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N.Y. Times
May 9th '74

5

BARNUM'S BALLOON.
THE SHOWMAN'S ACCOUNT OF HIS INTENTIONS.

 Thursday morning at 8 o'clock P.T. Barnum arrived here in the Cunard steamer Scotia, from England, after a stormy passage of eleven days and some hours. He was met by Mr. Coup, his manager, Mr. Hurd, his son-in-law, and Messrs. D.W. Thompson and N. Seeley, and escorted to the latter's house in Lexington avenue, where he will remain for the present. During the afternoon a TIMES reporter called on him and had a long conversation in relation to the projected balloon to be constructed to make a trip to England. Mr. Barnum said that in the first place he had no aspirations nor expectations to cross the Atlantic in a balloon himself, and in the second place he would not advance money to assist others in doing so until he was reasonably satisfied that the trip could be attempted without any extraordinary  risk to aeronauts. Prof. Wise and son, of Philadelphia, were very anxious to essay the feat, as were also eight different persons in Europe. One of them, a prominent official in the English Mint, had written to Mr. Barnum stating that he would make the Transatlantic trip in a balloon if it were prepared as he designed. He further said that should Mr. Barnum decline to take any interest in the enterprise because of the danger attending the voyage, he would be guilty of a great piece of folly, inasmuch as there was really nothing to fear. Prof. Hodsman, of Dublin, crossed the Irish Channel last year in a balloon, and assured Mr. Barnum that there was little risk in the adventure. On these assurances, then, Mr. Barnum gave his close attention to the question, and visited several parts of Europe and consulted eminent scientists in relation to it. Nearly every one assured him of the practicability of the undertaking, so he turned his attention to the cost of preparing a balloon, and the best means of paying for it. Prof. Hodsman told Mr. Barnum that he had constructed a balloon, inflated it, and left the gas in it for thirty days, and not a leak or break was found in the material at the expiration of the time. If Mr. Barnum would have such a one made for him, Prof. Hodsman would willingly attempt to cross from America to England. The voyage would have to begin in America, according to the theory of Prof. Nador, of France, who says that he has known positively for fifteen years or more that a strong current of air from west to east prevails at a certain altitude. By its means, both scientists told Mr. Barnum that the passage could be made in forty-eight hours. Not altogether satisfied with these statements, Mr. Barnum determined to push his inquiries farther, and visited prof Glashier, of Greenwich Observatory, and Prof. Coxwell, a well-known ascensionist. They did not agree with his other informants altogether, and therefore Mr. Barnum hesitated to complete his arrangements for the experiment. However, having considered the project so seriously, he determined to ascertain how best it might be attempted. He met Mr. Wilkinson, manager of the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, and laid the subject before him. That gentleman was enthusiastic, and agreed, in the event of Mr. Barnum's resolve to carry out the project, to inclose [[enclose]] a saloon in the Crystal Palace 75 by 150 feet, wherein the balloon could be constructed under the eyes of the public. In other words, the girls and artisans could be seen at work preparing the balloon, its appurtenances, life-boat, canning provisions, and making all the preparations, by all who paid the admission fee. The money so obtained would be used to defray the expenses of the experiment. The kind of balloon recommended by those in favor of the voyage is as follows: It must be made of tulle silk, properly seasoned, and rendered air-tight. There are to be an inner and outer balloon, fitting closely as hand and glove, but totally independent of each other so far as their integrity is concerned. The whole is to be 80 feet in diameter, 5 square yards to the pound; it must hold 268,000 feet of gas, and possess a lifting power of 16,700 pounds. Mr. Barnum went to Spitalfields, Manchester, Lyons, and other places to ascertain the probable outlay necessary to produce the desired balloon, and learned that he would have to spend at least $30,000 in gold upon it. He next consulted with Negrette and Zambra, the philosophical instrument makers in London, and made a conditional contract with them wherein they agreed to furnish the aeronauts with the best instruments for aerial navigation possible, and to manufacture with particular care two aneroids to record at an altitude of 30,000 feet. 
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 Having made all these contingent preparations Mr. Barnum next turned his attention to the programme to be followed in case he decided to favor the experiment. The aeronaut and crew with their balloon when finished shall be exhibited in the Crystal palace grounds, and the vehicle be inflated and got ready for a start frequently. At length, when popular excitement has been sufficiently aroused, a day for an experimental ascension shall be named, and the air-ship will be cut adrift and be sent on her trial trip. Should it be a successful one the day on which the vessel shall leave New-York will be announced, and the aeronauts will leave England for that City, packing up and transporting with them their balloon and its adjuncts as "implements of trade." It is expected by these means to bring the whole into the United States free of duty if the Government have not already for science sake exempted it. On their arrival in New-York the aeronauts and their ship will be taken to the Hippodrome, where they will be exhibited day and night as they had been at the Crystal Palace. The balloon will be inflated and got ready for leaving daily as a part of the mammoth show, for on the day announced as that of final departure there will be no difference in aught but the attendance, Mr. Barnum says. The show will go on as before, and at the proper time the canvas covering will be raised from the building, the Captain and crew placed on board, the ropes cut, and the air-ship, if the balloon does not burst, will soar away into space, and start upon her Transatlantic voyage. Should she burst, Mr. Barnum said, the people will have had their money's worth in having witnessed the rest of the show. Should she get off all right the world will be satisfied that, so far as he was concerned, he had redeemed his pledges. Success or failure aloft will not depend on him when once the balloon has left its moorings. Should the attempt fail it will, at least, demonstrate the futility of the experiments unaided by greater scientific knowledge then is now attainable; but should it succeed the fortunes of all concerned will be made. On their arrival in England, aeronaut and balloon will draw larger audiences, Mr. Barnum thinks, than anything ever heard of before. At home and abroad the world will flock to see them, and any admission fee may be charged, so that the original outlay will be reimbursed a thousandfold in an incredibly brief period.
 Although, as before stated, Mr. Barnum does not consider himself finally committed to the project, he has made every provision for its fulfillment the moment he is convinced that there is no extraordinary danger attending the enterprise. Indeed, he has progressed so far in the matter now that a prominent journal, which, for prudential reasons, he would not name, offered him 1,000 [[British pounds]] for the first exclusive report of the balloon's having gong 1,000 miles from her starting place, sent in a letter by a carrier pigeon or some other means of transmission previously decided upon. This journal will announce, in the event of Mr. Barnum's accepting its offer, that it has made such a purchase, and will copyright the report when received to prevent other papers from using it without paying for it. In this way the proprietors of the journal in question hope to realize enormous profits from its sale. But Mr. Barnum avows his intention of making no such bargain. He will put up at auction the right to the first report, and will sell it to the highest bidder, who, he sincerely hopes, will be an American. The whole matter, however, is in statu quo at present, as Mr. Barnum awaits further conference with scientists relative to the risk the aeronauts attempting the achievement would run. He will meet Prof. Wise and son in a few days, and is in correspondence with many other aeronauts of prominence. Mr. Barnum is anxious to embark in the enterprise, and said he would willingly invest $50,000 in gold if he thought there was no unusually good chance of the voyagers losing their lives. At any rate, the attempt, according to his present programme, must be made within the next two years, as he only has the lease of the Hippodrome for that period, and will use it only in the Summer.

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Barnum could humbug the Devil himself