Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-08-19

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who made successful balloon ascen-
sion from Bridgeport on Thursday
afternoon, has published an account
OF it. His balloon was 10 feet in
diameter, and the boat attached was
% feet long. In it were Mons.
Gustave Regnard, of France, and
Mr.. Wood, OF Bridgeport. Sixty
four men held the ropes until the
signal was given 10 "let-go." He
says:
"With the rapidity Of an arrow
we were in a few minutes to the
height of 10000 feet. We yet
heard the huzzas which were sent to
US from our friends beIos, and felt
the vibrations in the ropes of our
balloon. We now saw the cities,
villages, woods, and rivers, as an
unsurpassed landscape. Ia beauti-
lul frame Of green we saw the pub
lie buildings and churches Of the
city of Bridgeport, whose domes
and towers and spires, gilded by the
sun, shone like the gold and pearls
beneath us. We saw the city OF
New Haven, with it's pleasant
greens, and on the other side the
villages Of Fair field, Westporr,
Southport, Norwalk, Stanford, New
Rochelle, and a thousand other
scenes of domestic tranquility and
happiness so highly favored by the
Creator Of the world.
Far beneath US, shining like mol
ten silver, lay Long Island Sound,
dotted with vessels, which appeared
like sPecks upon its bosom, while
Long Island appeared in the distance,
aud, Tar beyond, the broad expanse
Of the ocean. We observed the di
rection Of our currents-it was the
fifth time we changed them-and
we found a constant current $4,000
feet from the earth, from east to
west, which would take us.over the
American continent; cnrrent
known already 10 extend over 49,
600 miles. Below and about 1000
feet from the earth, is a eurrent in
the opposite direction, whitS would
take us to Europe in less than four
DAYS, if it were the Will Of the Su-
preme being. At the beight we
now were $4,000 feet, the balloon
appeared to US like a vtst ruby,
framed By the azure. II =fhsew its
large shadow on the clouds, and
gave US the image Of an aerial
Venice. ! threw out more ballast,
and we asceuded nearly as far as it is
possible !or human beings to exist;
we had reached the height OF % 1000
feet. The earth appeared chaos
thermometer at 9 deg. below zero.
The cold was intense; a heavy hail.
storm held in the air by power un-
known TO us, but probably an cleo
trio power, enveloped US in a thrill
| ling and awful manner, Respiration
was almost impossible, and we could
not hear each other speak.
One Of my companions, being be-
numbed, fell into a profound sleep.
We felt so weak that my other COM
panion and myself were hardly able
to open the valve. At las; we sue
ceeded in opening it, and we de-
scended rapidly 10 an altitude OF
$4,000 ieet. The Imagination OF
one exalted to such extreme height
grows vivid and warm as the body
becomes dull and chilled. For us no
reality. no limits were existing
The dreams Of Bernadine and 81.
Pierre were realized; universal peace
seemed to be on earth. and the
whole globe were United States =
But a strong condensation of the
gas brought US back TO the reality oI
terrestrial objects, and we descended
to the ground.
leave you, free fields Of universal
space, but when touch the earth II
is but to take new powers 10 conquer
and overcome you entirely.
We landed at River Head, L. l..
fifty miles from Bridgeport, and
ninety from Brooklyn, where we
found the kindest assistance from the
inhabitants. L. PEIlN.