I had no faith myself in the pecuniary success of this undertaking, but the joint speculators were very sanguine of a golden harvest.
Although an immense number of strangers came into Cologne, and the hotels were filled to overflowing, the processions and religious ceremonies so engrossed public attention that the balloon grounds, after expensive preparations, were but poorly patronized.
A large sum of money was lost by these ill-conceived projects, which turned out a serious matter to us.
The last display but one was in the month of October at Johannisberg, and it was a night ascent with fireworks attached to the balloon—but fireworks altogether of a different kind to the shells which I had detached previously. In its way this might be called a grand pyrotechnic display á la Vauxhall; but the specific gravity of the gas was not as on former days, and a humid atmosphere at night-fall increased the weight of the “Sylph” to such an extent that it would not raise the fireworks. I found that the whole weight would not ascend.
A buzz of disappointment then began to arise, but it was not of long duration, as I begged the firework maker to cut away about one-third of the cases, and calling for a rope some 300 feet long, which had been employed before for partial ascents, I got into the ring without any car, and gave directions to fire the fuse and let up to the full extent of the cable.
This was equally effective, and the people were much more pleased than if I had made a bungling effort by being overweighted.
I had afterwards the honour of being carried round the grounds and the ball-room on the shoulders of some of the most respected citizens.
There was yet one more aërostatic exhibition which I was called upon to engage in, and that was in connection with the annual Shutzen Fest at Barmen, an adjoining neighbourhood, about three English miles from Herr Küpper’s noted locale.
These interesting gatherings are managed in a style of magnificence peculiar to Germany.
So far as the balloon was concerned it was not required for an ordinary ascent, but rather as an aërial chariot to do honour to the “King of the Feast,” and to afford a panoramic view to as many as obtained tickets for the privilege of being let up a tolerable altitude over the heads of the assembled thousands.