The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-09-01
lPerilous Baaoon Descent.
EAsToN AUO. l3,

EAsToN AUG, l3.
On Saturday last, llh inst, at 10 min.
utes before l2 o'clock. ascended, with my
parachute balloon accompanied with small
parachutes and animals, from the spacious
yard of the Washington Hotel, kept BY Mt.
Connor and as soon as laltaiued The height
of 1000 feet, detached The conical para
chute with its occupant, which landed in
safety near the Lafayette College,. by that
time rose several thousand feet more, when
| detached my oiled silk parachute, which
experiment was to decide the certainty and
safety of my parachute balloon--it did not
descend with that uniform velocity as the
first. /, however, concluded that the ex-
pertinent would not be hazardous, if not dis
agreeable. | also was satisfied by former
descents, that balloon as soon as il became
faced, would invert, in rapid DESCENT
When attained an altitude of about l3, 900
feet the balloon became fearfuly expanded,
causing loud Kissing from the small tube
at the bottom, through which the valve rope
passed, giving me warning that unless | o.
pened my safety valve, the balloon must
rupture; at this critical moment became
somewhat excited as locked over the side
of my car and saw the vivid flashes of light
ming passing from one cloud to anothet.-
The thunder gust was moving from S. w.
to N. E., and my vessel, at this time was
sailing swiftly from N. w. towards S. E.,
passing New Village and Asbury.
looked al my time-piece, and found it
20 minutes past 2, and as / was returning it
to my pocket the balloon exploded! Al
though 1 had confidence in my apparatus,
must admit that it was a moment Of 5wful
suspense, the gas rushed from the balloon
with noise resembling the approach of a
hurricane, and as | fell through the air it
whislled through the net work like unto a
strong north wester through the rigging Of
ship. cast my eyes to the balloon and
found my expectations realized. 1t assum-
the form of%a concave hemisphere, falling
rapidly without any yibratory motion until
| reaChed'the lover strait of air, which was
blowing a sharp gale from the SOUTH
When the paracute commenced its first, ii
brations, drifting me northward, making d
vibration about every ten seconds, which
now made the descent very unpleasant, eve
ry motion causing sensation similar to thai
of person dreaming they fall Il make the
comparison because | consider it a general
afliction, as it frequently occurs to myself.
The wind from the south driited me abou
three miles before l approached the earth
and made my landing much harder than i
woud'have been in a calm atmospheric
As neared the earth threw over all my
ballast, which put me off my guard, and a
my car struck the earth obliquely, it boun
ced me uut'aboqt ten feet, lightly bruisin
my shoulders. sprang on my feet quickl,
tosee il collapse, butt had fell alongside me
Inowrslood gazing with astonishment first a
the parachute, then at the car, which ha
turned bottom upwards. l next cast m.
eyes to the feeting clouds through which
was sailing but three minutes beior'
and now | was standing on terra frma
congratulating myself on the result of m
experiment, which / intend soon to repeat
l landed on the farm Of Mr. Elijah Warne
about 10 miles from Easton and got the as
sisancs Of Mr.. Warne and his neighbors
who were watching the descent of the para
chute, little thinking that human being al
companied it. = <r
Easton,, Aug, IL, 1898. J. WISE.