the dominion of the air-第6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！
iennes。 A magnificent feast was held at Calais to celebrate the above event。 M。 Blanchard was presented with the freedom of the city in a gold box； and application was made to the Ministry to have the balloon purchased and deposited as a memorial in the church。 On the testimony of the grandson of Dr。 Jeffries the car of this balloon is now in the museum of the same city。
A very noteworthy example of how a balloon may be made to take a fresh lease of life is supplied by a voyage of M。 Testu about this date； which must find brief mention in these pages。 In one aspect it is laughable； in another it is sublime。 From every point of view it is romantic。
It was four o'clock on a threatening day in June when the solitary aeronaut took flight from Paris in a small hydrogen balloon only partially filled； but rigged with somencontrivance of wings which were designed to render it self…propelling。 Discovering； however； that this device was inoperative； M。 Testu； after about an hour and a half； allowed the balloon to descend to earth in a corn field； when； without quitting hold of the car； he commenced collecting stones for ballast。 But as yet he knew not the ways of churlish proprietors of land； and in consequence was presently surprised by a troublesome crowd； who proceeded； as they supposed； to take him prisoner till he should pay heavy compensation； dragging him off to the nearest village by the trail rope of his balloon。
M。 Testu now had leisure to consider his situation； and presently hit on a stratagem the like of which has often since been adopted by aeronauts in like predicament。 Representing to his captors that without his wings he would be powerless； he suffered them to remove these weighty appendages； when also dropping a heavy cloak； he suddenly cut the cord by which he was being dragged； and； regaining freedom； soared away into the sky。 He was quickly high aloft； and heard thunder below him； soon after which； the chill of evening beginning to bring him earthward； he descried a hunt in full cry； and succeeded in coming down near the huntsmen； some of whom galloped up to him； and for their benefit he ascended again； passing this time into dense cloud with thunder and lightning。 He saw the sun go down and the lightning gather round； yet with admirable courage he lived the night out aloft till the storms were spent and the midsummer sun rose once more。 With daylight restored； his journey ended at a spot over sixty miles from Paris。
We have； of course； recounted only a few of the more noteworthy early ballooning ventures。 In reality there had up to the present time been scores of ascents made in different localities and in all conditions of wind and weather； yet not a life had been lost。 We have now； however； to record a casualty which cost the first and boldest aeronaut his life； and which is all the more regrettable as being due to circumstances that should never have occurred。
M。 Pilatre de Rosier； accompanied by M。 Romain； determined on crossing the Channel from the French side； and； thinking to add to their buoyancy and avoid the risk of falling in the sea； hit on the extraordinary idea of using a fire balloon beneath another filled with hydrogen gas！ With this deadly compound machine they actually ascended from Boulogne； and had not left the land when the inevitable catastrophe took place。
The balloons caught fire and blew up at a height of 3；000 feet； while the unfortunate voyagers were dashed to atoms。
CHAPTER III。 THE FIRST BALLOON ASCENT IN ENGLAND。
As may be supposed； it was not long before the balloon was introduced into England。 Indeed； the first successful ascent on record made in our own country took place in the summer of 1784； ten months previous to the fatal venture narrated at the close of the last chapter。 Now； it is a remarkable and equally regrettable circumstance that though the first ascent on British soil was undoubtedly made by one of our own countrymen； the fact is almost universally forgotten； or ignored； and the credit is accorded to a foreigner。
Let us in strict honesty examine into the case。 Vincent Lunardi； an Italian； Secretary to the Neapolitan Ambassador； Prince Caramanico； being in England in the year 1784； determined on organising and personally executing an ascent from London； and his splendid enterprise； which was presently carried to a successful issue； will form the principal subject of the present chapter。 It will be seen that remarkable success crowned his efforts； and that his first and ever memorable voyage was carried through on September 15th of that year。
More than a month previously； however； attention had been called to the fact that a Mr。 Tytler was preparing to make an ascent from Edinburgh in a hot air balloon； and in the London Chronicle of August 27th occurs the following circumstantial and remarkable letter from a correspondent to that journal：？
〃Edinburgh； Aug。 27； 1784。
〃Mr。 Tytler has made several improvements upon his fire balloon。 The reason of its failure formerly was its being made of porous linen； through which the air made its escape。 To remedy this defect； Mr。 Tytler has got it covered with a varnish to retain the inflammable air after the balloon is filled。
〃Early this morning this bold adventurer took his first aerial flight。 The balloon being filled at Comely Garden； he seated himself in the basket； and the ropes being cut he ascended very high and descended quite gradually on the road to Restalrig； about half a mile from the place where he rose； to the great satisfaction of those spectators who were present。 Mr。 Tytler went up without the furnace this morning； when that is added he will be able to feed the balloon with inflammable air； and continue his aerial excursions as long as he chooses。
〃Mr。 Tytler is now in high spirits； and in his turn laughs at those infidels who ridiculed his scheme as visionary and impracticable。 Mr。 Tytler is the first person in Great Britain who has navigated the air。〃
Referring to this exploit； Tytler； in a laudatory epistle addressed to Lunardi； tells of the difficulties he had had to contend with； and artlessly reveals the cool； confident courage he must have displayed。 No shelter being available for the inflation； and a strong wind blowing； his first misfortune was the setting fire to his wicker gallery。 The next was the capsizing and damaging of his balloon； which he had lined with paper。 He now substituted a coat of varnish for the paper； and his gallery being destroyed； so that he could no longer attempt to take up a stove； he resolved to ascend without one。 In the end the balloon was successfully inflated； when he had the hardihood to entrust himself to a small basket （used for carrying earthenware） slung below； and thus to launch himself into the sky。 He did so under the conviction that the risk he ran was greater than it really was； for he argued that his craft was now only like a projectile； and 〃must undoubtedly come to the ground with the same velocity with which it ascended。〃 On this occasion the crowd tried for some time to hold him near the ground by one of the restraining ropes； so that his flight was curtailed。 In a second experiment； however； he succeeded in rising some hundreds of feet； and came to earth without mishap。
But little further information respecting Mr。 Tytler is apparently forthcoming； and therefore beyond recording the fact that he was the first British aeronaut； and also that he was the first to achieve a balloon ascent in Great Britain； we are unable to make further mention of him in this history。
Of his illustrious contemporary already mentioned there is； on the contrary； much to record； and we would desire to give full credit to his admirable courage and perseverance。 It was with a certain national and pardonable pride that the young Italian planned his bold exploit； feeling with a sense of self… satisfaction； which he is at no pains to hide； that he aimed at winning honour for his country as well as for himself。 In a letter which he wrote to his guardian； Chevalier Gherardo Compagni； he alludes to the stolid indifference of the English people and philosophers to the brilliant achievements in aeronautics which had
