Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-11-08

The last ballon ascension undertaken for
scientific purposes was that of Mr.. GlaiSher,
which took place in England in September
With utter disregard of safety or comfort,
this gentleman has ventured upon scientific
experiments at higher attitudes than any
timd person wonId care to be- aud allho
his last expedition nearly proved futrl to hlm
he has returned safely with remarkable
chapter of aerial experiences to narrate.
The London Ithen0cum Justly remarks
that in his hands the balloon is restored to
its old rank of philosophical agent Guy
LusSac has shown the men of science how %
use the balloon for scientific purposes but
Mr.. Glaisher, by his successive ascents, is
adding largely TO our knowledge of the high.
er regions of the atmosphere.
The September ascenSions were made in
Mr.. Coxwell's great balloon, and the high.
est point reached was five and three quart.
ers miles. Mr. GlaiShers interesting nara.
tive Of this voyage hUs describes the effects
of the atmosphere at different attitudes:
When we attained the height OF two
miles, at b. 81 m, the temperature fallen
to the freezing point; we were three miles
high at l h. % m.. with a temperature Of
l3 degrees; at b. SO m, we had reached
four miles, and the temperature was s de-
grees; in ten minutes more We had reached
the fflh mile, and the temperature of the
mir had passed below Zero and there read
minus two degrees, aud nj This point no dew
was observed on RNgnaults hydrometer
when cooled down TO 80 degrees.
Up to this time hnd takeu the observa.
tions with comfort | hal experienced no
difficulty in breathing, while Mr.. CoXNell,
in consequence of The necessary exerion he
had 10 make, had brealhed with difficulty
for some time.
"At h. 81 m, the barometer read
ii 05 inches, but which requires a subtract.
i've corrective of 25 inch, as found by com
parison with Lord WroteSley's standard
barometer inst before starting, both by his
Iordship and myself, which would reduce it
TO 10 inches, or at the height of 81 miles
| read the dry bulb as minus five degrees;
in endevoring to read the wet bulb / could
not see the column Of mercury | rubbed
my eyes, then took a lens, and also failed
| then tried to read the other Instruments,
and found l could not do So nor could | see
the hands of the watch. ] asked Mr., Cox
we'll to help, and be said he must go down
into the ring, and he would when he come
down. endeavored to reach some brandy,
which was lying on the table at about the
distance Of foot from my hand, and found
myself unable 10 do so. -..
Ny sight became more dim. looked at
the barometer and saw it between 10 and
ii inches, and tried TO record it, but | was
unable to write. | then saw it at 10 inches,
still decreasing fast, and just noted it in my
book: its true reading therefore, was at this
time 0 "a inches, implying height of 3 4
inches, as a change OF an inch in the reading
of the barometer at this elevation takes
place on a chance of height Of about $500
feet. | felt was losing all power, aud en-
deavored to rouse myself by struggling and
shaking; l attempted 20 speak, but found
/ had lost the power / attempted to look
at the barometer again my head fell one
side. / struggled and got it right aud it
fell on the other, and finally fell backwards.
My arm, which had been resting on The
table, fell down by my side. l saw Mr,
Coxwel dmly in the ring. It become more
misty, and finally dark, and | sank uncon-
scously aS if in sleep this must have been
about IL h. 81 m then heard Mr.. Cox
well say, what is the temperature Take
an observation ; now try. But | could
neither see move or speak. then heard
him speak more emphaticaly, Take an oh
seryation now do try. shortly after
ward opened my eyes, and saw the instru
ments and Mr., Coxwell dimly and soon saw
clearly, aud said to Mr. Coxwch, have
been insensible and be replied, you have
and / nearly.
recovered quickly, and Mr. Coxwell
said, have lost the use Of my hands give
me some brandy to battle tnem. His hands
were nearly black l saw the temperature
was slill below zero, and the barometer
reading l l inches, but increasing quickly.
l resumed my observation at 2 b. I m. re,
cordiOg the barometer reading IL. SO inches,
and the temperature minus ? degrees. i
then found that the water 10 the vessel sup
plying the Wet-bnlb thermometer, which |
had by frequent Disturbances kept freezing,
was one sold mass Of ice Mr. cOvelllhsp
.a..EM