The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-07-28
From the Columbus Freeman.
BALLOON ASCENSION.

MIR. Clayton made beautiful ascension from this
city The fourth inst. amidst large concourse of peo-
pie who had assembled 10 witness the The
following account of the eral voyage was furnished by
MIR. Clayton which we transfer to our columns,
NJ CLAYTUN'S JOURNAL,
D.. .. Columbus July 6lh l942.
To the Editor:-Precisey at the time proposed in
my advertisement to ascend, Is o'clock p NJ took
my departure from the earth The weather calm,
but the atmosphere extremely haZY. The enclosure
from which the ascension was made contained the most
respectable aud Influential ctiZens ofsColmbus and
vicinity. AS | rose, hats and hsndherohiefS
wing tho military gave a SALUTE aud approving smiles
heaIned from thousand lovely counlenances giving
buoyancy 10 ones feelings, apd adding encbantment
to the scene. The movement of the balloon was
steady that sensation of motion experienced;
the earth appeared to gradually fail Gom my feet and
the spectators 10 dwndle into dwarfs and blend at last
into masses. A gentle breeze waited me in nearly a
north direction, "A little to the right of the Delaware
road. number of persons on horseback sndeavored
to keep up with me, who together with their horses
resembed the toys of children moving with snail like
velocity. On attaining the altitude of half mile, and
at distance of five six miles from the city, | caught
different current Of air, which bore to an eastern di,
recton.
Every time ascend in a balloon, my attention is
directed the spectators first my friends then TO
the dense crowd which all the streets to the en-
closure, and who appear like solid pavement of hu.
man heads; Soon this attraction is over; the voice OF
Is
exists and ones mind is prepared contemplate the
beautiful earth decorated with the rich coors of sum-
mar, and to view the lnroad upon nature, the work OF
industrious and enterprisng man. The heaviness of
the atmosphere rendered my less extensive than
it otherwise would have been; but had perfect map
Of Columbus and the surrounding country for the dis
lance of about fifteen miles, beyond that all was cloud.
From the the questions that am frequently asked an
idea seems to exist that erOnaus lose sight of the
earth when great heights. This is mlstakei they
never do, except when clouds intervene nigh ap>
pears. On the contrary, the earth is like an Immense
concave map painted different coors which designates
not the different townships OF countless coored maps
generally do bnt the various products OF The SOIL That
The earth which in reality is convex should appaer 10
the eouant concave, may a first seem to many stranger
but few moments reflection will render il clear. His
horizon is frequently upwards Of hundred miles from
him. Draw tight angIed triangle, and m AXE the
base line fifty sixty times as long the perpendcu-
lar the hypohenuse and base will then be nearly IN
the same line The horizon appears to the eronaut
to be on perfect level with the car of the Balloon; but
the part of the earth directly underneath HIM seems at
at great distance from him. consequently, The surface
of his scene must appear concave.
After feastlng few minutes upon the beautiful view
beneath me- turned my attention TO The balloon and
arranged tho var ous articles in my little carr so as to
have confusion at the time of landing. This being
| done, l took refreshments. which an old ae-
quaintance and intimate friend had provided Ter me-
On passing from one current air to another, Sigh
five o'clock Columbus bore west south west, distance
about ten miles. Quater cf SIX O. oclock the thermon'
eer stood at 81 deg. threw over ballast, ascended
rapidly and moved stwardly with increased velocity
Five minutes Of six, gained the altitude of two miles,
looked back 10 see Columbus, but it was lost in the
hazy vapour. The thermometer now stood at 3S de-
grees; great quantity of water now poured down on
me iom the neck of the balloon. This was taken in
TO the balloon in the form of vapor when The gas wa
generating; and afterwards, when ii was exposed Il
noIJ pgaI and al in chn
of rain upon me. Being drenched with water, and tn
thermometer down 33 degrees, felt extremely chill
y and rather sick at the stomach the sickness was oc
casioned partly perhaps by nhang goodly quanlit
of hydrogen gas A tea spoonful or two of brandy
snd little excellent cake prepared by fair friend {
mine, restored me TO proper feelings was now rap
idly descending to q warmer region. Crossed lt
Main canal at six o'clock between Hebron and New
ark, and had fine view of both towns, could hea
the shouts of the inhabitants and the sound OF ban
of music A few miles beyond Newark, approach
ed the earth voices sounded in every direction. caIir
me to como down. When within cable distance Of Il
| ground, | perceived two men at work in cornhel
neither of whom had the balloon for their bacl
were towards me. To one of these men,, shouted
take hold of my rope. He gazed around him to 81
where The voice came from, but did not for mone
think of looking upwards and consequently did nj
see the balloon until itreached the ground.
Not the slightest difficulty occurred in landing. Pc
cons came running from all points. The 5alon W
conducted in its inflated state TO the House OF Mr. Sc
mour where remained all night. and received I
kindest and most hospitable treatment. My landi
was effected 90 minutes after six o'clock. after beI
in the atmosphere hour and twenty minutes, a
on the farm of Mr. Seymour five miles east of Newa
and thirty eight miles east of north Of Columbus
TO the ladies' and gentlemen who honorcd me wi
their patronage would express my grateful ockno
''OS'''' RICHARD CLAYTON.