Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-08-12
h,Hosrn,s BAIEoox.
Particulars OF tho "trip From Cher
bourr IN W,0udstrt.


A London cablegram TO the Now York
Herald gives the following detailed 40
count Of tho succeesful balloon voyage
on Saturday week:
M. rHoste, the famous French aeronhut,
has beon all day the lion of the hour,
more than Salisbury. Tie and M. Joseph
Mangot, young astronomer OF Paris,
have made from Cherbourg TO rottenham,
O suburb OF Northern London, near the
Alexandra Palace, the most successful
balloon voyage ever made, and Of char
acter often predicted, but never before
realized.
The aeronaut had determined that he
could construct n balloon which could be
directed nonr the point of intended arri-
val, or be utilized to drop torpedoas. His
balloon, in view of the latter idea, WINS
named the "Torpilleur.n II was fitted
with gear of LHoste's invention. Both
yoyageurs wore tho uniform of the French
navy, blue, braided with gold, and the
tricolor overhung the basket
Having made the customary prepare
tons for imitation and bnllaating they lef,
Cherbourg in the midst OF the shouts Of
| vast coneourse about sunset. Little
| apprehension was felt there because Of the
confidence in L'Hoste, who is secretary OF
| L'Academie D'Aerostntion Meteorolo-
| gique de France, and who had once before
| crossed the channel in his balloon.
The substance of his story was thus
told by him on being interviewed ~
intended and hoped to arrive at Finshury
square OF the top of the street running
| northward from the Bank of England.
descended, however, about five miles
north Of il, my gear working pretty well,
in about IL hours journey coming north
eastward in a pretty straight line course.
my main object was, however, not 80
| much nm experiment to prove power Of
| sibility to maintain nm equAble altitude
above the waves in crossing the channel
or any ocean, and particularly to test the
possibility of keeping in direct view
vessels over which TO drop torpedoes.
my rig for preserving my altitude
which tried 10 adjust nj about Al
metres, or 100 feet, was o flntteur OF
'ooaxer' pipe, by which on reaching the
waves We could draw up water to be used
for ballast, eounteracting the condensa
ton or rarefaction of gas, which so offer
obliges balloons TO shoot upward. Thii
ilatteur effect, making the ballon, as Il
were, captive, modified by small sail
Altogether it worked excellently until
the Isle Of Wight was reached, when tho
balloon shot up; but it was used ngair
in the Solent, and ut this point, and neal
the Isle of Wight, We successfully dropped
tiny torpedoes over the small craft there
abouts. Please remember that land hal
last once over is gone, but water ballas
is within control.
II cannot claim success in steering fol
currents favorable to the point of desti
nation. sailed over st. Paul's dome
wanting 10 drop in the artillery grount
not fur OF, near Finsbury, from where
made my ascent when celebrating tht
centenary of the first balloon voyage, bu
was compelled to continue a few milol
nOrthward. This water ballast was tirst
suggested by the celebrated Gower.n
The balloon came down quietly nbou
$50 O'clock in tho morning at point il
the marshes few hundred yards distant
from Tottenham station, on the Grea'
| Eastern railway. A ruRh was made tOwart
it, some bathers not waiting to dress
themselves as they were running mp the
banks OF the River Lea. The car dropped
into what is known nR the ''black ditch,
and If it had remained there tho noronauil
would have found themselves IN place
far from comfortable. Ballast was thrown
out and tho balloon rose Int moi many
feet. Gas WAS let out and the balloon
again came down, Caught hy gust OF
wind, however, il waH carried toward the
river, and nore sand bAgs were emptieh.
Once moro the balloon rose aud nenrly
came in contact with the telegraph wires
on poles by the side Of the river, and
which wore escaped by rapid discharge
of sand. The next attempt 70 descend
was perfectly successful the car alighting
on piece Of marsh free from any OBJ
struction.
Coincidentiy enough, in the immediate
vicinity lived Mr.. Coxwell member Of
the Balloon Society, who made the
aeronauts his guests, with better break
fast ballast than water or sand.
The afternoon Paris papers, this instant
received, make much of this success, and
take warlike 9s web as eciniiGn viawa ~ y