The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-15
SIXTY HOURS TO EUROPE.
An Interview with Professor John
Wise.
Ee Defends His Great Theory Of Cross
ing the Atlantic by Balloon.

Professor John Wise, aeronau. who proposes to
cross tue Atlantic In balloon, thereby establish
ing his theories regarding the currents OF the at
mosphere and the uses to which they can be puff
purposes OF travel, is in New York. Boston,
through the sudden contraction Of her currency
has found herself inadequate to the task OF sending
out the pioneer transatlantic balloon, and Profess
sOr Wise comes to New York with new hope, conf
dent that the metropolis is after ALL the best place
to start FROM The enthusiasm OF the gray-headed
aeronaut Is, to say the least very pleasing to see,
and augurs well for the success OF the undertak.
ing The can but get the assistance he requires 1t
will require $40, 600 to put the scheme upon sure
foundation, and the Professor thinks that he has
already found or will find, men who will champion
his cause to that amount. IL would seem
strange that not only private enterprise but the
government Will expend hundreds OF thousands OF
dollars in trying to discover an open Polar sea
which cannot be or the slightest practical use to
commerce or navigation, when in such a trpas
this proposed by Professor Wise there is an oppor-
tunity presented OF opening up at least efficient
mail service between the two civilized portions OF
the globe. A HERALD reporter had long CONVEX
sation with Professor Wise yesterday, the sub
stance OF which is given below
HERALD RErREsENTATIvE-I have called, PROBES.
sor, to obtain your reasons Tor believing that the
sure that they must be founded upon experiencef
Professor WIsE-The problem is an easy one. 1t
is a mere matter OF building noat which will re-
main suspended in the atmosphere for sixty or
seventy hours, and with which we can rise or fall
into the northwest or southwest wind
HERALD REPRESENTATION are thoroughly
convinced OF the existence OF aneasterly current
In the upper atmospheric
Professor WIsR--I have known 1t for more than
thirty years, from personal observation and expe-
rience. The nature of the currents In the atmos-
phere were well known even to the ancients. The
currents OF the trade winds are graphically de-
scriDed in the BiDle (Ecclesiastes l., 81 1.-THE
WIND goeth toward the south and turneth about
unto the north.n In the "iad" OF Homer the de-
scrlption given of the motion of bodies when
hurled from great heights is the same have
observed when things are thrown from balloon
when at great height-they spin upon their vcr-
HERALD REPRESENTATIVE there any doubt
but that If the money were supplied the expedition
Professor WlsE--Not the slightest six weeks
would be amply sufficient to build the balloon and
| equip the entire apparatus.
HERALD REPREsENrArIvE-W you be kind
| enough to give me some general idea OF the plan
| upon which the aerial vessel Will be built
Professor WIsE-1he balloon itself will he globu-
lar in shape. balloon OF 100 feet in diameter is OF
ample size to the ocean, and one OF $50 feet
would be sufficiently large for the purpose OF cir.
| COMMUNICATING the globe. l am certain that il l
cross the ocean can go around the globe. This
would require probably eight or nine days.
| HERALD REPREsENTATIvE-wha capacity would
you have, Professor Tor passengers or mallsY
| Professor WIsE-In balloon 100 feet in diameter
we could take 5000 pounds Of disposable ballast.
| In the TRANSATLANTIC trip we should take great
deal OF this in the shape OF provisions, cooked and
| canned meats and fruits. A large quantity OF
| quicklime would be taken, and we should use it
| for warming coffee and boiling eggs.
HERALD REPREsENTATIvE-By what MEANS other
! than from the sun, would you determine your loca-
| ton
| upon the sun with the sextant. We should also
employ thermometers and the barometer. We
rst mportant observation would be to- yet the
barometrc lines OF the upper trade Winds These
are probably at regular level over the ocean, since
/ temperature Is more even below and undula-
lions in the surface exist to cause unduations in
the air currents BY these several means we
should establish some system as regards the at
tainment OF points on the other side OF the ocean.
Since we must necessarily have the advan-
rom the northwest and the Southwest giving us
| all the territory which lies within the range OF the
compass for places at which to land. From former
experience on the lakes Judge that can tell the
| direction which the balloon Is travelling by the
foam on the water. | can always see the water,
except at such times as clouds intervene. can find
the direction OF the currents below me without
coming down to seek them, by suspendlng light
line OF two miles In length from the balloon, having
It, at regular distances, ndces which viii regis
ter the direction OF the wind. Should the balloon
with the aid OF drag line we could go right along
| without the loss OF gas or ballast.
HERALD kEPRESENTAT1vE-Am / to understand
that you VIII have line in the water from the carr
Professor WIsE-Precisely so. The balance or
drag rope, about one thousand feet IN length, re-
leves the balloon OF weight exactly to the extent
of the ropes EMERSON in the water. 1t does not
materially retard its progress, and gives us the
exact direction IN which the balloon Is travelling.
| Should we desire to come down nearer to the
water we have only to wind up this rope. should
also state that II other means offered for ascer-
tanning our direction we shall have along with US
percussion fire pots, which, when thrown on the
sea, will ignite, showing their smoke in daylight
| and their light by night They VIII be, literally,
| oar "pilar Of cloud by day and pillar OF fire by
night" p,n.vsn,r p,oos. ooscr,ss mo
| car in which the passengers will travelf
! Professor WIsE-We shall have large wicker
work ear. with strong canvas sides and ROOF to pro-
| tect US frem the weather. In these VIII be glass
| windows. This will be OF two stories In height
| We shall live on the upper floor, and In the lower
i we snail store our provisions. Underneath the car
4 will be an open gallery for taking observations or
the 1t will be put as lar below as practlcaple
| so to avoid as much as possible the shadow from
| the balloon Below this gallery the llfe-boat will
| be suspended. This viii be OF metal and decked
| over. / have thought OF taking the little 1uli-
| rugged vessel 'Ked, White and Blue" as she weighs
| only ], 500 pounds have already seen her owner.
! HERALD REPREsBNTATIvE-What are the posi-
bllities OF the future should your Trip prove sue
/ cessfulp
Professor WIsE-Everythng imaginable In 1.-THE
i way OF transportation may become possible tnen.
We may be able to discount the stories OF Aladdin
and the genii. Ii 1t Is possible to transport ten
/ people across the ocean 1t s feasible TO take up
| regiment OF soldiers Sailing in the air Will have
to be learned just as was the navigation OF the sea-
4 II took great many years before men would ven
ture to In ships. Even in Horace's time IL WAS
! accounted wonderful act OF daring to cross the
! OF this undertaking will enable us to oretell TO
| nicely by cable the state OF the weather on the
British Isles, as the cyclones which BRING the
| weather waves VIII pass US previously.