The ascent was a splendid success.
The rain that fell damped neither the balloon nor the ardor of
the spectators.
This balloon was 12 feet in diameter, 38 feet in circumference,
and had a capacity of 943 cubic feet. The weight of the
materials of which it was constructed was 25 lbs., and the force
of ascension was that of 35 lbs.
The fall of the balloon was caused by the expansion and
consequent explosion of the hydrogen gas. This event took place
some distance out in the country, close to a number of peasants,
whose terror at the sight and the sound of this strange monster
from the skies was beyond description. The people assembled, and
two monks having told them that the burst balloon was the hide of
a monstrous animal, they immediately began to assail it
vigorously with stones, flails, and pitchforks. The cure of the
parish was obliged to walk up to the balloon to reassure his
terrified flock. They finally attached the burst envelope to a
horse's tail, and dragged it far across the fields.
Many drawings and engravings of the period represent the peasants
armed with pitchforks, flails, and scythes, assailing it, a dog
snapping at it, a garde-champetre firing at it, a fat priest
preaching at it, and a troop of young people throwing stones at
the unfortunate machine.
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