the dominion of the air-第46章
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he inventor was able to remain for hours under water without any communication with the outward air。
About the period at which we have now arrived two fatal accidents befel English aeronauts。 We have related how Maldon； in Essex； was associated with one of the more adventurous exploits in Mr。 Simmons's career。 It was fated also to be associated with the voyage with which his career closed。 On August 27th； 1888； he ascended from Olympia in company with Mr。 Field； of West Brighton； and Mr。 Myers； of the Natural History Museum； with the intention； if practicable； of crossing to Flanders； and the voyage proceeded happily until the neighbourhood of Maldon was reached； when； as the sea coast was in sight； and it was already past five o'clock； it appeared prudent to Mr。 Simmons to descend and moor the balloon for the night。 Some labourers some three miles from Maldon sighted the balloon coming up at speed； and at the same time descending until its grapnel commenced tearing through a field of barley； when ballast was thrown out； causing the balloon to rise again towards and over some tall elms； which became the cause of the disaster which followed。 The grapnel； catching in the upper boughs of one of these trees； held fast； while the balloon； borne by the force of a strong wind； was repeatedly blown down to earth with violence； rebounding each time to a considerable height； only to be flung down again on the same spot。 After three or four impacts the balloon is reported to have burst with a loud noise； when high in the air； the silk being blown about over the field； and the car and its occupants dashed to the ground。 Help was unavailing till this final catastrophe； and when； at length； the labourers were able to extricate the party； Mr。 Simmons was found with a fractured skull and both companions badly injured。
Four summers later； June 30th； 1892； Captain Dale； the aeronaut to the Crystal Palace； was announced to make an ascent from the usual balloon grounds； weather permitting。 Through the night and morning a violent storm prevailed； and it was contemplated that the exhibition would be withdrawn； but the wind abating in the afternoon； the inflation was proceeded with； and the ascent took place shortly before 6 p。m。； not； however； before a large rent had been discovered and repaired as far as possible by Mrs。 Dale。 As passengers； there ascended the Captain's son William； aged nineteen； Mr。 J。 Macintosh； and Mr。 Cecil Shadbolt。 When the balloon had reached an altitude estimated at 600 feet the onlookers were horrified to see it suddenly collapse； a large rent having developed near the top part of the silk； from which the gas 〃rushed out in a dense mass； allowing the balloon to fall like a rag。〃 The occupants of the car were seen to be throwing out everything madly； even wrenching the buttons from their clothing。 All； however； with little avail； for the balloon fell 〃with a sickening thud；〃 midway between the Maze and lower lake。 All were found alive； but Captain Dale； who had alighted on his back； died in a few minutes； Mr。 Shadbolt succumbed later； and both remaining passengers sustained terrible injuries。
Few balloon mishaps； unattended with fatal results； have proved more exciting than the following。 A large party had ascended from Belfast； in a monster balloon； under the guidance of Mr。 Coxwell； on a day which was very unfit for the purpose by reason of stormy weather。 A more serious trouble than the wind； however； lay in several of the passengers themselves； who seem to have been highly excitable Irishmen； incapable at the critical moment of quietly obeying orders
The principal hero of the story； a German。 Mr。 Runge； in writing afterwards to the Ulster Observer； entirely exonerates Mr。 Coxwell from any blame； attributing his mischances solely to the reprehensible conduct of his companions。 On approaching the ground； Mr。 Coxwell gave clear instructions。 The passengers were to sit down in an unconstrained position facing each other； and be prepared for some heavy shocks。 Above all things they were to be careful to get out one by one； and on no account to leave hold of the car。 Many of the passengers； however； refused to sit down； and； according to Mr。 Runge； 〃behaved in the wildest manner； losing completely their self…control。 Seizing the valve rope themselves； they tore it away from its attachment； the stronger pushing back the weaker； and refusing to lend help when they had got out。 In consequence of this the car； relieved of their weight； tore away from the grasp of Mr。 Coxwell and those who still clung to it； and rose above the trees； with Mr。 Runge and one other passenger； Mr。 Halferty； alone within。 As the balloon came earthwards again； they shouted to the countrymen for succour； but without the slightest avail； and presently； the anchor catching； the car struck the earth with a shock which threw Mr。 Halferty out on the ground； leaving Mr。 Runge to rise again into the air； this time alone。〃 He thus continues the story：
〃The balloon moved on； very soon； in a horizontal direction straight towards the sea； which we were then rapidly nearing。 Coming to a farm； I shouted out to the people standing there。 Some women； with their quick humane instincts； were the first to perceive my danger； and exhorted the men to hurry to my assistance； they themselves running as fast as they could to tender what little help they might be able to give me。 The anchor stuck in a willow tree。 I shouted out to the people below to secure the cable and anchor by ropes； which they did。 The evening was now beautifully still； the breeze had died away； and the balloon was swinging calmly at her moorings above the farmhouse。 One of the men asked me whether I had a rope with me； and how I intended to get out。 I told them only to take care of the cable； because the balloon would settle down by herself before long。 I was congratulating myself on a speedy escape from my dangerous position。 I had not counted on the wind。 A breeze in about six or eight minutes sprang up； tossed the balloon about like a large sail； then a crash； andthe anchor was loose again。 It tore through the trees； flinging limbs and branches about like matches。 It struck the roof of the farmhouse； splintering the chimneys and tiles like glass。
〃On I went； I came near another farm； shouted out for help； and told the men to secure the anchor to the foot of a large tree close by。 The anchor was soon made fast； but this was only a momentary relief。 The breeze again filled the half…empty balloon like a sail； there was a severe strain on the cable； then a dull sound； and a severe concussion of the basketthe cable； strange fatality； had broken； and the anchor； my last and only hope； was gone。 I was now carried on in a straight direction towards the sea； which was but a short distance ahead。 The anchor being lost I gave up all hope。 I sat down resigned in the car； and prepared for the end。 All at once I discovered that a side current was drifting me towards the mountain； the car struck the ground； and was dashing along at a fearful rate； knocking down stone fences and breaking everything it came in contact with in its wild career。 By…and…by the knocks became less frequent。 We were passing over a cultivated country； and the car was； as it were skimming the surface and grazing the top of the hedges。 I saw a thick hawthorn hedge at some distance before me； and the balloon rapidly sweeping towards it。 That was my only chance。 I rushed to the edge of the car and flung myself down upon the hedge。〃
CHAPTER XXI。 THE COMING OF THE FLYING MACHINE。
In the early nineties the air ship was engaging the attention of many inventors； and was making important strides in the hands of Mr。 Maxim。 This unrivalled mechanician； in stating the case； premises that a motive power has to be discovered which can develop at least as much power in proportion to its weight as a bird is able to develop。 He asserts that a heavy bird； with relatively small wingssuch as a goosecarries about 150 lb。 to the horse power； while the albatross or the vulture； possessed of proportionately greater winged surface； can carry about 250 lbs。 per horse power。
Professor Langley； of
