The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1859-10-15
THE GREAT BALLOON OF
MR.. WEI -
Approaching Departure for Europe.


Amonth ago New Yorkers were astonished
to learn that q balloon was in progress Of con-
struotion which, when inflated would oyertop
Trinity steeple hundred feet, and embrace
within Its capacious diameter building nearly
as large as that occupied by the 7Tms,; that
this monster would need 725,000 cubic feet Of
gas to expand its canvas sides to their full
dimensions; and more than all were they sur
prised to learn that the balloon was designed,
not for trips across the Continent, or into the
Canada wilds, but for sweeping over the ocean,
by invoking tho aid of Eolus and defying
that of Neptune. Mr.. La Mountains recent
disaster, and the thrilling story Of his suffer
ings, have for time caused this enterprise to
be forgotten. 1t has been progressing, never
theless, quietly and steadily.
Mr.. T. s. Lowe, the daring originator Of the
project, has not allowed his courage to bs con-
quered or his enthusiasm to be cooled by the
advsrsties of others. So rapid has been the
progress Of the work that he has felt himself
warranted in beginning to inclose Reservoir
Square, the use Of which the authorities have
granted him for the first time, and we hope
not the last ascension Of the "City Of New
York"
Public curiosity will also be gradHed by an
opportunity Of seeing the apparatus specially
designed for this trial, on the contrivance of
which Mr.. Lowe particularly prides himself.
The lime-stove, which will give heat without
endangering the balloon by fire, and the pro-
polling and steering apparatus, which is to be
driven by Ericsson caloric engine, having
been described, will be on exhibition.
Mr.. Lowe has all the time kept his inventive
genius hard at work devising ways and means
to insure the success of his trip. Possibly he
may be obliged to take sail in the ocean be.
fore reaching the shores of the Old World, and
to mako this part Of the trip as safe and COM
fsrtable as possible he has provided himself
with numerous life-preservers, and French
metallic life-boat, capable of sustaining forty
men in any sea, however rough. While the
balloon is driving along at the rate of one hun
dred miles an hour it is easy to see that con-
siderable difficulty would attend dsbarka-
ton. Apparatus has been devised which Mr..
L. says will so retard the balloon that il can
not progress at the rate of more than three or
four miles an hour. Should necessity require
the abandonment of the air-ship, it could be
accomplished easily while going at this speed.
Casualties by land have been equally pro.
vided against, and that he may not be carried
by his accelerated velocity over the British
Isles and the continent of Europe into Asia,
Mr.. L. has provided himself with several
anchors. Two of them are comparatively
light, weighing about twenty pounds each
Another, and the sheet anchor of the trio,
weighs sixty pounds, aud is made OF spring
steel. This must stop the balloon when il
reaches England or take the island along with
it. Instruments to determine the hight Of the
the air-ship from the water, and its velocity
and direction, all of which will be available 10
the darkest night, will be taken along. These
instruments will be on exhibition under q tent
in the square when the imitation of the balloon
commences, which will probably be by Thurs-
day of next week.
The process Of filling will occupy about
week. Experiments will be made during
this time to insure the security of the en-
velope, and if it should be found that it leaks,
two or three additional coats of varnish will
be applied. The ascension will be made as
soon as possible after the balloon is filed. All
that Mr.. L. desires is clear still day; the
most favorable time, he thinks, will be i'm
mediately after storm. Then the air is
likely to be quiet for day or two, and ac-
cording to the theories of Merriam, Maury and
Mitchell, Mr.. Lowe says that two days of fair
weather after storm insures FIVE or six Of
like character. He would have preferred an
earlier part of the season to make his trial
trip, and according to his original plans
would have started sooner. He postponed
the prosecution of his arrangements for some
weeks, hoping that older aeronauts might
take the iniative. As all their plans have
fallen through, Mr.. L. does not propose to
wait for them any longer.
Who he will take up with him, he has not
yet decided.
Three weeks will probably determine the
success or failure Of this new attempt. It Il
to be hoped that Mr.. loves daring may be
rewarded with success. He scouts tho idea OF
failure or casualty, claiming that the precau.
tons which no has taken guard against both.