much, failed in doing that justice to his first German breakfast, which
Mr. B---- tackled with such gusto. He, however, partook of his coffee
with a quiet nod of approval, and was in the act of finishing his
first cup when the teacher of languages, looking S---- straight in the
face, said, “I suppose you had a smother of frogs at Callow’s Hotel in
Brussels;” but, perceiving that Mr. S---- turned pale, he exclaimed,
“My good fellow, what’s the matter?”
Poor S---- then ejected, almost in Mr. B----’s face, the black contents
of his white cup; he sprang up in a nervous, bewildered state, when I
had to do the amiable by way of apology.
Mr. Dick laughed, but stuck to his guns, and recommended eggs, when Mr.
Abraham Küpper’s voice was heard approaching, who entered smiling, and
was followed by a waiter with beefsteaks well broiled, but small; there
were three of them, by the way.
Mr. B---- rose to salute either the steaks or mine host, and rubbed his
hands with great glee.
“Eh, vat Mein Herren?” asked Herr Küpper, looking to B---- for a
response, as to Mr. S----’s sad appearance.
Dick, in German, assured the landlord that he had saved the life of Mr.
S---- who would positively starve unless he had something of that kind
to begin the day with.
“Donner wetter; what will he end with then?” asked Küpper astonished;
of course he knew S---- did not understand the remark, which was made
in German.
Dick B---- next declared in point blank Saxon, that for his part “he
had got his second wind,” and the steaks having restored Mr. S---- by
their timely arrival, we managed to pull through; the teacher having
taught us already more than one important lesson, and, what is more,
illustrated them with his own knife and fork, again fell to with an
appetite which was tremendous, considering that he was generous with
his coffee and had confessed to a couple of seidels of Beirisch before
he put in an appearance.
This, our first substantial breakfast went off very well considering
B----’s sallies and noble example.
“Now to business,” he said, after receiving our thanks for his service
at table.
Outside in the gardens, we could perceive one or two gas-men with their
chief engineer, and Abraham himself in his smoking cap, and a long
tight-fitting dressing gown, which reached to his slippers; in this
attire we noticed how sturdy he was, and withal how commanding.
“He turns sixteen and a half centners,” said B----, and their weights
are heavier than ours--“but come gentlemen, I perceive Küpper is
getting impatient.”
We thought that B---- toned down a good deal as we drew near to the
monarch of Johannisberg, who puffed his cigar, and then brushed off, or
rather hit aside a bit of steak adhering to B----’s coat.
What a change in manner and deportment, I thought. The fact was we
had kept them all waiting to get instructions as to the laying of the
gas pipes, while the teacher kept us pottering about inside, merely to
gratify his own inordinate propensity for creature comforts.
“Meester Coxvel,” cried Küpper--one might have heard his voice half
round Elberfeld.
B---- translated with a tremulous accent, as if he were funky; the
plain English of it was this--Would I point out, or stamp my foot, to
use Küpper’s definition, on the exact spot where the pipes were to
terminate in the inner circle, just where the balloon was to be filled.
Perceiving, with half an eye, what kind of man we had to do with, I ran
to the spot, stamped my foot firmly down, and cried out “here.”
“Sehr gut, now Herr Coxvel, (Mr. B---- translated) where will you place
the balloon?”
The reply, sharp and emphatic on my part, was again “_here_,” but I had
moved in the meantime a few yards farther on, and the smartness with
which Küpper’s questions were answered, elicited his approval, as he
raised his smoking cap, advanced towards me with a kindly greeting, and
drew forth his cigar case.
“_You_ have made a hit of it, if I have not,” cried B---- who was now
regaining self-possession.
All the preparations having been made to the satisfaction of Küpper,
who was a bit of a Tartar in his own domain, I was invited to accompany
him down town at midday, Mr. S---- being left to the care of B---- who
had begged a holiday from his pupils--they knowing, presumably, that he
would scarcely be equal to his duties, until he had indulged in his
first diversion of ballooning.
Abraham Küpper was great in riding, and he was also great in walking,
he stood over six feet without his glazed boots, and when, after
alighting from an open trap, he placed his arm in mine, and again
withdrew it to stroke down his fine flowing beard, he attracted the
attention of those who were passing by, and further rivetted it, by
pronouncing my name in no undertone, so that I heard several persons
observe, “Abraham und der Luftschiffer.”
He then led me with stately deportment into a confectioner’s, where in
a private room we met several professors, doctors, and merchants, most
of them I was relieved to find, speaking English; but Küpper on the way
had been polite enough to drill into me a rapid instalment of his own
language, although it was not high German, I was told--still to me it
had a most imposing utterance, accompanied as it was, with considerable
action.
One of the party to whom I was introduced, asked the pleasure of my
company next day at their scientific institution, as there were papers
to be read and discussion to follow on an interesting subject.
Küpper agreed that I was to be there without asking if I was that way
disposed.
He next hurried me on, goodness knows to how many different places, and
I could not but feel that his attentions were of a superior order to
what I had met with in Brussels.
At the Institution on the following day, I was at first disappointed,
as the proceedings appeared to me of an informal, and easy going kind.
The room where we met was redolent with the perfumes of tobacco, and
coffee was being served, but I soon found out that the proceedings
were of a philosophical character, being assisted with explanations in
English from Herr Buchmann, who spoke our language well.
After the lecture I tried to get away, feeling much ashamed of my
inability to converse in German, but I was retained by Herr Buchmann,
who drew me out on my own speciality, and I was glad to find by
questions put from different parts of the room that most of those
present could express themselves intelligibly in my native tongue.
“Had I any views of my own in writing?” Yes, I had by me a pamphlet,
which was read, and which referred to military ballooning. My opinions
so far commended themselves to those present that I was invited to
become an honorary member, and of course signed my name.
By the time announcements had gone forth as to the first ascent, I had
made so many acquaintances, that I positively required a new hat after
so often raising my old one, according to the approved local fashion
which they managed with so much ease and frequency, that I wondered how
they could do so with such little wear and tear to the rim.
Mr. B---- informed me that he never could attain to that mode of
salutation, he prided himself on being a Briton to the back bone, and
satisfied himself, if not the ladies by a semicircular move of the
right hand from his chest outwards. B---- was a favourite, I found,
notwithstanding his brusque address. I began to feel afraid that he
would neglect his own interests by devotion to our cause.
One day I overheard a protest from one of his best patrons, which
terminated with “that confounded balloon,” but Dick always turned
up when he was wanted, and now and again when he had better have
been engaged elsewhere; he was a typical cockney of the unaffected,
commercial class, never having taught his own language until he took up
his abode in Elberfeld.
Very early on the morning of the ascent, I mean by 5 a.m., the voice of
Herr Küpper might be heard over the housetops, and along the valley of
the River Wupper. Mr. B---- was in attendance, and trying to soothe the
lessee’s occasional irritability, but he had been upset by one Peter, a
_Kellerman_ who was thought to have imbibed his master’s beer, brewed
on the premises. Out of twenty workmen who had been told off for our
assistance, this Peter had been placed by me to hold the neck part of
the balloon, where the gas passes in through a hose.
After doing his best for some time, poor Peter’s eyes began to roll
rather wildly, when Küpper, with more haste than discretion, sent
him to the right about, which caused Peter to stumble against the
balloon; Küpper, terribly indignant at this, gave him such a lift under
the “stern sheets,” as the sailors say, that Peter impelled by the
motive power of the governor’s left leg, flew, as it were, out of the
enclosure; the incident caused some merriment, and at the same time
it induced me to examine the connecting links of the hose pipe. They
were all right, but below the hoop of the safety valve, Peter, in his
eagerness to hold fast, had sent his nails through the silk, and had
made a hole, so that the poor fellow was taking in the fumes of gas,
which accounted for his stupefaction.
This explained--it is due to Küpper to say that Peter was recalled,
cheered up, and told to have his coffee and something with it, on a
table in the garden.
I soon repaired the fracture, when Peter volunteered to try again. I
was not displeased with the proposal, and took pains to explain the
best method of manipulating such delicate material.
Peter’s efforts were now a masterpiece of caution blended with
dexterity, and his reappearance produced a feeling of admiration and
sympathy among all who were assisting at the inflation.
The flow of gas was much stronger than I had expected, owing to our
elevated position. An indication of perfect satisfaction on my part,
caused Herr Küpper to light his morning cigar, an act which drew forth
a flash of disapproval in my eyes and face, so that the big man almost
quailed when I shouted that match striking so near the balloon was
highly dangerous. Küpper immediately sent his sweet smelling cigar
flying outside the circle; when I explained that it was the flame, not
the tobacco that I considered risky.
Mr. B----, Mr. S----, and the engineer were now chuckling over the
alternate indications of official temper, which two of us as the chief
actors had displayed in our respective capacities.
“A certain amount of this sort of thing _goes down_ like goose
stuffing,” said Mr. B----.
“And enforces authority and caution,” cried Mr. S----.
“Precisely,” admitted the teacher, “but I do hope that Küpper will
restrain himself, his temper at times is alarming; but see how soft and
subdued he looks now that Madame Küpper is approaching; no wonder, she
has announced that breakfast is ready.”
“Meester Coxvel, Meinherren, beefsteak and coffee all ready.”
“No objection,” was the answer, as we were well ahead with the filling,
“suppose we stop for an hour, Mr. S---- will keep watch until I return,
and the men can have their coffee brought out.”
“And so I will,” said Mr. S----, “but I say B----, not too much steak,
and no frogs, mind that.”
Mr. B---- simply waved his hand in reply, as the great man Küpper
inspired him with a certain amount of awe, which there was no mistaking.
My first ascent from Elberfeld was on July 16th, 1848. It was almost
a cloudless day, but not oppressively hot, as a fresh wind blew which
made it desirable to call in thirty men to hold the netting.
I had appointed Mr. B---- to be my first lieutenant, and in order
to assist me, he had obtained the permission of his pupils, most of
whom were present, as much, probably, to see their preceptor in a new
capacity, as to patronize me and the balloon.
The recreation grounds where the visitors had assembled, were of an
oblong form, and perfectly dry, with gravel beneath. A vast number of
tables were arranged in rows, so that families and parties of friends
sat each at their own quarters.
The ladies were nearly all knitting or otherwise at work, and during
the instrumental performances, gentlemen smoked their cigars, drank
coffee, and conversed in a quiet way, which struck one as making a
pleasing contrast with some of our out-door gatherings in England.
Mr. Abraham Küpper occupied a central position at a table fronting the
balloon, and was surrounded by a choice staff of patrons, who, as the
afternoon advanced, preferred sparkling wine to heavier beverage served
in seidel glasses.
Mr. B----, who had most heroically stood his ground against the united
force of a strong current of wind, which had ever and anon distorted
the symmetrical form of the “Sylph,” and blown some of the men over,
now sent to me to allow him to retire for one minute, not that he
wished to relinquish his post of directing the men, but that he
required to speak, for one moment, to Herr Küpper.
On seeing Mr. B---- approach, the noble proprietor who wore a plum
coloured dress-coat, and a variegated smoking cap, filled a bumper
of hock, so that by the time Mr. B---- had wiped his moist brow, and
taken a seat by invitation, he found himself confronted with friends,
together with an abundance of pungent snuff and cooling wine.
“I wonder which he will take first,” asked Mr. S----, watching Mr.
B----’s movements askance.
“It’s a hundred to one he drinks the wine,” said I, but before I had
finished speaking, his glass was empty, and quickly refilled by Herr
Küpper, who, with a patronizing pat of the back, called him “gut boy,”
alluding not, of course, to his smartness with the wine glass, but to
his arduous duties around the balloon, by which he drew forth high
encomiums from the spectators, as well as from Herr Küpper and myself.
Although Mr. B---- exceeded the time specified by himself for his
absence, still I declined to trouble him to return, as I felt sure his
physical exertions were already more than he was accustomed to, and I
had an object in reserving his powers for the final effort, knowing
that when the balloon was let up to its full height, it would roll
about with great force, and require all the available strength to hold
it in check.
The miniature bombardment, illustrative of the applicability of aërial
shells to military purposes, was to take place on a larger scale than
at Brussels.
I rather hoped to have Mr. B----’s company in my travels to Cloudland,
but resolved not to propose it until the last moment.
When the car was being attached, Herr Küpper, and Mr. B---- entered
the inner enclosure, and every assistance was tendered, but the wind
unfortunately seemed late in lulling, and we were frequently thrown
into ludicrous positions, by which the company was kept excited, and
the juveniles furnished with matter for laughter.
Just before the shells and battery were fixed, Mr. B---- became the
“observed of all observers,” and created no little merriment and
clapping of hands.
I had called him to the car to suggest his ascending, and at that
moment a cruel gust blew the balloon almost down to the ground, and
upset Mr. B---- as he advanced, but recovering himself with admirable
agility, he seized the netting by way of support, when the balloon
again caught the breeze, and rolled round on the other tack, carrying
the astonished teacher with it, so that, minus his hat, he was
suspended some altitude from the ground, but held on with such resolute
tenacity, that a cry was soon raised of “Bravo B----, very brave,”
and as the “Sylph” backed round on the other side, Mr. B---- was
rescued, and again led by Herr Küpper to the refreshment table, where
he composed himself and received the congratulations of many of his
friends.
“It will never do to take him up after that shaking,” urged Mr. S----.
“Right, I will start alone, next time there will be plenty of
candidates; please to attach the shells, as I shall slip cable in five
minutes.”
The band now formed round the car; Messrs. Küpper, and B---- held
the last connecting link, and at six o’clock I released the “Sylph,”
immediately lowered the battery, and on passing down the Jacob’s
ladder, received a perfect ovation.
The shells fell quite regularly, and made an unusually loud report,
reverberating among the adjacent hills on either side of the river
Wupper.
The sky being clear from cloud, the smoke which followed each explosion
produced a splendid effect, and imparted a totally new aspect to the
appearance of a balloon in mid-air.
The “Sylph” not being fully inflated, and the car without passengers,
I had some difficulty in retracing my steps after discharging the
fireworks, whether the lookers on observed this, I could not say, but
on resting half way up the rope ladder, I heard sounds more akin to
a thrill of horror than a cheer; no doubt the position of dangling
between the car and the battery, looked perilous, but it was not more
so than some of the acts of seamen, although excessive height added of
course to the risk.
The subsequent journey was very enjoyable, being my first aërial voyage
in Prussia.
I had been cautioned, before ascending, against some large forests in
the direction I should travel, and noticed them around me, without any
considerable opening to come down in.
Being quite alone I was naturally disinclined to extend my journey
beyond a reasonable distance, so I brought the “Sylph,” after attaining
an elevation of 1,500 yards, to within a few hundred feet of the tree
tops, and perceiving an open space hard by with a plantation of young
pines, I dropped the grapnel just in an eligible clump of trees, and
was glad to find that the wind had lulled, and that I was anchored firm
and fast.
The car lodged in the boughs and only the balloon remained in sight;
but as to whether there were people to be found in so outlandish a spot
I began to be doubtful, as I had shouted for some time, and neither
heard a human voice nor footsteps.
Repeated shouts had, however, some effect, as I perceived a country
girl without shoes or stockings, and one or two men creeping along in
attitudes of amazement towards the plantation in which the “Sylph” was
moored; a few wood-cutters and children soon added to the number, and
when they got pretty close I shouted again, but it was a wild English
ye-upp, more like an omnibus driver’s warning than a German call for
help.
The result was the people withdrew affrighted; if they could have seen
me it might have altered the case, but I was ensconced in the trees,
and my voice was neither familiar nor understandable.
Believing that curiosity would prevail, I contented myself by keeping
quiet in the car for some little time, and before many minutes had
elapsed I perceived the bare-legged girl moving stealthily towards me,
supported by followers in the background; I purposely kept low and let
out gas, by which means the basket slipped towards the ground as the
girl pressed forward.
Just as she got within range I sprang up in the basket and seized the
comely creature’s rounded arms, and drew her very near to me; she was
then clearly less frightened, as she uttered a few guttural sounds
accompanied with looks of kindness.
The men then ran up and helped to get the balloon clear of the trees,
so that I received plenty of attention; and later, when I went to the
damsel’s house, her mother made coffee for me, after which I was driven
some miles to the railway station and returned to Elberfeld.
My second ascent from Johannisberg took place on July 24th. A third
soon followed, but the fourth was chiefly remarkable from the fact that
Herr Küpper ascended with me himself, although he had always said that
no real or imaginable inducement would get him up in a balloon.
If Küpper’s courage was not in proportion to the bulk of his body he
pulled himself very well together at the start. It was only when I
left him alone to go down the ladder that large drops of perspiration
started from his brow.
I promised to be back soon.
“Yah, aber mein Gott--if you go down headlong,” he added, but I heard
this not, and might not have understood the German rendering if I had.
When the bombardment of Elberfeld commenced certain utterances did
reach my ear in the second car below, but whether I was being cheered
or denounced, whether Küpper was sick or joyful, I could not divine;
this I know, that when I returned or (to use parliamentary language)
when I was promoted from the lower house to the upper, I certainly did
notice that my sole companion was in a pitiable plight so far as facial
moisture was concerned.
A capacious handkerchief appeared drenched, and still the drops were
oozing fast from the expanded pores of his skin. He must have lost a
couple of pounds’ weight while I was down below. A rapid recovery,
however, took place, especially after both of us had benefited by
restoratives; then was Abraham more composed, and anxious not to go
too far, as he looked forward, I could gather by his pointing to, and
his remarks about Johannisberg, that he wished to get back as soon as
convenient.
I managed accordingly, and just as the ball-room lights appeared
resplendent, and the band was tuning up for a dance, we entered amidst
cries of “Hoch Küpper;” “Leben sie lang Herr Coxvel,” &c.; and great
indeed were the rejoicings which were, it is perhaps needless to
observe, participated in by Mr. B---- and Mr. S----, _cum multis aliis_.
During the autumn of this year (1848) I made a dozen voyages from this
place, and the confidence displayed by the proprietor was felt also by
Madame Küpper, her daughter and sons, as also by Mr. B---- and a very
long list of ladies and gentlemen, who by watching the safe return, and
good reports of the pioneers who first ventured, felt satisfied of the
pleasure to be derived, and were prepared to venture themselves.
Before making the two concluding trips of the season, a speculation was
entered into by Herr Küpper, Mr. S----, and myself, at Cologne, with
a view of trying an ascent during the grand visit of the late King of
Prussia, on the occasion of the 600th anniversary of the building of
the cathedral.
I had no faith myself in the pecuniary success of this undertaking, but
the joint speculators were very sanguine of a golden harvest.
Although an immense number of strangers came into Cologne, and the
hotels were filled to overflowing, the processions and religious
ceremonies so engrossed public attention that the balloon grounds,
after expensive preparations, were but poorly patronized.
A large sum of money was lost by these ill-conceived projects, which
turned out a serious matter to us.
The last display but one was in the month of October at Johannisberg,
and it was a night ascent with fireworks attached to the balloon--but
fireworks altogether of a different kind to the shells which I
had detached previously. In its way this might be called a grand
pyrotechnic display _á la_ Vauxhall; but the specific gravity of the
gas was not as on former days, and a humid atmosphere at night-fall
increased the weight of the “Sylph” to such an extent that it would not
raise the fireworks. I found that the whole weight would not ascend.
A buzz of disappointment then began to arise, but it was not of long
duration, as I begged the firework maker to cut away about one-third of
the cases, and calling for a rope some 300 feet long, which had been
employed before for partial ascents, I got into the ring without any
car, and gave directions to fire the fuse and let up to the full extent
of the cable.
This was equally effective, and the people were much more pleased than
if I had made a bungling effort by being overweighted.
I had afterwards the honour of being carried round the grounds and the
ball-room on the shoulders of some of the most respected citizens.
There was yet one more aërostatic exhibition which I was called upon to
engage in, and that was in connection with the annual _Shutzen Fest_ at
Barmen, an adjoining neighbourhood, about three English miles from Herr
Küpper’s noted locale.
These interesting gatherings are managed in a style of magnificence
peculiar to Germany.
So far as the balloon was concerned it was not required for an ordinary
ascent, but rather as an aërial chariot to do honour to the “King of
the Feast,” and to afford a panoramic view to as many as obtained
tickets for the privilege of being let up a tolerable altitude over the
heads of the assembled thousands.