Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-06-26
AyCE.N.SION

D.fII.OON .fSCE.N SION
The spirit OF A.roslaiion which now prrvails in the n
St,tes, ~ wnhouta parallel on both sides of the Atlantic -
Danoons re rising In various quarters-and every day
seems 10 be adding to the number of the bold adycptu.
rers who are navigating the trackless regions Of the air
SOME OF our E.ronauts are destined. perhaps. To- be- , y
,anous a > the Argonauts We hail such experiments
as not merely spectaclcs for public anluscment-but as
calculated TO extend the principles OF Science, and the
purposes OF Art-as not only charging our knowledge Of
te phenomena OF the Atmosphere, but us gradually
preparing the introduction Of some method for directing
the movements of the Balloon.-Who can pretend 10 IL
mt the progress of discovery? Who could have antici-
Pated from the hrst cautious movements upon the water
the Immense improvements to which Navigation has al.
ready attained Who, from the first ex Experiment. of
ruiton, could ioresee the rapidity to which the Steam
Boat has arrived? One discovery prepares the way for
another. What appears at first but an Indifferent pha-
homenon, may, by a combination with others, fur
hight enough 10 understand the composition of the
atmosphere, or even to guide the Balloon in its course.
we may expect to see men of science gradually asso-
ciating themselves with the pursuit-voyages will he UNI
dertaken with adequate instruments Tor Observation
and II Is perhaps no rash prophecy 10 predict. that Tho
secte. oi airecung inc Balloon may yet be reserved for
some entcrprispg citizen Of North America.
We too have witnessed the labors of an Frouaut-
Last year an experiment was tried in Richmond.
but 1t failed. Three weeks since, MIR. Mitchell made
the first ascension, that was ever effected here.
few days since he made another effort-bat was unsuc.
cessiul-flc was treated with great libcrality by thu. i'm.
niense crowd, who had assembled to witness his asccn-
sion-Nothing dauntcd, he determined 10 procure b.t.
Ter materials, and to repeat the experiment. 1t took
place on last Tuesday Evening-the air was remarkably
~calm-and nothing could have been more successful or
beautiful than his ascension. lie lowered for a long
.ine Ia sign', until the curiosity of the crowd was per-
fecuy satisfied by the spectacle. The following il NJ,
account which he has handed to the Compiler Tor publ
cation
TO Me Cuiseas of Richmond.
Prcsuming that some account of my last nrial Journey
may be expected of me, by those who honored ine with
then presence on that occasion, | have drawn up a few
observations. Al the hour announced in our advertise
ment, we commenced the process of imitation. and at
half past five / ascertaincd my balloon was sufficiently
inflated. The care was then attached, and after making
ne necessary arrangements, | entered it, when the hal
loon was let up by my friends with a cord. Finding all
Things IN proper order cut my cord, and assembled gradu-
ally amidst the acclamations of the spectators. dis.
tributing my verses as rosc-ater which sent down INV
parachute with a young cat. My course being East.
ward, i continued ascending until rcache d an eIrvntion
OF near IL 900 feet, at which hciyht exnerienced :.
great cnangc In the atmosphere, being extremely COOL
my thermometer standing at 81 IL. / remained at this
elevation tor several minutes, after which discharqcda
portion of my gas, and at 40 minutes past 7 o'clock. de-
scended so near the earth as to be able to throw my gran.
ping iron to several gentlemen who followed me. Be-
ing ut the time y miles from the city, they took hold, and
alter partaking with me ofsomc cordial which had in
my car, they conveyed me back, still in the car, elevated
above then-up Main street amidst the cheers Of the ci-
items. Upon arriving at the point of departure. at o
o'clock, l succeeded in discharging the gas, and folded
the balloon without sustaining any injury.
l cannot close without returning my sincere thanks to
MIR. Null and the other gentlemen who kindly assisted
me III my ascension. T. MIT(uEII
To The :Menoryef JAMES G,BDos CARTER!
.Welay before our readers The following heart. felt tribute
OF respect To the memory of a most ACCOMPLISHED vontl
a Cadet of West Point, the grandson of the yeneratrd
MAJOR James Glbbon of this city-whose untimely death
- . ~ anu REcI--tF nave
already submitted al the details of this melancholy
ransaction-aiong with the feeling and eloquent Address
made by Peter V. Daniel, Esq, when he lately announced
1t TO the Board of Visitors at West Point. we now
perform the sad office Of laying before the citizens of
virginia the following honorable tributes TO the memory
oil the young soldier;
Alta meeting of the corps of adetsNlssembled at West
Point, on the I'd June, 1885, for The bHnpose of express
ing their deep regret at the sudden and accidentald death
oil one o; their Late comrades, and concerting such mea.
snres IN relation thereto as might be called for by the oc-
custom ana as were prOIHpted bV their fcelinqs Cadat FL
lis was called to the Chair, and the following resolutions
were unanimously adopted, to wit:
L. Resotocd, That in the death of Cadet James q
carter, we nave sustained the loss Of a companion whose
,neStiinabie qualities had endeared him to all who knew
INN, and whose exemplary virtues entitle him to the last
ing recollection of his associates.
:. That a committee of 10, consisting of 4 from his
own ana : from each of the other classes, be appointed
TO prepare a letter OF coincidence on behalfof his bereayed
companions, TO be forwarded to his relatives, and 10 com
m9nicste to them the proceedings of this meeting.
j. That the committee address a letter to our compnn-
ion, who was the unfortunate cause of the accident ex-
pressing tic sincere sympathy that we feel for his situa-
ton. Cadet J. N. ELLIS, Chairman.
U. S, M Vest Point, NJ y, June 6, 1885.
DEAR MADAM:-Duly approaching the anguish which
must wiring n mothers heart in the loss of a son such az
yours, and believing that some consolation might be al
fofded his surviving relatives by an expression of our
symPathies, the body OF which your son was u member
has held a full and unanimous meeting, the proceedings
OF which are herewith transmitted to you.
Lett not be supposed, that this is a mere formal Gus
tom OF Offering our testimony Of regard for the loss of
one of our number. Not so-Never was more intense
feeling eviDeed in behalf Of any indi vidual, than his me-
lancholy Demise has called forth. The truth of this. let
the universal distress which peryaded every bosom, and
the sorrowiDg hearts Of his late associates, fully attest
III would be superluOus TO enumeTat the many inesti-
mablc traits, which marked his character and rndeared
hun to us all. Whether in the discharge of the duties Of
his profession, or in the social intercourse i'm which he 40
much delighted, lac was ever known to acquit himself
with distinguished success. Nor are these The princinol
considerations which have operated To hallow his remeIn-
brance. His uniformly gentlemanly department and mos
dest behavior attracted the observation OF all who knew
HIM; his exemplary habits and heightened sense Of honor.
elIcIted the esteem of his comrades, and won for him the
admiration OF the Officers and Professors attached to the
institution: his society was sought by all who knew him
The idol of his acquaintauces and the pride of his class
how could it be otherwise? Long will nc be remember
ed, and when time shall have swept away many of thos,
who now bcmoaD his death, the recollection of his CHI
various spirit, manly virtues, and esiinIable PRINCIPLES.
will animate others to initiate his example.
1t has been often remarked of James, thai, i'm the midst
OF his most engaging employment, when The minds OF
others would be totally absorbed i'm their immediate avo.
cations, he ever cherished the most flial devotion for
his parents. The fondness and frequency with which
ne spoke Of his reyered grandfather, has rendered His
name familiar to many who knew him only by the re-
presentations of his young relative. Indeed, one pre-
ealing sentiment seemed to animate his bosom. and that
was, the Qualification he would experience in once more
revising the scenes OF his carly LIE, and the home Of
ms friends. We, his companions, loved him the more.
because OF MS enthusiastic affections, and as the time no
preached, when heexpected to realize the glorious antici-
paticns which he had fostercd, our regret at his parting
would have been soothed by the consideration. that he
was about TO ENJOY that purity ofhappinegs Of which he
so often spoke.
The circumstances attending his death were Of pc
culiar nature. All that could be effected by the most
skniul and experienced medical aid was diligently rem