Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1859-07-14
The Balloon Voyage from Missouri to
New York.
Prof. wise's Account of the Trip
From tie Albany Express.

on inns voyage on tle Lou Vi june, VIC WITS
delayed in our preparations until The LIST OF
July. BY 6 o'clock, P. NJ, the air-ship
atlantic" was duly inflated, and while we
were putting her in Trim with ballast and
provisions, Mr.. Brooks, lessee Of the St.
Louis Museum, who had kindly volunteer
ed 10 escort us over the Mississippi in his
balloon "Comei," got ready fer the occa-
sion, and upon signal agreed, assembled
from the ground. At 720 P. NJ. the cat
lantic" was ready 10 sail. Messrs. La
mountain and eager, thinking some diff
culty might arise from the start if they
should attach the fore-wheels TO the shafts
and wheel gearing, determined 10 omit that
until we should be fairly under way next
morning. Having had much experience in
hard winds, and the perils OF landing bal
Icon under them, we had constructed, al
St. Louis, good wicker-work car (Which
with good and strong concentrlc hoop, are
lif. preservers in these perils,) which was
suspended between The boat and balloon,
end abeut eight feet above the former and
within six feel OF the hoop, so that the neck
of the balloon hung IN the basket-car when
ever the balloon was fully distendei.
The boat contained 600 pounds of ballast
one bucket Of water, one bucket of lemon
ade. with an abundance Of bread and wine,
poultry and sandwiches, besides delIcacies
leo numerous to enumerate, furnished by
kind friends. Mr.. Lamountain took COM
mspd Of the boat and ballast, and took his
place On one end; Mr.. eager took the other
end, and took charge Of the charts and COM
pass; Mr.. Hyde, local editor Of the St, Lou
is Republican, took his seat in the middle,
with note book and pencil, as historian
Although Mr.. Hyde was not in the crigi-
nal programme, we unanimouSiy agreed 10
let him accompany us, provided II would not
interfere with our ultimate design; and as
it was arranged that, under any circum-
stances, when the ballast should fail, the
boa. with its contents should be disposed oil
and myself or Mr.. Lamountain should pro-
coed on tho voyage alone.
The basket contained $50 pounds Of bal.
last, barometer, wet and dry bulb, Their.
mometer, besides quantity of wine and
provisions; and l took my place in the bas'
ket and charge of the valve rope, and as d.
rector of the general plan of the voyage, by
the unanimous consent of the party, engag-
ed in this long devised enterprise.
/ must say here that Mr.. Lamountain took
in charge q part Of the programme that none
but o cool head and a most accomplished
seronaut could be trusted with; and especl'
ally the night sailing. AT 7:20 P. NJ, we
set sail from Washington Square Of St. Lou
is. and our course at starting was north o.
east When we got up. and over the MIS-
sissippi and well under way, we saw Mr.
Brooks land in clear place about sunset
At $50 P. NJ. the shades of the evening
shut from our view the noble city OF St
Louis and the father of waters, though il
continued light until alter 8. MIR. Lamoun'
tain having suffered from sickness on Thurs
cav, and was too unwell TO work hard un-
der burning sun at the initiation, left much
hard labor for me al that work. | submit.
ted the whole thing 10 his charge for The
night, with the understanding 10 have me
walked up whenever he wanted the valve
worked, and he took it with alacrity. Be-
fore went to sleep we had mounted to &
height at which the balloon became CON-
pletely distended, and where we found The
current due east. Here it became chilly
and Mr.. La Mountain, as well as oil Of US
suffered from this change of air; and with
all the clothing we could put on us it was
still uncomfortable, though the thermome
Ter stoop at ~, and the barometer at 70
and this was the lowest of both the instru
ments during the whole voyage, except th'
crossing of Lake Ontario.
Mr.. La Mountain proposed to take the
lower current as long as it would lake u:
but few points North Of East, and l told
him to do as he deemed best, and report hi,
reckoning in the morning. After bidding
the party in the boat q good night and GOO
speed, | coiled myself up in blankets, and
laid down as best could, and in few mo
ments was sound asleep, and knew Of moth.
ing but repose until ll:30 P. NJ.
At this time Mr.. La Mountain agar
mounted for the upper current; being desi
rous Of making little more casting, he hail
ed me 10 open the valve, as the balloon hac
become SO tense, aud the gas. was rushing
from The neck with noise, but finding NJ
answer from me, he suspected that | wa,
being smoihered in The gas, and he admon'
ished Mr.. eager to mount to my car by
rope provided for that purpose, and Mr.
eager found me breathing spasmodically
out good shaking, and the removal of th'
neck Of the balloon from my face, with plen
ty of pure cold air around me, soon brough
me back to knowledge Of what was goinl
on, and resolved to sleep no more durin!
the night.
At midnight felt quite well, with an in
vigorated spirit Of observation and interes
in our experiment. The whole dome @
heaven was lit up with mellow phosyhores
cent light; the stars shone with crysiallin
brilIiancy, and the milky way looked lik
an Illuminated stratum Of cumulous clouds
Whenever we crossed water the heaven
liz dome was as visable below by reflectio
ns above. So remarkable was this phos
phorescent light Of the atmosphere that tn
balloon looked translucent, and looked lik
light shining through oiled paper. We al
SO could tell prairie from forest, and b
keeping the eye for moment downwar
we could see the roads, fences, fields, an
.r.n bo,rxes nuife disfinctlv of over mil