The Weekly register., 1843-08-12
A Thrilling Voyage.

"a
bing an ascent he recently made through
dense cloud, from which we extract
the following passage of thrilling inter-
est; the ascent was madefrom Carlisle:
Exchange paper. 5.
"When had reached point about
two miles east of the town, the balloon
commenced rapid and perpendicular
ascent, which soon brought me to the
base of huge black cloud and as it has
always created q deep interest to Bpecta-
tors to see balloon passing through
clouds, did not hesitate on this occasion
to give my numerous audience an exhi-
bition Of that 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 of my adventure, | had reason soon
after TO regret; although at the present
time it gives me more qualification to
contemplate its reality, than any thing
that has lately transpired in my erial
adventures. The details that I shall
here give of this terrible scene may be
relied on, as kept myself sufficiently
composed to appreciate its grandeur, and
observe its physical operations. The
cloud, to the best of my judgement, cov-
cred an area Of from four 10 six miles
in diameter. Il appeared of a circular
form, and considerably depressed in its
lower surface-or might say, it pre-
sented a great concavity towards the
earth, with its outer edge very rugged.
1t was also of dark smoky color.
noticed at some distance where enter
ed the cloud, the appearance of heavy
shower of rain. The first sensations
experienced when entering the. cloud,
were extremely unpleasant--a difficulty
of respiration, almost. TO suffocation fol
!. lowed by sickness Of the stomach,--.
This, however, somewhat abated for 6
!. short time--the cold in the mean, time
becoming intense. and every thing of {
. fibrous nature thickly covered with {
I hoar of frost. The cloud at this point
: which appeared to be in the midst Of it
i. had not the black appearance it present
!. ed underneath, but was ola light, milky
color, and yet so dense, that could only
. family see the balloon above me--a dis
;. tance of sixteen feet.
From the intensity Of cold in thi
cloud, concluded the gas would con-
dense itself, and the balloon would conse
> quently soon descend beneath it again
where the atmosphere was more warm
er. In this, however, found mysel
mistaken; for, in few minutes after Ten
) tering the cloud, | was whirling upward
D. with fearful rapidity, the Balloon gy
e rating and the car describing larg
e circle in the Clouds noise resemblin
Of the rushing Of thousand mill-dams, wit
II dismal moaning noise Of wind, SUI
IS rounded me in this terrible flight. Wht
y. ther this rushing noise was occasione
G. by tie hail and snow, which at the tim
rt was mercilessly pelting around the ba
IT loon, am unable to tell. / was in hope
bt that | should soon be tossed out Of th
n top of the cloud, and there enjoy tn
ct congenial sunshine-so pleasing abo'
e. the clouds. But in this was disappoin
US ed, for after being hurled up, as thin
in many hundred feet, the, balloon appears
~ to be suddenly released, and would fa
1t again with fearful rapidity, the lowe
IT. part hurled to and fro, and then aga
ng driven up into the cavity of the low
he part, all the time discharging gas COZ
he ously from the neck, and breakag
al caused by the ice. This hurllng up al
ad down was repeated eight or ten tint
nd Every thing that was not of a fihro
W. nature, such as the anchor, car, and bt
an loon became coated with smooth ice.-
of All the time that / remained in ii
an cloud, which was twenty minutes, t
re; storm. ragged with unabated fury, and
err was only by the immense loss of
he that | became released from its terro
of felt an intense drowsiness all t
or while, which think was only overcol
ce. by the sickness Of the stomach, follow
the by powerful fit of vomiting. AT