Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-10-24
THE FIRST AERONAUT
HIS INITIAL FLIGHT INTO SPACE WAS
AT PARIS IN 1888.

~ FNnlO IN 100
PiIatre des Rosters Was the Pioneer
of the Long Line of Daring Spirits
who Perished In Their Attempts to
Navigate the Air.
The first attempts TO make ascen-
sions by means of balloons were made
In Paris in the year 1888. Pilatre des
Rosters was the first and most illustri-
Gus Of the long list of aeronauts who
have fallen victims to their desire to
advance the art Of aerostatics.
In July and August Of the year 1873
balloons filed with hydrogen gas were
sent up from Paris, and in September
at Versailles the first balloon was sent
up freighted with living animals.
In the same year Montgolfier con-
Structed a balloon which he claimed
would be capable of carrying passen-
gers, his workshop being in the gardens
OF the Faubourg st. Antoine. The bal
loon was sixty feet in height and forty
SlSuI bLOdN' lNS tAleALOL was h4SiAJ
painted and embroidered, there being
represented upon 1t the twelve signs Of
the zodiac, the arms Of the king OF
France and numberless fleurs-de-lis and
lower down, amid a crowd Of grotesQue
heads and garlands of flowers, flock
Of eagles, with extended wings, that
seemed to be flying and supporting the
huge balloon upon their shoulders.
Below the balloon proper was con-
structed a circular platform Of wicker
work. covered with silk, which was
used as a car. This platform was very
large and was surrounded by balus-
trade to prevent the aeronauts from
falling out. In the center of this plat
form or car was an opening, below
which was suspended by chains an iron
stove, which was to be used for rarely
ing the air In the balloon, while In one
corner was q magazine intended for the
storing up of an immense quantity or
straw, which served as fuel.
Pilatre des Rosters, generally alone,
but at one time accompanied by the
hhEQulS u al lduutS anu OAA uAAOAANA w
casion by NJ. GIrond de Villette, had as
cended in the balloon without cutting
the rope which held 1t captive to
height OF 1920 feet.
Rosters had much difficulty in obtain
ing permission from the king to make
an ascent without being held down by
the rope, but consent was at last Sc
cured, and on the Goth of November,
1888, everything was made ready. Dur
Ing the day the wind and rain were vio-
Lent, and 1t was found necessary to
pok tpOne the ascent. The next day, the
2lst, the weather was more favorable,
and at 80 In the afternoon in the pres
ence Of the dauphin and his suit Pl-
latre des Rosters and the Marquis d Ar
landes set out together from the Jar
dIns de la Muette upon the first aerial
voyage ever attempted and performed.
The wind was still very rough and the
weather stormy, but in spite Of these
disadvantages the balloon rose rapidly.
Having passed over Paris and be
come free from all fear Of getting en-
angled among the buildings Of the city,
he aeronauts suffered themselves to
descend considerably until they found
themselves in a fresh current Of air,
which bore them in a southerly direc-
ion.
After proceeding q few miles farther
lie fire was allowed to die out, and the
alloon descended about five miles from
aris. When the aeronauts returned to
ie Chateau de Ia Muette, they were
.eeted with the utmost enthusiasm by
G assembled crowds. Benjamin Frank
was a witness Of the whole specta-
=, and when asked what he thought
It he replied, 81 have seen child
rn which may one day be man."
Aerostatics had advanced to such a
gree that on the 7th Of January,
IS, Blanchard. a rival Of Rosters,
ossed over the channel from Dover
Calais.
Rosters was spurred on by Blanch-
Us success and set to work con-
'ucting q balloon which, when COM
ted, he called an aeromOntgolfier.
consisted Of an immense balloon Of
drogen gas, with a large cylinder
.ced under 1t, the use of 1t being to
,efy the air without losing gas.
When q favorable day had arrived,
atre for the last time made his
parations. He was asst ted by a
llogne physician named Roman,
on June Is, 1885, they stepped into
basket, the ropes were cast off, and
a.
from the earth.
hen II had risen about 200 feet, II
Ick q fresh current OF air which
II directly toward the sea. 1t soon
nd another current which rapidly
led 1t back again. 1t possibly may
'e been the desire Of the aeronauts
Lescend 10 find more favorable cur
OF air. for while opening the valve
et the cold air into his cylinder un-
.unately a huge rent was made In
balloon. The consequences were
aedIate and horrible. At that time
balloon was l,7OO feet above the
race OF the earth. A few moments
srward the two aeronauts lay on
ground dead and horribly mutt
4.
ear the spot where Pilatre des Ro-
was buried a monument was
ted In 1853 to commemorate the al
miraculous crossing Of the sea by
lchard, upon the very spot Of earth
which that intrepid aeronaut de-
ded. He had become for France
TO. and numbers Of inscriptions are
readable York Times.