The Van Buren press., 1873-06-24
To Europe by Balloon.
Three 7housand Miles Through he Air
Pref Wtses Scheme-A Great
cut Petiio. Unds,.aking
from the PHILADELPHIA. Evonins Bulls,n.

~
Bulletin that Prof Jehn Wise. of this
city, intends to attempt, during the com
ing summer, to cross The Atlantic ocean
in balloon. The adventure is one OF
such boldness, such novelty, and such
Importance that the representative ofthis
paper called yesterday upon Mr. Wise
FOR the purpose OF obtaining some infor
nation concerning the voyage. Prof
. Wise is ono Of tho Oldest and most ex.
perieuced aeronauts in the world, and Us
|, he 10 also a man of solid ability and gen
I eroHs scientific culture, he has achieved
T during bis visits to the upper atm mosphere
discoveries of enormous value. He holds
at present the position Of secretary of
the meteorological section Of the Frank
lin institute in this city, and he is earnest.
ly devoted to the study Of the phcusme.
na which are considered in that depart
: ment OF the institution, Prot. Wise Is
now pretty well advanced in years, but
he has sturdy, vigorous health, an active
brain and inexhaustible energy. He is as
full Of IN .husasm over the prospect OF
his transmarine voyage as II he wero in
he very hey dey OF youth, not because
Of any pecuniary profit which may come
to him from the enterprise. or from ths
mere sensuous delight taken in such a
wonderful journey, but because he hopes
to realize and demonstrate practically
theories he has held and preached and
fought for during larger portion of his
| life time
IN conversation with reporter. the
professor gave the following outlines OF
the undertaking:
propose to start from Boston com
mon during next July--if possible upon
| the Fourth-in a balloon, for Europe.
shall have with ne Mr.. Washington H.
/ Donaldson, the aerouaut, and two scien'
! ti6c gentlemen who are not yet selected
from number Of applicants. Tbs city
| Of Boston has appropriated the sum OF
/ S3, coo to enable lae TO procure the bal
loon and the necessary apparatus, pro-
/ vded can show To the scientific men OF
| that city that my lheor, /, plausible
one. | sent Mr.. Donaldson on there to
present our plans to tho leading men Of
/ that place, knowing themto be both in
| tclligent and liberal Ha brought the
mater before committee Of the city
council, and pressed his claim, with the
aid Of letter from me.
| Donaldson is able, skiltu and bold,
and moreover i. cagor to make this a,
tempt lie would hayc made it long ago
if the money had been procured. Don
fa5SynslTa pfaiSn Tas % "a e enx!?gs 70 that he even
| to try to cross the ocean in paper bal
loon; but | did not think it prudent to
do so have fer years believed that the
entire upper atmosphere surrounding the
earth constantly moves eastward with
the revolution Of tho earth More than
this. it actually moves faster than the
earth. Just ss water is spurted forward
from rapidly revolving grndstone, j,
| /, thrown ahead by the centrifugal force
generated by The meyoment ofthe terres-
tal ball at the rate say Of 100 miles per
hour. II | risa into this vas, airtde
with my balloon the ship will be swept
eastward with tremendous velocity. We
cannot control the direction Of the bal
loon in any way, and that will not be nee
esssry. All we need do is to lot it drift,
and sooner or later, If no accident hap
pens. We shall reach Europe. The time
required will not be moro than seventy
hours, and probably only sixty. 1t will
| depend upon the force OF the air current
We shall probably land either in Great
| Britain or France-in the latter II we DO
not reach great altitude, have al
ways thought, however, that there 10 an
air.currcnt following the course OF the
gulf stream, for that heats the atmos
phere to the height Of eight or ten thou
sand feet, and makes. ] conjecture, asort
OF gulf stream in the air 1t this il cor
rect, and our balloon strikes that current,
we shall go direct TO England. Os
course cannot say absolutely that We
shall succeed The voyage is merely ex-
perimental | wish to test the matter
that is all II the trip can be made now,
! it will he made many times again; and
with practice, ability may bo acquired to
| reach London. Paris or Madrid with un
erriug certainty. We are merely going
ing to try whether it can really be done
/ or not. shall leave Boston common
and strike a. once for an altitude Of two
miles, and stay up there If possible until
wog get across
We propose to construct three bal
| looms, ono nearly three times the size OF
| the others, tho latter Of which will be
used to supply the large one with gas, ss
it gradually loses its lifting power. The
balloon. will hold some 325,000 feet Of
Gas, and vii. have lifting capacity Of
/ II 900 pounds, besides the weight of the
.as chambers themselves, MEETINGS, bas
kes, life boat. &c 1t will take about 3
100 yards OF drilling for the large bal
| loon. but with the aid Of sewing machines
VIC think we can get it ready in months
time The basket in which we propose
to ride will be comfortable covered
room, with cellar in which TO store wa
ter and food for the trip The room
will have windows on all sides, liGe
stove will give abundant heat for warmth
and to cook with, while at night Va
CUM tube with platinum wire at each
end will furnish abundant light by send
ing current Of electricity along the wire.
Beneath the chamber there will bean open
platform or balcony. and benssth that
one OF ,hc Francis metal life boats, pro
yided with oars, sails, instruments, food
and water. will be suspended, ready at
any time TO receive US, should q noar ap-
proach to water take place for any rea-
son. This life boat will have four large