the dominion of the air-第41章
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in this way； be faithfully recorded on a surface of thinnest photographic paper； not exceeding the dimensions of a postage stamp； and； when received； no more was necessary than to subject it to magnification； and then to transcribe it and send a fair copy to the addressee。
The third voyage from Paris； on September 29th was undertaken by Louis Godard in two small balloons； united together； carrying both despatches and pigeons； and a safe landing was effected at Mantes This successful feat was rival led the next day by M。 Tissandier； who ascended alone in a balloon of only some 26；000 cubic feet capacity and reached earth at Dreux； in Normandy。
These voyages exhausted the store of ready…made balloons； but by a week later the first of those being specially manufactured was ready； and conveyed in safety from the city no less a personage than M。 Gambetta。
The courageous resolve of the great man caused much sensation in Paris； the more so because； owing to contrary winds； the departure had to be postponed from day to day。 And when； at length； on October 7th； Gambetta and his secretary； with the aeronaut Trichet； actually got away； in company with another balloon； they were vigorously fired at with shot and shell before they had cleared St。 Denis。 Farther out over the German posts they were again under fire； and escaped by discharging ballast； not； however； before Gambetta had been grazed by a bullet。 Yet once more they were assailed by German volleys before； about 3 p。m。； they found a haven near Montdidier。
The usual dimensions of the new balloons gave a capacity of 70；000 cubic feet； and each of these； when inflated with coal gas； was calculated to convey a freight of passengers； ballast； and despatches amounting to some 2；000 pounds。 Their despatch became frequent； sometimes two in the same twenty…four hours。 In less than a single week in October as many as four balloons had fallen in Belgium； and as many more elsewhere。 Up till now some sixteen ventures had ended well； but presently there came trouble。 On October 22nd MM。 Iglesia and Jouvencel fell at Meaux； occupied by the Prussians； their despatches； however； were saved in a dung cart。 The twenty…third voyage ended more unhappily。 On this occasion a sailor acted as aeronaut； accompanied by an engineer； Etienne Antonin； and carrying nearly 1；000 pounds of letters。 It chanced that they descended near Orleans on the very day when that town was re…occupied by the enemy； and both voyagers were made prisoners。 The engineer； however； subsequently escaped。 Three days later another sailor； also accompanied by an engineer； fell at the town of Ferrieres； then occupied by the Prussians； when both were made prisoners。 In this case； also； the engineer succeeded in making his escape； while the despatches were rescued by a forester and forwarded in safety。
At about this date W。 de Fonvielle； acting as aeronaut； and taking passengers； made a successful escape； of which he has given a graphic account。 He had been baulked by more than one serious contretemps。 It had been determined that the departure should be by night； and November 19th being fixed upon； the balloon was in process of inflation under a gentle wind that threatened a travel towards Prussian soil； when； as the moment of departure approached； a large hole was accidentally made in the fabric by the end of the metal pipe； and it was then too late to effect repairs。 The next and following days the weather was foul； and the departure was not effected till the 25th； when he sailed away over the familiar but desolated country。 He and his companions were fired at； but only when they were well beyond range； and in less than two hours the party reached Louvain； beyond Brussels； some 180 English miles in a direct line from their starting point。 This was the day after the 〃Ville d'Orleans〃 balloon had made the record voyage and distance of all the siege； falling in Norway； 600 miles north of Christiania； after a flight of fifteen hours。
At the end of November； when over thirty escape voyages had been made； two fatal disasters occurred。 A sailor of the name of Prince ascended alone on a moonless night； and at dawn； away on the north coast of Scotland； some fishermen sighted a balloon in the sky dropping to the westward in the ocean。 The only subsequent trace of this balloon was a bag of despatches picked up in the Channel。 Curiously enough； two days later almost the same story was repeated。 Two aeronauts； this time in charge of despatches and pigeons； were carried out to sea and never traced。
Undeterred by these disasters； a notable escape was now attempted。 An important total eclipse of the sun was to occur in a track crossing southern Spain and Algeria on December 22nd。 An enthusiastic astronomer； Janssen； was commissioned by the Academy of Sciences to attend and make observations of this eclipse。 But M。 Janssen was in Paris； as were also his instruments； and the eclipse track lay nearly a thousand miles away。 The one and only possible mode of fulfilling his commission was to try the off…chance afforded by balloon； and this chance he resorted to only twenty days before the eclipse was due。
Taking with him the essential parts of a reflecting telescope； and an active young sailor as assistant； he left Paris at 6 a。m。 and rose at once to 3；600 feet； dipping again somewhat at sunrise （owing； as he supposed； to loss of heat through radiation）； but subsequently ascending again rapidly under the increased altitude of the sun till his balloon attained its highest level of 7；200 feet。 From this elevation； shortly after 11 a。m。； he sighted the sea； when he commenced a descent which brought him to earth at the mouth of the Loire。 It had been fast travellingsome 300 miles in little more than three hoursand the ground wind was strong。 Nevertheless； neither passengers nor instruments were injured； and M。 Janssen was fully established by the day of eclipse on his observing ground at Oran； on the Algerian coast。 It is distressing to add that the phenomenon was hidden by cloud。 In the month that followed this splendid venture no fewer than fifteen balloons escaped from Paris； of which four fell into the hands of the enemy； although for greater security all ascents were now being made by night。
On January 13th； 1871； a new device for the return post was tried； and； in addition to pigeons； sheep dogs were taken up； with the idea of their being returned to the city with messages concealed within their collars。 There is apparently no record of any message having been returned to the town by this ingenious method。 On January 24th a balloon； piloted by a sailor； and containing a large freight of letters； fell within the Prussian lines； but the patriotism of the country was strong enough to secure the despatches being saved and entrusted to the safe conveyance of the Post Office。 Then followed the total loss of a balloon at sea； but this was destined to be the last； save one； that was to attempt the dangerous mission。 The next day； January 28th； the last official balloon left the town； manned by a single sailor； carrying but a small weight of despatches； but ordering the ships to proceed to Dieppe for the revictualling of Paris。
Five additional balloons at that time in readiness were never required for the risky service for which they were designed。
There can be little doubt that had the siege continued a more elaborate use of balloons would have been developed。 Schemes were being mooted to attempt the vastly more difficult task of conveying balloons into Paris from outside。 When hostilities terminated there were actually six balloons in readiness for this venture at Lisle； and waiting only for a northerly wind。 M。 de Fonvielle； possessed of both courage and experience； was prepared to put in practice a method of guiding by a small propelling force a balloon that was being carried by sufficiently favouring winds within a few degrees of its desired goaland in the case of Paris the goal was an area of some twenty miles in diameter。 Within the invested area several attempts were actually made to control balloons by methods of steering。 The names of Vert and Dupuy de Lome must here be specially mentioned。 The f
