Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-08-21
A REMARKABLE BALLOON VOYAGE.
tts Centenary Celebrated in France-An
Exciting Experience.


tts Centenary Celebrated in France-An
Exciting Experience.
lSt James Gezet,el
There Is at present being commemoratsd
at Guines remarkable balloon voyage of a
century ago. when two aeronauts. Blanch-
ard Frenchman, and DIR. Jeffries. an
American. descended in tho midst OF the
EeighbJring forest, after having been borne
across tie Straits OF Dover. Toward the en- I
Of I7s4 Il was the desire of French baiIooni,ts
to achieve the first passage from Englani
to France. Blanchard betook himself to
the English coast, where his plans were
warmly entertained. While there he met
Lunardi and Or. Jeffries. physician. and
a native Of Boston, United StatsS They
proceeded to Dover, and awaited favora
Bile breeze. A start was at last effected
from the castle amid the firing OF artillery.
Blanchard did his utmost to get away alope,
but Jetfries held firmly to the agreement
which had been signed and ,ealed By this
agreement Jetfries provided all the funds
requisite for in -uring the ascent contem-
plated, secured in consideration Of these q
seat in tie car, and bound himself, on his
worl OF honor as gentleman and an off,
Ger, TO jump out of the car the moment his
dizs the success. of the expedition ami i'm
peril Blanehard's life
Shortly after p IN. the balloon rose. AMI
drifted seward amid the enthusiasm Of the
inhabitants and to the dismay Of Mrs.. JEFF
fries and her children. Toe poor woman
had in vain tried to retain her husband.
who. moreover. had been advised in letter
from the prince of Wales not to attempt che
frax tba.,
selves drifting toward the Goodwin sands.
They found when in mid-channel that. the
balloon. the total weight of which. inclu ling
the aeronauts, ballast. AMI accoutrementS,
had been at the start 900 pounds, was grad
unlly settling into lower currents The sand
bags were emptiei till at last every thing
the rndder and sails The advantage gained
was a momentary one. Tie question what
SHOULD be dipensed with next must have
caused Jeifries to shudier A respite was
granted by Ike election Il the anchor AMI
provisions: and. as a final effort. of such
garments as-were not absolutely necessary.
The last sacrifice caused quick ascent. aud
brought the balloon TO tbs nsig borhooi u
Guines, and over the forest
The los, Of the anchor made tho men de
managed to grarple some of the uppermo,t
branches, and lowered themselves into the
dense wood The descent not an cay one,
took place q little over two hours after the
start, VIXEN Blanchard and Jeffr.e,, once
more on terra frma, hung on each others
necks. They We're conveyed to Guine> ard
then to Calais in great triumph Every
honor, even the freedom Of the city, wa,
conferred on the Frenchman, and the two
traveller wers thsucef rwarl consilerei
heroes. The king of France bad, tn, m,n
Of the hour repair to his court. Blanchard
was greatly admired for his feat, insomuch
that in every gathering he was kissed by
all the laiies OF the company He was ma
terially rewarie by his majesty, who made
him yearly grant. The latter portion OF
Blancharfs career wa passed in New York,
Germany, Holland, and other states, where
he made many ascents.