the dominion of the air-第50章
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ks away with him； and； soaring high； flies overhead of a man…of…war； and plumps into the water a mile out at sea。 But 〃Smartly〃 was the word。 The ship's crew was beat to quarters； and within one minute a boat was to the rescue。 An ascent at Cairo； where he made a parachute descent in sight of the Pyramids and landed in the desert； completed this oriental tour； and home duties necessitated his return to England。 Among exploits far too many to enumerate may be mentioned four several occasions when Mr。 Percival Spencer has crossed the English Channel。
It fell to the lot of the second son； Arthur； to carry fame into fresh fields。 In the year 1897 he visited Australia； taking with him two balloons； one of these being a noble craft of 80；000 cubic feet； considerably larger than any balloon used in England； and the singular fate of this aerial monster is deserving of mention。
Its trial trip in the new country was arranged to take place on Boxing Day in the Melbourne Exhibition ground； and for the lengthy and critical work of inflation the able assistance of British bluejackets was secured。 To all appearance； the main difficulties to be provided against were likely to arise simply from a somewhat inadequate supply of gas； and on this account filling commenced as early as 10 a。m。 on the morning of the day previous to the exhibition； and was continued till 6 o'clock in the afternoon； by which time the balloon； being about half full； was staved down with sandbags through the night till 4 o'clock the next morning； when the inflation was again proceeded with without hindrance and apparently under favourable conditions。 The morning was beautifully fine； warm； brilliant； and still； and so remained until half…past six； when； with startling rapidity； there blew up a sudden squall known in the country as a 〃Hot Buster；〃 and in two or three minutes' space a terrific wind storm was sweeping the ground。 A dozen men； aiding a dead weight of 220 sandbags； endeavoured to control the plunging balloon； but wholly without avail。 Men and bags together were lifted clean up in the air on the windward side； and the silk envelope； not yet completely filled； at once escaped from the net and； flying upwards to a height estimated at 10；000 feet； came to earth again ninety miles away in a score of fragments。 Nothing daunted； however； Mr。 Spencer at once endeavoured to retrieve his fortunes； and started straightway for the gold…mining districts of Ballarat and Bendigo with a hot…air balloon； with which he successfully gave a series of popular exhibitions of parachute descents。 Few aeronauts are more consistently reliable than Mr。 Arthur Spencer。 A few summers ago in this country he was suddenly called upon to give proof of his prowess and presence of mind in a very remarkable manner。 It was at an engagement at Reading； where he had been conducting captive ascents throughout the afternoon； and was requested to conclude the evening with a 〃right away；〃 in which two passengers had agreed to accompany him。 The balloon had been hauled down for the last time； when； by some mistake； the engine used for the purpose proceeded to work its pump without previously disconnecting the hauling gear。 The consequence of this was that the cable instantly snapped； and in a moment the large balloon； devoid of ballast； grapnel； or other appliances； and with neck still tied； was free； and started skyward。
The inevitable result of this accident must have been that the balloon in a few seconds would rise to a height where the expansion of the imprisoned gas would burst and destroy it。 Mr。 Spencer； however； was standing near； and； grasping the situation in a moment； caught at the car as it swung upwards； and； getting hold； succeeded in drawing himself up and so climbing into the ring。 Quickly as this was done； the balloon was already distended to the point of bursting； and only the promptest release of gas averted catastrophe。
Mr。 Stanley Spencer made himself early known to the world by a series of parachute descents； performed from the roof of Olympia。 It was a bold and sensational exhibition； and on the expiration of his engagement the young athlete； profiting by home training； felt fully qualified to attempt any aerial feat connected with the profession of an aeronaut。 And at this juncture an eminent American cyclist； visiting the father's factory； suggested to Stanley a business tour in South America。
As an extra attraction it was proposed that a young lady parachutist should be one of the company； so； after a few satisfactory trial exhibitions in England； the party made their way to Rio； Brazil。 Here an ascent was arranged； and by the day and hour appointed the balloon was successfully inflated with hydrogen； an enormous concourse collected； and the lady performer already seated in the sling。 Then a strange mischance happened。 By some means； never satisfactorily explained； the young woman； at the moment of release； slipped from her seat； and the balloon； escaping into the air； turned over and fell among the people； who vindictively destroyed it。 Then the crowd grew ungovernable； and threatened the lives of the aeronauts； who eventually were； with difficulty； rescued by the soldiery。
This was a bad start； but with a spare balloon a fresh attempt at an ascent was arranged； though； from another cause； with no better success。 This time a furious storm arose； before the inflation was completed； and the balloon； carrying away； was torn to ribbons。 Yet a third time； with a hot air balloon now； a performance was advertised and successfully carried out； but； immediately after； Mr。 Spencer's American friend succumbed to yellow fever； and the young man； being thrown on his own resources； had to fight his own way until his fortunes had been sufficiently restored to return to England。
A few months later he set sail for Canada； where for several months he had a most profitable career； on one occasion only meeting with some difficulty。 He was giving an exhibition on Prince Edward's Island； not far from the sea； but on a day so calm that he did not hesitate to ascend。 On reaching 3；000 feet； however； he was suddenly caught by a strong land breeze； which； ere he could reach the water； had carried him a mile out to sea； and here he was only rescued after a long interval； during which he had become much exhausted in his attempts to save his parachute from sinking。
Early in 1892 our traveller visited South Africa with a hot air balloon； and； fortune continuing to favour him； he subsequently returned to Canada； and proceeded thence to the United States and Cuba。 It was at Havannah that popular enthusiasm in his favour ran so high that he was presented with a medal by the townsfolk。 It was from here also that； a little while after； tidings of his own death reached him； together with most gratifying obituary notices。 It would seem that； after his departure； an adventurer； attempting to personate him； met with his death。
In November； 1897； he followed his elder brother's footsteps to the East； and exhibited in Calcutta； Singapore； Canton； and also Hong…Kong； where； for the first and only time in his experience； he met with serious accident。 He was about to ascend for the ordinary parachute performance with a hot air balloon； which was being held down by about thirty men； one among them being a Chinaman possessed of much excitability and very long finger nails。 By means of these latter the man contrived to gouge a considerable hole in the fabric of the balloon。 Mr。 Spencer； to avoid a disappointment； risked an ascent； and it was not till the balloon had reached 600 feet that the rent developed into a long slit； and so brought about a sudden fall to earth。 Alighting on the side of a mountain； Mr。 Spencer lay helpless with a broken leg till the arrival of some British bluejackets； who conveyed him to the nearest surgeon； when； after due attention； he was sent home。 Other remarkable exploits； which Mr。 Stanley Spencer shared with Dr。 Berson and with the writer and his daughter； will be recorded later。
CHAPTER XXIII。 NEW DEPARTURES IN AEROSTATION。
After Mr。 Coxwell's experiments at Aldershot in 1862 the military balloon； as far as England was conc
