第14章

perhorsepower。Hisimportantstatementswithregardtothesetrialsarethatone—horsepowerwilltransportalargerweightattwentymilesanhourthanatten，andastilllargeratfortymilesthanattwenty，andsoon;that"thesustainingpressureoftheaironaplanemovingatasmallangleofinclinationtoahorizontalpathismanytimesgreaterthanwouldresultfromtheformulaimplicitlygivenbyNewton，while，whereasinlandormarinetransportincreasedspeedismaintainedonlybyadisproportionateexpenditureofpowerwithinthelimitsofexperiment，inaerialhorizontaltransportthehigherspeedsaremoreeconomicalofpowerthanthelowerones。"

ThisMr。Maximisevidentlyreadytoendorse，stating，inhisownwords，thatbirdsobtainthegreaterpartoftheirsupportbymovingforwardwithsufficientvelocitysoastobeconstantlyrestingonnewair，theinertiaofwhichhasnotbeendisturbed。Mr。Maxim’strialswereonascalecomparablewithallhismechanicalachievements。Heemployedforhisexperimentsarotatingarm，sweepingoutacircle，thecircumferenceofwhichwas200feet。Totheendofthisarmheattachedacigar—shapedapparatus，drivenbyascrew，andarrangedinsuchamannerthataero—planescouldbeattachedtoitatanyangle。Theseplaneswereonalargescale，carryingweightsoffrom20lbs。to100lbs。Withthiscontrivancehefoundthat，whateverpushthescrewcommunicatedtotheaero—plane，"theplanewouldliftinaverticaldirectionfromtentofifteentimesasmuchasthehorizontalpushthatitreceivedfromthescrew，andwhichdependedupontheangleatwhichtheplanewasset，andthespeedatwhichtheapparatuswastravellingthroughtheair。"Next，havingdeterminedbyexperimentthepowerrequiredtoperformartificialflight，Mr。

Maximappliedhimselftodesigningtherequisitemotor。"I

constructed，"hestates，"twosetsofcompoundenginesoftemperedsteel，allthepartsbeingmadeverylightandstrong，andasteamgeneratorofpeculiarconstruction，thegreaterpartoftheheatingsurfaceconsistingofsmallandthincoppertubes。ForfuelIemployednaphtha。"

ThisMr。Maximwrotein1892，addingthathewasthenexperimentingwithalargemachine，havingaspreadofover100

feet。Labour，skill，andmoneywerelavishlydevotedhenceforwardtothegreattaskundertaken，anditwasnotlongbeforethegiantflyingmachine，theoutcomeofsomuchpatientexperimenting，wascompletedandputtoapracticaltrial。Itsweightwas7，500lbs。Thescrewpropellerswerenearly18feetindiameter，eachwithtwoblades，whiletheengineswerecapableofbeingrunupto360horsepower。Theentiremachinewasmountedonaninnerrailwaytrackof9feetandanouterof35feetgauge，whileabovetherewasareversedrailalongwhichthemachinewouldbegintorunsosoonaswithincreaseofspeeditcommencedtoliftitselfofftheinnertrack。

Inoneofthelatestexperimentsitwasfoundthatwhenaspeedof42milesanhourwasattainedallthewheelswererunningontheuppertrack，andrevolvingintheoppositedirectionfromthoseonthelowertrack。However，afterrunningabout1，000

feet，anaxletreedoubledup，andimmediatelyafterwardstheuppertrackbrokeaway，andthemachine，becomingliberated，floatedintheair，"givingthoseonboardasensationofbeinginaboat。"

Theexperimentprovedconclusivelytotheinventorthatamachinecouldbemadeonalargescale，inwhichtheliftingeffectshouldbeconsiderablygreaterthantheweightofthemachine，andthis，too，whenasteamenginewasthemotor。

When，therefore，intheyearsshortlyfollowing，thesteamenginewasforthepurposesofaeriallocomotionsupersededbythelighterandmoresuitablepetrolengine，theconstructionofanavigableairshipbecamevastlymorepracticable。Still，inSirH。Maxim’sopinion，latelyexpressed，"thosewhoseektonavigatetheairbymachineslighterthantheairhavecome，practically，totheendoftheirtether，"while，ontheotherhand，"thosewhoseektonavigatetheairwithmachinesheavierthantheairhavenotevenmadeastartasyet，andthepossibilitiesbeforethemareverygreatindeed。"

Astotheassertionthattheaerialnavigatorslastmentioned"havenotevenmadeastartasyet，"wecanonlysaythatSirH。Maximspeakswithfartoomuchmodesty。Hisowncolossallaboursinthedirectionofthatmodeofaerialflight，whichheconsiderstobealonefeasible，areofthefirstimportanceandvalue，and，asfarastheyhavegone，exhaustive。Hadhisexperimentsbeensimplyconfinedtohisclassicalinvestigationsoftheproperformofthescrewpropellerhisnamewouldstillhavebeenhandeddownasatruepioneerinaeronautics。Hiswork，however，coversfarwiderground，andhehas，inavarietyofways，furnishedpracticalandreliabledata，whichmustalwaysbeanindispensableguidetoeveryfutureworkerinthesamefield。

ProfessorLangley，inattackingthesameproblem，firststudiedtheprincipleandbehaviourofawell—knowntoy——themodelinventedbyPenaud，which，drivenbythetensionofindia—rubber，sustainsitselfintheairforafewseconds。

Heconstructedoverthirtymodificationsofthismodel，andspentmanymonthsintryingfromthesetoascertainwhathetermsthe"lawsofbalancingleadingtohorizontalflight。"

Hisbestendeavoursatfirst，however，showedthatheneededthreeorfourfeetofsustainingsurfacetoapoundofweight，whereashecalculatedthatabirdcouldsoarwithasurfaceoflessthanhalfafoottothepound。Henextproceededtosteam—drivenmodelsinwhichforatimehefoundaninsuperabledifficultyinkeepingdowntheweight，which，inpractice，alwaysexceededhiscalculation;anditwasnottilltheendof1893thathefelthimselfpreparedforafairtrial。Atthistimehehadpreparedamodelweighingbetweennineandtenpounds，andheneededonlyasuitablelaunchingapparatustobeusedoverwater。Themodelwould，likeabird，requireaninitialvelocityimpartedtoit，andthediscoveryofasuitableapparatusgavehimgreattrouble。FortherestthefacilitiesforlaunchingweresuppliedbyahouseboatmooredonthePotomac。Foiledagainandagainbymanydifficulties，itwasnottillafterrepeatedfailuresandthelapseofmanymonths，when，astheProfessorhimselfputsit，hopewaslow，thatsuccessfinallycame。Itwasintheearlypartof1896

thatasuccessfulflightwasaccomplishedinthepresenceofDr。Bell，oftelephonefame，andthefollowingisabriefepitomeoftheaccountthatthisaccomplishedscientistcontributedtothecolumnsofNature:——

"Theflyingmachine，built，apparently，almostentirelyofmetal，wasdrivenbyanenginesaidtoweigh，withfuelandwater，about25lbs。，thesupportingsurfacefromtiptotipbeing12or14feet。Startingfromaplatformabout20feethigh，themachineroseatfirstdirectlyinthefaceofthewind，movingwithgreatsteadiness，andsubsequentlywheelinginlargecurvesuntilsteamwasexhausted，when，fromaheightof80or100feet，itshortlysettleddown。Theexperimentwasthenrepeatedwithsimilarresults。Itsmotionwassosteadythataglassofwatermighthaveremainedunspilled。Theactuallengthofflighteachtime，whichlastedforaminuteandahalf，exceededhalfamile，whilethevelocitywasbetweentwentyandtwenty—fivemilesanhourinacoursethatwasconstantlytakingit’uphill。’Ayetmoresuccessfulflightwassubsequentlymade。"

Butflightofanothernaturewasbeingcourageouslyattemptedatthistime。OttoLilienthal，ofBerlin，inimitationofthemotionofbirds，constructedaflyingapparatuswhichheoperatedhimself，andwithwhichhecouldfloatdownfromconsiderableelevations。"Thefeat，"hewarnstyros，"requirespractice。Inthebeginningtheheightshouldbemoderate，andthewingsnottoolarge，orthewindwillsoonshowthatitisnottobetrifledwith。"Theinventorcommencedwithallduecaution，makinghisfirstattemptoveragrassplotfromaspringboardonemetrehigh，andsubsequentlyincreasingthisheighttotwoandahalfmetres，fromwhichelevationhecouldsafelycrosstheentiregrassplot。Laterhelaunchedhimselffromthelowerridgesofahill250feethigh，whenhesailedtoadistanceofover250yards，andthistimehewritesenthusiasticallyofhisself—taughtaccomplishment:——

"Tothosewho，fromamodestbeginningandwithgraduallyincreasedextentandelevationofflighthavegainedfullcontrolovertheapparatus，itisnotintheleastdangeroustocrossdeepandbroadravines。Itisadifficulttasktoconveytoonewhohasneverenjoyedaerialflightaclearperceptionoftheexhilaratingpleasureofthiselasticmotion。Theelevationabovethegroundlosesitsterrors，becausewehavelearnedbyexperiencewhatsuredependencemaybeplaceduponthebuoyancyoftheair。"

Asacommentarytotheaboveweextractthefollowing:——"WehavetorecordthedeathofOttoLilienthal，whosesoaringmachine，duringaglidingflight，suddenlytiltedoverataheightofabout60feet，bywhichmishaphemetanuntimelydeathonAugust9th，1896。"Mr。O。Chanute，C。E。ofChicago，tookupthestudyofglidingflightatthepointwhereLilienthalleftit，and，later，ProfessorFitzgeraldandothers。BesidesthatinventedbyPenaud，otheraero—planemodelsdemandingmentionhadbeenproducedbyTatin，Moy，Stringfellow，andLawrenceHargrave，ofAustralia，thesubsequentinventorofthewell—knowncellularkite。Thesemodels，forthemostpart，aimatthemechanicalsolutionoftheproblemconnectedwiththesoaringflightofabird。

ThetheoreticalsolutionofthesameproblemhadbeenattackedbyProfessorLangleyinamasterlymonograph，entitled"TheInternalWorkoftheWind。"Bypainstakingexperimentwithdelicateinstruments，speciallyconstructed，theProfessorshowsthatwindingeneral，sofarfrombeing，aswascommonlyassumed，mereairputinmotionwithanapproximatelyuniformvelocityinthesamestrata，is，inreality，variableandirregularinitsmovementsbeyondanythingwhichhadbeenanticipated，beingmadeup，infact，ofasuccessionofbriefpulsationsindifferentdirections，andofgreatcomplexity。

Thesepulsations，heargues，ifofsufficientamplitudeandfrequency，wouldbecapable，byreasonoftheirown"internalwork，"ofsustainingorevenraisingasuitablycurvedsurfacewhichwasbeingcarriedalongbythemainmeanairstream。

Thiswouldaccountforthephenomenonof"soaring。"LordRayleigh，discussingthesameproblem，premisesthatwhenabirdissoaringtheaircannotbemovinguniformlyandhorizontally。Thencomesthenaturalquestion，Isitmovinginascendingcurrents？LordRayleighhasfrequentlynoticedsuchcurrents，particularlyaboveaclifffacingthewind。Again，toquoteanothereminentauthority，MajorBaden—Powell，onanoccasionwhenflyingoneofhisownkites，founditgettingtosohighananglethatitpresentlyroseabsolutelyoverhead，withthestringperpendicular。Hethentookupaheavypieceofwood，which，whentiedtothestring，begantoriseintheair。Hesatisfiedhimselfthatthiscuriousresultwassolelyduetoastronguptakeoftheair。

But，again，LordRayleigh，lendingsupporttoProfessorLangley’sargument，pointsoutthattheapparentcauseofsoaringmaybethenon—uniformityofthewind。Theuppercurrentsaregenerallystrongerthanthelower，anditismechanicallypossibleforabird，takingadvantageoftwoadjacentairstreams，differentinvelocity，tomaintainitselfinairwithouteffortonitsownpart。

LordRayleigh，proceedingtogivehisviewsonartificialflight，declaresthemainproblemoftheflyingmachinetobetheproblemoftheaerialplane。Hestatesthecasethus:——

"Supposingaplanesurfacetobefallingverticallyattherateoffourmilesanhour，andalsomovinghorizontallyattherateoftwentymilesanhour，itmighthavebeensupposedthatthehorizontalmotionwouldmakenodifferencetothepressureonitsundersurfacewhichthefallingplanemustexperience。Wearetold，however，thatinactualtrialthehorizontalmotionmuchincreasesthepressureunderthefallingplane，anditisthisfactonwhichthepossibilityofnaturalandartificialflightdepends。

ErethisopinionhadbeenstatedbyLordRayleighinhisdiscourseon"Flight，"attheRoyalInstitution，therewerealreadyatworkupontheaero—planeasmallarmyofinventors，ofwhomitwillbeonlypossibleinafuturechaptertomentionsome。Duereference，however，shouldherebemadetoMr。W。F。

Wenham，ofBoston，U。S。A。，whohadbeenatworkonartificialflightformanyyears，andtowhoselaboursindeterminingwhetherman’spowerissufficienttoraisehisownweightLordRayleighpaidahightribute。Asfarbackas1866Mr。Wenhamhadpublishedapaperonaeriallocomotion，inwhichheshowsthatanyimitationbymanofthefar—extendedwingsofabirdmightbeimpracticable，thealternativebeingtoarrangethenecessarylengthofwingasaseriesofaero—planes，aconceptionfarinadvanceofmanytheoristsofhistime。

Buttherehadbeendevelopmentsinaerostationinotherlines，anditistimetoturnfromthesomewhattedioustechnicalitiesofmechanicalflightandthetheoryorpracticeofsoaring，toanotherimportantmeansfortraversingtheair——theparachute。

Thisaerialmachine，longlaidaside，wastolenditsaidtothenavigationoftheairwithareliabilityneverbeforerealised。ProfessorBaldwin，ashewastermed，anAmericanaeronaut，arrivedinEnglandinthesummerof1888，andcommencedgivingaseriesofexhibitionsfromtheAlexandraPalacewithaparachuteofhisowninvention，which，inactualperformance，seemstohavebeenthemostperfectinstrumentofthekinduptothattimedevised。Itwassaidtobeabout18

feetindiameter，whereasthatofGarnerin，alreadymentioned，hadadiameterofsome30feet，andwasdistinctlytop—heavy，owingtoitsbeingthusinadequatelyballasted;foritwascalculatedthatitsenormoussizewouldhaveservedforthesafedescent，notofoneman，butoffourorfive。Baldwin’sparachute，onthecontrary，wasreckonedtogivesafedescentto250lbs。，whichwouldincludeweightofmanandapparatus，andreducetheultimatefalltoonenotexceeding8feet。Theparachutewasattachedtotheringofasmallballoonof12，000

cubicfeet，andtheProfessorascended，sittingonamereslingofrope，whichdiddutyforacar。

Mr。ThomasMoy，whoinvestigatedthemechanicsofthecontrivance，estimatedthatafteradropof16feet，theupwardpressure，amountingtoover2lb。persquarefoot，wouldactonasurfaceofnotlessthan254squarefeet。Therewas，atthetime，muchfoolishcommentonthegreatdistancewhichtheparachutefellbeforeitopened，acompletedelusionduetothefactthatobserversfailedtoseethatatthemomentofseparationtheballoonitselfsprangupward。

CHAPTERXXII。THESTORYOFTHESPENCERS。

IthasbeeninthehandsoftheSpencersthattheparachute，asalsomanyotherpracticaldetailsofaeronautics，hasbeenperfected，andsomeduesketchofthecareerofthisfamilyofeminentaeronautsmustbenolongerdelayed。

CharlesGreenhadstoodgodfathertotheyoungestsonofhisfriendandcolleague，Mr。EdwardSpencer，andinlateryears，asthoughtovindicatethefact，thissamesontookupthescienceofaeronauticsatthepointwherehisfatherhadleftit。WefindhisnameintherecordsofthePatentOfficeof1868astheinventorofamanumetricflyingmachine，andthereareaccountsoftheflyingleapsofseveralhundredfeetwhichhewasenabledtotakebymeansofthemachineheconstructed。

Again，in1882wefindhimaninventor，thistimeofthepatentasbestosfireballoon，bymeansofwhichtheprincipaldangertosuchballoonswasovercome。

Atthispointitisneedfultomakementionofthethirdgeneration——theseveralsonswhoearlyshowedtheirzealandaptitudeforperpetuatingthefamilytradition。Itwasfromhisschoolplaygroundthattheeldestson，Percival，witnessedwithintenseinterestwhatappearedlikeadropfloatingintheskyatanimmensealtitude。ThisprovedtobeSimmons’sballoon，whichhadjustrisentoavastelevationoverCremorneGardens，afterhavingliberatedtheunfortunateDeGroof，asmentionedinaformerchapter。Andonemaybesurethattheterriblerealityofthedisasterthathadhappenedwasnotlostontheyoungschoolboy。Buthiswishwastobecomeanaeronauts，andfromthisdesirenothingdeterredhim，sothatschooldayswerescarcelyoverbeforehebegantoaccompanyhisfatheraloft，andinaveryfewyears，i。e。in1888，hehadassumedthefullresponsibilitiesofaprofessionalballoonist。

ItwasinthisyearthatProfessorBaldwinappearedinEngland，anditiseasytounderstandthattheparachutebecameanobjectofinteresttotheyoungSpencer，whocommencedonhisownaccountaseriesoftrialsattheAlexandraPalace，anditwasnow，also，thatchancegoodfortunecamehisway。AnIndiangentleman，whowaswitnessofhisexperiments，andconvincedthatafavourablefieldfortheirfurtherdevelopmentexistedinhisowncountry，proposedtotheyoungaspirantthatheshouldaccompanyhimtoIndia，withequipmentsuitedforthemakingofasuccessfulcampaign。

Thusitcameaboutthatintheearlydaysof1889，intheheightoftheseason，Mr。PercivalSpencerarrivedatBombay，andatoncecommencedprofessionalbusinessinearnest。Coalgasbeinghereavailable，amaidenascentwasquicklyarranged，anddulyannouncedtotakeplaceattheGovernmentHouse，Paral，thechiefattractionbeingtheparachutedescent，thefirsteverattemptedinIndia。

Thispreliminaryexhibitionprovinginallwaysacompletesuccess，Mr。Spencer，afterafewrepetitionsofhisperformance，repairedtoCalcutta;butheregreatdifficultieswereexperiencedinthematterofgas。Thecoalgasavailablewasinadequate，andwhenrecoursewashadtopurehydrogenthesupplyprovedtoosluggish。Attheadvertisedhourofdeparturetheballoonwasnotsufficientlyinflated，whilethespectatorsweregrowingimpatient。ItwasatthiscriticalmomentthatMr。Spencerresolvedonasurprise。Suddenlycastingofftheparachute，andseatedonamereslingbelowthehalf—inflatedballoon，withoutballast，withoutgrapnel，andunprovidedwithavalve，hesailedawayovertheheadsofthemultitude。

Theafternoonwasalreadyfaradvanced，andtheshorttropicaltwilightsoongavewaytodarkness，whentheintrepidvoyagerdisappearedcompletelyfromsight。ExcitementwasintensethatnightinCalcutta，andgreaterstillthenextdaywhen，ashourafterhourwentby，nonewssaveaseriesofwildandfalsereportsreachedthecity。Trainsarrivingfromthecountrybroughtnointelligence，andtelegraphicenquiriessentinalldirectionsprovedfruitless。TheGreatEasternHotel，wheretheyoungmanhadbeenstaying，wasliterallybesiegedforhoursbyalargecrowdeagerforanytidings。ThenthePressgaveexpressiontothegloomiestforebodings，andthetownwasinafeverofunrest。Fromthedirectiontheballoonhadtakenitwasthoughtthat，eveniftheaeronauthaddescendedinsafety，hecouldonlyhavebeenlandedinthejungleoftheSunderbunds，besetwithperils，andwithoutachanceofsuccour。Alargerewardwasofferedforreliableinformation，andorderswereissuedtoeverylikelystationtoorganiseasearch。ButerethiswasfullycarriedintoeffectmessagesweretelegraphedtoEnglanddefinitelyassertingthatMr。

Spencerhadlosthislife。Forallthis，afterthreedayshereturnedtoCalcutta，nonetheworsefortheexploit。

Thenthetruetalewasunravelled。TheballoonhadchangeditscoursefromS。E。toE。afterpassingoutofsightofCalcutta，andeventuallycametoearththesameeveningintheneighbourhoodofHossainabad，thirty—sixmilesdistant。Duringhisaerialflightthevoyager’smaintroublehadbeencausedbyhiscrampedposition，thegallingofhisslingseat，andthenumbingeffectofcoldashereachedhighaltitudes;but，astwilightdarkenedintogloom，hisrealanxietywaswithrespecttohisplaceoflanding，forhecouldwithdifficultyseetheearthunderneath。Heheardthedistantrollofthewaters，causedbythenumerouscreekswhichintersectthedeltaoftheGanges，andwhendarknesscompletelyshutouttheviewitwasimpossibletotellwhetherhewasoverlandorsea。Fortunefavouredhim，however，andreachingdryground，hesprangfromhisseat，relinquishingatthesamemomenthisholdoftheballoon，whichinstantlydisappearedintothedarkness。

Thenhiswanderingsbegan。Hewasinanunknowncountry，withoutknowledgeofthelanguage，andwithonlyafewrupeesinhispocket。Presently，however，seeingalight，heproceededtowardsit，butonlytofindhimselfstoppedbyacreek。Foiledmorethanonceinthisway，heatlengtharrivedatthedwellingofafamilyofnatives，whopromptlyfledinterror。Toinspireconfidenceandprovethathewasmortal，Mr。Spencerthrewhiscoatoverthemudwallofthecompound，withtheresultthat，afterexaminationofthegarment，hewasreceivedandcaredforintruenativefashion，fedwithriceandgoat’smilk，andallowedtheuseoftheverandahtosleepin。Hesucceededincommuningwiththenativesbydintofleadpencilsketchesanddumbshow，andlearned，amongotherthings，thathehaddescendedinalittleclearingsurroundedbywoods，andboundedbytidalcreeks，whichwereinfestedwithalligators。Yet，intheend，thewaterwaysbefriendedhim;

for，ashewasbeingferriedacross，hechancedonhisballoonsailingdownonthetide，recoveredit，andusedthetidalwatersforthereturnjourney。

ThegreetinguponhisarrivalinCalcuttawasenthusiasticbeyonddescriptionfrombothEuropeansandnatives。Theherooftheadventurewasvisitedbyrajahsandnotables，whoviedwitheachotherinexpressionsofwelcome，inmakingpresents，eveninvitinghimtovisitthesacredprecinctsoftheirzenanas。ThepromisedparachutedescentwassubsequentlysuccessfullymadeatCossipore，andthenfollowedabusy，brilliantseason，afterwhichthewandererreturnedtoEngland。

BySeptemberheisinDublin，andmakesthefirstparachutedescenteverwitnessedinIreland;butbyNovemberheisinBombayagain，whence，proceedingtoCalcutta，herepeatshissuccessoftheyearbefore。NexthevisitsAllahabad，wherethesamefortuneattendshim，thoughhisballoonfliesawayinatemporaryescapeintotheJumna。ByMayheisascendingatSingapore，armedhere，however，withacorkjacket。

Hence，flushedwithsuccess，herepairstotheDutchIndies，anddemonstratestotheDutchofficerstheuseoftheballooninwar。Asanaturalconsequence，heismoveduptotheseatoftheAchineseWarinSumatra，where，hisballoonbeingmooredtotherearofanarmouredtrain，animmediatemoveismadetothefront，andordersareforthwithtelephonedfromvariouscentrestoopenfireontheenemy。Mr。Spencer，thewhileaccompaniedbyanofficer，makesacaptiveascent，inwhichforsometimeheisactuallyundertheenemy’sfire。Theresultofthispluckyexperimentisamostflatteringofficialreport。

Inalltheabove—mentionedascentshemadehisowngaswithoutahitch。

Thencehetravelsonwiththesametrustylittle12，000cubicfeetballoon，thesameprogramme，andthesamesuccess。Thisisslightlyvaried，however，atKobe，Japan，wherehisimpatientcraftfairlybreaksawaywithhim，and，soaringhigh，fliesoverheadofaman—of—war，andplumpsintothewateramileoutatsea。But"Smartly"wastheword。Theship’screwwasbeattoquarters，andwithinoneminuteaboatwastotherescue。AnascentatCairo，wherehemadeaparachutedescentinsightofthePyramidsandlandedinthedesert，completedthisorientaltour，andhomedutiesnecessitatedhisreturntoEngland。AmongexploitsfartoomanytoenumeratemaybementionedfourseveraloccasionswhenMr。PercivalSpencerhascrossedtheEnglishChannel。

Itfelltothelotofthesecondson，Arthur，tocarryfameintofreshfields。Intheyear1897hevisitedAustralia，takingwithhimtwoballoons，oneofthesebeinganoblecraftof80，000cubicfeet，considerablylargerthananyballoonusedinEngland，andthesingularfateofthisaerialmonsterisdeservingofmention。

ItstrialtripinthenewcountrywasarrangedtotakeplaceonBoxingDayintheMelbourneExhibitionground，andforthelengthyandcriticalworkofinflationtheableassistanceofBritishbluejacketswassecured。Toallappearance，themaindifficultiestobeprovidedagainstwerelikelytoarisesimplyfromasomewhatinadequatesupplyofgas，andonthisaccountfillingcommencedasearlyas10a。m。onthemorningofthedayprevioustotheexhibition，andwascontinuedtill6o’clockintheafternoon，bywhichtimetheballoon，beingabouthalffull，wasstaveddownwithsandbagsthroughthenighttill4

o’clockthenextmorning，whentheinflationwasagainproceededwithwithouthindranceandapparentlyunderfavourableconditions。Themorningwasbeautifullyfine，warm，brilliant，andstill，andsoremaineduntilhalf—pastsix，when，withstartlingrapidity，thereblewupasuddensquallknowninthecountryasa"HotBuster，"andintwoorthreeminutes’spaceaterrificwindstormwassweepingtheground。

Adozenmen，aidingadeadweightof220sandbags，endeavouredtocontroltheplungingballoon，butwhollywithoutavail。Menandbagstogetherwereliftedcleanupintheaironthewindwardside，andthesilkenvelope，notyetcompletelyfilled，atonceescapedfromthenetand，flyingupwardstoaheightestimatedat10，000feet，cametoearthagainninetymilesawayinascoreoffragments。Nothingdaunted，however，Mr。Spenceratonceendeavouredtoretrievehisfortunes，andstartedstraightwayforthegold—miningdistrictsofBallaratandBendigowithahot—airballoon，withwhichhesuccessfullygaveaseriesofpopularexhibitionsofparachutedescents。

FewaeronautsaremoreconsistentlyreliablethanMr。ArthurSpencer。Afewsummersagointhiscountryhewassuddenlycalledupontogiveproofofhisprowessandpresenceofmindinaveryremarkablemanner。ItwasatanengagementatReading，wherehehadbeenconductingcaptiveascentsthroughouttheafternoon，andwasrequestedtoconcludetheeveningwitha"rightaway，"inwhichtwopassengershadagreedtoaccompanyhim。Theballoonhadbeenhauleddownforthelasttime，when，bysomemistake，theengineusedforthepurposeproceededtoworkitspumpwithoutpreviouslydisconnectingthehaulinggear。Theconsequenceofthiswasthatthecableinstantlysnapped，andinamomentthelargeballoon，devoidofballast，grapnel，orotherappliances，andwithneckstilltied，wasfree，andstartedskyward。

Theinevitableresultofthisaccidentmusthavebeenthattheballooninafewsecondswouldrisetoaheightwheretheexpansionoftheimprisonedgaswouldburstanddestroyit。

Mr。Spencer，however，wasstandingnear，and，graspingthesituationinamoment，caughtatthecarasitswungupwards，and，gettinghold，succeededindrawinghimselfupandsoclimbingintothering。Quicklyasthiswasdone，theballoonwasalreadydistendedtothepointofbursting，andonlythepromptestreleaseofgasavertedcatastrophe。