The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-11-08
PERILS IN THE AIR.
An Extraordinary Balloon As
cension, and What Came Of IL.

The last balloon 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
timid person would care to be, and although
his last experiment nearly proved fatal to
him, he has returned safely, with a remark
able chapter ofaerial experience to narrate.
The London Attsnaeum 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 to use
the balloon for scientific purposes but Mr..
Glalsher, by his successful ascents, is adding
largely to our knowledge Of the higher re-
gions Of the atmosphers.
The September ascension was made in Mr.
Coxwel's great balloon, and the highest
point reached was five and three quarter
miles. Mr.. Glaisher's interesting narrative
efhis voyage thus describes the effects of
atmosphe at different attitudes
when we attained the height of two miles
at l h. 21 m, the temperature had fallen to
the freezing point; we were three miles high
at h. % M, with temperature Of Is deg /;
at / h. SO M, we had reached four miles,
and the temperature was deg in ten min-
utss more we had reached the fifth mile, and
the temperature Of the air had passed zero,
and there read minus 2 deg. and as this
point no dew was observed on Regnault's
hygrometer when cooled down to minus 20
deg. Up to this time had taken the obser-
vations with comfort. had experienced no
difficulty in breathing, while Mr.. Coxwell,
in consequence of the necessary exertion he
had to make, had breathed with difficulty
for some time
AT h. 81 m. the barometer read II. 05
inches, but which requires subtractiye cor
rection Of 0.25 inch, as found by comparison
with Lord Wrottesley's standard barometer
just befor starting, both by his lordship and
myself, which would reduce It to 10. 8 inches.
or at height Of about st miles. Tread the
dry bulb "a minus deg; in endeavoring to
read the wet bulb could not see the column
Of mercury. rubbed my eyes, then took .
lens, and also failed. then tried to read
the other instruments, and found I could
not do so, nor could sec the hands of the
watch. asked Mr.. Coxwell to help me,
and he said he must 60 into the ring, and he
would when he come down. I endeavorsd
70 reach some brandy, which was lying on
the table at about the distance of foot from
my hand, and found myself unable to do SO,
Ny sight became more dim: looked ct
the barometer and saw it between 10 and II
inches, and tried to record it, but I was un-
able to write. l then saw it st 10 inches,
still decreasing fast, and just noted it in my
book its true reading, therefore, was this
time about q inches, implying . height Of
about u miles, rs change Of an inch in
the reading Of the barometer at this elevation
takes place on q change of height Of about
$500 feet. I felt I was losing all power,
and endesvored To rouse myself by strug-
Cling and shaking. attempted to speak,
and found I had lost the power. I attempt
ed to look 1t the barometer again |; my head
fell on one side. struggled and got it light
and it fell on the other, and finally fell back
wards. - -
Ny arm, which had been resting on the
table, fell down by my side. saw Mr.. Cox
yell dilnly in the ring. It became more
misty, and finally dark, and sank uncon.
sciously as in sleep; this must have been
about h. 81 m. then heard Mr.. CoAwell
say, Whist is the temperature 2 Take an
observation now try But I could neither
see, move nor speak. then heard him
speak more emphatically, take an observa-
tion; now do try I shortly afterwards
opened my eyes, saw the instruments and
Mr.. Coxwell very dimly, and soon saw clearly
and said 10 Mr.. Coxwell, Il have been in-
sensible and he replied, You have, and !
nearly
recovered quickly, and Mr.. Coxwell
said, Il have lost the use of my bands give
me some brandy to bathe them His Aands
sosrs nearly black. saw the temperature
was still below zero and the barometer read
ing IL inches, but increasing quickly. I
i & ~