Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-08-25
THE DEPARTURE OF THE BAL
LOON.

The preparations for our transatlan-
tic aerial expedition are SO far advanced
that we are now enabled to look forward
to its early departure We expect be-
Tore the Close of ano Their week to see
clearly to the end of the multitude of
details IN the construction of the mon
ster balloon and its appurtenances. The
unexpected yet unavoidable delay in or
der to properly varnish the immense sec
lions of cloth, and orr determination to
omit nothing which could render the
outfit more perfect in the eyes of Messrs.
Wise and Donaldson, have made it i'm
possible to complete the work by the
Goth inst, as we hoped. All things
have been forwarded with the greatest
energy, and now only the bringing to-
gether of minor details and the perfect
ing of necessary arrangements for de-
parture remain to be accomplished
The balloon will be ready to start be-
tween the lst and the 10th of Septem-
Der. but the precise day of ascent can
not now be determined, and will not be
announced until we are sure that no
postponement can take place. We shall
get everything fairly ready and adjusted
to the satisfaction of the voyagers them
selves, and then the imitation will begin
with the first favorable state of the
weather. We expect to receive from
the Signal Service Bureau at Washing
ton its opinions of the probabilities. and
when the prospect is good for continu-
ance of fair weather for eighteen or
twenty hours, the gas will be turn
ed on, and the balloon will be filled in
the shortest possible time.
The imitation of balloon is a very
delicate process, for there is great dan
. ger of bursting the envelope when strong
surface winds prevail. Only when the
balloon inflated is released, and rises
above the uncertain and conflicting in
nuences OF local aUMUspnUrr uIsUurpuuUr,
does it reach the region where its pas
sengers can defy and smile at the raging
elements with which the men of earth
have to contend. We intend to so dis
pose the arrangements for imitation as
that accidents to the balloon and its APP.
purtenances shall be avoided, if possible,
and just as soon as the envelope receives
its supply Of gas, the party will embark
and the ropes will be cut loose.
We realize and appreciate fully the
unparalleled public interest which is fell
in this great undertaking. To CRAFTY
that interest, the place and the day Of
ascension will be announced as soon as
determined. But it will be impossible
to appoint the hour of departure We
can only promise that it is intended tt
despatch the balloon at the hour of sun
set, as it is a well-known meteorological
fact that less wind prevails after darl
than during the daytime. We do mo-
desire or purpose any public display. A
few persons-scientists and members O.
the press mostly-will be invited to bea
witness to the departure, and in thei
; presence our intrepid commissioners viii
quietly take leave This seems to b,
the best programme, in view of the man,
chances of accident in case the ascension
were to be made in the presence of /;
large public gathering. Much as w
would like to wait for the assemblage o
: the thousands who would like to witnes
the departure of our balloon, we mus
keep in mind tie object for which W
: are fitting it out, and make all else sub
: servient thereto.-Daily Graphic.