the dominion of the air-第5节
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er what far greater demand the former must have made upon the spirit of enterprise and daring。
We can picture the earliest sea voyager taking his first lesson astride of a log with one foot on the bottom； and thus proceeding by sure stages till he had built his coracle and learned to paddle it in shoal water。 But the case was wholly different when the first frail air ship stood at her moorings with straining gear and fiercely burning furnace； and when the sky sailor knew that no course was left him but to dive boldly up into an element whence there was no stepping back； and separated from earth by a gulf which man instinctively dreads to look down upon。
Taking events in their due sequence； we have now to record a voyage which the terrors of sky and sea together combined to make memorable。 Winter had comeearly January of 1785when； in spite of short dark days and frosty air； M。 Blanchard； accompanied by an American； Dr。 Jeffries； determined on an attempt to cross the Channel。 They chose the English side； and inflating their balloon with hydrogen at Dover； boldly cast off； and immediately drifted out to sea。 Probably they had not paid due thought to the effect of low sun and chilly atmosphere； for their balloon rose sluggishly and began settling down ere little more than a quarter of their course was run。 Thereupon they parted with a large portion of their ballast； with the result that they crept on as far as mid… Channel； when they began descending again； and cast out the residue of their sand； together with some books； and this； too； with the uncomfortable feeling that even these measures would not suffice to secure their safety。
This was in reality the first time that a sea passage had been made by sky； and the gravity of their situation must not be under…estimated。 We are so accustomed in a sea passage to the constant passing of other vessels that we allow ourselves to imagine that a frequented portion of the ocean； such as the Channel； is thickly dotted over with shipping of some sort。 But in entertaining this idea we are forgetful of the fact that we are all the while on a steamer track。 The truth； however； is that anywhere outside such a track； even from the commanding point of view of a high…flying balloon； the ocean is seen to be more vast than we suppose； and bears exceedingly little but the restless waves upon its surface。 Once fairly in the water with a fallen balloon； there is clearly no rising again； and the life of the balloon in this its wrong element is not likely to be a long one。 The globe of gas may under favourable circumstances continue to float for some while； but the open wicker car is the worst possible boat for the luckless voyagers； while to leave it and cling to the rigging is but a forlorn hope； owing to the massof netting which surrounds the silk； and which would prove a death…trap in the water。 There are many instances of lives having been lost in such a dilemma； even when help was near at hand。
Our voyagers； whom we left in mid…air and stream； were soon descending again； and this time they threw out their tackleanchor； ropes； and other gear； still without adequately mending matters。 Then their case grew desperate。 The French coast was； indeed； well in sight； but there seemed but slender chance of reaching it； when they began divesting themselves of clothing as a last resort。 The upshot of this was remarkable； and deserves a moment's consideration。 When a balloon has been lightened almost to the utmost the discharge of a small weight sometimes has a magical effect； as is not difficult to understand。 Throwing out ten pounds at an early stage； when there may be five hundred pounds more of superfluous weight； will tell but little； but when those five hundred pounds are expended then an extra ten pounds scraped together from somewhere and cast overboard may cause a balloon to make a giant stride into space by way of final effort； and it was so with M。 Blanchard。 His expiring balloon shot up and over the approaching land； and came safely to earth near the Forest of Guiennes。 A magnificent feast was held at Calais to celebrate the above event。 M。 Blanchard was presented with the freedom of the city in a gold box； and application was made to the Ministry to have the balloon purchased and deposited as a memorial in the church。 On the testimony of the grandson of Dr。 Jeffries the car of this balloon is now in the museum of the same city。
A very noteworthy example of how a balloon may be made to take a fresh lease of life is supplied by a voyage of M。 Testu about this date； which must find brief mention in these pages。 In one aspect it is laughable； in another it is sublime。 From every point of view it is romantic。
It was four o'clock on a threatening day in June when the solitary aeronaut took flight from Paris in a small hydrogen balloon only partially filled； but rigged with somencontrivance of wings which were designed to render it self…propelling。 Discovering； however； that this device was inoperative； M。 Testu； after about an hour and a half； allowed the balloon to descend to earth in a corn field； when； without quitting hold of the car； he commenced collecting stones for ballast。 But as yet he knew not the ways of churlish proprietors of land； and in consequence was presently surprised by a troublesome crowd； who proceeded； as they supposed； to take him prisoner till he should pay heavy compensation； dragging him off to the nearest village by the trail rope of his balloon。
M。 Testu now had leisure to consider his situation； and presently hit on a stratagem the like of which has often since been adopted by aeronauts in like predicament。 Representing to his captors that without his wings he would be powerless； he suffered them to remove these weighty appendages； when also dropping a heavy cloak； he suddenly cut the cord by which he was being dragged； and； regaining freedom； soared away into the sky。 He was quickly high aloft； and heard thunder below him； soon after which； the chill of evening beginning to bring him earthward； he descried a hunt in full cry； and succeeded in coming down near the huntsmen； some of whom galloped up to him； and for their benefit he ascended again； passing this time into dense cloud with thunder and lightning。 He saw the sun go down and the lightning gather round； yet with admirable courage he lived the night out aloft till the storms were spent and the midsummer sun rose once more。 With daylight restored； his journey ended at a spot over sixty miles from Paris。
We have； of course； recounted only a few of the more noteworthy early ballooning ventures。 In reality there had up to the present time been scores of ascents made in different localities and in all conditions of wind and weather； yet not a life had been lost。 We have now； however； to record a casualty which cost the first and boldest aeronaut his life； and which is all the more regrettable as being due to circumstances that should never have occurred。
M。 Pilatre de Rosier； accompanied by M。 Romain； determined on crossing the Channel from the French side； and； thinking to add to their buoyancy and avoid the risk of falling in the sea； hit on the extraordinary idea of using a fire balloon beneath another filled with hydrogen gas！ With this deadly compound machine they actually ascended from Boulogne； and had not left the land when the inevitable catastrophe took place。
The balloons caught fire and blew up at a height of 3；000 feet； while the unfortunate voyagers were dashed to atoms。
CHAPTER III。 THE FIRST BALLOON ASCENT IN ENGLAND。
As may be supposed； it was not long before the balloon was introduced into England。 Indeed； the first successful ascent on record made in our own country took place in the summer of 1784； ten months previous to the fatal venture narrated at the close of the last chapter。 Now； it is a remarkable and equally regrettable circumstance that though the first ascent on British soil was undoubtedly made by one of our own countrymen； the fact is almost universally forgotten； or ignored； and the credit is accorded to a foreigner。
Let us in strict honesty examine into the case。 Vincent Lunardi； an Italian； Secretary to the Neapolitan Ambassador； Prince Caramanico； being in England in the year 1784； determined on organising and personally executing an ascent from London； and his splendid enterprise； which was presently carried to a successful issue； will form the principal subject of the present chapter。 It will be seen that remarkable success crowned his efforts； and that his first and ever memorable voyage was carried through on September 15th of that year。
More than a month previously； however； attention had been called to the fact that a Mr。 Tytler was preparing to make an ascent from Edinburgh in a hot air balloon； and in the London Chronicle of August 27th occurs the following circumstantial and remarkable letter from a correspondent to that journal：？
〃Edinburgh； Aug。 27； 1784。
〃Mr。 Tytler has made several improvements upon his fire balloon。 The reason of its failure formerly was its being made of porous linen； through which the air made its escape。 To remedy this defect； Mr。 Tytler has got it covered with a varnish
