Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1843-07-25
A PERILoUs ADVENTURE IN A
BALLOON.
Correspondence oftbs Phila. Enquirer.
CarlisIs, June 10, lS4S.

fortV.frst erial excursion from the borN
OuRh Of Carlisle, at Is minutes past 2
o'clock. A slight breeze from the west
waited me q short distance, when the ss'
cent became more perpendicular. The
first thing that drew my attention was
the immense ocean Of heads that Presen'
ted itself in the square; there appear
ed 10 be infinitely more people on
the immediate ground than | haze Wit
messed for some time at balloon uscen'
sion; aAd the whsle affair appeared more
animated from, the fine appearance OF
the military, together with their repeat
ed firing after the departure of the "com'
st."
When had reached a point about
two miles east Of The town, the balloon
commenced rapid and perpendicular
ascent, which soon brought me to the
base Of The huge black cloud; and aS il
hes always created deep interest 10
spectators to see a balloon passing
through clouds, ! did not hesitate on this
occasion to give my numerous audience
an exhibition Of this kind, although |
might have avoided it, and kept beneath
the clouds, where the current would have
taken me to Harrisburg, which place was
already distinctly in my view. This part
ef my adventure had reason soon after
to regret; although at the present time
il gives me more qualification to contem.
plate its reality, than any thing that has
lately transpired in my aerial adventures.
The details that shall here give Ofths
terrible scene may be relied on, as l kept
myself sufficiently composed TO appreci.
ate its grandeur, and observe its physical
operations.
The cloud, to the best of my judgment
covered an area Of froml four 10 six miles
in diameter. II appesrsd Of circular
form, considerably depressed in its low
or surface-Or might say, 1t presented
q Great cOncaVity towards the earth, with
it's outer edges very ragged. II was Of a
dark smoky color. noticed at
some distance from where | entered the
cloud, the appearance Of heavy shows
or of rain. The first sensations expe-
rienced when entering the cloud were
extremely unpleasant. A difficulty OI
respiration, almost to suffocation, follow
cd BY sickness Of the stomach. This
however, somewhat abated for shCrI
time; the cold in the mean time becom'
ing intense, and every thilg Of ibrOu'
nature thiekly covered with hoGr ErOst.--
The cloud at this point, which appeared
tO be in tho midst Of it, had not the black
appearance it presented underneath, but
was Ofa light milky color, and yet SO
dense that could only family see the
balloon above me, distance Of sixteen
feet. From the intensity Of the cold in
this cloud, l concluded that the gas
would Condsnse itself, and the balloon
would consequently soon descend be-
meath II again, where the atmosphere
was much warmer.
In this however found myse II miSta'
ken, for, in few minutes after emering
the cloud, was whirled upwards with
fearful rapidity, the balloon gyrating and
the car describing large circle in the
cloud; 4 noise resembling the rushing Of
thousand mill dams, with dismal
moaning noise of wind, surrounded me
in this terrible fight. Whether this
vushing noise was OCcasioned by the hail
and snow, which at the time we're mer.
cilessly peItng around the balloon, ! am
unable 10 tell. | was in hopes that
should soon be tossed out Of the cloud,
and there enjoy the COngenial sunshine
so pleasant above the clouds. But in
this was disappointed, for after being
hurled up, a. | think, many hundred
feet, the balloon appeared TO be sudden.
" released, and would fall again with |
= fearful Tapidity, the lower part hurled
70 and fro, and then again driven up in
cavity oflhs upper part, ell the time dis
charging gas cOpiOuSly from the neck,
and brsakageS caused by the ice.
This hurlng up and down was repeat.
ed eight OF ten times. Everything that
~as not Ofa 6brous nature, such as the
anchor. car and balloon, became coated
with smooth ice. All the time that Ire.
NAMED in this cloud, which was twenty
minutes, the storm ragged with undated
fury, and Il was only BY the immense
loss Of gas that beCamS released from
itsteroTs. / felt an intense drowsiness
ell the while, which think was only O.
vsEcOms BY the sickness Of the stomach
followed BY powerful ft Of vSmetlng.
After this, l felt somewhat easier, both
in mind and 10 body, (fOr 1t is no use to
say that was not considerably alsrmed)
and graspsd 6rmer hold Of the sides
Of the car, determined 10 abide the result
With as much compOsuFe and observation
as the nature Of the case would admit; az
il appeared evident that the common dis.
charge Of gas or ballast would neither
lstmO down or up, through the huge
Genant Of the air.