Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-08-29
BALLOONING BACK IN 1898.
Blanchard Tells Of First Ascen.
zion in America.
II Was Made In Philadelphia, and
Washington Gave the Acronnnt n
PASSPORT 10 the Upper Air.
Went In Mile.

A very rare pamphlet on ballooning,
cension in America, has Just come to
light in Philadelphia. SO far as can he
asccrtained no copy of the pamphlet is
to he found in the library of Congress,
and the Historical society OF Pennsvl-
vania has none In its immense collection
relating to philadelphia.
1t is a very modest octave of twenty
seven pages, with an engraved frontis-
piece. and its title runs: journal of My
Forthwith Ascension, Being the First
Performed in America, on the Ninth of
January, 1893"
Almost ten years before the author,
who was the aeronaut Blanchard. arriv-
cd IN this country, there was an ex-
pcrimental balloon ascension in Phia-
delphia. It was n failure.
Very little is on record regarding this
first American experiments in ballooning.
hut from what can be learned It appears
that David RittenhouHe, the astronomer
and scientist. and Francis Hopkinson.
who is best known for his satire. "rhe
Battle of the Kegs" ana a few other
members of tho American Philosophical
! society made from designs Of their own
| sisted Of fortv-scvcn small balloons tied
| together. spot remote from the city
on tho banks Of the Schuvlkll River.
was selected for the experiment.
Tho scientists hired a carpenter named
| Wilcox to mako tho VOYAGE into the UNI
| known upper regions The trip nearly re-
suited IN being the voraccrs last.
| Wilcox got into the car alta ched to the
| sod lc ioa
shot upward swiftly, but mad not ascend
cd 10 any great height before the aeran-
ant became frightened. and with n knife
give him for the purpose. cut and slash
cd the little balloons until the whole APP
raratus descended rapidly. Tho car
pentcr asca pod with the fracture Of an
arm. Tho Philadelphia scientists never
made another attempt to send up q bal
| loon.
1t was not until blanchard. who had
become famous rs an aeronaut in
| Europe, arrived that this country saw a
genuine balloon ascension The aeronauts
pamphlet tolls of his experiences.
Washington. then President Of the
United States. witnessed tho ascension
and gave the Frenchmon a passport Just
ms tho latter was leaving the earth Tc
General Washington, therefore, Plan
chard dodiCates this account. According
to tho pamphlet, blanchard arrived ir
Philadelphia on December Q. 1892.
'T made 1t my duty" he SAYS. may.
was proud ~ attempting In this metro
polls my first aerial ASCENSION in Ameri
ca, and derived from II most sanguint
expectations OF n complete success.
"The gracious reception with which
was Welcomed hv tho hero OF liberty
c. n. George WASHINGTON, President o
the United states; tho easy and cheerful
access 7 had to Gen. Thomas Mffin
Governor of Pcnnsylvonia: the eagernes!
which thought discovered in the pub
liz 10 see MontgOfiers sublime discover,
reduced to practice. everything seemed =
toll mo that I might with confidence dis
play the mechanism Of an aerostat I,
make Il soar above the clouds. and con
vince the New World that mans ingen
ui.y IS not confined to earth alone. bu
opens to him new and certain roads II
the vast oxpansc of heaven.
II soon gave notice to the public Of m,
intention. and immediately proposed
subscription for sum which Nigh
tighten the hurthon Of my expenses.