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with two friends； Messrs。 Holland and Mason； decided to take it over the
Channel by air。 It is said that provisions were taken in sufficient quantities
to last a fortnight； and over a ton of ballast was shipped。
The journey commenced in November； 1836； late in the afternoon； as
the aeronauts had planned to cross the sea by night。 A fairly strong north…
west wind quickly bore them to the coast； and in less than an hour they
found themselves over the lights of Calais。 On and on they went； now and
then entirely lost to Earth through being enveloped in dense fog； hour after
hour went by； until at length dawn revealed a densely…wooded tract of
country with which they were entirely unfamiliar。 They decided to land；
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and they were greatly surprised to find that they had reached Weilburg； in
Nassau； Germany。 The whole journey of 500 miles had been made in
eighteen hours。
Probably no British aeronaut has made more daring and exciting
ascents than Mr。 Greenunless it be a member of the famous Spencer
family； of whom we speak in another chapter。 It is said that Mr。 Green
went aloft over a thousand times； and in later years he was accompanied
by various passengers who were making ascents for scientific purposes。
His skill was so great that though he had numerous hairbreadth escapes he
seldom suffered much bodily harm。 He lived to the ripe old age of eighty…
five。
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CHAPTER VI The Parachute
No doubt many of those who read this book have seen an aeronaut
descend from a balloon by the aid of a parachute。 For many years this
performance has been one of the most attractive items on the programmes
of fetes； galas； and various other outdoor exhibitions。
The word 〃parachute〃 has been almost bodily taken from the French
language。 It is derived from the French parer to parry； and chute a fall。 In
appearance a parachute is very similar to an enormous umbrella。
M。 Blanchard； one of the pioneers of ballooning； has the honour of
first using a parachute； although not in person。 The first 〃aeronaut〃 to
descend by this apparatus was a dog。 The astonished animal was placed in
a basket attached to a parachute； taken up in a balloon； and after reaching a
considerable altitude was released。 Happily for the dog the parachute acted
quite admirably； and the animal had a graceful and gentle descent。
Shortly afterwards a well…known French aeronaut； M。 Garnerin； had an
equally satisfactory descent； and soon the parachute was used by most of
the prominent aeronauts of the day。 Mr。 Cocking； a well…known balloonist；
held somewhat different views from those of other inventors as to the best
form of construction of parachutes。 His idea was that a parachute should
be very large and rather heavy in order to be able to support a great weight。
His first descent from a great height was also his last。 In 1837；
accompanied by Messrs。 Spencer and Green； he went up with his
parachute； attached to the Nassau balloon。 At a height of about a mile the
parachute was liberated； but it failed to act properly； the inventor was cast
headlong to earth； and dashed to death。
From time to time it has been thought that the parachute might be used
for life…saving on the modern dirigible air…ship； and even on the aeroplane；
and experiments have been carried out with that end in view。 A most
thrilling descent from an air…ship by means of a parachute was that made
by Major Maitland； Commander of the British Airship Squadron； which
forms part of the Royal Flying Corps。 The descent took place from the
Delta air…ship； which ascended from Farnborough Common。 In the car
with Major Maitland were the pilot； Captain Waterlow； and a passenger。
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The parachute was suspended from the rigging of the Delta； and when a
height of about 2000 feet had been reached it was dropped over to the side
of the car。 With the dirigible travelling at about 20 miles an hour the major
climbed over the car and seated himself in the parachute。 Then it became
detached from the Delta and shot downwards for about 200 feet at a
terrific rate。 For a moment or two it was thought that the opening
apparatus had failed to work； but gradually the 〃umbrella〃 opened； and the
gallant major had a gentle descent for the rest of the distance。
This experiment was really made in order to prove the stability of an
air…ship after a comparatively great weight was suddenly removed from it。
Lord Edward Grosvenor； who is attached to the Royal Flying Corps； was
one of the eyewitnesses of the descent。 In speaking of it he said： 〃We all
think highly of Major Maitland's performance； which has shown how the
difficulty of lightening an air…ship after a long flight can be surmounted。
During a voyage of several hours a dirigible naturally loses gas； and
without some means of relieving her of weight she might have to descend
in a hostile country。 Major Maitland has proved the practicability of
members of an air…ship's crew dropping to the ground if the necessity
arises。〃
A descent in a parachute has also been made from an aeroplane by M。
Pegoud； the daring French airman； of whom we speak later。 A certain
Frenchman； M。 Bonnet； had constructed a parachute which was intended
to be used by the pilot of an aeroplane if on any occasion he got into
difficulties。 It had been tried in many ways； but； unfortunately for the
inventor； he could get no pilot to trust himself to it。 Tempting offers were
made to pilots of world…wide fame； but either the risk was thought to be
too great； or it was believed that no practical good would come of the
experiment。 At last the inventor approached M。 Pegoud； who undertook to
make the descent。 This was accomplished from a great height with perfect
safety。 It seems highly probable that in the near future the parachute will
form part of the equipment of every aeroplane and air…ship。
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