The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-31
BALooNlNe A CRAZE.
IL Much FAD In the Last Century
As Cycllng 10 Now.

he ninteenth, and writer recounts
'ome half-forgotten stories Of the days
VI Horace Walpole, who, old grumbler
hat he was, had a special dislike to
he aerial contrivances. In the early
lays of the sport the balloon was sent
Up much after the fashion of kite-fy-
ng; later, animals we're attached to
he balloons, and their immunity seems
o have emboldened many notable per-
IONS to hazard the aerial ascent. 1t be-
zane the popular craze, its very dan
ger lending 1t charm to men Of dar-
ng minds.
In 1884 the sky was crowded with
.l,ese aerial carriages, and to make
balloon ascent was one Of the achieve
nents of men of fashion. The Due de
Chartres undertook short voyage
rom St. Cloud, piloted by the brothers
robert, and reverend father OF the
oratorian Order came from Nantes in
balloon. In 1855 Blanchard, accom-
panied by DR.. Jeffries. crossed the Eng
ish Channel to Calais. and DR.. Potain
Jew over st. Georges Channel from
Dublin to London. These daring ex-
plolts Increased the popular admira-
lion, and England did not escape the
balloon contagion.
Vincent Lunard. secretary to Prince
Caramand. the Neapolitan Ambassador.
vas the first to follow on Montgolfier's
rack. Lunardi seems to have been
nan of courage. not easily daunted by mi
aor difficulties, else he would never have
succeeded in launching his balloon.
rhe correspondence between him and a
friend in Italy is full of interest, and
sets before us in life-lke manner his
experiences, while the freshness and
sincerity which the letters display have
the charm which Always attends a per-
sonal narrative. We gather from this
correspondence tina. Lunardl was by
no means a man TO whom money was
40 object. On the contrary, the outlay
caused by building the balloon made
1t a matter of necessity that he should
make II a paying success.
After many contlotemps and disap-
continents our Secretary carried his
project into effect on September Is,
1884. The ascent was to take place
from the grounds Of the Royal Artil-
iery Company. The charge of entrance
was guinea for chairs close to the bal
,onv with almiccirn IN y;ow tho oop
structon of the balloon four times.
Half guinea tickets admitted to seats
Gehind the first row Of chairs, also two
admissions to view the construction of
The balloon. Horace Walpole writing
10 Sir Horace Mann, tells him how The
would not stir one step or pay guinea
to see one Lunardi, an Italian, mount
into the clouds, such navigation APP
pearing to him as childish as the flying
kites Of schoolboys."
At 1870 the Prince of Wales arrived,
and showed the utmost interest in the ,,
filling of the balloon with hydrogen.
This delicate operation, which, as every
one knows, is a slow process, was con-
lucted under the personal superinten-
lence OF DR.. George Fordycc. Before
t was half filled the hour mentioned !
or the start was far exceeded. Lun-
rdi, seeing that the Impotence of the
rowd was getting uncomfortable and
fraid that the destruction of his bal
Don might follow, hastily determined
D commence his voyage without the
ecessary force, and, to lessen the
weight, he left his companion behind
nd took with him a dog, a cat and a
igeOn.
At $50 o'clock the cords were let 90,
nd, a gun being fired off to announce
be event, the balloon sailed away amid
he shouts Of the popuace, who were
Ow convinced that no imposition was
ltcndcd. When the balloon had risen
} certain height the pigeon man
ged to escape, and Its flight through
ne air was greeted with acclamations
y the gazing crowd below.
i.unardi describes how he occupied
imself on his aerial voyage. First
,oking after his inner man, he tells
Is friend how much he enjoyed his
inch Of cold chicken. This despatched,
e took to writing letters. Three of
,ese he dropped from the balloon.
listing to the chance that some kind
amaritan might pick them up and
1st them. One, at all events, was de-
ycred, for to it we owe vivid picture
the aeronaut's first Impressions: II
,uld distinguish st. Paul's and other
lurches from the houses; | saw the
reefs in lines all animated with be-
gs, whom knew to be men and wO-
en-, but who | should otherwise have
iicu!ty in describing. 1t was an enor-
Gus beehive, but the industry of it
as suspended.
"All the moving mass seemed to have
} object but myself. As for me, 1t
res and passions that modest man
nd. ! had not the slightest sense of .
otion in the machine; | knew not {
neither it assembled or descended,
u,
We by the appearance of the objects
the earth" At $3.50 he descended,
working his oars, on the Common
South Minis, where he landed the
t, which was suffering from the cold.
aope crowded around him, but he
as so infatuated with his success that ,
ter a few minutes he assembled again
rapidly that the thermometer de-
ended tw9 degrees.
Warned by the intense cold that II I
light be dangerous to remain much s
niger exposed to its Arctic effects,
lnardi wisely descended. He came 5
,wn at o'clock in a large and beautl- )
| meadow, which he found was near !
are in Hertfordsbire. From this time t
S success as an aeronaut was Sc Q
red a
| I