Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1838-09-03
From ht Easten fPenn.D Argus, August 10
pTRILoUS BALLOON DESCENT

In Saturday last, lth inst At 10 minutes before
10 o'clock ascended with my parachute BALLOON
accompanied with Two small parachuies and animals
Dom i, he spacIous sard of the Washington Hotel,
kepi by Mr.. Gonnor. md as soon as | attained 'hs
Le,ebi If 2oi0 feet | detached the conlca para
chute with is occupant. which landed III safety
ne =, The Lafayeuc College. BY thai time. rose
several thousand feet more, when detached my
r,l,d silk parachute, which experiment was TO ue-
eide the certainty aud safety OF my parachute oai-
loon 1t did not descend with that uniform yeloci'y
"a The first | however corcluded that the eXperi-
ment would not be hazardous, II not agreeable
also WAS satisfied by former descents thai balloon
a. soon As II became faccid would Inye: III RAPID
descent. When ] attained an altitude oil anout
10 900 feet, the balloon became feahully expanded
causing a loud Kissing from the small tube at the
bottom through which the valve rope passed. giving
me warning that unless opened nv safety valve.
The balloon must rupture. AT thus critical moment,
became somewhat excited rs ] looked over The
side OF my car and the VIVID flashes OF lightning
passing from cloud TO another. The thunder
gust WAS moving from >. W 10 \. and my YES
sci at ,his lime sailing swiftly from \. W to-
ward S f., passing New Village and Astuty.
looked Al my time piece, and found II % MN
utes past 9 aud ~ ! returning II TO my pocket,
the balloon exploited Although had confidence
IN the apparatus, | must admit that II was no
meut OF a"ful suspense Tor III the space oil 10 sec
onds the gas rushed from the balloon, with a NOISE
resembling the approach of a hurricane, aud rs fell
through the ar 1t wlisted through the net work
like unto a strong Mouth wester, through the nsgne
Of a ship. ! cast my eyes 10 the balloon, aud found
my expectations realized. II assumed The form oil
a concayc hemisp here, falling rapidly without any
vibraory motion, until reached the lower siata oi
air, which Was blowing sharp gale from the south
When the parachute commenced It's first vibrations
drifting me notthwafd making vibration about ev-
cry ten seconds which made the descent very
unpleasant, every motion caused a sensation similar
to that OF person dreaming they fall. Il make the
comparison because consider II general afiliclIon
rs II frequently occurs to mysef) The wind iron,
the south drlted the about three miles before ap
pro ichcd the earth x IN ,de my landing much hard
er than It would have been III a calm atmosphere
As | ncaled the earth, | threw over all my ballast
which puI me of my guard, and my car struck
the earth obllquey, IL bounced me out about tel
ct, slightly bruIslng my shoulder. sprang on IN,
feet quickly IT collapse, but il had fell along
SIDE Of ne. now stood gezIng with astonshment,
FMS al the parachute, then at the car, which hat
turned bottom upwards next cast my eyes TO tht
neetng clouds through which | sailing but
three minutes before, aud now ! was standing OF
terra d'ma, congratuating myself on the result OF IN,
experiment, which | intend soon 10 repeat. Ian
dcd the fam of Mr.. Elijah Warue, about II
miles hom Easton, and got The assistance of Mr.
Walne and his nclghbols, who were watching lt,
descent OF The parachute, lutte thinking thai hu
man beng accompanied 1t. }. WISE.
EAsroN, August IL, 1888.