Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-03
THE BALLOOsE
Ascension To-day-The Kronsuts And
-iTheir interests & OBJECTS.

esting aerial experiments ever made 10 the
world will take place from the head Of
Poplar street, nsxtto Colonel Brinkley's
residence. The rare spectacle will be
witnessed by hundreds and thousandsiof
people. ltswillexcite universal interest,
not only as q daring feat on the part Of
the brave men who leave the earth to
follow an eagles pathway in the
boundless fields Of ether blue, but the
event involves problem which has bsf-
fed the efforts of the most learned and
scientific men Of the world. Capt. s, D.
Thompson, Of this city, who never made
an ascension in his life, has invented hnd
built an apparatus by which he hopes to
successfully elevate or depress the bal
loon at pleasure. 1t is, as be says,
Memphis creation; and whatever jour
| neys it is destined to perform, it will al
ways carry with it in it's name a souvenir
Of the place Of its origin-the city of
Memphis.
BY an experiment made yesterday
afternoonit was ascertsined that BY the
use of this mechanical continuance two
men turning crank can WELD down
ward or upward force of twenty pounds,
| which is considered enough for all prac'
teal purposes when the balloon is bal
lasted at equilibrium. This will enable
the eronauts to rise or descend at plea
sure, without discharging ballast or gas.
| If this continuance succeedss Captain
Thompson maintains that balloon can
be held in the air much longer than here
tofore, can make longer voyages
upon favorable winds, and regulate
his final descent with safety. These con-
ditions being established, it remains only
| for some wise men of the air to make a
correct chart of the currents which
sweep around the earth, and balloon
| trip around the world will no longer be
the dream of an enthusiast, but become
more frequent and safe than q tripby
rail and steam. a. Am
The saloon designed for this expert
ment is the largest ever seen in Memphis.
4 In its construction seven hundred yards
Of nearly yard-wide canvas were con.
sumed, making forty-four cores running
from the neck to the valve of the balloon.
1t is about forty feet in diameter, and il
elongated by a cylinder of three feet at
the equator. Its capacity is about 81, 600
cubic feet. Inflated with ordinary coal
gas, it will have an ascensional force Of
1880 pounds, or more than 900 pounds
| aside from its own weight and that of itt
netting, car and apparatus. The figures
may vary with the quality Of the gas
which is never uniform; and the object
of making the balloon so large is &c
avoid any risk of failure on account lot
poor gas. Closely rugged, the balloon
will have when inflated hight on The
ground of eighty feet.
| Professor S. M. Brooks, the builder o
this balloon and commodore of the voy
age, will make to-day his one hundred
and fifty-ffth trip. The Gronaut, {
sheet issued by Captain Thompson, say
that the Professor had experience a.
an teronaut extending over aperiod o
fifteen years. He made his first ascen
sion from this city in 1853. The startipl
point was the bluff at the foot Of Madison
street, and the balloon descended on the
| farm of Mr.. Anderson, beyond Vol
river. July4, 1854, he, with the eronsn
Pauline, made a double ascension from
Hartford, Conn, descending near eaet
other after journey of nine miles
June IL, 1866, he assembled from Evans
vile, Ind, and after voyage Of seyera
miles, had the misfortune to anchor In
the top of q tree, from which, however
he extricated himself without in
jury. During the same month be
made a memorable ascension from Chi
csgo. He had the honor of being the
first eronaut who had ever made Q
balloon voyage from that fast and enter
prising city. The proximity Of the lake
and the dreaded eastern currents,
seem to have been too much for the cour
AGE of his predecessors. But our zero
naut, nothing daunted, on his arrival q
the Garden City, began at once prepare
tions. "What will you do if you drift
\ over the lake2" was the anxious inquiry
on every hand. Gross it." was the
prompt reply. July 4th the Professor
assembled from the vacant let, corner o.
Peoria and Randolph streets, and to the
astonishment of every one, drifted south
west. This was precisely what Professor
Brooks expected, for be we'll knew thai
in still, warm weather there is in the
heat of the day always "sea- breeze I
blowing from water to land. He there
fore drifted from the lake instead OF to
ward it. To the vast sea of upturned
faces the receding air-ship grew less and
less, and finally was lost beneath thu
horizon of the Southwest; when, to th'
astonishment and terror Of all, it sud
denly reaseended, but without car OF
sronaut, and shot rapidly into the sky
Before night the anxiety of the city wal
relieved by the news that the Professol
| in descending had encountered rapid