the dominion of the air-第36节
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k。 These were MM。 Godard and Yon； and to them was entrusted the establishment of two separate factories in spacious buildings； which were at once available and admirably adapted for the purpose。 These were at the Orleans and the Northern Railway stations respectively； where spacious roofs and abundant elbow room； the chief requisites； were to be found。 The first…mentioned station was presided over Godard； the latter by M。 Yon； assisted by M。 Dartois。
It was not doubted that the resources of the city would be able to supply the large demand that would be made for suitable material； but silk as a fabric was at once barred on the score of expense alone。 A single journey was all that needed to be calculated on for each craft； and thus calico would serve the purpose； and would admit of speedy making up。 Slight differences in manufacture were adopted at the two factories。 At the Northern station plain white calico was used； sewn with a sewing machine； whereas at the Orleans station the material was coloured and entrusted only to hand stitching。 The allimportant detail of varnish was supplied by a mixture of linseed oil and the active principle of ordinary driers； and this； laid on with a rubber； rendered the material gas…tight and quickly dry enough for use。 Hundreds of hands； men and women； were employed at the two factories； at which some sixty balloons were produced before the end of the siege。 Much of the more important work was entrusted to sailors； who showed special aptness； not only in fitting out and rigging the balloons； but also in their management when entrusted to the winds。
It must have been an impressive sight for friend or foe to witness the departure of each aerial vessel on its venturesome mission。 The bold plunge into space above the roofs of the imprisoned city； the rapid climb into the sky and； later； the pearl drop high in air floating away to its uncertain and hazardous haven； running the gauntlet of the enemy's fire by day or braving what at first appeared to be equal danger； attending the darkness of night。 It will be seen； however； that； of the two evils； that of the darkness was considered the less； even though； with strange and unreasonable excess of caution； the aeronauts would not suffer the use of the perfectly safe and almost indispensable Davy lamp。
Before any free ascents were ventured on； two old balloons were put to some practical trial as stationary observatories。 One of these was moored at Montmartre； the other at Mont…souris。 From these centres daily； when the weather permitted； captive ascents were madefour by day and two by nightto watch and locate the movements of the enemy。 The system； as far as it went； was well planned。 It was safe； and； to favour expedition； messages were written in the car of the balloon and slid down the cable to the attendants below。 The net result； however； from a strategic point of view； does not appear to have been of great value。
Ere yet the balloons were ready； certain bold and eventful escapes were ventured on。 M。 Duruof； already introduced in these pages； trusting himself to the old craft； 〃Le Neptune；〃 in unskyworthy condition； made a fast plunge into space； and； catching the upper winds； was borne away for as long a period as could be maintained at the cost of a prodigal expenditure of ballast。 The balloon is said to have described a visible parabola； like the trajectory of a projectile； and fell at Evreux in safety and beyond the range of the enemy's fire； though not far from their lines。 This was on the 23rd of September。 Two days afterwards the first practical trial was made with homing pigeons； with the idea of using them in connection with balloons for the establishment of an officially sanctioned post。 MM。 Maugin and Grandchamp conducted this voyage in the 〃Ville de Florence；〃 and descended near Vernouillet； not far beyond Le Foret de St。 Germain； and less than twenty miles from Paris。 The serviceability of the pigeon； however； was clearly established； and a note contributed by Mr。 Glaisher； relating to the breeding and choice of these birds； may be considered of interest。 Mr。 R。 W。 Aldridge； of Charlton； as quoted by Mr。 Glaisher； stated that his experience went to show that these birds can be produced with different powers of orientation to meet the requirements of particular cases。 〃The bird required to make journeys under fifty miles would materially differ in its pedigree from one capable of flying 100 or 600 miles。 Attention； in particular； must be given to the colour of the eye； if wanted for broad daylight the bird known as the 'Pearl Eye；' from its colour； should be selected； but if for foggy weather or for twilight flying the black… or blue…eyed bird should receive the preference。〃
Only a small minority； amounting to about sixty out of 360 birds taken up； returned to Paris； but these are calculated to have conveyed among them some 100；000 messages。 To reduce these pigeon messages to the smallest possible compass a method of reduction by photography was employed with much success。 A long letter might； in this way； be faithfully recorded on a surface of thinnest photographic paper； not exceeding the dimensions of a postage stamp； and； when received； no more was necessary than to subject it to magnification； and then to transcribe it and send a fair copy to the addressee。
The third voyage from Paris； on September 29th was undertaken by Louis Godard in two small balloons； united together； carrying both despatches and pigeons； and a safe landing was effected at Mantes This successful feat was rival led the next day by M。 Tissandier； who ascended alone in a balloon of only some 26；000 cubic feet capacity and reached earth at Dreux； in Normandy。
These voyages exhausted the store of ready…made balloons； but by a week later the first of those being specially manufactured was ready； and conveyed in safety from the city no less a personage than M。 Gambetta。
The courageous resolve of the great man caused much sensation in Paris； the more so because； owing to contrary winds； the departure had to be postponed from day to day。 And when； at length； on October 7th； Gambetta and his secretary； with the aeronaut Trichet； actually got away； in company with another balloon； they were vigorously fired at with shot and shell before they had cleared St。 Denis。 Farther out over the German posts they were again under fire； and escaped by discharging ballast； not； however； before Gambetta had been grazed by a bullet。 Yet once more they were assailed by German volleys before； about 3 p。m。； they found a haven near Montdidier。
The usual dimensions of the new balloons gave a capacity of 70；000 cubic feet； and each of these； when inflated with coal gas； was calculated to convey a freight of passengers； ballast； and despatches amounting to some 2；000 pounds。 Their despatch became frequent； sometimes two in the same twenty…four hours。 In less than a single week in October as many as four balloons had fallen in Belgium； and as many more elsewhere。 Up till now some sixteen ventures had ended well； but presently there came trouble。 On October 22nd MM。 Iglesia and Jouvencel fell at Meaux； occupied by the Prussians； their despatches； however； were saved in a dung cart。 The twenty…third voyage ended more unhappily。 On this occasion a sailor acted as aeronaut； accompanied by an engineer； Etienne Antonin； and carrying nearly 1；000 pounds of letters。 It chanced that they descended near Orleans on the very day when that town was re…occupied by the enemy； and both voyagers were made prisoners。 The engineer； however； subsequently escaped。 Three days later another sailor； also accompanied by an engineer； fell at the town of Ferrieres； then occupied by the Prussians； when both were made prisoners。 In this case； also； the engineer succeeded in making his escape； while the despatches were rescued by a forester and forwarded in safety。
At about this date W。 de Fonvielle； acting as aeronaut； and taking passengers； made a successful escape； of which he has given a graphic account。 He had been baulked by more than one serious contretemps。 It had been determined that the departure should be by night； and November 19th being fixed upon； the balloon was in process of inflation under a gentle wind that threatened a travel towards Prussian soil； when； as the moment of departure approached； a large hole was accidentally made in the fabric by the end of the metal pipe； and it was then too late to effect repairs。 The next and following days the weather was foul； and the departure was not effected till the 25th； when he sailed away over the familiar but desolated country。 He and his companions were fired at； but only when they were well beyond range； and in less than two hours the party reached Louvain； beyond Brussels； some 180 English miles in a direct line from their starting point。 This was the day after the 〃Ville d'Orleans〃 balloon had made the record voyage and distance of all the siege； falling in Norway； 600 miles north of Christiania； after a flight of fifteen hours。
At the end of November； when over thirty escape voyages had been made； two fatal disasters occurred。 A sailor of the name of Prince ascended alone on a moonless night； a
