登陆注册
5268300000021

第21章 CHAPTER VI. CHARLES GREEN AND THE NASSAU BALLOON.(

The balloon, which had gradually been dropping out of favour, had now been virtually laid aside, and, to all appearance, might have continued so, when, as if by chance concurrence of events, there arrived both the hour and the man to restore it to the world, and to invest it with a new practicability and importance. The coronation of George the Fourth was at hand, and this became a befitting occasion for the rare genius mentioned at the end of the last chapter, and now in his thirty-sixth year, to put in practice a new method of balloon management and inflation, the entire credit of which must be accorded to him alone.

From its very introduction and inception the gas balloon, an expensive and fragile structure in itself, had proved at all times exceedingly costly in actual use. Indeed, we find that at the date at which we have now arrived the estimate for filling a balloon of 70,000 cubic feet--no extraordinary capacity--with hydrogen gas was about L250. When, then, to this great outlay was added the difficulty and delay of producing a sufficient supply by what was at best a clumsy process, as also the positive failure and consequent disappointment which not infrequently ensued, it is easy to understand how through many years balloon ascents, no longer a novelty, had begun to be regarded with distrust, and the profession of a balloonist was doomed to become unremunerative.

A simpler and cheaper mode of inflation was not only a desideratum, but an absolute necessity. The full truth of this may be gathered from the fact that we find there were not seldom instances where two or three days of continuous and anxious labour were expended in generating and passing hydrogen into a balloon, through the fabric of which the subtle gas would escape almost as fast as it was produced.

It was at this juncture, then, that Charles Green conceived the happy idea of substituting for hydrogen gas the ordinary household gas, which at this time was to be found ready to hand and in sufficient quantity in all towns of any consequence; and by the day of the coronation all was in readiness for a public exhibition of this method of inflation, which was carried out with complete success, though not altogether without unrehearsed and amusing incident, as must be told.

The day, July 18, was one of summer heat, and Green at the conclusion of his preparations, fatigued with anxious labour and oppressed by the crowding of the populace, took refuge within the car of his balloon, which was by that time already inflated, and only awaiting the gun signal that was to announce the moment for its departure. To allow of his gaining the refreshment of somewhat purer air he begged his friends who were holding the car of his balloon in restraint to keep it suspended at a few feet from the earth, while he rested himself within, and, this being done, it would appear that he fell into a doze, from which he did not awake till he found that the balloon, which had slipped from his friends' hold, was already high above the crowd and requiring his prompt attention. This was, however, by no means an untoward accident, and Green's triumph was complete. By this one venture alone the success of the new method was entirely assured. The cost of the inflation had been reduced ten-fold, the labour and uncertainty a hundred-fold, and, over and above all, the confidence of the public was restored. It is little wonder, then, that in the years that now follow we find the balloon returning to all the favour it had enjoyed in its palmiest days. But Green proved himself something more than a practical balloonist of the first rank. He brought to the aid of his profession ideas which were matured by due thought and scientifically sound. It is true he still clung for a while to the antiquated notion that mechanical means could, with advantage, be used to cause a balloon to ascend or descend, or to alter its direction in a tranquil atmosphere. But he saw clearly that the true method of navigating a balloon should be by a study of upper currents, and this he was able to put to practical proof on a memorable occasion, and in a striking manner, as we shall presently relate.

He learned the lesson early in his career while acquiring facts and experience, unassisted, in a number of solitary voyages made from different parts of the country. Among these he is careful to record an occasion when, making a day-light ascent from Boston, Lincolnshire, he maintained a lofty course, which promised to take him direct to Grantham; but, presently descending to a lower level, and his balloon diverging at an angle of some 45 degrees, he now headed for Newark. This experience he stored away.

A month later we find him making a night voyage from Vauxhall Gardens, destined to be the scene of many memorable ascents in the near future; and on this occasion he gave proof of his capability as a close and intelligent observer. It was a July night, near 11 p.m., moonless and cloudy, yet the earth was visible, and under these circumstances his simple narrative becomes of scientific value. He accurately distinguished the reflective properties of the face of the diversified country he traversed. Over Battersea and Wandsworth--this was in 1826--there were white sheets spread over the land, which proved to be corn crops ready for the sickle. Where crops were not the ground was darker, with, here and there, objects absolutely black--in other words, trees and houses. Then he mentions the river in a memorandum, which reads strangely to the aeronaut who has made the same night voyage in these latter days. The stream was crossed in places with rows of lamps apparently resting on the water. These were the lighted bridges; but, here and there, were dark planks, and these too were bridges--at Battersea and Putney--but without a light upon them!

同类推荐
  • 东山杂记

    东山杂记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 草庐经略

    草庐经略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 瘗旅文

    瘗旅文

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 道法心传

    道法心传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 华岳寺

    华岳寺

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 云殇倾城

    云殇倾城

    那一天,皇家别苑,他说从今后你便是我的妻。可自她葬身火海,在他心中却是宫中再无云色佳人。她等不到他的花轿,只等来他娶妻的消息,原来他终究放不下天下霸业……命途多舛,却远宫门而不得。凤冠加持,她替姐易嫁,二进宫门。二王夺嫡,她亲手把毒药放进太子的饮食。再次相见时,却是她亲手夺去了太子性命,含泪在他和她的大婚夜里逃离。记忆恢复,飞霞山上她纵身一跃追随太子的身影以命赎罪。一个流落民间的孤女,几位风神俊秀的皇子,她与他们的相遇,是前世今生的绝恋,亦是兵马乱世的传奇……
  • 星辰龙神变

    星辰龙神变

    随着地球文明不断进步,科技也在飞速发展,人类发现了一种可以让自己变强的方法—修炼,他们的脚步早已经迈入宇宙,但作为母星的地球,虽有丰富资源,但日渐衰竭,我们的主人公,就是生活在一个高能星球的——痞子(第一次写小说,有什么需要改进的地方,请随便在评论区评论)
  • 倾城之姿:独步天下

    倾城之姿:独步天下

    她,惊才艳艳,却因无意获取组织秘密,被爱人背叛,组织灭口。身怀异宝的她穿越到顾家废柴嫡女顾笙身上。这是属于她的时代,管你什么妹妹,未婚夫,敢负她?剥皮抽筋!当星现异象,她重生而归!“喂喂喂!你谁啊,怎么在我房间?!”“娘子,不认得夫君了吗?”妖孽美男凑上前,“娘子若是不记得,本尊不介意让你记忆记忆”说罢欺身上前......“冥渊,你再来我媳妇这儿,小心我给你头拔下来....呵呵!”夜殇璃拖着冥渊往外走,“那明明是我娘子,你一定是嫉妒我们!哼!”“明明是我娘子,什么?嫉妒?你这小子,不想活了?”屋内的顾笙微笑摇头,“这两个冤家哟~”.........
  • 地地导弹科技知识(下)(青少年高度关注的导弹武器科技)

    地地导弹科技知识(下)(青少年高度关注的导弹武器科技)

    军事科学是一门范围广博、内容丰富的综合性科学,它涉及自然科学、社会科学和技术科学等众多学科,而军事科学则围绕高科技战争进行,学习现代军事高技术知识,使我们能够了解现代科技前沿,了解武器发展的形势,开阔视野,增长知识,并培养我们的忧患意识与爱国意识,使我们不断学习科学文化知识,用以建设我们强大的国家,用以作为我们强大的精神力量。
  • 黑伞现世

    黑伞现世

    景客来应邀去应对白骨令牌,抽丝剥茧下,假令牌的谜题被解开,可就在这时,真正的白骨令牌却在梁上被发现。回返洛阳,景客来被紫堇灌醉。醒来时,惨祸已生,他无力阻止。陈庄覆灭,紫堇遭袭,盘楼袭杀……从唯一生还的陈芯口中,景客来竟得知一切似乎与三十年前覆灭的黑伞门有关。未知的瘟疫,名存实亡的风火门,腥风血雨隐现,江湖正步步陷入水火……三钱令重出江湖,群雄齐聚天义盟,是否能够力挽狂澜?正邪力量博弈,谁才是最后的胜者?
  • 好妈妈胜过好老师(全集)

    好妈妈胜过好老师(全集)

    父母对子女一定要怀着带有严格要求的热爱,千万不要溺爱姑息孩子、过分地迁就孩子与宠爱孩子。其实,妈妈教育孩子的方法有很多,更精彩的内容在本书中,阅读本书能让你豁然开朗,在你教子的道路上点亮一盏明灯。作为母亲,我们拥有同一个名字——妈妈。但同时,我们也拥有同一种责任——当个好妈妈,给孩子一个好未来!
  • 拐个校草做驸马

    拐个校草做驸马

    公主看到未来驸马太丑,决定逃婚!不幸天黑路滑,‘咕咚’一声栽进井里,穿越到现代一所贵族学校!校草小子不乖?“哼,鹤顶红侍候!”混混上门找茬?“来人,给本宫拖出去砍了!”且看傲娇公主如何在校园里混得风声水起,睡校草,收恶霸,独占神话!
  • 女扮男装:妖孽少主,何必

    女扮男装:妖孽少主,何必

    『佛系更新』医武世家的嫡系大小姐,出生不凡,天资聪颖,容貌绝世,医术天下一绝,但是从小就是病秧子,不适合练武,一时被自家收养的白眼狼给设计害死,一朝重生,却成为人人嫌弃,女扮男装的废物!容貌丑陋?天生废物?呵,本少主不打烂你的脸!无色根灵根,天生的天才!绝世的容貌,想嫁的人都排到另一个大陆去了!背景太弱?呵,她有个宗师级炼丹师做师父,母亲是神女,父亲是魔主,有个极其护短的义父和把她宠上天的哥哥,背景一亮,分分钟跪下!丹药当糖豆吃,神器用一把扔一把,虐渣渣,打脸脸,还有不服的站出来!
  • 开国盛典

    开国盛典

    1949年的开国大典为什么选在10月1日下午3点举行?毛泽东主席按动电钮升起五星红旗的自动装置是由谁提出并设计的?庞大复杂的组织筹备工作如何?1949年的开国大典虽已过去60年,但它依然保持着巨大的历史魅力。在金秋十月举国上下隆重庆祝建国60周年之际,林玉华撰写的报告文学《开国盛典》,为我们再现了当年激动人心的历史场景。中央成立开国典礼筹委会1949年,形势的发展出乎人们意料地迅猛。人民解放军以摧枯拉朽之势,横扫国民党百万大军。解放军占领了蒋介石的总统府后,青天白日旗从总统府的旗杆上砍落下来。
  • 叶落非非

    叶落非非

    “言言,我的耳钉好看吗?”某男生满脸笑容。“我感觉你滚起来更好看,要不要试试?”患病少女偶遇痞子医生,外界说他是个既有实力又低调的人,言生却发现他是太懒,不是不想出名。“叶医生,您是个非常有实力的医生,但您一直很低调,想请问一下,为什么您不在乎这些名声?”某男故作深意的摇摇头。回到家,某男往沙发一躺,“诶,不低调不行啊,要是我火了,那还有别人的是啊。”