BALLOON VOYAGE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1678, 5 July 1875, Page 4

BALLOON VOYAGE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

An American balloonist, by name Mr.; Donaldson, has informed the iSociete d'Aerostation. of Paris that within three or four months he intends crossing the Atlantic, from the United States to Europe, in a baloon measuring 70,000 cubic metres. Mr. Donaldson is convinced that there exists a " constant current of air in the upper strata of the terrestrial atmosphere setting at that season from west to east. He is undeterred by previous failures, and has provided himself with cans of Liebig's meat extract - life-belts, blue lights and rockets,"carrier pigeons, bottles to contain floating, messages by means of which he can signal to ■vessels near which he may pass. He will probably travel alone, for the sake of lightness; and the ballast in the balloon car will principally consist of "fire-pots," of Mr. Donaldson's own invention, which are said to be tin cylinders containing a chemical substance which-beeomeß inflammable instantaneously upon contact with water,,and emits a brilliant and long-lasting flame. As Mr Donaldson is borne rapidly along eastward he will drop these fire-pots into the' sea ©very ten minutes, bo at night the whole horizon, he expects, will be illuminated, and he will leave the track behind him on the Atlantic. The scheme sounds all thejmore a " bij»" one* as the. recent voyage of the "Zenith" balloon' from Paris to the neighbourhood of Bordeaux is the longest on record, and only occupied some sixteen hours. The balloonist Green in all his fourteen voyages, was never longer m the air than three or four hours at a time bixteen years ago the '■ Geant" balloon went pp from the£hamp de Mars, and descended in Hanover, after six hours' sailing Subsequently M.M. Blammarion and Goddard travelled from Paris to.Prussia in eleven Hours. Several similiar trips have since ibeen made. However, Mr.* Donaldson hopes to be in the air not longer than a week."