The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-18
Balloon Ascension In Baltimore.

Mr.. Elliott made another ascension at Baltimore
on the 18th inst, which he thus describes in let
ter to the Baltimore SUM-
!, At little before six O'Clock entered the car,
the balloon having proved amply inflated for my
purpose, and enabling me to carry full supply Of
ballast Everything being ready, cast off and
mounted with considerable rapidity about 500 feet,
when change in the atmosphere acted quite sud.
denly upon the gas, and its rapid condensation
would have caused me to descend but for an imme-
date and liberal discharge of ballast. Thus relev-
ed, the @rostat sprung gaily upwards, and with
regular and easy motion. From the position was
now attaining, commanded view Of earth and
sky of surprising beauty, sublimty and awe.
don't know that have ever limited heretofore that
the @ronaut may well be the most skeptcal man
about the rotundity of the earth. Philosophy inn
poses the truth upon u.s. but the view of earth from
the elevation of balloon is that Of an immense ter
isstiai basin, the deeper. part Of which is
cend the earth beneath us seems to re-
cede-actualy to sink away while the horizon gra-
oually and gracefully lifts diversified slope
stretching away farther and farther to line that
sky. Thus, upon clear day, the aronaut feels as
II suspended at about an equal distance between
the vast, blue, oceanic concave above, and the
equally expanded terrestrial basin below. On
Of the sky. At an elevation which did not par
tcularly note, the northern slope of the horizon
was intercepted by the heavy clouds accumulated
IN that quarter, but the extended view became
stTlkiDBy grand, Wnile the phenomena OF the
scene were well calculated to inspire my mind
with awe. The lightning was playing at intervals
of miles as far as the eye could reach, while the
conclusion of the atmosphere from the reverbera
ton of the thunder produced an almost incessant
agitation of the balloon II quivered in every fibre,
the network and cords, like nerves, pulsating to
the car, and constantly reminding me Of the ex-
treme sensibility of the machine. While debating
little practical philosophy, suggested by the
occasion, the balloon plunged into volume OF
vapor, and | was in an instant solitary and alone.
The beautiful earth--the busy city-the thronged
amphitheatre, with its upturned faces, that resem-
bled SO many dimes and half dimes, and the much
greater number of small coin peering upwards from
the outside-the Washington Monument about six
inches high, and other elevations spotted with more
upturned small coin-the fertile country verdant
with the genial season-the river, the bay, wood
and plain, hill and valley, all were in moment
yelled from sight, and was alone.
In few minutes | emerged above this stratum OF
clouds into clear air, but there were clouds skill
higher reaching away to the horizon, in remarkable
contrast with the dark mass below. These were
white as piles of snow and where they occasionally
caught the rays Of the sum- reflected his brightness
with Dazzling effect. The cold here was quite se
we're, and | had some cause TO apprehcnd the
90; nation Of hail, which might cut the silSer
walls OF the balloon. | thorcfore discharged
g., az aS2l dss~e1d.l a wax o. Ia,