Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-10-16
From lhe South Carolintan,
RALLON ASCENTI0N.

From The South CdTottntan. J.:..,4s
| n BALLON ASCENTIaN: q
Mr.Wise, the Eronant, has kindly
favored US with the following particulars
ofhis Aery beautiful and successful Bal
loon Asceniion from this place on Satur-
day last, II will be seen tina, he was in
The air about As minutes. aud arrived in
Columbia, from Mr.. DeBruhl,'s planta-
ton, where he descended, four and half
miles from the city, about O'Clock in the
| evening. The weather was most propi-
tious, and no accident Of any kind occurred
TO mar the beauty Of the scene or the plea
sure of spectators.
Columbia, Oct. 5. 1914.
Mr.. Editor :-Atihe present. moment
of writing, feel more like espa,ialing on
the fraillies Of human nature taan giving
you an account ofmy late Hrial flight,
being myself prone TO that common hn-
! man weakness. Such desire at this
time, arises, presume, from The strange
observations made by some of my friends
who honored me with patronage to-day.
Although have made many accensions, q
very few failures, still it appeared that.
many persons preseatto.day, who should
have known better, were almost determi--.
med that Balloon Ascension could not
be made from the town of Columbia. l
had everything procured me for a COM
plelely successful Assertion, by my friend
MI. Coleman ;the day was III every res
pect propitious to. an ascenlion (; the time
I, had arrived within few minutes Of thai
announced for the ascent; the cords res.
training the "Venus" from her upward
aspiration, were as tense as fiddle string;
in short, every thing around andIabout The
machinery was pulling upwards just like
on former occasion when Iwas engaged
to ascend for number Of Indian Delega.
tions on visit to Philadelphia,iwhen one
of The Chiefs, "Keokuck," was skeptical
in such that when announced lha, |
would probably detan my Audience fie-
Teen minutes after the time appointed in
the Bill, gentleman from the country
remarked, 'rhere i koew il would be a
a failure" lido not here pretend TO iuti-
male that. that gentleman was Iless philo-
sophical in this matter than Keokuck, but
il did appear to me that he came express
Iy 10 see failure more than an ascension,
and had it not put me to the disagreeable
necessity Of disappointing my friends to
CRAFTY him, should cheerfully' have met
his most sanguiue expectations.
But this is not the question at 25 min
utes past 4 O'Clock. cut my last rope,
held by Mr.. Coleman, and in gallant style
/ rose up amidst The warmly appreciated
plaudits Of respectable audience, inclu.
ding beautiful and goodly ratio of ladies,
whose smiles and cheers are Of themselves
great buoyant power to ai Hronant.
In ten minutes afterwards attained a
height far above the beautiful town of
Columbia. The scenery in and about tine
iown was picturesque and beaulifuliu tile
extreme. The confluence Of the Saluda
and Broad Rivers, with the Bridges in the
I vicinity, added much to the interest Of the
view. The town, laid out a, night angles,
with its wide avenues studded with trees,
together with tho Capitol and College
grounds. presented 10 me unique appear
ance, especially when coDstrasied with
the wild region surrounding H.. as far as
| the eye could reach, Heard their respon-
ses until attained height Of from to
5000 feei.; discovered lhatthe sounding
echo, after got over the woods, made
with the natural voice and speaking trum-
pet, was returned to my ears an octave
higher than i, was entitled. Whether
this arises from he difference Of density
between the atmosphere above and on the
surfrce of the earth, or whether it is COM
mon to all erhoes, / cannot tell, but will
leave il for The decision of professors in
Acoustics. My attention being drawn to
this fact for the first time, i mention it
particularly, and will on future occasions
Investigate it further.
| After the "Venus" got few miles out
of town, she struck current of air that
took her SouLwardy. and gave me the
| advantage ofthe Congaree River if desi
red; but seeing my friends in pursuit of
me OIL this side of the River, / made the
descent of Mr.. DeBruhl's plantation four
or FIVE miles below Columbia, much to the
surprise OF tho slaves who were engaged
ia picking cotton. One. party that l
hailed, consisting Of about Is or 90 per-
sons of both sexes, became quite excited;
some threw themselves upon their backs,
and INDUCED in the most hideous fits of
Iaghter, while one very distinctly cried
oul, 20 God bless you masler!"
Al Is minutes past O'Clock, landed
in perfect safety to myselfa and machinery,
after short and pleasant Erial excur-
sion, which / am happy 10 find was much
appreciated by my respectable audience,
as it was desired by the public's most
obedient servant, J. WISE.
Columbia, Oct. 10