the dominion of the air-第39章
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t on the hoop。
At the request of his brother； Jules Godard attempted the difficult work of climbing to this hoop； and； in spite of his known agility； he was obliged several times to renew the effort。 Alone； and not being able to detach the cord； M。 Louis Godard begged M。 Yon to join his brother on the hoop。 The two made themselves masters of the rope； which they passed to Louis Godard。 The latter secured it firmly； in spite of the shocks he received。 A violent impact shook the car and M。 de St。 Felix became entangled under the car as it was ploughing the ground。 It was impossible to render him any assistance； notwithstanding； Jules Godard； stimulated by his brother； leapt out to attempt mooring the balloon to the trees by means of the ropes。 M。 Montgolfier； entangled in the same manner； was re…seated in time and saved by Louis Godard。
At this moment others leapt out and escaped with a few contusions。 The car； dragged along by the balloon； broke trees more than half a yard in diameter and overthrew everything that opposed it。
Louis Godard made M。 Yon leap out of the car to assist Madame Nadar； but a terrible shock threw out MM。 Nadar； Louis Godard； and Montgolfier； the two first against the ground； the third into the water。 Madame Nadar； in spite of the efforts of the voyagers； remained the last； and found herself squeezed between the ground and the car； which had fallen upon her。 More than twenty minutes elapsed before it was possible to disentangle her； in spite of the most vigorous efforts on the part of everyone。 It was at this moment the balloon burst and； like a furious monster； destroyed everything around it。 Immediately afterwards they ran to the assistance of M。 de St。 Felix； who had been left behind； and whose face was one ghastly wound； and covered with blood and mire。 He had an arm broken； his chest grazed and bruised。
After this accident； though a creditable future lay in store for 〃The Giant；〃 its monstrous and unwieldy car was condemned； and presently removed to the Crystal Palace； where it was daily visited by large crowds。
It is impossible to dismiss this brief sketch of French balloonists of this period without paying some due tribute to M。 Depuis Delcourt； equally well known in the literary and scientific world； and regarded in his own country as a father among aeronauts。 Born in 1802； his recollection went back to the time of Montgolfier and Charles； to the feats of Garnerin； and the death of Madame Blanchard。 He established the Aerostatic and Meteorological Society of France； and was the author of many works； as well as of a journal dealing with aerial navigation。 He closed a life devoted to the pursuit and advancement of aerostation in April； 1864。
Before very long； events began shaping themselves in the political world which were destined to bring the balloon in France into yet greater prominence。 But we should mention that already its capabilities in time of war to meet the requirements of military operations had been scientifically and systematically tested； and of these trials it will be necessary to speak without further delay。
Reference has already been made in these pages to a valuable article contributed in 1862 by Lieutenant G。 Grover； R。E。； to the Royal Engineers' papers。 From this report it would appear that the balloon； as a means of reconnoitring； was employed with somewhat uncertain success at the battle of Solferino； the brothers Godard being engaged as aeronauts。 The balloon used was a Montgolfier； or fire balloon； and； in spite of its ready inflation； MM。 Godard considered it； from the difficulty of maintaining within it the necessary degree of buoyancy； far inferior to the gas inflated balloon。 On the other hand； the Austrian Engineer Committee were of a contrary opinion。 It would seem that no very definite conclusions had been arrived at with respect to the use and value of the military balloon up to the time of the commencement of the American War in 1862。
It was now that the practice of ballooning became a recognised department of military manoeuvres； and a valuable report appears in the above…mentioned papers from the pen of Captain F。 Beaumont； R。E。 According to this officer； the Americans made trial of two different balloons； both hydrogen inflated； one having a capacity of about 13；000 cubic feet； and the other about twice as large。 It was this latter that the Americans used almost exclusively； it being found to afford more steadiness and safety； and to be the means； sometimes desirable； of taking up more than two persons。 The difficulty of sufficient gas supply seems to have been well met。 Two generators sufficed； these being 〃nothing more than large tanks of wood； acid…proof inside； and of sufficient strength to resist the expansive action of the gas； they were provided with suitable stopcocks for regulating the admission of the gas； and with manhole covers for introducing the necessary materials。〃 The gas； as evolved； being made to pass successively through two vessels containing lime water； was delivered cool and purified into the balloon； and as the sulphuric acid needed for the process was found sufficiently cheap； and scrap iron also required was readily come by； it would seem that practical difficulties in the field were reduced to a minimum。
According to Captain Beaumont； the difficulties which might have been expected from windy weather were not considerable； and twenty…five or thirty men sufficed to convey the balloon easily； when inflated； over all obstacles。 The transport of the bulk of the rest of the apparatus does not read； on paper； a very serious matter。 The two generators required four horses each； and the acid and balloon carts as many more。 Arrived on the scene of action； the drill itself was a simple matter。 A squad of thirty men under an officer sufficed to get the balloon into position； and to arrange the ballast so that； with all in； there was a lifting power of some thirty pounds。 Then； at the word of command； the men together drop the car； and seize the three guy ropes； of which one is made to pass through a snatch block firmly secured。 The guy ropes are then payed out according to the directions of the aeronaut； as conveyed through the officer。
The balloon accompanied the army's advance where its services could be turned to the greatest advantage。 It was employed in making continual ascents； and furnishing daily reports to General M'Clellan； and it was supposed that by constant observation the aeronaut could； at a glance； assure himself that no change had taken place in the occupation of the country。 Captain Beaumont； speaking； be it remembered； of the military operations and manoeuvres then in vogue； declared that earthworks could be seen even at the distance of eight miles； though their character could not be distinctly stated。 Wooded country was unfitted for balloon reconnaissance； and only in a plain could any considerable body of troops be made known。 Then follows such a description as one would be expecting to find：
〃During the battle of Hanover Court House； which was the first engagement of importance before Richmond； I happened to be close to the balloon when the heavy firing began。 The wind was rather high； but I was anxious to see； if possible； what was going on； and I went up with the father of the aeronaut。 The balloon was； however； short of gas； and as the wind was high we were obliged to come down。 I then went up by myself； the diminished weight giving increased steadiness； but it was not considered safe to go more than 500 feet； on account of the unsettled state of the weather。 The balloon was very unsteady； so much so that it was difficult to fix my sight on any particular object。 At that distance I could see nothing of the fight。〃
Following this is another significant sentence：
〃In the case of a siege； I am inclined to think that a balloon reconnaissance would be of less value than in almost any other case where a reconnaissance can be required； but； even here； if useless； it is； at any rate； also harmless。 I once saw the fire of artillery directed from the balloon； this became necessary； as it was only in this way that the picket which it was desired to dislodge could
