the dominion of the air-第20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！
g circumstances that secured him uniform success and universal regard。 He was； moreover； always a close and intelligent observer； and many of his memoranda are of scientific value。
His description of an encounter with a storm…cloud in the June of 1843 has an interest of its own； and may not be considered overdrawn。 It was an ascent from Carlisle； Pa。； to celebrate the anniversary of Bunker's Hill； and Wise was anxious to gratify the large concourse of people assembled； and thus was tempted； soon after leaving the ground； to dive up into a huge black cloud of peculiarly forbidding aspect。 This cloud appeared to remain stationary while he swept beneath it； and； having reached its central position； he observed that its under surface was concave towards the earth； and at that moment he became swept upwards in a vortex that set his balloon spinning and swinging violently； while he himself was afflicted with violent nausea and a feeling of suffocation。 The cold experienced now became intense； and the cordage became glazed with ice； yet this had no effect in checking the upward whirling of the balloon。 Sunshine was beyond the upper limits of the cloud； but this was no sooner reached than the balloon； escaping from the uprush； plunged down several hundred feet； only to be whirled up again； and this reciprocal motion was repeated eight or ten times during an interval of twenty minutes； in all of which time no expenditure of gas or discharge of ballast enabled the aeronaut to regain any control over his vessel。
Statements concerning a thunderstorm witnessed at short range by Wise will compare with other accounts。 The thunder 〃rattled〃 without any reverberations； and when the storm was passing； and some dense clouds moving in the upper currents； the 〃surface of the lower stratum swelled up suddenly like a boiling cauldron； which was immediately followed by the most brilliant ebullition of sparkling coruscations。〃 Green； in his stormy ascent from Newbury； England； witnessed a thunderstorm below him； as will be remembered； while an upper cloud stratum lay at his own level。 It was then that Green observed that 〃at every discharge of thunder all the detached pillars of clouds within the distance of a mile around became attracted。〃
The author will have occasion； in due place； to give personal experiences of an encounter with a thunderstorm which will compare with the foregoing description。
CHAPTER IX。 EARLY METHODS AND IDEAS。
Before proceeding to introduce the chief actors and their achievements in the period next before us； it will be instructive to glance at some of the principal ideas and methods in favour with aeronauts up to the date now reached。 It will be seen that Wise in America； contrary to the practice of Green in our own country； had a strong attachment to the antique mode of inflation with hydrogen prepared by the vitriolic process； and his balloons were specially made and varnished for the use of this gas。 The advantage which he thus bought at the expense of much trouble and the providing of cumbersome equipment was obvious enough； and may be well expressed by a formula which holds good to…day； namely； that whereas 1；000 cubic feet of hydrogen is capable of lifting 7 lbs。； the same quantity of coal gas of ordinary quality will raise but 35 lbs。 The lighter gas came into all Wise's calculations for bolder schemes。 Thus； when he discusses the possibility of using a metal balloon； his figures work out as follows： If a balloon of 200 feet diameter were constructed out of copper； weighing one pound to the square foot； if； moreover； some six tons were allowed for the weight of car and fastenings； an available lifting power would remain capable of raising 45 tons to an altitude of two miles。 This calculation may appear somewhat startling； yet it is not only substantially correct； but Wise entertained no doubt as to the practicability of such a machine。 For its inflation he suggests inserting a muslin balloon filled with air within the copper globe； and then passing hydrogen gas between the muslin and copper surfaces； which would exclude the inner balloon as the copper one filled up。
His method of preparing hydrogen was practically that still adopted in the field； and seems in his hands to have been seldom attended with difficulty。 With eight common 130…gallon rum puncheons he could reckon on evolving 5；000 cubic feet of gas in an hour； using his elements in the following proportions： water； 560 lbs。； sulphuric acid （sp。 g。 1。85）； 144 lbs。； iron turnings； 125 lbs。 The gas； as given off； was cooled and purified by being passed through a head of water kept cool and containing lime in solution。 Contrasted with this； we find it estimated； according to the practice of this time； that a ton of good bituminous coal should yield 10；000 cubic feet of carburetted hydrogen fit for lighting purposes； and a further quantity which； though useless as an illuminant； is still of excellent quality for the aeronaut。
It would even seem from a statement of Mr。 Monck Mason that the value of coke in his day largely compensated for the cost of producing coal gas； so that in a large number of Green's ascents no charge whatever was made for gas by the companies that supplied him。
Some； at least； of the methods formerly recommended for the management of free balloons must in these days be modified。 Green； as we have seen； was in favour of a trail rope of inordinate length； which he recommended both as an aid to steering and for a saving of ballast。 In special circumstances； and more particularly over the sea； this may be reckoned a serviceable adjunct； but over land its use； in this country at least； would be open to serious objection。 The writer has seen the consternation； not to say havoc； that a trail rope may occasion when crossing a town； or even private grounds； and the actual damage done to a garden of hops； or to telegraph or telephone wires； may be very serious indeed。 Moreover； the statement made by some early practitioners that a trail rope will not catch so as to hold fast in a wood or the like； is not to be relied on； for an instance could be mentioned coming under the writer's knowledge where such a rope was the source of so much trouble in a high wind that it had to be cut away。
The trouble arose in this way。 The rope dragged harmlessly enough along the open ground。 It would； likewise； negotiate exceedingly well a single tree or a whole plantation； catching and releasing itself with only such moderate tugs at the car as were not disturbing； but； presently； its end； which had been caught and again released by one tree； swung free in air through a considerable gap to another tree； where； striking a horizontal bough； it coiled itself several times around； and thus held the balloon fast； which now； with the strength of the wind； was borne to the earth again and again； rebounding high in air after each impact； until freedom was gained only by the sacrifice of a portion of the rope。
Wise recommends a pendant line of 600 or 800 feet； capable of bearing a strain of 100 lbs。； and with characteristic ingenuity suggests a special use which can be made of it； namely； that of having light ribbons tied on at every hundred feet； by means of which the drifts of lower currents may be detected。 In this suggestion there is； indeed； a great deal of sound sense； for there is； as will be shown hereafter； very much value to be attached to a knowledge of those air rivers that are flowing； often wholly unsuspected； at various heights。 Small parachutes； crumpled paper； and other such…like bodies as are commonly thrown out and relied on to declare the lower drifts； are not wholly trustworthy； for this reasonthat air…streams are often very slender； mere filaments； as they are sometimes called； and these； though setting in some definite direction； and capable of entrapping and wafting away some small body which may come within their influence； may not affect the travel of so big an object as a balloon； which can only partake of some more general air movement。
Wise； by his expedient of tying ribbons at different points to his trail rope； would obtain much more correct and constant information respecting those general st
