The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-06-30

health of the ladies who had prepared them,
and touched to the health of Bill B. and Russ
B. two bottles labeled ''Ninney's Ale provided
by their judicious care, and we hope not very
under tie Circumstances in the
eyes of our temperance friends. Alas for
those bottles-while yet nearly filled they
were afterwards dropped overheard to save US
Eom tree tops.
At quarter past SIX, Mr.. Brooks began to
look for a place to alight, and commenced let
ting out gas. We did not think our ride
ought to be brought to a close in this manner
50 early, and protested. Up in the air we then
and there contracted that he should get cut
when we >'touched bottom,'' and the balloon
should be submitted to our care for. another
voyage. We tried to land in a certain field but
just when we had almost reached it, sudden
gust sent US around it, and promised to land US
speedily on the top of black forest All the
ballast was then thrown out, and we arose,
but not to a great height. Again we came
down with the intention of landing in fields a
couple miles distant For time we went
along nicely, then began to approach the tree
tops too closely, and without any ballast to
save US. First the bottles and sand viches
went overheard. We had just hauled off a
cloth coat, containing in It's pockets spy glass,
memorandum book Of state of barometer &c,
with various remarks, &c, written in the skies
cigars, &c, &c. With painful regret we saw
Mr.. Brooks poking that coat through the cords,
and in answer to our question, he distinctly
told US it was going to drop, and dropi it did.
This saved US. We grazed the tops of the
trees skirting the field, cast out the anchor,
and in moment struck the earth, bounced up,
struck again twenty feet off, then snugly re-
posed on the oats. We had been conyersing
with men below US during the latter part of the
excursion, and in few minutes twenty or
thirty gathered around US. While at the
greatest height the thermometer stood at 80.
We note this as we go along. We landed four
teen miles from Evansville. and two miles this
side Of MiIlersburg There was but little
breeze, and we had travelled slowly, having
been up an hour and twenty ight minutes.
At Mr. Brooks direction, the men took
hold of the balloon and he got cut. He then
filled two ballast bags with dust, gave US. his
coat, and after a short talk, not at all of ser-
Gus nature as the people around seemed to
think it ought to be and with hearty good
bye, holds were let go. The balloon shot up
like rocket. 1t had just been released of
nearly $50 pounds, and in place of this two
bags substituted weighing probably not forty
pounds. With twice the speed of the first as
cension, the earth appeared to faH-to
be dropping from us The Iittle crowd
of twenty or thirty spectators first seemed to
'close ranks" then they became mere speck,
then invisible. Large cultivated farms, ap-
peared closing in-contracting to little gar
dens, while the houses grew less, and.fnally
almost disappeared. The tops of the trees be-
came one blank dark green, the shades of
evening already settling upon them. And still
the balloon was rapidly rising. Feathers sank
ike bullets, and were soon out Of sight The
mouth of the balloon opened, and the smell of
of gas was strong. Up, up, up-leathers still
falling, not an object on earth to be recognized
in its distinctive form. Certainly if man were
ever alone with his God it was here If the
great Presence ever struck mans soul dumb,
and breathed into him the thought ofhis own
.insignifcaDce, it was while such a flying atom
in the immensely Of space. And still up! The
valves were tried, and though kept open but a
second, somewhat retarded the upward fight
In a few minutes Cleft the earth t61l6 O'Clock
and at this time three minutes Of seyen) the
balloon was about stationary The thermome
ter stood at 627. The air was cool, but not
uncomfortably 50, as of course we could feel no
breeze. The sun was obscured in a mist, and
the earth looked dark beneath The barome-
ter index was closed. At this point upon the
PRESUMPTION that with Mr. Brooks we were
three miles high at the greatest altitude, the
balloon Hercules was now nearly or quite four
and half high. The only i'll effects experienced
was an oppression in the ears, as though they
were stuffed with cotton--but not actually
painful. Mr.. Wise, when FIVE miles high by
actual measurement, experienced no i'll effects
more than if he was on earth. ssv
The balloon now began to descend, at first
very slowly, then rapidly. The canal soon be-
came visible, and finally lock, which looked
as if a skif could not enter it. Crossed the
canal short distance below the lock. Got so
lowas to converse with the people. Hurrahed