Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1837-10-28
BALLOON ACCESSION.

Bal,ino-c. Oh Thurs1py, SsPs -os'. 1901.
Few os my friends, presume. vii! express any
sunrise after the successful result Of my hrsf Csc
,x in the ELEVATED profession of HsOnaut, and
the seifgra,iti cation l experienced, that should
:. SECOND time pursue an adventure IN the etner-
Al min. have done SO, and should a reason be
demanded by the curious, | am frank to confess
that became IN measure cnanloufed u 'ne
novelty and whoever shall peruse this piper, has-
ing never vet rayellcd the air, and should inter-
wards do so, Will! 6pd Uothing u censure N tbs
acku owledgemenf.
Tho dav. ftou the dawn, with snort. sunny Inc
,crvaIs, was unpropitious, and the threatening
aspect of tho clouds without doubt deferred many
fr m comforting On tho occasion the favor of their
presence. The difficulties Of the imitation, null
tiplicd by lively, breeze, were, however. sur
mounted by tho gentlemen, and every thing be-
ing in readiness, entered the car about halt past
four o'clock but my departure was delayed some
ten or fifteen minutes by the precautionary
measures it was deemed necessary to adopt TO
obyiatc the effect Of chopping wind upon the
balloon before il was clear Of the enclosure
At the extreme windward point the cord was
cut and the balloon darting across the space
brought the car with a fbsciblc shock against the
seats. bat having seen this result at the moment
| was released, firm grasp enabled me to secure
my position; handing over bag OF ballast, the
,use of the accident removed and the bal
loon being gain liberty the peril was past and
it was all ig,niaterial whittier went. Scarcely
hundred yards did | pursue my starting course.
when at less than 200 feet from the earthI was
suddenly borne IN reverse direction; the balloon
describing an immediate angle IN It's course, and
speeding in a steady breeze nDrthward. My de-
sire was pass over the city. TO accomplish which
I threw out ballast in the hope of finding IN an
upper current n more favorable one. Passing
on or the multitude, scattered number OF ad-
dresses ON ny way, which perceived the pigmy
throng eagerly seized as they fell The balloon
~
er.v, and having obtained an elevation OF about
1000 feet l prepared to libcratc the pigeon which
again accompanied me.
Taking it from its confinement, l placed it on
tho hoop where it rcmlincd perched, permitting
me t. stroke its back without any manifestation OF
fear or an attempt to escape. placed it my
finger and extending my arm INTO the arr Prccip:-
tate il in its native element; observing II niT-
rowIv Ipcrccved tia; with ITS wings partly cytcn-
dcd, it dirted down perPendicularly TIL near he
earth, when it flew out Obiiqucly, and alIghtcd ON
Il fence near the Hospital
With bearing more casterly. continued TO
ascend till at an elevation OF 1000 feet. launch
ed n parachute into the AIR, with {, basket attach
cd, containing a rabbit: but what my regret
to perceive. at the moment it left my hand, that
in the confusion OF starting hour, the lid OF the
basket had been left untastcned, and scarcely had
noticed this circums lance, when, from the CScI-
!ation of the parachute, the basket flew open, and
the poor animal, like IL second Cooking was pitch
Ell hcadlong below. | it strike the earth in
a green space the Hospital, and it being
white, could distinguish its struggles as II lay.
A person ran towards it from house tho
SPOT, and having approached within few yards
of the expiring Adventures, turned his back and
posted express to the house, probably, supposed,
u obtain medical aid.
Upward and onward with a rapid flight, now
towards a point almost directly cast, the balloon
was speeding on. when considered that IN low
current my course would lead me from the bay
towards "nIc" fonnd was r'P'oi, "'o' ing ni'
how was ANNOYED to tnd upon pulling the valve
cord That it was SO completely cntangIed in the
neck Of the balloon which had collapsed in mnny
folds as to produce no effect upon the valve. MY
efforts were vain and the utmost caution was nee
cssary. lest in efiecting my oil Jet, the balloon
should be rent and some peril incurred
Twas aware that the only remedy for this ac-
ciden; was in the exp ,nsion of the gas from the
reduced pressure of the atmosphere; consequent
" the effect would Of necessity work the cure.
Soaring upwards and gazing on. a flood OF light
streamcd Unexpectedly upon me, and turning,
bchcld the sun bursting from above the clouds
which skircd the opposite horizon, and glidcd the
extended circle Of vapoury frctwOrk while the
earth Law in a pictorial shadow far beneath. But
this delightful scene perfectly yelled as the
balloon passed into Il cloud, and then my wonder
was excited at the increasing dimensions OF the
sun which seemed to grow to an incredible size
till il became indistinct my way dccpcncd in
the palpablc obscure Ny attention was now ar
rested bv a number Cf insects which seemed to .
dart from above, and then. swarmng at COM
mon centre rcvcllcd in fantastic that be-
wiidcred the eye with lis rapid changes. These
insects were nearly as large bee, but seemed
to be OF species have seen the surface of the
water. adapted 10 the air. however. by gauzc
like wing peculiar to a beetle. l. was in the act
OF swinging the flag with view of taking
prisoner from his giddy throng, when the sunlight {
no I'm broke suddenly upon me, and the next mo-
mcnt was made the solitary witness Of scene
which can bat regret battles my poor powers of
description. current of air swept briskly by.
and encountered cloud which l was approach
ing. 1t was the key of that vapoury recess,
whose gigantic drapcry was fured back on either
side in immense folds, as it were for my in
gress to some ETHEREAL palace of uncomfortable
splcndour.
My path, as had hoped it would be, was mid
way through this gorgeous avenue, walled on ci-
Their side with refulgencc unsurpassed even by +
fine gold, and ornamentcd with rolling irregular /
columns unspcakabIy beautiful and grand. To
complete the magnificent illusion, to which fancy
had voluntarily yielded. the earth. like scene
landscaped with consumnrlte skill. was displayed
fr a short period. through that distance which .
'.Icnds enchan'ment to the vicw,'' and again |
was cnvcloped in a cloud. Reminded of more
important aff,irs hy the rude impression Of these