Amador ledger., 1901-12-27
HEFIRST AERONAUT
HIS INITIAL FLIGHT INTO SPACE WAS
AT PARIS IN 1888.
Pilatre des Rosters Was the Pioneer
of the Long Line of Daring Spirits
Who Perished In Their Attempts to
Navigate the Air.


sions by means of balloons were made
in Paris in the year 17S3 Pilatre des
Rosters was the frst-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 1888
balloons filled 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
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-lisa and
lower down, amid a crowd of grotesque
heads and garlands of flowers, a 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 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 q
height of 1.290 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 i; was found necessary to
postpone the ascent. The next day, the
21st. the weather was more favorable
and at l 80 in the afternoon in the pres
ence of the dauphin and his suit Pi-
latre des Rosters and the Marquis d Ar
landes set out together from the JAR
dins de la Muette upon the first aerial
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-
tangled among the buildings of the city,
the aeronauts suffered themselves to
descend considerably until they found
themselves in fresh current of air.
which bore them in a southerly direc-
ton.
After proceeding 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 la Muette. they were
greeted with the utmost enthusiasm by
the assembled crowds. Benjamin Frank
lin was witness Of the whole specta-
| cle, and when asked what he thought
Of it he replied, 81 have seen a child
born which may one day be man."
Aerostatics had advanced to such a
degree that on the 7th of January,
1855, Blanchard, a rival of Rosters,
crossed over the channel from Dover
to Calais.
Rosters was spurred on by Blanch-
ards success and set to work con-
structing balloon which, when COM
pleted, he called an aeromontgolfier.
1t consisted of an immense balloon Of
hydrogen gas, with a 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 Is, 17S5, they stepped into
the basket, the ropes were cast off. and
the balloon rose with the utmost maj
esty from the earth.
| When it had risen about 200 feet, 1t
struck a fresh current of air which
took it directly toward the sea- 1t soon
found another current which rapidly
carried 1t back again. 1t possibly may
have been the desire of the aeronauts
to descend to find more favorable cur
rent Of air, for while opening the valve
to let the cold air into his cylinder un-
fortunately a huge rent was made In
the balloon. The consequences were
immediate and horrible. At tLat time
the balloon was LOO feet above the
surface Of the earth. A few moments
Rfterward the two aeronauts lay on
the ground dead and horribly mutt
lated.
Near the spot where Pilatre des Ro-
siers was buried a monument was
erected in 1853 to commemorate the al
most miraculous crossing of the sea by
Blanchard, upon the very spot of earth
on which that intrepid aeronaut de
scended. He had become for France
hero, and numbers of Inscriptions are
still readable.-New York Times
| SpooIs and Thread.