Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-09-24

are you. dear, that you came the vOy-
age IN QUEST OF HUSBAND 2"
Banoons.
In all ages men have aSpired to fly,
but it is a very remarkable fact that
among all the wonderful modern inven-
tions and Improvements very little pro-
gress has been made in the art of navi-
eating the air.
The story of the first aerOnauts,
D@dalus and his son Icares, shows that
the ancientS endeavored to travel like
the birds, and hoped to succeed, for
lcarus scared so near the sun the wax
with which he had fastened his wings
to his shoulders melted and he fell like
Lucifer, headlong into a deeppOol.
The earliest conveyance for sailing
in the air was made by Francis Lana, a
Jesuit. in the early part of then seven
teenth century; there is no very clear
description of it extant. Several years
after Frenchman, named Retif de Ia
Bretonne, constructed an apparatus for
living in the air, consisting of two large
wings, fitting to the shoulders, and
sort of ''gingham umbrella" over the
head. History saith not whether the
aspiring de la Bretonne ever broke any
bones trying his apparatus; it is thought
he deputed some one else to make trial
OF his invention, which appears TO have
rapidly fallen into disuse, if ever used
az all.
Two brothers, named Montgolfier,
were the first to construct DallOonsSuch
as are now in use, and the first aerial
voyage was performed successfully from
the gardens Of La Muette near Paris.
Ia 1IS2 Joseph MoRtgoliier made little
paper balloons and sent them up as an
experiment, and the following year he
and his brother constructed a very
large and strcng balloon filled with
smoke. This ascended to a consldera-
bic height and travelled nearly two
miles before 1t landed safely. These
experiments were made at little town
named AnnOnay. The Savans of Paris
we're anxious to test the new invention,
and appointed a committee to inquire
into it. Several persons endeavored to
rival the MOntgoliieTs. and a certain
Professor Charles. aided by the funds of
some rich friends, made a balloon of
strips of silk, vanished over and flied
Is with hydrogen gas, just then discOv-
cred. The Champ de Mars was the
place appointed for setting off the bal
loon, where, amidst a salvO of artillery
and the shouts of vast crowd of spec
tAtors, it started on Its ascent. Alas
before it reached a great height the gas
exploded, and Professor Charles only
escaped injury by his foresight in not
having embarked in his invention. In
TS3 the first successful aerOuautic eX-
'9dition WAS maCe by a man named
ioyiers aud the Marquis d'Ariandes.
heir balloon was very elaborate one
nd inflated with heated air Instead of
.sedrogen Pas. Thousands of people
gazed at the graceful structure as it
scared above the elegant city of Paris,
over which il made o complete circuit.
Among the lockers on upon this Occa-
sion was Benjamin Franklin.
For months after this France ran
riot in balloons, and all sorts of 9rial
voyages were INDUCED in all over the
country. The Due de Chartres and the
notorious Philip d'Egalite made a
journey in balloon of over 13J miles IN
five hours. 1t was aIterward remarked
that it was a pty d'Egalite had not
broken his neck and saved his honor.
Iu 1902 a man named Robertson of
Vienna built wonderful machine, that
he called the Minerva" for naviga-
ting the air. 1t somewhat reSembled a
ferry boat with balloon attached.
The Minerva had every kind of con-
trivance for air navigation and WAS to
carry $50, 900 pounds. 1t was destined
to make tour of the world, but, like
many another scheme, it never fulfilled
its destiny. 1t was so cumbersome
that it would have been about as easy
to raise stone church.
In 1903 Na1ar constructed large
balloon called the "Geant," which
made voyage from Paris to Hanover
The ''Geant" had a car of wicker work
fitted out comfortably to hold nine per.
sons 1t scared over the hills of France
the towns of Belgium and the leve
green of Holland, intersected with itS
network of water ways. How charm
ing it must have been to look dowr
from the clouds on this varied scenery
but all things lovely fade!'' After q
day and a night of fair sailing ther'
came fearful descent. The voyager:
were dashed against rocks, houses and
trees, and were finally rescued alive
but with broken bones and bruised
bodies.
The greatest use balloons have eve
been put to has been in war time il
France and in the Civil War in tn,
United States. The first time the!
were used was in the battle of Fleuru
in 1894, when they were managed like
a kite, and scattered destruction sue
cessfully. The. generals of the Arm.
of the Potomac we've able to look dow
on Richmond by aid of balloons Ion!
before it surrendered.