Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1873-09-26
BARNUM'S BALLOON.

BARNUM's BALLOON.
Learning that Mr.. Barnum entertain
ed an idea of embarking in an enter
prise of this description, a Times report
er called upon him yesterday at Valid
mere, his elegant residence, which
crowns an eminence overlooking Long
Island sound and the pretty Seaside
park, the principal adornment of this
euterprising city, and having found the
great Snowman in his library disengaged
was courteously received, and soon put
in possession of his plans upon this sub
ject. Aerial navigation, Mr.. Barnum
stated, was subject in which he had
always entertained deep interest, and
he had long been persuaded that the
vast ocean of atmosphere which sur
rounds our globe was not destined to
be traversed by birds alone, but that it
would eventually be navigated by man.
He was not alone in this opinion, for
many scientific men, among them Pro-
lessor Joseph Henry, Of the Smithson-
ian institute, believed that the problem
would, in time be solved. About TWEEN
ty years ago, said Mr.. Barnum, I made
a small venture in this line, though l
must say that at the time did not have
very sanguine expectations of success.
A young man, at that time clerk in the
store of Mr.. A. L. Stewart, had become
infatuated upon the subject of flying,
and l advanced him three hundred dol
lars for the construction of pair OF
wings. The arrangement was that, il
he succeeded in flying, he was to fly for
me in my museum from the gallery
down to the stage and back again. After
his wings were finished he made an at
tempt to fly from the top Of building
in New York, but met with disastrous
fall, breaking his wings and fracturine
some of his bones. Since that time
have assisted other inventors of flying
machines.
Twenty years ago I met Mr..
Green, the English @ronaut, who made
over six hundred ascensions, and in the
course of our conversation he asserted
the existence of permanent currents in
the upper atmosphere. l believe the
idea to have been original with him,
and think that it must have been com.
municated by me to Prof. Wise, who
made an ascension for me in 1858, al
the Crystal Palace Exhibition in New
York. Mr.. Green at the same time
suggested the use of drag rope, to be
employed to retard the speed of the bal
loon when necessary, and which has re-
Gently been asserted to be q modern de
vice. Soon after the failure OF the Bos
ton arrangement 1 wrote to Prof. Wise,
intending to engage his services but
not knowing his correct address my
letter did not reach him until con
tract had been made with the Graphic
company.
Now that that attempt seems to have
J failed, / propose to take the matter in
to my own hands. / am already in cor
respondence with eminent @ronauts il
France and England. L shall sail fo
Europe in the Scotia next Wednesday
A cable despatch has already been sem
to the English press announcing my er
, rand, and ON my arrival in London
shall consult with the most eminent an(
/ successful navigators of the air and OBJ
tain their opinion as to the best materi
: ais and shape for the great balloon
which I propose to construct. l am a
! present uncertain whether to have i
! constructed in China, where labor i
cheap and silk is most plentiful or il
Paris at the establishment of M. Nadir
< where were produced the balloons s.
many of which successfully passed tn
lines of the Prussian army during tn
: siege of the city. Intend to have m,
, monogram, p. L. B., together with tn
: American eagle and other patriot
devices, interviewer in the fabric of til
silk.
+ After the balloon is finished I propos
to make an experimental ascension fror
/ the grounds of the Sydenham Crysta
s Palace, in order to see that everythin
D is in proper working order. Havin
done this, and having taken the advic
} of the most distinguished scientific me
. as to the best kind of gas for imitation
= and the most propitious time for maxim
t the experiment, Ishall pack up the ba
? loon and bring it across to NewYork. M
idea is to have the ascension made b
three eronauts of different nationalitie
one American, one Englishman, an
{ one from France or Germany.
In answer to questions from the II
porter, Mr.. Barnum stated that he wa
: prepared to expend any sum necessar
for the proper accomplishment of hi
/ purpose. Money will be no object
success is only what he desires. Every
thing connected with the outfit is to b
9 of the best quality, and fifty thousan
dollars is the least estimate of the e4
3 pense. The utmost care will be take
Q to select none but the most exper
: enced and courageous navigators fo
a the expedition.
a For forty years, said Mr.. Barnum,
Y have been Snowman, and, in spite q
all talk about humbug, the public hay
: confidence in me and know that l a,
} ways carry out what / undertake.
firmly believe that this experiment wi
0 be successful. AT my time of life
. have but few years left, and in then
, L intend to do great things, I have re
: served the sky rockets and the gran
t transformation scenes to the close c
l the performance.