The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-14
che DmRead Co

rise above the housetops he was pan
Iic-stricken and cut the gas bag. While
he had not attained any great height,
the fall was sufficient to break his
arm and inflictI other injuries.
After this failure an amateur sci
entists constructed balloon of the
Mongo1fiers. or hot-air type, so-call-
ed to distinguish it from the Charters
or hydrogen balloons. He attempted
an ascent from the yard of the Phil
adelphia Jail, but he fell--some SAID
he iumped-from the basket before
the craft had risen above the roof
of the Jail Although the passenger
was left behind, the balloon continued
its flight and assembled a CONSIDER
able distance.
These failures whetted the interest
of PhiladeTphians and when, early in
1893 M Blanchard arrived in Phil
adelphia and announced his intention
OF going up in his hydrogen balloon,
the popular excitement was intense
Every scientist of any note IN PnlI-
adelphia, as we'll as many from oth-
err cities, and numerous statesmen and
men proInin ent in other walks of life,
mingled with the other spectators in
the prison court. Philadelphia was
then the capital of the republic, and
scores of the greatest men of the
country followed the example of
President Washington in cheering the
Frenchmen on his upward way
Exactly what occurred may best be
set forth by reproducing the follow
ing account, which appeared in a New
York publication under the Philade1-
rTlia date&Iine of january 10. 1893:
s'Mr Blanchard, the bold aeronaut.
agreeably to his advertisement, at five
minutes past ten o'clock yesterday
morning. rose with a balloon from
the Prison Court in this city IN pres
ence, of an immense concourse Of
spectators there assembled on the oc-
caston.
! .srhe process OF Initiating the bal
loon commenced about nine o'clock.
Several cannon were fired from dawn
OF day until the moment Of elevation.
A band Of music played during the
time of initiation; and when it began
to rise, the najestica1 sight was truly
awful and interesting. The slow
movement of the band added solemn
ity to the scene. Indeed, the atten-
ton of the multitude was so absorb
ed that it was considerable time ere
silence was broke by the accalma-
tons which succeeded.
''As soon as the clock had struck
ten, everything being punctually
ready. Mr.. Blanchard took a respect
full leave OF all the spectators and re-
,ceived from the. hands OF. the Presi-
dent q paper: at the same time the
President spoke a few words to this
bold adventurer, who Immediately
leaped into his boat, which was paint
ed blue and spangled. The balloon
was of a yeIlowish colored silk, high
~ Vanished, over which there was a
strong network. Mr.. Blanchard was
dressed in a. plain bue sit, a cooked
hat, and white feathers, AS soon as
he was in the boat, he threw out
some ballast, and the balloon began
to ascend slowly and perpendicularly
While Mr.. Blanchard waved the col
ors of the United States, and those
of the French Republic, and flourish
ed his hat to the thousands of citi-
rzens from every part of the coun-
try, who stood gratified and astonish-
ed at his intrepidity,
'eAfter a few minutes, the wind
blowing from the northward and
westward, the balloon rose to an inn
ynense height, and then shaped it's
course toward the southwark and
eastward. Several gentlemen gallop-
ed down the Point Road. but soon
lost sight of it, for it moved at the
rate of twenty miles an hour.
"Great numbers, who had neglect