The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-07-24
Balloon Voyages.

Dohcou SOydYeS.
The projected balloon voyage of Pro-
tessors Wise and Donaldson across the
Atlantic, will make the following account
of this method of travel somewhat inter
esting. The theory of the balloon seems
to be quite ancient. but it was not until
1870 that Lana,"a Frenchman, we believe,
constructed a machine to flv IN the air.
which may be considered the first real at
tempt to use atmosphere as medium OF
transit. genius by the name of Galien,
IN l135, constructed an air-ship but his
machine came to grief, and no description,
OF 1t has been preserved. In 1907 Pro-
lessor Black, of Scotland presented the
proposition that a vessel filled with HYDRO
gen gas would float suspended in the ar.
NO actual experiments seem to have been
MADE until 1882, when CavallO put the
proposition to successful tests made with
soap bubbles filled with hydrogen gas
But the hrst balloons We're filled with hot
ali, and We're named Montgolfiers. from
the name OF the arOnaut who first made
ascents in them These balloons are very
simple in construction, and are still popu-
lar with many ;eronauts 1t is a we'll
known tact IN philosophy that hot air is
specifically much lighter than cool dir.
Heated water rises ID the surface OF the
vessel in which it is contained and the
surface will therefore be found several de-
grees hotter than the water at or near the
bottom of the vessel The upward rusb
OF steam is another experiment which
shows the tendency Of neat to rise in the
air. This principle Is used in the Mont
golfer balloon The ali within it is heal
ed until it is difficult to restrain the bal
loon. When it is released it mounts the
air with great rapidity In some of the
hot-air balloons the compustible material
is carried along, and when ignited, as-
slsts in keeping the balloon at the desired
elevation. The most popular balloon is
that which is inflated with hydrogen gas
In such balloons long trips have been
made from time to time. The first voy-
age in such i machine was undertaken by
Professor Charles, of Paris, IN the wear
1888. He was accompanied by two
brothers named Roberts, who were me
chanlcs OF great ingenuity Ii is said
that the balloons of our day differ in no
important particular from that construct
ed by Professor Charles and his connan.
ions. The voyage was undertaken No
vember 26, 1888. 1t is said that three
fourths OF the population of Paris were
| witnesses OF the singular spectacle They
rose 70 the helgnt oi 1000 feet aud sail
ed distance OF thirty miles in perfect
safety. A balloon crossed the English
Channel on the 22d ot February, l7S4. 1t
was small in dimensions, and TO il was
attached a letter, which was after
wards returned to the owner 1t was
found IN France at a considerable dis
| tance from the coast. IN 1884, Blanch-
ard a noted aeronaut together with i Dr.
Jetfries, crossed the Channel to France.
where, after many vicisstudcs, they land
ed in safety In the year 1886 remark
able Journey was undertaken from London
to Germany by Green. The distance
traversed was twelve hundred miles, one
OF the longest ever accomplished The
aeronaut set out from London November
Z, with two companions In the narrative
describing this journey we are told that
Green provided himself with quantity of
provisions for long trip, and passports
were also provided TO all the states in
Europe. The balloon rose 1T midday
floating southwestwardiY, and at halt-past
four they arrived 1t the channel The
graph. historian Of the trip tells US the
waters OF the channel were crossed in ah
hour and the lights Dt Calais sighted
The whole surface 0t the earth for many
leagues around showed nothing but scat
tered lights, and the face Of the earth
seemed to rival the vault OF heaven with
starry fires. Every moment in the earlier
part OF the night clusters ot lights ap-
peared indicating large centres vi popula-
tion At midnight the travellers found
themselves above heige The saloon de
scended in the Duchy of Nassau 1t seven
O'Clock the following morning One of the
yoyagerS tells Us that 'the best answer
which one could giye To those who 4 ouId
be disposed to rriticise the employment of
these peculiar means we made use Of, or
to doubt their efficiency, would be to state
after having traversed without either
danger or difficulty 50 large a portion of
the European Continent, we arrived at
our designation still in possession Of AZ
much force as, had we wished it, might
have carried Us round the world"
1t would seem from the success which
attended this trip that 1t is possible to
make extended voyages in the air 1t is
a theory among practical aeronauts that
there i u constant easterly current by
which Il balloon can be transported to
Europe. From the voyage Of ttreen this
i'NF Sttii7 9pl4t' 1tttl'olt- lif" liN' u tHI7
atmospheric current IL affected by o,hrr
currents at a great distance from the
shores OF the ocean, can only he deter
mined by actual experiment. The pres
ent project of Professor Wise seems to be
pushed forward in New York with great
energy. The results TO he attained may
not be immediately important, Int 4 sue
cesstul passage across the Atlantic may
provoke further Investigations which may
prove beneficial to mankind The daring
Professors Wise and Donaldson IN at.
tempting snrh Il perilous trip, IS something
orp&t In Out ot thn ,.tntrp ~ f,Itlin1rN ttlItl-