the dominion of the air-第11节
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is not disposed to question the general truth of the narrative。 In regard to Zambeccari's escape from the sea related above； it should be stated that in the case of a gas…inflated balloon which has no more than dipped its car or gallery in the waves； it is generally perfectly possible to raise it again from the water； provided there is on board a store of ballast； the discharge of which will sufficiently lighten the balloon。 A case in point occurred in a most romantic and perilous voyage accomplished by Mr。 Sadler on the 1st of October； 1812。
His adventure is one of extraordinary interest； and of no little value to the practical aeronaut。 The following account is condensed from Mr。 Sadler's own narrative。 He started from the grounds of Belvedere House； Dublin； with the expressed intention of endeavouring to cross over the Irish Channel to Liverpool。 There appear to have been two principal air drifts； an upper and a lower； by means of which he entertained fair hopes of steering his desired course。 But from the outset he was menaced with dangers and difficulties。 Ere he had left the land he discovered a rent in his silk which； occasioned by some accident before leaving； showed signs of extending。 To reach this； it was necessary to extemporise by means of a rope a species of ratlins by which he could climb the rigging。 He then contrived to close the rent with his neckcloth。 He was； by this time； over the sea； and； manoeuvring his craft by aid of the two currents at his disposal； he was carried to the south shore of the Isle of Man； whence he was confident of being able； had he desired it； of landing in Cumberland。 This； however； being contrary to his intention； he entrusted himself to the higher current； and by it was carried to the north…west of Holyhead。 Here he dropped once again to the lower current； drifting south of the Skerry Lighthouse across the Isle of Anglesea； and at 4。30 p。m。 found himself abreast of the Great Orme's Head。 Evening now approaching； he had determined to seek a landing； but at this critical juncture the wind shifted to the southward； and he became blown out to sea。 Then； for an hour； he appears to have tried high and low for a more favourable current； but without success； and； feeling the danger of his situation； and； moreover； sighting no less than five vessels beating down the Channel； he boldly descended in the sea about a mile astern of them。 He must for certain have been observed by these vessels； but each and all held on their course； and； thus deserted； the aeronaut had no choice but to discharge ballast； and； quitting the waves； to regain his legitimate element。 His experiences at this period of his extraordinary voyage are best told in his own words。 〃At the time I descended the sun was near setting Already the shadows of evening had cast a dusky hue over the face of the ocean； and a crimson glow purpled the tops of the waves as； heaving in the evening breeze； they died away in distance； or broke in foam against the sides of the vessels； and before I rose from the sea the orb had sunk below the horizon； leaving only the twilight glimmer to light the vast expanse around me。 How great； therefore； was my astonishment； and how incapable is expression to convey an adequate idea of my feelings when； rising to the upper region of the air； the sun； whose parting beams I had already witnessed； again burst on my view； and encompassed me with the full blaze of day。 Beneath me hung the shadows of even； whilst the clear beams of the sun glittered on the floating vehicle which bore me along rapidly before the wind。〃
After a while he sights three more vessels； which signify their willingness to stand by； whereupon he promptly descends； dropping beneath the two rear…most of them。 From this point the narrative of the sinking man； and the gallant attempt at rescue； will rival any like tale of the sea。 For the wind； now fast rising； caught the half empty balloon so soon as the car touched the sea； and the vessel astern； though in full pursuit； was wholly unable to come up。 Observing this； Mr。 Sadler； trusting more to the vessel ahead； dropped his grappling iron by way of drag； and shortly afterwards tried the further expedient of taking off his clothes and attaching them to the iron。 The vessels； despite these endeavours； failing to overhaul him； he at last； though with reasonable reluctance； determined to further cripple the craft that bore him so rapidly by liberating a large quantity of gas； a desperate； though necessary； expedient which nearly cost him his life。
For the car now instantly sank； and the unfortunate man； clutching at the hoop； found he could not even so keep himself above the water； and was reduced to clinging； as a last hope； to the netting。 The result of this could be foreseen； for he was frequently plunged under water by the mere rolling of the balloon。 Cold and exertion soon told on him； as he clung frantically to the valve rope； and when his strength failed him he actually risked the expedient of passing his head through the meshes of the net。 It was obvious that for avail help must soon come； yet the pursuing vessel； now close； appeared to hold off； fearing to become entangled in the net； and in this desperate extremity； fainting from exhaustion and scarcely able to cry aloud； Mr。 Sadler himself seems to have divined the chance yet left； for； summoning his failing strength； he shouted to the sailors to run their bowsprit through his balloon。 This was done； and the drowning man was hauled on board with the life scarcely in him。
A fitting sequel to the above adventure followed five years afterwards。 The Irish Sea remained unconquered。 No balloonist had as yet ever crossed its waters。 Who would attempt the feat once more？ Who more worthy than the hero's own son； Mr。 Windham Sadler？
This aspiring aeronaut； emulating his father's enterprising spirit； chose the same starting ground at Dublin； and on the longest day of 1817； when winds seemed favourable； left the Porto Bello barracks at 1。20 p。m。 His endeavour was to 〃tack〃 his course by such currents as he should find； in the manner attempted by his father； and at starting the ground current blew favourably from the W。S。W。 He； however； allowed his balloon to rise to too high an altitude； where he must have been taken aback by a contrary drift； for； on descending again through a shower of snow； he found himself no further than Ben Howth； as yet only ten miles on his long journey。 Profiting by his mistake； he thenceforward； by skilful regulation； kept his balloon within due limits； and successfully maintained a direct course across the sea； reaching a spot in Wales not far from Holyhead an hour and a half before sundown。 The course taken was absolutely the shortest possible； being little more than seventy miles； which he traversed in five hours。
From this period of our story； noteworthy events in aeronautical history grow few and far between。 As a mere exhibition the novelty of a balloon ascent had much worn off。 No experimentalist was ready with any new departure in the art。 No fresh adventure presented itself to the minds of the more enterprising spirits； and； whereas a few years previously ballooning exploits crowded into every summer season and were not neglected even in winter months； there is now for a while little to chronicle； either abroad or in our own country。 A certain revival of the sensational element in ballooning was occasionally witnessed； and not without mishap； as in the case of Madame Blanchard； who； in the summer of 1819； ascending at night with fireworks from the Tivoli Gardens； Paris； managed to set fire to her balloon and lost her life in her terrific fall。 Half a dozen years later a Mr。； as also Mrs。； Graham figure before the public in some bold spectacular ascents。
But the fame of any aeronaut of that date must inevitably pale before the dawning light shed by two stars of the first magnitude that were arising in two opposite parts of the worldMr。 John Wise in America； and Mr。 Charles Green in our own country。 The latter of these； who has been well styled the 〃Father of English Aeronautics；〃 now entered on a long and honoured career of so great importance and success that we must reserve for him a separate and special chapter。
CHAPTER VI。 CHARLES GREEN AND THE NASSAU BALLOON。
The balloon； which had gradually been dropping out of favour； had now been virtually laid aside； and； to all appearance； might have continued so； when； as if by chance concurrence of events； there arrived both the hour and the man to restore it to the world； and to invest it with a new practicability and importance。 The coronation of George the Fourth was at hand； and this became a befitting occasion for the rare genius mentioned at the end of the last chapter； and now in his thirty…sixth year； to put in practice a new method of balloon management and inflation； the entire credit of which must be accorded to him alone。
From its very introduction and inception the gas balloon； an expensive and fragile structure in itself； had proved at all times exceedingly costly in actual use。 Indeed； we find that at the date at which we have now arrived the estimate for filling a balloon of 70；000 cubi
