Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-11-21
THE FIRST AERONAUT
HIS INITIAL FLIGHT INTO SPACE WAS
At PARIS IN 1893.

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 iIlustrl-
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 1888
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 lie 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
eight broad. Its exterior was richly
painted and embroidered, there being
represented upon it the twelve signs Of
the zodiac. the arms OF the king of
France and numberless fleurs-de lis and
lower down, amid crowd Of grotesque
heads aud garlands Of flowers, n 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 a magazine intended for the
storing up Of an immense quantity Of
straw, which served as fuel.
Pilatre des Rosters. generally alone
but at one time accompanied by the
Marquis d'Arlandes and on another oc-
casion by NJ. Girond de Villette. had as
cended in the balloon without cutting
the rope which held it captive to a
height Of 1,29O 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 10th of November.
1888, everything was made ready. Dur
ing the day the wind and rain were VIC
lent. and IL was found necessary to
postpone the ascent The next day, the
Dist, the weather was more favorable.
and at 30 in the afternoon in the pres
ence Of the dauphin and his suit Pi-
latre des Rosters and the Marquis IL Ar
landes set out together from the Jar
dins de Ia Muette upon the first aerial
voyage ever attempted aud performed.
The wind was still very rough and the
wea$her 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-
tangled among the buildings of the city.
the aeronauts suffered themselves TO
descend considerably until they found
themselves In a fresh current of air.
which bore them In a southerly direc-
ton.
After proceeding a few miles farther
the fire was allowed to die out. and the
balloon descended about five miles from
Paris. When the aeronauts returned to
the Chateau de In Muette. they were
greeted with the utmost enthusiasm by
the assembled crowds. Benjamin Frank
lin was witness of the whole specta-
Gle, and when asked what lie thought
OF it he replied. Il have seen child
born which may one day be man"
Aerostatics had advanced 10 such a
u. Ion
1875. Blanchard. rival of Rosters,
crossed over the channel from Dover
10 Calais.
Rosters was spurrcd on by Blanch-
ards success aud set to work con
strUcting a balloon which, when com
pleted. he called an aeromontgoltier.
II consisted 81 an immense balloon Of
hydrogen gas. with large cylinder
placed under It. the use Of it being TO
rarely the air without losing gas.
When a favorable day had arrived.
pilatre for the last time made his
preparations He was assisted by a
Boulogne physician named Roman.
and on June +, 1875. they stepped into
the basket. the ropes were east OF, and
the balloon rose with the utmost maj
esty from the earth.
When II had risen about 200 feet. II
struck fresh current Of air which
took it directly toward the sea Ii soon
found another current which rapidly
carried It back again. II possibly may
have been the desire of the aeronautS
10 descend to find more favorable cur
rent Of air. for while opening the valve
10 let the cold afr into his cylinder un-
fortunately huge rent was made in
the balloon. The consequences were
immedia.e and horrible At that time
the balloon was LOO feet above the
surface of the earth \ few moments
afterward Tie two aeronautS lay on
the ground dead ANA horribly mutt
lated
Near the spot where PIlatrc dcs Ro-
s,erS was buried a monument was
erected in 1S55 to commemorate TIE Ill
most miraculous crossing OF the Soa by