Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1854-06-22
Mr.. ELLIorr's BALLOON ASCENSION

1890 cint
BALTIMORE SUS-Gentlemen The follow
ing sketch OF my Monday evening trip, is
at your disposal.
AT a little before six O'Clock | entered
the car, the balloon having proved amply
inflated for my purpose and enabling me to
carry a full supply of ballast. Everything
being ready, ! east or and mounted with
considerable rapidity about 500 feet, when
a change in the atmosphere acted quite
suddenly upon the gas, and its rapil con-
densation would have caused me to dcs-
ccnd but for an Immediate and liberal dis
charge Of ballast. Thus relieved the
acrosIat sprung gaily upwards, and with a
regular and easy motion. From the posi-
ton ! was now attaining, | commanded a
view of earth and sky of surpassing beauty,
sublumity and awe. | don't know that |
ever limited heretofore that the aeronaut
may well be the most sceptical man about
the rotundity of the earth. Philosophy
imposes the truth upon US, but the view Of
earth from the elevation Of a balloon is thai
ofan immense terrestrial basin, the deeper
part of which is that directly under ones
feet. As we ascend the earth beneath us
seems to recede-actually to sink away,
while the horizon gradually and gracefully
lifts 4 versitied slope, stretching away far
Their and farther to a line that, at the high
est elevation seems to close with the sky
Thus, upon a clear day, the aeronaut feels
as if suspended at about an equal distance
between the vast, blue, oceanic concave
above, aud the equally expanded terrestrial
basin below.
On Monday, this effect was modified by
the condition Of the sky. At an elevation
which | did not particularly note, the north
ern scope of the horizon wa intercepted by
the heavy clouds accumulated in that quar-
ter, but the extended view became strik-
ingly grand, while the phenomena Of the
scene were well calculated to inspire my
mind with awe. The tightening was
playing at intervals of miles as far as the
eye could reach, while the conclusion of
the atmosphere from the reverberation of
the thunder produced an almost incessant
agitation of the balloon. 1t qaivcred in
every fibre, the net work and cords like
nerves, pulsating to the car, and constantly
reminding me Of the machine. While de-
batting a little practical philosophy, suggest
ed by the occasion, the balloon plunged into
a volume of vapor, and | was in an instant
solitary and alone. The beautiful earth
the busy city the thronged amphitheatre
with It's upturned faces that resembled so
many dimes and half dimes, and the much
greater number of small coin peering up
wards from the outside F.; the Washington
Monument about six inches high, and other
elevations spotted with more upturned
small coin the fertile county verdant
with the genial season, the river, the bay,
wood and plain, hill and valley, all were in
a moment yelled from sight, and ] was
alone.
In a few minutes I emerged above this
stratum of clouds, into clear air, but there
were clouds still higher reaching away to
the horizon, in remarkable contrast with
the dark mass below. These were white
as piles of snow, and where they occasion
ally caught the rays Of the sun, reflected
his brightness with dazzling effect. The
cold here was quite severe, and had some
cause TO apprchend the formation of hail,
which might cut the silken walls of the
balloon. | therefore discharged gas and
again decended in view of the earth, my
career now bearing northeast. Touching
an occasional cloud, soon decendcd be-
yond that region, and gradually noared the
surface, dropping anchor at length upon
a farm, and attracting at once a large
number of persons towards me, who DASH
ed, somewhat inconsiderately, through
fields of grain from all quarters. To pre-
vent further damage, | tripped my anchor,
pitched out ballast, and again asccnded
about 500 feet. | hailed the folks and I'M
derstood them to say that the farm belong
ed to Mr.. Myers. Continuing onward
about q mile further, | finally decended
about 81 miles from the city, near the resi-
dence of Mr.. William Course, whose gen.
erous hospitality at once provided for my
s%oiourn for the night, where | enjoyed a
social evening with his estimable family
and further courtesy of a conveyance to
town this morning in his carriage, accom-
panied bya polite invitation to call when |
passed that way again in my balloon or any
other vehicle. Respectfully,
GEORGE ELLIOTT.