Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-10-30
miscellaneous.
VOYAGE THROUGH THE SKIES.

VOYAGE THROUGH THE SKIES.
Yesterday afternoon, as our reader
are aware, Mons. GODDARD made bis second
balloon ascension from this city, this time
taking his mammoth ballon America. and
several passengers It was our fortune tc
be one of the passengers. At 5 l-z
o'clock the huge globe was announced te
be fully inflated and those entitled to
seats IN the miniature house attached te
the balloon, invited to occupy them
The following gentlemen stepped forward
and took their seats; Col. Latham, Tick
ct Agent Great Miami Railroad /; Nj
VIM. r. rHoel. River Pilot: Mr.. Herman
Hips. clerk in the County Treasurer s
office; Mr. Bellmau, of the Gazette, and
ourself
We occupied a wicker car, inside of the
miniature house; windows, however,
glvlng our vlsuals free access to " all out
OF doors" For several minutes the crowd
gathered SO thickly round the car. some
to shake hands with the passengers. and
some out of curiosity, that it was impos-
sible to manage the balloon. It was
with great difficulty the crowd was push.
ed and kept back at reasonable dis
tance. Mons GODDARD soon ascertained
that he had too much weight, and invited
Mr. Hipp to step out of the car, while he
arranged the ballast. Having everything
arranged, he gave the command to slet
GO" and away we sailed to the great NOR
tlfcation of Mr.. Hipp, who had been left
behind
THE ASCENSION.
The pleasure we felt when the balloon
cut loose from terra frma and commen-
ced gliding through the air, is inexpress-
able. The immense concourse of people
below seemed to be moveiDg gently away
from US, and whatever fears or apprehen-
slons we might have entertained previous
ly, were all forgotten in the pleasure of
the moment. Our eyes were with rap
ture fixed upon the city lot, with its
thousands of upturned faces. until atten
ton was called to another point by our
fellow passengers 1t was the grand, in
describable view of the city, the river and
the scenery beyond. This city seemed
like we'll arranged set of toys lined by
a strip of silver lace The passengers
were all In ecstacy. and were continually
pointing out new beauties to each other
When we first cast our eyes directly be
low US We were sailing over the lth ward
Everything had a miniature appearance
The houses looked like playthlngs, and
people and vehicles in the streets, like
swarms of ants running over the ground
Though subject to dizziness, we here
looked down upon "mother earth" with
out experiencing the least unpleasant
feeling. Indeed, we were enraptured be
yond expression
We passed directly over Nit Auburn,
the house here being lowered below the
car, and giving US a better view The
long steep road extending up to Mt Au.
burn from Sycamore street, looked pre-
cisely like broad chalk line upon level
ground, and the whole country was as
fat in appearance as could be. AS we
hurried by, we endeavored to distinguish
the hill-sides, but to our vision no hills
were there.
THE SAIL.
While passing over the city, we sailed
quite gently, but once up over the hills,
We moved off at a speed which Col.
Latham good humoredly remarked beat
railroad time all to pieces Clouds soon
shut the city from our view, and our at
/ tention was directed to the exquisite
! landscape on every hand Our height
could lot have been very far, for we dis
| tinctly heard loud conversation below us,
and, with the aid of a speaking trumpet,
conversed with those beneath US.
nnr north north fropo M
| Auburn, we moved toward Cummingsville
and then drlfted towards the Reading
| Turnpike almost directly above which we
sailed until within the neigh borhood of
Sharon At one time the villages of Cum
mingsville, College Hill, Mt Pleasant,
Carthage, Lockland, Reading, Sharon,
and three or four others which we could
not distinctly recognize, were all within
view The whole scene looked like an
immense garden, with little streamlets
running through it, the vast forests and
fields looking like small enclosures in
deed AS Mr. Hoel laughing remarked,
"a big farm don't amount to much, when
observed from a balloon"
We conversed frequently with the peo-
pie below One farmer invited US to stop
and take some hard cider, another for
supper. and another very anxious to
know if we intended to run all night
We distinctly heard the establishments
and wonders" of beyy of girls in q
dairy yard, and their horror when one o
them exclaimed, why, the men IN it are
talking J"
The party thus spent the time, now ad
miring the fairy like scenes which lay
before us, or enjoying chit-chat with th,
folks below.
About half-past six o'clock when nea
Sharon, we glided off into north h-west
ern course. Mons GODDARD pointed to
heavy dark cloud before US, said, IN
good,n and by gestures, (for be can speal
but very few words of English, indica
) ting that there was danger of our gettin
$ ducking if we did not override th
u clouds. He threw out a large quantit
e of ballast, and we shot rapidly upward, a
the same time approaching the frownin