"The Balloon-Hoax" - читать интересную книгу автора (Poe Edgar Allan)

supported by pillars of hollow brass tube descending from the hoop. In
the lower ends of these tubes are holes in which the pivots of the
axis revolve. From the end of the axis which is next the car, proceeds
a shaft of steel, connecting the screw with the pinion of a piece of
spring machinery fixed in the car. By the operation of this spring,
the screw is made to revolve with great rapidity, communicating a
progressive motion to the whole. By means of the rudder, the machine
was readily turned in any direction. The spring was of great power,
compared with its dimensions, being capable of raising 45 pounds
upon a barrel of 4 inches diameter, after the first turn, and
gradually increasing as it was wound up. It weighed, altogether, eight
pounds six ounces. The rudder was a light frame of cane covered with
silk, shaped somewhat like a battledoor, and was about 3 feet long,
and at the widest, one foot. Its weight was about 2 ounces. It could
be turned flat, and directed upward or downward, as well as to the
right or left-, and thus enabled the aeronaut to transfer the
resistance of the air which in an inclined position it must generate
in its passage, to any side upon which he might desire to act; thus
determining the balloon in the opposite direction.
This model (which, through want of time, we have necessarily
described in an imperfect manner) was put in action at the Adelaide
Gallery, where it accomplished a velocity of 5 miles per hour;
although, strange to say, it excited very little interest in
comparison with the previous complex machine of Mr. Henson- so
resolute is the world to despise anything which carries with it an air
of simplicity. To accomplish the great desideratum of aerial
navigation, it was very generally supposed that some exceedingly
complicated application must be made of some unusually profound
principle in dynamics.
So well satisfied, however, was Mr. Mason of the ultimate success of
his invention, that he determined to construct immediately, if
possible, a balloon of sufficient capacity to test the question by a
voyage of some extent; the original design being to cross the
British Channel, as before, in the Nassau balloon. To carry out his
views, he solicited and obtained the patronage of Sir Everard
Bringhurst and Mr. Osborne, two gentlemen well known for scientific
acquirement, and especially for the interest they have exhibited in
the progress of aerostation. The project, at the desire of Mr.
Osborne, was kept a profound secret from the public- the only
persons entrusted with the design being those actually engaged in
the construction of the machine, which was built (under the
superintendence of Mr. Mason, Mr. Holland, Sir Everard Bringhurst, and
Mr. Osborne) at the seat of the latter gentleman near Penstruthal,
in Wales. Mr. Henson, accompanied by his friend Mr. Ainsworth, was
admitted to a private view of the balloon, on Saturday last; when
the two gentlemen made final arrangements to be included in the
adventure. We are not informed for what reason the two seamen were
also included in the party- but in the course of a day or two, we
shall put our readers in possession of the minutest particulars
respecting this extraordinary voyage.