Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-06-20

celebrated Tfonaut, made ms Oth Siand
ascent from Castle Garden, New ork,
on Friday afternoon last. Among the
'ast number who Witnessed his ascension,
were the President Of the United States,
Black Hawk, and the Indian Chiefs that
accompany him. The Journal of Com
merce gives n full account of Mr.. Du-
rnt's mrial excursion, from which we ex-
tract the following
The weather was uncommonTy fine,
and throngs of citizens and strangers
were drawn TO the Castle, at an early
hour, by the prospect Of beholding, at
once, the President, the Indian Chiefs,
and the balloon ascent. More than four
thousand persons were within the Castle
walls, embracing in their number, much
of the beauty, fashion, and respcctability
Of our good city, The crowd without
the walls was still greater, extending in
long lines, through the battery and its
vicinity. The water was alive with
steamboats,, sail boats, and skills, all
crowded with eager spectators ofthe ex-
pccted scenes. The frort seats Of the
amphithcatre were almost exclusively
occupied by brilliant assemblagc OLA
dies, whose attention seemed to be very
equally divided among the three engros-
sing objects Of curiosity.
The process of initiating the balloon
was completed at half past five o'clock.
At lorty-Gvc minutes after five, Mr.. Du-
rant took his seat in the car, rose few
yards, and threw out two bags Of ballast
He then cut the cord, expecting to be
enabled, by the breeze, to clear the Gar
den, but the balloon taking diagonal
direction dashed fhe car, with considcra-
BILE violence, against the caves ofthe sa-
loon. The persons stationed on the roof
sicZcd the net work Of the balloon, and
detained it til the chord was again fas-
tened, and the balloon drawn back into
the centre of the area.
At five minutes before six o'clock!
by Mr. DCrant's timc-thc balloon made
Il far start, cleared the Garden, and as
ccnded in sublime style. The bold mro-
naut stood upright, in perfect composure,
waving from his dizzy height, the glo-
rious standard Of the Union, and anon
himself with throwing ont sun
dry parcels Of hanGbils, of what charac-
cr and to what purpose or effect, we
failed to learn,-copies perhaps, of the
Proclamation of the 10th December, and
of the Message of the 18th January-or
perchance Of parting addresses.
The Balloon took an f. S. F.. course,
and was in sight more than l5 minutes. |
AT the moment of starting, (5h. 55.) the
Mr Durant informs us, stood
1t 29deg, G5min., and the thermometer
II 78dcg. AT Oh. I'm. the barometer
tood at 2Gdeg. 5Jmin., and the ther-
nometer at 7Gdeg. In consequence Of
he sudden jar occasioned by the COLI
ion of the Balloon with the building, an
llowance Of fve-tenths, according to Mr.
)urant's conjecture, was to be made in
ne barometer. lie reached the altitude
{ 1886 feet-the barometer and taer-
nomcter exhibiting little variation from
ne degrees above given. AT this height,
Ir Durant having the Ocean full in
lew, and pcrceiving that the net of the
Balloon was much weakened by the rent
,ade ip it, by the collision, thought i.
rudcnt to descend. AT this moment, he
It loose carrier pigeon, belonging to
lr Van Dyke, Of Brooklyn, with a bill
It, stating the indications OF the barom-
ter and thermometer, and bearing the
'ords "All we'll" The pigeon safely
nd speedily bore its message to Mr.
AN Dyke, and was brought to the Gar
en- before MIR Durant's return. AT 6h
3m. he, then descending, let loose n
'cond pigeon, noting on the billet, 90
nan in sight-resolvcd to descend. ~ {
t this time, the Ocean made an angle
ith the earth ofG0 degrees. The earth
nd the city were visible to him during
e whole Of his voyage. At Oh. elm.
3 landed, 40 feet from the starting pole {
, the Long Island Race Course, and :
n miles from Castle Garden The time,
ON earth to earth being only 26 min
es. lie had attempted to land three
lies on the hither side of that point, but '
,rcciving piece Of woodland under 7
m, he threw out 90 pounds of ballast, =,
ID remained suspended till he found sa-
r anchorage.
Here MIR Durant was assisted 10 fold !
$ Balloon, which he was pleased to s
I'd entirely sound and uninjurcd. G
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Tho rcception ~ hi, otto ,,r H. T.