the dominion of the air-第34节
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y balloon； called the 〃Compensator；〃 and properly the idea of M。 L。 Godard； the function of which was to receive any expulsion of gas in ascending； and thus to prevent loss during any voyage。 The specification of this really remarkable structure may be taken from M。 Nadar's own description。 The globe in itself was for greater strength virtually double； consisting of two identical balloons； one within the other； each made of white silk of the finest quality； and costing about 5s。 4d。 per yard。 No less than 22；000 yards of this silk were required； and the sewing up of the gores was entirely done by hand。 The small compensating balloon was constructed to have a capacity of about 3；500 cubic feet； and the whole machine； when fully inflated； was calculated to lift 4 1/2 tons。 With this enormous margin of buoyancy； M。 Nadar determined on making the car of proportionate and unparalleled dimensions； and of most elaborate design。 It contained two floors； of which the upper one was open； the height of all being nearly 7 feet； with a width of about 13 feet。 Then what was thought to be due provision was made for possible emergencies。 It might descend far from help or habitations； therefore means were provided for attaching wheels and axles。 Again； the chance of rough impact had to be considered； and so canes； to act as springs； were fitted around and below。 Once again； there was the contingency of immersion to be reckoned with； therefore there were provided buoys and water…tight compartments。 Further than this； unusual luxuries were added； for there were cabins； one for the captain at one end； and another with three berths for passengers at the other。 Nor was this all； for there was； in addition； a larder； a lavatory； a photographic room； and a printing office。 It remains now only to tell the tale of how this leviathan of the air acquitted itself。
The first ascent was made on the 4th of October； 1853； from the Champ de Mars； and no fewer than fifteen living souls were launched together into the sky。 Of these Nadar was captain； with the brothers Godard lieutenants。 There was the Prince de Sayn…Wittgenstein； there was the Count de St。 Martin； above all； there was a lady； the Princess de la Tour d'Auvergne。 The balloon came to earth at 9 o'clock at night near Meaux； and； considering all the provision which had been made to guard against rough landing； it can hardly be said that the descent was a happy one。 It appears that the car dragged on its side for nearly a mile； and the passengers； far from finding security in the seclusion of the inner chambers； were glad to clamber out above and cling； as best they might； to the ropes。
Many of the party were bruised more or less severely； though no one was seriously injured； and it was reported that such fragile articles as crockery； cakes； confectionery； and wine bottles to the number of no less than thirty…seven； were afterwards discovered to be intact； and received due attention。 It is further stated that the descent was decided on contrary to the wishes of the captain； but in deference to the judgment of the experienced MM。 Godard； it being apparently their conviction that the balloon was heading out to sea； whereas； in reality； they were going due east； 〃with no sea at all before them nearer than the Caspian。〃
This was certainly an unpropitious trial trip for the vessel that had so ambitiously sought dominion over the air； and the next trial； which was embarked upon a fortnight later； Sunday； October 18th； was hardly less unfortunate。 Again the ascent was from the Champ de Mars； and the send…off lacked nothing in the way of splendour and circumstance。 The Emperor was present； for two hours an interested observer of the proceedings； the King of Greece also attended； and even entered the car； while another famous spectator was the popular Meyerbeer。 〃The Giant〃 first gave a preliminary demonstration of his power by taking up； for a cable's length； a living freight of some thirty individuals； and then； at 5。10 p。m。； started on its second free voyage； with nine souls on board； among them again being a lady； in the person of Madame Nadar。 For nearly twenty…four hours no tidings of the voyage were forthcoming； when a telegram was received stating that the balloon had passed over Compiegne； more than seventy miles from Paris； at 8。30 on the previous evening； and that Nadar had dropped the simple message； 〃All goes well！〃 A later telegram the same evening stated that the balloon had at midnight on Sunday passed the Belgian frontier over Erquelines； where the Custom House officials had challenged the travellers without receiving an answer。
But eight…and…forty hours since the start went by without further news； and excitement in Paris grew intense。 When the news came at last it was from Bremen； to say that Nadar's balloon had descended at Eystrup； Hanover； with five of the passengers injured； three seriously。 These three were M。 Nadar； his wife； and M。 St。 Felix。 M。 Nadar； in communicating this intelligence； added； 〃We owe our lives to the courage of Jules Godard。〃 The following signed testimony of M。 Louis Godard is forthcoming； and as it refers to an occasion which is among the most thrilling in aerial adventure； it may well be given without abridgment。 It is here transcribed almost literatim from Mr。 H。 Turner's valuable work； 〃Astra Castra。〃
〃The Giant；〃 after passing Lisle； proceeded in the direction of Belgium； where a fresh current； coming from the Channel； drove it over the marshes of Holland。 It was there that M。 Louis Godard proposed to descend to await the break of day； in order to recognise the situation and again to depart。 It was one in the morning； the night was dark； but the weather calm。 Unfortunately； this advice； supported by long experience； was not listened to。 〃The Giant〃 went on its way； and then Louis Godard no longer considered himself responsible for the consequences of the voyage。
The balloon coasted the Zuyder Zee； and then entered Hanover。 The sun began to appear； drying the netting and sides of the balloon； wet from its passage through the clouds； and produced a dilatation which elevated the aeronauts to 15；000 feet。 At eight o'clock the wind； blowing suddenly from the west； drove the balloon in a right line towards the North Sea。 It was necessary； at all hazards； to effect a descent。 This was a perilous affair； as the wind was blowing with extreme violence。 The brothers Godard assisted； by M。 Gabriel； opened the valve and got out the anchors； but； unfortunately； the horizontal progress of the balloon augmented from second to second。 The first obstacle which the anchors encountered was a tree； it was instantly uprooted； and dragged along to a second obstacle； a house； whose roof was carried off。 At this moment the two cables of the anchors were broken without the voyagers being aware of it。 Foreseeing the successive shocks that were about to ensuethe moment was criticalthe least forgetfulness might cause death。 To add to the difficulty； the balloon's inclined position did not permit of operating the valve； except on the hoop。
At the request of his brother； Jules Godard attempted the difficult work of climbing to this hoop； and； in spite of his known agility； he was obliged several times to renew the effort。 Alone； and not being able to detach the cord； M。 Louis Godard begged M。 Yon to join his brother on the hoop。 The two made themselves masters of the rope； which they passed to Louis Godard。 The latter secured it firmly； in spite of the shocks he received。 A violent impact shook the car and M。 de St。 Felix became entangled under the car as it was ploughing the ground。 It was impossible to render him any assistance； notwithstanding； Jules Godard； stimulated by his brother； leapt out to attempt mooring the balloon to the trees by means of the ropes。 M。 Montgolfier； entangled in the same manner； was re…seated in time and saved by Louis Godard。
At this moment others leapt out and escaped with a few contusions。 The car； dragged along by the balloon； broke trees more than half a yard in diameter and overthrew everything that opposed it。
Louis Godard made M。 Yon leap out of the car to assist Madame Nadar； but a terrible shock threw out MM。 Nadar； Louis Godard； and Montgolfier； the two first against the ground； the third into the water。 Madame Nadar； in spite of the efforts of the voyagers； remained the last； and found herself squeezed between the ground and the car； which had fallen upon her。 More than twenty minutes elapsed before it was possible to disentangle her； in spite of the most vigorous efforts on the part of everyone。 It was at this moment the balloon burst and； like a furious monster； destroyed everything around it。 Immediately afterwards they ran to the assistance of M。 de St。 Felix； who had been left behind； and whose face was one ghastly wound； and covered with blood and mire。 He had an arm broken； his chest grazed and bruised。
After this accident； though a creditable future lay in store for 〃The Giant；〃 its monstrous and unwieldy car was condemned； and presently removed to the Crystal Palace； where it was daily visited by large crowds。
It is impossible to dismiss this brief sketch
