The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-02-19
ARRONAUT.
M over the Atlantic.

over the
From the New York Tnbune.l
The fascinating problem Of the naviga-
ton of the atmosphere is about TO be again
brought before the attention of the pubic,
by an attempt to cross the Atlantic from
New York in'a balloon, which enterprise Is
to be undertaken by Monsieur A. Cheva-
lier, IN ~aerOnaut OF extended European
reputation. NJ. Chevalier arrived in this
country about a fortnight ago, and has al
ready succeeded in obtaining the confidence
and support of our first scientific men. He
is by birth q Swiss, about 80 years of age,
of modest yet self-possessed demeanor,
short in stature, with black hair, eyes and
moustache, and a pleasing and open expires.
sion of countenance. For a dozen years
past, Chevalier has been an enthusiast in
ae~rostatics. He spent his inherited for
tune on flying machines, and has ever
since experienced on account of his PEN
chant a succession of ups and down in life
extraordinary indeed for m a%erOnaut. NJ.
| Chevalier's latest Invention 10 n steam fly
ing machine, which may be briefly des-
cribed as being constructed after the mod
els Of the bird-long, wing-like sails pro-
ject from either side Of the iron body Of
the ship, and a fan-like arrangement at
the stern stands in the place of the tail Of
the bird, and serves its purpose in rails
ing or depressing the machine in its
course through the air. Looking at the
fine picture representing il soaring in
mid-air over plains and mountains,
rs it appears ia a French periodical, the
only really astonishing thing about the air
monster Is that Il would not soar when
Chevalier tried II, but broke down and left
It's ~sanguine inventor dead broke" too.
These aud similar accidents have not in the
least succeeded in disheartening him in
his life-search for the solution of the great
problem; they only throw n stronger light
on the obstacles in the way. After such
mishaps, Chevalier bounds alon elastically
In his balloon for the delight of the mil
lion on some fete day in Paris, or Mar
settles, or Lyons, or London. or Dublin,
and thus repairs the losses ofhis exchequcr
for a fresh o%verhauling Of his flying
steamship. In this way he has
made hundreds Of a%scents, in every coun
try in Europe, and in Australia.
Once he sailed in his balloon from Paris
beyond the boundaries of Russia. On an
other occasion he crossed the 81. Georges
Channel from Dublin into England. In
one of his trips he made the extraordinary
flight of ZOO miles in four hours. In an.
other ascent made for the Marquis of Butte,
just before coming 20 this country, he was
driven 40 miles in nm hour. One can read
lily believe in looking at the Chevalier's
clear, pleasant eyes, and firm, quiet mouth,
that he is a stranger to physical fear. But
about his transatlantic trip from New
York-he undertakes it partly for the
great effect it will have, if successful, on
his business" on the other side of the
water, aud not less 20 determine the exist
ence Of a continuous "belt" Of westerly
currents, which the philosophers say must
exist at the height Of 5000 or 10000 feet
above the surfaceof the earth. NJ. Chevaler
has brought Will im, in complete readi-
ness, the balloon in which he proposes to
mako his long and perilous journey. II Is
Of q peculiar shape, and OF these dimen-
sions: 95 feet in height, $50 feet in diane
ter; capacity for gas, 1876, 600 cubic feet. The
car, being made ofbamboo, and in the shape
Of a house, resembles a long bamboo Int,
and will probably accommodate as many
passengers as will desire TO 90 upon the
voyage. NJ. Chevalier is dssirous OF max
ing the start at as early a date as possible,
and. at all events, before the return Of warm
weather His reason for this Is that the
balloon would suffer a dangerous loss of
gas by expansion in the heat OF warm suns.
As stated above, Chevalier has shown
some of the scientific men of this city that
he is not q mere Snowman; has interested
them in his undertaking, and will proceed
TO perfect the preparations for his inter
ested and unprecedented voyage under
propitious circumstances.