the mastery of the air(操纵空气)-第4章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
stabbing it with pitchforks； and beating it with flails and sticks。 The story
goes that one of the alarmed farmers poured a charge of shot into it with
his gun； no doubt thinking that he had effectually silenced the panting
demon contained therein。 To prevent such unseemly occurrences in the
future the French Government found it necessary to warn the people by
proclamation that balloons were perfectly harmless objects； and that the
experiments would be repeated。
We now have two aerial craft competing for popular favour： the
Montgolfier hot…air balloon and the 〃Charlier〃 or gas…inflated balloon。
About four months after the first trial trip of the latter the inventors
decided to ascend in a specially…constructed hydrogen…inflated craft。 This
balloon； which was 27 feet in diameter； contained nearly all the features of
the modern balloon。 Thus there was a valve at the top by means of which
the gas could be let out as desired； a cord net covered the whole fabric；
and from the loop which it formed below the neck of the balloon a car was
suspended； and in the car there was a quantity of ballast which could be
cast overboard when necessary。
It may be imagined that this new method of aerial navigation had
thoroughly aroused the excitability of the French nation； so that thousands
of people were met together just outside Paris on the 17th December to see
Professor Charles and his mechanic； Robelt； ascend in their new craft。 The
ascent was successful in every way； the intrepid aeronauts； who carried a
barometer； found that they had quickly reached an altitude of over a mile。
After remaining aloft for nearly two hours they came down。 Professor
Charles decided to ascend again； this time by himself； and with a much
lighter load the balloon rose about two miles above sea…level。 The
temperature at this height became very low； and M。 Charles was affected
by violent pain in his right ear and jaw。 During the voyage he witnessed
12
… Page 13…
THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
the strange phenomenon of a double sunset； for； before the ascent； the sun
had set behind the hills overshadowing the valleys； and when he rose
above the hill…tops he saw the sun again； and presently saw it set again。
There is no doubt that the balloon would have risen several thousand feet
higher； but the professor thought it would burst； and he opened the valve；
eventually making a safe descent about 7 miles from his starting…place。
England lagged behind her French neighbour's in balloon aeronautics
much as she has recently done in aviationfor a considerable time； and；it
was not till August of the following year （1784） that the first balloon
ascent was made in Great Britain； by Mr。 J。 M。 Tytler。 This took place at
Edinburgh in a fire balloon。 Previous to this an Italian； named Lunardi；
had in November； 1783； dispatched from the Artillery Ground； in London；
a small balloon made of oil…silk； 10 feet in diameter and weighing 11
pounds。 This small craft was sent aloft at one o'clock； and came down；
about two and a half hours later； in Sussex； about 48 miles from its
starting…place。
In 1784 the largest balloon on record was sent up from Lyons。 This
immense craft was more than 100 feet in diameter； and stood about 130
feet high。 It was inflated with hot air over a straw fire； and seven
passengers were carried； including Joseph Montgolfier and Pilatre de
Rozier。
But to return to de Rozier； whom we left earlier in the chapter； after his
memorable ascent near Paris。 This daring Frenchman decided to cross the
Channel； and to prevent the gas cooling； and the balloon falling into the
sea； he hit on the idea of suspending a small fire balloon under the neck of
another balloon inflated with hydrogen gas。 In the light of our modern
knowledge of the highly…inflammable nature of hydrogen； we wonder how
anyone could have attempted such an adventure； but there had been little
experience of this newly…discovered gas in those days。 We are not
surprised to read that； when high in the air； there was an awful explosion
and the brave aeronaut fell to the earth and was dashed to death。
13
… Page 14…
THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
CHAPTER IV The First Balloon Ascent in England
It has been said that the honour of making the first ascent in a balloon
from British soil must be awarded to Mr。 Tytler。 This took place in
Scotland。 In this chapter we will relate the almost romantic story of the
first ascent made in England。
This was carried out successfully by Lunardi； the Italian of whom we
have previously spoken。 This young foreigner； who was engaged as a
private secretary in London； had his interest keenly aroused by the
accounts of the experiments being carried out in balloons in France； and
he decided to attempt similar experiments in this country。
But great difficulties stood in his way。 Like many other inventors and
would…be airmen； he suffered from lack of funds to build his craft； and
though people whom he approached for financial aid were sympathetic；
many of them were unwilling to subscribe to his venture。 At length；
however； by indomitable perseverance； he collected enough money to
defray the cost of building his balloon； and it was arranged that he should
ascend from the Artillery Ground； London； in September； 1784。
His craft was a 〃Charlier〃that is； it was modelled after the hydrogen…
inflated balloon built by Professor Charlesand it resembled in shape an
enormous pear。 A wide hoop encircled the neck of the envelope； and from
this hoop the car was suspended by stout cordage。
It is said that on the day announced for the ascent a crowd of nearly
200；000 had assembled； and that the Prince of Wales was an interested
spectator。 Farmers and labourers and； indeed； all classes of people from
the prince down to he humblest subject； were represented； and seldom had
London's citizens been more deeply excited。
Many of them； however； were incredulous； especially when an
insufficiency of gas caused a long delay before the balloon could be
liberated。 Fate seemed to be thwarting the plucky Italian at every step。
Even at the last minute； when all arrangements had been perfected as far
as was humanly possible； and the crowd was agog with excitement； it
appeared probable that he would have to postpone the ascent。
It was originally intended that Lunardi should be accompanied by a
14
… Page 15…
THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
passenger； but as there was a shortage of gas the balloon's lifting power
was considerably lessened； and he had to take the trip with a dog and cat
for companions。 A perfect ascent was made； and in a few moments the
huge balloon was sailing gracefully in a northerly direction over
innumerable housetops。
This t
