Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-07-31
THE BALLOON ASCENSION.

M. Pelin who made successful balloon
ascension from Bridgeport on Thursday af.
ternoon, the 18th inst, has published an &C.
count of il. His balloon was 10 fee, in di.
eme,er, and the boat attached was twenty
feet long. In it were Mons Gus,ave Reg.
nard, Of France, and Mr.. Wood of Bridge.
port. Sixty-four men held the ropes until
the signal was given 10 'let 60" He says
"Wth the rapidity Of an arrow we were,
in few minutes, TO heigh, Of 10000 feet,
We yet heard the huzzas which were sent
10 US from our friends below, and felt the
vibrations in the ropes of our balloon. We
now saw the cities, villages, woods, and riv-
ers, as an unsurpassed landscape! In beau
tiful frame Of green we saw the public
buildings and churches Of the city Of Bridge.
port, whose domes and towers, and spires,
gided by the sun, shone like gold and pearls
beneath US. We saw the city of New
Haven, with IFS pleasant greens, and on the
other side the villages of Fairfield, Weslport,
Southport, Norwalk, Stamford, New Ro.
chelle, and thousand other scenes of do.
mes.ic tranquility and happiness SO highly
favored by the Creator Of the world.
Far beneath US shining like molten silver
lay Long Island Sound, dotted with vessels
which appeared like specks upon its bosom
while Long Island appeared in the distance
and far beyond, the broad expanse of ocean
We observed the direction Of our currents
it was the fifth time we changed them-and
we found constant current 49, 900 feet from
the earth, from east 10 west, which would
takes US over the American continent q
current known already 10 extend over $4,000
miles. Below and above 1000 feet from the
earth, is a current in the opposite direction
which would take US 10 Europe in less than
four days, if it were the will Of the Supreme
Being. At the height we now were (l3 ooC
feetl the Balloon appeared to us like vas
ruby, framed BY the azure. 1t threw ii:
large shadow on the clouds, and gave Us the
image of an erial Venice. ! threw ou
more ballast, and we ascended nearly as ia
as il is possible for human beings 10 eXis,
we had reached the height of $4,000 feet
The earth appeared chaos-,hermomete
at 9 below zero. The cold was intense F;
heavy hail storm, held in the air by powe
unknown 10 US, but probably an electri
| power, enveloped US in thrilling and awfr
manner. Respiration was almost impossibl
and we could not hear each other speak.
One Of our companions, being bennmbed
fell into profound sleep. We felt so wea
that my other companion and myself wer
hardly able TO open the valve At last W
succeeded in opening it, and we descende
rapidly to an altitude Of 10000 feet. Th
imagination of one exalted TO such extrem
height, grows vivid and warm, as the bod
becomes dull and chilled. For us no realit
no limits, were existing. The dreams {
Belnardine and 81. Pierre were realized
universal peace seemed 10 be on earth, an
the whole globe were united states. But
strong condensation Of the gas brought L
back TO the reality OF terrestrial objects, an
we descended 10 the ground. .....
leave you free fields of universal space
but when touch the earth, it is but 10 tax
new powers, 10 conquer, and overcome yc
entirely. ...... .... ......
We landed at River Head, L. /, fif
miles from Bridgeport, and ninety fro
Brooklyn, where we found the kudest asst
tance from the inhabitants"
NJ. PETlN.