The “Sylph” thus passed straight through the city, and was finally restored to the Gardens without accident before daybreak. The small gas-works connected with Kroll’s establishment was again set to work to generate coal gas, and the next day after being duly replenished, I ascended again.
But there was one great drawback to Kroll’s Gardens, and that was the long and weary time occupied in inflating. Their little holder contained only 7000 feet, and what was this towards 32,000 feet, the contents of the “Sylph.”
I found too, that the confidence inspired by my already numerous ascents secured me, if I could have taken them, fellow travellers who were ready and eager to pay a goodly premium for ascending under my guidance.
It became desirable therefore to tax the full capabilities of the balloon for passenger accommodation, and as a slow-filling, with heavy gas, made a difference in the lifting power, sometimes of two persons, it will be seen that my interests were, in more ways than one, at stake, and that a more fitting locality for the ascents became in every way desirable.
The Schutzenhaus, situated at the opposite side of Berlin, was suggested as most suitable for the filling, and thither I accordingly went after an amount of delay and circumlocution, which was damaging to my prospects during the finest period of the year.
Here I made a series of trips, always having a full cargo of passengers. During their progress I was induced by a speculative German to try a couple of ascents at Stettin, a seaport and consequently an uninviting place. The chances of success, however, were good, as there was a well built gas-works there, and no ascent had taken place previously.
All my requirements were met in first-class style, and the use of the gas-works yard, a new and commodious place, was granted for the accommodation of the public.
The first journey, which took place on September 2nd, 1849, was somewhat inland, but before the commencement of the second on the 6th, there were grave apprehensions that I should be driven out into the East Sea, and as the wind was boisterous, good fortune appeared to draw me back after going out, but I was favoured again before sunset, as I crossed the Dammsischezee in safety with my two companions and landed on the opposite side without inconvenience. My visit to Stettin was thoroughly remunerative and satisfactory. Having another ascent on September 9th, at Berlin, I returned and made it, my route after that being a long one, as it extended to Silesia.
Ballooning was little known in Breslau, and if I rushed on to that town there was no calculating what amount of cash I might pocket. Making fair allowance for sanguine expectations, and believing that something might be done, I joined a Prussian merchant who had been a good deal in England, and we started with a business-like arrangement which I had no cause to be dissatisfied with, when it came to various settlements in thalers and bank-notes.
Everything of a public character in Germany required a large amount of patience, time, and good temper, there are so many preliminaries and permissions to be thought of and obtained, that one cannot positively say that he will ascend at such and such a place until the invariable routine has been gone through, and much tact employed in making application without creating enemies. In my affairs there were nearly always difficulties to be surmounted. It was not easy to find a well sheltered ground where ladies as well as gentlemen could assemble, nor was it usual to meet with capacious gas pipes in a spot otherwise adapted for gathering.