The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-07-19
Military Ballooning-Story OF the Paris
Siege Balloons.

Military BallOOning-StOry OF the Paris
Siege Balloons.
The London Echo summarizes an in
teresting account just published Of the
doings of the Paris siege balloons,
which show that ballooning is by no
means SD dangerous mode of travel
ing as many would have US believe.
Out of sixty.four balloons which left
the French capital, only two came to a
bad end, and as these we're lost at sea
in trying to escape the enemy, it is but
fair to suppose that they would other
wise have descended safely. Curiously
enough, northerly wind, which would
obviously have been the most favorable
for driving the balloons to the south Of
France, and therefore out of the reach
OF the enemy, seems rarely 10 have
helped the besieged. This fact alone
adj led much to the difficulties to be en-
countered by the aerial navigators in
keeping out Of HARMS way, and really
the only wonder is that so many Of the
voyages, being made in northeasterly
direction, there werr not more captures
effected. Only five balloons were actu-
ally taken by the Germans, although,
as may be supposed, many had very
narrow escapes, sixteen in all falling
within the enemy's lines. Two of these
there was no chance of saving, for they
went right over into hostile territory ;
one of these unfortunate conveyances
descended in Prussia and the other in
Bavaria. Several accidents happened
to the aeronauts in their descent, but
if we except the two iRstancet of bal.
looms going out to sea, only one ofthese
ended fatally. OF the sixty-four bal
looms dispatched, fifty-seven reached a
safe destination, carrying $50 naviga-
tors and passengers. The duration of
the voyage was, on an average, but
three hours at the commencement of
the service in September, 1870, but as
the German troops approached nearer
and surrounded the capital more effec.
tually, it was deemed desirable to
make longer journey, and in January
the average voyage was between SIX
and seven hours. At this period, too,
it was found necessary to dispatch the
balloons during the night, SO that they
might get fair start and be well out OF
rifle shot when passing over Versailles
and the outposts of the German army.
The most memorable voyage was thus
made on the 2lst November, when the
North Sea was traversed by a balloon
which reached Christianis, after voy.
age of some fourteen hours. The dis
lance travelled was certainly not less
than ZOO miles and at the rate Of sew
enty miles an hour-beyond a doubt
the fastest rate of locomotion on record
The balloons themselves were con
structed of oiled silk, and mostly con
tanned some 1000 cubic meters of gas
They were designed and manufactured
under the superintendent OF n. God
ard, whose fame as an aeronaut was
we'll established before the siege. A
number of volunteers from the French
navy, chosen for their peculiar fitness
for the service, were trained to navigate
the balloons. Most of the balloons car
ried passengers, and generally severa
hundredweight OF dispatches. together
with a basket Of pigeons, to be EN-
ployed rs return messengers. In some
instances, too, dogs were carried out, ir
the hope that these would find theil
way back into Paris, laden with letters
for the besieged; but there was ne
instance, we believe. of these animals
fulfilling the hopes Of their sanguin'
owners.
The manner in with news was con
veyed by aid of these balloons at yer.
regular intervals from the Odd Septem
Der, 1870, until the 28th January, 1871
will long be remembered. The 5000
messages which were actually sent int
the beleaguered city, between the sam
dates, by means Of pigeons brought on
by the aeronauts, must all be put dow
to the credit of the balloon service, s
wonderfully organized and effeciivel
carriod ont