Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1871-04-06

W HEN MI NfldiSlltt, III CplufhliN WIN
MN, Flammarion, De Fonvielle, and Tis.
sander, projected the history of his aerial
voyages, he and his eaRabofdteurs little
dreamed that before the work could be
printed and published the time long hoped
for and almost despaired Of by aeronauts
should at last have come. Mr.. Ghishcr
writes on the opening page in its
present form the balloon is useless for
commercial enterprise, and SO little adapts
itself to our necessities that ii might drop
into oblivion tomorrow, and we should
miss nothing from the conveniences OF
life"
This could not be said now. The bal.
loon has become something more than
philosophers toy or a rarec-show; the
nation which invented it has found it an
indispensable resourse in Il desperate
emergency, and the political, commercial,
and private ends it has saved could have
been gained in no other way. Only par
bdl0H monte could Gambetta have escaped
to the provinces, where his sanguine and
energetic spirit has for SO long organized
not, indeed, victory but a sanguine and
energetic resistance; only par JalI0a
monte can thousands of Frenchmen hope
to hear of all that is nearest and dearest
to them; and if the war and balloons end,
ed together to morrow, the latter have de
served So well of their country that the
city of Paris, under the new republic, or
whatever it may be, ought to charge its
shield of arms with, "on a field azure, a
balloon rising"
The accounts we possess at present Of
the wonderful journeys made every day
over the heads of the German soldiers
are very imperfect. When the war ends,
its permanent literature will begin, and we
shall, doubtless, have fun histories of these
aerial voyages, in which we hope will be
written the names of those poor fellows
whose letter bags, picked up Oft Il C Scilly
Isles, are supposed to have been blown
out into the Channel, as an east wind car
ried their balloon toward the Atlantic.
For long time the most famous ascent
in aerostatic annals was that of Gay Lus-
sac, who in September, 1904, started from
Paris, and reached the height of $4,000
feet. To Tighten the balloon he threw
overheard every article he could possibly
dispense with common deal chair went
with the rest, and fell into hedge close
to a girl who was tending some sheep As
the sky ut the time was clear, and the bal
loon invisible, some of the country folk
held that il must have come straight from
paradise, and cried, "A miraclel" others
refused to think that 1.-The workmen up
above there could be such mutts," P" for the
chair was roughly made; but the miracle.
mongers would no doubt, have carried
the question had not a timely account Of
Lussac's voyage appeared in the papers.
Several years later Andreoli and BriOschi
asceuded, it is said-but it has never been
fully believed--to an elevation Of 10000
feet, when the balloon burst with a loud
report and came to the ground with great
speed, but safety, near PetTafCh's tomb
The torn balloon must have acted rs y
parachute Mr. Glaisher has himself fall
en-, in his balloon, two miles in four min
utes, and landed without being greatly
hurt He and Mr.. Coxwcll became the
champion aeronauts after their memorable
ascent from WOlyerhampton on the 9th Of
September, 1862 They rose 10 the cnOr
nous height Of 3700) teet--a mile higher
than the highest peak of the IIimalayas
at %, 900 feet Mr., Glaishcr became inscn
sible, the valvcline was entangled, and
Mr. Coxwell had to climb from the car
into the ring TO readiust il; the cold was
SO intense that he lost the use of his hands
and had to pull it with his teeth.
We will cndcavor TO give our readers
some idea Of the difficulties, pleasures, and
dangers of aerial navigation by following
an imaginary aeronaut from the earth to
the clouds, and back to the earth again
Let us suppose that he las resolved to
make prodigiOus ascent for strictly sclen-
titic purposes. lie has succeeded in Dor
rowing (iOr there seems 10 be great deal
OF borrowing among aeronautsj a balloon,
and has had II conveyed overnight TO the
gas works, where it is to be filled lie
has secured the services Of All experienced
balloon captain to take the exclusive
management Of the balloon, and has Dor
r0wed from various societies number of
beautiful and delicate Instruments where.
with 10 make his dissertations At day.
break the two acronauta -er as We will
call them for the sake oi distinction, the
Philosopher and the aeronailt--and
their friends start for the gus w0rkg, and
with the help of a nuu.beT of workmcn
commence filling the balloon. Ballast and
some yctHals are stDwed away in the car
the Instruments are fi1cd on % board lashod
across the gunwale, AMI the direction Of
the wind is anxiOusly noted. The balloon
we will suppose il to he a large one
gradually initiates, the wind rises and what
between the wind and the gas il Is all that
fifty men can do 90 keep the monster from
breaking clean away. At last there is
cry that the balloon is full, and that the
men can hold it no longer. The two adj
yentuTers jump in their ropes and other
chattcls are bundled In after them, and
away they 90 with side sweep which
very nearly wrecks them against some
conliruoug Chimupyg Perhaug il does