New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-11
HE GRAPHIC" BALLOON.
AN AERIAL VOYAGE POSTPONED.

AN AERIAL VOYAGE POSTPONED.
THE INITIATION INCoMPLETE-THE MONSTER UNMAN
AGEABLE-PRoF. wIsKs STORY or THE ENTER
The work of initiating the great "Graphic"
balloon begun yesterday morning at the Capitone
Grounds in Brooklyn Every preparation had previously
been made but the superintendent failed 10 be on hand
when needed. Finally Mr.. Donaldson undertook the
difficult task himself and. as 1t proved. with by no means
adequate asance Is men were to have lent their sid
but at the time not half the number were present
Everything went well for time the balloon was about
oDe-ouarter inflated, when the wind began TO blow
freshly and the huge monster TO sway to and fro In
such manner ~ become entirely unmanageaoe-
The sandbag anchors were strewn In every drecnon'
and the balloon threatened TO break from It's
fastenings. Further help was sent for, but before
IFS arrival it became necessary to stop the imitation.
and even open the safetyyalve This did not materially
improve matters and the gas escaping SO Slowly IL De-
came necessary to make incon in the cotton and III
n moment the unruly monster lay a shapeless mass
upon the ground Not moro than 80
persons were present during this scene.
BY $3.50 in the morning all hopes OF ascension were
given up for the day, aud the public informed OF
another necessary "pOstponement" No immediate
steps toward repairing the damage done were taken,
late hour in the evening the great stretch OF
lying in the park grounds exposed to wind
and rain During the afternoon large crowd visited the
cents admission fee. But it Is stated that, notwith-
standing this discouragng attempt at an ascension.
had there been sufficient help on the grounds
yesterday probably q successful imitation would
thon have been had The Company have made
contract with Mr.. John Steiner, an experienced
aeronau take personal charge Of the imitation OF the
balloon when again repaired, and it is expected that
everything will be in readiness for the ascension to-
morrow.
PROF. wIsE's STATEMENT.
Prof. Wise, who had been conspicuous by his absence
from the of the exhibition throughout the day wss
coseted several hours with his publishers during the
evening. and at midnight returned TO his resi-
deDce In City Hallplaoe. As he entered he
was accosted by TRIBUNE reporter, to whom
he stated that the failure Of the ascension yesterday was
due to several causes viz the nnfavorabe weather the
inability 10 inate the balloon and the lack Of complete
ness In the preparations. The professor seemed
disncned to speak Of the treatment which
he had received from the managers OF
the enterprise, but after solicitation the part Of
his SOD, who accompanied him, he made more positive
statements, although in conservative and modest
manner. He said that his arrangement with the
Messrs. Goodsell was substantially as follows: They
agreed TO construct such balloon as he suggested,
Of materials Of good quality and 1t was TO be equipped
with approved scientific instruments and facilities for
the sustenance and preservation Of life Instead Of
acting Cd his recommendations they proceeded to build
u
cured different material from that which he
suggested, employed a superintendent OF con-
structon who utterly unfit for the position and
entirely disregarded his prot Wise's) advice. Prof.
Wise has merely advisory position in the councils Of
the enterprise. and whenever bis views
differed from those Of the managers they
were disregarded- The balloon instead of being
placed under at the shphouse in the Navy Yard
was exposed action Of the elements for five weeks
until the material actually rotten and could not con-
tain the Instead OF having an ample force OF Is
the grounds for the purpose OF Initiating the bal
LOOM Donaldson and few boys were there, and they OF
course could accomplish nothing The balloon rent in
several places and he in doubt 10 the ability of
the repair it to enable it to be Of
sufficient service to demonstrate the theory which he
had so much at heart.
In relation 10 the business details OF the balloon Prof
Wise said that the figures had been grossly overrated
He had made an estimate OF the cost OF construction
and presented it TO the managers OF the enterprise
He had estimated that hrst-class balloon
such as be required would cost $500. The
had not spent over 5000 the balloon which was
now on exhibition They had advertised for
contributions, which they declared would be
turned TO Prof. Wise. On the strength
Of this statement a number Of subscriptions had
been received-one from scientific society amounting
TO 200 This check mad been drawn to the order OF
Prof Wise. and he had endorsed it over TO
the managers, and had not received anything
out or IL. lie piOltbteu against MS
name being used bait for subscriptions, and de-
clared 10 them that IL they did not cease such
a misuse OF his he would expose
the whole matter Many of the Implements and
Instruments of the enterprise contributed
gratuOusly for advertising purposes. The actual
outlay bad been than repaid by the rates OF ads
sion charged at exhibition of the balloon To this
display he was very much averse, as he did not
think that IL just to charge admission fees.
He think that he had been justly treated by Inc
Graphite He had spent his Summer all his energy and
industry upon the matter and had remained In this city
at large cost to himself All that he had received was
about si95 for expenses in connectian with the
balloon. He particularly dwelt upon the treatment
of the managers relation 10 his book. which ne
mad contracted 10 write and publish. With
a perfect knowledge OF this subject, the man
ayers had advertised by implication that he
was TO edit book in conjunction with Of the
people connected with them This had alarmed his
publishers, and it had been necessary for him
to disclam all connection With this BOOK
Prof Wise concluded by stating that he was
still DESTROYS OF prosecuting the enterprise,
and that II this balloon could be re-
paired aud made TO demonstrate something practical
be would He understood that the intention was
initiate the balloon at M to-day with gas and II IL
was possible the ascension would be made.
The bombs which the aronauts will take with them to
be dropped into the determining their by
night are properly signal lights. They are not
explosive" stated in yesterdays TRIBUNE, aud they
viii burn As rather than minutes.