the dominion of the air-第42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！
ext turned to the aneroid we found the index pointing to 9；000 feet； and still moving upwards。
Hour after hour passed by； and； sounds having ceased to reach us； it remains uncertain whether or no we were actually carried out to sea and headed back again by contrary currents； an experience with which aeronauts； including the writer； have been familiar； but； at length； there was borne up to us the distant sound of heavy hammers and of frequent trains； from which we gathered that we were probably over Bristol； and it was then that the thought occurred to my daughter that we might possibly communicate with those below with a view to succour。 This led to our writing the following message many times over on blank telegraph forms and casting them down： 〃Urgent。 Large balloon from Newbury travelling overhead above the clouds。 Cannot descend。 Telegraph to sea coast （coast…guards） to be ready to rescue。Bacon and Spencer。〃
While thus occupied we caught the sound of waves； and the shriek of a ship's siren。 We were crossing a reach of the Severn； and most of our missives probably fell in the sea。 But over the estuary there must have been a cold upper current blowing； which crippled our balloon； for the aneroid presently told of a fall of 2；000 feet。 It was now past noon； and to us the turn of the tide was come。 Very slowly； and with strange fluctuations； the balloon crept down till it reached and became enveloped in the cloud below； and then the end was near。 The actual descent occupied nearly two hours； and affords a curious study in aerostation。 The details of the balloon's dying struggles and of our own rough descent； entailing the fracture of my daughter's arm； are told in another volume。*
We fell near Neath； Glamorganshire； only one and a half miles short of the sea； completing a voyage which is a record in English ballooningten hours from start to finish。
* 〃By Land and Sky；〃 by the Author。
CHAPTER XXVI。 RECENT AERONAUTICAL EVENTS。
The first trial of the Zeppelin air ship was arranged to take place on June 30th； 1900； a day which； from absence of wind； was eminently well suited for the purpose； but the inflation proved too slow a process； and operations were postponed to the morrow。 The morrow； however； was somewhat windy； causing delay； and by the time all was in readiness darkness had set in and the start was once more postponed。 On the evening of the third day the monster craft was skilfully and successfully manoeuvred； and； rising with a very light wind； got fairly away； carrying Count Zeppelin and four other persons in the two cars。 Drifting with the wind； it attained a height of some 800 or 900 feet； at which point the steering apparatus being brought into play it circled round and faced the wind； when it remained stationary。 But not for long。 Shortly it began to descend and； sinking gradually； gracefully； and in perfect safety； in about nine minutes it reached and rested on the water； when it was towed home。
A little later in the month； July； another trial was made； when a wind was blowing estimated at sixteen miles an hour。 As on the previous occasion； the direct influence of the sun was avoided by waiting till evening hours。 It ascended at 8 p。m。； and the engines getting to work it made a slow progress of about two miles an hour against the wind for about 3 1/2 miles； when one of the rudders gave way； and the machine was obliged to descend。
On the evening of October 24th of the same year； in very calm weather and with better hope； another ascent was made。 On this occasion； however； success was frustrated by one of the rear rudders getting foul of the gear； followed by the escape of gas from one of the balloons。
Another and more successful trial took place in the same month； again in calm atmosphere。 Inferior gas was employed； and it would appear that the vessel had not sufficient buoyancy。 It remained aloft for a period of twenty minutes； during which it proved perfectly manageable； making a graceful journey out and home； and returning close to its point of departure。 This magnificent air ship； the result of twenty years of experiment； has since been abandoned and broken up； yet the sacrifice has not been without result。 Over and above the stimulus which Count Zeppelin's great endeavour has given to the aeronautical world； two special triumphs are his。 He has shown balloonists how to make a perfectly gas…tight material； and has raised powerful petroleum motors in a balloon with safety。
In the early part of 1900 it was announced that a member of the Paris Aero Club； who at the time withheld his name （M。 Deutsch） offered a prize of 100；000 francs to the aeronaut who； either in a balloon or flying machine； starting from the grounds of the Aero Club at Longchamps； would make a journey round the Eiffel Tower； returning to the starting place within half an hour。 The donor would withdraw his prize if not won within five years； and in the meanwhile would pay 4；000 francs annually towards the encouragement of worthy experimenters。
It was from this time that flying machines in great variety and goodly number began to be heard of； if not actually seen。 One of the earliest to be announced in the Press was a machine invented by the Russian； Feedoroff； and the Frenchman； Dupont。 Dr。 Danilewsky came forward with a flying machine combining balloon and aeroplane； the steering of which would be worked like a velocipede by the feet of the aeronaut。
Mr。 P。 Y。 Alexander； of Bath； who had long been an enthusiastic balloonist； and who had devoted a vast amount of pains； originality； and engineering skill to the pursuit of aeronautics； was at this time giving much attention to the flying machine； and was； indeed； one of the assistants in the first successful launching of the Zeppelin airship。 In concert with Mr。 W。 G。 Walker； A。M。I。C。E。； Mr。 Alexander carried out some valuable and exhaustive experiments on the lifting power of air propellers； 30 feet in diameter； driven by a portable engine。 The results； which were of a purely technical nature； have been embodied in a carefully compiled memoir。
An air ship now appeared； invented by M。 Rose； consisting of two elongated vessels filled with gas； and carrying the working gear and car between them。 The machine was intentionally made heavier than air； and was operated by a petrol motor of 12…horse power。
It was now that announcements began to be made to the effect that； next to the Zeppelin air ship； M。 Santos Dumont's balloon was probably attracting most of the attention of experts。 The account given of this air vessel＇ by the Daily Express was somewhat startling。 The balloon proper was compared to a large torpedo。 Three feet beneath this hangs the gasoline motor which is to supply the power。 The propeller is 12 feet in diameter； and is revolved so rapidly by the motor that the engine frequently gets red hot。 The only accommodation for the traveller is a little bicycle seat； from which the aeronaut will direct his motor and steering gear by means of treadles。 Then the inclination or declination of his machine must be noted on the spirit level at his side； and the 200 odd pounds of ballast must be regulated as the course requires。
A more detailed account of this navigable balloon was furnished by a member of the Paris Aero Club。 From this authority we learn that the capacity of the balloon was 10；700 cubic feet。 It contained an inner balloon and an air fan； the function of which was to maintain the shape of the balloon when meeting the wind； and the whole was operated by a 10…horse power motor capable of working the screw at 100 revolutions per minute。
But before the aerial exploits of Santos Dumont had become famous； balloons had again claimed public attention。 On August 1st Captain Spelterini； with two companions； taking a balloon and 180 cylinders of hydrogen to the top of the Rigi and ascending thence； pursued a north…east course； across extensive and beautiful tracts of icefield and mountain fastnesses unvisited by men。 The descent； which was difficult and critical； was happily manoeuvred。 This took place on the Gnuetseven； a peak over 5；000 feet high； the plateau on which the voyagers landed being described as only 50 yards square； surrounded by precipices。
On the 10th of September following the writer was fortunate in carrying out some wireless telegraphy experiments in a balloon； the success of which is entirely due to the unrivalled skill of Mr。 Nevil Maskelyne； F。R。A。S。； and to his clever adaptation of the special apparatus of his own invention to the exigencies of a free balloon。 The occasion was the garden party at the Bradford meeting of the British Association； Admiral Sir Edmund Fremantle taking part in the voyage； with Mr。 Percival Spencer in charge。 The experiment was to include the firing of a mine in the grounds two minutes after the balloon had left； and this item was entirely successful。 The main idea was to attempt to establish communication between a base and a free balloon retreating through space at a height beyond practicable gun shot。 The wind was fast and squally； and the unavoidable rough jolting which the car received at the start put the transmitting instrument out of action。 The messages； however； which were sent from the grounds at Lister Park were received and watched by the occupants of the car up to a distance of twenty miles； at which point the voyage terminated。
On September 30th； and also on October 9th； of this year； took place two principal balloon races from Vincennes in connection with the Paris Exposition。 In the first race； among those who competed were M。 Jacques Faure； the Count de la Vaulx； and M。 Jacques Balsan。 The Count was the winner； reaching Wocawek； in Russian Poland； a travel of 706 miles； in 21 hours 34 minutes。 M。 Balsan was second； descending near Dantzig in East Prussia； 757 miles； in 22 hours。 M。 Jacques Faure reached Mamlitz； in East Prussia； a distance of 753 miles。
In the final race the Count de la Vaulx made a record voyage of 1；193 miles； reaching Korosticheff； in Russia； in 35 hours 45 minutes； attaining a maximum altitude of 18；810 feet。 M。 J。 Balsan reached a greater height； namely； 21；582 feet； travelling to Rodom； in Russia； a distance of 843 miles； in 27 hours 25 minutes。
Some phenomenal altitudes were attained at this time。 In September； 1898； Dr。 Berson； of Berlin； ascended from the Crystal Palace in a balloon inflated with hydrogen； under the management of Mr。 Stanley Spencer； oxygen being an essential part of the equipment。 The start was made at 5 p。m。； and the balloon at first drifted south…east； out over the mouth of the Thames； until at an altitude of 10；000 feet an upper current changed the course to southwest； the balloon mounting rapidly till 23；000 feet was reached； at which height the coast of France was plainly seen。 At 25；000 feet both voyagers were gasping； and compelled to inhale oxygen。 At 27；500 feet； only four bags of ballast being left； the descent was commenced； and a safe landing was effected at Romford。
Subsequently Dr。 Berson； in company with Dr。 Suring； ascending from Berlin； attained an altitude of 34；000 feet。 At 30；000 feet the aeronauts were inhaling oxygen； and before reaching their highest point bot
