3-011-895 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Ascent of M. Godard's Montgolfier balloon from Cremorne Gardens, [London], 1864. The '...heated-air, balloon, with which M. Eugène Godard ascended...[is] an enormous structure, made of silk...adorned with representations of the French eagle...In the centre of the car is an 18 ft. stove, including the chimney, 980 pounds in weight...The total weight of the balloon...is 4620lb...M. Godard ran rapidly round the solid wicker car, shouting orders through a speaking-trumpet...For a few seconds the balloon seemed to return to the gardens, and to descend towards the grass, while the stokers were seen desperately throwing the small trusses of compressed straw into the mouth of the fiery furnace...The excitement caused several ladies to faint, and a portion of the crowd to rush panic-stricken towards the hotel. In less than a minute, however, the "Eagle" had regained her buoyancy, and rose with extraordinary steadiness...The balloon safely descended at Greenwich. The presumed advantage of returning to the Montgolfier system is, that the inflation can be completed in less than an hour...With a gas-filled balloon the process of inflation is generally long and tiresome'. From "Illustrated London News", 1864.