my +going up and down the ladder and otherwise exerting myself; but pray +notice our course: you, as a resident, know all about that.” + +“I am much mistaken,” said the engineer, “if we are not going direct +for Waterloo. We are too, by Jove!” + +“Bravo,” I exclaimed; “how stands the barometer?” + +“About 5·800 feet, we will lower gradually, as we clear the forest of +Soignes so as to have a good bird’s-eye view of the battle-fields.” + +Mr. S----, who had been looking through a telescope, and who had only +recently accompanied us to Waterloo, now caught sight of the lion on +the mound. + +“Sure enough,” he said, “we shall pass directly over.” + +A balloon view of Waterloo with the surrounding country, and bold +acclivities, fails entirely to convey the martial associations, which +those noted Belgic plains would be expected to arouse. We felt hardly +reconciled to the fact, that, on that cluster of fields, which looked +so rural, and cultivated, the fate of Europe had been decided, in so +great and sanguinary a contest. + +As our survey happened to be made in the same month as that on which +the memorable battle was fought; the general appearances of nature +could not have been very dissimilar to what they were on June 17th, +1815, just when the British infantry bivouacked on the rising ground +near the village, and the cavalry rested in those hollows in the rear. + +It is true we gazed upon a landscape which was comparatively tame, when +unenlivened by the armies of Wellington, Blücher, and Napoleon. + +An aërial glance at that great historical picture would indeed have +been a sight worth seeing. But the mere bird’s-eye view of the site was +somewhat disappointing. + +Could we have seen the downtrodden corn and rye, the clouds of smoke, +the prancing horses, and helmeted riders, the splendid French columns +impetuously advancing against the solid squares of red. Could we have +heard the din and roar of musketry and cannon, and the wild hurrah of +the last grand charge, then indeed the scene would have appeared fresh +and imposing. Our bird’s-eye view of Waterloo, so far from being lively +and soul-stirring, was rather of a philosophical and contemplative +character. + +One could not pass over the ruins of Hougomont, or the farm-house of +La Haye Saint, without thinking of the dust and ashes of countrymen +and fees which were there scattered in profusion; when we recollect +that on the small surface of two square miles, 50,000 men and horses +were ascertained to be lying, we can form some idea of the mouldering +remains which lie beneath the ripening crops, which presented +themselves to our view. + +The sun had just set on the peaceful plains in rosy and majestic +grandeur. The glorious King of Day declined also on June 18th, +thirty-three years before we passed over in a balloon. But how +different the scene! + +On that evening after the battle, when the cries of the wounded filled +the air, as the roar of artillery ceased, and, as night approached, the +earth was red dyed and sodden; but on this--inviting cheers of welcome +came to us on all sides, and at Waterloo we met with a most friendly +reception. + +I made one more ascent in the year 1848, in Belgium; this time from the +Bourse, at Antwerp. The voyage which was made under great disadvantages +presented a rare and remarkable feature. The Englishman, with whom the +reader has been made acquainted, was again commissioned to negociate +with the gas directors of Antwerp, respecting an ample supply for +the inflation; but it again happened that the delivery was by no +means equal to our expectations. In fact, when the hour for departure +arrived, the “Sylph” was not half full. + +What was to be done? The visitors would be disappointed, and my own +name connected with a failure. + +“Well, that won’t do,” I remember saying, “if there is any means of +rising above the Exchange, and clearing Antwerp, I must resort to it.” + +“Give me a supply of cordage, and let me tie a few lines across the +hoop, and see if there is gas enough to take me up without a car. Do +not say a word to anyone, lest our plans are thwarted.” + +Having placed myself in the hoop, without any other protection +whatever, I found that the balloon would just raise me. The spectators +were not aware that I was about to leave them, minus a car to sit in, +so that, on mounting over their heads, great surprise was at first +manifested, but followed quickly by expressions of approbation, when +my risky position was known to be owing to a determination to fulfil +my contract. I attained a great elevation during this trip, but, being +without a barometer, I could only estimate it approximately at two and +a half miles, and this was done by observing that the balloon rose +until it became fully distended, and as it was not half inflated at +starting, I knew I was quite, if not over two and a half miles high, +because a volume of gas will double its bulk at an elevation of nearly +three miles and three-quarters. + +The excessive cold I experienced was no doubt to be attributed to the +current of air passing through the ring, without being in any way +broken either by a wicker car or extra clothing. + +Not having any ballast to put out or to work with, I was anxious +to allow the balloon to rise and fall by alternate expansion and +condensation, without letting out gas through the upper valve. + +My descent was safely made near Turnhout. + +A messenger from Brussels, direct from Callow’s Hotel, arrived on the +morning after the ascent, requesting an immediate interview on the +part of a gentleman from Prussia, who was anxious to take me over the +Rhine. + +At the appointed hour, two cards were sent up, and a local solicitor +presented himself, and introduced me to Herr Abraham Küpper, the +proprietor of Johannisberg, a celebrated _locale_, as it was styled, at +Elberfeld. + +Herr Küpper, a fine stout fellow with an immense beard, which spread +over a spotless white waistcoat, was one of those men who make a +pleasing first impression. + +I conceived a decided prejudice in his favour before we had entered +much into matters of business, and as he was willing to agree to my own +terms for a certain number of ascents, the services of the solicitor +were soon brought into requisition, and an agreement entered into which +was mutually satisfactory. Herr Küpper then requested the favour of our +company during the afternoon, and as a carriage was at the door, he +proposed a drive in the Park. + +Mr. S----, together with our friend, the roving Englishman, whose +personal appearance had improved, was pleased to find that our +prospects were brightening, and I ought to state that the latter was +not personally responsible, or at any rate to be blamed, for the +difficulties we had to contend with in Brussels; all that should +be placed to the account of his associates in the badly-managed +speculation. It was the Dutchman, the Belgian, and the Frenchman who +were not up to their work, he now pointed out, and happy was he to find +that this fine bold Prussian, with whom we were treating, was evidently +a man of business, and he further added, but not until we had partaken +of champagne as well as good claret, that he, Herr Küpper, clearly +knew what he was about; but whether the Englishman was alluding to the +treat instead of the treaty he did not say; but this much he let out, +that he was so much taken with our new acquaintance that he should be +happy, at our expense, to go with us to Elberfeld, but as Küpper could +neither speak French nor English, and as the rest of our party could +not say much in German, Mr. S---- pertinently asked whether he wished +to be engaged as interpreter or companion. + +He was silenced at this enquiry, since none of us while drinking +success to the undertaking could understand or properly reply to the +caterer from Rhineland. + +However, we started with him after a day or two spent in sight-seeing, +but we left the Brussels agent at his lodgings, committing ourselves +to the care of Herr Küpper, whose agreeable postures and friendly +attentions, combined with the most amusing efforts to do a little +broken English, made some amends for want of fluency on both sides, +but no sooner had we arrived at the Johannisberg Gardens at Elberfeld, +than the redoubtable proprietor called aloud, over the heads of a large +assemblage of visitors, for Mr. B----, when a gentleman, wearing a +white hat and green coat, came forward and hailed us as countrymen, +saying how glad he was to see us, and confirming his honest outburst +with such a hearty shaking of hands that a cry of “bravo!” burst from +many of those present. + +Herr Küpper having thus introduced us, vociferated for champagne, +cigars, &c., though he need not have cried so loud, as there were two +or three _kelners_ close behind him; it had, however, to our way of +thinking a grand and welcome ring about it, and so thought Mr. B----, +who was none of your mock modest men, when good wine stared him in the +face. + +“Go it Dick,” cried another Englishman, who was seated near our table, +and what with the accent of this familiar advice, backed with other +pleasantries, we soon felt at ease, if not at home. + +Herr Küpper, some time after our refreshment with Mr. Dick B----, +invited us to see the ball-room and the grounds; we dined together +somewhat later, and after an excellent repast were present at the +concert. + +Dick B---- was getting rather effusive in his explanations as to the +musicians, and becoming very red in the face, but he impressed us as +being a capital fellow under the circumstances in which we were placed, +and he was considered as such by many of his pupils who were present, +and who rejoiced to see him happy. + +“You are not perhaps aware,” said Mr. B----, “that I am a teacher of +languages.” + +Nor were we--as I, for one, had put him down as an equestrian or circus +master; however, we had fortunately not allowed the secret cogitations +to escape our lips, so no harm was done. Mr. B----, on our separating +that evening, promised to be “at our service” early next morning, +and sure enough Dick came to an early breakfast, and had not, as we +inferred, had very much sleep. + +“The early bird gets the worm,” said Mr. B----, as he helped himself to +some wurst, or smoked sausage, by way of a patronising start. + +“Make yourselves at home, gentlemen. Do you like raw ham and black +bread?” “_I do_,” he added; “have found out a thing or two since I left +the great city,” meaning London. + +Mr. S---- who had delicate digestive organs, and who had not travelled +much, failed in doing that justice to his first German breakfast, which +Mr. B---- tackled with such gusto. He, however, partook of his coffee +with a quiet nod of approval, and was in the act of finishing his +first cup when the teacher of languages, looking S---- straight in the +face, said, “I suppose you had a smother of frogs at Callow’s Hotel in +Brussels;” but, perceiving that Mr. S---- turned pale, he exclaimed, +“My good fellow, what’s the matter?” + +Poor S---- then ejected, almost in Mr. B----’s face, the black contents +of his white cup; he sprang up in a nervous, bewildered state, when I +had to do the amiable by way of apology. + +Mr. Dick laughed, but stuck to his guns, and recommended eggs, when Mr. +Abraham Küpper’s voice was heard approaching, who entered smiling, and +was followed by a waiter with beefsteaks well broiled, but small; there +were three of them, by the way. + +Mr. B---- rose to salute either the steaks or mine host, and rubbed his +hands with great glee. + +“Eh, vat Mein Herren?” asked Herr Küpper, looking to B---- for a +response, as to Mr. S----’s sad appearance. + +Dick, in German, assured the landlord that he had saved the life of Mr. +S---- who would positively starve unless he had something of that kind +to begin the day with. + +“Donner wetter; what will he end with then?” asked Küpper astonished; +of course he knew S---- did not understand the remark, which was made +in German. + +Dick B---- next declared in point blank Saxon, that for his part “he +had got his second wind,” and the steaks having restored Mr. S---- by +their timely arrival, we managed to pull through; the teacher having +taught us already more than one important lesson, and, what is more, +illustrated them with his own knife and fork, again fell to with an +appetite which was tremendous, considering that he was generous with +his coffee and had confessed to a couple of seidels of Beirisch before +he put in an appearance. + +This, our first substantial breakfast went off very well considering +B----’s sallies and noble example. + +“Now to business,” he said, after receiving our thanks for his service +at table. + +Outside in the gardens, we could perceive one or two gas-men with their +chief engineer, and Abraham himself in his smoking cap, and a long +tight-fitting dressing gown, which reached to his slippers; in this +attire we noticed how sturdy he was, and withal how commanding. + +“He turns sixteen and a half centners,” said B----, and their weights +are heavier than ours--“but come gentlemen, I perceive Küpper is +getting impatient.” + +We thought that B---- toned down a good deal as we drew near to the +monarch of Johannisberg, who puffed his cigar, and then brushed off, or +rather hit aside a bit of steak adhering to B----’s coat. + +What a change in manner and deportment, I thought. The fact was we +had kept them all waiting to get instructions as to the laying of the +gas pipes, while the teacher kept us pottering about inside, merely to +gratify his own inordinate propensity for creature comforts. + +“Meester Coxvel,” cried Küpper--one might have heard his voice half +round Elberfeld. + +B---- translated with a tremulous accent, as if he were funky; the +plain English of it was this--Would I point out, or stamp my foot, to +use Küpper’s definition, on the exact spot where the pipes were to +terminate in the inner circle, just where the balloon was to be filled. + +Perceiving, with half an eye, what kind of man we had to do with, I ran +to the spot, stamped my foot firmly down, and cried out “here.” + +“Sehr gut, now Herr Coxvel, (Mr. B---- translated) where will you place +the balloon?” + +The reply, sharp and emphatic on my part, was again “_here_,” but I had +moved in the meantime a few yards farther on, and the smartness with +which Küpper’s questions were answered, elicited his approval, as he +raised his smoking cap, advanced towards me with a kindly greeting, and +drew forth his cigar case. + +“_You_ have made a hit of it, if I have not,” cried B---- who was now +regaining self-possession. + +All the preparations having been made to the satisfaction of Küpper, +who was a bit of a Tartar in his own domain, I was invited to accompany +him down town at midday, Mr. S---- being left to the care of B---- who +had begged a holiday from his pupils--they knowing, presumably, that he +would scarcely be equal to his duties, until he had indulged in his +first diversion of ballooning. + +Abraham Küpper was great in riding, and he was also great in walking, +he stood over six feet without his glazed boots, and when, after +alighting from an open trap, he placed his arm in mine, and again +withdrew it to stroke down his fine flowing beard, he attracted the +attention of those who were passing by, and further rivetted it, by +pronouncing my name in no undertone, so that I heard several persons +observe, “Abraham und der Luftschiffer.” + +He then led me with stately deportment into a confectioner’s, where in +a private room we met several professors, doctors, and merchants, most +of them I was relieved to find, speaking English; but Küpper on the way +had been polite enough to drill into me a rapid instalment of his own +language, although it was not high German, I was told--still to me it +had a most imposing utterance, accompanied as it was, with considerable +action. + +One of the party to whom I was introduced, asked the pleasure of my +company next day at their scientific institution, as there were papers +to be read and discussion to follow on an interesting subject. + +Küpper agreed that I was to be there without asking if I was that way +disposed. + +He next hurried me on, goodness knows to how many different places, and +I could not but feel that his attentions were of a superior order to +what I had met with in Brussels. + +At the Institution on the following day, I was at first disappointed, +as the proceedings appeared to me of an informal, and easy going kind. + +The room where we met was redolent with the perfumes of tobacco, and +coffee was being served, but I soon found out that the proceedings +were of a philosophical character, being assisted with explanations in +English from Herr Buchmann, who spoke our language well. + +After the lecture I tried to get away, feeling much ashamed of my +inability to converse in German, but I was retained by Herr Buchmann, +who drew me out on my own speciality, and I was glad to find by +questions put from different parts of the room that most of those +present could express themselves intelligibly in my native tongue. + +“Had I any views of my own in writing?” Yes, I had by me a pamphlet, +which was read, and which referred to military ballooning. My opinions +so far commended themselves to those present that I was invited to +become an honorary member, and of course signed my name. + +By the time announcements had gone forth as to the first ascent, I had +made so many acquaintances, that I positively required a new hat after +so often raising my old one, according to the approved local fashion +which they managed with so much ease and frequency, that I wondered how +they could do so with such little wear and tear to the rim. + +Mr. B---- informed me that he never could attain to that mode of +salutation, he prided himself on being a Briton to the back bone, and +satisfied himself, if not the ladies by a semicircular move of the +right hand from his chest outwards. B---- was a favourite, I found, +notwithstanding his brusque address. I began to feel afraid that he +would neglect his own interests by devotion to our cause. + +One day I overheard a protest from one of his best patrons, which +terminated with “that confounded balloon,” but Dick always turned +up when he was wanted, and now and again when he had better have +been engaged elsewhere; he was a typical cockney of the unaffected, +commercial class, never having taught his own language until he took up +his abode in Elberfeld. + +Very early on the morning of the ascent, I mean by 5 a.m., the voice of +Herr Küpper might be heard over the housetops, and along the valley of +the River Wupper. Mr. B---- was in attendance, and trying to soothe the +lessee’s occasional irritability, but he had been upset by one Peter, a +_Kellerman_ who was thought to have imbibed his master’s beer, brewed +on the premises. Out of twenty workmen who had been told off for our +assistance, this Peter had been placed by me to hold the neck part of +the balloon, where the gas passes in through a hose. + +After doing his best for some time, poor Peter’s eyes began to roll +rather wildly, when Küpper, with more haste than discretion, sent +him to the right about, which caused Peter to stumble against the +balloon; Küpper, terribly indignant at this, gave him such a lift under +the “stern sheets,” as the sailors say, that Peter impelled by the +motive power of the governor’s left leg, flew, as it were, out of the +enclosure; the incident caused some merriment, and at the same time +it induced me to examine the connecting links of the hose pipe. They +were all right, but below the hoop of the safety valve, Peter, in his +eagerness to hold fast, had sent his nails through the silk, and had +made a hole, so that the poor fellow was taking in the fumes of gas, +which accounted for his stupefaction. + +This explained--it is due to Küpper to say that Peter was recalled, +cheered up, and told to have his coffee and something with it, on a +table in the garden. + +I soon repaired the fracture, when Peter volunteered to try again. I +was not displeased with the proposal, and took pains to explain the +best method of manipulating such delicate material. + +Peter’s efforts were now a masterpiece of caution blended with +dexterity, and his reappearance produced a feeling of admiration and +sympathy among all who were assisting at the inflation. + +The flow of gas was much stronger than I had expected, owing to our +elevated position. An indication of perfect satisfaction on my part, +caused Herr Küpper to light his morning cigar, an act which drew forth +a flash of disapproval in my eyes and face, so that the big man almost +quailed when I shouted that match striking so near the balloon was +highly dangerous. Küpper immediately sent his sweet smelling cigar +flying outside the circle; when I explained that it was the flame, not +the tobacco that I considered risky. + +Mr. B----, Mr. S----, and the engineer were now chuckling over the +alternate indications of official temper, which two of us as the chief +actors had displayed in our respective capacities. + +“A certain amount of this sort of thing _goes down_ like goose +stuffing,” said Mr. B----. + +“And enforces authority and caution,” cried Mr. S----. + +“Precisely,” admitted the teacher, “but I do hope that Küpper will +restrain himself, his temper at times is alarming; but see how soft and +subdued he looks now that Madame Küpper is approaching; no wonder, she +has announced that breakfast is ready.” + +“Meester Coxvel, Meinherren, beefsteak and coffee all ready.” + +“No objection,” was the answer, as we were well ahead with the filling, +“suppose we stop for an hour, Mr. S---- will keep watch until I return, +and the men can have their coffee brought out.” + +“And so I will,” said Mr. S----, “but I say B----, not too much steak, +and no frogs, mind that.” + +Mr. B---- simply waved his hand in reply, as the great man Küpper +inspired him with a certain amount of awe, which there was no mistaking. + +My first ascent from Elberfeld was on July 16th, 1848. It was almost +a cloudless day, but not oppressively hot, as a fresh wind blew which +made it desirable to call in thirty men to hold the netting. + +I had appointed Mr. B---- to be my first lieutenant, and in order +to assist me, he had obtained the permission of his pupils, most of +whom were present, as much, probably, to see their preceptor in a new +capacity, as to patronize me and the balloon. + +The recreation grounds where the visitors had assembled, were of an +oblong form, and perfectly dry, with gravel beneath. A vast number of +tables were arranged in rows, so that families and parties of friends +sat each at their own quarters. + +The ladies were nearly all knitting or otherwise at work, and during +the instrumental performances, gentlemen smoked their cigars, drank +coffee, and conversed in a quiet way, which struck one as making a +pleasing contrast with some of our out-door gatherings in England. + +Mr. Abraham Küpper occupied a central position at a table fronting the +balloon, and was surrounded by a choice staff of patrons, who, as the +afternoon advanced, preferred sparkling wine to heavier beverage served +in seidel glasses. + +Mr. B----, who had most heroically stood his ground against the united +force of a strong current of wind, which had ever and anon distorted +the symmetrical form of the “Sylph,” and blown some of the men over, +now sent to me to allow him to retire for one minute, not that he +wished to relinquish his post of directing the men, but that he +required to speak, for one moment, to Herr Küpper. + +On seeing Mr. B---- approach, the noble proprietor who wore a plum +coloured dress-coat, and a variegated smoking cap, filled a bumper +of hock, so that by the time Mr. B---- had wiped his moist brow, and +taken a seat by invitation, he found himself confronted with friends, +together with an abundance of pungent snuff and cooling wine. + +“I wonder which he will take first,” asked Mr. S----, watching Mr. +B----’s movements askance. + +“It’s a hundred to one he drinks the wine,” said I, but before I had +finished speaking, his glass was empty, and quickly refilled by Herr +Küpper, who, with a patronizing pat of the back, called him “gut boy,” +alluding not, of course, to his smartness with the wine glass, but to +his arduous duties around the balloon, by which he drew forth high +encomiums from the spectators, as well as from Herr Küpper and myself. + +Although Mr. B---- exceeded the time specified by himself for his +absence, still I declined to trouble him to return, as I felt sure his +physical exertions were already more than he was accustomed to, and I +had an object in reserving his powers for the final effort, knowing +that when the balloon was let up to its full height, it would roll +about with great force, and require all the available strength to hold +it in check. + +The miniature bombardment, illustrative of the applicability of aërial +shells to military purposes, was to take place on a larger scale than +at Brussels. + +I rather hoped to have Mr. B----’s company in my travels to Cloudland, +but resolved not to propose it until the last moment. + +When the car was being attached, Herr Küpper, and Mr. B---- entered +the inner enclosure, and every assistance was tendered, but the wind +unfortunately seemed late in lulling, and we were frequently thrown +into ludicrous positions, by which the company was kept excited, and +the juveniles furnished with matter for laughter. + +Just before the shells and battery were fixed, Mr. B---- became the +“observed of all observers,” and created no little merriment and +clapping of hands. + +I had called him to the car to suggest his ascending, and at that +moment a cruel gust blew the balloon almost down to the ground, and +upset Mr. B---- as he advanced, but recovering himself with admirable +agility, he seized the netting by way of support, when the balloon +again caught the breeze, and rolled round on the other tack, carrying +the astonished teacher with it, so that, minus his hat, he was +suspended some altitude from the ground, but held on with such resolute +tenacity, that a cry was soon raised of “Bravo B----, very brave,” +and as the “Sylph” backed round on the other side, Mr. B---- was +rescued, and again led by Herr Küpper to the refreshment table, where +he composed himself and received the congratulations of many of his +friends. + +“It will never do to take him up after that shaking,” urged Mr. S----. + +“Right, I will start alone, next time there will be plenty of +candidates; please to attach the shells, as I shall slip cable in five +minutes.” + +The band now formed round the car; Messrs. Küpper, and B---- held +the last connecting link, and at six o’clock I released the “Sylph,” +immediately lowered the battery, and on passing down the Jacob’s +ladder, received a perfect ovation. + +The shells fell quite regularly, and made an unusually loud report, +reverberating among the adjacent hills on either side of the river +Wupper. + +The sky being clear from cloud, the smoke which followed each explosion +produced a splendid effect, and imparted a totally new aspect to the +appearance of a balloon in mid-air. + +The “Sylph” not being fully inflated, and the car without passengers, +I had some difficulty in retracing my steps after discharging the +fireworks, whether the lookers on observed this, I could not say, but +on resting half way up the rope ladder, I heard sounds more akin to +a thrill of horror than a cheer; no doubt the position of dangling +between the car and the battery, looked perilous, but it was not more +so than some of the acts of seamen, although excessive height added of +course to the risk. + +The subsequent journey was very enjoyable, being my first aërial voyage +in Prussia. + +I had been cautioned, before ascending, against some large forests in +the direction I should travel, and noticed them around me, without any +considerable opening to come down in. + +Being quite alone I was naturally disinclined to extend my journey +beyond a reasonable distance, so I brought the “Sylph,” after attaining +an elevation of 1,500 yards, to within a few hundred feet of the tree +tops, and perceiving an open space hard by with a plantation of young +pines, I dropped the grapnel just in an eligible clump of trees, and +was glad to find that the wind had lulled, and that I was anchored firm +and fast. + +The car lodged in the boughs and only the balloon remained in sight; +but as to whether there were people to be found in so outlandish a spot +I began to be doubtful, as I had shouted for some time, and neither +heard a human voice nor footsteps. + +Repeated shouts had, however, some effect, as I perceived a country +girl without shoes or stockings, and one or two men creeping along in +attitudes of amazement towards the plantation in which the “Sylph” was +moored; a few wood-cutters and children soon added to the number, and +when they got pretty close I shouted again, but it was a wild English +ye-upp, more like an omnibus driver’s warning than a German call for +help. + +The result was the people withdrew affrighted; if they could have seen +me it might have altered the case, but I was ensconced in the trees, +and my voice was neither familiar nor understandable. + +Believing that curiosity would prevail, I contented myself by keeping +quiet in the car for some little time, and before many minutes had +elapsed I perceived the bare-legged girl moving stealthily towards me, +supported by followers in the background; I purposely kept low and let +out gas, by which means the basket slipped towards the ground as the +girl pressed forward. + +Just as she got within range I sprang up in the basket and seized the +comely creature’s rounded arms, and drew her very near to me; she was +then clearly less frightened, as she uttered a few guttural sounds +accompanied with looks of kindness. + +The men then ran up and helped to get the balloon clear of the trees, +so that I received plenty of attention; and later, when I went to the +damsel’s house, her mother made coffee for me, after which I was driven +some miles to the railway station and returned to Elberfeld. + +My second ascent from Johannisberg took place on July 24th. A third +soon followed, but the fourth was chiefly remarkable from the fact that +Herr Küpper ascended with me himself, although he had always said that +no real or imaginable inducement would get him up in a balloon. + +If Küpper’s courage was not in proportion to the bulk of his body he +pulled himself very well together at the start. It was only when I +left him alone to go down the ladder that large drops of perspiration +started from his brow. + +I promised to be back soon. + +“Yah, aber mein Gott--if you go down headlong,” he added, but I heard +this not, and might not have understood the German rendering if I had. + +When the bombardment of Elberfeld commenced certain utterances did +reach my ear in the second car below, but whether I was being cheered +or denounced, whether Küpper was sick or joyful, I could not divine; +this I know, that when I returned or (to use parliamentary language) +when I was promoted from the lower house to the upper, I certainly did +notice that my sole companion was in a pitiable plight so far as facial +moisture was concerned. + +A capacious handkerchief appeared drenched, and still the drops were +oozing fast from the expanded pores of his skin. He must have lost a +couple of pounds’ weight while I was down below. A rapid recovery, +however, took place, especially after both of us had benefited by +restoratives; then was Abraham more composed, and anxious not to go +too far, as he looked forward, I could gather by his pointing to, and +his remarks about Johannisberg, that he wished to get back as soon as +convenient. + +I managed accordingly, and just as the ball-room lights appeared +resplendent, and the band was tuning up for a dance, we entered amidst +cries of “Hoch Küpper;” “Leben sie lang Herr Coxvel,” &c.; and great +indeed were the rejoicings which were, it is perhaps needless to +observe, participated in by Mr. B---- and Mr. S----, _cum multis aliis_. + +During the autumn of this year (1848) I made a dozen voyages from this +place, and the confidence displayed by the proprietor was felt also by +Madame Küpper, her daughter and sons, as also by Mr. B---- and a very +long list of ladies and gentlemen, who by watching the safe return, and +good reports of the pioneers who first ventured, felt satisfied of the +pleasure to be derived, and were prepared to venture themselves. + +Before making the two concluding trips of the season, a speculation was +entered into by Herr Küpper, Mr. S----, and myself, at Cologne, with +a view of trying an ascent during the grand visit of the late King of +Prussia, on the occasion of the 600th anniversary of the building of +the cathedral. + +I had no faith myself in the pecuniary success of this undertaking, but +the joint speculators were very sanguine of a golden harvest. + +Although an immense number of strangers came into Cologne, and the +hotels were filled to overflowing, the processions and religious +ceremonies so engrossed public attention that the balloon grounds, +after expensive preparations, were but poorly patronized. + +A large sum of money was lost by these ill-conceived projects, which +turned out a serious matter to us. + +The last display but one was in the month of October at Johannisberg, +and it was a night ascent with fireworks attached to the balloon--but +fireworks altogether of a different kind to the shells which I +had detached previously. In its way this might be called a grand +pyrotechnic display _á la_ Vauxhall; but the specific gravity of the +gas was not as on former days, and a humid atmosphere at night-fall +increased the weight of the “Sylph” to such an extent that it would not +raise the fireworks. I found that the whole weight would not ascend. + +A buzz of disappointment then began to arise, but it was not of long +duration, as I begged the firework maker to cut away about one-third of +the cases, and calling for a rope some 300 feet long, which had been +employed before for partial ascents, I got into the ring without any +car, and gave directions to fire the fuse and let up to the full extent +of the cable. + +This was equally effective, and the people were much more pleased than +if I had made a bungling effort by being overweighted. + +I had afterwards the honour of being carried round the grounds and the +ball-room on the shoulders of some of the most respected citizens. + +There was yet one more aërostatic exhibition which I was called upon to +engage in, and that was in connection with the annual _Shutzen Fest_ at +Barmen, an adjoining neighbourhood, about three English miles from Herr +Küpper’s noted locale. + +These interesting gatherings are managed in a style of magnificence +peculiar to Germany. + +So far as the balloon was concerned it was not required for an ordinary +ascent, but rather as an aërial chariot to do honour to the “King of +the Feast,” and to afford a panoramic view to as many as obtained +tickets for the privilege of being let up a tolerable altitude over the +heads of the assembled thousands. + +First came the king with cocked hat, feathers, and gay costume; and +then a large silver goblet and a bottle of champagne were handed in; +when we--that is the king and the aëronaut only--were let up to drink +_Hoch_, to the success of the society. + +His majesty accorded me a most fraternal greeting, in the midst of +which the people cheered vociferously. + +As if to prolong the compliment, the king continued some time with his +arms round my shoulders, and this appeared to be the signal for renewed +cheering, but Dick B---- who had charge of the ropes, and who knew how +such German salutations bothered and perplexed an Englishman, gave a +sudden jerk to the ropes, by which his majesty was reminded that he did +not occupy an earthly throne; and thus freed from such distinguished +favours, I gave the signal to haul down, when other members of the club +had, each according to his merit, a ride in the balloon car. + +The festivities and the rope ascents were kept up all that day and +night. So far as the balloon was concerned, its duties were at an end +by daybreak, but as the “Sylph” contained sufficient gas to raise +me--although it had not been replenished for forty-eight hours--I made +up my mind, instead of letting it out, to ascend to a great height, and +witness the sunrise. + +Although everybody appeared to be fagged out, and I was more fitted +myself for rest than travelling, still the opportunity of so glorious a +spectacle on a calm autumnal morning was not to be lost. + +I therefore hurried on my departure; and slipped away with an easy +ascending power, travelling very low for a few miles of country, when +the gas began to expand more rapidly, and the balloon mounted up with +an accelerated speed, as if it were a thing of life, apprehensive of +being late to usher in the cheering king of day. + +The barometer at starting was 29·70, and Reaumur’s thermometer was +9°. Just before six o’clock the former had fallen in the course of +forty minutes to 17·50, and the latter to -3° or seven degrees of +frost according to Fahrenheit. The effects of this amount of cold were +doubtless greater, owing to fatigue, damp boots, and a want of exercise +before starting. + +I have been up more than twice the elevation since, without feeling +the cold so severely, although Fahrenheit’s thermometer has registered +several degrees below zero. + +The sun’s rays in this morning ascent were clear, and though they pass +through space without imparting much heat--unless they are reflected +and radiated--yet it must be remembered that the balloon itself is a +diminutive planet as it were, and intercepts the sun’s influence, if +the atmosphere is free from clouds. + +Before the sky had given the customary indication of sunrise to the +city below, it was grand and impressive to contrast the high and rosy +dawn, of which I had a view, with the dark gloom still pervading the +earth towards the east; and even when in blood-red majesty the great +luminary had risen above the ridge of the distant horizon, the land +beneath was as yet comparatively dark, showing thereby the excessive +elevation of the balloon. + +I determined very soon after witnessing sunrise to seek a warmer +atmosphere, and descended about 6000 feet rather quickly; here I lost +the sun, but immediately he rose again for the second time, when a +large looking tower, a few miles ahead, came into view; and, as I +had not observed this place previously, I determined to get as near +as possible, and again used the valve pretty freely to accomplish my +object. When within 1200 feet of the ground, I was astonished to find +that my downward course had been almost as rapid as the rising of the +sun. He was again very near the visible horizon. Grand and singular +were the views which I had on that memorable morning. + +In this part of my experiences, I purposely abstain from giving details +of the variations of height and temperature, because further on in the +account of my life it will be quite in place to do so. + +Even for scientific men, the constant repetition of monotonous tables +is calculated to mar the freshness of continuous narrative. Besides, in +public ascents for festive purposes, it has never been the custom of +aëronauts to dot down more than occasionally the different states of +the atmosphere. Indeed, if they attend mechanically to the requirements +of the balloon, they have not much time for this work, unless they have +assistance. + +Without knowing what town it was in advance, I lowered on the leeward +side, and noticed a great many priests and soldiers. As the grapnel +trailed over a field, I heard a scream, like the voice of a child. On +turning to see if the iron had caught anything, I saw a hare, hooked on +to the prongs, but it was knocked off again before the progress of the +balloon was arrested. + +The town proved to be Munster and after _déjeuner_, and a description +of the voyage to several of the good people of the place, I felt the +over-powering effects of change of air, with no previous rest for two +nights. + +Before dropping off to sleep, I asked the hours of the post leaving. +“If,” thought I, “the first is lost through somnolency, I shall +certainly be ready for the last;” but it so happened that the two +slipped past, and I did not awake until aroused for _abend brod_. + +Early next day I wrote to Mr. S----, telling him of my whereabouts, +and inviting him to join me for a few days at Munster. I received no +reply, for the best of all reasons, he had not received the news, but +intelligence of a rather gloomy character had reached Elberfeld, as it +appeared by the _Zeitung_ of that town that I had been killed on my +aërial journey, having fallen out of the car near Dortmund, half way +between Barmen and Munster. On receipt of this intelligence, Mr. S---- +and another gentleman named Drebes were despatched immediately to the +spot where the disaster was said to have happened, but no authentic +information could be obtained, beyond the fact that the “Sylph” had +passed overhead, at a great elevation, between seven and eight o’clock +A.M., on the morning referred to. + +The party in search then decided to go on to Munster, but we +fortunately met at Hamm railway junction, I having lost no time, +after being killed by the newspapers, in getting back to establish my +vitality. + +It may well be supposed, that the interview on my arrival, was of an +exciting order. It was not the first time that I had received the +congratulations of people who had believed me dead, but this reception +I met with was very sincere, and I am not sure that it didn’t put some +new life into one who had been so sensationally deprived of existence +by mere rumour. + +Ballooning being over for the season, Mr. S---- returned to England, +and as I was disposed to remain in Germany for the winter, it was not +long before a proposal was made, that I should purchase the balloon and +ascend entirely on my own account. + +Having agreed to do so, I stayed at Elberfeld for the winter. + +Before I left, the revolutionary movement had broken out afresh in the +Rhine Province, and I had an opportunity of seeing a few shots fired, +and a vast deal of excitement in Elberfeld. + +After a great deal of agitation and discontent, a number of Prussian +soldiers were on their march to preserve order. I was taking a stroll +one day with Mr. B----, when it was reported that the military were +approaching. Barricades had been formed already with the pavement +stones from the streets. + +There was a general uproar. We were spectators of the riot, and saw the +mob try to fire the Mayor’s house, and eventually do a vast deal of +injury. + +On the arrival of a battery of nine-pounders, and a few companies of +infantry, the barricades were manned, and flags of defiance hung out. +The soldiers drew up in the principal square, and towards evening they +moved forth, when we were not far from the barricades. + +The street in which the first obstacle was raised, had riflemen at the +windows; a captain was shot, and several soldiers killed or wounded +before the discharge of cannon. The defenders of this barricade were +either frightened or blown away much quicker than we expected, but as +darkness crept on, the military withdrew, expecting a reinforcement in +the morning from Düsseldorf. + +During the night, Mr. B---- and I visited the barricades, it was +not an easy matter to approach or enter them, but everybody knew +the _luftschiffer_ or aëronaut, and the English teacher, and no one +supposed that we were spies or combatants. + +Among the gaily decorated occupiers of the barricades, were several +of the men who had assisted as labourers at the balloon ascents; some +of these men claimed an intimate acquaintanceship, and although they +merely drank small beer when engaged in our service, yet now that the +tables were turned, they invited us to drink something stronger, and it +was not advisable to offer them a slight by an arrogant refusal. + +The hours we spent among the barricades, and in the hotels which were +behind them, proved entertaining and instructive. + +At Easter in the year 1849, I made the first spring trip at Barmen, but +before midsummer I started for Berlin, where notices were already out, +to the effect that I would ascend shortly from the far-famed Kroll’s +Gardens. + +There were two points about my first exhibition in the Prussian +capital, which caused it to be well remembered. The first was a +public demonstration of the possibility of discharging petards with +safety. The second was a riot in the _Thier Garten_, outside the +Brandenburg Gate, where considerable damage was done to the shrubs, +and a quarrel occurred with the constables, some of whom were severely +beaten. A detachment of soldiers was called in to restore order, but +General Wrangel was prevented from inspecting my apparatus, and that +illustrious soldier was stoned on his way to the gardens, so that the +police authorities prohibited any more ascents, and I was ordered to +remove the cause of disorder, which was the balloon. But instead of +obeying the instructions of the two fierce looking messengers from the +President of Police, I caused them to be referred to Miss Kroll, the +proprietress. I then ascended, as at Brussels, before the stated hour, +offering as a reason, the following morning, that it was easier and +more congenial with my feelings, to let out the gas at some distant +place, than to be compelled to do so on my first essay in Berlin. + +On due application on the part of myself and Miss Kroll, the +prohibition against ascending again was withdrawn. I not only did so +on June 11th, but on the 19th instant as well. This time the “Sylph” +passed over Berlin, and was becalmed for more than an hour, affording +an excellent opportunity for the Berliners to witness the bombardment. + +There was so little air stirring this evening, that the descent was +made on the military exercising grounds, outside the capital. It struck +me on landing, that instead of letting the gas off, I would move the +balloon outside the walls of Berlin, round to Kroll’s Gardens again, +for a second ascent. + +This was a difficult and tedious achievement, but the weather was +favourable for its accomplishment, and it was my ambition to surprise +and please the Garden visitors by exploits which had never been carried +out before. + +Miss Kroll’s brother accompanied me in the car, and we directed a +number of soldiers and civilians to march on in the way considered best. + +The wonder was that the police did not stop the procession. On arriving +at a part of the outskirts, where some trees and water presented a +barrier to our transit, an idea struck me that an immense amount of +time and labour might be saved, if I dared to strike straight through +Berlin, but Mr. Kroll was of opinion that the soldiers would not permit +us to pass the gates, unless we had authority to do so. + +“Let us try,” I urged, “we can beat an honourable and masterly retreat +when we are rejected.” + +The bold way in which we moved towards the nearest gate, with the +“Sylph” towering sixty feet from the ground, completely astonished the +sentinel, and the guard as well, which turned out and confronted the +mob now becoming formidable. + +Mr. Kroll was asked, when he explained my object, if I had my +permission, to which I replied myself with, “here it is,” bringing +forth the police permission to ascend that day. + +I was not bound, as an Englishman and a stranger, to explain that the +_erlaubnitz_ said nothing about _returning_, and as the good-natured +soldiers principally looked to dates, stamps, &c., the gates were +opened to let us through, but very few of our outside followers were +allowed to pass, excepting the blue-coats off duty, who really were a +protection. + +The “Sylph” thus passed straight through the city, and was finally +restored to the Gardens without accident before daybreak. The small +gas-works connected with Kroll’s establishment was again set to work +to generate coal gas, and the next day after being duly replenished, I +ascended again. + +But there was one great drawback to Kroll’s Gardens, and that was +the long and weary time occupied in inflating. Their little holder +contained only 7000 feet, and what was this towards 32,000 feet, the +contents of the “Sylph.” + +I found too, that the confidence inspired by my already numerous +ascents secured me, if I could have taken them, fellow travellers who +were ready and eager to pay a goodly premium for ascending under my +guidance. + +It became desirable therefore to tax the full capabilities of the +balloon for passenger accommodation, and as a slow-filling, with heavy +gas, made a difference in the lifting power, sometimes of two persons, +it will be seen that my interests were, in more ways than one, at +stake, and that a more fitting locality for the ascents became in every +way desirable. + +The _Schutzenhaus_, situated at the opposite side of Berlin, was +suggested as most suitable for the filling, and thither I accordingly +went after an amount of delay and circumlocution, which was damaging to +my prospects during the finest period of the year. + +Here I made a series of trips, always having a full cargo of +passengers. During their progress I was induced by a speculative German +to try a couple of ascents at Stettin, a seaport and consequently +an uninviting place. The chances of success, however, were good, as +there was a well built gas-works there, and no ascent had taken place +previously. + +All my requirements were met in first-class style, and the use of +the gas-works yard, a new and commodious place, was granted for the +accommodation of the public. + +The first journey, which took place on September 2nd, 1849, was +somewhat inland, but before the commencement of the second on the 6th, +there were grave apprehensions that I should be driven out into the +East Sea, and as the wind was boisterous, good fortune appeared to +draw me back after going out, but I was favoured again before sunset, +as I crossed the Dammsischezee in safety with my two companions and +landed on the opposite side without inconvenience. My visit to Stettin +was thoroughly remunerative and satisfactory. Having another ascent on +September 9th, at Berlin, I returned and made it, my route after that +being a long one, as it extended to Silesia. + +Ballooning was little known in Breslau, and if I rushed on to that +town there was no calculating what amount of cash I might pocket. +Making fair allowance for sanguine expectations, and believing that +something might be done, I joined a Prussian merchant who had been a +good deal in England, and we started with a business-like arrangement +which I had no cause to be dissatisfied with, when it came to various +settlements in thalers and bank-notes. + +Everything of a public character in Germany required a large amount of +patience, time, and good temper, there are so many preliminaries and +permissions to be thought of and obtained, that one cannot positively +say that he will ascend at such and such a place until the invariable +routine has been gone through, and much tact employed in making +application without creating enemies. In my affairs there were nearly +always difficulties to be surmounted. It was not easy to find a well +sheltered ground where ladies as well as gentlemen could assemble, +nor was it usual to meet with capacious gas pipes in a spot otherwise +adapted for gathering. + +We experienced the like drawback in Breslau, and, after repeated +efforts, were compelled to fall back on the gas-works wherein to admit +the inhabitants. + +I had obtained sanction for three ascents, and the first took place +on September 20th. The local newspapers emphatically stated on the +following day that all Breslau turned out to see the English aëronaut +mount to the skies. + +For the three different classes we had places varying in comfort and +price, but the first place with covered seats, was not considered by +some hundreds of the spectators, half so favourable for seeing as a +pile of coke, whereon both sexes seated themselves, notwithstanding +certain damage to the gay dresses of the ladies. My companions were +Herr Firle, the director of the gas-works, and Herr Gendry, a merchant. + +At starting, Reaumur’s thermometer stood at 10°, barometer at 29·62, +time 5h. 15m. The clouds stratus were 900 feet thick, when at 5h. 32m., +height 3911 feet above the sea level, we broke into a clear space, but +there was a second tier of rain cloud above, where the barometer read +23·4, the cold here was as low as 3¾ of Reaumur. We came down near +_Schönbankwitz_, about eighteen miles from Breslau. + +The second exhibition took place on September 22nd. The voyagers were +Dr. Mettner, Herr Piller, and Herr Schulz. The meteorological features +were not so widely different from the first, as to require special +notice. + +At the village of _Klein-Mochbern_ I let fall a parachute with two +rabbits in the car, and we descended near _Minkau_. + +The success of a third ascent would have been certain, both as regards +public patronage and pecuniary results, but it was prevented from +taking place by the owner of a small potato field adjacent to the +gas-works. The people standing outside had done some damage, and the +man renting it lodged a complaint with the authorities, but instead of +simply asking me, as an Englishman would have done, to purchase the +stock or make some adequate compensation, this selfish and mercenary +fellow defeated himself; having chosen his remedy he was bound to +pursue it. He was not aware that he would be outgeneralled himself. In +full expectation of another ascent, he gave out that damages would be +increased, and that he would then fall upon the Englishman for immense +compensation, which he was sure to obtain. + +I had the crop duly surveyed, and no real injury had as yet been +sustained so that I decided without letting anybody know, besides a +certain functionary whose approval was necessary, to get my passport +returned in order to leave Breslau that very night. As the season +was advancing and I wished to take my balloon due north, it was of +importance that I should not be delayed by any vexatious proceedings +such as that mentioned. + +On the day following my departure, the potato dealer was apprised of +my having left with balloon, bag and baggage, and that a third ascent +would not take place, he then became as may be surmised, terribly +irate, and immediately set on foot an enquiry whether the tradesmen +employed by me, had been swindled or paid. + +There is very little trouble in arriving at conclusions of this sort on +the Continent, and when it was found that a good and highly flattering +report from the police accompanied my departure, the over-reaching +dealer saw that he had been completely done by a stranger, and that the +act was countenanced and facilitated by his own neighbours. + +The next town I was anxious to visit during the autumn of 1849, was +Hamburg. There were reasons why I should entertain great expectations +of doing well there. + +Firstly, there was abundance of gas to be had, and secondly, there had +been no ascent there for many years. + +Under these auspices, I started in company with the Prussian with whom +I had associated myself in Berlin, and we took up our quarters near +the Alster, quite sanguine as to being able to find a public garden or +other locality from which to ascend. + +My first application was to President Gossler, the head official and +senator, to whom I presented my credentials, I was graciously promised +every assistance, and was requested to apply again when a convenient +place was found. + +We rose early next morning with the express object of exploring +Hamburg. Two or three agents, with a view of assisting in the +enterprise, accompanied us, and it was not long before a well enclosed +plot of ground presented itself; but obstacles arose as fast as +localities sprang into view, the chief of which was a consideration +(pecuniary of course), which was, no doubt, the custom of the country, +but not at all palatable to my taste in the loose way in which it was +required to be made; for instance--it was whispered, that the golden +key was the thing here to unlock all difficulties,--good, so it is in +most places: “But in what form do you propose to apply it?” I enquired +of our agent. + +“A few pounds to pave the way as a presentation would be advisable.” + +“Indeed,” said I to our Hebrew-looking adviser, “I do not understand +that vague sort of trafficking; if the holder of a piece of property +will set a price on the letting of it, I will say yes or no!” + +“They will let you have it for nothing, but you must be polite and +expend a few pounds first with those you wish to help you.” + +“That is not my style of doing business, and I do not approve of it.” + +“Then you will not be fortunate here.” + +“That,” I replied, “we can only know by and bye.” + +After days of laborious enquiry, we ascertained that there was a great +deal of truth in what we had heard. + +In communicating with the directors of the gas-works, we were advised +to do the best we could in view of existing practices, but somehow we +became irritated at them, and a degree of obstinacy followed which was +hardly, perhaps, in accordance with worldly wisdom. + +“At any rate,” as I observed to my joint speculator, “we will strike +out alone, and try to do without these Jewish negociators.” + +When we were seen to search about without companions or agents, great +was the laugh at such British stupidity and meanness, but when we +selected a piece of land, and the builders with their carts and boards +were seen to assemble, and it became known that a vast _cirque_ was to +be erected in the most charming locality, then it was admitted that we +were decidedly knowing, and had done the smartest thing attempted in +the free town for some considerable time. + +Having then, without the co-operation or approval of the German Jews, +chosen an eligible plot upon which we were permitted to erect a wooden +enclosure of about 150 feet in diameter; notices were posted that an +ascent would take place on the following Wednesday. + +The local press cheered the venture with the most encouraging +paragraphs, and took a retrospective glance at my previous ascents in +Germany. This act of kindness was sufficient to ensure a successful +campaign, the more so as my first ascent in October went off with great +_éclat_, and I took with me two passengers, Mr. Ballheimer, and Herr +Rieck. + +These gentlemen, who journeyed with me into Holstein, came back with +such a stirring account of cloudland, that I was safe as to passengers +for the next three voyages. I made altogether four before the close of +the season, the last on November 9th, was a remarkable trip, it will be +interesting therefore to append the more striking particulars. + +The final ascent was preceded by a number of captive trips to the +extent of a rope two hundred feet long. + +Many of the first-class people of Hamburg including the president and +some of the senators, went up thus far, but the most popular candidate +was a heroine weighing at least nineteen stone, and attired in a humble +cotton dress, with a huge time-worn umbrella tucked under her left arm. + +I had just decided upon concluding these captive ascent when the goodly +dame burst out into an audible lamentation that she had travelled, I +don’t know how many miles, on purpose to see the English balloon, and +now her chance of going up in it was lost. + +The spectators laughed heartily, and inferred by her corpulent +appearance that her chances for a ride were few indeed. A policeman +endeavoured to check her zeal, but she saluted me with her umbrella, +and in return for this rough but well-meant compliment I left the +enclosure and offered the good soul my arm, escorting her to the car +amidst a roar of merriment which lasted for some minutes. Orders were +given to let out to the full extent of the rope, and up we went amidst +deafening cheers and lively music when the lady returned thanks with +her umbrella and repeated the noddings from a shovel-shaped bonnet +which bespoke her humble--though at the moment elevated--position. + +This little episode being completed, I summoned the aspirants for +aëronautic honours. They were Mr. H. Zeise of Altona, Dr. Braun, and +Herr Kruss. + +The barometer on the earth was 29.1½, and the temperature 10° Reaumur. +We were eighty-eight Hamburg feet above the sea level where we started, +and the wind was south. + +The “Sylph” ascended soon after 2 p.m., and although the breeze was +fresh the sky was clear, so that a fine view of the town, the Alster +and the Elbe was to be had immediately on rising. After letting go a +parachute and watching its downward course for ten minutes, Herr Zeise +drew forth a bottle of champagne which had been some years in his +cellar, and prepared us for a toast. It was not to be one of a personal +or flattering character, but a heartfelt sentiment called forth by the +country we were going in the direction of. + +After discharging the cork which rolled away earthwards, Herr Zeise +with uplifted cap and radiant face which inspired us all with +enthusiasm, cried out “_Schleswig-Holstein lebe hoch_.” The other +Hamburgers cordially echoed the feelings expressed, and I was ready +myself to accord almost with anything, seeing that my companions were +so friendly and communicative. + +After the glasses were replenished there was an interchange of +civilities in which the pilot was not neglected, and at three o’clock +we became rather more philosophical and took down the following +observations of elevation and time, although these little records in no +way interfered with conviviality and enjoyment:-- + + Time. Barometer. Height in Feet. Thermometer. + 3· 5 24·6·0 3348 10° R. + 3·10 24·3·2 3628 + 3·15 23·0·4 3911 + 3·20 23·10·7 4084 + 3·25 23·11·3 4923 4° R. + 3·30 23·7·3 5433 + 3·35 23·10·2 4185 + 3·40 24·1·0 3850 + 3·45 25·1·5 3786 6° R. + +As we knew our direction was towards Kiel, I arranged just before 4 +o’clock to descend, this was the more desirable from the fact that we +were surrounded with cloud and could not see far ahead or beneath. When +the balloon was within 600 feet of the earth, the report of several +small arms aroused our attention, especially when the discharge was +followed by the whirring of flying visitors in the shape of lead. + +“Is it possible we have been shot at?” asked Dr. Braun. + +I replied by begging the doctor to empty a bag of sand, and did so +myself as quickly as possible. + +There was little doubt in my own mind that we had been made a target +of, because I distinctly heard the “Sylph” struck in the region of the +equator, and discovered holes in that part afterwards. + +Our downward course having been checked, we glided in a slanting +direction towards the earth; but the attitude of the country people +confirmed the belief that we were viewed as hostile rather than +friendly visitors, and instead of the villagers greeting us as usual, +they kept aloof, fired, and were presently joined by others with +rifles, and had I not requested Herr Zeise to tell them we were friends +from Hamburg, we should no doubt have received another volley directed +at our own heads instead of the “Sylph.” + +When this was explained the people ran to us and stated that they had +taken us for Danish spies, and had really shot at the balloon. + +I now proposed that instead of letting off the gas two of us should go +a little farther. + +Herr Zeise was allowed by general consent to have the preference, the +other gentlemen being anxious to get back and report themselves. + +We took in some earth to make up for the loss of weight, but the +Holsteiners very correctly guessed that by ascending again we were +not over well satisfied with our reception, notwithstanding the +explanations about being taken for Danes. + +We left the place where we were fired into at 4h. 27m., after which the +following readings were taken of the second voyage:-- + + Time. Barometer. Height in Feet. Thermometer. + 4·45 24·6·0 3306 5° R. + 4·50 23·7·3 4378 + 4·55 23·1·7 4950 3° R. + 5· 0 23·6·8 4430 + 5·15 descended near Kiel. + +It was only the lateness of the season that prevented the repetition +of my autumnal ascents; the public were anxious that they should +not cease, and the seats in the car were bespoken for at least +half-a-dozen trips. I determined then to re-commence in the spring of +1850, and went back to England in order to spend the winter at home. + +In the year 1850 I returned to Hamburg, and before ascending gave +lectures on aërostation at the _Ton Halle_, after which a new cirque +was erected outside the _Dammthor_, where I made several ascents. + +When the fine weather commenced two or three distinguished men came +northward on purpose to accompany me. The first was Count Schaffgotsch, +of Berlin, a scientific man and well-known amateur chemist. The Count, +by his own wish, was the only passenger on May 22nd, when we journeyed +into Hanover. + +On May 26th Count Paul Esterhazy did me the honour of taking a seat by +my side, and opposite to us sat Captain James, an Englishman, and a +merchant of Hamburg. + +We had a splendid trip in the direction of Lubeck, and there was one +incident attending it which vastly pleased the Hungarian nobleman, and +produced no small amount of excitement at our descent. + +As we were travelling rapidly in the direction of the East Sea it was +necessary to come to an anchorage, after emerging rather suddenly from +a dense cloud. On the leeward side of a wood a good landing place +was descried, but in scudding over the tree tops the grapnel caught +a lofty branch, and the “Sylph” was brought up unexpectedly while we +were yet hovering over the forest. There were only two courses open +to us for getting free; the first was to slip the cable and leave the +grapnel behind; the second remedy was for one passenger to descend the +rope and loosen the iron, and get down the tree as best he could. My +own duty consisted in remaining by the “Sylph,” for the guidance of +the remaining passengers, but fortunately Captain James was ready for +the emergency, and dashed over the side of the car in British seaman +fashion, lowering himself away hand under hand as we cheered him down +until he was lodged in the branches, and reported that he could push +out the flukes of the grapnel in a “brace of shakes.” + +The noble fellow lost his hat in descending, which was blown away and +stuck in a bough. + +Before the iron was pushed out, I asked what height Captain James had +to go down and whether he could manage the tree. + +“Never mind me,” said the sailor, “look out for a lurch and do not go +far, as I shall be rather out of my reckoning when I get below.” + +Having cleared the trees I threw open the valve to its full extent, and +we made good a landing not far from the place where James landed on the +tree top. + +Two or three men were immediately sent to the wood with Mr. H----, our +fellow voyager, to assist Captain James. + +Some hundreds of country people collected in an incredibly short time, +and before the gas had escaped, another hundred or two bore down upon +us with an object of attraction in the shape of a sturdy but rather +short man with a white kerchief bound round his head. The mob appeared +to be impressed with the belief that the robust stranger was either +wrong in his head or injured in that part. + +He came tripping along with a firm and buoyant gait, but had evidently +lost temper, and his hat into the bargain. + +“Do pray,” said Captain James, “assure these good people, that I am +uninjured, some of them saw me come down the tree rather sharp, and no +doubt take me for an orang-outang, others imagine my figure-head is +smashed--do tell them I am all right, and as lively as a kitten.” + +“Of that I am sure they have had convincing proof; remove your +handkerchief and they will then see that your head is as sound as need +be.” + +The Captain did so, and when the country people comprehended that he +had lost his hat, a cap was tendered for his use, which was accepted +and paid for. + +After accomplishing other voyages from Hamburg, I directed my steps to +Hanover with the intention of travelling south, so as to reach Vienna. + +The only spot in Hanover where an ascent was practicable, happened to +be a public garden, situated on the Marien Island, and pretty well +adapted for the required purpose. One drawback only to this locality +was a formidable row of poplar trees, over which the balloon would +have to pass in case the wind blew towards them. The very first time +the “Sylph” was announced to rise from Hanover, which was on July 3rd, +the wind blew fiercely in the direction of the high trees. The filling +took place about twenty yards from their base, and the gas flowed +freely, so that at the appointed time, the silken globe was distended +fully, and but one sentiment prevailed throughout a large assemblage, +which was the certainty of the “Sylph” being dashed against the trees +as it rose in so strong a wind. To say that I did not share in this +grave apprehension would be untrue. I knew too well that it was hardly +possible to escape. The balloon rolled round and round in an alarming +way, after the retaining bags had been removed, and I expedited the +start, calling upon my proposed companions to bestir themselves, and +hasten into the car. The wind freshened every minute, and the tapered +poplar tops bent in frightful curves, showing the extreme pressure of +the atmosphere, and consequently, what was to be expected and guarded +against. + +I placed a passenger at either end of the car, giving them each a large +bag of ballast, with instructions to discharge them the moment I said +No. 1 and No. 2. Then imparting a large amount of ascending power to +the “Sylph,” I waited as it rolled its huge volume about, until I saw +the tops of the trees comparatively unmoved by the wind, instantly I +pulled the trigger and up we bounded. A general shriek burst forth, and +not without reason, for the upper part of the balloon was struck by +a sudden gust and in another second it would have been wrecked among +the trees had not the orders to “let fall sand-bags” been splendidly +executed; for three of them, my own included, were plumped out +simultaneously, and there was a sharp vertical spurt in consequence; +this, however, did not altogether clear us, as the lower hemisphere of +the “Sylph” caught the yielding boughs, but the silk was well protected +by cordage, and the whole passed safely over, eliciting a shout of +satisfaction of the true sensational order. + +We then bounded upwards with a pendulum-like movement, caused by the +car or centre of gravity being disturbed by the collision with the +branches; but this soon ceased, and I found that in less than three +minutes we were 4000 feet high. + +I was glad that Herr Dorn, the director of the gas-works, was with me, +as he read the barometer while I took the necessary precautions to +allow for rapid expansion, which was taking place fast, owing to the +great weight we had lost in order to get over the trees. + +When we steadied somewhat, and were moving in a horizontal direction +at an average height of about 6000 feet, I raised myself into the +ring, and, by a peep into the neck outlet, I felt satisfied that we +had sustained no fracture in the envelope, and this fact enabled +the passengers to feel pleased and composed, so that our feelings +afterwards were of the happiest kind, and when it was found that our +descent at _Celle_ was not accompanied with unpleasantness, as our +anchorage was effected on a high bough with grass beneath, we had every +reason to feel satisfied with our own good fortune and the behaviour +of the “Sylph,” which so nobly carried us over the trees and landed us +without a scratch. + +At Celle we heard from an attaché to the King of Hanover that his +majesty had witnessed the ascent, and felt great concern for our safety +during those anxious moments when our lives were in jeopardy. + +Notwithstanding that difficulty respecting the trees, a second +invitation went forth for another ascent on the 5th; but this time all +dread, as to a too intimate acquaintance with the poplars, entirely +ceased, as the air was in perfect repose; so much so, that it was +impossible to decide which way we should go, there being no clouds +to judge by, and as to other signs--such as the direction of smoke +and pilot balloons--even these were not faithful guides, as they rose +straight up and inclined to no fixed course, but wandered between +north, south, east, and west, as if totally becalmed in a balmy summer +atmosphere. + +On being asked what sort of weather it was for aërial travelling, I +replied: “Superb! this is even a ladies’ day, when the return to _terra +firma_ need not cause the crushing of a daisy.” + +As the inflation proceeded, I requested it to be intimated that at six +o’clock I should commence partial ascents. + +Long before that time, the Marieninsel looked gay and inviting, +filled with a select company who were attentive to the performances +in the Summer Theatre, which forms so delightful a speciality at the +_alfresco_ amusements in Germany. + +At the various rows of tables, the ladies sat working, and the fumes of +the gentlemen’s cigars rose high in the still air, while the strains +of music burst sweetly on the ears of the listeners, who calmly +awaited their evening enjoyments, as if nature and art were subdued by +oppressive heat, when the sun was declining behind the western foliage. + +After the conclusion of the operatic piece, preparations for a captive +ascent drew a crowd of visitors to the lawn, and a party of ladies was +first formed, the young and handsome having induced the middle-aged +and portly to treat and accompany them in a short tour. + +A blue-eyed English girl laughingly remarked: “If the rope were to +break, what should we do?” + +“You would be transported with delight,” was my answer. + +I was about to make some other silly observation, when my assistants +let up the balloon, and we were getting a view of the housetops. + +Before our little pleasantry had ceased--in which one of the matronly +ladies took as lively a part as the British maiden--we found ourselves +being drawn down, when a second party was ready, with this difference, +that the sexes were equally divided, two gentlemen having each a lady +in charge. + +Other parties were made up more quickly than they could be +accommodated, and altogether we had an hour and a half of this kind +of amusement, when the time for my final departure arrived, and the +gentlemen, who had for days previously booked their places, came +anxiously forward, fearing, as they stated, that the heroic courage +displayed by the first occupants of the car might possibly induce the +aëronaut to forget the gentlemen, and bear away with him the angels. + +This opportune bit of flattery having been accepted, particularly +by the ladies who first ascended, I beckoned Herr Stecker and Herr +Frischen to join me, and we gently left the island at 7.30 amidst a +salvo of guns; and, after rising 600 feet perpendicularly, the “Sylph” +was wafted towards the palace, over which we remained suspended for at +least half-an-hour. + +Afterwards the balloon remained in sight until the descent was made; by +that time it had assumed a small, dark, globular form, and was distant +fifteen miles from the place of setting out. + +After I had repeated these exhibitions, I went to Dresden, and there +had the use of the Schutzenhaus Grounds. + +On my first appearance, I was honoured by the presence of the Queen of +Saxony, and the Royal Family, as also the _élite_ of Dresden, who were +not disloyal, as can well be imagined. Dr. Meisel, my fellow-traveller, +had a pleasureable journey near to Oberau, where we landed. + +On the 18th of August there was a second ascent when an architect, by +the name of Louis Prengel, was captivated into the enjoyments of cloud +scenery; this time we alighted near Pilnitz. + +It must not be supposed that in this history I have fully described the +whole of my ascents; what I have proposed to accomplish, is an outline +of the more prominent features of my experience. I have not, therefore, +entered into every trip, but have sufficiently traced my movements from +year to year, so as to connect my travels from the time of my first +ascent to the date of writing my life. The conclusion with further +particulars, chiefly scientific, will, it is hoped, be published in a +subsequent volume. + +Although I had intended to reach Vienna before the close of the season, +taking it in regular order, and going next to Prague, yet I found a +number of difficulties in Bohemia which induced me to reach Moravia as +quickly as possible, in order that I might take Brünn and the Austrian +capital before it got too late for the inhabitants to assemble in +places of public resort. + +In Brünn, some weeks were spent before the necessary _erlaubnitz_ and +other preparations could be made. + +At last I could find no better place than the gas-works, and although +the yard was not particularly sheltered from general view, still I +felt inclined to chance pecuniary success, as a great deal of interest +was manifested in the visit, and I was assured that all would go +prosperously if I would but make the trial. + +I did so on September 22nd, and from the moment the gates were opened +there was an uninterrupted stream of visitors, which left my own mind +certain that I had not misplaced confidence in those who advised me to +speculate with boldness. + +At a quarter to six, the “colossal machine,” as the Moravians called +the “Sylph,” rose towards the skies, with two gentlemen besides the +“air-captain.” + +The voyage terminated near the village of Babetz. + +Another successful ascent was made from the same spot on October +7th, when Herr Alexander Spindler and Herr Leopold Spitzer were my +companions. We let down a large parachute on this occasion, with a dog +in the car. + +Leaving Brünn I made straightway for Vienna, where I learnt that an +exhibition would have to be made in the Prater, and that on no account +could I expect to have my balloon in any other spot. + +Now the Prater was an excellent park-like ground for a spring or summer +gathering, but it was now getting late in October, and my only chance +was a more suitable locality in the inner town. + +Just opposite the Palace was situated the Volks-garten, a fashionable +place of resort, well adapted for my purpose. + +The lessee of this famous garden was an Italian, and I got a good +introduction to him, and proposed that he should have such an interest +in our exhibition, as would stimulate him to exertion, that is, to +obtain from the authorities permission to proceed. + +This course answered, but a fresh obstacle arose as to the gas, there +were no pipes large enough to fill the balloon, but owing to the +kindness of the gas superintendent, and the readiness on my part to +incur a large outlay, we surmounted even this, and my first ascent came +off towards the latter end of October 1850. + +The Emperor had left Vienna when I was there, otherwise he would have +seen the balloon from the palace windows. + +Before the upper part of it was seen above the trees, the glacis around +the ramparts was filled with thousands of spectators. + +In the gardens, were a gaily attired assemblage of military officers, +civilians, ladies, and children, so pleasingly blended as to costume +and appearance, that an Englishman could not fail to be struck with the +scene. + +The applicant for a lofty view of Vienna was neither an illustrious +warrior, nor a robust citizen, but a fair young lady whose parents were +of respectable position, and who had persuaded her papa to visit me at +my hotel, and secure the first seat for his daughter. + +The father, an amiable, sensitive man, was averse himself, as he +candidly stated, to his child going up, “but,” as he said with +affectionate emphasis, “she has been a good and dutiful daughter, and +this, the fixed idea of her life, must not be thwarted.” + +Several hours before the stated time, a rumour gained ground, that +the lovely Fraülein was about to become the observed one at the +Volks-garten. + +I fully expected that the young lady’s entrance to the car would be +the signal for a host of gallant fellows to step forward and beg the +privilege of a seat with so beautiful a creature, but no one stood +forth, and I felt almost certain of having the honours entirely to +myself, when a tug at my coat from some one outside the car caused me +to look behind. + +I there beheld a young man looking pale and perplexed, who wanted to +know what the fee was for ascending. If my memory serves me right, I +mentioned a high price as I was annoyed with this candidate for not +presenting himself sooner. + +The premium, however, did not deter the gentleman from getting in by my +side, and no sooner was he safely seated than I liberated the “Sylph,” +when loud and hearty were the hurrahs, and numerous the raised hats and +waving handkerchiefs in honour of the fair voyager. + +Our course was directly over St. Stephen’s lofty tower, which is much +higher than St. Paul’s Cathedral, but which soon looked diminutive +beneath us. + +The lady, when I invited her to do so, was most observant, but the +gentleman regarded with indifference the opening panorama, while I +could not but notice that his attention was engrossed by the Fraülein, +and indeed to such an extent that I proposed he should sit by her side +so as to relieve her from glances so direct and full of meaning. + +The gentleman assented readily to my proposition, and sprang so +quickly from my side to that of the young lady, as fairly--or rather +unfairly--to make the car spring again. + +When we had passed over the city and were drifting down the Danube, I +called upon my passengers to observe a fine view towards the East, the +young lady already had her eyes directed that way, but the gentleman +never once looked down, but continued to direct an admiring glance +towards the Fraülein’s features, exclaiming all the while, “Beautiful, +beautiful,” by which I very naturally inferred that he did not mean the +distant landscape, but the pleasing form so near to him in a cloudless +sky. + +Now when we lost the busy hum of the capital and traversed a country +route, I proposed the Fraülein’s health, and, to do the gentleman +credit, he complied with alacrity to the suggestion and offered to do +the honours to a bottle of my own champagne, but before the cork was +set at liberty, a neat basket was uplifted by the young lady and in a +moment some delicious cakes and a bottle of Hungarian wine diverted our +gaze, and what to do the gentleman knew not. He inclined, however, to +the fair one’s wine; indeed, we both patronized the refreshing draught, +which was sweet and unexpected. + +The Fraülein on her part was kind enough to say something pretty about +me and my kindness, but the gentleman never said Hoch! and I believe +he wished he could have managed the balloon himself and dispensed with +my services. However, though we had high words, we did not fall out, +but returned to terra-firma capital friends, and so considerate was I +of the heroine’s personal comfort, that immediately on landing in a +grass field, I begged the gentleman to fetch a conveyance, and talked +to her myself until he returned; I then begged of him to convey the +Fraülein to the nearest hotel while I emptied the balloon, promising to +join them by the time coffee would be served at Kaiser-Ebersdorf where +we descended. There is only one other point connected with this event, +which it is absolutely necessary to mention, and that is, that about +six months after this aërial excursion, my two companions were united +in the bonds of matrimony, and that on hearing of this, I understood +most fully why it was that the gentleman was heedless of terrestrial +objects, and so remarkably observant of heavenly. + +After this admirable and romantic commencement in the Austrian capital, +my prospects for a continuance of good fortune was as bright as could +well be wished. The papers and the public were as busy as possible +about the adventure, and wondering who would go up next; when I +received an intimation that the authorities would not permit another +ascent so close to the palace, as the collection of an immense mass +of people on the glacis must not be repeated--the Emperor having +returned--but that His Majesty wished that I would ascend during the +next spring from the Prater. + +The order of the day was, of course, ready compliance, but the cost +to me was great, although the first attempt had brought in a handsome +return, and but for this prohibition I might have realized another +goodly sum. + +I now decided upon returning to Berlin for the winter; but it was +difficult to get away, as the principal railroad was monopolized daily +by the Austrian soldiery, who at that time were about to demonstrate +their forces in front of the Prussians, without, however, coming to +those heavy blows which have been exchanged since, in battles fought on +the very ground I have travelled over in my balloon. + +In the spring of 1851, instead of going home to see the Great +Exhibition, I followed up my advantages in Germany and recommenced in +Berlin, where I again made several ascents. The most extraordinary as +far as danger went, was one from the Schutzenhaus in April. + +There was a Prussian labourer who became my inveterate enemy, because I +had engaged him as a right-hand man, and had discharged him afterwards +for bad conduct. From urgent intercession I had taken him on again for +a fresh trial, and although I never liked the look of the fellow, yet +somehow he cajoled me, and being very handy and ingenious, I suffered +those unfailing first warnings to go by unheeded. + +On a splendid evening I ascended in company with Mr. Lacy, Mr. Accum, +and Herr Henkel. + +When we reached an elevation of about 3000 feet, it became expedient +to open the valve; on pulling the cord, one of the top shutters broke +and remained open, leaving an area for escape of twenty-six inches +by twelve, which allowed so large a volume to pass out that a rapid +descent commenced, which all our ballast could not check. + +I lost no time in doing everything that was possible for our safety, +but the escape of sustaining power became so great that one-half of the +“Sylph” was deprived of gas; the result being, that our fall was so +rapid and perilous, that nothing short of a favourable open spot saved +us from broken bones. Fortunately, in one respect, we came down in a +well cultivated garden, and the car coming on to a fruit tree the shock +was lessened, so that none of us were hurt. + +It came out afterwards, that this scoundrel was seen to tamper with, +and indeed partially sever the connecting lines of the valve, by which +diabolical act we might all have lost our lives. + +The next noteworthy voyage was from Berlin into East Prussia, in the +direction of Dantzig; a run of nearly 200 miles in about five hours, +characterized this truly pleasurable tour. + +I had with me Herr Hildebrandt, artist to the King of Prussia, and Herr +Henkel. + +After we had been up twenty minutes, we came within view of the river +Oder. “So soon,” exclaimed Hildebrandt, “why it is twenty-five English +miles from the city, we must be travelling at railway speed.” + +“Yes, we are, and a great deal faster than railway speed in Germany.” +Although the wind was strong, there was no perceptible motion in the +car. A stream of murky-looking cloud was drifting along towards the +Baltic, and fine moist mist frequently surrounded us as we dipped into +the vapour, but the barometer showed that it was more than 1600 feet +thick, as we occasionally varied that much in altitude without emerging +into sunlight, or within view of the earth. + +After we had been up two hours I let out some gas, to see if any of the +villages or landmarks would present a familiar aspect to either of the +voyagers; but they confessed to having passed beyond any place they +were acquainted with. + +As we had far exceeded the ordinary limits of a public trip, I proposed +that we should go on all the time we could see land in advance. + +By and bye, darkness set in apace, and we could just discern--towards +the north-west--a line of coast to the left of our apparent route. From +what we could make out of the land, it was not highly cultivated or +thickly populated. + +There was a residence ahead which it was desirable to approach, and I +lowered with that intention. + +Our landing was rough but secure, and we were brought up in a hedge +surrounding a sort of common, with a house distant a mile or so, having +lights in the windows. + +When the gas was let off by our united aid, we steered for the house, +leaving the balloon on the ground until we could get assistance. + +In proceeding up a cross country lane, no inhabitant of the wild +strange place was met, and we were anxious to ascertain where we +were, and how far we had travelled. Not until the iron gates of a +baronial-looking seat came in view, did we hear voices. + +Neither our questions, bearing, nor manner were pleasing to the +gate-keepers; they evidently regarded us with suspicion; and when we +stated that we came from the clouds in a balloon, and had left Berlin +that afternoon, our story created doubt and caution. + +“If you will take my card to the Baron,” said Herr Hildebrandt, “I +daresay we shall be admitted to his presence.” + +The card was sent up, and the Baron himself came down, but further +explanation was required before the gates were widely opened. I +happened to have the Berlin “_National Zeitung_” in my pocket, of that +day’s impression, which could not have reached the neighbourhood by the +time we arrived. + +“But where is your balloon?” enquired the Baron, “I have not seen or +heard of it.” + +“We not long since descended on a barren waste of land some half hour +since.” + +“Enter gentlemen, and I will call together a number of the household +and assist you to recover the balloon and bring it up to the Hall.” + +Lanterns were at once procured, a couple of horses with a cart put to, +and, with half-a-dozen followers, the Baron and ourselves repaired to +the common; but alas! all was blank and desolate. + +The difficulty of finding the balloon then presented itself to our +minds, and we looked like the veriest impostors when we were rather +sharply interrogated as to where the property was situated. + +As the only hope of finding it was by catching the disagreeable +odour of the gas, I volunteered myself to go forth like a hound and +endeavour to find it by the assistance of the nasal organ. + +I was wandering almost in despair when I caught the aroma, or whatever +else one may style it, and cried out lustily, “Here it is.” The +searching party came up in a trot, and when once the Baron ascertained +the truthfulness of our statements, he shook hands warmly and escorted +us to the Hall, where we were treated with every kindness, and had beds +provided, and a carriage in the morning, until we came to a place where +extra post was to be met with. + +Several other ascents were made in Berlin before I left, but being +anxious to visit Prague I made the best of my way thither while the +summer was yet in its prime, and after exhibiting the “Sylph” first of +all partially filled with atmospheric air I then arranged an ascent, +and having in that town a good friend in the person of Herr Leonhart, a +gentleman very fond of aërostation who had ascended with me before, all +went swimmingly, and my first appearance before a Bohemian assemblage +was made on the 13th of July, when we ascended and travelled forty +miles in two hours. + +Two or three other ascents took place in Prague before I left, but on +reaching Vienna I was taken ill, and before I recovered it became too +late to avail myself of the Emperor’s hint to visit the Prater. + +My next movements were directed to Leipsig, where I intended to do +business during the great October fair. + +My reputation, such as it was, preceded me, for I found the newspapers +already welcoming my arrival, and speaking of my numerous ascents in +Germany in a liberal and encouraging tone. + +The gas-works’ yard was again the only available place to get the +balloon filled in quickly. + +Leipsig, after the business fair, wears a very animated appearance. +About 80,000 strangers visited the town at this time, and everything +good and legitimate in the way of art and science is sure to meet with +its reward. + +The date of my first experiment at the gas-works was September 28th. +Dr. v. Keller, an inhabitant of the town, and a scientific man, was my +first patron; he wrote an excellent account of what he saw and felt, in +one of the local newspapers, and this had the effect of causing others +to ascend in the several journeys I made afterwards. + +On the second occasion, Dr. William Hamm joined me, and subsequently +Herr Andra, Herr Flinsch, and Herr Gerber, were passengers. + +Before I left, an amusing novelty came off at the Great Hall, in the +shape of a balloon concert. + +The “Sylph” was about two-thirds inflated with a wind machine in the +centre of the Hall, and a regular band, headed by myself, entered +through the neck valve, one by one, and then played a number of tunes +to the delight of a large company. + +This was my last undertaking in the year 1851, after which, in order to +comply with the earnest wishes of my wife, whose health was delicate, +and who craved for Old England, I bade adieu to Germany, and resolved +to pursue ballooning in the country of my birth, notwithstanding the +discouraging taunts of a few of my relations. + + +1852. + +The votaries of ballooning, like the followers of any other pursuit, +have their mutual jealousies. The renowned Mr. C. Green was, at the +above date, gradually relinquishing aëronautic duties. Age was steadily +creeping upon the veteran, and ambition was prompting one or two others +to prove themselves competitors and scientific successors. Lieutenant +Gale had lost his life after ascending from Bordeaux, and his patron, +Mr. Goulston, had determined to follow aërostation enthusiastically. +This latter gentleman was not what the public would style a mere +professional balloonist, but an aspirant, who was well to do in the +world as a floor-cloth manufacturer. On returning from the continent, +I gave Mr. Goulston a friendly call, as we had more than once been up +together, and much enjoyed a chat about our favourite study. I then +learnt that it was his intention to make ascents from Cremorne Gardens, +as well as other places, and that the probability being that I should +go abroad again, he imagined that we should not oppose each other. + +I distinctly remember objecting to this idea as to my own movements, +stating as a reason that I had myself some tempting offers to ascend in +and about the Metropolis. I promised, moreover, if he was determined to +take the West, that I would try my fortune in the East of London. + +Mr. Goulston was the proprietor of the balloon “La Normandie,” and he +had just built a new one of smaller capacity, which was about to make +its maiden ascent in the forthcoming Whitsun holidays, from Belle Vue +Gardens, Manchester. + +Strange to say, the very first attempt proved fatal. Mr. Goulston, who +ascended in a strong wind was dashed against some stone walls, and lost +his life. + +He had, it appeared, a very imperfect grapnel for stopping the balloon, +but whether he attempted to get out of the car, or not, could hardly be +ascertained, although he was known to have determined upon some scheme +by which he thought it possible to let the balloon go to the mercy of +the wind, whilst endeavouring to save himself by springing from the car. + +This untoward beginning was the means of bringing the ill-fated balloon +into my notice very shortly after this sad event. + +Mr. Goulston had engaged to use it at Cremorne Gardens; intimations +of an intended ascent had been published in the newspapers, and I was +immediately applied to for an ascent with my own balloon in the place +of Mr. Goulston who was killed. + +Mr. Simpson, the lessee, then informed me that Mrs. Goulston had +applied to him to purchase the balloons, but he would be glad to have +my judgement as to the value and construction of the smaller balloon, +in which the aëronaut had lost his life. + +On examination, I found it to be of good make and material, and +when I was asked if I would ascend in it, I unhesitatingly replied: +“Certainly, provided I use my own grapnel and ropes.” + +After I had made a few trips with it, the accident could no longer be +attributed to imperfections in the aërial machine, and it was purchased +by Mr. Simpson, and named the “Prince of Wales.” It thus happened, most +unexpectedly on my part, that the West-end gardens, as well as those in +the East, were at my command. + +Having overcome the objection, which owing to family scruples I had +formerly felt, to appear professionally in England, I made up my mind, +that having once done so, I would go ahead, and make as many ascents as +possible during the season of 1852. + +Although it was the year after the Exhibition, and there was not much +to be done, as my good advisers supposed, yet I resolved to show that +it was possible to make more ascents in one year, than had been made by +several aëronauts, during the past three or four seasons. + +I made arrangements, therefore, to ascend from the New Globe Gardens, +Mile End Road, not far from the site of the People’s Palace, also from +the Eagle Establishment, City Road, and from the new grounds, which had +just been started at North Woolwich, under the name of the Pavilion +Gardens. + +What with Cremorne and the above named localities, I ascended three or +four times in a week, and at the termination of 1852, added thirty-six +voyages to my former ascents, which dated in rapid succession from my +first as an amateur in the year 1844. + +There was one peculiarity about the ballooning at North Woolwich, which +caused a fund of amusement on the Thames and the garden esplanade; this +consisted in crossing over from the gas-works at Woolwich, the car +being fastened in a ferry boat with a steam-tug ahead, which towed the +balloon across the river to the Pavilion Gardens. + +On one occasion I was engaged somewhere else, when the directors +particularly wanted an ascent. I recommended an aëronaut with whom I +had long been acquainted, and the way he acknowledged my kindness was +by finding fault with the manner I moved my balloon, offering at the +same time to show the real and scientific style of doing it properly. +But this aëronaut lost his balloon in the attempt, it bounded away out +of control, burst in the air, and came down a wreck. + +My concluding ascents in 1852 took place at Glasgow. Mr. Maxwell, my +_compagnon de voyage_ on the second ascension on October 14th 1852, +confirms the account descriptive of our own feelings, and which is +a very fair representation of other people’s when they go up in a +balloon. A few extracts will be useful, as they apply generally to the +subject. + +“Before taking a seat in the car for the first time, imagination is +busy picturing the scenes and sensations which belong to an aërial +voyage. However great one’s courage may be, there are always little +fears as to personal safety, and it is owing to this feeling before +starting, that the first great impression is made on the mind, when +the traveller finds, on rising, that the transition is not accompanied +by any of those disagreeable emotions which most persons are apt to +connect with that mode of travelling. As the balloon leaves the ground, +two-fold astonishment seizes the mind, first--as to the vastness and +splendour of the view, secondly--that the effect produced in looking +down is not what would be supposed, judging from lofty surveys on the +tops of high buildings, in fact, fear is lost in admiration, and there +is a joyous consciousness of safety, which favours calm observation. + +“The earth presented to our view an immense concave surface, that part +immediately beneath being the deepest, this variegated picture may be +compared to a map. A certain degree of confusion, however, attends +one’s early efforts to recognise particular localities, and here it was +that the aëronaut surprised me by the facility with which he pointed +out the leading features of Glasgow, although they were new to him. + +“First he directed attention to the Clyde, pointing out the different +ship-building yards, and mentioning the names of the proprietors. Anon +he took me round the squares, along the streets, up to the railway +station, and off to the distant country. I was bold enough to inquire +how it was Mr. C---- was enabled to trace Glasgow and its surroundings +with such accuracy, having made only one ascent previously. ‘I will +tell you,’ he replied, ‘I always make it my business before ascending, +to acquire every possible information as to a strange locality, +much is to be obtained from local maps, &c., but more from personal +observations as to public buildings, thoroughfares, roads, and other +conspicuous objects, which once seen, familiarise themselves again in +the bird’s-eye view, and thereby lead to detection.’ + +“So model-like and regular was the face of the city, that it was +difficult to reconcile the belief that there, beneath, lay the thrifty, +solid-built, populous port of Glasgow. + +“A view from on high is certainly a great leveller of human +distinction--the contrast of a splendid residence with a humble +dwelling is not very great when viewed from the range of the clouds, +nor do lofty spires, hallowed walls, or public monuments, command, +however much they deserve, that respect which they are accustomed +to receive below. Everything is reduced to the smallest possible +dimensions, preserving, notwithstanding, distinctness of form and +outline.” + +We descended at the village of Cryston; Robert Kaye, Esq., of Mill +Brae, was present, rendering material assistance, and invited us to +take refreshment at his house. + +In a third trip from Glasgow, in which Mr. Maxwell again accompanied +me, Duncan McIntyre was initiated into the enjoyments of ballooning; a +few extracts of his own version of the scene will sufficiently bring it +within view. + +“After having witnessed the ascents made by Mr. H. Coxwell on the 9th +and 13th of October, I had no hesitation in making arrangements for a +trip with him on the 18th instant. + +“Almost immediately on leaving, the aëronaut commenced a most +entertaining lecture on aërostation, and described graphically, the +beautiful scene which gradually opened out to our view. + +“The tortuous winding of the Clutha, appeared like a small rivulet, +dotted here and there with Liliputian steamers. Dumbarton with its +ship-building yards and ancient Castle-Greenock, in the distance, with +its forest of shipping, were all seen to great advantage, although on +the same dwarfish scale. On ascending still higher, the country, to my +inexperienced eye, assumed a somewhat concave appearance, reminding me +of the plains of South America, and for miles there was not apparently +an eminence of a foot high; but this deceitful appearance was fully +explained by our enterprising captain, who pointed out many places and +informed us of their height. + +“Near to Garscube bridge, Mr. Maxwell left the car, as we wished to go +much higher than we had been, and this time the captain took a variety +of observations with his instruments, by which he told me of the +degrees of cold, and our height in feet, a few of which I put down in +my pocket book; for instance, just before we entered a cloud, though I +had not observed it overhead, I was requested to button up my coat, as +the thermometer had fallen fourteen degrees, and we were three-quarters +of a mile high, and in another minute we should enter a cloud, and +there it would be ten degrees colder still. I remember he said we were +then more than a mile high. + +“Our descent was made in a masterly style about half a mile west of +Milngaire. It is worthy of remark that this is the same field in which +Mr. Sadler, twenty-nine years ago, made his descent, and still more +remarkable, it was the same man who caught the rope of Mr. Sadler’s +balloon, who performed a similar service for us.” + +After the three ascents already recorded, I made one more in +conclusion, and it is no vain exaggeration to assert, that my first +season in London, besides my numerous ascents previously as an amateur, +did actually comprise a greater number of trips than any three +balloonists had made, even in the preceding exhibition year. + + +1853. + +During the summer months I maintained the interest in aërostatics +by numerous voyages, and although they did not exceed twenty-two in +number, still they furnished fresh experiences, and enabled me to take +up more than fifty passengers. + +One of the most remarkable was an ascent from the New Globe Pleasure +Grounds, Mile End Road. The date fixed for the fête was October 16th, +but it was a wet and windy morning, which caused postponement notices +to be got out, but no sooner were they delivered into the hands of +the bill-sticker and his assistants, than a gleam of sunshine shot +forth, and the drift of the clouds betokened a favourable break, +while a low, but steady, barometer, together with a slight shift in +the wind, induced all parties interested to suspend movements until a +consultation had been held, as to what was to be the order of the day. +The workmen were at their posts ready to proceed, the foreman of the +gas-works was awaiting the word to turn on. My own assistant stood by +the balloon, anxious to unfold at a moment’s notice. + +In the Board Room were myself, the gas-engineer, and the proprietor of +the gardens in earnest discussion, as to whether or not it was too late +to fill the balloon. Extra pressure was promised, and a little pressure +of another sort was put on me, so that the decision was to proceed. + +Biscuits and a hasty glass of sherry were served, when out we all +sallied into the grounds, which were now steaming from the rarefaction +caused by the sun, which had burst forth with an unmistakable +intention of shining uninterruptedly until sunset. + +I having raised my hand to go on, the “Sylph” was brought forth, the +tube was connected with all available speed, and in less than an hour +we presented a bold aspect; it quickly buzzed abroad that the balloon +was filling, and that, despite rain and wind, the ascent would be made. +The bills, of course, were not posted. + +When six o’clock struck, and several watches were examined, numerous +were the shakes of the heads as to the state of the balloon; it was +not more than half full, and as it rolled and flopped about in the +high wind, everyone saw that it was not in a fit state to ascend, and +less still, to offer a compact resistance to the freshening gusts. +Another half hour’s flow turned the tide in its favour, and produced +the required ascending power, but there was nothing to spare, and when +I let go the last connecting cord, a violent puff of wind caught the +balloon sideways, driving it rather down than up, and although two +bags of sand were discharged, it still dashed along at a frightful +pace, when every beholder saw that a stack of chimnies and the car +must inevitably clash; and so they did--but I had thrown myself into +position just previous to the moment of contact, and, although the +bricks and mortar were hurled downwards, the “Sylph” shot clear away +and mounted gaily to an immense elevation, so that by the time I +was over the Houses of Parliament, the wind being east, I found my +barometer had fallen five inches, and that temperature had decreased +just nineteen degrees, by which I knew that I should continue an upward +movement for at least another six thousand feet, owing to the space +left for expansion, unless I confined the balloon to the same level +by the use of the valve. As I had no object in going very high, I +attempted with the cord a slight check, but neither the customary pull +nor an extra tug would open the valve. It then struck me that in the +hurry of making a beginning my assistant had allowed a fold to form +itself in the silk, which prevented the valve-shutters from opening, +on looking up through the neck internally, I observed that this was +the case, so I determined to allow the balloon to rise and come down +without any interference on my part, but in so doing I had to go nearly +as far as Basingstoke, before a downward inclination took place. + +Soon after the first dip, I noticed a splendid meteor, which was below +the level of the car, and apparently about six hundred feet distant--it +was blue and yellow, moving rapidly in a north-easterly direction and +became extinguished without noise or sparks. + +It is just possible that the apparent closeness of this meteor was +illusory, and that the real distance was very many miles; its size was +half that of the moon, and I could not but feel that if such another +visitor were to cross my path, the end of the “Sylph” and its master +would be at hand. + +The range of temperature was 35°, it being 54° at starting, and 19° at +the greatest elevation, viz, two and a half miles. + +The car touched the earth soon after 8 o’clock, but it was dark, and +no signs of habitation were at hand; I shouted lustily to see if any +labourers were within hail, but no one appeared to hear me, or see the +balloon. Being quite out of my latitude and longitude, I was naturally +curious to ascertain my whereabouts. + +I resolved upon a last effort, and having charged my lungs fully +I cried out “Air balloon,” some half-dozen times, but getting no +encouragement by a response I made up my mind to settle down in the +car, and do the best I could to procure rest. + +But there were matters requiring immediate attention and of greater +importance than sleep, the first was the reduction of the “Sylph” in +point of bulk; now it is not exactly an easy matter to get all the gas +out of a balloon single-handed; when the valve drops to the ground +the gas will not escape unless it is pressed out by men holding down +the network, and, as I had no such assistance, I got thus far and no +farther; the wind, however, had abated, so that my silken companion +presented very much the appearance of a whale. + +I drew some part of the loose folds over the car, and then remembered +the kind attention of Mr. Gardner, the lessee of the Gardens, who +always made up for me something to comfort the inner man before I +ascended. This time there was a beef sandwich with a liberal supply of +mustard and pepper, but it was not too hot, nor was the pocket pistol, +containing brown brandy and water, at all dangerous, for it was rather +needed, the cold weather aloft having chilled one somewhat; whilst +good Mr. Gardner’s basket, and its truly acceptable contents, produced +a glow of gratitude which prompted me, the moment I had unscrewed the +flask, to drink to his long life and happiness. I did so twice, and +after having taxed the reserve sandwich I felt myself a fresher and +more thoughtful man. + +The next question was, whether it would be well to turn in where I was +for the night, or strike out by the nearest road for assistance. + +There would be no harm, I thought, in taking a short reconnoitre as far +as the boundaries of the field I was in possession of; it being dark, I +could only by close inspection ascertain how the ground lay. + +At the further extremity I came upon a gate and a bye lane; now if +I pursued this, wouldn’t it lead to a farm house? And if I placed a +stone, or, as I did, a chalk and flint opposite the gate in the centre +of the lane, shouldn’t I be able to see it on my return? + +The argument was conclusive, I struck out in a sanguine spirit, and +after a quarter of an hour’s cautious walking came to a farm with a +light in one window; bravo! there was a yard wall surrounding the +premises, but the stile was visible, and I mounted step after step, +determined to knock or ring them up. + +But gracious goodness! what dark object was that springing at my throat +with a fierce growl? + +A bounding, unchained, Newfoundland dog had never entered my dreams. + +I confess to being both surprised and alarmed, and to having beat, or +attempted to do so, one of the most expeditious retreats on record. If +recollection serves me correctly I fairly bolted, but whether I stopped +before the flint stone tripped me up or not I cannot say. + +Halting at the outside of the gate, and seizing the big flint in my +right hand, I breathed more freely, and was not displeased when I +ascertained that I had no followers. + +Having satisfied myself that the balloon was more quiet than the hound, +discretion preached an out-door discourse as to being the better part +of valour, and I assented by making up my mind to experimentalise with +sleep. A ballast bag or two were now filled with hedge-row gatherings +to be used as pillows. + +I stretched myself nearly at full length in the car and went earnestly +in for a doze. I believe, too, that the first stage of it was duly +entered upon, when voices in the distance were indistinctly heard +through the wicker-work. + +I sprang up, casting aside the curtains of oiled silk, and listened +attentively. Yes, there were men in the next field, they had doubtless +seen and followed the balloon; to welcome them would be most expedient. + +“Hallo there! here I am and the balloon as well.” + +No sooner had I delivered this piece of information than I heard +a voice say, “Hush!” Receding footsteps in an irregular stampede +followed, and I was left in wonderment as to what it all meant. + +I came to the conclusion that a gang of poachers were in the +neighbourhood, and that I had disturbed their operations at the very +outset. + +After shouting again and again, I heard no more of the strange voices +or footsteps; I determined upon again sallying forth, but this time in +the opposite direction, when I armed myself with the liberating iron, a +powerful weapon, and, if used dexterously, far more to be dreaded than +a policeman’s truncheon. + +Having again deposited another white stone in the lane opposite the +gate, I walked for at least a mile, when I came to a village green +having a pond at one side and cottages in the distance. + +It had struck eleven o’clock when I heard some men approaching, and +although they were not exactly steady still I was glad to meet with +anyone for information’s sake, and for assistance in the packing up. + +“Here my man, be good enough to inform me what place this is, I am a +stranger and require assistance.” + +“But you surely know where you are?” + +“No, the fact is I’ve just popped down here in a balloon, and I require +help.” + +“Oh, that’s it; well, if you go to the ‘Red Lion’ down the street I +daresay you’ll get what you want; the landlord is a retired fighting +man, and he’ll put you to rights in no time.” + +While I was in the act of laughing, my suspicious adviser moved off +in an evident state of doubt and alarm, so I pressed forward down the +street, and was glad to hear the measured steps of a policeman. + +As he appeared I thus accosted him:-- + +“Officer, I am glad to have met you, being a stranger and not knowing +what _county_ I am in. I have just----.” + +The bull’s eye was immediately turned, and my liberating iron scanned, +when the policeman backed a step or two and said, “Oh, you don’t know +what county you’re in, don’t ye. Well, I should think you know the +county gaol pretty well.” + +Whether it was the provoking way in which I burst out laughing, or +my close resemblance to some criminal character, I cannot say, but +the officer drew himself together as if he were about to encounter a +robber, and before I could speak with becoming gravity he held up his +lantern and assured me that if I did not immediately move off out of +the village he should take me to the station house. + +“That’s just where I am going either with or without you as an escort,” +I said; “but mind what you are about officer, the fact is, I have +descended in a balloon not far from here this evening, and I have come +for assistance. Which, pray, is the ‘Red Lion’?” + +“I thought,” rejoined the policeman, “You didn’t know what county you +were in; we had quite enough of you fellows a fortnight ago, and if you +hang about here I shall take you into custody.” + +“Do so at your peril,” I cried, holding up my iron defiantly. + +The officer continued his beat as if he were perplexed as to my +business in that part of the country; I observed that he kept his eye +upon me, and turned round occasionally as he went up the street. + +I failed to obtain an entrance into the “Red Lion,” nor did I see +anyone to ask where the station house was, and as the persons met with +appeared semi-savages, I became anxious about the balloon, and decided +upon going back and having a parting word with the policeman. + +That official, however, was not to be seen, he had either gone further +on the road, or he was watching me from some unseen place. + +On recognizing the stone, and regaining the field, sleep was once more +sought, and this time successfully. + +I did not awake until voices were faintly heard in the morning. + +I then peeped from my cage, and found that farm labourers were going to +work. + +Feeling assured that they would pass the gate, notice the stone, and +then the balloon, I remained quiet, but could clearly discern the men +as they came to a dead halt, as if paralyzed with astonishment at the +strange appearance in the field. + +“What be that Jim?” said the foremost man with one leg raised on the +gate. + +“Dang’d if I know,” said another, “either the owld’un or sum’mut alive.” + +“Let’s over and see lads.” + +As the men approached the balloon their cautious movements and general +expression betokened fear. + +When they first reached the car, I threw aside my covering, anxious to +convince them without further doubt, what it was they were gazing upon. + +Whether or not I was too energetic, and sprang up like Jack in the box, +I cannot say, but the moment their eyes rested upon me they fled in +dismay. + +I followed after them, urging that “it was only a balloon,” but the +affrighted ones jumped through a hedge-gap, and it was not until they +had drawn up on the other side, as if ashamed of their fear, that they +listened to what I had to say, and on regaining self-possession they +went back and examined for themselves; after getting reassured they +conducted me to their master, who invited me to breakfast. + +While we were finishing our coffee, the farmer continually apologized +for the rude behaviour of his men, who were not at all polite. + +Master Hector, the dog, kept eying and pawing me as if he would be +rough, but for the presence of the farmer. + +After breakfast we drove over to Basingstoke, and called at the “Red +Lion” on our road to the railway station. + +The landlord had heard a knocking the previous night, and had been +warned by the policeman of a dangerous-looking fellow being about, with +a house-breaker’s implement in his possession ready for use. + +I showed him the liberating iron and explained its application, and who +I was, &c., when the ex-pugilist was much amused, and informed me why +the villagers were so cautious about strangers. + +A fortnight previously, I learnt, several of the shops had been robbed +by a gang of London thieves, and most of them, as well as the police, +were apprehensive of a second visitation. + +“Another thing,” said the burly landlord, “You must please not forget +that you have come among the Hampshire hogs, and that a grunt or two is +all in character.” + +On putting me down at the railway station the farmer expressed his +regret that he had not heard my call when I descended, and that the +persons I sought information from were so unfriendly. + +I told him that I had frequently met with almost similar receptions, +and that the treatment I had received was owing to the balloon not +having been seen in the air. + + * * * * * + +As the story of my life represents thoughts and acts in childhood, +youth, and early experience, I have now to account for a break in the +narrative, which must leave off while barely touching the year 1853. +As there yet remains five and thirty years of my career to describe it +follows that I cannot do so in the present volume, which, to be candid, +owes its appearance to a circumstance which requires mentioning. + +I had supplied my publishers with an article on Military Ballooning for +one of their magazines. This led to the question whether or not the +matter would lend itself to expansion for a small book, and as Military +and Meteorological Ballooning had revived in Paris, I expressed myself +ready to allude to the current topics of the day, and further stated +that I had written part of my life. It was then decided to connect the +two; but there is this striking contrast between the narrative and +the more matured remarks which are added, viz, that the former gives +faithfully the buoyant allusions to my early ascents in a gossiping, +anecdotal strain, whereas the following chapters are the more matured +opinions of later years. + +I have noticed hitherto that ballooning best commends itself to general +readers when amusement is blended with instruction, and especially if +the scientific and practical part is introduced incidentally, so as to +avoid abstruse treatment and long calculations. + +I must ask the reader’s indulgence to recollect that the writer +was born in 1819 (I ought perhaps, with becoming loyalty, to add +that considering this is the era of Her Majesty’s Jubilee, I had the +_honour_ of being born in that year). An apology is perhaps therefore +due for a mixed composition, and for the writer’s boyish views in the +earlier part, although it may not be unreasonably presumed that as I +have seen some service in trying to advance Aëronautic Science and +Military Ballooning, the latter remarks may have more value. + +I may add that in a succeeding Volume my autobiography will be +continued and concluded. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE BEGINNING OF MILITARY BALLOONING. + + +Many articles have appeared on this subject, but they are mostly +concise compilations as to the dates of the employment of war balloons, +and there is yet wanting a more simple and systematic arrangement of +the order and particulars under which the respective balloons figured +in early aëronautic history. + +I have endeavoured to supply these requirements and to add a few +practical and critical observations as to the merits and faults of the +various equipments and plans from an aëronautic standpoint; as this +kind of treatment may interest military aëronauts, and assist civilians +who are studying the matter, and it may also prove more attractive to +general readers who like to know what professional men have to say (in +friendly rivalry) as to the ideas of naval and military officers, who +have devoted attention to ballooning. + +On the other hand military men, the young especially, who are apt +to conclude that veterans know very little compared with modern +tacticians, may find that in this speciality they are somewhat +mistaken, and that ballooning is not to be “picked up,” so to speak, +without having a regular and legitimate schooling in an art which so +very few understand. + + “One science only will one genius fit, + So vast is art, so narrow human wit.” + +The inventive genius of the French may be traced no less than their +intrepidity in their early efforts to apply the balloon to purposes of +warfare. + +In the year 1793, a scientific committee was formed in Paris with this +object, when it was suggested that balloons should be used both for +attack and defence, and for ascertaining the movement of armies in the +field, and to get at the strength of fortified places. + +Here was a clear and comprehensive plan for a new departure in military +science which the leading nations of Europe have been slow in imitating. + +A great deal of doubt and ridicule have been cast upon those (myself +included), who, in different countries had the courage of their +convictions to urge such a movement upon the attention of those in +power. + +Austria, whose forces first faced a war balloon at the battle of +Fleurus, directed her government not to neglect a bird’s-eye view of +the enemy. + +Russia took up the idea pretty early. + +Italy followed suit. + +Germany was slow to move in the air, but has been steady and scientific +in carrying out her projects. + +Old England, proverbially averse to new fangled notions, resisted +all overtures even from an experienced aëronaut for many years, +pooh-poohing this kind of feather-brained mode of strategy as at that +period imagined. + +At last, after experiments had been made by Colonel Beaumont and myself +at Aldershot and Woolwich, a balloon corps was formed and permitted to +try their hand with calico balloons. + +This new force, however, ignoring the first instructors most +persistently, ventured to teach the British army without recognized +balloonists to aid them; but one day, in an unfortunate hour, a war +balloon, while taking a preliminary canter, not, of course, in an +official capacity, dashed off on a dark December evening to sea, with +an enterprising and much lamented member of Parliament, who knew no +fear, but had a poor chance of being rescued from a watery grave. + +Then, after this calamity, the British balloon force languished, but +not for long, as war clouds were to be seen in the East, where military +balloons should have been sent, particularly to Alexandria, but they +were not, nor to other places in which Lord Wolseley has himself +admitted that they might have proved very useful. + +Our own progress at home and the activity displayed on the continent +form an instructive contrast, but if we want to ascertain and compare +the present with the past we must go back to the year 1793, and follow +on chronologically. + +The Committee of Public Safety (an excellent kind of committee for +London adoption) gave their approval on condition that the gas should +be prepared without using sulphuric acid, as sulphur could ill be +spared on account of its being so much needed for the production of +gunpowder. + +Guyton de Morveau showed that water could be decomposed by being forced +over red hot metal and borings in a retort, the oxygen being thus +separated from the hydrogen which was alone required for an inflation. + +Experiments at Meudon were instituted under the direction of Guyton +de Morveau, Coutelle, and Conté. Their report led to the formation +of a company to be named the _Aërostiers_, who boasted a captain, a +sergeant-major, one sergeant, two corporals, and twenty men. + +Coutelle was captain, and the aërostiers went to Meudon to be practised +in the aëronautic art. After the preliminary experiments Coutelle +was sent off to General Jourdan at Maubeuge with material for the +inflation, but he arrived at the moment when General Chasal was under +arrest for being involved in a plot to deliver the place to the enemy. +Jourdan threatened to shoot him as a spy, but he softened down, as +De Fonvielle relates, when he saw that Coutelle was not in the least +disconcerted, and ended by congratulating him on his zeal in the +defence of his country. + +The balloon corps contained in its ranks, as indeed some of the modern +associations do, some rather singular individuals. We are told in +“Adventures in the Air” of a priest of Montmorency, whom the Reign of +Terror had driven to take refuge in the camp, but who only waited the +advent of more peaceable times to resume his cassock. + +We may also mention Selles de Beauchamp, who entered the corps under +the name of Cavalier Albert, and who rose to the rank of officer, and +left interesting memoirs on the experiences of military balloonists. + +The father of Beauchamp, an officer in one of the royal regiments, was +seriously wounded in Piedmont, where two of his brothers were killed; +he retired, moreover, and died in 1781, leaving a child six years old, +who, two years later, lost his mother also. As an orphan of fortune, as +soon as he was old enough, he was sent to the Harcourt College, where +he was treated as a youth of quality. + +His tutor adopted zealously the revolutionary cause, while Beauchamp +stuck to the Court party. The latter, in attempting to leave the +country, was arrested and sent to the army of the Loire, but rather +than join it he engaged among the military balloonists, of whose life, +but for him, we should have known nothing, for the memoirs of Coutelle, +though very valuable from a scientific point of view, are too laconic, +and enter into no details. + +To these various characters Coutelle added a certain number of +mechanics, whose services were indispensable. His first lieutenant, +Delaunay, was formerly a master mason, and proved useful in the +construction of furnaces, for it required no less than 12,000 bricks to +build the furnace for the manufacture of gas. + +The process of inflation lasted from thirty-six to forty hours. I +may here call attention to the decided improvement which appears to +have been made in the generation and storage of hydrogen gas for the +English balloon force. Compressed gas is now supplied at Chatham in +metal receivers, which can be sent abroad, as it was to Suakim. This +plan has its advantages and difficulties. It must be very expensive, +and the weight of the cylinders is an objection where every ounce of +impedimenta has to be sometimes thought of. + +The French balloons were made of silk, and so efficiently varnished +that they retained the gas for two to three months. + +In this important element we are behind the French, as mere calico was +the first fabric used in the construction of the Woolwich balloons, and +though professional aëronauts for public ascents may sometimes resort +to cotton balloons, still for military objects, silk, although the most +costly, is, I should say, the lightest, strongest, tightest, and best. + +We must allow for considerable exaggeration in the much vaunted +holding powers of the original French balloons, and, for the matter of +that, for the latest productions as well, both in England and on the +continent. I must include the Channel balloonists. + +It is all very well to talk and write about such a volatile substance +as hydrogen, or even coal gas, remaining good for three months or a +month. Aëronauts deny it. + +Will a volume of the lightest known fluid be fit for much after being +a fortnight or even a week in either a silk, skin, or so-called +india-rubber envelopes. + +Until ballooning is divested of much that is absurd, untruthful, and +misleading, real progress will be slow. + +The balloon “Entreprenant” which was sent to the army of the north +was only twenty-seven feet in diameter, and its lifting power was 500 +pounds. It was held fast by two ropes which were attached to some extra +network at the equator; but considering that in those days the network +did not cover much more than half of the balloon, we should not fail to +notice that at present balloons are enveloped in much more extensive +and elongated nets which protect the lower hemisphere, and prevent the +escape of the balloon unless the network gives way. It is generally +made of thicker cord below, so that this danger is more guarded against +than it was in the year 1794. + +The army of the Meuse-Sambre had the “Céleste” balloon, while the +“Hercule” and “Intrepide” were sent to the Rhine-Moselle. + +The recent Naval Jubilee Review reminds one how interesting it would be +could the aërial fleet of the last century be inspected by the side of +the latest style of war balloons that England has produced. + +I am not at all sure that comparisons would be in our favour. Fancy the +British army under an amateur! + +On June 18th, when Coutelle reconnoitred the Austrian position, the +enemy fired at his balloon as it was ascending and descending. + +From Maubeuge it was taken to Charleroi, floating at such a height as +to permit cavalry and other troops to pass beneath. + +At the battle of Fleurus, in Belgium, on June 26th, 1794, two ascents +were made, each of about four or five hours, notwithstanding a strong +wind; the success of the French was said to be generally due to +observations from this balloon, as all movements were reported. + +The balloonists were again brought into requisition in the campaign of +1795. The “Entreprenant” withstood an amount of buffeting which would +shatter a modern balloon to shreds; we are reminded of this by a high +French authority, and I am not prepared to dispute this bold assertion, +when we remember of what material some of the latest war balloons are +composed. + +The strain on Coutelle’s balloon was lessened by attaching the cable +to horses and men, rather than to fixed objects. + +Of course it was; there are secrets in every art, and I may here +mention a case in point as to the danger of a too rigid holdfast, which +happened to my large balloon, which I made at my own cost for The +British Association Experiments, in the year 1862. + +While the committee at Wolverhampton, which included Professor Tyndall, +Lord Wrottesley, Dr. Lee, Mr. Glaisher, and others, were watching the +inflation during a high wind, I left the grounds for a short time, the +balloon being in charge of my assistants, who were manœuvring at the +nozzle of the lower opening, as that is a part requiring much care, and +will not admit, without great risk, of being held too fast; the late +Colonel Sykes, M.P., considered that if a crow-bar were driven in the +ground, and the cord were attached, it would prevent the men from being +rolled over occasionally, and his idea was put to the test. + +I was surprised to observe from a distance, that the balloon had been +badly torn, and could not account for it until I returned and saw that +the neck valve had been pulled completely away. Had it been kept as I +left it, with a give and take movement to obviate a sudden snatch, the +balloon would have escaped injury. + +It is really astonishing how the same ideas occur to all amateurs and +novices. Those who read much about aërostatics must have noticed that a +strong resemblance in these notions is constantly to be observed; they +one and all begin with the valve and have ever since I can remember. +Green’s and Coxwell’s notions are pronounced old-fashioned and exploded. + +They all want to try india-rubber and other complicated springs +instead of the rat-trap principle, which is so very simple, and cannot +well fail to act in all weathers, whereas india-rubber will relax in +heat, and beadings and other additions will swell and contract in the +framework, if of wood, according to atmospheric changes; but the plan, +which experienced aëronauts know to be the safest, is almost sure to be +cast aside until an accident, as I have already pointed out, induces +beginners to fall back upon the approved plan. + +Then again, the varnishes are wrong, Mr. A. or Mr. M. has a varnish +which is perfectly impermeable, the old stories and new pretensions +are reiterated, while the old stager knows very well that there are +objections to most of the new fancies, and that the colours and oils he +has used are like those of the old masters in painting, not so easily +to be surpassed, particularly in the present day, when most pigments +are so impure and adulterated. + +Thirdly, the grapnels are all wrong, but if the ropes and balloon +equipments of early days were to be put side by side with many of the +accessories of modern appliances, I believe the balance would be in +favour of the experts of the last generation. + +In 1796, the “Intrepide” was sent to the army of the Danube; a fifth +balloon was prepared for the army of Italy, but for some reason it was +never sent out. + +In the year 1798, Napoleon took a balloon equipment to Egypt, but +unfortunately for the French, the English managed to capture the ship +which contained the apparatus. + +After this, the aërostiers seem to have gradually died out of notice, +and the balloons were sold in 1804. + +It was said that the dissolution of the corps was due more immediately +to the displeasure of Napoleon at the performance of a balloon which +ascended at his coronation, with a large crown suspended beneath it, +which travelled all the way to Rome, and deposited part of the crown on +the tomb of Nero. + + +MILITARY BALLOONING DURING THIS CENTURY. + +After the Peace of Amiens was concluded in March 1802, military +aëronauts were less heard of, while professional and scientific air +explorers came more prominently into notice. + +In 1812, the Russians constructed a huge balloon at Moscow, which was +to hover over the French army and rain forth shells and explosives, but +their expectations rose higher than their balloons, which refused to +move off the ground. + +The French soldiers found this in the Castle of Voronzoff bearing many +thousand pounds of gunpowder, which were to have been launched upon +them. + +General Count Philip de Segur says:--“This prodigious balloon was +constructed by command of Alexander, not far from Moscow, under the +direction of a German artificer.” + +In 1815 a balloon reconnaissance was made at Antwerp, and in 1826 the +subject was again mooted by the French, and a balloon was sent to +Algiers, but it was never disembarked. + +The Russians are said to have tried experiments at Sebastopol in 1854. + +The French again used balloons in the Italian campaign of 1859; they +employed the civilian aëronaut Godard, and a useful ascent was made the +day before Solferino in a fire balloon. + +When the Civil War in America broke out several balloons were used in +the operations. On October 4th, 1861, an aëronaut named La Montaine +ascended from McClellan’s camp on the Potomac; he was enabled to make +observation of their position and movements, and afterwards returned to +his own lines and communicated results which were declared to be of the +utmost importance. + +Later on the Federals instituted a regular balloon corps, of which +Colonel Beaumont, R.E., wrote an interesting account in the Royal +Engineer Papers. The balloons were of two sizes, one of 13,000 cubic +feet capacity, the other double that size, but the large size was +found most suitable, a fact which our military balloonists should not +overlook in their desire to possess very light and small balloons for +easy transport. + +The American balloons were made of the best silk, the upper part being +composed of three or four thicknesses; this was capable of retaining +sufficient gas for an ascent a fortnight after inflation, a statement +which can more readily be credited than the French accounts about +preserving it for _three months_. + +Hydrogen was used for inflation, and generated in the old-fashioned way +with scrap iron and sulphuric acid. + +In this chapter of facts and dates I have drawn freely on the +exhaustive work called “_Astra Castra_,” by Lieutenant Hatton Turnor, +formerly of the 60th Rifles; also from the indefatigable gleanings and +able lecture by Lieutenant Baden-Powell of the Scots Guards. + +De Fonvielle’s “Adventures in the Air” have furnished valuable +information and incidents worth mentioning; Lieutenant Baden-Powell has +so cleverly compressed his matter that for the sake of brevity I am +induced at times to quote literally. + +Two of the American balloons and two generators were taken each on a +four horsed waggon, with one two horsed acid cart. + +Earthworks could be distinguished at a distance of five miles, +while the piquets and supports of the enemy were distinctly seen. A +telegraphic wire was sometimes attached to the balloon, so that the +aëronaut could at once communicate with the general, or even, as was +done one time, to the Government at Washington. Some photographs were +also taken of the enemy’s position. + +The aëronaut and the general each had maps similarly divided into +small squares, which were numbered, whereby the communications were +simplified. + +The “Times” correspondent said of the battle of Chickahominy: “During +the whole of the engagement, Professor Lowe’s balloon hovered over the +Federal lines at an altitude of 2,000 feet, and maintained successful +telegraphic communication with General McClellan’s head-quarters.” + +In an attack on Mississippi Island, No. 10, Engineer Aëronaut Allan, +ascended and directed the artillery fire, communicating the effect of +each shot. + +In July 1862, the first military balloon experiments in England took +place at Aldershot, and, as I had the honour of accomplishing them, I +will leave Lieut. Baden-Powell to allude to the events in his own words. + +“The aëronaut, Mr. Coxwell, was employed to bring one of his balloons +which was filled at the gas-works, and made several captive ascents, +the highest being 2,200 feet. Colonel Beaumont said that no large +movement of troops could take place within a radius of ten miles +without being seen. Later on, more experiments were made, a one-inch +rope being used as cable. + +“When the war between France and Germany broke out, Mr. Coxwell went to +manage some war balloons for the Germans. He formed two companies (two +officers and forty-two men) at Cologne, and his assistant went on to +Strasbourg, but that town capitulated before much service was rendered.” + +During the siege of Paris, balloons, it will be remembered, were made +use of in a more regular and extensive manner, and with most important +results. + +At first, two old balloons were anchored at Montmartre and Montsouris, +as observatories, to watch the Prussians. They apparently accomplished +but little, although one or two new ideas were introduced. The messages +from the balloons were put in a little box which was attached to the +cable by a ring, so that the observations were delivered straight to +those who held the rope. + +Every twenty-four hours, six ascents were made, four by day, and two by +night, the latter to observe the camp fires, etc., and it was proposed +to use a search electric light. + +When the Parisians found themselves cut off from all communication with +the outer world, balloons were naturally suggested as a means of escape. + +Several experienced aëronauts were in Paris as well as a few balloons. + +The first aëronaut, Duruof, left in a leaky machine, which owing to its +imperfect condition, was sent up like a projectile, as we are informed +by De Fonvielle. It described a parabola like that of a bombshell, and +by sacrificing seven hundredweight of ballast, the descent took place +nineteen miles from the Place St. Pierre, in the department of Eure, +not far from the Prussians, but still beyond their range. + +The “Ville de Florence” took, by way of trial, the first pigeons +intended for return with despatches. Paris learned, with as much +satisfaction as if it had been a victory, the return of the first +aërial messenger. + +Louis Godard had two small balloons, neither sufficient for the purpose +of escape, but he fixed one below the other, and made a very successful +voyage in the “Etats-Unis.” + +The last ready made balloon was the “Céleste,” which was the first to +take post cards. + +The Government then ordered a number of new balloons to be at once +constructed, they were turned out at the chief railway stations, which +for the time being were no longer used as such. + +The balloons were made of strong cambric, oiled, and of about 70,000 +cubic feet capacity; they were filled with coal gas, and could carry a +load of 2,000 pounds, including 600 pounds of ballast and 1,000 pounds +of despatches. + +The first of these bore Gambetta, he was accompanied by his intimate +friend, M. Spuller. The political results of this voyage are well known. + +One balloon travelled to Norway. Many were fired at, but few injured. +Three balloons fell into the hands of the enemy near Paris, and two in +Germany. Two were lost at sea, each manned by a sailor. + +The average distance travelled, was about 180 miles, and the speed +varied from seven to fifty miles an hour, and in one instance, eighty +miles. + +During four months, sixty-six balloons left Paris, of which fifty-four +were specially made by the administration of posts and telegraphs. + +One hundred-and-sixty persons were carried over the Prussian lines. + +Nine tons of despatches, or 3,000,000 letters were successfully +conveyed to their destinations. 360 pigeons were taken up, of which, +however, only fifty-seven returned to Paris, these conveyed, as Lieut. +Baden-Powell reminds us, 100,000 messages. + +Wilfrid de Fonvielle gives us a vivid and thrilling account of how he +left Paris in a balloon. + +The members of the scientific commission, he informs us, conceived the +idea of sending off balloons by night. He took his departure on the +20th of November; he was apprehensive, owing to the weather, of some +crushing catastrophe. + +“The ‘Egalité’ began to show its graceful form and bright colours. The +sun was shining on the golden sphere, which the wind was gracefully +oscillating. I was looking on the clouds, which had a direction +inclining somewhere towards Prussian soil, when I heard people +shouting. + +“A large hole had been made by the copper end of the pipe in the +graceful fabric. It was too late to think of mending it, and of +ascending afterwards before sunset.” + +On the following morning the weather was horrid. After many delays, +owing to this cause, De Fonvielle and his companions started. They +saw desolated fields, disappearing one after another. He recognized +different parts where he had wandered during so many happy years. Twice +the Seine was crossed, that noble Seine! where German horses will never +drink! and he could see distinctly where his old balloon had been taken +by German hands. + +He was looking at that spot when the first shot was heard, but the +balloon was more than 5,000 feet high. In less than two hours they +reached Louvain. + +A few days after this successful journey, another nocturnal balloon +went up on a moonless night. A brave sailor, named Prince, was the sole +occupant of the car. + +Next day, at dawn, some fishermen on the north coast of Scotland, saw a +globe disappear towards the west and sink in the ocean. A poor mother +and two sisters bewailed the loss of the unfortunate waif. + +In June 1871, the English Government appointed a committee, consisting +of Colonel Beaumont, R.E., Lieut. Grover, R.E., and Sir F. Abel, +to enquire into the use of balloons for warfare, and as Lieut. +Baden-Powell, in his lecture at the Royal United Service Institution, +went into the dates and progress made in military ballooning, I shall +regard him as a reliable authority in these matters. + +In April 1879, the English Government instituted an official balloon +committee, consisting of Colonel Noble, R.E., Sir F. Abel, and Captain +Lee, R.E., with whom was associated Captain Elsdale, R.E., and Captain +Templer, of the Middlesex Militia, the last mentioned having had +considerable experience in ballooning. + +Experiments were conducted at Woolwich, and four balloons were made by +the Royal Engineers of specially woven fine _calico_, varnished. + +A portable furnace and boiler for the manufacture of hydrogen gas was +devised similar in principle to the one used by the French in 1793, +_but the apparatus did not prove satisfactory_. + +And who could expect that a mere imitation after the lapse of +eighty-six years, would do much good or credit to the British army. +Had a competent man been appointed consulting aëronaut, he would have +pointed out that the use of bricks, tiles, and red hot turnings, +was resorted to in France as a necessity when sulphur and sulphuric +acid were scarce, but as none of the above named officers had ever +ascended with me, or had my instructions, I could only note, with +regret, what appeared to be a useless expenditure of money and time, +and as to proper and suitable material. I had in my store rooms at +Seaford, Sussex, a large quantity of stout, pure silk, made expressly +for balloons, and could have turned out for Government, a typical war +balloon, which would have been creditable to our country, and been in +every way preferable to _calico_. + +A few days after the first experiment, an unforeseen adventure happened +as one of the war balloons was being towed, attached to a cart. + +The cable snapped and the balloon disappeared in the clouds! + +In October, one of the balloons was tried free at a review on Woolwich +Common, but the wind was unfavourable. + +The next year, the “Crusader” figured at the Brighton volunteer review, +successfully. + +In September 1880, a whole company of Engineers (the 24th) went for +instruction in ballooning to Aldershot, and many experiments were made. + +English military ballooning, as I have pointed out received a sudden +check when the “Saladin” was lost in the year 1881. + +If we turn to the French, we read quite a different story. They +established, in 1872, another aëronautical school. An annual grant of +£10,000 was made, since then, the establishment has increased. + +Their balloons are spherical, ten metres in diameter, made of the best +silk, and covered with a varnish which renders them so gas-tight, that +they can remain inflated for a month. So they assert. + +Twenty out of forty balloons had already been made. + +For captive ascents a kite screen is used. I suggested something of +this kind twenty-six years since, but I have now a more simple and +safer plan, with others for signalling etc., should they ever be +enquired after or wanted. + + +AIR TORPEDOES AND BOMBSHELLS. + +If there is one branch of modern strategy which is likely to be watched +with keen interest during the next Continental war it will be that of +military ballooning. For some time we have heard of such wonderful +preparations in this line on the other side of the Channel that the +public, both at home and abroad, will be moved by anxious expectancy to +take note whether the steering gas bags and air torpedoes revolutionize +warfare by developing a more easy way of striking hostile forces, +namely, from a vertical position, in which they are so frequently +vulnerable. The aims of those who would merely employ balloons to +see what is going on behind the hills, and how their opponents are +disposed, seem insufficient to satisfy the ambition of foreign +engineers. A Frenchman has supplied the Russians with an air torpedo +that can be directed, so we are told, with the accuracy of a submarine +machine. It is to take up eight hundredweight of dynamite, which can be +discharged on the heads, and on the magazines and fortresses of their +foes, so as to make short work with them by blowing them up sky-high +without subjecting the attacking party to risk, owing to the remarkable +guiding power of their aërial cruiser, which is to strike and glide +away with marvellous rapidity, either as it emerges from the clouds, or +springs unseen above the smoke of battle, to let fall its destructive +cargo when least expected. All this sounds very terrific and smart in +theory, but the question is, can it be done with the tact and certainty +which we are asked to believe? From an aërostatic standpoint such +an enterprise would entirely depend upon aërial navigation having +been solved. Certain inventors avow, and perhaps imagine, that this +consummation has been settled already by those preliminary canters near +Paris of which we heard so much two years since. Now, it is not for +me, or any other practical man, to say that the pretensions put forth +for “the conquest of the air” are visionary; but this I do say, that +the alleged movements of the cigar-shaped balloons have not warranted +us in concluding that the art of steering and propelling has been +satisfactorily mastered. Had it been otherwise, how is it that so +magnificent an achievement has not been forthwith applied to the more +noble and remunerative arts of peace and commerce, instead of being +shelved for the horrors of war? The moment air ships can be directed, +the probability is they will be seized upon immediately to bring +about results far more creditable than the annihilation of our fellow +creatures. + +Secondly. A bombardment from above might, and possibly would, involve +a contest in the air. If these agents are available for attack they +may be constructed for defensive objects, for retaliation, and for +reprisals. One may swoop down like a hawk, but another may rise up like +a rocket and bring down its adversary like the stick. And how about +the latest arms of precision, chain-shot, and shrapnel? A gas-inflated +observatory can often be kept well in the rear in a more secure captive +state, but if these flying torpedoes are going in for close quarters, +as they must to “spot” their victims, the hazards will be so great that +pressed men, rather than volunteers, will have to be forced into the +empyrean; and, so far as my experience goes among officers, soldiers, +and civilians, I never yet noticed any exuberant bellicose tendency, or +display of pugnacity, while exploring in mid-air. + +I once took up a gentleman who was said to be very daring, and among +his accomplishments was a proficiency with the gloves; a friend of +his who was with us thought fit in a moment of pardonable elation to +indulge in playful sparring with the reputed amateur boxer. I was +rather surprised to notice that he evinced an apparent distaste, and +even incompetency, for this sort of thing when aloft. It certainly +might have been that the narrow confines of a wicker basket were not +sufficiently capacious for manœuvring, or that a passing nervousness +took all the fight out of him. He protested against his friend’s +familiarity, while casting an appealing glance at me. “Recollect,” he +cried, “where we are;” but on reaching _terra firma_ I observed that +his facial expression was decidedly more combative, and that he was +quite ready then for a friendly exchange of taps; this, with other +incidents I could mention, has led me to conclude that the upper air is +not altogether suitable or provocative for belligerent performances. + +By way of illustration, I may state that Green more than forty years +since was engaged to attend with one of his balloons at a park down in +Staffordshire, where there was to be an experiment with dropping shells +from a battery affixed to the hoop, but no one was to go up, and the +aëronaut’s services were only required for the preparatory work, as the +long range committee preferred to manage matters themselves, so far +as the adjustment and discharge of the petards went. They selected a +central spot in a wood as the area for their intended demolishment, +but on setting the balloon free they neglected Green’s hint to look +out for a veering current, in case they had not provided a remedy, as +he had, if his services had been retained for the most critical part +of the undertaking. Well, the experimentalists disregarded the expert, +but when the missiles were discharged they flew bang at friendly +spectators instead of the camping ground of an ideal enemy, thus +causing a helter-skelter stampede, including a bevy of policemen--in +short, the whole affair was a fiasco; and it might have been so easily +prevented, as Green’s foresight had led him to think of a compensating +plan to cause the balloon to go straight in the desired course; but +the enthusiasts did not believe that a past master was necessary for +aëronautic transactions, and it will not be surprising if some of the +military adventurers to whom we have been referring find themselves +similarly situated. + +Last year I read that two intrepid Frenchmen made a trip to our +shores from Cherbourg, and threw down as they passed some yachts near +the coast a number of cork balls painted white, just, sportively of +course, to see how they would act as the lightest and most harmless of +grenades, without, as we may charitably conclude, any ulterior designs +such as the First Napoleon is credited with when the aërial flotilla +at Boulogne was talked about. But, really, in the present day, when +the blowing up of ironclads is a recognized feature of warfare, and +when torpedo boats can dive and make straightway at a man-of-war to +strike below the belt, it is time to be on the _qui vive_, and though +aëronauts may feel no great alarm about an unexpected visit from a +torpedo fleet, knowing, as they do, that the air is more than eight +hundred times lighter than water, and that the difficulties to be +first surmounted are proportionately great, still, there is no denying +that the route overhead is open to all nations, and that a scare, lest +any unwelcome guests should arrive, has actually been felt as to the +possibility of their turning up from beneath the Channel. We know that +John Bull and all true Britons would rather face an adversary from +above, than if he were to crawl and pounce upon us from below. + +But at present we need not quake as to the high or subway route. + + +MILITARY BALLOONING IN THE YEAR OF JUBILEE. + +One of the latest and most interesting phases of this subject relates +to Lord Wolseley’s maiden ascent from the grounds at Lidsing, near +Chatham, and to various active preparations on the Continent which +have a character of their own, and are essentially dissimilar to the +experiments in Great Britain. + +An illustrious man undergoing his initiation in the balloon car, forms +an event which is not of every day occurrence, and must prove very +encouraging to the intrepid engineer officers, and also to the general +public, who like to see the leading authority go now and again to the +front for the sake of thoroughly inspecting, and of obtaining some +practical acquaintance with any new branch of science which may be on +trial. + +The General’s declaration that “he believed _himself_ in novelties,” +must have produced conflicting opinions in the minds of many more +conservative brother officers; but what must have been the effect of +the next assertion? namely, “the more novelties the better.” + +Lord Wolseley believed in what Napoleon said: “You must change your +tactics frequently.” + +The first impression made by his ascent of 500 feet, elicited the +General’s approval. + +In the course of a conversation with one of his staff, Lord Wolseley +stated that “had he been able to employ balloons in the earlier stages +of the Soudan campaign, the affair would not have lasted as many months +as it did years.” + +We get therefore a very high testimony as to the value of the balloon +for military objects, and as the exploits of our war balloons do not +amount, at present, to anything particularly noteworthy, the General’s +encouraging remarks will have an excellent effect, it may fairly be +presumed. + +The most recent effort in this line, near Dover, was not successful. + +The balloon “Sentinel” was filled and essayed to watch the volunteers, +but was forced to retire with the most eccentric capers--owing to the +freaks of rude Boreas, which was, after all, merely imparting useful +instruction, though not particularly pleasing, probably, to the officer +who occupied the seat of honour. + +It is, doubtless, a matter to rejoice over, that he was not blown out +over the adjacent coast line; had he been driven away down Channel in +a small skin balloon under the influence of a north-easterly wind, he +might have touched the extreme corner of the French coast, or been sent +down betwixt the Channel Islands. + +Happily, however, there was no fresh fatality to lament over, and +the instructions imparted by the clerk of the weather as to the +impracticability of captive ascents during strong winds will not be +lost, and may prove of the greatest importance, so that it is well +worth while referring to it as a warning for future caution. + +As the writer of this book holds it to be his province, and his duty as +a practical man to review both sides of public opinion respecting his +speciality, he considers it right to state, that the representatives +of the press, like the representatives of our constituencies in +parliament, do not all take one and the same view about military +ballooning; neither do superior officers or the rank-and-file, who, in +these advanced days are quite capable of drawing their own conclusions. + +A paragraph which I read in the Court Society Review, was to this +effect. + +“I have very little faith in military balloons for the purposes of +observation. In the Soudan no atmospheric conditions, and many were +tried, were found to be suitable, for even when the air was dead-still, +and brilliantly clear, the balloon waggled to such an extent as to +make telescopic observation impossible, or, at any rate, practically +useless. At the Easter Monday fight, an infinitely more futile attempt +was made to employ the balloon in a stiffish breeze, and the result +was, of course, as worthless as the experiment was dangerous. + +“All the same, for signalling, especially at night, captive balloons +might be made of immense use.” + +Secondly, we have another rather discouraging experience, which ought +not to be forgotten or omitted in these pages. + +It is in McClellan’s own story, about their doings on April 11th, 1862, +and is rather amusing than complimentary to the cause I have so long +advocated. + +“I am just recovering,” the writer observes, “from a terrible scare. +Early this morning I was awakened by a despatch from Fitz-John’s +head-quarters, stating that Fitz had made an ascension in the balloon +this morning, and that it had broken away and come to the ground some +three miles south-west, which would be within the enemy’s lines. + +“You can imagine how I felt. I at once sent off to the various pickets +to find out what they knew, and tried to do something to save him, +but the order had no sooner gone, than in walks Fitz, just as cool +as usual. He had luckily come down near my own camp, after actually +passing over that of the enemy. + +“You may rest assured of one thing,” was the remark: “you won’t catch +me in the confounded balloon, nor will I allow any other General in it.” + +On the converse side, it should be mentioned that in a telegram +received at Washington during the Civil War, it was stated, “that all +the information received from _balloons_, deserters, prisoners, &c., +agrees in the statement that the mass of the rebel troops were still in +the immediate vicinity of Richmond, ready to defend it.” + +As a pioneer myself in the service of military ballooning, I heartily +wish that something more had been carried out in the decidedly +important neighbourhood of Suakim. + +I was constantly suggesting plans; among others, to take out an +apparatus and holder for the generation of coal gas, feeling persuaded +that at a short notice, an enterprising private firm would have sent +out an equipment with the necessary men and coals, to generate gas on +the old quick and cheap plan, in addition to the compressed hydrogen +system. There are, certainly, some advantages in employing the lighter +gas, but several counter and compensating results might be adduced +on the other side, one of which is, that in a hot climate, pure +hydrogen will escape quicker than the denser production, and, I have +no hesitation in saying, that a small skin balloon behaves itself in +a breeze with an infinitely less steady action, than a more enlarged +surface with greater vertical power imparted to it, which is one out +of many of those secrets of success, which men of long experience are +well aware of, and I do believe that a certain amount of co-operation +between civilian experts, and the military engineers would be attended +with good results. + +I am not referring particularly to the English school of balloonists, +but to foreign corps as well. + +It is a regrettable fact that one cannot perceive in the whole list of +balloon transactions in warfare, either at home or abroad, any deeds +that are at present conspicuously worth chronicling. The splendid +exodus of hastily organised balloonists, chiefly sailors, who went out +of Paris during the Franco-German War, can scarcely be called military +ballooning. + +There was no strategy, exceptional skill, or discoveries to mark and +dignify their departure or descent; only a most valuable and timely +postal and parcels delivery transmission. + +This was excellent auxiliary aid, and altogether _sui generis_, but it +was not manœuvring with the enemy or rendering fresh intelligence which +could not be gained by ordinary scouts, I mean in a strictly military +sense. The winged messengers (pigeons) were certainly helped in their +work by having a lift up on their outward journey; but what we should +like to hear of, when balloons show up in war time, is that something +important has been seen and reported which would have escaped notice +but for the argus-eyed aëronauts. + +A considerable amount of bewilderment, as we have said, accompanies a +novice’s first glance of the earth’s surface, when villages, fields, +towns and fortresses, are seen under a new aspect, with minimised +proportions reduced to the model size, and seen from above instead of +horizontally. + +It requires a trained observer to make heads, tails, and relative +proportions out of the new map, and if any altitude has to be attained, +very small machines will not do, they may be light and of little +capacity, but they are unable to offer a powerful upward tug, which is +indispensable for steadying the balloon when telescopic observations +have to be made. + +The action of diminutive machines of this kind may not inaptly be +compared to the jerking, fitful movement, of certain small birds, such +as a tomtit, or a titlark, as contrasted with the soaring power of an +eagle, or the steadied poise of a hawk. + +The balloon, under which Lord Wolseley took a bird’s-eye view, +is described as “a magnificent spic and span new aërial machine, +constructed of the new preparation of _bullock’s skin_, and capable +of containing 10,000 feet of compressed gas,” by which is meant, I +presume, 10,000 feet of hydrogen gas that has been compressed and +subsequently liberated into the said balloon. + +If I were questioned as to the value of this kind of material for the +objects intended by the designers, I should, certainly, not speak +disparagingly of it, because I think that skin may be very good in +its way, but I believe that a certain quality of silk, all things +considered, is more reliable, and if it is heavier than skin, it is +more readily repaired in case of fracture, and would better resist the +shrivelling effects of a hot atmosphere, and of sudden gusts of wind. +Silk is also less tempting to the gnawing of insects. + +If it is supposed that the use of skin is a new adaptation, I can +remove any false impression of that sort by stating that half a century +since, I saw and handled a huge balloon composed of similar animal +substance, which was called Egg’s folly. The gunmaker had built an +enormous fish shaped affair, and it had, fish like, an air bladder to +assist it in rising and descending. I was asked to buy the lot which +had been laid by for some years, but it was not to my taste; later +on, however, after Mr. Barnum had brought over the dwarf, Tom Thumb, +to this country, an exhibition was got up at the Surrey Zoological +Gardens, and Mr. C. Green was asked to provide a suitable balloon to +take up Tom Thumb for a captive ascent. + +The air bladder then cropped up, as it would lift fifty or sixty pounds +when filled with ordinary gas, and I well remember witnessing the +ascent, and shaking hands with the occupant of the little car. + +I was informed afterwards by the veteran himself, that Captain Currie, +who was a frequent voyager at that time, wished to train and lose +weight, so that the skin balloon would take him up, if filled with +hydrogen instead of coal gas. + +I do not think the trial came off, but I can vouch for it, that the +so-called bullock’s skin is by no means a novel departure. + +We thus learn that history repeats itself, even in an art which is +practically little more than a century old. + +If we turn from the balloon force at home, and direct a glance towards +the continent, as much difference is to be observed in their aërostatic +pretensions, as there is between our small and compact army, when +compared with the millions of bayonets (and good ones no doubt) that +are ready to do battle whenever the dogs of war shall be let loose for +slaughter. + +In England, preference is shown for exceedingly small bullock’s skin +balloons. + +In France they are cigar or cannon shaped, with steering power and +propelling machinery attached. I am referring, now, to the war balloons +at Meudon. + +Germany inclines to medium sized spherical balloons, composed of silk +by preference--and I think they are right--to the calico or muslin +balloons in store at Chatham or Lidsing. + +Russia, if we may believe newspaper accounts, is provided with an air +torpedo, besides Montgolfier, and gas balloons. The torpedo air ship +can take up eight hundredweight of dynamite, the application of which I +have already pictured. + +An American novelty consists of an electro dynamic air ship, in the +form of a cigar cut lengthways, which presents a flat underside, and a +rounded upper; it is constructed of seven independent cells, which are +divided longitudinally, making fourteen separate compartments in all. + +Among the attractions proposed for the Paris exhibition of 1889, is a +captive balloon, having a capacity of 1,800,000 cubic feet, which will +take up one hundred passengers. + +Then comes the most wonderful invention of all, a balloon which is to +surpass in speed the Flying Scotchman. The German Government is stated +to have purchased this monster for a million marks, and the constructor +is to have a handsome pension for life. I do not believe it! + +Now, if these formidable rivals are bent on mischief, and find an +opportunity of indulging their destructive propensities, there will be +lively and sensational diversions overhead, no less than frightful work +beneath, particularly if the torpedoes act their part as expected. + +Many scientific men, and all the professional aëronauts, with whom I +am acquainted, regard this tall talk, not altogether in a literal and +serious light, but as a scare and exchange of swagger between those +powers who desire to be thought most efficient in modern appliances +for warfare. Be that as it may, there can be no doubt that vast sums +of money have been expended, and extensive preparations made, in +aërostatic material. + +There is something about all this boasting and threatening which is +calculated to disturb the serenity of susceptible persons, when they +read of hundreds of pounds of dynamite and chemical compounds being +cast down upon contending armies, and about forts blown up, especially +when it is remembered that no shields or ramparts are ever raised, or +dreamt of, to resist a vertical onslaught from the regions above. This +mode of attack would, to all intents and purposes, prove a novelty, and +the question is, whether the lieutenants of our far seeing general, +who approves of new tactics, are prepared to resist this kind of thing +should a detachment of air torpedoes swarm like wasps or locusts upon +our numerically small army, or should they even seek out our tiny war +balloons and demolish them with a fell swoop of explosives. + +The bare idea of such an ignominious extinction brings us to the vital +question of how such intruders could be sent to the right about, or +brought low by arms of precision. + +Lieutenant B. Baden-Powell, in his able lecture at the Royal United +Service Institution, took the danger into consideration; not I think +under any apprehension about the descent of dynamite shells, but simply +of the customary missiles which are discharged from cannon and small +arms. We may infer that air torpedoes and such like were not dreaded. + +Mr. Baden-Powell starts from an apt and thrilling commencement when he +says-- + +“First then, the chance of being wrecked by shots from the enemy. + +“It must be remembered,” he goes on to say, “that the balloon would +generally be some way behind the first line, and that the enemy would +hardly, especially during the heat of battle, pay much attention to it. +It is well to remember that if only hit by a few bullets it would not +be much damaged, and could be quickly repaired. Both at Frankfort and +at Frankenthal the balloons were penetrated by bullets, at the latter +place by nine, but the balloon remained up three-quarters of an hour +after. In some experiments made at Tours, a balloon was penetrated by +bullets at 1,000 yards, but the escape of gas was very slow, and the +balloon remained up some time longer. + +“_Secondly_--and now comes a case in point which should not be lightly +passed over, it is this-- + +“In 1880 the Siege Operations’ Committee made an experiment at +Dungeness with rather more disastrous results for the balloon. An +eight-inch howitzer was directed on a captive balloon 2,000 yards off, +and 800 feet high. The first shot was unsuccessful, the exact range +not being known. The second shell, however, burst just in front of the +balloon and tore it open. But even then it took fifteen minutes to +descend, so that the aëronauts would have been safe.” Later tests have +also taken place. + +Many persons would think, and as many more might argue with some show +of common sense on their side, that the actual safety of a party of +balloonists after their machine had been torn open by a shell from an +eight-inch howitzer was perilous in the extreme; but the lecturer had +no such fears probably, as he went on with unmoved visage, I daresay, +to remark that “bullets made of spongy platinum had been suggested as a +means of igniting the hydrogen in a balloon by mere contact.” + +But these stirring and well nigh nerve-testing quotations need not be +dwelt upon to any further extent, they suffice to show that the risks, +without taking into consideration the doings of those horrid torpedoes, +have been fairly weighed. + +If the dynamiters put in an appearance, and manage by skilful steering +to be in at close quarters, then all I have to say is Heaven help those +who may be in their power. + +While contemplating this all important phase of aërostatics, I +sometimes wonder whether these and other equally important ideas have +ever entered into the fertile brains of those, whose province it is +to lead and direct the military balloon tactics. There are, I have no +hesitation in saying, at this critical period of our national history, +uses for balloons even in this country, considering its position +and possible surroundings, which I could point out if they would be +listened to, and which at no distant period may be found unprovided for +when most needed. + +I recollect when first I talked over with Major Grover, R.E., who went +up with me, my plan for using small and large balloons for destructive +purposes, I had such a friendly but scathing glance that I at once +interpreted his meaning to the effect that “anything of that sort would +not be countenanced at head-quarters.” + +Well, I have lived to draw attention to the very suggestions which were +lightly esteemed a quarter of a century since, but I will not allude to +any fresh conceptions at the present time. + +Sir Edward Birkbeck, M.P., has done useful service in narrating not +long since his experiences with me in the year 1862. Observations for +military purposes were gone into, and our ascent made in the presence +of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sutherland +was narrated with spirit. Instructive comments followed, and war +balloons were referred to which have since been spoken of in a pleasing +letter, wherein Sir Edward gave evidence that he still has a taste for +scientific ballooning. + +[Illustration] + + + + +REMARKABLE ASCENTS DURING THIS CENTURY. + + +At no time during my own recollection, has an attempt, to reach a great +height, been heralded with greater stir and interest than the voyage by +Messrs. Jovis and Mallet from Paris, on August 13th, 1887. + +In England, scientific men, professional aëronauts, and the public, +regarded it with favour and admiration, that is, so far as their +spirited intentions were interpreted on this side of the channel; and +I may take upon myself to say, that it was viewed with no envious +feelings, it being clear, that two enterprising men were desirous of +trying their hands at adding lustre to the annals of aëronautics, and, +that like a great many travellers in new and untried latitudes, these +courageous aëronauts would do their best for their employers, and their +own credit, or perish in the struggle, which last they were not wholly +unprepared for, having disposed of their bodies in case of a fatal +issue. + +Of course, the press as a faithful mirror of public opinion, was not +entirely in accord with their aims, about which some wrote severely +and disparagingly, as it seemed to them, that the most apparent motive +for the ascent, was to settle at what height animal life could exist; +and other reviewers went so far as to insinuate, that pigeons and +guinea-pigs were all very well, but in reality, it was a thinly veiled +international bit of rivalry, as to who should go highest, Frenchmen or +Englishmen. + +Well, even if there existed a limited amount of this sort of thing, it +was only friendly rivalry, which no true Briton could possibly object +to, or be afraid of; it was not, however, to be expected that in France +or England another expedition, which might be ill-fated like Sivel’s +and Crose Spenelli’s, would be recognized without protest and free +writing. Still, on the whole, Captain Jovis and Lieut. Mallet were well +received, and I have little hesitation in saying that if an aëronaut, +in this country, had on his own account or on that of a newspaper +proprietor, done the like, he would have been, in all probability, +denounced for his pains, as such an undertaking would not do here, +unless a scientific society, or some pre-eminent physicist were to +embark in totally fresh experiments. + +As an instance of this very natural spirit of emulation, which is to be +met with among enthusiastic air travellers, I may mention, that after +I had initiated the late lamented Mr. Walter Powell, M.P., by taking +him a long trip from Ashford, in Kent, to Crediton, in Devonshire, he +wished, among other chivalrous schemes, not only to go straight to Rome +without let or hindrance, which was most plucky and ambitious, but +he wanted, without being duly acclimatised, to go seven miles high. +I took upon myself to discountenance this and other suggestions, and +was most likely considered a slow old coach for my pains, but I rather +prided myself upon being properly cautious, and as I considered my +patron’s views rather too advanced for me at my time of life, I gladly +allowed that gentleman to pass into other hands, and what occurred +afterwards is a matter not easily forgotten. + +In Messrs. Jovis and Mallet’s ascent, there was a conspicuous omission +in the first place, in not giving the size of their balloon. This was +neglectful and ominous, as it is by figures and facts, that a fair and +proper estimate can be formed as to the competency of the aëronaut and +his balloon to do the work he takes in hand. + +M. Wilfrid de Fonvielle, by correct calculations, found it too small +for the intended elevation. + +Whether aëronauts of the highest rank, such as the Tissandiers, Camille +Flammarion, and de Fonvielle, were too polite and forbearing, as to +impossibilities, I am not aware. The latter authority is known to be +free from all party prejudices, to have an opinion of his own, and to +utter it when necessary. + +De Fonvielle may well have had doubts, I remember that Green had, as +to the heights attained by Robertson and Gay-Lussac, the former being +credited with having risen over 7,000 metres, while the latter reached +23,000 feet--higher, be it observed, than the 22,960 feet reached by +Jovis. + +Green never could make out, to use his own words, “how it was that +they did it with balloons, as small as were quoted in the accounts of +Robertson’s and Gay-Lussac’s experiments.” + +“Certainly,” as the veteran observed, “they used hydrogen, but there +must have been very little left of it on returning to the earth, if the +diameters of their small balloons were no more than stated,” that is as +Green added with emphasis, “if they touched 22,000 or 23,000 feet.” + +By the light of our present investigations and deductions, it appears +that many of the accounts of the early ascents in this century, viz., +in 1803 and 4, are unreliable statements, and not altogether excusable. + +For instance, Robertson, in his journey from Hamburg, said that “his +head swelled, and that blood came from his nose.” + +M. L’Hoest, his companion, was violently affected in a similar way; he +could not get his hat on. + +Mr. Glaisher’s head and mine were covered with caps, but I did not +notice any cerebral expansion, being very intent upon the expansion of +the gas; in short, we were always sticking to more important business. + +“At their greatest elevation they could scarcely hear each other speak.” + +Now I found at seven miles high, and at five and six, that in the +absence of all sounds it was not necessary to speak much above a +whisper, and that palpitations, watch-ticks, &c., were audible with an +increase of sound the higher I got. + +Robertson and his friend “could scarcely resist a strong inclination to +sleep.” + +I not only knew the great importance of keeping _wide awake_, but felt +no desire to do otherwise. + +Robertson’s balloon contained only 9,000 cubic feet of hydrogen. + +It weighed, with all its apparatus, 5 pood 2 pounds, or a little over +200 pounds, and the weight of the whole was 18 pood 3 pounds. + +Now, unless these figures are incorrect, a man like Charles Green might +well feel doubtful. + +M. Gay-Lussac on September 15th, 1804, when he attained 7016 metres, +though well clothed, began to feel cold, he was still “far from +experiencing such uneasiness as to oblige him to descend,” his pulse +and respiration were accelerated; these were all the inconveniences +he felt, and they read to my thinking more correct and natural than +Robertson’s. + +Green had no belief in what may be styled miraculous ballooning, by +that I mean in going up very high or extremely far in a very diminutive +balloon. + +Practically speaking, irrespective of exact mathematical +determinations, a sure and certain test is the amount of ballast taken, +together with the volume of gas in the balloon at starting, and the +space left for expansion, supposing that the ascent is made with only a +partial inflation. + +It is useless to boast of distance or height, unless sand equal to the +occasion can be taken in the car; and if the diameter and depth of the +machine is not in conformity with well established rules, no confidence +should be placed in unsupported vapourings, as all the accessories to +which I refer must be in order and bear comparison, one with another. + +In a voyage this year by German officers from Berlin, the exact number +of bags of ballast they took up led me to guess the capacity of the +balloon, allowing for the number of passengers, and the supposed weight +of the whole; I found that I was pretty near the mark, and that the +expenditure of sand was about in proportion to my own when I took Mr. +Walter Powell a journey of 250 miles. + +The balloon itself is no bad indicator of what can be achieved, +especially in vertical motion, that is by showing the extent of +expansion when the silk is throughout fully distended, and if it be +so, by the force with which the gas rushes out of the safety valve; it +in this way helps and checks barometrical readings, and may at times +approximately take the place of that instrument for a rough-and-ready +intimation of the height. For example, if a balloon mounts up when only +half full at starting, and afterwards rises so high that gas escapes +from the neck, then it must be between three and four miles high, +roughly speaking. + +It is of no use for a novice or an unscientific aëronaut to tell a +fanciful tale about his lofty flights to fabulous elevations, when he +is known to have taken only a moderate amount of ballast, and only one +person besides himself in the car. + +If one hears a story that a small aërial affair has been up miles high, +or hundreds of miles horizontally, even at a low altitude, do not take +it for granted that you have been told the truth, you can easily try +and prove it for yourself. Just ask a few questions as to its size, +next get at its displacement of air, as you would judge in like manner +of a ship’s displacement of water when it has to carry so many thousand +tons of cargo. + +If you hear that a balloon of thirty or even forty feet in diameter has +been 20,000 feet high when filled with coal gas, shake your head and +fly to figures, remembering that the following simple calculations will +enable you to judge for yourself. Make, in fact, yourself a balloon of +tissue or Chinese paper, and bear in mind at the outset the proportion +that the _diameter_ bears to the circumference of a circle. + +Say you make it of three feet diameter, or thirty-six inches. + +In order to find the circumference, which is three times and +one-seventh the diameter, multiply the diameter thirty-six by 3·1416-- + + Then 3·1416 + 36 inches. + ------ + 188496 + 94248 + -------- + 113·0976 + ======== + + _Secondly._--By multiplying this circumference 113, by the diameter + 36, it gives the superficial surface. + + 113 + 36 + ---- + 678 + 339 + ---- + Number of superficial inches on the surface 4068 + ==== + +This multiplied by one-sixth gives the contents in cubic inches-- + + 4068 + 6 + ------ + 24408 + ====== + +Then if 24408, the contents of a balloon three feet in diameter is +divided by 1728, the number of cubic inches in a foot, you have +fourteen cubic feet as the capacity of a three feet balloon, thus-- + + 1728) 24408 (14 cubic feet + 1728 + ---- + 7128 and + 6912 + ---- + 216 inches over. + ==== + +If you want to find the internal capacity of a balloon three feet in +diameter, first multiply the three feet by three feet to give the +circumference (nine feet), which gives twenty-seven, the surface. + +Then multiply by 5236 to ascertain the cubic contents. + + 5236 + 27 + ------ + 36652 + 10472 + -------- + 14·1372 being 14 cubic feet and a fraction. + ======== + 14 + +I will just give one more simple calculation of the capacity and +superficial surface of a balloon thirty-three--instead of three--feet +in diameter. + + 33 + 33 + ---- + 99 + 99 + ---- + 1089 circumference. + 33 diameter. + ------ + 35937 surface. + ·5236 decimal numbers. + ------ + 215622 + 107811 + 71874 + 179685 + ---------- + 18816·6132 cubic contents. + ========== + +Carburetted hydrogen or coal gas, should raise from 402 pounds, as +1,000 feet of light gas should raise 40 pounds to the 1,000 cubic feet. + +If the reader is desirous of calculating either for model balloons, +or, as to the size, capacity, and power of larger balloons, take note +of this concise and abridged table of the diameters, surfaces, and +capacities, together with the ascensive power for every foot capacity +for hydrogen, so that if coal gas is used, allowance must be made +accordingly. + +First, for miniature paper or skin balloons. + + Feet, Diameter. Surface Capacities Pounds + in Square. in Cubic Feet. Ascensive Power. + 1 3-1/10 0-1/2 0-2/32 + 3 28 14 1 {in nearly + {a pound. + 6 113 113 7 + 10 314 523 33 + 20 1,257 4,189 261 + +LARGER BALLOONS. + + 30 2,827 14,137 884 + 40 5,026 33,510 2,094 + 50 7,854 65,450 4,091 + 80 20,106 268,083 16,755 + 100 31,416 523,599 32,725 + +The striking advantage of enlarging balloons, arises from the fact, +that their powers increase faster than their surfaces. When the +diameter is doubled, four times as much material is required, but you +get eight times as much capacity. + +I have now offered a few plain calculations in order to assist those +who feel interested in the subject, they may be extended and more +scientifically pursued in another volume of my experiences, when they +will be required, perhaps, for illustration of other ascents. + +I am often asked, how high will a balloon go? Will it mount higher and +higher until gas is let off to stop it? + +My answer is, that when a balloon, after inflation, is brought to +an even balance, in other words, when so much ballast is placed in +the car, that it shows a very slight tendency to move upwards, then +the required ascending power is increased by putting out more sand, +say to the amount of twenty, thirty, or forty pounds, according +to circumstances, I mean the strength of wind at the time, and the +proximity of adjacent objects, such as trees and buildings. + +With either of these limited number of weights removed, the balloon +cannot rise very high, unless there is either a large space for +expansion, or a very much larger quantity of sand is put out +subsequently. + +I will simply try this position by asking the reader to suppose that +A and B, two rival aëronauts, are about to engage at one and the same +time with two balloons of similar capacities to reach an elevation, say +of six miles, and that both balloonists have balloons that will contain +each 100,000 cubic feet of coal gas, and that they each take up one +person, so that the weight of their respective balloons, each having to +raise two persons, will altogether be 1,000 pounds for A’s and the same +for B’s machine. + +A’s balloon is to be quite filled with gas that lifts forty pounds the +1,000 feet, but B’s balloon is to be only half filled. + +On testing the lifting power, A’s being full, that is containing +100,000 cubic feet of gas, will, after deducting the weight of balloon +and two persons calculated at 1,000 pounds, with 3,000 pounds weight of +ballast. + +But B’s balloon would only have a 1,000 pounds of sand as compared with +A’s, because B’s is only half full, having only 50,000 feet of gas in +it. + +Well, under these apparently opposite conditions, which balloon, do you +suppose, would attain the greatest height? + +I should say, paradoxical as it may appear, that they would reach +about the same height, because the space left for expansion in B’s +balloon, owing to its half filled state, would admit of the gas +doubling its volume, while A’s balloon, being filled at starting, +would from the first irrecoverably lose gas from the neck, although it +remained full to the safety valve. + +B’s would hold its own 50,000 feet, and it would quickly increase and +multiply up to 100,000 cubic feet, and thus equal A’s balloon. + +The store of ballast would soon be equal. A’s 3,000 pounds would, at +three and three quarter miles high, be reduced to the level of B’s, +which was 1,000 pounds at starting, with only 50,000 cubic feet of gas. + +I have frequently adopted this system, but as I shall advert in the +next part of my experiences to cases in point, I prefer now to refer +to two of Mr. Green’s high ascents in proof of the practicability and +objects of this method, which saves labour in casting out so much sand, +and saves expense as well. + +The two voyages of Green, which were made in the years 1838-9, have +altogether escaped notice in the recent reviews of the most remarkable +scientific ascents in the present century. + +Robertson’s, Gay-Lussac’s, Bixio’s, and Barral’s having been mentioned, +but not those of Green, which came after the ascents of above +experimenters, and long before the fatal one by Croce Spinelli and +Sivel, and that lately made by Captain Jovis and Lieutenant Mallet. + +On the 4th of September, 1838, the celebrated Nassau balloon, which at +that time was the property of Messrs. Gye & Hughes, the proprietors +of Vauxhall Gardens, ascended from them with Mr. Green, Mr. Edward +Spencer, and Mr. Rush of Elsenham Hall, Essex, the latter gentleman +having engaged the balloon for experimental purposes, and more +particularly on this occasion for ascertaining the greatest altitude +that could with safety be attained with three persons in the car; and +further to ascertain the changes of temperature that would take place +at different elevations, as well as the variations of the currents +of air; and finally, to establish the important fact, as to whether +the same difficulties with regard to respiration in a very rarified +atmosphere would be experienced by persons rising in a balloon to any +great altitude, as have been felt by persons who have ascended lofty +mountains, and by previous aërial travellers in balloons to great +heights. + +They left the earth at twenty-five minutes before 7 p.m. with two +barometers standing at thirty inches each. + +One of these instruments, as well as a thermometer, was furnished +by Mr. Rush, constructed on the most accurate principles, and made +expressly for the purpose. + +The thermometer stood at 66° Fahrenheit. + +The following were the variations:-- + + Barometer. Thermometer. + 30 inches. 66 degrees. + 23 ” 56 ” + 21 ” 53 ” + 19 ” 46 ” + 18 ” 42 ” + 17 ” 39 ” + 16 ” 35 ” + 15 ” 25 ” + Greatest altitude 14·70 ” 25 ” + + +On first rising they took a north-westerly direction; at 2,500 it +changed to the north, and shortly afterwards to north-east. + +Their journey was pursued towards Epping, and they were discharging +ballast all the time. Leaving Dunmow to their left they attained their +greatest altitude, namely, 19,335 feet, or three and a half miles and +855 feet. + +In consequence of the great quantity of sand discharged after clearing +the Metropolis their ascent became very rapid, and, from the great +expansion of the inflating power, the gas rushed out from the lower +valve in considerable torrents. + +The velocity of their upward progress caused the balloon to rotate in a +spiral motion with astonishing rapidity. + +During their trip about 1,200 pounds of ballast was discharged, but +they reserved 100 pounds by which to regulate the descent. + +During their descent, when at 1,200 feet from the earth, a heavy +fall of snow was encountered, accompanied by a sudden and very great +reduction of temperature, the thermometer dropping to 22°, or 10° below +freezing point. The mercury in the barometer at this moment had risen +to nineteen inches. + +I mention this circumstance for the purpose of showing that sometimes +sudden changes of temperature have been experienced, not only by Green, +but by Bixio and Barral later on in the present century. + +The fatigue of the muscular powers, occasioned by exertion in emptying +ballast, did not occasion any serious inconvenience in respect to +difficulty in respiration. + +We shall see, in the next ascent which was still higher, that the +plan I have already exemplified as to allowing considerable space for +expansion was resorted to, and this saved both the necessity for and +the depression consequent upon hard work, although a large volume of +gas was literally wasted, which might, in an economical point of view, +have been prevented; but it will serve to show that a large balloon +partially inflated, with a reduced amount of sand, is for all practical +and scientific purposes preferable to a fully inflated balloon, that +is, for very high ascents. + +The ordinary way of examining the specific gravity of the different +gases is by a simple method founded on the principles of pneumatics, +for discovering the relative specific gravities of the aëriform fluids. + +This consists in observing the time that a given portion of the gas, +under a determined pressure, takes to escape through a very small +aperture. The density of the gaseous fluid must be inversely as the +square of the interval that elapses. + +The weight of the balloon and all appendages 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 atmosphere at the mean temperature, and near +the level of the sea, is 1632 pounds on a circle of a foot in diameter. + +Thus, in a balloon of sixty feet in 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 in diameter +in the horizontal action, or corresponding to the 979th part of the +entire pressure of the atmosphere. + +But the weight of the confined gas (hydrogen) being 1200 pounds, its +buoyancy must have suffered a diminution of somewhat more than a pound +or one-eleventh from the circumference opposed to it. + +But as I have purposely abstained from giving in this first elementary +part any computations of an abstruse order by more learned and capable +writers than myself, I shall reserve further remarks on this particular +head for my subsequent volume. + + +ASCENT, OVER FIVE MILES HIGH, BY GREEN AND RUSH. + +I have before me a mass of leading articles and newspaper cuttings +alluding to the ascent of Messrs. Jovis and Mallet, in which honourable +mention is made of the lofty explorations by Robertson and L’Hoest, +Gay-Lussac, Bixio, and Barral, together with Mr. Glaisher’s and my +own, but Green’s with Rush are invariably omitted, and yet these were +quite as important, while the second was higher than that made by the +intrepid French balloonists, and, so far as physical results go, the +Englishmen do not appear to have fainted or been much troubled. + +It is of immense importance to note this, as there can be no doubt +that a certain zone exists, in entering which some persons are more +susceptible than others to lessened atmospheric pressure, and here they +begin to feel the bad effects, which, by the way may come on without +warning, just as it is with Alpine travellers, although there are +marked distinctions between the two, but we cannot enter upon that in +detail in this chapter. + +This trip, by Green, was one of those which was designed to add a +fraction of knowledge to the already existing stores of science. This +fact is sufficient, even according to those who are not great admirers +of ballooning, to warrant its encouragement when taken in hand by +those who do not affect to be mere aëronautic performers, embarking +in aërostatic pursuits for sensational objects, or with the vain and +delusive idea, that it is not dangerous, and that it is a money-making +concern. + +Mr. Rush, assisted by the knowledge of his coadjutor, threw a character +of deep interest over the whole subject of aërostation, and this +trip, though lost sight of, at the present moment, is well worthy of +re-production, serving as it does, two ends; firstly, to call attention +to the fact, that English aëronauts seem to get more toughened by +acclimatization to rarified air than Frenchmen, and secondly, that they +do such work with less ado, and with equal, perhaps a little more, +methodical foresight and precision, than our more dashing and mercurial +neighbours. + +It was on the 10th of September (what a number of exceptionable +journeys were made in this month!) that the highest ascent which had +been made up to that date, came off from the far-famed Vauxhall Gardens. + +The proprietors made arrangements with Mr. Rush for it to take place +in the afternoon, that gentleman engaging the car for the occasion. + +The time allowed for preparation was limited. The first object to be +gained was that of diminishing the weight of the apparatus to as low a +point as due regard to their personal safety would admit. + +A small car was substituted for that commonly used. At five o’clock +in the afternoon, Green ascertained the power of the gas with which +the “Nassau” balloon was charged, the tranquil state of the weather +rendered this an easy operation. + +On examination, Green found that the whole weight of the balloon and +its appendages was 4,084 pounds thus constituted: + + Balloon, netting and car 700 pounds. + Ballast 1,500 ” + Mr. Rush 145 ” + Mr. Green 145 ” + Light, grapnel and rope 52 ” + Cloaks and barometers, &c. 30 ” + Twenty-seven half-hundredweights + slung round the hoop 1,512 ” + ------ + Total 4,084 ” + ====== + +Please to note that Green then opened the upper valve, and +discharged a quantity of gas equal to the power of the twenty-seven +half-hundredweights, which were then removed from the hoop. + +Why, you will ask, was this gas wasted, or put into the balloon? I +suppose for the sake of appearances and symmetrical distention, but +had Rush not been paymaster, it would most assuredly never have entered. + +The departure took place with an ascending power of 112 pounds--very +considerable indeed. + +Barometer stood at 30·50 just before leaving, and thermometer at 60°; +before seven minutes had elapsed, they had fallen, the former to 20, +and the latter to 36°, equal to 11,000 feet or two miles. + +Had it not been for the miserable aspect the balloon would have +presented, more gas would have been let off equal to an additional +1,000 pounds, and then not more than 500 pounds of sand need have been +shipped. + +At 11,000 feet they were driven south, after going north-east. + +Green was continually casting out ballast; on attaining 16,000 +feet--three miles--they entered a current blowing at the estimated +speed of sixty miles an hour, though they never stated, more’s the +pity, how under such a rocket-like rush upwards, they found time to +determine that this wonderful current existed. + +The only inconvenience (this is noteworthy) Mr. Rush sustained, arose +from the constant escape of gas from the rapid ascent. + +Mr. Green suffered severely from the cold in his hands and feet. + +They were now exposed to the influence of roaring winds, but from what +I can make out, it was only the effect of quick vertical ascent; here +the aëronaut, owing to the exertion he had to undergo, found it a +matter of the utmost difficulty to fetch his breath. + +The greatest altitude reached was 27,146 feet, indicating an elevation +from the earth of 5 miles and 746 feet, the barometer, at this point +having fallen from 30·50 to 11, and the thermometer from 61° to 5° or +27° below the freezing point. + +Ballast had been reduced to something under seventy pounds, which Green +resolved on preserving, and the result of their descent, which was +never minutely entered into, proved the propriety of this reservation. + +In the descent, they discovered something which very much bore the +appearance and consistency of snow. Mr. Rush’s attention was called +to it, but after consideration they were inclined to think that the +substance was not snow, but the dew and moisture congealed by the cold. + +It would be instructive to know how Captain Jovis, who must have had +the night dew on his balloon at the early inflation in Paris, got on +in this respect. His idea was that the sun would dry the moisture, +but I was under the impression that there would scarcely be time for +a globular shaped machine to get dry all round during the inflation. +However, they may, like Green, have encountered a snow storm without +there being, as indeed was unlikely, any damp clouds overhead at that +elevation; what I mean is, if the balloon itself shed and shook off +innumerable particles of frozen moisture, there can be no wonder that +such was noticed and mistaken for a fall of snow. + +After Rush and Green had hovered over Lewes in Sussex, a descent was +effected near Southover; there was not much hovering _I should say_. + +In this ascent they had the double advantage of witnessing the setting +sun (prior to their quitting the earth) and on their reaching 12,500 +feet of being once more within the sun’s rays. + +Another important consideration bearing upon this chapter 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 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 +acquires in the same time as the efficient buoyancy is to the aggregate +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 advance, however, being +opposed, the balloon though still affected with partial oscillations, +the final velocity is effected 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 efficient +buoyancy of the balloon, is easily calculated. + +The resistance 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 altitude +equal to the height from which a heavy body in falling would acquire +the given celerity. + +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 in 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 in 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. + +I introduce these few observations, which are by a much higher +authority than my own, because it occurred to me that my own remarks +might be considered too homely for some of those who may read these +lines, but as I have merely aimed at affording amusement with a +moderate portion of instruction, and do not write for scientific men, +but for general readers, I shall hope to gradually progress in this +treatment in a subsequent volume. + + +A JUMP OUT OF THE CAR IN AMERICA. + +Among the numerous newspaper reports which are on my table, are several +relative to what, in plain unvarnished English, we should describe as +a parachute descent. But the one I allude to was not like Cocking’s, +Garnerin’s, Le Turr’s, or Hampton’s, it had a size and peculiarity +worth notice. + +This American parachute had a very small and possibly inferior +covering; it was hardly equal to the man who is sketched with herculean +proportions, and required, one would say, a more efficient support, +especially as he indulged in no car or wicker protection, but hung +earthwards with his hands grasping the hoop. + +The descent is described as successful, it was made from a balloon on +August 9th, at Rockaway, New York State, U.S.A. + +The aëronaut’s name was Thomas S. Baldwin, and he first ascended in his +balloon the “City of Quincy,” which rose to a height of over a 1,000 +feet, when he grasped the parachute and cut himself adrift from the +balloon. + +The manœuvre shows a want of aëronautic common sense which the +newspaper description of “jumping out of the car” tends to intensify. + +The time of his descent was one minute and twenty-four seconds. + +It is said, that to the spectators below, a white cloud seemed to +fall. For a distance of seventy-five feet the parachute gave no signs +of expansion, and it was feared that another death would be added +to the roll of those who have made this perilous experiment. Then +the umbrella-like mass spread and hung like a white dome over the +aëronaut’s head. + +It soon rolled in circles with a slight rocking and swaying motion +from side to side, until at length Mr. Thomas S. Baldwin was landed, +or rather watered, to a depth of only a few feet, apparently none the +worse after a renewed acquaintance with his mother earth. + + +AN ENGLISHMAN’S PARACHUTE DESCENT IN 1839. + +Mr. John Hampton, with whom I first ascended, came down three times +in a newly constructed apparatus which was in many respects superior +to the American’s. The upper part of Hampton’s parachute was, in all +respects, in the form of an umbrella, having whalebone ribs, and a +curtain besides, below the ribs, like the sunshades patronized by the +ladies not long since. + +Mr. Hampton determined, in the summer of 1839, to outstrip all +competition by descending, after leaving the Montpelier Gardens, at +Cheltenham, by stealth, in his balloon “Albion.” The fate of Mr. +Cocking, and the censure which the proprietors of Vauxhall Gardens +incurred, induced the owner of the Montpelier Gardens to withhold his +consent to the experiment, but in order to carry out Mr. Hampton’s firm +resolve and to gratify the curiosity of an immense number of spectators +that were assembled upon that occasion, the manager agreed that the +balloon and parachute should be exhibited, but on no account should +ascend higher than sixty feet from the earth for fear of accident. + +When Mr. Hampton had reached this altitude, he severed the rope which +held his balloon, and the astonished spectators then beheld the +intrepid aëronaut majestically sailing towards the clouds previous to +his separation. + +At two miles from the earth (let us say, rather, at a fair elevation), +he determined upon cutting away; but previously, he opened his +parachute by means of a small block and rope before he separated it +from the balloon, and by adopting that plan made an easy and safe +descent at Copperley. + +His second attempt was from Cremorne Gardens, Chelsea, when he came +down in fine style, and was conducted back to the Gardens, accompanied +by an immense concourse of people, who were not sparing in their +approbation of his daring exploit. + +The third experiment was made from Bayswater, but the parachute caught +on one of the trees in Kensington Gardens, and Mr. Hampton was thereby +injured, but soon recovered. + +He managed to split his balloon with a thin cord before casting loose, +and altogether his plans were unique. + + + + +CHANNEL BALLOONING. + + +During the past six years some of our more daring aëronauts have +embarked in a succession of voyages from Dover and Hythe to France and +Flushing, with the idea, it would seem, of rivalling the memorable trip +made by Mr. C. Green in company with Messrs. Holland and Monck Mason, +who journeyed from Vauxhall Gardens, in the year 1836, to the Duchy of +Nassau. + +A recent ascent by Mr. Morton, who is called the Birmingham Aëronaut, +has had newspaper laudation, but aëronautically speaking, it does not +surpass or equal Mr. Joseph Simmonds’ journeys in length and risky +surroundings, nor General Brine’s, and Mr. Dale’s performance, nor the +late Colonel Burnaby’s ascent from Dover, which extended beyond Dieppe, +and was made in Mr. Thomas Wright’s balloon. Mr. Morton’s trip is not +equal to the preceding, though unexpectedly good in its way. + +The laboured efforts and fatal results of some of the later attempts +to cross over do not raise the estimation in which ballooning is held. +They would have been better left alone. Many of the mishaps, and they +have been frequent, point to perils which the old masters neither saw +or complained about, whereas our modern heroes ought to be more expert. + +We have also lately had a touch or two of what may be correctly +styled _Bogus Ballooning_. I refer to more than one report about a +cross-Channel run, which never took place, as I have ascertained after +ample enquiry. However I am well aware that the press cannot always +escape this sort of imposition being practised upon reporters who are +not proof against a hoax. I remember that when Henson’s flying machine +was completed, a morning newspaper of high standing contained thrilling +details of a first flight, which was merely a flight of fancy after +all, as the ponderous mass never budged an inch. + +In a later volume of my experiences I shall have to notice, on arriving +at the proper date, the impediments and drawbacks to the advancement of +ballooning. + +It is known to those who admire and aim at promoting this subject +that a few would-be inventors and so-called scientific men, who trade +and traffic in this and other cognate arts actually retard instead of +furthering aërostatics, they hold out false hopes, hoist false colours, +and deceive the very elect, the result being that aërostation is at a +stand still, or, in fact, loses _caste_ to some extent. + +Let us trust that these hints will lead to a new and brighter era, +when military and meteorological ballooning will be further applied to +useful objects, and that both combined, aided by sincere and competent +abettors, will bring about the solution of aërial navigation. + + + + +TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: + + + Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. + + Perceived typographical errors have been corrected. + + Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized. + + Archaic or variant spelling has been retained. + + Some German words and phrases that are obviously misspelled have been + retained as printed. + + On page 31, it appears that a word is possibly missing in the sentence + beginning ‘Somewhat lower down, at a hard where boats could be pulled + up...’ + + On page 72, ‘1320 feet per second’ should be ‘1320 feet per minute.’ + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75423 *** |