I pushed it back, and leaped down to the
ground. Looking round and expecting to see the balloon still
distended, I was astonished to find it quite empty and flattened.
On looking for Roziers I saw him in his shirt-sleeves creeping
out from under the mass of canvas that had fallen over him.
Before attempting to descend he had put off his coat and placed
it in the basket. After a deal of trouble we were at last all
right.
"As Roziers was without a coat I besought him to go to the
nearest house. On his way thither he encountered the Duke of
Chartres, who had followed us, as we saw, very closely, for I had
had the honour of conversing with him the moment before we set
out."
The following report of this first aerial voyage was drawn up by
scientific observers, among other signatures to it being that of
Benjamin Franklin.
"Today 21st of October, 1783, at the Chateau de la Muette, an
experiment was made with the aerostatic machine of M.
Montgolfier. The sky was clouded in many parts, clear in
others--the wind north-west. At mid-day a signal was given,
which announced that the balloon was being filled. Soon after,
in spite of the wind, it was inflated in all its parts, and the
ascent was made.
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