The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-29 00:00:00

M. Nadar's Giant Balloon.

M. Nadar, the celebrated aeronaut and photo-
grapher, has taken advantage of the Brussels
September fetes to hezerd a third attempt in his
"Ge ant'' balloon. The occasion was well chosen,
for the multitudes present gave an unprecedented
eclat to the event. "To see the gigantic monster
of the air," says the Independance Beige, " bound
proudly upward? towards the celestial vault was
for every one a business, a pre-occupation. The
excitement was universal; and through the crowd
which yesterday overflowed the streets in an agi-
tated and anxious state there ran a kind ofcontagious
fever, which warmed the coldest and moved the
most apathetic." From an early hour an immense
concourse of people flocked towards the Schaerbeck
Gate. At eleven o'clock the approaches to the
barriers in certain streets were incumbered with
masses. At one o'clock those who were curious to
be present at the preparations for the ascent took
their places in the enclosure reserved for them. At
three o'clock the long line of boulevards from the
Observatory to the Entrepot on the one side, and
the vast Rue Royale from the Church of St. Mary
to the park on the other, presented a sea of heads.
[here was a crowd at the windows, a crowd on the
roofs, a crowd every where, At four o'clock the King,
the Duke and Duchess of Brabant, and children, as
well as the Count of Flanders, arrived upon the
scene, followed by a numerous suite. They took
their places upon an elevated platform raised at
the corner of the Botanical Garden and the Boule-
vard, the acclamations of the thousands as-
sembled, and the Branbanconne played by the
band of the Pompiers greeting their appearance.
Shortly after his arrival the King sent for M.
Nadar, who was represented by the burgomaster.
His Majesty received the aeronaut, author, and
photographist very graciously ; he conversed with
him some time, and then introduced him to the
Duchess of Brabant. Before leaving the presence
of royalty M. Nadar presented the King and the
Duke and Duchess of Brabant with three copies
of the book, " The Memoirs of the Geant." His
Majesty, says the Independance," appeared touched
by this act of homage. The crowd shared in this
simple, honourable, and affable scene, and hearty
cheers greeted Nadar as he descended the steps."
It was now time for the balloon to take its dept..
tare. Already the materiel of the expedition had
been stored away in the car—water, provisions,
clothing, and scientific instruments, for the voyage
was to have a scientific object. Sixty carrier
pigeons were also taken on board, if we may use
the term, "rapid messengers, intended to give
prompt news of the aerial excursionists, in case
they descended in a country unprovided with the
telegraph." M. Nadar had also furnished himself
and his fellow voyagers with " arms to protect the
balloon in its descent from the brutality of ignorant
populations." Several stall balloons were sent
up for an hour before the grand ascent, to ascere
Lain the direction of the wind. On their sides
had been painted the arms of Belgium, toge-
ther with the inscription, "34th Annivere
sary of Belgian Independence.
Third voyage of
the Giant Nader. Brussels, Sept. 26, 1864,"
Twelve persons entered the car with M. Nadar.
But, as the Independance observes, it is not only to
eThe Geant, however,
over freighted, did not appear embark, they must get off.
disposed to mount.
The 260 bags of ballast, the 13 voyagers, their
luggage, their provisions, the anchors, and the thick
ropes, which constituted an enormous weight, with-
out including the car and the rigging, kept the
balloon riveted to the ground. Nearly all the
ballast had to be thrown out, 16 bags only being
retained, just what was absolutely necessary. This,
however, was not enough, and four excursionists
had to abandon the pleasure of the ascent. At half-
past five the balloon showed signs of being suffi-
ciently lightened, and the curds were cut. "At
this solemn moment," says the correspondent of the
Belgian journal,
" a hundred thousand hearts were
beating, a hundred thousand eyes were watching
the movements of the Geant." The decisive order,
" Lache tons," was given, and the balloon rose
slowly and majestically, amidst the acclamations of
the crowd and the music of the Brabat conne. It
then moved onwards in the direction of Ninove, and
disappeared in the western horczon. There were
present, we are informed, besides the King, the
authorities of Brussels, as well as its meet distine
gu:shed citizens, the members of the diplomatic
corps, the Ministers, and a host of other official
dignitaries,
municipal and national. Notwithstande
ing the elaborate preparations for the voyage, the
balloon descended at half-past ten the same evening
near Ypres, having
encountered a wind which it
was feared would carry it down the English Chan-
nel oat into the Atlantic.