Chapter 2 Chapter two
An article in The Daily Telegraph
——Controversy between academic journals
— Dr. Peterman supporting his friend Dr. Ferguson
—Scholar Cornell's reply
——Everyone is betting
——Various suggestions for Dr.
The next day, January 15th, this issue of the Daily Telegraph carried a brilliant article:
"Africa is finally about to reveal the secrets of its vast wilderness. A modern day will tell us the mystery that 60 centuries of scholars and literati have failed to understand. In the past, the search for the source of the Nile (fontes Niliquoereres) was always regarded as whimsical, one that could not be realized dream.
"The road followed and blazed by the Doctor went as far as the Sudan; the Doctor made repeated indefatigable surveys from the Cape of Good Hope to the Zambezia Basin; the Captain and the Captain discovered the Great Inland Lake; they opened three roads for modern civilization. The intersection of the three roads It is the heart of Africa. But so far no traveler has been able to set foot in this region. It is there that all our strength should be devoted.
"However, the unfinished business of these intrepid scientific climbers will be completed by the audacious attempts of Dr. Ferguson Ferguson, whose amazing expeditions have long been appreciated by readers.
"The intrepid discoverer intends to cross the whole of Africa from east to west in a balloon. It is believed that the starting point of this amazing journey will be on the east coast of Africa. As for the end, only God knows.
"The plans for this scientific expedition were formally presented to the Royal Geographical Society yesterday. The General Assembly of the Society voted to allocate a sum of £2,500 to cover the expenses of the activity.
"This attempt is unprecedented in the annals of geographic exploration, and we will keep our readers informed."
As we expected, the article generated a huge response.It first stirred up waves of skepticism: Dr. Ferguson was presented as a purely illusory figure, an invention of the Doctor.The latter has been "working" in the United States for a period of time, and now he is ready to make an "idea" about the British Isles.
In the February issue of the "Proceedings of the Geographical Society", published in Geneva, there is an interesting answer to the reader.The article cleverly pokes fun at the Royal Society of London, the Travelers Club and the trout.
But the publication of Dr. Petermann's article in the "Gazette" published by Gotha completely silenced the Geneva journal.Dr. Peterman knew Dr. Ferguson himself, and would vouch for his intrepid friend's daring attempt.
On the other hand, there could soon be no more doubts: preparations for the trip were under way in London; several factories in Lyon had received large orders for the production of taffeta for balloons.Eventually, the British government allowed Dr. Ferguson to use the HMS Resolve.The captain of the ship is called Pinnet.
Immediately, thousands of letters of encouragement and congratulatory messages flooded in.Details of the expedition's movements were published in the journal of the Geographical Society of Paris as the preparations progressed.An eye-catching article was published in the "New Year's Book of Travel, Geography, History and Archeology" edited by Mr. A detailed analysis by Dr. W. Cornell, published in the German Geographical Acta, convincingly demonstrates the feasibility, chances of success, nature of the difficulties and the consequences of this mode of air navigation. various benefits.He only criticized the starting point.He pointed out that it was better to start from the small Abyssinian port of Masua. In 1768, James Bruce set out from Masua to find the source of the Nile.In addition, he unreservedly admired Dr. Ferguson's enterprising spirit and strong perseverance in thinking, doing, and never looking back.
The North American Review was particularly displeased to see Britain receive such an honor.It took the doctor's plan as a joke, and maliciously encouraged the doctor to fly straight to the United States halfway.
All in all, there is no scientific journal, let alone the world press, from the Bulletin of the Evangelical Church to the Journal of Algeria and the Colonies, from the Missionary Yearbook to the Missionary News, which does not detail the matter in various forms up.
In London, and indeed all over England, people were betting on the following questions: first, whether Dr. Ferguson existed; second, whether the trip would take place; third, whether the expedition would be successful; fourth, whether Dr. Ferguson It is impossible to come back.Many people bet huge sums, as if at a horse race.
In this way, believers and disbelievers, laymen and experts, all have their eyes fixed on Dr. Ferguson.He unconsciously became a hero in everyone's mind.The Doctor is happy to provide details about the expedition.He is approachable, simple and natural, and can be said to be the most sincere person in the world.More than one daring adventurer asked him to recommend himself, wanting to share weal and woe with him, but he rejected them all without explanation.
Many inventors working on balloon-steering mechanisms suggested their inventions to him, but he refused to accept any of them.Dr. Ferguson was asked if he had invented some new steering system, but he would not answer.He was more actively engaged in the preparations for the expedition.
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