The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-02-15

pressure III lIlc cy yes, ana KIM Oh roar
ing, cracking sound in the ears. The
gas, too, was rushing out of the bot
tom of the balloon with great force
pouring right down upon and hall
strangling us. Looking directly up al
it, | was startled, and for a moment
thought our balloon was on fire-for
the gas, which / had observed in the
garden below as presenting color OF
beautiful pinkish red, now had the ap-
pearanceof dense, black smoke. The
professor noticed my expression of a.
larm, and made me sign that all was
right. He now pulled open the valve
made for the escape of the gas at the
top, and our aerial vessel soon descend
ed toan altitude where wecould breathe
easily and hear each other speak.
We struck a strong current of air,
and began to pass rapidly to the west
ward. In few minutes / observed a
cloud that looked like huge ledge of
gray rocks, coming toward us with such
velocity, that, till weentered it, could
not dispossess myself of the fear that
we should be dashed to pieces. When
we did enter it, we found ourselves in a
cold fog, so dense that we could not see
half a dozen feet in any direction.
Here there was no breeze whatever,
and our balloon soon became stationa-
ry, or at least, moving only with the
cloud. What had become of the wind
which had carried us to it with such
velocity, l could not imagine but the
professor explained it by saying we
had got out of the current.
"Within half mile of u.s." pursued
he, "there are probably at this moment
two strong currents of air rushing in
exactly opposite directions; while, as
you perceive, everything is still. 1t
is thought by some that when these
things come to be better understood
when we shall have got them reduced
to science, in fact-we shall then be
able to navigate the air as we'll as the
water. "Well, ladies, what do you
say-shall Wego abOvethis cloud, or be
low ?"
ave should like to see it from above ,;
was the answer. "But, professor, how
can you tell which way we are going
noW?"
"Thus," he answered, taking a piece
of paper, making ball about the size
of a pea, and dropping it over the side
of the car, where it slowly disappeared
below us. "You see," he continued,
"we are descending but not so fast as
the paper ball. II we were either sta
tiorrory 0r er9c0ndfsg, it would feave ur
much faster; and if we were rapidly
descending it would remain alongside
of u.s."
He then lightened the car a few
pounds by emptying a bag Of sand,
and we soon shot up above the cloud,
and beheld the sun shining on it. The
effect was very eautiful-the cloud ap-
pearing from the upper view like an
immense roll of snow-white cotton.
We now, in accordance with the pro-
fessor's remarks, struck another cur
rent Of air, which swiftly bore us away
in a direction opposite to the one by
which we had entered the cloud, and
which, so great was our velocity, was
soon seen afar in the distance.
was much interested in seeing from
this upper region, the sun set upon the
world below. While it was shining
bright upon US wecould see shade after
shade ere ping over the face of the
earth, which grew DINNER and dim
mer, till at last all form and shape dis
appeared, and the eye rested only up
on black, dismal gulf, as if it might
be the beginning of the Bottomless
Pit.
An hour after this it became quite
dark where we were, and the rapid
gathering of a thunder storm, toward
which we were drifting, began to make
the most of US quite uneasy.
"Had we not better descend at once,
before the tempest breaks upon the
earth ?'' was the anxious question now
put TO the professor.
"If it is the general DESIRE" was the
obliging answer.
1t was the general desire; and he
Immediately took hold of the cord con-
nected with the valve at the top of the
balloon, to let off the gas. From some
cause he could not move it. l did not
notice this at first, but seeing him
steadily jerking for some minutes and
apparently becoming nervous and anX-
ious, asked him if there was anything
wrong.
81 fear there is, he replied in a tone
that betrayed good deal of anxiety,
not to say alarm; "the valve willEnot
open"
"Oh, my Godn cried one Of the la
dies, "what will become of us ?'
''Do not be frightened" said the pro-
fessor nervously, 81 shall bring it all
right presently"
But he did not. In spite of all he
could do, the valve remained closed,
and we could not descend. In fact, ii
was soon discovered that we had begun
to ascend. Moreover, we were rapidly
approaching the black rolling storm
cloud, and the lightning was playing
vividly and thunder roaring heavily.