MOST REMARKABLE BALLOON VOYAGE ON RECORD.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 22, Issue 91, 24 November 1911, Page 5

MOST REMARKABLE BALLOON VOYAGE ON RECORD.

The record for a remarkable balloon ascent is held by M. Poiteven. His daring voyage—made in the month of March, seven-and-twenty years ago—though successfully accomplished, has never been imitated. He SAILED OYER PARIS ON HORSEBACK ! After that the aeronaut who crossed over Frankfort on-Main on a cycle is only second-lest. M. Poiteven may, in fact, le said to have been the first man to make ballooning popular in -France. His ride through the air attracted OVER 300,000 ENTHUSIASTIC SPECTATORS, and the President of the Republic was the last man to shake hands with the aeronaut before he mounted on his horse.

The ascent was made from the Champ de Mars, and at the time a violent storm was blowing. Notwithstanding the load it was to carry, the balloon only weighed 150 kilogrammes. There was ia large wicker “ car ” to carry the ballast; below this was a “ sack ” to” bear the horse and its rider. By an ingenious contrivance, invented by the aeronaut, he was able to have extraordinary control of the ballast car and its contents. There was also a rope-ladder [by which the aeronaut could mount from his horse to the “upper story.” The horse, a fine dapple grey, was brought on the scene at six o’clock in the evening. The animal was in the pink of condition, and not a whit disturbed by the prevailing excitement. The sack was placed round its body, and the connecting straps were then secured to the balloon immediately below the ballast car. “ JOCKEY POITEVEN ! JOCKEY POITEVEN!”

was the great shout that followed, and the thousands joined in a tremendous cheer. For, clad as a jockey —with the colours of the year’s Grand Prix winner—M. Poiteven now came forward and approached his Pegasus, The President of the Republic embraced the daring aeronaut, amid the wildest enthusiasm. Then Poiteven mounted the saddle, gave the signal, and without delay the balloon rose into the air with its strange burden. Only for a moment when its feet left the earth did the horse appear to show fright. But M Poiteven discovered that when a certain height was reached the animal was affected. There was a’ rapid flow of blood from its mouth. Accordingly he found it necessary to regulate the height of travel. The aeronaut on his flying steed remained in the air for an hour.

“ It was shortly after seven o'clock that I began my descent,” he said, in describing his adventure, ” and in three-quarters of an hour my grapplers were on the ground, but would not hold. 1 floated along for a league or so, when I arrived near the forest of La Lachelle. During this time my horse was quite close to the fields; and bit off the tops of the com as he passed over it, and when passing over the tall trees he cropped off their leaves. At length I was lucky in putting an end to this risby state of affairs. I vigorously laid hold of a branch of a tree, and so for an instant checked the course of the balloon, and, assistance being at hand, some men laid hold of the ropes, and it was safely secured.” HORSE AND RIDER APPEARED NONE THE WORSE

for their record-making adventure. M. Poiteven rode to Paris, where a great reception awaited him. Learned societies did him honour, and he was feted wherever he went. It was claimed that he had given the needed stimulus to aeronautics in France, and all manner of extravagant prophecies were made. But undoubtedly his performance created a record in freak balloon ascents which remain unrivalled. There have been many cycle flights and a tricycle ascent while an aeronaut made an ascent at Brpest clinging to an ordinary gymnastic ring ; but no one has as yet attempted to repeat M. Poiteven’s extraordinary performance,—“Spare Moments.’’