Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-07-16
More about the Balloon Excursion
Mr.. In Ifountainc's Stateaent--Scicntifc ana
PrnrlicnL Qhsnrrntinns Grn,n AZ IYisc

Mr.. In Ifountaincs Statenent-Seientifc an
Practical Observations from Mr.. Wise.
Mr.. La Mountains has addressed long let
ter to the Troy Times, descriptive of the re
cent voyage of which we have already givei
Mr.. Wise's account. His pictures of the ap
pcarance of the earth and heavens are graphic
THE MONT.
AS we passed up, the great city of st. Loui
beneath seemed to be compressed and draw
together on a concave, the valleys and wood
melting into each other until the outlines be
came almost indistinguishable houses float
ing in gutter and emitting faint puifs o
smoke. At about o'clock, we could Sc,
that the people below were having their sun
sot, although we were in full blaze Of light
The praries looked like vast fields of polal
ice, slightly tinged with green, quite destitute
of luminous properties. Between us ant
them hung suspended, evidently dark ant
almost Opaque belt, which seemed like vel
drawn over the country. Tho alternate
patches Of cultivated grounds, water sheets
and little hills and gulches, gave to all di
versifed appearance though the hills had
lost their relative cone-like appearance, and
seemed to be vast sugar loaves, fretted witt
raisins and lemon parings-the effect of alter
nate forest and grass. Such spectacle must
be seen to be appreciated, and can be seer
only by those who study nature from the ia
vorable position we occupied.
Very gradually the darkness stole up from
below. 1t was as though invisible hands were
lifting up the veil as it approached and envel.
oped as. In few moments the sun left us,
disappearing in hazy, luminous bank of red.
1t did not become dark. Throughout the
night we were able at all times to distinguish
the praires from the wooded country below,
even when at an altitude of two miles. We
were floating in a sort of transparent vapor,
which, without possessing any pcrceptible
body, yet seemed to e.madc up of luminous
particles. The effect of the light was very
peculiar. 1t gave the balloon phosphores-
cent appearance, as though it were charged
with fire. So powerful was this, that every
line of the netting, every fold of the silk,
every cord and wrinkle, were so plainly Wis
ible as if illuminated by torches and lcould
at any moment tell the time by consulting my
watch. This phenomenon became more stri-
king as we increased our altitude. My theO-
ry of fact so remarkable and before unheard
of is, that the clouds, charged with electri-
cal principles, and acted upon by the heat OF
the sun, emitted and dispensed through the
air the luminous particles, which, though
separately indistinguishable, were myriad
torch bearers of our wondrous way. This
theory has scientific warrant in the fact
that ships have sometimes been similarly illu-
minated at sea, so powerfully that the mast
head was visible from deck, which would
proceed from the same causes, acting under
different circumstances. That it is not a nat
ural feature of height above the carth's sur
face is shown by the fact that when Charles
Green, Mark Mason and Lord Holland made
their famous nocturnal voyage from London
to Welburg, it seemed MS if the balloon was
passing through solid blocks of black marble
THE DAWN.
From one o'clock until sunrise, at about
haifpast four o'clock, kept the balloon with
in 400 or 500 feet of tile earth-using during
that time but three pounds of ballast, which
| consider a little remarkable. During this
period, all three of my companions were fast
atmosphere being very warm and
pleasant at the altitude we northumberland
their decided snoring gave me pleasant ac-
compartment in my voyage, and somewhat
varied my reflections.
About 50 minutes past one o'clock the bal
loon lowered suddenly, so as to almost touch
the tops of the trees. | threw out three
three pounds of ballast, and heard the sand
strike upon roof-top, probably in Cass coun-
ty. This small discharge elevated lis so that
we passed clear of an ugly piece of woods a
short distance ahead. ! called out always
on passing 4 house, and was invariably an
swercd by the bark or howl of a dog. At
this time daylight made its appearance, her
aided by faint glimmering in the East, quick
ly followed by the most beautiful auroral
phenomena, and brilliant illumination of
the whole vista of the space i'll which we were
Again the veil seemed to drop over
us, hung for a short time between the bal
loon and the earth, and then disappeared, as
II its particles had decomposed and fioated
away. As if by magic, all was glowing i'll
vernal beauty around, and splendid 'pano-
rama lay spread out beneath us, the yellow
fields of grain, the wooded patches, and the
tortuous windings of the streams being clearly
distinguishable. The rising of the suncloth-
cd all these in glorious robes of living, spark
ling light. cit seems as if every tree top bore
a coronal and every field of grain was headed
with a cabinet of gems, while the surface of
the waters shone with all untold magnifcence
could not refrain from exclaiming aloud in
wondering admiration of the glory of natures
God. My companions, who were awake by
this time, Joined with me in feasting upon
the ravishing splendor Of the view.
The principal feature which the voyagers
observed during the night was the prevalence
about, above and under them, of remark
able phosphorescent light, which seemed to
invest everything, and give it peculiar ap-
pearance, 1t made the balloon look like
globe Of fire, seen through oiled paper, as
Wise described it. 1t was easy to tell the
woods from the open country by the belts of
black lines which they indicatsd--and on
,rossing body of water, it seemed as though
lie voyagers were passing between two sheets
If flame of mellow color, which lighted them
Up and gave to their countenances and to the
objects Immediately surrounding peculiar
iue. This phenomenon was as agreeable to
hose who witnessed it as IT was remarkable.