Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-12-27
Scientific Balloon Ascension.

An interesting balloon ascension was re-
Gently made in England by Mr.. Glaisher, for
scientific purposes. The ascension was made
in tho mommoth balloon belonging to Mr..
Coxwel!, who accompanied Mr.. G. as nronaut.
The adventurers reached the highest point
above the earth, ever visited by man, and
their observations have added an interesting
and important chapter to the history Of SCI
cnce. The expedition was carried to an ex-
tent exceedingly dangerous, and indeed was
near proving fatal to one Of the parties. We
append the chief points of interest as given
more in full in their published narrative:
The freezing point was found at the height
the thermometer stood at Is deg above zero,
and at ) miles 2 deg. below and no dew was
observed when cooled down to minus 30 deg.
Up to this point, the observer, Mr.. Glaisher
had experienced no difficulty in breathing.
while Mr.. Coxwell, in consequence Of the nee
cssary exertion he had to make had breathed
with difficulty for some time.
Dimness of sight began to be experienced
at an elevation of five and quarter miles,
which Mr.. &. thus narratcs:
At height of about So miles, I read the
dry bulb as minus deg in endeavoring to
read the wet bulb could not SEQ the column
of mercury. / rubbed my eyes, then took
lens, and also failed. | then tried 70 read
the other instruments and found l could not
do so, nor could see the hands of the watch.
/ asked Mr.. Coxwell to help me, and he said he
must go into the ring, and he would when he
came down. l cndeavored to reach some
brandy, which was lying on the table at about
the distance of n foot from my hand, and found
myself unable to do SO.
Total loss of power was indicated at about
five and thrce-quarter miles elevation, as will
be noticed from the following continuation of
the above paragraph:
My sight became more dim; l looked at
the barometer and saw it between 10 and II
inches and tried to record it, but was unable
to write l then saw it at so inches still de-
creasing fast, aud just noted it in my book
its true reading therefore, was at this time
about 93 inches. implying height of about
8, miles, as a change of an inch in the reading
or the barometer at this elevation takes place
on change of height of about $500 feet. l
felt was losing all my power, and endeav
ored to rouse myself by struggling and shak-
ing. attempted to speak, and found l had
lost tho power. ] attempted to look at tho
barometer again; my head fell on ono side.
struggled and got it right, and it fell on the
other, aud finally fell backward.
My arm, which had been resting on the ta-
bic, fell down by my side saw Mr.. Cox
we'll dimly in the ring. 1t became more
misty and l sank unconsciously as in
sleep. then heard Mr.. Cox welsay, "What
is the temperature! Take an observation;
I
speak. then heard him speak more en-
phatically. Take an observations; now do
try shortly afterwards opened my eyes,
saw the instruments and Mr.. CoXwcll very
dimly, and soon saw clearly and said to Mr..
Coxwcll, II have been insensible;' = and he
replied, Ycu have and nearly"
recovered quickly and MIR. Coxwell said,
II have lost the use of my hands; give mo
some brandy to bathc them" His hands
were ncay7y Lack. saw the temperature
was still below zero, aud the barometer read
| inches, but increasing quickly. resumed
my obseraions. found that tho water in
the vessel supplying tho wet bulb thermome-
ter, which had by frequent disturbance
kept from freezing, was one solid mass OF ice.
Mr. Coxwel then told me that while in the
ring hc felt it piercingly cold, that hoar frost
was all around tho neck of the balloon, and
on attempting to leave the ring his hands were
frozen and he got down the best he could; that
he found me motionless. witha quiet and plac-
id expression on the countenance. He spoke
to me without clici,ins reply, and found was
inspnsible.
He then said he felt inscnsibiity was conf
ing over himself; that he became anxious to
open the valve; that his hands failed him, and
that he seized the line between his teeth, and
pulled the valve open until the balloon took
a turn downward.
Mr.. Glaisher is Of the opinion that tho bal
loon, during their state Of partial sensibility.
and at the time Mr.. Coxwell opened tho valve
with his teeth, must have stood at an altitude
Of 6, if not 6l miles from tho earth.
Six pigeons wero taken up. One was
thrown. out at the height Of three miles; it
extended its wings and dropped as piece Of
paper. A second, at four miles, flew vigor-
ously round and round, apparently taking
great dip each timc a third was thrown out
between four and five miles, and it fell down.
wards. A fourth was thrown out at four
miles, when wa were descending; it flew in a
circle, aud shortly after alighted on the top of
the balloon. Inc TWO remaining PiSeohS
were brought down to tho ground. One was
found to be dead. and the other IA carrier) had
attached to its neck note. 1t would not,
however, leave, and when jerked off the finger
returned to tho hand. After quarter Of an
hour it began to peck a piece Of ribbon encir-
cling its neck and then jerked it off my fin
ger, and it flew round two or three times with
vigor, and finally towards Wolverhampton.
Not one, however, was there whom left ON