Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-09-10


ever, by our attempts 10 catch another,
and still later parting glimpse Of the lob.
served OF all observers" the "Star OF the
West"
We saw the "nnal ships above The
clouds, the lower portion, which had at
starting been loose and apparently unified
was evidently disteaded 20 its utmost ten
sion, and is orb proudly sent back the
rays il wsa receiving ff0m the western
sky. As we gszed thus al il, an appear.
ancc preciscIy like a single emission ofsteam
from the valve OF large sleaGs engine was
clearly Observed, ard though 40 cloud was
near 10 obstruct the view, The balloon,
as such disappeared, a momentarY commo
ton was there and an appearance Of some
darker substance stretching perpendicular
" for many feet and elnding every effort
Of our unaided yislan again 10 detect a
form. left on our miad serious apprehen-
Sims TIA, our friend Clayton had made
his last voyage. How Ear these apprehen-
sions were well founded the reader can
judge by readlns Mr. Clayioa's log Look.
With copy Of which be has politely far
nished US, and which will be found below.
MR CLAYToN's LoG.BooK.
At o'clock, for the fourth time, took
my station in my eelal bark, aud al s min
after 5, babe farewell to the gay scene
that surrounded me. and dar;cd In.o the
atmosphere. or apparently the earth fell
from my feet, and in a few moments
Lexington with her splendid mansions and
her streets decorated wlth trees, and the
surrounding fertile and garden like coun
try lntcrsPefsed wItb towns, country-seais,
aud cottages, were all within my gaze, &
formed scene truly enchanting
When the Barometer had fallen TO 90 3
inches, cut loose the parachute which
contained a little dog;-it soon opened,
aud saw it pass Oh The N. T.. side Of Ash
land [ihe residence Of the Honorable He's
RY CLAY
was DESTROYS 10 know at what altitude
| should lose sight OF the spectators. When
at Tie height oil three lourths of a mile
they. and also TIE cattle IN the fields had
skunk 10 insect SIZE. but IL WAS difficult
TO ascertain precisely at what aitidade
they disappeared
Tie earth now appeared like vast
| painted map, the colors OF which, not de
| signaling counties or States, hut showing
n
| dnstry--the meadows the grazing lands
the corn and hemp fields The orchards
| and woods-all differing IN color or shade
| Ia short time yapour appeared 10 as
| cend from the irom the earth and TO form
| itseii lato thin clouds beneath me. f,igh
| teen mnntes after 5, passed into deuse
ciond, and for a few moments was envel
oped ~ must, and the earth was concealed
lt.n my view. Just before emerging from
this cloud, ~ front Of me, | lad perfect
shadow OF my balloon, with the car, the
| cords. aud myself plainly deIiueaied. |
waved my hauner--as If 10 salute my
companion. HE compliment was ans
werod
Az 23 minutes after ) o'clock, the bar
ometer 30 inches, the thermometer at IS
degrees, course >. L tate | mile in 2 MN
utcs
a % Minutes after 5, when at an alb
tude OF miles, discovered that the gas
had completely filed The balloon aud that
the neck bad hecelue cntanglea between
The cords by which was suspended, pre-
venting The surplus gas trom escaping,
and caniiainG the valve cord, so that |
could not open the valve.
| Immediately busted mySelrin !heratjnp
tue valve cord. and while IN The ac, OF In.
log this the neck and coid were snatched
with violence from me, the upper portion
oi the balloon burst with tremcntnous
noise, and ! and the whole flbfie fell f,yo
CT three bundled feet, with the velocity of
stone. The rapid descent was The,
"A httle checked; and now the most
critical moment OF my life was al han,!-a
moment that repaired calmncss, presence
OF mind and activity, for an awful scene
presented itself. The lower pact Of the
balloon, by the violent resistance Of thr
atmosphere, In descending. had been pres
sed against the suface Of the network and
formed INTO parachute Of about twenty
ave ieet 10 o'ameTer; bot through the cen
ire OF TINS imperfect parachute could
"c"o'a NE make" valve, the small mcshes
Oh 'he net great portion of the silk on
each si'k On each side, which formed the
resisting surface, hung 10 ribbands, dash.
'oe rom SIDE to side, and producing
noise like tie shattered sails OF a shin in a
tempest This hurricane noise was moi
produced 10y the rapid descent alone, but
"F me Violent osciiiatory and rotary mo
'ioh OF The parachute. Al one moment
was almost IN horizontal line with the
parachute, and then was dashed throurh
me ar 10 level on the opposite side ::
mus describing an arc of nedsly semi.
circle The radius Of which was about fifty
'ee' and At the same time and my car
We're V,, warning with sickenins velocity. -
" me IN tins situation | succeeded IN
ua''nng overheard ali my bags of ballast,
which weighed shout 80 lbs
~ Tour minutes descended about mile, ana
reached The region Of dense clouds, At this time
! united the upper end Of my cable and held itin
ny hahdN, threw over my anchor and allowed il
70 swing at the fall length Of The rope, ESQ feptl
u was THROWN at every vibration, far ABOVE The
level Of my car. 'H'
e IN passing beneath the cloud, saw the town