Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1910-01-14
4 PIONEER AERONAU1'
The Brave and Daring French
man PiIatre de Rozier.
TRAGIC END OF HIS CAREER.
He Was the First Aeronaut to Lose
His Life From a Balloon, and He
Was Dashed to Death With a Com
panion From a Insight Of 1900 Feet.

~
His Life From a Balloon, and He
Was Dashed to Death With Com
panion From a Insight of 1,700 Feet.
Jean Francois Pilatre de Rozier. who
was born ut Metz in 1856 and who was
killed. Il martyr to his zeal. by Il fall
from his balloon at BoulOgne, France.
June 10, 1885, was the first Ieronaut
to lose his life in the dangerous work
OF mastering the air.
Pilatre de RoZier. who had made
ascents il the Montgaltier balloon. de-
termned to solve the question of bal
looms as mediums for carrying paSsen-
gers and could think and dream Of
nothing but how lie could fashion
machine that would carry him on an
aerial voyage. When his balloon was
finished he made some twenty-three
ascentS. nearly always alone but occa-
sionaly accompanied by the Marquis
dArlandes. 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 Il
crowd to watch him. One day there
was thrilling moment. The balloon
drifted toward some high trees, and it
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 OH his fire aud quickly
Dour over it two small bottles of oil
Instantly the fierce heat sent the i"ll'
loon up safely, and it swept beyoAd
the danger line of the trees. a mighty
shout went up from the crowd. and
when lie 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. Pilatrc 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: lie 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. lie
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 permits
sion TO make his experiment he ap.
pealed TO the influence of the Duchess
de Polignac. the governess Of the royal
children. TO her petitions the Mar
Quis dArlandes added his and asked
to be allowed to accompany Iilatre.
= At length consent was obtained.
On Nov. 81. 1888. Pilatre and the
marquis made m ascent from The gar
dens Of the Chateau de In Mucttc. in
the B0iS They sailed safely across the
Seine, over the Hospital Fer Old Sol
ders. over The Military school and
landed about five miles from Paris.
Their .cdlr, WAS greeted with wild
enthusiasm.
The marquis rode BACK. but l'ilatre
had to go first to his house and get
coat. for some one had stolen his in
the mixup of their coming down. when
the balloon. Of course. collapsed.
rilatre now announced that be would
cross the channel from BOuogne to
England. \ wealthy Frenchman adj
vanced the money 10 construct IN I'M
H. f.,i
could stay in the air as long rs neces-
sary. This new invention was q bal
loon filed with hydrogen gas. Under
it WAS Il cylinder by which he expected
to rarely the air contained in it 80 that
he could either ascend or descend cas-
lily ard so reach currents of air that
would take him in any desired drec
ton.
1t was five months before there came
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 I o'clock in the morning. The
ascent was majestic. ard when at
height Of 200 feet the balloon swept
into a current of air that took it TO-
ward the channel. Suddenly Il cross
current swept it back.
Pilatre FASTENED TO let some cold air
into the cylinder and in some way
made a rent in he balloon. They were
LOO feet high. and instantly they
were dashed to the earth. mangled and
crushed frightfuly.
France still remembers his enthusi-
astic faith in his scientific efforts. and
in many places are memorials and ill.,
scriptions that perpetuate his fame
ROSion Globe