New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-01-14
Voyaging in the Sky
from an Editorial in The Neso Yorb
Tribune, July 8, 1852

From an Editorial in The Neso Yors
Tribune, Jug 8, 1852
In such an age of wonders as ours,
we do not choose to risk an uablemished
reputation for prophecy by predicting
that aerial navigation as useful
science is an impossible thing, lest. be-
lore the year is out, Professor Wise
should call upon US with q copy Of
The London Times Of the day before
yesterday. But we may safely saw
that this last balloon voyage from St.
Louis proves nothing except that man
IS very plucky animal and that bal
looming Is now, as it always has been,
one of the most certain methods Of
showing how ready he is to brave all
danger, even the risk of being dashed
to pieces, smashed out of all SEM
GLANCE to humanity, by a fall of
mile or two, or drowned, ike kitten
IN basket, in the hope of doing VIA.
was never done before.
AS all balloon Voyages show this cool
and indomitable courage, the differ
ence between Mr.. Wise and his com
panions in this last one-a fun and
. exceedingly interesting account Of
which we give in another COLUMNS
difference not SO much in kind as
IN degree. They have done more thaa
was ever done before inasmuch al
they have travelled further by about
600 miles; and they have made quicker
time than was ever made before for
any great distance, irfasmuch IS they
made, in nineteen hours, about ll5Q
miles They went, also in the general
direction intended, bat this Others have
done before them.
Mr.. Wise, we believe, claims two
things: first that there is western
aerial trade wind 1T this season. Of
which advantage may be taken for
balloon voyage eastward; and, second
~ that by some machinery he may
steer his airship. He found by this
experiment a western current, and by
that, and that alone, it seems he made
what sailors would call his casting.
We find in his report no mention Of
any use of his machinery. nor do We
near that he encountered any o.her
than westerly wind, ,xcept that ne
was once in Z current which took hin
a little 20 the north OF east,
We have the balloon much the same
thing as it has been ever since It was
invented, with the same capabilities and
the same apparent difficulties in the
way Of its success. We have also the
western current, and this seems Tx
only discovery Of muess Importance
Should that prove TO be permanent
as fixed, fer instance, as the tract
winds of the ocean-we may yet hops
for all that Mr.. Wise promises, for We
do not regard the fact that he landed
at Lake Ontario, when he meant 70
make New York, as OF much impor'
lance. II, indeed, it could not be rem
edied, it would be no trifiing ma-ter'
as the balloonist who should start for
Southampton and bring up at John
O Groat's, who should clear for Havs
and cast his anchor in the CHATS
Causeway. could not turn his balloon
ing to much praesicai account
Nevertheless. honor to the men whs
are true to an idea or even to an or
thusiasm. We hope most sincefe,
that Messrs. Wise, La Mountain and
eager may yet find that the westerly
current never varies and that, as the!
have made the longest and quiekes'
voyage Of any aeronaut, they may 70.
prove that there is certainty as wen
as speed and adventure in sailing
through the blue depths of the upper
ether