Famed Aeronaut Landed His Awe-Inspiring Balloon in Pelham Waters on July 7, 1866
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What a grand and awe-inspiring sight the fifteen hundred residents of the little Town of Pelham experienced on Saturday, July 7, 1866. Those lucky ones who gazed skyward saw the great Thaddeus Sobieski Constantine Lowe, known as Professor T.S.C. Lowe, in his massive hot air balloon as it descended from the heavens directly above the little town. Clearly the famous and massive balloon was descending. The question buzzing through Pelham at the time must have been "where would Professor Lowe and his balloon come down?"
Professor Lowe was an internationally-renowned American Civil War "aeronaut" (i.e., balloonist), scientist, and inventor. Born on August 20, 1832, by the 1850s Lowe already was widely-known for his advances in the fields of meteorology and aeronautics. His scientific career, however, was cut short by the onset of the American Civil War.
During that war, Lowe offered his services as an "aeronaut" and helped develop the concept of aerial reconnaisance as part of military operations. In July, 1861, President Lincoln appointed Lowe the "Chief Aeronaut" of the Union Army Balloon Corps. According to one brief biography of Lowe: "Though his work was generally successful, it was not fully appreciated by all members of the military, and disputes over his operations and pay scale forced him to resign in 1863. Lowe returned to the private sector and continued his scientific exploration of hydrogen gas manufacturing." Source: "Thaddeus S.C. Lowe" in Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia (visited Jan. 2, 2017).
After the Civil War, Professor T.S.C. Lowe opened an "Aeronautic Amphitheatre" on the west side of Manhattan near Central Park. The extensive facility with grandstands, concessions, and other amenities, was located at West 59th Street and 6th Avenue. There Lowe staged hot air balloon exhibitions, offered tethered balloon rides for a fee ranging from $1 to $3, offered sky-high gymnastics performances by trapeze artists and others hanging from balloons, and presented concerts, military parades, fireworks, and other crowd-pleasing antics to the delight of thousands of New Yorkers. At the time, interest in aeronautics and ballooning was becoming a passion among New Yorkers. Professor Lowe leveraged that passion into a business that attracted attention throughout the world and made him even more famous. Indeed, in July, 1866, "Lowe's Aeronautic Amphitheatre" and the science of aeronautics were becoming so successful that Lowe began publishing a monthly newspaper known as Lowe's Balloon Pictorial (see cover of first issue below).
On Saturday, July 7, 1866, Professor Lowe invited a reporter (likely from the New York Herald) to join him in an untethered balloon flight taking off from Lowe's Aeronautic Amphitheatre. The day was quite hot and, as usual, crowds gathered to watch the spectacle of balloon flight.
Lowe's balloon was christened the "United States." It was a giant gas bag about eighty feet in diameter, emblazoned with an image of the globe with an American Eagle perched atop the earth and with Lowe's likeness plastered across the image of the globe and an image of the American Flag draped down the side of the globe. The gas bag was covered in cord-netting that extended downward beneath the balloon to a massive gondola capable of carrying a group of people. The image immediately below, from an issue of Harper's Weekly published only months before the July 7th voyage, shows the "United States." Professor Lowe is standing in the middle of the group depicted in the inset on the upper left of the image.
Engraving of Professor Lowe and His Balloon, United States,
Taking Off from Lowe's Aeronautic Ampitheater Near Central Park.
Prof. Lowe is the Tallest Figure of the Three in the Upper Left Inset.
"THE BALLOON BRIDAL PARTY STARTING ON ITS AERIAL TOUR
FROM PROF. LOWE'S AMPITHEATRE, CENTRAL PARK, NOVEMBER
5, 1865." Source: Harper's Weekly, Nov. 25, 1865, p. 745.
NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.
Professor Lowe and the reporter took off in the balloon on that Saturday afternoon and began drifting high above the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. The balloon floated off toward the northeast. Lowe had told colleagues that he would fly the balloon for the afternoon and land the airship by 6:00 p.m.
Rising quickly, the "United States" floated high into the sky and drifted out over the East River. Soon the balloon floated high above Long Island Sound where, according to some reports, it next hung motionless for several hours. Surely residents of City Island and Pelham, as well as residents of much of Long Island, stood gazing at the skies above Long Island Sound, mouths agape and shaking their heads at the marvel of modern technology.
After a time, the balloon began to descend until it reached an "undercurrent" that blew it toward Fort Schuyler at the tip of Throggs Neck, adjacent to Eastchester Bay and near Pelham Bridge. The appointed time for landing, 6:00 p.m., came and went. Still, the balloon floated above Long Island Sound. As the balloon continued its descent toward the calm waters below, Professor Lowe joked to the reporter that he could land the balloon in the waters of the Sound and use the gas bag to "sail" the balloon across the water. According to multiple accounts, the pair agreed to try the stunt and fortified themselves with bottles of "refreshments" they had brought on board at the start of their journey.
Once the balloon had descended to a point about one hundred feet above Pelham Bay, Professor Lowe used a valve to allow sufficient gas to escape and lowered the balloon into the waters of Pelham Bay. The balloon landed in the midst of the "white sails of a hundred pleasure boats" while "along the shore tourists in costumes light as air lazily held fishing rods" while watching the spectacle.
Immediately a "dozen skiffs were put off with friendly offers of assistance to the balloonists." The pair waved off the boats as Professor Lowe handled the now-water-borne craft. As the wind caught the partially deflated gas bag, the airship began skimming the surface of the water "with the grace of a bird." According to one account, "[d]espite the trifling inconvenience of wet jackets and spoiled provisions, the sail, although of short duration, was thoroughly enjoyable."
Back in Manhattan and on much of the mainland, observers grew alarmed as they watched the airship descend toward the waters of Long Island Sound. Many feared Professor Thaddeus Sobieski Constantine Lowe and his famous airship, the "United States," were lost. What those spectators could not see was the rescue that followed.
Within minutes of the water landing and the brief "sail" of the airship, "the balloon was surrounded by boats." The boats and their occupants rowed Professor Lowe, the reporter, and the waterlogged balloon to City Island where the group prepared themselves and the balloon for a return to New York City and Lowe's Aeronautic Amphitheatre.
Some newspapers reported breathlessly that Lowe, his balloon, and passenger were "lost." One reported that although Lowe had agreed to land by 6:00 p.m., the balloon was still floating above Long Island Sound well into Saturday evening and, by Sunday, no one had yet heard from Professor Lowe or the reporter.
City Island in the Town of Pelham may have seemed distant from Manhattan to most New Yorkers, but it was only about fourteen miles from the Aeronautic Amphitheatre. Thus, Professor Lowe, his balloon, and the reporter soon returned to New York to the relief of all who had tickets to attend upcoming balloon exhibitions at Lowe's Aeronautic Amphitheatre. . . .
Cover of the First Issue of Professor Lowe's Balloon
Pictorial, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Jul. 1866). Professor Lowe is
Depicted on the Cover with a Tethered Balloon at His
Ampitheater in the Background. NOTE: Click on
Image to Enlarge.
Undated Photograph of Professor T.S.C. Lowe Taken
in About 1890. Source: Huntington Digital Library,
"Professor T.S.C. Lowe" by Charles C. Pierce (1861-
1946), The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and
Botanical Gardens, Photo Archives, Unique Digital
Identifier 35009. NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.
"Harry Leslie's Gymnastic Feat Over Lowe's
Aeronautic Ampitheatre, New York City,
September 30, 1865, Artist's Impression."
Source: Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper,
Oct. 21, 1865, p. 68. NOTE: Click on Image
to Enlarge.
July 11, 1866 Advertisement for Professor Lowe's
Aeronautic Amphitheatre. Source: PROF. LOWE'S
AERONAUTIC AMPHITHEATRE [Advertisement],
N.Y. Times, Jul. 11, 1866, p. 7 col. 6 (Note: Paid
subscription required to access via this link). NOTE:
Click on Image to Enlarge.
To facilitate search, the text of the advertisement immediately above appears immediately below:"PROF. LOWE'S AERONAUTIC AMPHITHEATRE.
59th-st. and 6th-av., Central Park. BALLOON ASCENSION. Prie of Ascension from $1 to $3. HARRY LESLIE in his wonderful feats. Orchestral concert on WEDNESDAY, at 2 P.M. Open every day. Admission 25 cents."
* * * * *
Below is the text of a number of articles that form the basis of today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog. Each is followed by a citation and link to its source.
“BY AIR AND WATER.
-----
Novel Experiences in a Balloon – It ‘Lands’ in the Water and Sails Along the Bay – The Sound, the Ships, the Scenery, &c.
The tuft-hunting Boswell ‘posed’ Dr. Johnson completely when he asked, ‘Pray, sir, what should you do if you were shut up with a baby in a tower?’ It wasn’t the tower that bothered the crusty old Doctor so much as the baby, and so, not having had much experience in the management of infants who pass their monage in a chronic state of stomach-ache and congestion of the brain, he replied, ‘Hold your tongue, sir!’ But what if he had been asked how he could manage a balloon? Bozzy would have had him there. And not alone Dr. Johnson, for there are thousands who never see a balloon in the air without indulging in such epithets as ‘rash’ and ‘foolhardy,’ and thanking Heaven for leaving them just sufficient sense to remain on the earth. And yet ballooning is simple enough; and the concise narrative which follows will show that under any probable circumstances the risk to life and limb is comparatively slight: --
On Saturday last Professor Lowe and anther gentleman – the ‘pup Alexander’ was at Saratoga for the benefit of his health – started on an aerial excursion in the balloon ‘United States’ from the Aeronautic amphitheatre, at the Park. The day was favorable in every respect, and the weather was so hot that the prospect of a cool breeze in mid air lent an additional charm to the ascent. Rising with stately grace from among the trees of the Park, the voyagers had the satisfaction of seeing with gradually expanding beauty the magnificent panorama which lay at their feet. The mighty city, throbbing through all its daedalian [sic] arteries with the giant pulsations of business life; the winding rivers, glittering like a myriad of diamonds in the rays of the sun, and gradually converging into one vast expanse of shining sea; the beautiful Park, studded with trees and temples, and intersected by shining white pathways which looked no wider than a string of whipcord; the noble mountains seemingly incorporate with clouds and lining the horizon like the background of a picture; the skies themselves alternate white and blue, reflecting here and there the gleaming of the setting sun – all these gave to the travelers sensations of wonder and delight. The littleness of man is a legitimate subject of his own speculation, and the only reason why he does not more frequently derive profit from the exercise is that he prefers, for the most part, to consider the littleness of others. But in this respect alone a voyage in a balloon is of inestimable value. When mighty buildings and noble bridges begin to appear insignificant – nay, when a whole capital lies, as it were, within a span at his feet, man is apt to bethink him of his trifling self.
Going swiftly in a northeasterly direction, the good air-ship United States, with its dauntless skipper ever at its helm, rapidly passed the bounds of the city, and at a height of two miles and a half crossed the East river and stood motionless over Long Island Sound. Here it commenced to descend slowly, when, striking the under current, it was again driven towards the neighborhood of Fort Schuyler. Then the Professor jocularly proposed to his companion to try a sail in the balloon on the water, and, after having refreshed themselves from divers [sic] bottles which had been provided for the contingency of either of the voyagers getting thirsty – not an improbable one on such a day – they decided to attempt the sail. Gradually losing its buoyancy as a consequence of the valve being opened, the inflated monster neared the earth. Trees, houses, ships, and the water itself, which had appeared so insignificant a minute before, gradually grew in size and importance, until it seemed as though the balloon were about to sink into the bowels of the earth; but when within a hundred feet of the surface the buoy was lowered into Pelham bay.
Here one of the most picturesque sights it is possible to imagine was presented. The white sails of a hundred pleasure boats were moving slowly along the calm surface of the water, while along the shore tourists in costumes light as air lazily held fishing rods with quiet enjoyment. A dozen skiffs were put off with friendly offers of assistance to the balloonists; but the air ship itself skimmed the surface of the water with the grace of a bird. Despite the trifling inconvenience of wet jackets and spoiled provisions, the sail, although of short duration, was thoroughly enjoyable. In a few minutes after this peculiar ‘landing,’ the balloon was surrounded by boats, and, taking advantage of the friendliness of their occupants, the aerial travellers got into one of them and were rowed in triumph to Island City [sic], Westchester county.”
Source: BY AIR AND WATER -- Novel Experiences in a Balloon – It ‘Lands’ in the Water and Sails Along the Bay – The Sound, the Ships, the Scenery, &c., N.Y. Herald, Jul. 10, 1866, p. 5, col. 4.
"PROFESSOR LOWE SAFE. -- We announced a day or two ago that Professor Low had made an ascent in his balloon, and had not since been heard of. The New York Herald says that, going swiftly in a northeasterly direction, the good air-ship United States, with its dauntless skipper ever at its helm, rapidly passed the bounds of the city, and at a height of two miles and a half crossed the East river and stood motionless over Long Island sound. Here he commenced to descend slowly, when, striking the under-current, it was again driven towards the neighborhood of Fort Schuyler. Then the Professor jocularly proposed to his companion to try a sail in the balloon on the water; and after having refreshed themselves from divers [sic] bottles, which had been provided for the contingency of either of the voyagers getting thirsty – not an improbable one on such a day – they decided to attempt the sail. Gradually losing its buoyancy us a consequence of the valve being opened, the inflated monster neared the earth. Trees, houses, ships, and the water itself, which had appeared so insignificant a minute before, gradually grew in in size and importance, until it seemed as though the balloon were about to sink into the bowels of the earth; but when within a hundred feet of the surface the buoy was lowered into Pelham bay.
Here one of the most picturesque sights it is possible to imagine was presented. The white sails of an hundred pleasure boats were moving slowly along the calm surface of the water, while along the shore tourists in costumes light as air lazily held fishing rods with quiet enjoyment. A dozen skiffs were put off with friendly offers of assistance to the balloonists; but the air-ship itself skimmed the surface of the water with the grace of a bird. Despite the trifling inconvenience of wet jackets and spoiled provisions, the sail, although of short duration, was thoroughly enjoyable. In a few minutes alter this peculiar J ‘landing,’ the balloon was surrounded by boats, and, taking advantage of the friendliness of their occupants, the aerial travellers got into one of them, and were rowed in triumph to Island City [sic], Westchester county.”
Source: PROFESSOR LOWE SAFE, The Daily Dispatch [Richmond, VA], Jul. 12, 1866, p. 3, col. 3.
"A BALLOON ON THE WATER. -- On the 7th inst. Professor Lowe and another gentleman started on an aerial excursion in the balloon 'United States,' from the Aeronautic Ampitheatre, at the Park, New York. After some time, while the balloon was over Long Island Sound, the professor jocularly proposed to his companion to try a sail in the balloon on the water, and after having refreshed themselves from divers bottles which had been provided for the contingency of either of the voyagers getting thirsty -- they decided to attempt the sail. 'Gradually,' the account says, 'losing its buoyancy as a consequence of the valve being opened, the inflated monster neared the earth. Trees, houses, ships, and the water itself, which had appeared so insignificant a minute before, gradually grew in size and importance, until it seemed as though the balloon were about to sink into the bowels of the earth; but when within 100 feet of the surface the buoy was lowered into Pelham Bay. Here one of the most picturesque sights it is possible to imagine was presented. The white sails of 100 pleasure boats were moving slowly along the calm surface of the water, while along the shore tourists in costumes light as air, lazily held fishing rods with quiet enjoyment. A dozen skiffs were put off with friendly offers of assistance to the balloonists; but the air ship itself skimmed the surface of the water with the grace of a bird. Despite the trifling inconvenience of wet jackets and spoiled provisions, the sail, although of short duration, was thoroughly enjoyable. In a few minutes after this peculiar 'landing,' the balloon was surrounded by boats, and taking advantage of the friendliness of their occupants, the aerial travellers got into one of them, and were rowed in triumph to Island City [sic], Westchester county."
Source: A BALLOON ON THE WATER, The Irish Times [Dublin, Ireland], Jul. 26, 1866, p. 4, col. 8 (Note: Paid subscription required to access via this link).
"NEW YORK LETTER. . . . On last Saturday the great aeronaut, Professor LOWE, made a grand detached balloon ascension, and went up pretty high. He remained up for several hours, and then coming down in Pelham Bay, was himself again, being once more low. The Professor was picked up by the crew of a little skiff and conveyed in safety to Island City [sic], Westchester County. . . ."
Source: NEW YORK LETTER, The Charleston Daily News [Charleston, SC], Jul. 14, 1866, p. 2, col. 4 (Note: Paid subscription required to access via this link).
“—Ballooning is the rage in New York just now. Lowe makes daily ascensions; Mr. Andrews tries his ‘flying ship,’ to see if his improvements will enable him to sail against the wind; Mons. Buislay ascends with his fire balloon, and entertains the people with curious gyrations in the air. Professor Wood was to go up from Brooklyn yesterday, and propose to return in three days. How he will keep his balloon in the air so long, and control it, is not apparent. Professor Lowe, who, as reported, was supposed to be lost on his recent trip, has returned to the city. His balloon remained nearly stationary for three hours over Long Island Sound; and much gas having escaped, he was let down into the water of Pelham bay, but was rescued by men in boats, who took him and his balloon to Island City [sic].”
Source: [Untitled], Troy Daily Times [Troy, NY], Vol. XV, No. 14, Jul. 11, 1866, p. 2, cols. 5-6.
"On Saturday afternoon, Lowe, the poor balloonist, made an ascension in his mammoth balloon from near the Central Park, N.Y., accompanied by a reporter. When he left the understanding was that he would descend at 6 p.m. of that day. When last seen by the agent on Saturday evening the balloon was thought to be over Long Island Sound. At a late hour on Sunday night nothing had been heard of either the balloon or the party who went up in it."
Source: [Untitled], National Republican [Washington, D.C.], Jul. 11, 1866, p. 2, col. 4 (Note: Paid subscription required to access via this link).
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Labels: 1866, Balloon, Balloonist, Hot Air Balloon, Long Island Sound, Professor T.S.C. Lowe, Thaddeus Sobieski Constaintine Lowe, Transportation
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