The weekly Ottumwa courier., 1860-05-10
Perilaws Voyagc-pT0f. SSisc
o.. ce TEOre OF, his Travels.

Prof. Wise gives the following interesting
account Of his recent balloon voyage from
New York city:
Ny main object in the trip was to make an
eiFor. at local current sailing. 1t was quite
practicable to sail over New Jersey, orup
Manhattan Island, over Long Island. After
sailing a few minutes in the southeast breeze,
went northward straight over the length of
Randail's Isla ii. There rose higher and
struck breeze from the west, aud made for
Flushing; there descended, with the inten-
ton Of landing at Whitestone, on Long Is
land. The southeast wind was strong at the
earth, but did rot extend in height over a
Thousand feet. In coming down that thous-
and feet the balloon made three miles in five
minutes, and struck the ground near Bin
inger's cottage mansion; but the grapnel,
striking into a gravel walk, failed to secure a
balloon fastening. In the conclusion the
balloon carreene2 so much as to tilt out of the
car sandhag. | was on the ground in
front the cottage long enough to have a
man run to me and clap his hani upon the
car, but as soon as the Ganymede recovered
her perpendicular she made bound over the
cottage, swinging the grapnel into the caves
Of the roof; but the balloon being stronger
than the part where tie hook took effect some
thing gave way. The grapuel next took effect
ina big tree between the cottage and the
Sound but the second squall that strucl; her
scnisher rceling on the..beach, with the side of
the basket or rather the rim of the wicker
work, cut through by the anchor rope.
Here very interesting aerostatic expert
mcnt occurred. The balloon being nicely
poised in the atmosphere, was kept by the
rebound swinging to and fro in mid air be-
tween the water and !and. A guy rope was
trailing on the beach, within the reach of
n man standing there, with mouth and eyes
open with wondermcnt; but in another mo-
ment my car was on the ocean wave. The
man cried out in a most melancholy tone,
40 my God now .ynur in the water" an
swcred, "Yes. sir, am ducked but I'll
get over this little sea- | thought to my
self, Il choose the water to the air, for this
reason; my grapnel is lost, and now, if take
the air and sail over to Manhattan Island
this strong southeast breeze will dash me
into the TIL trees and damage the balloon :;
while if ! take TO the water and drag the car
| through it, | shall have time, before reach
the other side nf Jorian-which was mile
off disgor;e the gas and render the Gan
yrnedc controiaJle without an anchor"
passed The stern ola ship, but it took no no.
tce Of me, aud seemed to hurry out of my
way. The squalls now and then became so
violent IS to :carcen the balloon over until
she touched the sea, houndering me into the
water up tD my shoulders, and putting me
! through several hylropathic exercises not
! pleaSurable to contemplate. was afraid the
violence Of tn, sqalls mi hit collapse the air
bag, but soon found remedy for this by
hanging part Of nay weight on the hoop
above me, so rs to bring the basket more in
/ the water, and allow the aerial craft to make
more heaiway. was half an hour in going
over the Sound about mile and half in
width, and when within half mile of the
beach full open valve rendered the Gany-
mede SO doce as 10 enable her to dra. me
well upon the beach with her water saturat
ell load Wet and chilled. reached the
land little below Throgg's Neck, on the
promises Of D. Il. Lawrence, esq, whose kind
! !y comforts | shall ever remember with graf.
ituas. Mcssrs. Charles Freeman and Wal.
! ter Cheatham followed me with a row boat
ready to pick me up, il the emergency of a
total "shipwrecb" had rendered it necessary
Mr.. Van Schaicl also placed me- under oh,
! legations in assisting me TO reef the Gany.
medt. Another reason for my preference oI
the sen bath was this: by that mode could
rescue the balloon in good order; but. had
| trusted to the land and woods, she might
have been wrecked, as was the Inflated At
lantic last year. Taking it all in all, tho
trip was more instructive and entertaining
than had calculated, and it taught me
some things practically that before had on
'y known in theory. JNO. WISE.
New YoRH April 90, 1860.