Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-07-03
SELECT READING
TO EUROPE IN A BALLOON.

Three Thousand Miles Through the Air
Professor Wises sche1nes
From the Philadelphia Bulletin.l
It has already been announced tina,
Professor John Wise, of this city, in
tends to attempt, during the coming
summer to cross the Atlantic Ocean ir
balloon. The adventure is One Of
such boldness, sueh novelty and such
importance that representative of this
paper called yesterday on Mr. Wise
for the purpose Of obtaining some in
formation concerning the voyage
Professor Wise is one of the cldes,
and most experienced aeronauts in the
world, and, as he is also man of sol
id ability and generous scientific cul
ture, he has achieved, during his visits
to the upper atmosphere, discoveries
of enormous value. He holds at pres
emit the position of secretary OF the
meteorological section of the Frank
lin Institute in this city, and he is ear
nestly devoted TO the study of the phe
nomena which are considered in that
department of the institution. Pro
fessor Wise is now pretty well advanc-
ed i'll years., but he has sturdy. yigor
ons health, an active brain, and mex
haustible energy He is as full of ell
thusiasm over the prospect Of his trans
marine voyage as if he were i'll the very
heyday Of youth not ber.uTe of any
pec''niary profit which may come to
him from the enterprise, Or from the
mere seusuous delight in taking such
a wonderful journey, but because he
hopes to realize and demonstrate prac-
tically theories he has held and preach
ed and fought for during a Target por
ton of his lifetime The Professor is
ready to talk upon the subject with any
one and to answer with courtesy all
questions concerning the preparation
for his trip. The following converse
ton embraces all the topics discussed
yesterday:
Repcrter-Professor, will you please
state to me the present condition OF
4 tlo,, i al
Professor Wise-With pleasure. ]
propose to start from Boston Common
during next July-if possible, upon the
4th,-ia a balloon for Europe. I shall
have with me Mr. Washington II. Don
aldson, aerona.it, and two scientific
gentleman, who are not yet selected
from number of applicants. The city
of Boston has appropriated the sum o;
$1,000 to enable me to procure the bal
loon and the necessarily apparatus, pro
vided can show to the scientific mel
of that city that my theory is plausi
bic one.
Reported-Do you think you can dc
SO?
| Professor Wise-I feel sure of it. I
do not prove as clearly as can be with
out actual experience that balloon
may travel directly east across the At
lantic Ocean, do not want the money
TIE GREAT ATMOSPHERIC TtbE.
Reporter can not guide you
balloon; how then do you know it vii
not sail westward.
Professor Wise i have for year.
believed that the entire upper atmos
phere surrounding the earth constantly
moves eastward with the revolution O
the earth. More than this, it actually
moves faster than the earth, just as wa
tel is spurted forward from rapidly
revolving grindstone. 1t is thrown
ahead by the movement of the terres
trial ball at the rate, say of 100 lille
an hour. IF rise into this vast air
tide with my balloon, the ship will b.
swept forward with tremendous velo
CITY. We can not cohtfoie the direc
ton of the balloon in any, that will no
be necessary. All we lieed do is to lie
| it drift, and sooner OF later, if no ACC
dent happens, we shall reach Europe
Professor Henry and other learne
men entertain this same opinion cor
corning the eastward tendency Of tn
upper air, and | am assured Of it, nc
only because it is reasonable and Ifatua