Weekly Trinity journal., 1868-07-11
Perilous Balloon Ascension.

One dull day in Autumn just after noon, bal
loon rose in the air at the foot of elects Hills,
on the western edge of the great central plain OF
England. 1t was inflated with the lightest of
gases which chemical skill could produce. 1t
rose with amazing velocity. mile up, and it
entered stratum of cloud more than thousand
feet thick. Emerging from this the sun shone
brightly upon the air ship; the sky overhead
was of the clearest and deepest blue; and below
lay cloudland an immeasurable expanse OF
cloud, whose surface looked as solid as that OF
the earth, now wholly lost to view. Lofty
mountains and deep, dark ravines appeared be-
low ; the peaks and sides of the cloud mountains
next to the sun glittering like snow, but casting
shadows as black as if they were solid rock Up
rose the balloon with tremendous velocity. Four
miles above the earth A pigeon was let loose !;
it dropped down through the air as though 1t
had been stone. The air was too thin to en-
able it to fly. 1t was as if bark, laden to the
deck, were to pass from the heavy waters of the
open sea into an inland unsaine lake-the bark
would sink at once in the thinner water. Up,
up, still higher. The spectrum, when opposed
to the sun, showed marvelously clear lines ap-
peared which are invisible in the denser atmos-
phere on the earths surface but as the car
swung round in its gyrating upward flight the
moment the direct rays of the sun passed off the
prism there was no spectrum at all. The air
was so pure, so free from the comparatively
solid aqueous matter that there was no reflected
light the air was too thin to retain or reflect
any portion of the rays which fell upon it. And
what silence profound The nights of sky
were as still as the deepest depths of the ocean,
where, as was found during the search for the
lost Atlantic cable. the fine mud lies as unstirred
from year to year as the dust which impercepti-
bly, gathers on the furniture in deserted house.
No sound, no life-only the bright sunshine fall
ing through a sky which it could not warm. Up
FIVE miles above earth-higher than the inacces-
sible summit oe Chimborazo or Dewangiri. De-
spite the sunshine, everything freezes. The air
grows too thin to support life even for a few
minutes. Two men only are in that adventurous
balloon-the one steering the air ship, the other
watching the scientific instrument and recording
them with rapidity born of long practice. Sud
denly as the latter looks at his instruments, his
sight grows dim he takes lens to help his
sight, and can only mark from the falling bar
ometer that they are still rising rapidly mask
of brandy lies within foot of him he tries to
reach it, but his arms refuse to obey his Will.
He tries to call to lis comrade, who was gone
into the ring above a whisper in that deep still
ness would suffice, but no sound comes from ms
lips-he is voiceless. His head droops upon MS
shoulder with an effort he raises lit faiis on
the other shoulder once more with resoiule
effort he raises tit falls backward. For mo-
ment he sees the figure of his comrade In the
ring above; then sensation fails him-he lies
back unconscious. Some minutes pass-the bal
loon still rising upward Seven miles above the
earth The steersman comes down into the
car he sees his comrade in a swoon, and feels
his own senses failing him. He saw at once that
life or death hung upon few moments. The
balloon was still rising rapidly must be made
to descend at once, or they were both dead men.
He seized, or tried to seize valve, in order to
open it and let out portion Of the Initiating gas
His hands are purple with the intense cold-they
are paralyzed, they will not respond to his WILL
1t was fearful moment. In another minute IN
their upward flight, he would be senseless as his
comrade But he was a bold, self-possessed
man, trained in hundred balloon ascents4 and
ready for any emergency. He seized the valve
with his teeth; it opened 9 alittle-once, twice,
thrice. Then the swooned marksman heard
voice calling to him, "Come, take an observa,
tion-try." He heard as in dream, but could
neither see nor move. Again he heard, in irmer
and commanding tones Take an observation
now, then, do try" He returned to conscious
ness, and saw the steersman standing before
him. He looked at his instruments; they must
have been nearly eight miles up; but now the
barometer was rising rapidly-the balloon was
descending. Brandy was used. The 2ronauts
revived. They had been higher above the earth
than mortal man, or any living thing. had ever
before. Bat now they are safe. Such are the
perils which science demands of her votares,
and which they encounter bravely and cheerfully
Such was the memorable balloon ascent of Cox
we'll and Glashier from Wolverhampton, on the
ktbho of Cantamher 1890