the mastery of the air(操纵空气)-第4节
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was not till August of the following year （1784） that the first balloon
ascent was made in Great Britain； by Mr。 J。 M。 Tytler。 This took place at
Edinburgh in a fire balloon。 Previous to this an Italian； named Lunardi；
had in November； 1783； dispatched from the Artillery Ground； in London；
a small balloon made of oil…silk； 10 feet in diameter and weighing 11
pounds。 This small craft was sent aloft at one o'clock； and came down；
about two and a half hours later； in Sussex； about 48 miles from its
starting…place。
In 1784 the largest balloon on record was sent up from Lyons。 This
immense craft was more than 100 feet in diameter； and stood about 130
feet high。 It was inflated with hot air over a straw fire； and seven
passengers were carried； including Joseph Montgolfier and Pilatre de
Rozier。
But to return to de Rozier； whom we left earlier in the chapter； after his
memorable ascent near Paris。 This daring Frenchman decided to cross the
Channel； and to prevent the gas cooling； and the balloon falling into the
sea； he hit on the idea of suspending a small fire balloon under the neck of
another balloon inflated with hydrogen gas。 In the light of our modern
knowledge of the highly…inflammable nature of hydrogen； we wonder how
anyone could have attempted such an adventure； but there had been little
experience of this newly…discovered gas in those days。 We are not
surprised to read that； when high in the air； there was an awful explosion
and the brave aeronaut fell to the earth and was dashed to death。
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CHAPTER IV The First Balloon Ascent in England
It has been said that the honour of making the first ascent in a balloon
from British soil must be awarded to Mr。 Tytler。 This took place in
Scotland。 In this chapter we will relate the almost romantic story of the
first ascent made in England。
This was carried out successfully by Lunardi； the Italian of whom we
have previously spoken。 This young foreigner； who was engaged as a
private secretary in London； had his interest keenly aroused by the
accounts of the experiments being carried out in balloons in France； and
he decided to attempt similar experiments in this country。
But great difficulties stood in his way。 Like many other inventors and
would…be airmen； he suffered from lack of funds to build his craft； and
though people whom he approached for financial aid were sympathetic；
many of them were unwilling to subscribe to his venture。 At length；
however； by indomitable perseverance； he collected enough money to
defray the cost of building his balloon； and it was arranged that he should
ascend from the Artillery Ground； London； in September； 1784。
His craft was a 〃Charlier〃that is； it was modelled after the hydrogen…
inflated balloon built by Professor Charlesand it resembled in shape an
enormous pear。 A wide hoop encircled the neck of the envelope； and from
this hoop the car was suspended by stout cordage。
It is said that on the day announced for the ascent a crowd of nearly
200；000 had assembled； and that the Prince of Wales was an interested
spectator。 Farmers and labourers and； indeed； all classes of people from
the prince down to he humblest subject； were represented； and seldom had
London's citizens been more deeply excited。
Many of them； however； were incredulous； especially when an
insufficiency of gas caused a long delay before the balloon could be
liberated。 Fate seemed to be thwarting the plucky Italian at every step。
Even at the last minute； when all arrangements had been perfected as far
as was humanly possible； and the crowd was agog with excitement； it
appeared probable that he would have to postpone the ascent。
It was originally intended that Lunardi should be accompanied by a
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passenger； but as there was a shortage of gas the balloon's lifting power
was considerably lessened； and he had to take the trip with a dog and cat
for companions。 A perfect ascent was made； and in a few moments the
huge balloon was sailing gracefully in a northerly direction over
innumerable housetops。
This trip was memorable in another way。 It was probably the only
aerial cruise where a Royal Council was put off in order to witness the
flight。 It is recorded that George the Third was in conference with the
Cabinet； and when news arrived in the Council Chamber that Lunardi was
aloft； the king remarked： Gentlemen； we may resume our deliberations at
pleasure； but we may never see poor Lunardi again！〃
The journey was uneventful； there was a moderate northerly breeze；
and the aeronaut attained a considerable altitude； so that he and his
animals were in danger of frost…bite。 Indeed； one of the animals suffered
so severely from the effects of the cold that Lunardi skilfully descended
low enough to drop it safely to earth； and then； throwing out ballast； once
more ascended。 He eventually came to earth near a Hertfordshire village
about 30 miles to the north of London。
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CHAPTER V The Father of British Aeronauts
No account of the early history of English aeronautics could possibly
be complete unless it included a description of the Nassau balloon； which
was inflated by coal…gas； from the suggestion of Mr。 Charles Green； who
was one of Britain's most famous aeronauts。 Because of his institution of
the modern method of using coal…gas in a balloon； Mr。 Green is generally
spoken of as the Father of British Aeronautics。 During the close of the
eighteenth and the opening years of the nineteenth century there had been
numerous ascents in Charlier balloons； both in Britain and on the
Continent。 It had already been discovered that hydrogen gas was highly
dangerous and also expensive； and Mr。 Green proposed to try the
experiment of inflating a balloon with ordinary coal…gas； which had now
become fairly common in most large towns； and was much less costly than
hydrogen。
Critics of the new scheme assured the promoters that coal…gas would
be of little use for a balloon； averring that it had comparatively little lifting
power； and aeronauts could never expect to rise to any great altitude in
such a balloon。 But Green firmly believed that his theory was practical；
and he put it to the test。 The initial experiments quite convinced him that
he was right。 Under his superintendence a fine balloon about 80 feet high；
built of silk； was made in South London； and the car was constructed to
hold from fifteen to twenty passengers。 When the craft was completed it
was proposed to send it to Paris for exhibition purposes； and the inventor；
with two friends； Messrs。 Holland and Mason； decided to take it over the
Channel by air。 It is said that provisions were taken in sufficient quantities
to last a fortnight； and over a ton of ballast was shipped。
The journey commenced in November； 1836； late in the afternoon； as
the aeronauts had planned to cross the sea by night。 A fairly strong north…
west wind quickly bore them to the coast； and in less than an hour they
found themselves over the lights of Calais。 On and on they went； now and
then entirely lost to Earth through being enveloped in dense fog； hour after
hour went by； until at length dawn revealed a densely…wooded tract of
country with which they were entirely unfamiliar。 They decided to land；
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and they were greatly surprised to find that they had reached Weilburg； in
Nassau； Germany。 The whole journey of 500 miles had
