Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1859-08-13
The Balloon Ascension.

As anticipated, the Ascension Of Mr.
John A. Light in Balloon from The Pub
iltc Square OF II agrrsiown. on Saturday
la I. drew All i:umense number oil people
I, town. They commenced arriving al +;
very early hour in The day, and continued
to cone by dozens and scores on horse
back, on !ooi and 10 conveyances Of eve ~
description, from all points Of The compass
and on every road leading into town, uuli
a swollen tide Of humanity ebbed and
| flo we'd through our streets, such as has
mol been Witnessed here Tor many years.
| The hotels. the restaurants, The irons
streets, and the sidewalks were all lined
with men, women and children, while the
Hotel stables and yards and back streets
were occupied with horses and vehicles.
On Thursday evening. Mr.. Light, the
eronaut, arrived with his balloon, and en-
tered al once upon the preliminary ar,
engagements FOR his ascension. He Is a
small, delicate, youthful looking man,
and has evidently more nerve than expe-
rience in the practice of Aeronaulcs.
Before day on Saturday morning, he sus-
pended his balloon on East Washington
Street, few feet below the public square,
and commenced initiating il with coal gas
from the TWO tanks of our Gas Company.
In The meantime quantity of hydrogen
gas, which is said 10 be fourteen times
lighter than the common air, and seven
per cent lighter than coal gas, was manu-
featured under the supervision o! DR.. ).
S. Luugren, which was also passed into
The balloon. Al about 3 o'clock it, the
afternoon, Mr.. LighI announced his read
mess TO depart, when the huge flying en-
gihe was carried 10 the centre Of The
square and the car attached, into which he
lesrlessly stepped. The cords being cut.
he commenced moving off very prettily,
but before he had Cleared The square his
basket was csughi by the Telegraph wires
and in The effort 10 disengage il, he let off
a portion Of gas. When the balloon was
freed it arose few feet, then careened
against house and descended safely some
thirty yards from the starting point.
|, was Immediately taken back 10 the
pipes, and an additional quantity Of gas.
about two thousand feel, injected into il.
when Ill again, al about hall-pasI four
o clock, was announced in readiness, and
Mr.. l.. took his station in the car. This
lime he cleared the houses and arose
beautifully, waving his hat in triumph.
and receiving The cheers of thousands of
enthusiastic and relig GIFTED spectators, who
were packed into The square, and its ADA
cen, streets, and occupied windows and
roofs of the houses in The vicinity. The
balloon al first moved westward for a.
short distance, but as il continued 10 ilse
it struck an opposite current of air, and
gradually returned, slowly and majes'ical
~ floating over the heads of the dense
mass of people at an altitude of about
1000 feet, and Then moving to The south
eas;, in which direction il continued 10
sail very tardIly indeed, and in full view
of the naked eye. until it descended. Mr..
l.. alghled near the house Of Mr.. Jacob
SlolIer, about FIVE miles from Hagers-
town, and two from The foot of the South
Mountain. He came down safely, his
graphing irons having caught fence be-
tween road and stuble field, landing
him and The car in the road and the bal
loon in the field and little after night
fall he was brought TO town by some gen.
tlemen who had followed him, and escor
led to his quarters amid the cheers and
congratulations Of hundreds of persons
who still fingered on our streets. Mr..
Sio,ler soon followed with the balloon,
which was found have been uninjured
with the exception of one or two small
rents in The silk Mr.. l.. left town on
Sunday, and before we had an oppor,uni-
~ of conversing with him about his voy-
age, but we understand he was in the air
about twenty FIVE minutes and attsned an
elevation of mile at the highest point Of
his flight. The feat-wss not at all remark
able in the history or practice of balloon
ing, bu, il was handsomely performed by
the youthful eronaut. and we have every
reason TO know that it gave universal sat.
isfsction to the immense throng of people
who left their homes TO witness it,
HagerStown Herald.
20 l..