The Balloon Hoax by Edgar Allan Poe
Section [1 | 2]
account of_the voyage .

" the journal .

"_Saturday, April the 6th .- every preparation likely to embarrass us, having been made over night, we commenced the inflation this_morning at daybreak; but owing to a thick fog, which encumbered the folds of_the silk and rendered it unmanageable, we_did_not get through before nearly eleven o'clock . cut loose, then, in high spirits, and rose gently but steadily, with a light breeze at north, which bore us in_the direction of_the British channel . found the ascending force greater than we had expected; and as_we arose higher and so got clear of_the cliffs, and more in_the sun's rays, our ascent became very rapid . I_did_not wish, however, to lose gas at so early a period of_the adventure, and so concluded to ascend for_the_present . we soon ran out our guide- rope; but even when we had raised it clear of_the earth, we still went up very rapidly . the balloon was unusually steady, and looked beautifully . in about ten minutes after starting, the barometer indicated an altitude of 15,000 feet . the weather was remarkably fine, and_the view of_the subjacent country - a most romantic one when seen from any point, - was now especially sublime . the numerous deep gorges presented the appearance of lakes, on account of_the dense vapors with_which they were filled, and_the pinnacles and crags to_the south east, piled in inextricable confusion, resembling nothing so_much as_the giant cities of eastern fable . we were rapidly approaching the mountains in_the south; but our elevation was more than sufficient to enable us to_pass them in safety . in_a_few_minutes we soared over them in fine style; and Mr Ainsworth, with_the seamen, was surprised at their apparent want of altitude when viewed from_the car, the tendency of great elevation in a balloon being to reduce inequalities of_the surface below, to nearly a dead level . at half- past eleven still proceeding nearly south, we obtained our first view of_the Bristol channel; and, in fifteen minutes afterward, the line of breakers on_the coast appeared immediately beneath us, and we were fairly out at sea . we now resolved to let off enough gas to bring our guide- rope, with_the buoys affixed, into_the water . this_was immediately done, and we commenced a gradual descent . in about twenty minutes our first buoy dipped, and at_the touch of_the second soon afterwards, we remained stationary as_to elevation . we were all now anxious to test the efficiency of_the rudder and screw, and we put them both into requisition forthwith, for_the_purpose of altering our direction more to_the eastward, and in a line for Paris . by_means of_the rudder we instantly effected the necessary change of direction, and_our course was brought nearly at right angles to_that of_the wind; when we set in motion the spring of_the screw, and were rejoiced to_find it propel us readily as desired . upon_this we gave nine hearty cheers, and dropped in_the sea a bottle, enclosing a slip of parchment with a brief account of_the principle of_the invention . hardly, however, had we done with_our rejoicings, when an unforeseen accident occurred which discouraged us in no little degree . the steel rod connecting the spring with_the propeller was suddenly jerked out of place, at_the car end, ( by aswaying of_the car through some movement of one_of_the two seamen we had taken up,) and in an instant hung dangling out of reach, from_the pivot of_the axis of_the screw . while we were endeavoring to regain it, our attention being completely absorbed, we became involved in a strong current of wind from_the east, which bore us, with rapidly increasing force, towards the Atlantic . we soon found ourselves driving out to sea at_the rate of not less, certainly, than fifty or sixty miles an hour, so_that we came up with cape clear, at some forty miles to our north, before we had secured the rod, and had time to_think what we were about . it_was now that Mr Ainsworth made an extraordinary, but to my fancy, a by no means unreasonable or chimerical proposition, in_which he_was instantly seconded by_Mr Holland - viz .: that we_should take advantage of_the strong gale which bore us on, and in place of beating back to Paris, make an attempt to reach the coast of north America . after slight reflection I_gave awilling assent to_this bold proposition, which ( strange to_say) met with objection from_the two seamen only . as_the stronger party, however, we overruled their fears, and kept resolutely upon our course . we steered due west; but as_the trailing of_the buoys materially impeded our progress, and we had the balloon abundantly at command, either for ascent or descent, we first threw out fifty pounds of ballast, and then wound up ( by_means of a windlass) so_much of_the rope as brought it quite clear of_the sea . we perceived the effect of_this manoeuvre immediately, in a vastly increased rate of progress; and, as_the gale freshened, we flew with a velocity nearly inconceivable; the guide- rope flying out behind the car, like a streamer from a vessel . it_is needless to_say that a very short time sufficed us to lose sight of_the coast . we passed over innumerable vessels of all kinds, a few of_which were endeavoring to beat up, but the most of_them lying to . we occasioned the greatest excitement on board all - an excitement greatly relished by ourselves, and especially by our two men, who, now under the influence of adram of Geneva, seemed resolved to_give all scruple, or fear, to_the wind . many_of_the vessels fired signal guns; and in all we were saluted with loud cheers ( which we heard with surprising distinctness) and_the waving of caps and handkerchiefs . we kept on in_this manner throughout_the day, with no material incident, and, as_the shades of night closed around us, we_made a rough estimate of_the distance traversed . it could_not have_been less_than five hundred miles, and was probably much more . the propeller was kept in constant operation, and, no_doubt, aided our progress materially . as_the sun went down, the gale freshened into an absolute hurricane, and_the ocean beneath was clearly visible on account of_its phosphorescence . the wind was from_the east all night, and gave_us the brightest omen of success . we suffered no little from cold, and_the dampness of_the atmosphere was most unpleasant; but the ample space in_the car enabled us to lie down, and by_means of cloaks and a few blankets, we_did sufficiently well .

"P .S .( by_Mr Ainsworth .) the last nine hours have_been unquestionably the most exciting of_my life . I_can conceive nothing more sublimating than_the strange peril and novelty of an adventure such as_this . may god grant that we succeed ! I ask not success for mere safety to my insignificant person, but for_the sake of human knowledge and - for_the vastness of_the triumph . and yet the feat is only so evidently feasible that_the sole wonder is why men have scrupled to attempt it before . one single gale such as now befriends us - let such a tempest whirl forward a balloon for four or five days ( these gales often last longer) and_the voyager will_be easily borne, in_that period, from coast to coast . in view of_such a gale the broad Atlantic becomes amere lake . I_am more struck, just now, with_the supreme silence which reigns in_the sea beneath us, notwithstanding its agitation, than with any_other phenomenon presenting itself . the waters give up no voice to_the heavens . the immense flaming ocean writhes and_is tortured uncomplainingly . the mountainous surges suggest the idea of innumerable dumb gigantic fiends struggling in impotent agony . in a night such as is_this to_me, a man lives - lives a whole century of ordinary life - nor would I forego this rapturous delight for_that of a whole century of ordinary existence .

"_Sunday, the seventh .[ Mr mason's MS .] this_morning the gale, by 10, had subsided to an eight or nine - knot breeze, ( for a vessel at sea,) and bears us, perhaps, thirty miles_per_hour, or more . it has veered, however, very considerably to_the north; and now, at sundown, we_are holding our course due west, principally by_the screw and rudder, which answer their purposes to admiration .I regard the project as thoroughly successful, and_the easy navigation of_the air in any direction ( not exactly in_the teeth of a gale) as no longer problematical . we_could_not have_made head against the strong wind of yesterday; but, by ascending, we_might_have got out of_its influence, if requisite . against a pretty stiff breeze, I_feel convinced, we_can make our way with_the propeller . at noon, to- day, ascended to an elevation of nearly 25,000 feet, by discharging ballast . did this to search for a more direct current, but found none so favorable as_the one we_are now in . we_have an abundance of gas to_take us across this small pond, even should the voyage last three weeks . I_have_not the slightest fear for_the result . the difficulty has_been strangely exaggerated and misapprehended . I_can choose my current, and should I_find all currents against me, I_can make very tolerable headway with_the propeller . we_have_had no incidents worth recording . the night promises fair .

P .S .[ by_Mr Ainsworth .] I_have little to record, except the fact ( to_me quite asurprising one) that, at an elevation equal to_that of Cotopaxi, I experienced neither very intense cold, nor headache, nor difficulty of breathing; neither, I_find, did Mr mason, nor Mr Holland, nor sir Everard .Mr Osborne complained of constriction of_the chest - but this soon wore off . we_have flown at a great rate during the day, and we_must_be more than half way across the Atlantic . we_have passed over some twenty or thirty vessels of various kinds, and all seem_to_be delightfully astonished .Crossing the ocean in a balloon is_not so difficult a feat after all .Omne ignotum pro magnifico .Mem: at 25,000 feet elevation the sky appears nearly black, and_the stars are distinctly visible; while the sea does_not seem convex ( as one might suppose) but absolutely and most unequivocally concave .{*1}

"_Monday, the 8th .[ Mr mason's MS .] this_morning we had again some little trouble with_the rod of_the propeller, which_must be entirely remodelled, for fear of serious accident - I mean the steel rod - not the vanes . the latter could_not_be improved . the wind has_been blowing steadily and strongly from_the north- east all day and so_far fortune seems bent upon favoring us . just before day, we were all somewhat alarmed at some odd noises and concussions in_the balloon, accompanied with_the apparent rapid subsidence of_the whole machine . these phenomena were occasioned by_the expansion of_the gas, through increase of heat in_the atmosphere, and_the consequent disruption of_the minute particles of ice with_which the network had become encrusted during the night . threw down several bottles to_the vessels below . saw one_of_them picked up by a large ship - seemingly one_of_the New_York line packets . endeavored to_make out her name, but could_not_be sure of it .Mr Osborne's telescope made it out something like "Atalanta ." it_is now 12, at night, and we_are still going nearly west, at a rapid pace . the sea is peculiarly phosphorescent .

"P .S .[ by_Mr Ainsworth .] it_is now 2, a. M ., and nearly calm, as_well as I_can judge - but it_is very difficult to determine this point, since we move with_the air so completely . I_have_not slept since quitting Wheal-Vor, but can stand it no longer, and must take a nap . we_cannot_be far from_the American coast .

"_Tuesday, the 9_th .[ Mr Ainsworth's MS .] one, P .M . we_are in full view of_the low coast of South_Carolina . the great problem is accomplished . we_have crossed the Atlantic - fairly and easily_ crossed it in a balloon ! god be praised ! who shall say that anything is impossible hereafter ? "

the journal here ceases . some particulars of_the descent were communicated, however, by_Mr Ainsworth to Mr Forsyth . it_was nearly dead calm when_the voyagers first came in view of_the coast, which_was immediately recognized by both the seamen, and by_Mr Osborne . the latter gentleman having acquaintances at fort Moultrie, it_was immediately resolved to descend in its vicinity . the balloon was brought over the beach ( the tide being out and_the sand hard, smooth, and admirably adapted for a descent,) and_the grapnel let go, which took firm hold at once . the inhabitants of_the island, and of_the fort, thronged out, of_course, to_see the balloon; but it_was with_the greatest difficulty that any_one could_be made to credit the actual voyage - the crossing of_the Atlantic . the grapnel caught at 2, P .M ., precisely; and thus the whole voyage was completed in seventy-five hours; or rather less, counting from shore to shore . no serious accident occurred . no real danger was at any_time apprehended . the balloon was exhausted and secured without trouble; and when_the MS . from_which this narrative is compiled was despatched from Charleston, the party were still at fort Moultrie . their farther intentions were_not ascertained; but we_can safely promise our readers some additional information either on Monday or in_the course of_the next_day, at farthest .

this_is unquestionably the most stupendous, the most interesting, and_the most important undertaking, ever accomplished or even attempted by man . what magnificent events may ensue, it would_be useless now to_think of determining .

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{*1} note .- Mr Ainsworth has_not attempted to account for_this phenomenon, which, however, is quite susceptible of explanation .a line dropped from an elevation of 25,000 feet, perpendicularly to_the surface of_the earth ( or sea), would form the perpendicular of a right- angled triangle, of_which the base would extend from_the right angle to_the horizon, and_the hypothenuse from_the horizon to_the balloon . but the 25,000 feet of altitude is little or nothing, in comparison with_the extent of_the prospect . in other words, the base and hypothenuse of_the supposed triangle would_be so_long when compared with_the perpendicular, that_the two former may_be regarded as nearly parallel . in_this manner the horizon of_the ronaut would appear to_be on a level with_the car . but, as_the point immediately beneath him seems, and_is, at a great distance below him, it seems, of_course, also, at a great distance below the horizon . hence the impression of concavity_; and this impression must remain, until the elevation shall bear so great a proportion to_the extent of prospect, that_the apparent parallelism of_the base and hypothenuse disappears - when_the earth's real convexity must become apparent .

Section [1 | 2]