Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1843-07-06
GfmrraI FmteIIfgenre.
Portion, Aay,pt,r,,,. e,,..d


Perilous Adventure in q cloud.
Mr.. JoHE WISE, ID giving an accoant Of his
toriysira Balloon Ascension, thus describes his
experiment Of entering and passing through a
Cidud:
Ma. EpIToR;-Aecording 10 announcement,
on Saturday last, set out on my foTty-6raf arial
excursion from the centre square of your Dor
ough, q l5minuies past Two O'Clock. A slight
breeze from the westwafled me a skor distance,
when The ascent became more PerPendicular.-
The brat thing that drew my attention was the
immense ocean Of heads that presented itself 10
the square. There appeared to t5e Infinitely
more people on the immediate ground than
have Witnessed for some time at balloon ascen-
sion. and the whois affair appeared mole ANNA
ted iron the hne appearances Of The military,
together with their repeated firing after the de-
partara Of the " Comei.n
When had reached point about two miles
east Of the town, the Balloon commenced rand
aud perpendicular ascent, which 5000 brought
me TO The base Of an immense black cloud and
As j has always created deep interest in spec
iators % see balloon passing through clouds I
ga not hesitate on this occasion 10 give my Du-
merous audience an exhibition Of this kind al
though ] might have avoided il, and kept be-
meath the clouds, which current would have Ia
eSa nv ~ AAatttsootBt ouu WHICH was llTeo0f
distinctly 10 my view. This part Of nv feat
however, / had soon after reason 70 regret. Al.
though 81 the present time il gives ne more ora.
ti6catIon 10 contemplate its reality than any
thing That has lately Lranspire6 10 nv erial ad.
ventures. Theidetails that shall here give of
this terrible scene, may be relied on, az was
suthclehtly composedto appreciate its grandeur
and observe its physical operations. The cloud
10 the best Of my Judgment, covered an area OF
from four 10 six miles in diameter. u appeared
Of circular form, and considerably depressed
in lis lower surface-or might say, it present.
cd great conearity towards the earth, with its
outer edges very ragged; ii was also Of q dark.
Home color. ! noticed at some distance from
where ! entered the cloud. the appearance OF
heavy descending RAIN The frs, sensations that
! experienced, when entering the cloud, we're
extremely unpleasant--a sufocating sensation
Immediately ehsued, which as shortly followed
by sickness Of the stomach this, however,
shortly after absted The cold 10 the meantime
became intense, and every thing Of iibrous ma
ture became quickly covered with boar frost;
the cloud at this point which was 10 the midst Of
IL. had not the black appearance, but was Of
light milky color, and 50 dense ihat4 could only
slightly sec the Balloon above, a distance Of lS
feet.
From The intensity OF the cold 10 this cloud. /
concluded the gas would condense, and the Bal
loon would consequently descend beneath il,
where il was much warmer. In this however
found myself mistaken, for ia few minutes ar
ter entered The cloud. found myself whirling
upwards with fearful rapidhy. the Balloon gy-
rating, and The car describing large circle 10
the cloud q noise resembling the cushing os q
thousand mill dams. with dismal moaning
noise Of wind. surrounded me In this terrible
fight Whether this rushing noise was occa-
stoned BY The hail & snow, which By this time
was fearful.y pelting around the Balloon, ara
unable to tell. ] vas in hopes that should soon
be tossed out Of the top OF The cloud and enjoy
the congenial sunshine invariably above them
But in this was sadly disappointed. for after
being hurled up apparently 10 me many hun.
dred feet, there appeared 10 occur vacuum nm
dernealh, and the Balloon would again sink
down, with a swineing and fearful velocity, 10
be again carried up. aud let fan, which was re-
peated eight or ten times all this time the storm
raging with unabated fury. The Balloon in the
mean lime had received considerable damage By
linking and breakage fEosf is frozen eobdiIion.
experienced all this time an almost irresistible
determination 10 sleep. which believe was only
overcome BY the sickening of the stomach, and
most powerful vomiting.
Afler this Eel, somewhat easier in mind and
body. (for IL no use 70 say that cannot be ..
iaTmed.) and grasped firm hold on The sides
Of lbe car determined 10 abide The result with as
much composure and observation as The nature
Of the case would admit as il appeared evident
that discharging ballast would mol let me up
through he storm, ner dischaTIng gas le. me
down, BY this huge monster Of the air for al
least 20 minutes. I was finally released, and
found myself between abe cloud and the earth,
receiving the benefit ola pouring rain, in which
| descended on Mr.. GooDYEAR's farm Eve miles
from Carlisle. The density ofthis cloud did not
appear alike through, as could AZ times see The
balloon distinctly above me also occasionally
pieces 81 paper, Of which a considerable qnantiiy
vas blown out Of my car. also noticed vi
olenl consoluhonary action Of The vspor and a
pfomisc1ops scattering VI the hail and snow.
Such IS the history Of This short but magnificent
trip, and 4 can assure my readers. hat when
again meet clouds orths character, (Which I
shall names The Cloud Of Terror Twill ascend
snfhclently high before reach Them 10 sail o..
YER Then, or keep s6fRkienily Tow 10 pass under
neaih them. cannot foreso Ibis opportunity
81 rendering my warmest hanks 10 The Commit
zee Tor heir ardent laboIs ID my behalf, also 10
nv esteemed fried. Nj. THoREE.
tsry respeciidlls, the publirs ohedisnt ser.
want, Holm WISE
Carlisle. June is. lsis.