Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1843-07-01
LIFE IN THE CLOUDS.
A pERlLous ADVENTURE IN A BALLOON.

CORRESPONDENCE OF TIE PENN INQUIRER GAZETTE
CARLISLE, JUNE 10, IS43. .
Mr. Editor: According to the announcement Saturday
last set out my foryrst aerial excursion from the boz
rough of Carlisle at fifteen minutes past two o'clock
slight breeze from the waited a short distance when
the ascent became perpendicular The first thing that
drew attention the immense Of heads that pre-
sened itself in the square, there appeared to be infinitely
more people the immediate ground than have witnessed
for time balloon ascension and the whole affair
appeared animated from the fine appearance of the m-
tary together with their repeated firing after the departure
the Comet" When had reached point about two miles
east of the town. the balloon commenced rapid and perpen-
dicuar ascent Which brought the base of huge
black cloud and as has always created deep interest
spectators 10 balloon passing through clouds did
hesitate on this occasion to give my audience
exhibition OF his kind although might have avoided it, and
Kept beneath the Clouds where the would have taken
me to Harrisburg which place already distinctly in
view This part of my adventure had after
regret; although at the present time it gives gra.
cation TO contemplate its reality than any thing that has
y nanspired in my aerial adventures The details that
shall here give Of this terrible scene may be relied on
eS M is grandeur
OF my Judgment covered of from four six miles in
diameter. appeared of circular form, and considerably
depressed In It's lower suraceor might say presented
great concavy toward the EARTH with its edges very
ragged 1t was also of dark smoky color. / noticed at
some distance from where entered the cloud the
OF heavy shower of rain The first sensations ex perenc-
ed when entering the cloud were extremely unpeasan-a
dhculty OF resplraon almost to suocation, followed by
sickness of the stomach This however somewhat abated
Tor short tme-he cold in the time becoming intense
and every thing of brous nature hcky covered with
frost The cloud at this point which appeared in the
midst OF had not the black appearance presented under
meath, but was OF light milky color and dense that
could only family the balloon above distance Of
sixteen feet From the intensity of the cold in this cloud
concluded that the gas would condense ITSELF and the balloon
would consequently descend beneath again. where
atmosphere much warmer La this however found N.Y.
self nistaken for in few minutes after entering the cloud
was whrng upwards with fearful rapidly, the balloon
gyratng and the describing large circle in the cloud
noise resembling the rushing Of thousand mdams with
dismal moaning noise of wind surrounded in this terrible
fight Whether this rushing noise occasoned BY the
bail and snow, which at the time mercessly peng
around the balloon, am unable to tell in hopes that
should be tossed of the top of the cloud and there
enjoy the sunshine pleasant above the clouds
But In ths was Disappointed for after being hurled up
think many hundred feet the balloon appeared to be sudden
and would fall again with rapdity
er part being hurled to and fro and then again driven up
the cavity of the upper part all the time schargng gas
pousy from the neck and caused the This
hurting up and down repeated eight times Every
thing that was not Of brous nature, such the anchor
car, and balloon became coated with smooth ice All the
time that remained in this cloud, which twenty min
utes the storm ragged with undated fsry and only by
the Immense loss of gas that became released from
rors felt an intense drowsiness all the while which
think was only overcome by the sickness of the stomach fol-
lowed by powerful fit of vomiting After this felt
what easier both mind and in body for is of to
say that was not considerably alarmed) and grasped
hmer hold OF the sides of the car determined abide the
resut with as much composure and observation the
OF the would admit appeared evident that the
mon discharge ballast would neither let nor
up through this huge tenant of the air. After being
up and down. as before stated finally released from its
caverns of hail. snow and cces and found myself
and the earth, receiving the benefits of heavyand cold
shower Of rain coming down the spontaneous parachute
principle with portion Of gas remaining the balloon suf
cient 10 raise about fifty pounds weghtfrom the earth.
made final descent Mr. Goodyeas farm, FIVE miles from
Carlisle. remark that the density of this cloud did
not appear alike all throughi could times distinctly
see the balloon and pieces Of paper of which large quantity
was whrled out of the in the beginning Of the
also noticed that violent convouonary action going
on, like omentaon and the direction Of the passage the
hail and promscuous Such the history of this
short but awful and magnificent trip and my
readers that when again clouds Of this character
have frequently shall part company the earliest opporu
ny by ascending sufficiently pass Them keep su
fciently low to pass beneath them.
Very respectfully, your obedent friend,
JOHN WISE
CIpIIxIr Junr 10 I2A2