New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-07-20
DAILY CRESCENT.
From tho Hartford Times,
The Balloon Ascension Account by the
Aeronautss

The Balloon Ascenston-Account by the
Aeronauts.
AAERlcaN HorEL, July S, 1854, = w. Editor;
In order to crafty a natural curiosity on the
part Of the public relative to our ascension yes
ferday, We have thought it proper TO address
our friends and patrons through your columns
We commenced Initiating our balloons at about
IL O'clock, NJ The heat was very oppressive,
especially in the Enclosure Of canvas that was
erected 70 protect our balloons. At p. M
both balloons were sufficiently inflated to take
us upward We were delayed for about fifteen
minutes in order to remove the balloons to the
centre Of the field, so that we could clear all
surrounding obstacles in safety. VIM Paullin
left terra frma first, and glided on an angle Of
about forty-fve degrees towards east north
cast, Mr.. Brooks gave the word to sslet go :
about three minutes after his colleague, and
then giided off in the direction taken by Mr.. P.
Mr. P. rose to about the altitude of one mile
and q half, Mr.. B. to that of about one mile
and quarter.
The balloons gently drifted away, but upon
an attempt to rise higher, the gas in the bal
looms became so expanded as to stretch them to
their utmost tension. We were at this time
within Mailing distance, and carried on con-
versation relative to our descent. After remain
ing up about forty minutes, we commenced
gradually approaching the earth.
Mr.. Paullin alighted first, with ease, in rye
field, in the town of Manchester, about nine
miles from Hartford. The people soon gathered
around, most Of them bearing in their hands a
small circular, which we had distributed from
the balloon while in the clouds.
Mr.. Brooks came down soon after, about 8
quarter of a mile west of Mr.. p, but found it
was necessary to make q rapid descent in order
to avoid a cluster of trees, and by so doing his
car struck the ground with such force as to re-
bound o hundred feet or more, when he again
returned to earth and found that he was in
swamp. He was, however, very soon relieved
by some persons in the vicinity.
The first sensation that the aeronaut expe-
riences on rising from the earth is a peculiar
lifting under the feet. AS we glide upward it
appears as if we were stationary, and that the
earth, houses and inhabitants, we're shooting
downward, away from us. As we left your city
on this occasion, the sight to US was most beau
tiful and exciting. The thousands Of up turned
faces, the appearance of your beautiful city as
it lay mapped out beneath us, with the roofs Of
its buildings covered with people, the broad
and noble river, as it lay like silver band,
winding through the pleasant hill and valleys,
the finely titled farms that environ the city, the
cheers Of the immense crowd, the booming of
the cannon, all went to make one Of the most
pleasant and magnificent scenes through which
We have ever passed.
But this pleasant view did not last long, for as
we assembled the stalwart men and lovely wo-
men below became in our sight but pigmies in
size, and as we still pursued our course upward,
they looked like Industrious ants moving to and
fro; the buildings and trees were but in outline,
and the earth appeared like the fiat surface Of
dinner plate. We found the air balmy, cool
and pleasant, after getting away from the
heated earth.
One popularity we would particularly like
to notice, and call to it the attention of scien-
entiic men, viz: the phenomena Of being able
to see the bottom Of the river in all It's parts,
the sand bars in their formation, and the snags
and stumps as they lie partially imbedded In
the sand. We could follow the channel as far
as we could see the river.
We judged from the altitude which we reached
that we could see about forty miles each way
The mountains, hills and valleys all appeared
to us to be on level. g7@
Being disconnected from terra frma, we ex-
perienoe no dizziness as one does in looking
down from a great height, upon tower or
church steeple, On the contrary, the sensa-
tion is rather pleasurable than otherwise as we
ascend. As the balloon whirls around, the
compass stands steadily to the pole, and does
not vary its position on account of its height
from the earth. The atmosphere became much
cooler as we assembled and when at the height
of mile we found it quite cool enough for com
fort, though the Thermometer in the shade stood
luV When we leIt the earth. Inc variation was
from 40 to SO degrees.
We alighted safely in Manchester, nine miles
from the city, and returned at about half-past
eight Pm. We are under great obligations to
residents in the vicinity Of our landing for their
kind and hospitable treatment and assistance
to us. We cannot let this opportunity pass
without assuring the public that we are ex-
tremely grateful for the many kind acts extend
ed to us; and also to the military and iremen
for their services during the period of imitation.
Also, last, we would return our sincere thanks
to the Committee of Arrangements for their as
siduons and prompt cooperation in every thing
that conduoed to our interest, pleasure and
safety. We shall ever hold in kind remem-
branee the inhabitants Of this city, and look
back with heartfelt pleasure to their kind and
hospitable treatment Of US while in their midst.
Hoping that this imperfect account of our aerial
trip may prove interesting, we remain very re-
spectfully, the public's humble servants,
1854 VIM. PAuLIN,
S. M. Brooks