Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-10-28
A PIONEER AERONAUT
The Brave and Daring French
man Pilatre de Rozier.
TRAGIC END OF HIS CAREER.

His Life From a Balloon, and He
Was Dashed to Death With Com
Panion From Height of 1,7oo Feet
Jean Francois Pilatre de ROzier. who
was born at Metz in 1856 and who was
killed, a martyr 10 his zeal, by a fall
from his balloon at Boulogne, France,
June 10, 1895. was the first aeronaut
10 lose his life in the dangerous work
OF mastering the air
Pilatre de Rozier, who had made
ascents in the Montgalfer balloon, de-
termined TO solve the question Of bal
looms as mediums for carrying passen-
gers and could think aud dream of
nothing but how he could fashion a
machine that would carry him on an
aerial voyage. When his balloon was
finished he made some twenty-three
ascenis, nearly always alone, but occa-
sionaily accompanied by the Marquis
dArlandes, a brave soldier and one
who had faith in Pilatre's ideas. The
balloon was always held captive by
strong cords.
Whenever he went up there was a
crowd to watch him. One day there
was thrilling moment. The balloon
drifted toward some high trees, and 1t
seemed inevitable that the tissues
would be torn by the branches and
Pilatre dashed TO the ground. They
saw the young man calmly throw
bunch of straw on his fire aud quickly
pour over it two small bottles OF oil.
Instantly the fierce heat sent the bal
loon up safely. and 1t swept beyond
the danger line of the trees. A mighty
shout went up from the crowd. and
when he came down Pilatre had an
| ovation.
He now felt ready to make his
grand experimental trial trip. but the
king would not allow him to go, as he
| feared to lose so brave and scientific
a man. Pilatre was In despair and at
length the king said that he would
give him the opportunity to test the
safety of his balloon In the following
way: He would give full pardon to any
two criminals who were willing to go
up in it. provided Pilatre did not him.
self go.
The scientist was very angry. He
said: What! Shall vile criminals. foul
! murderers, men rejected from the hos.
ON of society. have the glory OF being
the first to navigate the air? Never
while Pilatre de Rozier draws BREATH
After repeated prayers for permis-
sion to make his experiment he ap-
Ial 20 ~ {,a
de Polignac, the governess of the royal
children. To her petitions the Mar
quis d'Arlandes added his and asked
TO be allowed TO accompany Pilatre.
At length consent was obtained.
On Nov. 81, 1888. Pilatre and the
marquis made an ascent from the gar
dens OF the Chateau de la Muette, in
the Bois. They sailed safely across the
Seine. over the Hospital For Old Sol
diers, over the Military school and
landed about FIVE miles from Paris.
Their return was greeted with wild
enthusiasm.
The marquis rode back, but Pilatre
had to go first TO his house and get a
coat. for some one had stolen his In
the mixup OF their coming down, when
the balloon. of course. collapsed.
Pilatre now announced that he would
cross the channel from Boulogne to
England. A wealthy Frenchman ad-
vanced the money to construct an i'm
proved machine that he was certain
could stay in the air as long as neces-
sary. This new invention was a bal
loon filed with hydrogen gas. Under
il was cylinder by which he expected
to rarely the air contained in ii so that |
he could either ascend or descend cas-
lily and SO reach currents of air that
would take him In any desired direc- |
tion.
1t was FIVE months before there came |
a day suitable for making the aerial |
trip. A physician who loved adventure
and believed In the success OF the ex, |
pertinent went with him from Bou- |
logne.
They cut the cords that held the bal |
loon at O'Clock in the morning. The
ascent was majestic. and when at a
height OF 200 feet the balloon swept !
into current OF air that took 1t to-
ward the channel. Suddenly 0 cross
current swept it back.
Pilatre hastsDed to LET some cold air
into the cylinder aud In some way
made rent in the balloon, They were
1,1OO feet high. and instantly they
were dashed TO the earth. mangIed and
crushed frightfulIy.
France still remembers his enthusi-
astic faith In his scientific efforts. and
In many places are memorials and in
scriptfons that perpetrate bis fame
IL L