The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1873-08-22

We, however, In this misinterpet nature
in its ability to serve us to go across the
ocean and around the globe, we will be
provided with that which will make us
safe ID the more ponderable element
the sea-and on that we can ride in our
auxiliary bark, the life-boat, TO a haven
of safety. My friend, Mr.. Donaldson,
is a good boatman, SO we shall be well
prepared for any emergency in that way.
True, it Is a small craft to ride the ocean
wave, but it Is withal larger than the
"Red, White and Blue" a little ship
that sailed from New York to Liverpool
with two men and dog.
These things are merely mentioned to
show that we are not fool-hardy; and
should we not turn up after few days,
or week, or preadventure a month, it
should not be taken as an omen of utter
failure, since it might happen that we
should be drifted ipto Africa in our un-
tried adventure, and a hundred leagues
inland, a months time might be required
to foot il out. Such a miihap is barely
possible in too much southing, and in
reaching the African coast upon a cloud
ed night.
The mechanical details merit a few
words of consideration. The balloon
will be of globular form, and ofcapacity
sufficient to carry $1,000 pounds. 1t
will be made upon the best method, de-
rived from an experience of thirty-fve
years Of balloon construction. We should
like to make it as gas-tight as the great
Gifiard balloon exhibited at Ashbutron
Park, London, few years ago. This
erial captive balloon stood inflated
twenty-five days, without losing much of
its buoyant power in that time, since it
took up twenty-four persons after that.
Our limited means may prevent us from
making our balloon quite so impermea-
bic, since cotton fabric is harder to make
gas-tight than silk.
The details of supplemental balloons,
of car and gallery, life-boat, ETC., are
contrived and provided for in the very
excellent arrangements of Mr.. Donald
son, and is illustrated in the artistic
sketch furnished by him. To his skill
and Judgment this whole matter is con
fded, and pature has nobly adapted him
to the work. We shall have a large
wicker-work car, with strong canvas
sides and roof to protect us from the
weather. In these will be glass windows.
This car will be of two stories in height.
We shall live in the upper floor, and in
the lower we shall store our provisions.
Underneath the car will be an open gal
lery for taking observations of the sun.
1t will be put as far below as practicable,
so as to avoid as much as possible the
shadow from the balloon. Below this
gallery the life-boat will be suspended.
This will be of metal, and decked over.
In the transatlantic trip we should take
for food 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.
We should take observations upon the
sun with the sextant. We should also
employ chronometers and the barometer.
We should take reckonings three times a
day. The first important observation
would be to get the barometric lines Of
the upper trade winds. These are prob
ably at regular level over the ocean,
since temperature is more even below,
and no undulations in the surface exist
to cause undulations in the air-currents.
BY these several means we should estab-
lish some system as regards the attain
ment of points on the other side of the
ocean, since we must necessarily y have the
advantages of the two upper trade cur
rents from the northwest and the south
west, 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 in which the bal
loon is travelling by the foam on the
water. can always see the water, ex-
cept at such times as clouds intervene
| can find out the direction Of the cur
rents below me, without coming to seek
them, by suspending light line of two
miles in length from the balloon, having
on il at regular distances, indices which
will register the direction Of the wind.
Should the balloon encounter the "brave
west winds" on the ocean, with the aid
of drag line we can go right along
without the loss Of gas or ballast.
The balance or drag rope, about one
thousand feet in length, relieves the bal.
loon of weight exactly to the extent of
the ropes emersion 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 if no other means
offered for ascertaining our direction, we
shall have along with us percussion fire
pots, which will ignite when thrown on
the sea, showing their.smoke m daylight
and their light by night They will be,
literally, our "pillar Of cloud by day and
pillar of frs by night" We calculate
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