the dominion of the air-第25节
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the case。。。 In less than two minutes we entered the lower clouds； passing through them quickly； and noticing that their tops； which are usually of white； rounded conformation； were torn into shreds and crests of vapour。 Above； there was a second wild…looking stratum of another order。 We could hear； as we hastened on； the hum of the West End of London； but we were bowling along； having little time to look about us； though some extra sandbags were turned to good account by making a bed of them at the bottom ends of the car； which we occupied in anticipation of a rough landing。〃
As it came on to rain hard the voyagers agreed to descend； and Coxwell； choosing open ground； succeeded in the oft…attempted endeavour to drop his grapnel in front of a bank or hedge…row。 The balloon pulled up with such a shock as inevitably follows when flying at sixty miles an hour； and Mr。 Coxwell continues： 〃We were at this time suspended like a kite； and it was not so much the quantity of gas which kept us up as the hollow surface of loose silk； which acted like a falling kite； and the obvious game of skill consisted in not letting out too much gas to make the balloon pitch heavily with a thud that would have been awfully unpleasant； but to jockey our final touch in a gradual manner； and yet to do it as quickly as possible for fear of the machine getting adrift； since； under the peculiar circumstances in which we were placed； it would have inevitably fallen with a crushing blow； which might have proved fatal。 I never remember to have been in a situation when more coolness and nicety were required to overcome the peril which here beset us； while on that day the strong wind was； strange as it may sound； helping us to alight easily； that is to say as long as the grapnel held fast and the balloon did not turn over like an unsteady kite。〃 Such peril as there was soon terminated without injury to either voyager。
The same remark will apply to an occasion when Coxwell was caught in a thunderstorm； which he thus describes in brief：〃On a second ascent from Chesterfield we were carried into the midst of gathering clouds； which began to flash vividly； and in the end culminated in a storm。 There were indications； before we left the earth； as to what might be expected。 The lower breeze took us in another direction as we rose； but a gentle； whirling current higher up got us into the vortex of a highly charged cloud。。。。 We had to prove by absolute experience whether the balloon was insulated and a non…conductor。 Beyond a drenching； no untoward incident occurred during a voyage lasting in all three…quarters of an hour。〃
A voyage which Coxwell （referring； doubtless； to aerial travel over English soil only） describes as 〃being so very much in excess of accustomary trips in balloons〃 will be seen to fall short of one memorable voyage of which the writer will have to give his own experiences。 Some account； however； of what the famous aeronaut has to tell will find a fitting place here。
It was an ascent on a summer night from North Woolwich； and on this occasion Coxwell was accom… panied by two friends； one being Henry Youens； who subsequently became a professional balloonist of considerable repute； and who at this time was an ardent amateur。 It was half an hour before midnight when the party took their places； and； getting smartly away from the crowd in the gala grounds； shot over the river； and shortly were over the town of Greenwich with the lights of London well ahead。 Then their course took them over Kennington Oval； Vauxhall Bridge； and Battersea； when they presently heard the strains of a Scotch polka。 This came up from the then famous Gardens of Cremorne； and； the breeze freshening； it was but a few minutes later when they stood over Kingston； by which time it became a question whether； being now clear of London； they should descend or else live out the night and take what thus might come their way。 This course； as the most prudent； as well as the most fascinating； was that which commended itself； and at that moment the hour of midnight was heard striking； showing that a fairly long distance had been covered in a short interval of time。
From this period they would seem to have lost their way； and though scattered lights were sighted ahead； they were soon in doubt as to whether they might not already be nearing the sea； a doubt that was strengthened by their hearing the cry of sea…fowl。 After a pause； lights were seen looming under the haze to sea…ward； which at times resembled water； and a tail like that of a comet was discerned； beyond which was a black patch of considerable size。
The patch was the Isle of Wight； and the tail the Water from Southampton。 They were thus wearing more south and towards danger。 They had no Davy lamp with which to read their aneroid； and could only tell from the upward flight of fragments of paper that they were descending。 Another deficiency in their equipment was the lack of a trail rope to break their fall； and for some time they were under unpleasant apprehension of an unexpected and rude impact with the ground； or collision with some undesirable object。 This induced them to discharge sand and to risk the consequences of another rise into space； and as they mounted they were not reassured by sighting to the south a ridge of lighter colour； which strongly suggested the coast line。
But it was midsummer； and it was not long before bird life awakening was heard below； and then a streak of dawn revealed their locality； which was over the Exe； with Sidmouth and Tor Bay hard by on their left。 Then from here； the land jutting seawards； they confidently traversed Dartmoor； and effected a safe； if somewhat unseasonable； descent near Tavistock。 The distance travelled was considerable； but the duration； on the aeronaut's own showing； was less than five hours。
In the year 1859 the Times commented on the usefulness of military balloons in language that fully justified all that Coxwell had previously claimed for them。 A war correspondent； who had accompanied the Austrian Army during that year； asks pertinently how it had happened that the French had been ready at six o'clock to make a combined attack against the Austrians； who； on their part； had but just taken up positions on the previous evening。 The correspondent goes on to supply the answer thus：〃No sooner was the first Austrian battalion out of Vallegio than a balloon was observed to rise in the air from the vicinity of Monsambanoa signal； no doubt； for the French in Castiglione。 I have a full conviction that the Emperor of the French knew overnight the exact position of every Austrian corps； while the Emperor of Austria was unable to ascertain the number or distribution of the forces of the allies。〃
It appears that M。 Godard was the aeronaut employed to observe the enemy； and that fresh balloons for the French Army were proceeded with。
The date was now near at hand when Coxwell； in partnership with Mr。 Glaisher； was to take part in the classical work which has rendered their names famous throughout the world。 Before proceeding to tell of that period； however； Mr。 Coxwell has done well to record one aerial adventure； which； while but narrowly missing the most serious consequences； gives a very practical illustration of the chances in favour of the aeronaut under extreme circumstances。
It was an ascent at Congleton in a gale of wind； a and the company of two passengersMessrs。 Pearson； of Lawton Hallwas pressed upon him。 Everything foretold a rough landing； and some time after the start was made the outlook was not improved by the fact that the dreaded county of Derbyshire was seen approaching； and it was presently apparent that the spot on which they had decided to descend was faced by rocks and a formidable gorge。 On this； Coxwell attempted to drop his grapnel in front of a stone wall； and so far with success； but the wall went down； as also another and another； the wicker car passing； with its great impetus； clean through the solid obstacles； till at last the balloon slit from top to bottom。 Very serious injuries to heads and limbs were sustained； but no lives were lost； and Coxwell himself； after being laid up at Buxton； got home on crutches。
CHAPTER XIII。 SOME NOTEWORTHY ASCENTS。
It was the year 1862； and the scientific world in England determined once again on attempting observational work in connection with balloons。 There had been a meeting of the British Association at Wolverhampton； and； under their auspices； and with the professional services of Thomas Lythgoe； Mr。 Creswick； of Greenwich Observatory； was commissioned to make a lofty scientific ascent with a Cremorne balloon。 The attempt； however； was unsatisfactory； and the balloon being condemned； an application was made to Mr。 Coxwell to provide a suitable craft； and to undertake its management。 The principals of the working committee were Colonel Sykes； M。P。； Dr。 Lee； and Mr。 James Glaisher； F。R。S。； and a short conference between these gentlemen and the experienced aeronaut soon made it clear that a mammoth balloon far larger than any in existence was needed for the work in hand。 But here a fatal obstacle presented itself in lack of funds； for it transpired that the
