Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-09-25
THEBALLOON FAILURE.

L lIlC IdllulS VI IAC oIupkto ohAAOoH w SoNH
on its transatlantic voyage, as advertised,
has excited considerable comment, and from
all accounts, the whole seems to have been
very badly managed A reporter of the New
York Tribune called on Prof Wise, and the
Professor made substantially the following
statement:
He said that his arrangement with the
Messrs. Goodsell was substantially as follows:
They agreed to construct such balloon as he
pu-sested, of materials Of good quality, and it
was to be equipped with approved scientific
instruments and facilities for the sustenance
and preservation of life. Instead of acting
on his recommendations, they proceeded to
build balloon after their own ideas. They
procured different material from that which
he suggested, employed a superintendent of
construction, who was utterly unfit for the
position and entirely disregarded his (Prof.
Wise's) advice. Prof Wise had merel y an ad-
vsory position in the councils of the enter
prise, and whenever his views differed from
those of the managers, they were disregarded.
The balloon, instead of being placed under
cover at the ship-house in the navy yard, was
exposed to the action of the elements for five
weeks, until the material was actually rotten
and could not contain the gas Instead of
having an ample force Of twenty-five men at
the grounds, for the purpose Of initiating the
balloon, Donaldson and few boys were there,
and they, of course, could accomplish nothing.
The balloon was rent in several places, and
he was in doubt as to the ability of the con-
structors to repair it so as to enable it to be
of sufficient service to demonstrate the theory
which he had so much at heart.
In relation to the business details OF the
balloon, Professor Wise sail that the figures
had been grossly over-rated. He had made
an estimate of the cost Of construction, and
presented it to the managers ofthe enterprise.
He had estimated that a first class balloon,
such as he required, would cost $3.50. The
managers had not spent over $4,000 on the
balloon which was now on exhibition. They
had advertised for contributions, which they
declared would be turned over to Professor
Wise. On the strength of this statement,
number of subscriptions had been received
one from a scientific society amounting to
$1,000. This check had been drawn to the
order of Professor Wise, and he had endorsed
it over to the managers, and had not received
anything out Of it, He protested against his
name being used as bait for subscriptions,
and declared to them that if they did not
cease such misuse of his name, he would ex-
pose the whole matter. Many of the imple-
ments and instruments of the enterprise were
contributed, gratuitously, Or for advertising
purposes. The actual outlay had been more
than repaid by the rates ofadmission charged
at the exhibition of the balloon.
To this display he was very much adverse,
as he did not think that it was just to charge
admission fees. He did not think that he had
been justly treated by the Graphic. He had
spent his summer, all his energy and industry
upon the matter, and had remained in this
city at a large cost to himself. All that
he had received was about S195 for ex-
penses in connection with the balloon. He
particularly dwelt upon the treatment of the
managers in relation to his book, which ne
had contracted to write and publish. With
a perfect knowledge of this subject, the man
ayers had advertised, by implication, that he
was to edit this book in conjunction with
some of the people connected with them.
This alarmed his publishers, and it has been
necessary for him to disclaim all connection
with this book. Prof. Wise concluded by
stating that he was still desirous of prosecu.
ting the enterprise, and that if this balloon
could be repaired and made to demonstrate
something practical, he would ascend.