Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-06-27
Correspondence oflhe Pennsylvania Inquirer
A PERlLOUS ADVENTURE IN A
BALLOON.
WISE. THE HiRoNAUr.

when the ascent became more perpcn
dlcalar. The first thing that drew my
attention, was the in nense ocean OF
heads that presented itself in the sluare
there appeared 10 be Infinitely more PEG
pie on the immediate ground, than have
witnessed for son; time at Balloon
Assertion; aud the whole affair appeared
more anImlted from the fine appearance
OF the military, together with their re
peated firing after the departure of the
Comet" When | mad reached poin
about two miles east Of the town,the bal
loon commenced rapid ord perpendicu
lar ascent, which soon brought ne t
the base Of huge black cloud; AMI as
has always created a deep interest I,
spectators 10 see u balloon PASSING
through clouds, did not hesitate on thi
occasion to give my numerous audienc
an exhibition Of this kind, although
have avoided 1t, and kept beneath tn,
clouds, where the current would have
tax N me to HarriSbIrgh, which p acc
was already distinctly in my view.
This part OF my venture, | had rea
son soon after to regret; although at the
present time It gives me more grarifca,
ton 10 contemplate lis reality, than any
thing that has lately tranSpir d in my
aerial adventures. The details that /
shall here give Of this terrible scene
may be relied Oh, Is kept myself sui
ficicn;ly composed to appreciate its gran
deur,and observe lis physical operations.
The cloud 10 the best Of my Judgment,
covered an area Of from four to SIX
miles in diameter! 1t appeared Of circu
lar form, and considerably depressed ma
It's lower surface or | might suyLt pre-
sented great concavily toward the
earth, with It's outer edges very ragged
II was also OF dark smoky color.
noticed al soma IlstaLce from where
entered the cloud, the appearance Of
heavy shower Of rain. The first seusa
tons experienced when entering The
cloud, were extreme Y unpleasant. A
difficulty Of respiration, almost to sulTo
cation followed by Sickne s. Of the stom
Rch. This, however, somewhat abated
for short lime-t the cold in the mean
time becoming intense, anu every thing
Of hbrous nature tbickly covered with
hoar frost.
The cloud at this point, which appear
cd to DO in the midst Of it, had not the
black appearance it presented under.
meath, but was Of light, milky color.
and yet so dense, that ! could oaly faint
ly see the balloon above me-a distance
OF 10 feet From the intensity Of the
cold in this cloud, | CONCLUDED that the
gas would condense self, and the bal
'on would consequently soon descend
beneath 1t again, where the atmosphere
was much warmer. In this however.
found myself mistaken; for Ia a few mi
nutes after entering The cloud, was
WIRING upwards with a fearful rapid;ty.
the balloon gyTati7g AMI the car desert
Ding large circle in the cloud n noise
resembling the rushing Of thousand
mil dams, with a dismal moaning noise
OF wind, surrounded me in this terrible
flight. Whether this rushing noise was
occasIoned by the hail aud snow, which
at the time was mcrcilcssly pcltinr
round the balloon, | am unable TO tell. /
was in hopes that should soon BE- tos
sed out Of the top Of the cloud, and there
ENJOY the congenial sunshine-so peas.
ant above the clouds. But IN this / was
disappointed, for after being hurled up
as think, many hundred feet, the bal
I 'on appeared 10 be sud icnly released
and would fall again with a fearful ra
pIdliy, the lower part hurled 10 and fro.
ADD then again driven up into the cavity
OF the upper part, all the lime discharg
ing gas cOpiOusly from the neck, and
breakages caused by the ice.
This hurting up and down was re
peated eight or ten times. Every thinr
that was not of a fbrous nature, such as
the anchor, car and balloon, became
coated with smooth ice. All the time
That ] remained in this cloud, which wa.
twenty minutes, the storm raped will
undated fury, and it was only Ly IA,
immense loss Of gas that became re
leased from ITS terrors. felt an intens,
drowsiness all the while, which thi.k
was only overcome BY the sickness oil
The stomach, followed by a powerful n
OF vomiting. After this, felt some hat
easier, bosh IN mind aud in BODY. (ror Il
IS OF no use 20 say that ] was not cgnsiJ
erably alarmcJj and ! grasped Grmer
mold Dt the sides OF the car. dcferufiuad
70 ABIDE The result with as much comm
sure and observation, as the nature OF
the case v0uid admit:as 10 appeared eyi.
dent thai the common discharge Of gas
or bailast, would neither let me down or
up, through lhis huge tenant Of the ajr
aiter being tossed up and down,as be
lore stated, ! vas Galily released from
it' cayefns Of hail, snow aud iciciez.aud
FOUND myself Oeueath &c and the earth.
receiving Che benefits Of a heavy and
co., 90, sno~er Of rain, coming down on
'' sf'e'areoIs EaTtchgfe priuci sie.