The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-08-26
THE HISTORY OF BALLoONING.

The first balloon was sent up by thu
brothers Stephen and Joseph Mont
golfer, June 5, 1888. 1t was not long
before men were found to venture
their lives on such journey through
the air even in the year of it's discov.
cry there were several ascents made
by different persons, and with safe re.
suits. The balloons used were at first
the ordinary hot air Montgolfiers, but
q few months were necessary to util.
ize the hydrogen gas, whose superior
ity was evident on account of its
greater lightness. In 17S5 occurred
the first fatal accident from the use OF
balloon. Two yonng men attempt
ed to cross from France to England in
y hydrogen gas balloon to which q
hot-air balloon was attached. The
latter took fire, both were consumed,
and the two men fell on the coast OF
France and perished.
The most eminent aeronaut was an
Englishman named Green. His Ca
reer ATTENDED over 36 years, during
which time the made ], 400 ascensions,
crossing the Mort Sea three times, and
falling into it twice. On one occasion
he travelled distance Of 500 miles in
Is hours. This was, however, sur
passed by Wise and La Mountains
great trip in 1859, when they passed
from st. Louis to Henderson N. Y,
a distance of about 1,500 miles, in less
than % hours, or at all average yeloci-
ty of mile per minute. This was,
we believe, the longest aerial voyage
ever made, while the highest ascent
was made by Glaisher and Coxwell.
who reached the remarkable elevation
OF 47,OOO feet, or about seven miles
above the earth. They were both dis
ablcd by the intenfe cold prevailing
at that altitude, lost the use of their
limbs, and Coxwell was obliged to
pull the valve string with his teeth, in
order TO release the gas and return to
a warmer region.
The impsssibility Of guiding the
balloon renders it useless as certain
means OF aerial transit, although in
vemtors have not been lacking who
claimed to have overcome the difficult
ty by safely and surely guiding the
air-ship in any desired direction. One
of these was at the st. Louis fair a
few ysars ago, and succeeded very
well in turning his balloon here and
there SO long as it was in doors, by
means Of paddles like the screw Of a
propeller: but the case would be very
different in the open air, especially if
a current of wind was blowing, The
great surface which the balloon offers
to the wind, and the comparative lack
of resistance, cause it to be carried
along with the velocity of the wind by
which it is borne.
This circumstance more than any
other has rendered the balloon useless
for purposes of transit, and the diff
Guilty will probably never be over
come. Certain emergencies however,
have occasionally made the balloon
very useful. 1t was eMploped during
our civil war to watch the motions of
the enemy in and around Richm, nd.
Gen. Porter was once watching the
rebels from captive balloon, when
the cable broke, and he was carried
over the confederate lines. but on
pulling the valve Il . machine descend
ed, and favorable wind took him
back to his own forces.
The most notable use ever made of
balloons was during the siege of Paris
by the Germans, in the last war. When
the city was completely invested, the
project of sending out a mail balloon
was conceived and put in execution,
the first one leaving Paris September
%, with 227 pounds Of letters, and de-