Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-08-03

vrJIt \ AF,IlONAUV'S REV 1IN Gle.
A TALE OF THE CONFESSIONAL.
By WILLIAM e. BURTON.
Continued.
TContinued.]

CHAPTER THE THIRD.
Then trip him that his heels may kick at heaven.
~ - SHAKESPEARE
A wandering professor of @rostation
had made successful ascent from the VI
cinity of the city of Lyons, which gave up
its thousands of spectators on the day oil
the flight. After witnessing the 9rostat's
ascent, |, as usual, finished the day at the |
house of LIE Roux. The conversation nat
urally turned upon ballooning. and the
philosopher opened the store-house of his
mind, and gave us an enthusiastic descrip-
ton Of the progress of aerostation, the dis
covery of which art he claimed for his ma
tive land. He gave us an account OF
Montgoltier's experiments in 1888, re-
sulting in the ascent of machine weigh
ING upward of four hundred pounds, and
CARRYING the same quantity OF ballast. lie
described also the gum elastic invention
of NJ. Charles, who first conceived the
idea Of filing his balloon with intlamma-
Bile air, or gas, in opposition to the heated
air and smoke -dstended machines of M.
Moptrolfier. He detailed the various as
cents and dangerous voyages OF the hrst
erial navigators, and the improvements
which have since been carried into effect.
| He mentioned the erostatic institution or
balloon academy, established by Bonaparte
at Meudon, near Paris, for the education OF
a CORDS of pronauts, who were to belong
10 the army, and be used for the purpose
of accommodating hostile force. In con
clusion, he lamented the fate OF the hrst
celebrated navigator Of the air, M. Pilatre
de Rozier, who, with NJ. Roman, fell from
an enormous hight, owing to the burning
lof their balloon, when their bodies were
SO severely mangled as to scarcely afford
q clue to their recognition. The idea IN
stantly seized me-Le Roux was relating
the manner of his own death.
LIE Roux had frequently expressed de
sire to ascend beyond the clouds, and this
conversation about ballooning revived ms
old propensity. l offered to build, at my
own expense, an terostat of gigantic di
: mepsions, if lie Roux would devote hi
time to the study of aerial navigation, tina
he might safe guide us in several pro
posed ascents. My offer was joyfully ac
cepted. had, by this means, thrown tn
r whole responsibility as regarded the dan
Ger. on his shoulders, and, in case Of al
9cc;Gent, no blame could be attached t
> me. Maria, too, unconsciously assiste
= in her husbands destruction, promising
IL our 1rSb ascent pIOFS SuSNC0N
full, to accompany us in succeedln
!. flight.
,. The balloon was built, under LIE Roux
d inspection, and the various appendag'
= provided. A day was fixed for our essa,
The gas was manufactured, and the hug
rt bag inflated. The slight car, containin
several philosophical instruments an
many bags of ballast sand, was attach'
r, to the various cords connected with I'll
y, netting which encircIed the balloon, AT
st cut off several yards of the line belonglI
I'd TO the valve at the top. Our intended fer
:, - excursion had been kept profound seer
from the mass of the citizens, but Il
friends of the eronauts and select circ
- -. of scientific men were invited to atte
e the process of initiation. As the nome
,s, of our departure drew near, LIE RouX
c., ceived the congratulations of the SdUd'
- and the affectonate farewels of his frien'
- | stood upon the little platform erect
Id for the purpose Of adjusting the net VIC
;Iv of the balloon, and watched the noble To
c., of lie Roux as he glided amid the thro