Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-06-18
Balloons and Ballooning.

FAMOUS ACCENTS AND NOTED ERO-
NAUTs-sOMETHING ABOUT THE EAR
LY HISTORY OF BALLOONS.
Since Joseph and Stephen Montgolfer,
the inventors, first sent up hot air bal
loon at Annonay, in France, on June 5th.
1888, ballooning has had most varied
and interesting history, and many vol
umes have been filled with accounts Of its
perilous chances and moving incidents,
and with the scientific results which have
been obtained. 1t at once became the
rage from King Louis down to the gamin
of Paris, and nothing was talked of but
balloons. The first person who assembled
was Pilatic de Rozier, who was afterwards
killed in attempting to cross the British
Channel.
Among the many celebrated trips which
have since been made was that by the
great eronaut Green, who went up from
London in 1928, sitting on the back of a
favorite pony. The ascent was safely
made, the pony seeming as cool as his rider,
and quietly eating some food given him
from time to time. That of Wise from
st. Louis in 1859, when he travelled 1920
miles. The first ascension in America.
by the way, was by James Wilcox, car
penter, who went up from Philadelphia
Ia Philadelphia in 1888.
Probably the NEST feezsaaarkash remarkable balloon
ever Constructed was that used by Nadar
in 1858. Its car was in reality wicker
cottage, feet high and Is feet long. con-
tanning printing Office, Photographic de-
partment, refreshment room, &c. The
balloon contained 200, 900 feet OF gas, and
nine persons were carried. The first trip
was smooth and successful, but the sec
ond was of quite different order. AT a
great height the balloon commenced to
descend with great rapidity, and struck
the ground with much force. A high
wind was blowing and it was hurried
along at tremendous rate, every now and
then striking the ground and bounding
up from ten to fifty feet. On they went
over farms, through fields and bushes.
frightening cattle, and at last, just MISS
ing train, were caught insome trees, the
passengers escaping with only few bro
ken legs and arms.
The largest balloons which have been
constructed are Goddard's hot air, with
capacity of nearly 500 900 feet, heated by
an eighteen-foot stove, and with galley
around it for the passengers, and the
American Graphic, which contained AGO.
600 feet of gas, and which was built in
1878.
The highest ascent which has ever been
made was by Glasher, on September 5,
1852. After reaching a height Of $4,000
feet he lost the use Of his arms, and then
became unconscious. CoXwell, who was
with him, was almost in as bad condi-
ton. The most piercing cold was felt,
and frost gathered thick around the
mouth Of the balloon. AS it was ascend
ing at the rate of a thousand feet min
ute, it must have attained the height of
seven miles, when Coxwell managed to
pull the valve line with his teeth and bring
them to a lower altitude.
The balloon has frequently been used
for military purposes, especially during
our late war, when the Federal army had
a regular balloon corps, and the sight Of
the balloon lowering over their lines be.
came a familiar one. The Confederate
government had one made, but it was
captured aboard a tug, near Shirley, while
it was being taken down the river.
Enterprising advertisers have also made
use of the air ship. During the New Or
leans Exposition wine firm sent up one
with their name painted on it in large
letters, and vast numbers Of bills were
thrown out.
The balloon was never put to more prac.
tical use than during the siege of Psris,
when the Germans had drawn their cor.
don so tightly around it. Sixty-four left
the city during the time, and only two
were never heard of. The sight Of bal
loon was always a signal for much firing
of artillery and small arms, and charging
by the besiegers; but only few we've ever
taken.
Green made the greatest number of
ascents-526, as we'll as having Travelled
the longest dstance-1, 200 miles.
Many attempts have been made to dis
cover method to steer balloons. without
much success; but recently one has been
made in France Of spindle shape, with
the car under the middle of it. and with
large triangular sail behind the car.
This balloon has made several trips, and
it has been found possible to change its
course twelve degrees. Though the per.
centaee of aerial accidents is not large,
the deaths have been in very varied forms
some by hot.air balloons taking fire,