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THE FIRST PART OF THIS WORK, AND SERVING AS A PREFACE TO THE SECOND
During the year 186-, the whole world was greatly excited by a scientific
experiment unprecedented in the annals of science.
The members of the Gun Club, a circle of artillerymen formed at
Baltimore after the American war, conceived the idea of putting themselves in
communication with the moon!-- yes, with the moon-- by sending to her a
projectile. Their president, Barbicane, the promoter of the enterprise,
having consulted the astronomers of the Cambridge Observatory upon the
subject, took all necessary means to ensure the success of this extraordinary
enterprise, which had been declared practicable by the majority
FROM EARTH TO THE MOON
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97
of competent judges. After setting on foot a public subscription, which
realized nearly L1,200,000, they began the gigantic work.
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According to the advice forwarded from the members of the
Observatory, the gun destined to launch the projectile had to be fixed in a
country situated between the 0 and 28th degrees of north or south latitude, in
order to aim at the moon when at the zenith; and its initiatory velocity was
fixed at twelve thousand yards to the second. Launched on the 1st of
December, at 10hrs.
46m. 40s. P.M., it ought to reach the moon four days after its departure, that
is on the 5th of December, at midnight precisely, at the moment of her
attaining her perigee, that is her nearest distance from the earth, which is
exactly 86,410
leagues (French), or 238,833 miles mean distance (English).
The principal members of the Gun Club, President Barbicane, Major Elphinstone,
the secretary Joseph T. Maston, and other learned men, held several meetings,
at which the shape and composition of the projectile were discussed, also the
position and nature of the gun, and the quality and quantity of powder to be
used. It was decided: First, that the projectile should be a shell made of
aluminum with a diameter of 108 inches and a thickness of twelve inches to its
walls; and should weigh
19,250 pounds. Second, that the gun should be a Columbiad cast in iron, 900
feet long, and run perpendicularly into the earth. Third, that the charge
should contain 400,000 pounds of gun-cotton, which, giving out six billions of
litres of gas in rear of the projectile, would easily carry it toward the orb
of night.
These questions determined President Barbicane, assisted by
Murchison the engineer, to choose a spot situated in Florida, in
27@ 7' North latitude, and 77@ 3' West (Greenwich) longitude.
It was on this spot, after stupendous labor, that the Columbiad was cast with
full success. Things stood thus, when an incident took place which increased
the interest attached to this great enterprise a hundredfold.
A Frenchman, an enthusiastic Parisian, as witty as he was bold, asked to be
enclosed in the projectile, in order that he might reach the moon, and
reconnoiter this terrestrial satellite.
The name of this intrepid adventurer was Michel Ardan. He landed in America,
was received with enthusiasm, held meetings, saw himself carried in triumph,
reconciled President Barbicane to his mortal enemy, Captain Nicholl, and, as a
token of reconciliation, persuaded them both to start with him in the
projectile. The proposition being accepted, the shape of the projectile was
slightly altered. It was made of a cylindro-conical form. This species of
aerial car was lined with strong springs and partitions to deaden the shock of
departure.
It was provided with food for a year, water for some months, and gas for some
days. A self-acting apparatus supplied the three travelers with air to
breathe. At the same time, on one of the highest points of the Rocky
Mountains, the Gun Club had a gigantic telescope erected, in order that they
might be able to follow the course of the projectile through space. All was
then ready.
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On the 30th of November, at the hour fixed upon, from the midst of an
extraordinary crowd of spectators, the departure took place, and for the first
time, three human beings quitted the terrestrial globe, and launched into
inter-planetary space with almost a certainty of reaching their destination.
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These bold travelers, Michel Ardan, President Barbicane, and Captain Nicholl,
ought to make the passage in ninety-seven hours, thirteen minutes, and twenty
seconds. Consequently, their arrival on the lunar disc could not take place
until the 5th of December at twelve at night, at the exact moment when the
moon should be full, and not on the
4th, as some badly informed journalists had announced.
But an unforeseen circumstance, viz., the detonation produced by the
Columbiad, had the immediate effect of troubling the terrestrial atmosphere,
by accumulating a large quantity of vapor, a phenomenon which excited
universal indignation, for the moon was hidden from the eyes of the watchers
for several nights.
The worthy Joseph T. Maston, the staunchest friend of the three travelers,
started for the Rocky Mountains, accompanied by the
Hon. J. Belfast, director of the Cambridge Observatory, and reached the
station of Long's Peak, where the telescope was erected which brought the moon
within an apparent distance of two leagues. The honorable secretary of the
Gun Club wished himself to observe the vehicle of his daring friends.
The accumulation of the clouds in the atmosphere prevented all observation on
the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th of December.
Indeed it was thought that all observations would have to be put off to the 3d
of January in the following year; for the moon entering its last quarter on
the 11th, would then only present an ever-decreasing portion of her disc,
insufficient to allow of their following the course of the projectile.
At length, to the general satisfaction, a heavy storm cleared the atmosphere
on the night of the 11th and 12th of December, and the moon, with
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