The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-10-04 00:00:00

ASCENT OF THE NASSAU BALLOON.

The Times published the following letter on Monday :7

The feature of the Transatlantic Expedition which
offered the greatest attraction to my own mind
was the service it might render to meteorological
science, provided the American aeronauts had esta-
blished the hypothesis of • constant and reliable cur-
rent at • given altitude from the earth's surface.
Aiming unquestionably high, they certainly under-
took to solve this problem, and it would be ungenerous
to deny to them the honour of having ventilated the
subject. It is, perhaps, fortunate they only succeeded
in ventilating their balloon.
The next thing which appeared to me most desirable
was really to do something, however little, to promote
this interesting inquiry. ',accordingly, on Monday,
the 22nd ult., I gave orders to bring out the celebrated
Nassau balloon, as I intended, although unfitted as to
health, to know more about the westerly zone of at-
moephere which the sanguine Prof eeson placed so much
confidence in.
Presuming that three hours' diligent search would be
preferable to a whole month's talking, the very first
opportunity was seized to commence the Inflation. A
telegram was forthwith despatched to Mr. Philip
Ashton, who had made more than 30 ascents, chiefly
with me, and who now wished to engage the car and
defray the expenses of the trip. Dr. George R. Irvine
was also invited to take a seat, and by the side of
I myself and my experienced amistant a place was re-
served for Mr. C. H. Rowdier, who had constructed an
ingenious fan which I had promised to test for some
time, but had been prevented from doing so owing to
bodily suffering.
In reviewing some of my ascents for scientific objects
I cannot find that a westerly wind blowing with great
speed was ever detected, but it ie tiered to me that it
was just possible • quick rise and descent might have
prevente i those minute observations which are so
essential in matters of this sort ; fresh observations,
therefore, were desirable, antler conditions which could
not fail to set any doubts at rest. These were—first,
a wind that was not west at starting; secondly, a
clear sky, so that the course of the balloon cooli be
definitely asoertained ; and, thirdly, that some kind of
mechanical contrivance might be used to aid in keeping
at the height of about 10,000 feet.
Although it wan my desire to conduct the proceed-
ings, privately, still it soon got buzzed about that
this was the identical balloon in which Charles
Green crossed the Channel, nod from which Mr.
Cooking descended in a parachute, his life having
paid the penalty. It became known, too, that since
Mr. Green handed over to me this historical heirloom
I had thorough'y renovated the expensive silk of
which it is complied, and that now it was as buoyant
and elastic as ever.
At 4 20 we were 2 600 feet over the Alexandra
Palace ruins. We had left the ground under the in-
fluence of an easterly current at a temperature of 61
deg., hut at 4.40; barometer 269, the thermometer was
46 of Fahrenheit; hem we veered round to a south.
westerly direction, or, in other words, the wind wets
N.E. At 5.20 the barometer stood at 254, and ther-
mometer at 39,t. About this time we had crooned the
Thames at litielsea. At 6.18. barometer 211. The
temperature increased in proportion to height,
but we now had more especially to devote our
time to the rapid discharge of sand and to
the working of the screw. When an altitude ex-
ceeding 10,000 feet had been ,btaiited we succeeded in
keeping on a level course. Mr. Rowdier and my as-
sistant worked the fan, and Mr. Ashton and Dr-
'nine helped me to notice our exact path across the
country, which wen from north to mouth, and not from

wart to east. The light don& streammor Tes7 fir
above us were drifting hi a similar direction, thus
proving that at least on that day the movement of the
upper atmosphere was from pole to pole. Darkness
bad long set when we descended at Buckles& near
Box Hill, Surrey. This locality, when examined on
the map, will be found nearly lee south of Hornsey.
—I am, &c., EMMET COLWELL.
Tottenham, Rept, 27