Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-07-02


NJ GODARD.-We this morning present our
readers with very interesting sketch of the Life
ofthe distinguished and daring aronaut, NJ Eugene
GODDARD. A short conversation with him has as-
quainted US with many interesting facts connected
with ballOoning, to which we have heretofore been
4 stranger. He assures US that although his pas.
ssngers sometimes experience uneasy feelings on
frst starting from terra frma, they are generally
unwilling to return according to programme
The sensations experienced at au ele1ation of two
thousand 10 eight tbousBnd feet in the air are in
variably those of pleasure aud delight The
grandeur ofthe prospect below is always perfectly
indescribable; the earth assumes an apparent eoG-
cavity, resembling nearer than anything else, the
inner surface of a huge bowl, the sides of which
rise to a level with the sides Of the balloon When
the weather is clear the heavens above seem 10
arch over in the form Of perfect dome, which at
the horizon IS met with a reverse dome of the
earth. Thus, the balloOnst Is apparently suspend.
ed in the center Of universe, a dome above and a
similar depression below. Another peculiarity is
in the fact that the balloon does not seem TO rise
the sensation is that the earth is sinking away
from beneath them, whife the balloon remains per.
fectly stationary. There is rarely any oscillation
in its motion when the air IS calm, and no disagree.
able sensations Of giddiness are felt as would seem
highly probably.
The following sketch viii prove entertaining
which We copy from BGllOE's Pictorial:
Eugene Pierre GODDARD is a native Of France
and was born at BatgnOlles- MOnceaux, in the ban
lieu Of Paris, August 81, 1927. From an early
age be exhibited a decided PeaehaHt or aerial sd-
venture and read up everything relating 10 acros-
tatics with the utmost aFidty HIS passion for s1ar
ing above the earth was first grati6ed ou the Sth o
October, 1877, at which date he made his first as
cension from Isle in aplper balloon inflated with
heated air. Since that time he has made repeated
ascensiOns. In Europe, he has ascended from Pa
ris ana Otaer citigs ~ France, and from cities in
England, Germany, Italy and Belgium. At Graiz
! in Germany, he had the misfortune TO Lose noble
balloon, the q Europa" he had made brilliant
ascension, had descended in safety and was letting
out the gas, when abystander, thOughilessly light
ing match, set fire 10 the stream Of hydrogen,
and the balloon was almost instantly consumed
In October, 1851, be went from Paris 10 Belgium
a distance Of 200 leagues, in "a hours tie ha.
crossed, in his balloon, the English Channel, the
Carpaihian Mountains and the Alps. On one oc
cas- on be took large party from Paris to Yer
sailles, landing them s4iely. From Vienna, he
made, in the space Of six hours, six separate as.
tensions with the balloon at liberty, and eight as
tensions 10 the extremity OF long rope, permitting
some Of the most distinguished ladies Of the city tC
experience the novel sensation Of rising ia the air
Many distinguished European celebrities have been
al different tunes, the eOmpagHOzs dH ,rOydge o
NJ Godard-3m0ng Others, AragOthe astronomer
Victor Hugo the author, and Prince Murat. Oh
The apprehension OF hostilities in Europe, NJ God
ard offered his services to Louis Napoleon, propOs
ing the establishment Of a cOrps OF eronalts fol
the purpose Of making military recOnnoisances.- :
Il viii be remembered that the victory OF Fleurus
won by the French in the days of the first republic
was attributed to the Information obtained by oh
servations made from a balloon over the enemy I
lines Louis Napoleon eourteOasly declined the
ouer, but the Austrian government, to whom be
made similar proposal, accepted it oonditionaly
and If they had sent an army into the field, M God
ard wonld have been employed as chief Of an AFRO
nautic corps, with high rank and pay. An oiicia
agreementtO this effect was drawn up and signed
by the minister Ofwar and other authorities NJ
GODDARD came 10 this country, landing in Boston il
! 1854. and made bis first ascension from the Hippo
drOme, New York He was quito successful il
New York, New Orleans, Havana and other places
and particularly 50 al Manchester, n. H, on thi
I fth Of July, lS56. On this occasion, as on thai q
his frst ascension from Boston, be appeared mount
ed on live horse. lie has such complete com
p1aud Of his nerves, that, suspended to bar below
his car, he performs variety Of very difficult gym
hastic fests with much cOOlness and certainty a
an acrobat in an arena on terra fTml- He is gen
orally accompanied in his air voyages by Madam
GODDARD, who is perfectly fearless and thoroughly
acquainted with the management OF Q balloon
Several American editors have accompanied ou
aronaut into the realms Of space-among then
representatives, OF the New Orleans, New York an,
Boston presses. Mr.. Fuller, Of the New Yorl
Mirror, who ascended from New York. was mucl
pleased with his trip, and wrote glowing descip
ton Of il q The city ITSELF" said Mr.. Fuller
'' seemed exactly like miniature block model city
or like the village built with toy houses psrlO
hocTs by children. The horizon seemed 10 rise
I giving the eQrTh rra
not the slightest oscillation 70 the car which seem
ed 10 be perfectly stationary. except when near th
earth Mr.. Llsalle, Of The New York CouTier
des EtGLs- DHis, who accompanied NJ. GODDARD o.
one Of his finest voyages, has placed upon record;
/ spirited account Of his sensations and his expe
riences- When they were about uile high, hl
says " A truly magnificent spectacle awaited Is
The descending SUI began 10 disappear behind th
} Highlands mass log cut on our view OF tn
earth, and We seemed literally journeying in ire
space. Nevertheless sounds from below reached
our ears with certain disIinctness. The sun, will
bis parting rays, obliquey illuminated the fog. an
thus converted u into rosy mirror in which VI
could see our shadow upside down By degrees
the splendid picture was veiled by the shadows O
| evening, aud the suns disk finally disappeared b.
hind the mountains. The sun leaves ustOo soon,
said N. GODDARD, let Us 90 aud find him. littll
ballast thrown overheard suaieed 10 uHveil 10 on
wondering cyGs new horizon still glorihed by tn
rays Of the setting We can say heIeafter viii
perfect truth, that We have seen the SCI twic
in one day. The moon rose. We were now near
CT the earth. and our shadow followed rs in tn
iGrm Of microscopic balloon in black, thrown in
10 relief upon a luminous cloud Soon, upon ou
left we discerned city in glow ofgas-light Ehicl
We rightly judged TO be Patterson. We continues
10 descend, and, in little while, found ourselye
within hail OF the earth, aboFe deep valley" 0u
contemporary, Mr.. J. II. Sleeper, who asoendel
from Boston, in company with Monsieur and Mad
sme GODDARD, Hr. George l. Colborne Of Boston
and Mr. I: 5. Merritt, of Roxhqry, June 2s, ls56
was equally well pleased. He aliades 10 . phenom
! cnon noticed BY all BrODsuts. "0ur car aupearei
| to be stationary aud il seemed as Rthaf, instea
= Of leaving the earth, the earth was gradually re
ceding, then rapidly sinking away from beneath us
leaving our balloon and car suspended in mid air
The balloon (the America) used on this occasian
was gxty-tWo feet high, forty two in horizonta d
ameter, and contained more than 5000 feet Of Il