The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1867-03-07
UP IN THE CLOUDS.
G'ARsE OF AN AIR VOYAGE.

y
cnce Of ncrostatiDg was confined TO the
comparatively few, / received the fol-
lowing note from Prof. Colchester
My DEAR PARcmLp: Baum has
disappointed mc-he will not go up to.
day. There are only four besides m v
self--two ladies aud two gentlemen
VIII you go in B's place! Let me
know positively by ; clock, for anoth-
er gentleman has applied for passage,
and my answer to him will depend on
yours to me. We are advertised for 4
and shall certainly cut loose BY 5. /
give you the preference over all others,
but please decide as soon as possible
cannot ioresee the result, of course.
but the day promises to be fine aud /
think the trip will be au agreeable one
10 all parties"
This note was signed and dated from
well-known garden in the suburbs OF
London, aud, as has probably been con
jectured, was special invitation to
make an ascent in balloon, then 4
much rarer venture than now IL had
long ben a wish OF mine TO see terra
6rma from the clouds, and now could
have my desire gratifcd. The profes.
sor had already made three ascensions
with passengers, and as this was an
nounced as his last for the seaspn, I lost
no time in agreeing to become one of
the privileged few for an aerial Sight.
The day promised to be all that could
be desired. 1t was Gear without being
hot, and there was little or no breeze.
Between 3 aud 4 o'clock / was ut the
garden, and saw the balloon in the act
Of being inflated As a man surveys
ship in which he is about to embark
Tor an uncertain perilous voyage, 80 did
l examine my aerial vessel. As far as
! could judge, everything was right
IL was u monster in size, made OF the
best lutestring silk, and required 40
600 cubic feet of gas to I'LL IT, This
silk was we'll covered with an elastic
coating Of oil aud india rubber, aud fur
Their protected 10y close net work Of
Italian hemp; but still, as l looked up
at it, swaying and rolling from side to
side, swelling out with gas and Juggling
to get loose from it's fasteniugs, thou't
how comparatively frail thing it was
to carry humanity above the clouds and
through the mid.hoavens, and | shua-
dered at the thought of what would be-
come of us should any portion Of it give
way in the thousand different strains il
would be put to in the ever-yarying
strata OF air. Attached to the balloon,
BY eight strong ropes, was car of wick
er-work, capable of containing twelve
persons--though, compared to the bal
loon in size, it was pea suspended be-
low the point of large hunmipg-top.
At ) o'clock the professor announced
everything was ready for start, aud
We the passengers, Immediately took
leave of our friends aud entered the car,
There were some laughing, some crying,
according to the different views OF the
various parties. In one case husband
aud father was leaving his wife and
children, who chung to him with such
fondness, and go piteously begged him
not to do SO, that had l been il his
place | certainly should have re-
NAMED with them. He, however, con
tinued firm to his purpose. and made so
light Of their fears, that at length they
began to smile--though | shall never
forget the agouizod express;on az his
wiie's face. as I CAUGHT a ,,limnse &c \,
at the moment when We were bs,und;pa
into the world ofuir
aGiye INV love 10 the man IN a..
moon p cried 4 merry voice
sJust pu, n bextincuisber bov.r o.e
Of the stars Y esclaiped ,rae.bloodsd
cockpey.
Bring MS hack a chunk &c chain.
licbtpiu@ y laughed n third
"pou't CONC down fast on.,uoh j.
butt hole throueh the ear,h r. shon,
ed fourth s
At exactly 500 the signal wss g;xsn