Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-07-07

Il would be difficult to describe ID

1t would be difficult to describe the
quality and extent Of the sensation
which was displayed among our citi-
zens, generally, yesterday, regarding
the progress and fate Of the intrepid
passengers Of the air-ship atlantic"
who embarked on a voyage of dis
covery and experiment, from this city
on the evening of the LIST inst.
There were those among the spec
tators on the occasion Of the ascension
who predicted that the gigantic en-
terprise about which there had been
some wind and much gas, would prove
an absolute and palpable failure, and
that the monster balloon would find a
convenient and no very remote rest
ing place somewhere in the State Of
Illinois. Some thought, Judging from
the direction taken by the "Atlantic'
and its escort, that it might probably
reach point in the vicinity Of Chica-
90, and there, if not exhausted of pow
er, its passengers would most likely
become timid of crossing the Lake, and
would descend to terra frma and enc
the expedition. Others, with know
ing looks and emphatic shrugs Of the
shoulders, predicted that not one OF
the adventures would come down
alive or ever be seen or heard tell of
again. All these speculations were
perfectly natural to the unintiated or
unphilosophical, but there were hun
dreds of others who not only conf
IDENTIFY expected to meet their friends,
the mronauts, again, but we're exceed
ingIy sanguine that the serial voyage
would prove a success.
They already saw::n Imagination the
stately "Atlantic" and her gallant crew
nearing the Eastern seaboard they
saw the upturned, wondering eyes of
the expectant inhabitants of cities and
villages on the route. The saw the
air~ship moving steadily on its east
ward course through the heavens, and
they almost heard the welcoming shout
sent up by some city far to the orient,
where the descending vessel should be
waited by fortuitous breezes safely into
port, and proclaim to the world bril-
liant victory over that subtle element,
the air. They saw the warm-hearted,
generous, delighted citizens rush to-
wards the anchored air ship, all anx-
ious to grasp their mysterious visitors
by the hand, and gaze wonderingly
upon the kind of beings who had dared
to hazard their lives on so long and
unusual journey, as a scientific ex-
periment,to accomplish purposes which
still lie in embryo in the womb of
time.
The actual results to flow from sue
cessfully navigating the air, have not
been, and cannot be at present deter
mined. The results of steam naviga-
ton, railroads, and telegraph, were not
determined in day. Judging from
past experience, it has taken years to
perfect new science or art, and the
science of ballooning is yet in its in
fancy. The novel experiments of air
voyages have deferred all but the most
curious and courageous from making
the attempt, and it has often happened
that the most capable individuals have
lacked the means to render their skill,
experience and courage effective. From
the result of the experiments of which
we write, we imagine that air naviga-
tion will receive a fresh and powerful
impetus. which, with the aid of well
directed enterprise and sufficient capt.
tai, will shortly produce the most de-
cided and gratifying results. The city
of New York was spoken of as the
port into which the Atlantic" would
make its entree, but the exact locality
OF destination was not fixed ty the
aronauts themselves. 1t does not mat
ter into what portion of the Atlantic
seaboard the air ship should be waited
This circumstance cannot detract from
the triumph achieved. The eronauts
did not profess, as was wrongly sus-
pected, to be able to steer or guide
their vessel. That matter depends en-
tirely upon the eastward current oil
air, which fact has been established by
long experience.
The paddle wheels with which the
boat was supplied could only be used
to elevate or depress the balloon at
pleasure, without the necessity of loss
Of power. The direction of the YES
elias arranged at present, must depend
entirely upon the current of air in
which it happens to be poised. Future
experiments and Investigations NAV,
for aught we know, suggest plan for
controlling the conrse of an air ship,
but at present the air is the only rud-
der that can be employed.
The exploit which Mr.. Wise and
his associates have successfully per-
formed, has very far advanced the SCI
ence of aerial navigation. Previously
1t existed in state of infancy, and but
little developed beyond the condition
IN which the brothers Montgolphier of
france left 1t nearly century ago.
Actual ascensions were made in France
and great heights attained under the
original system of rarifying the air by
heat from collection of faggots of
wood swung below the balloon in a
net work of iron chains. Two French
aeronants assembled several times with
this initiating power, though one Of
them finally sacrificed his life to his
hardlhood, as did several of his asso-
c'ates at periods little later.
An Italian nobleman and a scien.
THO companion, rivalled these feats for
awhile in Italy, but the man of science
ultimately was precipitated headlone
to the ground, and his aristocro+;c