Year: 1859

In such 90 age of wonders as ours, we do not
choose to risk an unblemished reputation for
prophecy by predicting that aerial navigation IS a
useful science an impossible thing, lest before the
year is out, Prof Wise should call upon US with q
COPY of The London Times Of the day before yes
terdsy. But we may safely say that this last
balloon voyage fom st. Louis proves nothing
except that man is very plucky animal,
and that ballooning 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 semblance to humanity, BY fall Of a
mile or two, OF drowned Like kitten in basket
in the lope Of doing what was never done before.
As all balloon voyages show this cool and in
domitable courage, the difference between Mr..
Wise and his companions in this last one
full and exceedingly interesting account OF which
We give in another columns difference not so
much in kind as in degree. They have done more
than was ever doDe before, ipasmuch as they have
travelled further by about 600 miles; and they have
made quicker time than was ever made before, for
any great distance inasmuch as they made, In ~
hours, about l. $50 miles. They went, also, in the
general dire ction intended but this others have
dore before them. Distance and speed, then, seem
to distinguish this voyage from all Others that have
been accomplished by previous nsvigators Of the
upper air, and in distance and speed alone have
these men triumphed, except the courage that
bIaved the perils of such an adventure.


Mr.. Wise, we believe, claims two things-frst,
that there is a western aerial trade-wlnd at this
season, of which advantage may be taken for a
balloon voyage eastward; and, secondly that BY
some machinery he may steer his air-ship. lie
found by this experiment western current, and
by that, and that alone, it seems he made what
sailors would call his casting. We find in his re-
port no mention Of any use Of his machinery, nor
do we hear that he encountered any other than
westerly wind, except that he was once in cur
rent which took him little to the north OF east
and then the machine, when he wished to change
the direction, was dropped to lower strata
by the usual method. Thus far, then
we have no evidence of any progress n
airoststion so far as machinery is concerned.
We have the balloon much the same thing as II has
been ever since it was invented with the same ca
pablities, and the same apparent difficulties In the
way of its success. We have also the western cur
rent, and this seems the only discovery OF much
Importance. Should that prove to be permanent
as fixed, for instance, as the trade winds OF the
ocean-we may yet hope for all that Mr.. Wise
promises, for We do not regard the fact that he
landed at Lake Ontario when he meant to make
New-YOrk as Of much Importance. Ii, indeed, IT
could not be remedied, it would be no trifing
matter; as the balOonist who should start for
Southampton and bring up at John o Groats,
who should clear for Hayre and cast his
anchor in the Giants Causeway, could not
turn his balo0ning to much practical account.
But if the general direction can be secured past
doubt, or fear Of change, the particular direction
may be secured with due care and experience
But if the general direction even is not certain, we
have really gained but little So far as We know,
Mr. Wise is merely fortunate in getting, on that
day, into westerly current; and had 1t been
otherwise-had he fallen into one blowing east
ward-the papers in his hisexPress-bag meant Tor lHE
TRIBUNE might perhaps have been safely delivered
TO its editor at Sat Lake City.


Nevertheless, honor TO the men who are true to
an idea or even to an enthusiasm. We hope most
sincerely that Messrs Wise, La Mountain and
Gsger may yet find that the westerly current never
varies and that as they have made the longest and
quickest yoysge any aeronaut they may yet prove
that there is certainty as well as speed and adven-
ture in sailing through the blue depths Of the upper
ether.