Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-06-23
From the DanVille Democrat.
Mr. Wise's Ascension.

place. Early in the morning crowds of people
1ocked into town, TO witness so magnificent
| and splendid sight. At about two o'clock in
the afternoon, Mr.. w. took his seat in the car
attached to the balloon, and gently ascended
from the Court House yard; and more splen-
did and truly magnificent and sublime sight we
have never vet witnessed. The multitude was
standing in astonishment scarcely believing
their own eyes, until loud "Hurrah," gave
vent to their feelings, which was responded to
by Mr. w by swinging his hat and handker-
chief, bidding farewell TO his low-beings be-
low. He scared slowly and majestically to-
wards the clouds, and was visible in South
Easterly direction, for nearly half an hour, when
he disappeared.
Mr.. w. returned on Monday morning last, in
fine spirits and highly gratifed with his trip in
to the upper regions. The rest of the story he
tells himself in the following interesting COM
munication, with which he has kindly furnish
ed u.s.
Mr.. Editor:
In compliance with your request l furnish
you with the following memoranda ofmy aerial
Log Book. took my departure from the Court
House yard at 5 minutes past two O'clock the
vessel S. by E. until | reached the Roaring
Creek Furnace and glided fast towards the
mountains The atmosphere was very heavy
which limited my prospect 10 an area of about
35 miles in diameter; the confluence of the two
branches of the Susquehanna with the two
bridges and the towns of Northumberland and
Sunbury made beautiful view; Cattawissa,
Bloomsburg and Berwick of the North Branch
fell on my view which rendered the scene up
the North Branch most interesting. At 2
o'clock, 35 minutes, lost sight of Danville,
and few minutes after passed into the rays of
the sun; the balloon began 10 expand from the
heat which caused it to ascend very fast The
river was soon lost TO my view by the interven-
ton of the clouds; and the country beneath pre-
sented one vast wilderness as far as the eye
could reach; the atmosphere became extremely
cold az | crossed this extensive coal region, the
clouds being sufficiently broken to give me
constant view of the earth; never before found
them so extensively diversified in height, the
lower strata was cumulostratus resembling high
and rugged precipices, the upper layers were
more the cirrosirstus, indicating the approach
of storm. My vessel, however, soon attained
height of 10 miles sufficiently high to avoid
any thunder storm.
At o'clock, As minutes; crossed the Potts
vile road between the Bear Gap and the North
cumberland road, travelling at the rate of SIS miles
an hour; at o'clock crossed Pottsrille. and
again brought 10 view the cultivated fields Of
the husbandman. My altitude was so great
that could not at first recognise the town un.
til crossed Schuylkil Haven, and got in sight
of Orwigsburg. The cold atmosphere became
so unpleasant that made preparations to de-
scend, but after lowering some distance found
that had only passed the valley to reach the
chain of Blue Mountains, and was again obliged
to seek refuge in the clouds.
At o'clock, 40 minutes the clouds began to
thicken beneath so that at intervals could
only see the face of the country, and in cross
ing little village | threw overheard bread
basket that was lying in my car; its descent
presented beautiful appearance 10 my view;
the dish of the basket remained uppermost, and
it acquired a rapid rotary motion giving it the
appearance of fancy wheel. At 5 o'clock
crossed the Harrisburg and Reading turnpike
about miles E. of Reading. This town had
handsome appearance--the white streets cros-
ing at right angles, and The beautiful steeples
newly painted, with their glittering balls and
FdneS Induc Tic pIoSpeCt HlShiy Ihtoi0s'lhS'
found the atmosphere much colder in cross
ing the mountains than it was at the same
heigh. in crossing over level and cultivated
land. During this voyage | observed pecul-
FAR motion in the Balloon which had expert
enced on former occasions when travelling ve-
ry fast, bat never made any particular investi-
cation: When sailing along with steady cur.
rent whilst the Balloon is in equilibrium, it re-
wolves slowly, on this occasion it drew my par
ticulsr attention on account of the regular pull
salons that it moved with At first attributed
the regular vibrations TO the pulsation of my
body, but ON holding my breath found it To
continue more perceptibly: in fact, the less mo-
ton produced in the car, the more regular
were the vibrations of the vessel, whenever
the Balloon by the discharge of Ballast or Gas
would ascend or descend the pnlsation was
sufficiently arrested not to be observable. This
phenomenon caused me to remain in the atmos-
phere nearly an hour longer than had intended,
and on another occasion will continue the fur
r I