the dominion of the air-第26节
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k in hand。 But here a fatal obstacle presented itself in lack of funds； for it transpired that the grant voted was only to be devoted to trial ascents。
It was then that Mr。 Coxwell； with characteristic enterprise； undertook； at his own cost； to build a suitable balloon； and； moreover； to have it ready by Midsummer Day。 It was a bold； as well as a generous； offer； for it was now March； and； according to Mr。 Coxwell's statement； if silk were employed； the preparation and manufacture would occupy six months and cost not less than L2；000。 The fabric chosen was a sort of American cloth； and by unremitting efforts the task was performed to time； and the balloon forwarded to Wolverhampton； its dimensions being 55 feet in diameter； 80 feet in height from the ground； with a capacity of 93；000 cubic feet。 But the best feature in connection with it was the fact that Mr。 Glaisher himself was to make the ascents as scientific observer。
No time was lost in getting to work； but twice over the chosen days were unsuitable； and it was not till July 17th that the two colleagues； of whom so much is to be told； got away at 9。30 a。m。 with their balloon only two…thirds full； to allow of expansion to take place in such a lofty ascent as was contemplated。 And； when it is considered that an altitude of five miles was reached； it will be granted that the scientific gentleman who was making his maiden ascent that day showed remarkable endurance and tenacity of purposethe all…important essential for the onerous and trying work before him。 At 9。56 the balloon had disappeared from sight； climbing far into the sky in the E。N。E。 The story of the voyage we must leave in Mr。 Glaisher's hands。 Certain events； however； associated with other aeronauts； which had already happened； and which should be considered in connection with the new drama now to be introduced； may fittingly here meet with brief mention。
The trouble arising from the coasting across country of a fallen and still half…inflated balloon has already been sufficiently illustrated； and needs little further discussion。 It is common enough to see a balloon； when full and round； struggling restively under a moderate breeze with a score of men； and dragging them； and near a ton of sand…bags as well； about the starting ground。 But； as has already been pointed out； the power of the wind on the globe is vastly increased when the silk becomes slack and forms a hollow to hold the wind； like a bellying sail。 Various means to deal with this difficulty have been devised； one of these being an emergency； or ripping valve； in addition to the ordinary valve； consisting of an arrangement for tearing a large opening in the upper part of one of the gores； so that on reaching earth the balloon may be immediately crippled and emptied of so large a quantity of gas as to render dragging impossible。 Such a method is not altogether without drawbacks； one of these being the confusion liable to arise from there being more than one valve line to reckon with。 To obviate this； it has been suggested that the emergency line should be of a distinctive colour。
But an experiment with a safeguard to somewhat of this nature was attended with fatal consequence in the year 1824。 A Mr。 Harris； a lieutenant in the British Navy； ascended from the Eagle Tavern； City Road； with a balloon fitted with a contrivance of his own invention； consisting of a large hinged upper valve； having within it a smaller valve of the same description； the idea being that； should the operation of the smaller outlet not suffice for any occasion； then the shutter of the larger opening might be resorted to； to effect a more liberal discharge of gas。
Mr。 Harris took with him a young lady； Miss Stocks by name； and apparently the afternoonit being late May was favourable for an aerial voyage； for； with full reliance on his apparatus； he left his grapnel behind； and was content with such assistance as the girl might be able to render him。 It was not long before the balloon was found descending； and with a rapidity that seemed somewhat to disturb the aeronaut； and when； after a re…ascent； effected by a discharge of ballast； another decided downward tendency ensued； Mr。 Harris clearly realised that something was wrong； without； however； divining the cause。 The story subsequently told by the girl was to the effect that when the balloon was descending the second time she was spoken to by her unfortunate companion in an anxious manner。 〃I then heard the balloon go 'Clap！ clap！' and Mr。 Harris said he was afraid it was bursting； at which I fainted； and knew no more until I found myself in bed。〃 A gamekeeper tells the sequel； relating that he observed the balloon； which was descending with great velocity； strike and break the head of an oak tree； after which it also struck the ground。 Hurrying up； he found the girl insensible； and Mr。 Harris already dead； with his breast bone and several ribs broken。 The explanation of the accident given by Mr。 Edward Spencer is alike convincing and instructive。 This eminently practical authority points out that the valve lines must have been made taut to the hoop at the time that the balloon was full and globular。 Thus； subsequently； when from diminution of gas the balloon's shape elongated； the valve line would become strained and begin to open the valve； but in such a gradual manner as to escape the notice of the aeronaut。 Miss Stocks； far from being unnerved by the terrible experience； actually made three subsequent ascents in company with Mr。 Green。
It deserves mention that another disaster； equally instructive； but happily not attended with loss of life； occurred in Dublin in 1844 to Mr。 Hampton； who about this time made several public and enterprising voyages。 He evidently was possessed of admirable nerve and decision； and did not hesitate to make an ascent from the Porto…Bello Gardens in face of strong wind blowing sea…wards； and in spite of many protestations from the onlookers that he was placing himself in danger。 This danger he fully realised； more particularly when he recognised that the headland on which he hoped to alight was not in the direction of the wind's course。 Resolved； however； on gratifying the crowd； Mr。 Hampton ascended rapidly； and then with equal expedition commenced a precipitate descent； which he accomplished with skill and without mishap。 But the wind was still boisterous； and the balloon sped onward along the ground towards fresh danger unforeseen； and perhaps not duly reckoned with。 Ahead was a cottage； the chimney of which was on fire。 A balloonist in these circumstances is apt to think little of a single small object in his way； knowing how many are the chances of missing or of successfully negotiating any such obstacle。 The writer on one occasion was； in the judgment of onlookers below； drifting in dangerous proximity to the awful Cwmavon stack in Glamorganshire； then in full blast； yet it was a fact that that vast vent of flame and smoke passed almost unheeded by the party in the descending car。 It may have been thus； also； with Mr。 Hampton； who only fully realised his danger when his balloon blew up 〃with an awfully grand explosion；〃 and he was reduced to the extremity of jumping for his life； happily escaping the mass of burning silk and ropes。
The awful predicament of falling into the sea； which has been illustrated already； and which will recur again in these pages； was ably and successfully met by Mr。 Cunningham； who made an afternoon ascent from the Artillery Barracks at Clevedon； reaching Snake Island at nightfall； where； owing to the gathering darkness； he felt constrained to open his valve。 He quickly commenced descending into the sea； and when within ten feet of the water； turned the 〃detaching screw〃 which connected the car with the balloon。 The effect of this was at once to launch him on the waves； but； being still able to keep control over the valve； he allowed just enough gas to remain within the silk to hold the balloon above water。 He then betook himself to the paddles with which his craft was provided； and reached Snake Island with the balloon in tow。 Here he seems to have found good use for a further portion of his very complete equipment； for； lighting a signal rocket； he presently brought a four…oared gig to his succour from Portsmouth Harbour。
The teaching of the above incident is manifest enough。 If it should be contemplated to use the balloon for serious or lengthened travel anywhere within possible reach of the sea…boardand this must apply to all parts of the British Islesit must become a wise precaution； if not an absolute necessity； to adopt some form of car that would be of avail in the event of a fall taking place in the sea。 Sufficient confirmation of this statement will be shortly afforded by a memorable voyage accomplished during the partnership of Messrs。 Glaisher and Coxwell； one which would certainly have found the travellers in far less jeopardy had their car been convertible into a boat。 We have already seen how essential Wise considered this expedient in his own bolder schemes； and it may further be mentioned here that modern air ships have been designed with the intention of making the water a perfectly safe landing。
