Army balloons
The subject of balloons having assumed so much importance of late, as a medium through which the strength and location of an enemy can be ascertained, we publish the subjoined from the
Oxford (North Carolina) Leisure Hour:
‘
In the last few days we have seen much from the
Northern papers about the efficiency of army balloons, in which
a Professor Lowe figured as
King of the Clouds.
We have some recollection of the antecedents of this individual.
He is the same stupendous humbug that had a balloon on exhibition in Crystal Palace Square, New York, about twelve months ago. He had interested the public, through the New York papers, in his great gas bag, by inducing the people to believe that he would make a trip to
Europe in three days. Thousands went to see the magnificent contrivance which was to accomplish the wonderful trip, and each paid twenty-five cents for the privilege.
Conjoined to the balloon were numerous appendages which served only as rebuses for the gassing spectators.
One we distinctly remember, was a small engine which was about as useful in air navigation as an eagle is to the locomotion of a hippopotamus.
The balloon succeeded only in one thing; it put money into the pocket of
Lowe who
did not make the trip across the
Atlantic.
When we again heard of the
Professor, he was taking the citizens of
Philadelphia.
through the same exciting routine of sight-seeing.
He finally appointed a day for his ascension and exit to
Europe; thousands of the denizens of the city of ‘"Brotherly Love"’ had assembled to witness the ‘"grand ascension;"’ the hour arrived; the great gas bag bursted and collapsed; the professor pocketed the quarters, and thus closed the second eventful chapter of
Professor Lows.
A few days ago, we read that the
Professor was in
Washington trying the adaptation of the balloon to the army service.
The Administration were at one end of a telegraph wire on the earth and the
Professor at the other end, in his balloon, several hundred feet above the earth.
The
Professor was communicating ‘"important intelligence"’ of the movements of
Gen. Beauregard at
Manassas.
He will doubtless give them as much ‘"important intelligence"’ as they will receive credulously, and when he has bamboozled Abraham,
Seward & Co., to his hearts content, will
profess to be of no further service, pocket a few thousand for ‘"important services"’ and hold himself in readiness for similar patriotic performances.--
Vive la humbug. ’
