MRS. GILMAN is the cditor of this magazine. Her interest in the history of ballooning grew from her husband's work in the field of balloon research and instrumentation.

Pioneer Aeronaut WILLIAM MARKOE a?td His BALLOON

RHODA R. GILMAN

THE FIRST aerial view of Minnesota was waters of the St. Croix River to the east and achieved on a clear day in September, 1857, the town of Shakopee to the southwest. They when two men in a wicker basket suspended could see "as on a map" the sweeping curve from a balloon gazed down on the frontier of the Mississippi, with St. Anthony, Fort town of St. Paul. It struck them as curious SneUing, "and every settlement and point for that the surrounding country, which to a circle of 25 or 30 miles around." ^ earthbound travelers seemed substantial Though the two adventurers were carried enough, appeared from the aff "like one by the first balloon to rise over Minnesota, vast marsh." The city they had just left and they were scarcely pioneers in the science of the expanse of lakes and ponds around it aerostation. By 1857 ballooning had become looked as though they lay in the bottom of a well-known curiosity of the budding sci­ a huge bowl whose sides sloped gradually entific age. The design and navigation of up to the distant horizon. Delighted and a balloons had been perfected within a sur­ little awed by the view thus spread for the prisingly short time after the first flights first time before human eyes, the balloonists were made in 1783, and though experiments were able as they rose higher to identify the both weird and sensible were tried from time to time, no real improvements had been hit upon. Napoleon had employed the un­ wieldy craft for reconnaissance in 1794, and in the decades that foUowed they had achieved a certain limited military value. Beyond this, no one had thought of a prac­ tical use for them.^ The popular imagination, however, was easily caught by the soaring spheres, and professional aeronauts did a brisk business throughout Europe and the United States

^Daily Minnesotian (St. Paul), September 24, 1857. " J. M. Bacon, The Dominion of the Air: The Story of Aerial Navigation, 42 (Philadelphia, 1903); Charles H. Gibbs-Smith, Ballooning, 19 (London, 1948).

166 MINNESOTA History NiNETEENTH-ceniun/ aeronauts making ready to ascend with their public exhibitions of daring and prosperous Philadelphia family, he decided skill. Some of these navigators were simply to enter the ministry and was ordained in showmen; others were seriously interested 1849. Accompanied by his bride of a few in developing the balloon as an instrument weeks, he took up the duties of a parish in of flight. Few of either type found their Delafield, Wisconsin. Five years later the way to the frontier, for the risks of flying in couple abruptly returned to the East, where, sparsely populated areas were great and within a few months, they announced their the financial returns were small.^ conversion to Catbohcism.'* Thus Minnesota's first balloonists, instead Finding himself with a wife, two small of being professional aeronauts or traveling sons, and no profession, Markoe went to performers, were substantial St. Paul citi­ Wisconsin, sold his property, and then zens, and their craft was a local product, looked toward Minnesota Territory, where having been designed, built, and financed in the land boom of the 1850s was in full swing the city itself. Its owner and pilot was Wil­ and paper fortunes were made overnight. liam Markoe, a former Episcopal clergyman There he saw opportunities that promised and an amateur scientist. "a rich increase of my means." Accordingly, in the month of June, 1856, the family MARKOE was an unusual man from almost moved to St. Paul.' any point of view. Born into a comfortably A palsied right arm prevented Markoe from engaging in regular business, but real •••Gibbs-Smith, Ballooning, 20-26. estate investments and the management of * Markoe Letter Book, September 26, 1856. This rental property yielded an income, while is included in a collection of Markoe family papers owned by Mr. James Markoe of St. Paul, a grandson in his leisure time he turned his attention of the aeronaut. The present article owes much to to a long-suppressed interest in aeronautics. his kindness and co-operation. Copies of all material For despite his earnest, rather retiring dis­ cited are in the Minnesota Historical Society. ° Markoe Letter Book, July 25, 1856. position and the manner of a "high-toned,

December 1962 167 elegant gentleman," WiUiam Markoe nursed reread from time to time, gradually becom­ soaring and unconventional dreams." ing convinced of the invention's workability. As a boy of seventeen he had become ac­ Several years later, while living in Wiscon­ quainted with William PauUin, a weU- sin, he determined to contact Porter and known Philadelphia balloonist, and had find out what progress had been made.^" made one ascension from Camden, New Jer­ The inventor's response was cordial — sey. Writing to PauUin years later he could bubbhng with confidence and enthusiasm. recall "with what zeal I used to hold the His machine was almost ready to launch, cords during inflation and with what a grati­ but, he revealed to Markoe, "his great diffi­ fying boyish sense of self-importance I used culty was want of funds." The young min­ to take part in the management of your as­ ister at once sent him a thousand dollars and censions and order about the gaping boobies soon persuaded several of his relatives to who wanted to help but were rather afraid invest also. A more experienced man might of the big thing; and when I recollect our have been prepared for what followed: ascent together and the whacking bump and "Again and again I received accounts from the upset we got when we struck, I feel him of the progress of the work; again and quite like a boy again." '^ At the same time, again he wrote me that everything was al­ however, a deeper emotion had taken hold most ready; that he was getting ready to of him. The "exquisite delight and happi­ inflate; that in about a month or a week he ness" of sailing tbi-ough the air — of fulfill­ expected to be afloat; but invariably it ing man's age-old dream of fhght — awak­ would follow that some unexpected 'ad­ ened in him a passion for aerial navigation verse circumstance' had knocked the whole and the conviction that in some way he concern on the head until the next season, would play a part in introducing it.* when very much the same series of events No doubt the hand of destiny seemed would be gone through again." Finally present when a few years later in New York Porter became seized with the conviction he witnessed an exhibition by a peripatetic that the Second Advent was at hand, and inventor named Rufus Porter. It consisted gave up work completely.^^ of a model airship, or "aeroport," which its Markoe was philosophical about the originator claimed would carry as many as money lost but bitterly disappointed at the a hundred passengers from New York to California in three days. Designed on some­ ° Thomas M. Newson, Pen Pictures of St. Paul what the same hues as later dirigibles, it and Biographical Sketches of Old Settlers, 592 (St. Paul, 1886). was to be driven by a steam-powered pro­ ' Markoe Letter Book, December 16, 1856. Paul- peller and guided by a rudder. In the course lin's aerial career began in 1833. He is probably best of a fantastically varied career Porter had remembered for six years spent in making ascensions throughout South America, Mexico, and the Carib­ edited several magazines, and he possessed bean. During the Civil War he served as a balloonist nearly as much flair for words as for me­ with the Union Army, making his last ascension un­ chanical devices. He anticipated that "with­ der General Joseph Hooker. Appletons Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 4:682 (New York, 1888). in a few months these aerial machines may ' Markoe Letter Book, September 26, 1856; July be seen soaring in various directions and at 15, 1857. different elevations, some apparently among ° Rufus Porter, Aerial Navigation: The Practica­ bility of Traveling Pleasantly and Safely from Neio or above the clouds, and others, hke swal­ York to California in Three Days, Fully Demon­ lows, sailing leisurly [sic] just above the sur­ strated, 16 (New York, 1849). For biographical face of the earth." ^ information on Porter see Appletons Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 5:79 (New York, 1888). Although Markoe was intrigued, he was His most lasting achievement was founding the in no position to pursue the subject. He did, Scientific American in 1845. He edited the periodi­ however, examine the plans carefully and cal for six months, then sold his interest in it. " Markoe Letter Book, September 26, 1856. take one of Porter's pamphlets, which he " Markoe Letter Book, September 26, 1856.

168 MINNESOTA History A portrait of William Markoe, probably taken in August, 1857

abandonment of the aeroport. He still felt aerial experiments on his own. Paullin was the project was feasible, and soon after his obviously skeptical of Porter's scheme, and arrival in St. Paul he wrote once more to he cannily suggested that Markoe gain some Porter, suggesting, with touching patience, experience in a conventional balloon before that the inventor go to Minnesota, where the launching anything more ambitious.!^ two men could work together on the flying Markoe quickly saw the wisdom of this machine. By that time, however. Porter's advice and set about planning for the con­ fertile brain was occupied in producing a struction of a balloon. It proved to be a whole new crop of marvelous and infallible complicated and difficult project. There gadgets.^- were few experts in the field and they fre­ quently disagreed or were reluctant to share DISCOURAGED, Markoe wrote to his old information with potential rivals. One who friend, PauUin, telling him the story and showed no such narrow attitude was John hinting that he intended to go ahead with Wise of Lancaster, Pennsylvania — proba­ bly the best known American balloonist of '-Markoe Letter Book, July 25, 1856; Porter to the time. Markoe wrote Wise requesting a Markoe, November 15, 1857, in the Markoe family papers. copy of his book, A System of Aeronautics, " Markoe Letter Book, December 16, 1856. and the correspondence which foUowed re­ " Markoe Letter Book, July 15, 1857. For infor­ sulted in a warm friendship between the mation on Wise, see his autobiographical account, Through the Air, A Narrative of Forty 'Years' Expe­ two men. To Wise Markoe confessed that rience as an Aeronaut (Philadelphia, 1873). Mfie- when he revealed to other friends his en­ stones of his career included the invention of the thusiasm for flying "they smile as if they ripping panel (1839) and a flight from St. Louis, Missouri, to Henderson, New York, in 1859. tho't I might be a little cracked." " His fam-

Decemher 1962 169 ily also showed a lack of sympathy, for at found that the varnish would not dry in­ one point his mother tartly informed him doors. In the weeks that followed he was that his devotion to ballooning indicated "a forced to take the gores out one by one on deterioration of character in one who has sunny days and spread them along his gar­ held the dignified position of a minister of den fence.i* the Gospel." 15 Sewing the pieces together presented a Nevertheless Markoe persevered. In Jan­ sticky problem. Wise reported little luck in uary and February, 1857, whfle Minnesota's the use of sewing machines, but Markoe commerce with the world was frozen along was convinced that a satisfactory one could with the waters of the Mississippi, he started be found. After trying a number of them, to buy hardware for his balloon's fittings he ordered a model manufactured by the and found a local basket maker with suffi­ Singer company. But when he put it to work, cient skill to construct a wicker car six feet he found that the glue-like varnish pre­ in diameter. Locating a workman willing to vented the material from feeding properly. make the outsize wooden hoop for its rim The result, time after time, was shattered was more difficult and required "all kinds of needles and torn linen.i** At last he sold the expostulations, entreaties, and blandish­ machine, wrote an indignant letter to the ments." At last, however, the car was ready company, and hired a brigade of seam­ for the final touch: twelve yards of turkey stresses — "four women for the first day, six red and ten yards of green calico, along with for the second, fourteen for the whole of the twelve large green tassels.^^ following week; eleven for another day, In March Markoe built a shed behind his eight for the next three days, and two for house to accommodate the balloon opera­ one and a half more." A final coat of varnish, tions and then began to manufacture the applied by hand over the seams, occupied giant bag. Nineteenth-century balloons were three boys for a full day.^" commonly made of silk or linen, the material being treated with varnish to render it air­ WHEN COMPLETED, early in August, the tight. Preparation of the varnish was a criti­ balloon measured 126 feet in circumference cal step, for the compound had to remain and 50 feet in height.^i Markoe called it the soft and pliable after drying and could not "Minnesota." As the time for its launching contain ingredients that would rot the cloth. drew near, its owner and would-be pilot be­ Paullin generously contributed his formula, gan to have second thoughts. He had pur­ which included, according to the inquuing posely designed it on a large enough scale to reporter of the St. Paul Pioneer and Demo­ carry several people, hoping to share the crat. "About one and a half barrels of lin­ seed oil, a half barrel of other material as ^^ Markoe Letter Book, January 21, 1858. costly, and some thirty or more lbs. of an in­ " Daily Pioneer and Democrat {St. Paul), August 28, 1857; Markoe Day-Book, January 10, 22, 24, gredient rarely found here in larger quanti­ 26, 27, 29, 31; February 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 23, 25; ties at a time than five or six Ibs.''^'' March 25; April 1, 2, 6, 11, 1857, in the Markoe family papers. Before the brew could be applied, how­ " Pioneer and Democrat, August 28, 1857. The ever, some 750 yards of Irish linen were Markoe home stood at what later became the corner painstakingly cut into gores of the proper of St. Peter and Iglehart, approximately the spot now occupied by the Veterans Service Building. shape and size, Markoe having worked out (Interview with Mr. Markoe, June 1, 1961.) Entries the pattern first on lengths of wallpaper. He in the Day-Book reveal some of the unnamed ingre­ also devised a machine for speedily putting dients in the varnish. They included camphene, fith- arge, and acetate of lead. on the varnish and an ingenious set of racks " Markoe Letter Book, June 6, 1857. for drying the material. All went well, and "° Markoe Letter Book, June 6, July 5, 1857; April he regarded his own inventiveness "with 23, 1858. most complacent seff-satisfaction" until he '" Pioneer and Democrat, August 28, 1857. -' Pioneer and Democrat, August 28, 1857.

170 MINNESOTA History BEST ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA.

A sketch of Rufus Porter's proposed "Aerial Transport" cost of ascensions with some of his more ad­ proposed to sell tickets at a dollar each until venturous friends. Now it occurred to him a sum of five hundred dollars had been sub­ that additional money might be made by scribed. The proceeds would be held by a staging public ascensions and charging ad­ disinterested party pending a successful as­ mission. In such a venture the name and cension, in order to assure St. Paul citizens reputation of Wise would be a great advan­ that he had "no disposition to secure the tage, and he proposed that the Pennsylva­ funds, and then fail in his undertaking." -^ nian make the first several flights with him Ticket sales fell far short of the goal, but and share the profits. "The expense of my this apparently did not deter Markoe. What operations has been very heavy on me," he did keep him waiting nearly a month was wrote, "and I must do something to remu­ the construction of St. Paul's first plant for nerate myself; and yet I do not much fancy producing illuminating gas. Work had been undertaking the burden and responsibilities proceeding on it all summer, but not until of a public ascension the first time. Your September 19 did the gas works go into presence and experience would be a great operation. With the problem of inflating his relief to me." -- Apparently Wise toyed with craft thus seemingly solved, the balloonist the idea but in the end decided against it. scheduled his ascension for September 22.^* Nevertheless Markoe felt compelled to go ahead with the plan for a public ascension. THE DAY dawned clear and there was His out-of-pocket expenses had come to al­ scarcely a breath of wind when at 8:00 A.M. most a thousand dollars, and each inflation the crowd began to gather in the yard of would cost him over a hundred more. He the gas works at the corner of Rosabel and Fffth streets. Inflation proceeded slowly, for the capacity of the giant bag strained the ==• Markoe Letter Book, July 15, 1857. ^Pioneer and Democrat, August 28, 1857. output of the new plant, and by 10:30 it =' Christopher C. Andrews, ed.. History of St. was apparent that the balloon could not be Paul, 74 (Syracuse, 1890). Before 1821 balloons were generally inflated with either hot air or hydro­ more than half filled.^® gen. In diat year the use of coal gas (or illuminating Four men were scheduled to make the gas) was introduced. Though less efficient than pure flight: Markoe, WiUiam S. Crawford, a dry hydrogen, it was cheaper and more easily available. Gibbs-Smith, Ballooning, 22, 33. goods merchant, Samuel S. Eaton, an insur­ ^ Minnesotian, September 22, 1857; Pioneer and ance and real estate agent, and H. H. Brown, Democrat, September 23, 1857; Jeremiah C. Dona- a young Philadelphian who, according to hower, "First Balloon Ascension in St. Paul," Don- ahower Papers, in the Possession of the Minnesota Eaton, had been "in the Indian trade." ^^ Historical Society. The shortage of gas eliminated Eaton and ^ Minnesotian, September 24, 1857; Donahower, Brown, and it was further necessary to dis­ "First Balloon Ascension." Eaton's recollections are in the S*. Paul Daily Globe, August 12, 1893. pose of all excess weight in the car, which

December 1962 171 one reporter noticed was "well supplied their balloon, looming huge and round on with provisions and necessaries for a long the field below them. He threw over the journey." Out went ballast, groceries, blan­ grapnel, but a puff of wind caught the sag­ kets— even overcoats. Then, at about 11:00 ging gas bag and pulled it rapidly across A.M. Markoe and Crawford gave the word the stubble. At the end of the field the car to cast off. 2^ hit a fence with a bump that emptied the The yard of the gas works was thronged chicken pie over Crawford's head.^^ with ticket holders who had paid the dollar Markoe, meanwhfle, was calling to a curi­ admission fee, and a crowd estimated at ous but fearful group of farmhands, asking three or four thousand lined the bluff above. them to catch the rope and secure the bal­ A band had been recruited for the occasion, loon. These Norwegian-speaking immi­ and it struck up a "stirring air" as the balloon grants failed to understand, and one of them rose slowly and gracefully into the sky, fol­ started for a gun. His employer, who had lowed by the cheers of those who witnessed seen a balloon before, stopped him. Thus the territory's first aeronautical expedition.^'^ reassured, the men quickly secured the Not far above the city the balloon became ropes and helped the two aeronauts subdue stationary, and ffs occupants had to jettison the flapping monster and fold up the billow­ even more items to lighten it. A three-hun­ ing yards of linen.^^ dred-foot coil of rope and the remaining They found that they had landed on the ballast were thrown over, and the town was farm of William Greaves in Goodhue Coun­ showered with "water, some liquor, and ty about five miles from Cannon Falls. The other refreshment." At last the aeronauts balloon was undamaged, and, in fact, the were rewarded by once more seeing the only casualty of the trip was Crawford's earth sink away below them; a northerly gravy-soaked Prince Albert suit. Their host current of air caught the balloon, and they at once hitched up his team, loaded aero­ drifted off across the Mississippi in the di­ nauts, car, and balloon into his wagon, and rection of Hastings.-® drove them to Hastings, where they were The day continued fine, and the two men had no cause to regret the overcoats they ^ Pioneer and Democrat, September 23, 1857. had left behind. They experienced the "de­ ^ Minnesotian, September 24, 1857; Pioneer and Democrat, September 23, 1857. Markoe's Day-Book licious sensation" of calm that is peculiar includes an entry listing "Music for ascension at gas to balloon travel: an illusion of hanging mo­ works — $45.00." tionless in a silent sea of air, while a chang­ ™ Minnesotian, September 24, 1857. The coil of rope had probably been intended for use as a "drag ing panorama of farms, lakes, and forests line" — a device frequently employed by early bal­ slipped past beneath them.^" loonists when traveling at low altitudes. Trailing Noon found them above Hastings, from from the car to the ground, it helped to keep the balloon at a steady height, for should the craft de­ which a freshening breeze carried them scend, more of the rope would rest on the ground, westward over the valley of the Cannon lessening the weight and allowing the balloon to rise River. As their speed seemed to be increas­ again. Equilibrium was thus maintained without constantly discharging small amounts of ballast and ing and the area of continuous settlement gas. Gibbs-Smith, Ballooning, 34, 37. did not extend far in that direction, Markoe " Minnesotian, September 24, 1857. decided to bring their craft down and end "^ Minnesotian, September 24, 1857; Donahower, "First Balloon Ascension." On later reflection Mar­ the voyage. He pulled the valve rope while ko 2 felt that the difficulties of this landing were his companion prepared for lunch, taking increased by the fact that he had attached the grap­ out a large pan of chicken pie thoughtfully nel rope to the "concentrating hoop" or load ring, thus giving a jerking, twisting motion to the car. provided by Mrs. Markoe. This proved a Writing to Wise, he confessed that "For some mo­ mistake, for the descent was rapid and they ments I was bewildered, blinded, stunned." Letter had scarcely begun to eat when Markoe, Book, April 23, 1858. glancing over the side, saw the shadow of ^' Minnesotian, September 24, 1857; Pioneer and Democrat, September 24, 1857.

172 MINNESOTA History just in time to catch the steamer "Frank Joseph N. Nicollet and was loaned to the Steele" on its way up the river to St. Paul.'*^ balloonist by the Minnesota Historical So- ciety.^^ The ascension it was to measure THE FLIGHT had covered a distance of took place on October 8, 1857, from the forty-five miles and lasted an hour and a grounds of the Third Annual Territorial Fair half. "Thirty miles an hour!" marveled the in the square before the Capitol. editor of St. Paul's Daily Minnesotian. For its second voyage the "Minnesota" "Commend us to the balloon for fast travel­ was inflated at the gas works and towed to ing, after all." •'* As to the altitude reached, the fair grounds. The gas problem must have there was considerable speculation and dis­ been at least partially solved, for this time agreement. With no instruments whatever, there was sufficient lift to carry three passen­ the aeronauts could only guess at their dis­ gers. Markoe took with him the two men tance aloft, and they placed their highest who had been forced to stay behind on the point at about three mlies. A correspondent first ascension. Weather conditions were not of the Minnesotian took issue sharply, not­ the best, for a steady southwest breeze ing that "A view from a point three-fourths promised to carry the balloon quickly out­ of a mile high, in a country like ours, un­ side the line of settlement and over the wil­ broken by mountains, should have a radius derness to the northeast. Therefore Markoe of about fifty miles, which is quite as much planned only a brief flight, and the supplies as the passengers in the 'Minnesota' claim, were limited to "a hamper of provisions and and of course as much as they enjoyed." ^^ a case of Beaumont & Gordon's best."^^ He also argued that at a height of three miles At 10:30 A.M., before the governor and the travelers would have needed their over­ an assemblage of distinguished citizens, the coats— and more modern scientists might aeronauts "received the adieus of their add that they would have begun to need friends without emotion" and stepped into oxygen. the car. The ropes were let go and the bal­ Perhaps it was because of this discussion loon rose majestically into the air, disappear­ that Markoe carried a "mountain barometer'' ing in the dffection of White Bear Lake.^* when he made his second flight. The instru­ ment had been the property of the explorer AFTER about half an hour Markoe, accord­ ing to plan, opened the valve, and they ^ Minnesotian, September 24, 1857; Donahower, started to descend. The landing was compli­ "First BaUoon Ascension." cated, however, by the wooded nature of *' Minnesotian, September 24, 1857. the country. A clear space was finally ^ Minnesotian, September 25, 1857. '^ Minnesotian, October 9, 1857. The society has spotted, and the pilot tried to bring his craft no record of making this early loan in the cause down within it by valving more gas. He was of science, but the barometer is still in its possession. defeated by the wind, which threatened to *' Globe, August 12,1893. According to an adver­ tisement in the Pioneer and Democrat for October drive the balloon into the trees on the edge 9, 1857, Beaumont and Gordon dealt in "Groceries of the opening. All ballast was frantically & Provisions, Wines, Liquors fit Cigars." dumped overboard, and the balloon rose "^ Globe, August 12, 1893; Minnesotian, October 9, 1857. quickly.^® '^Minnesotian, October 10, 1857. The "Minne­ On the second try, in another clearing, the sota" had one six-inch valve and one twelve-inch valve, the larger one being intended for rapid defla­ same trouble occurred, but having no bal­ tion upon landing. Obviously it was inadequate. last left, the crew were powerless to raise Markoe later added a second twelve-inch valve, the balloon. The car settled momentarily in which he apparently preferred to the idea of a "rip­ ping panel," whereby a whole section of the balloon the top of an oak tree, tangling the net and could be torn away for immediate deflation. Letter tearing loose the valve ropes. It then Book, July 5, 1857; April 23, 1858. bounced upward and descended again, this '° Pioneer and Democrat, October 9, 10, 1857; Minnesotian, October 10, 1857. time in a marshy pond.*"

December 1962 173 A wind-blown descent in wooded country

Here the accounts of the balloonists be­ port upon arrival there produced some come confused and contradictory. It is only anxiety over the other two balloonists.*^ too evident that they were excited and that This was not altogether unfounded, for things happened quickly. Grappling irons soaring upward, Markoe and Brown discov­ were thrown over, but either there was diffi­ ered that because of the broken valve ropes culty in securing them or the ropes broke. they were powerless to release more gas They reached the edge of the water, and and come down again. Meanwhile the wind Eaton (possibly at Markoe's request, but was taking them ever farther into the wil­ most probably not) committed the cardinal derness. It was a distinctly unpleasant sit­ error in balloon navigation: he jumped out uation. of the car to tie the rope. Relieved of 160 Looking upward, they could see the end pounds, the balloon shot upward like an of one rope dangling from the neck of the arrow. Eaton himself seems to have been balloon, some fifteen feet over their heads. uncertain whether the rope broke or tore Brown, being the younger of the two, vol­ through his hands. In either case, he clung unteered to try and reach it. He took the to it long enough to hear Markoe's shouted end of the broken section in his teeth and order that he stay with them — a command climbed up the ropes as far as the wooden he found "quite impracticable to follow" as hoop, or load ring, which gathered in the he sat in the tall grass watching his compan­ lines below the balloon. Hoisting himself ions disappear over the treetops.^^ through the hoop, he secured a foothold on Concluding that the others were well on it, and standing up, dizzily suspended in theff way to "the Rritish Possessions," Eaton mid-air, succeeded in knotting the two ends picked himseff up and set out to discover of the valve cord together.*^ where he was. The spot at which he had been dropped proved to be near Forest " Minnesotian, October 9, 10, 1857; Pioneer and Lake, and he was forced to trudge wearily Democrat, October 9, 10, 1857. all the way to White Bear Lake before find­ '- Minnesotian, October 9, 10, 1857. '•'Minnesotian, October 10, 1857; Pioneer and ing a horse to carry him to St. Paul. His re­ Democrat, October 10, 1857.

174 MINNESOTA History By then they had reached a considerable several hours in a fruitless search for him, height. Markoe guessed it at two or three they loaded the remains of the precious bal­ miles but admitted that he had been too loon in a farmer's wagon and set out for St. busy to take readings. With the valve cord Paul. There they arrived shortly after their repaff-ed, the aeronauts descended quickly footsore companion.*'' and landed unceremoniously in a dense wood. The car caught in the branches of a THE SECOND ASCENSION with ffs peril­ tree, to which they tied it securely and re­ ous mishaps proved a fitting climax for the mained until all the gas had escaped and territorial fair. In a longer view it also cli­ the balloon had collapsed. Their shouts for maxed the feverish boom years of the 1850s help were soon answered by a nearby during which St. Paul grew from a back­ farmer, who had seen the balloon descend woods village to an aspiring metropolis, and was trying to locate it. Getting down whose dreams reached to the sky and whose themselves was no problem, but disentan­ feet were mired in the ankle-deep mud of its gling the balloon from the branches proved sidewalks. With the economic crash which a long chore. Before they finished, two or swept the country in the autumn of 1857, three trees had been cut down and the linen these dreams collapsed as completely as any bag was somewhat torn.** punctured balloon. 'They found themselves in eastern Anoka Like most other St. Paulites, Markoe suf­ County, four or five miles from the spot fered financially from the effects of the where Eaton had been left. After spending panic, but he clung to the hope of making further aerial experiments and during the " Minnesotian, October 10, 1857; Pioneer and winter succeeded in reconditioning and en­ Democrat, October 10, 1857. larging the "Minnesota." In May, 1858, he ^'^ Minnesotian, October 10, 1857; Pioneer and Democrat, October 10, 1857. petitioned the city council for permission to

A common predicament of early aeronauts

December 1962 175 erect a wooden enclosure for his balloon Thus ended the "Minnesota." Either Mar­ work and to charge admission in order to koe's energy or his resources failed, for he defray part of the cost, "Although the inten­ never tried again. He had nevertheless tion in this plan is not, strictly understood, achieved for a brief time the substance of to hold a mere exhibition."*'' his dream — more, perhaps, than is granted Permission was granted, and a board to most men with such lofty visions. As he fence was put up near the Fuller House on had written to his friend, PauUin, on Sep­ the northeast corner of Jackson and Seventh tember 26, 1856: "neither money nor the streets. The first ascension of the new sea­ glory of the thing is my object; it is simply son was postponed several times because of the delight of the thing itself." unfavorable weather, but finally, on a Sat­ Minnesota, like other areas, saw many urday morning in early June, Markoe de­ balloon ascensions for entertainment and cided that the conditions were right. As the sport tlirough the rest of the nineteenth cen­ huge bag slowly swelled with gas, the wind tury, but it was nearly a hundred years began to rise, and by the time the inflation before an increased interest in the upper at­ was completed a near gale was blowing. Un­ mosphere aided by the introduction of plas­ willing to disappoint his audience and lose tic brought real scientific importance to his large investment in gas, Markoe per­ man's oldest means of flight. When, at that sisted, but before the car could be attached, time, the state for which Markoe named his a fierce gust caught the balloon. In the craft gained world prominence as a cen­ words of the Daily Minnesotian for June 7, ter of balloon manufacturing and flying, it 1858: "The leviathan flopped and struggled, had good reason to recall its earliest aerial and swayed down to the ground . . . but pioneer. so firmly was it held at a hundred points, it could not yield to the blast, and a monstrous " Markoe Letter Book, May 17, 1858. rent was torn top to bottom in the linen, THE PORTRAIT on page 169 is used through the letting out the gas in a moment, and the courtesy of Mr. James Markoe. The sketch on page folds of the material fell like a cloud on the 171 is from the back cover of Porter's pamphlet, spectators, while the escaping gas nearly cited elsewhere, and all other pictures are from James Glaisher, ed.. Travels in the Air (Philadel­ suffocated those nearest it." phia, 1871).

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