The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-11-03
BALLOON ASCENSION.

At the OrrviIIe Fair,-by Prof |
Wise.
The following is Prof. Wise's own
account of his balloon voyage:
LANCASTER, Pa, Oct. II, 1869,
JACOB SEACREsT-DeGr Sir:
When you agreed to let me make
the voyage with your balloon from
Orrville, for the consideration pro-
posed, on Friday last, it was my in
IentiOn to sail to point between
south and east as near to my home
as possible, and before had sailed
as far as MaSsillon, it was evident
from two currents of air then pre-
vailing that 1t was possible to do SO.
When the balloon merged into the
clouds, cutting of my course and
reckoning, I lowered her in order to
see the land, and then I also dis
covered that the valve would not
close tight again from the too slight
pressure of the valve spring, as well
as from the Intervention of the con-
gealed tallow slipping between the
valve capper and its bed. The bal
loon having become full dIstended by
the expansion OF gas, could look up
through thes neck and perceive the
light glimmer through the imperfect
joint; by q few sudden snaps of the
valve-capper it closed it little, but
not sufficient to prevent constant
slow leakage. Nevertheless de-
termined to sail until exhausted,
which would certainly take four or
five hours.
The FAIR grounds presented q
besutiful aspect, teenaing with its
agg regated humanity, as well as
| with its sInnumerable vehicles, horses,
tents, booths aud oval race track.
The country below seemd regularly
diversified with farmeS and woods,
! roads and villages, while the screams
| of the locomotives on the various
railroads added interest to the scene.
From the constant necessity OF
l-countervaIling the leakage of the
valve, could not keep my course as
regular as it would have been other
wise, and soon discovered that the
voyage could not be extended much
over q hundred miles at the rate the
air ship was moving. My general
course was a little south of east, and
only when far above the clouds was
the direction east.
When at the nearest point to Mas
sillon, could directly hear the huz'
zas of many voices, but evidently moi
from that place, as it was several
miles north OF me, and yet l could
discover no crowd beneath me. The
country beneath was dotted with
gold-eOlOred spots, the effect of the
sun shining through the broken
clouds. It was truly beautiful
Thus kept on, up and down, throw
ing out 8 little ballast all the time
in order to keep the air vessel at itI
IdaSfrad aIfifuAn A. D M Rffy
minutes after my departure from
the Fair grounds, the balloon entered
dense stratum of clouds, and while
passing up through, a strong smell
Of ozone was emitted. 1t affected my
lungs and wind-pipe. and in less thar
three minutes I became as hoarse a
q pond. frog-scarcely able to uttte
( a sound, and the cold for a few min
uteS was so intense as to cover M
beard thick and bushy with hOar
frost. After getting through thi
stratum into the sunshine, this in
tensely cold oZonic became less, ant
IL experienced nothing of it in lower
T. ing down some miles to the east
, Even my hOarseness abated some
J, what, but it left an almost irresisti
J. BILE disposition to sleep, and only b.
:. constant motion OF my eyelids an
rubOing of my face, could keep {
wake.
At 6 P. NJ, the sun was nearl
. touching my visible horizon, an
SteubenvilIe was in sight. though
of landing there, but in q few me
ments entered q bank of cloud
- cold, dreary and dark; threw OF
= considerable ballast and once MOI
brought the sun above the wester
hr an
rise in the west. This was the mo-
magnificent scene of the voyage.
The gorgeous colOrs of the WesteT
sky, iIlUmined as 1t was, by q va
sea Of cOlored fire, and sember cart
beneath me, reflection of the moo
g. was truly grand and uniqe, and
inVoluntiarily cried Sunshine al
mOoushinel who ever saw the Ill
of thisl" And as I sank dow
losing the light of the sun, the ear
grew darker until il seemed inVOi
ed in 8 semi-transparent vapor. II
,l- sudden transition from sunlight In
moonlight made me pur-blind, Al
Ii the air-Vessel's transition from Il
sunbeams to shadow was not mo
p, rapid than was the condensation
J gas, and down came with VelOci
to great to override piece of hii
timber land. darting the car into Il
top of a white oak tree. Seeing
I'd house a few hundred yards ahead
soon secured the help of a man al
two boys, to whom 1 threw a coil
!. rope, and with this they moved Z
over to the house. It was on q
farm of Joseph Gist, Esq, in Buffa
Township, Brook County, We
Virgins, six or seven miles fro
Wellsburgh. Very respectful
- yours. JOHN WISE.