REMARKABLE ASCENTS
DURING THIS CENTURY.
A T no time during my own recollection, has an attempt, to reach a great height, been heralded with greater stir and interest than the voyage by Messrs. Jovis and Mallet from Paris, on August 13th, 1887.
In England, scientific men, professional aëronauts, and the public, regarded it with favour and admiration, that is, so far as their spirited intentions were interpreted on this side of the channel; and I may take upon myself to say, that it was viewed with no envious feelings, it being clear, that two enterprising men were desirous of trying their hands at adding lustre to the annals of aëronautics, and, that like a great many travellers in new and untried latitudes, these courageous aëronauts would do their best for their employers, and their own credit, or perish in the struggle, which last they were not wholly unprepared for, having disposed of their bodies in case of a fatal issue.
Of course, the press as a faithful mirror of public opinion, was not entirely in accord with their aims, about which some wrote severely and disparagingly, as it seemed to them, that the most apparent motive for the ascent, was to settle at what height animal life could exist; and other reviewers went so far as to insinuate, that pigeons and guinea-pigs were all very well, but in reality, it was a thinly veiled international bit of rivalry, as to who should go highest, Frenchmen or Englishmen.
Well, even if there existed a limited amount of this sort of thing, it was only friendly rivalry, which no true Briton could possibly object to, or be afraid of; it was not, however, to be expected that in France or England another expedition, which might be ill-fated like Sivel’s and Crose Spenelli’s, would be recognized without protest and free writing. Still, on the whole, Captain Jovis and Lieut. Mallet were well received, and I have little hesitation in saying that if an aëronaut, in this country, had on his own account or on that of a newspaper proprietor, done the like, he would have been, in all probability, denounced for his pains, as such an undertaking would not do here, unless a scientific society, or some pre-eminent physicist were to embark in totally fresh experiments.
As an instance of this very natural spirit of emulation, which is to be met with among enthusiastic air travellers, I may mention, that after I had initiated the late lamented Mr. Walter Powell, M.P., by taking him a long trip from Ashford, in Kent, to Crediton, in Devonshire, he wished, among other chivalrous schemes, not only to go straight to Rome without let or hindrance, which was most plucky and ambitious, but he wanted, without being duly acclimatised, to go seven miles high. I took upon myself to discountenance this and other suggestions, and was most likely considered a slow old coach for my pains, but I rather prided myself upon being properly cautious, and as I considered my patron’s views rather too advanced for me at my time of life, I gladly allowed that gentleman to pass into other hands, and what occurred afterwards is a matter not easily forgotten.
In Messrs. Jovis and Mallet’s ascent, there was a conspicuous omission in the first place, in not giving the size of their balloon. This was neglectful and ominous, as it is by figures and facts, that a fair and proper estimate can be formed as to the competency of the aëronaut and his balloon to do the work he takes in hand.