Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-11-02

IN MLchtgGn-ESrpt0SlOn o/ -tHe DdttO0H
Nearly Three Miles a6oce the Earth
Wonderful Escape from, Death.
On the occasion of Professor La Mountains
recent balloon ascension from Bay City he
met with terrible adventure, and very mar
rowly escaped death. The balloon was filed
before starting to its utmost tension, but, owing
to recent repairs, leaked badly, SO that after
one or two unsuccessful attempts, Mr., Headly,
who was to have accompanied Professor La
Mountain, was obliged to get out of the car.
Mr.. H. had the eatables, instruments of obser-
walton, and tissue paper used to ascertain the
ascending and descending force of the balloon,
and as he stepped out of the car, before he
could transfer the articles named, those who
had hold of the car let go, and the balloon
shot up with rapidity that carried it to an
altitude of TWO miles within few minutes.
A perfect gale of wind was blowing at the
time and moment after rain and sleet COM
menced falling. The balloon was still ascend
ing when lost to sight in a cloud. Professor
La Mountain, in relating his experience, says
that it became all at once intensely cold.-
The cloud he entered was one swimming mass
of snow fakes, interspersed with rain, which
formed u frost t-work on the netting the bal
loon. The cloud, with the snow fakes form>
ing and flying hither and thither, had, as be
expressed it, the appearance of cloud OF
steam through which the sight could not pen
citrate. The earth was lost to view. By tear
ing up his handkerchief and throwing out
shreds he became conscious that he was passing
upward with wonderful rapidity, and along
with the current of the air eastward toward
the lake Nothing was discernable but the
thickening mist, and overhead his balloon,
which, as the air became lighter, had expand
ed the thin cloth covering to its utmost length.
Fearful that he might be carried into the lake,
and without pound of ballast to regulate his
descent, he reached for the valve rope with
the intention of lowering himself gradually.
To his surprise the valve would not OPEN
The rain and sleet accommodating on the top of
the balloon had frozen the valve so tight as to
resist the pressure from below. Putting his
whole strength to the task, he gave strong
pull on the rope, pulling out, the iron staple
attaching the rope to the valve, the rope fall
ing down into the car. The balloon was
mounting up faster than ever. 1t had past
the storm cloud, which was mile below, and
the heavens above were as clear, and the sun
shining as bright as at midday in June.
But the air was very cold and La Noun
tain was benumbed with cold. But little time
was lost in speculation. He had attained
height of over three miles. The balloon could
not burst, for when the expansion became too
great the gas could escape from the tue or
valve below, which was open but he was
fearful of being carried into or over the lake
without having made preparations for such
an event Mounting the hoop overhead he
reached for his knife only to find that he had
left it on the ground Cnging to tho rope
with ouv hand, with the other and his teeth,
after some cxertion, he succeeded in tearing
a rent in the balloon from the bottom ten or
fifteen feet upward. Then serving the opposite
side the same way, he descended 10 the car to
watch the progress. During his operation the
end of the fingers of both hands had become
frozen. For few minutes the balloon kept
ascending, and then, as the gas escaped 1t
reached an equipoise, and moment atter
commenced gradually to descend to the earth.
Every instant increased its downward speed.
The Professor says that he heard the cloth
tearing, the rents enlarging, until, with a crash
that sounded like death knel, the cloth gave
way to the pressure, opening seam on both
sides from the bottom to the top. The gas
escaped instantly leaving not thousand cubic
feet, while the air rushed in, filing up the
vacuum, the balloon acting as parachute.-
The Professor gives it as his opinion that Mt
the height of two miles there was not foot
of gas in the balloon. The cloth, bellying
out, formed a strong resistance to the atmos-
phere, and retarded the descent. He re-
members distinctly passing through cloud,
and the sensation on regaining sight OF tho
earth He has an almost indistinct recollec-
tion of approaching the earth's surface. A
dull moaning like the surging of the waves
greeted his ears, the Tapping of the cloth be-
came louder, and moment after he became
unconscious. On regaining his senses he
found himself lying in the woods, and his ball
loon was some yards distant. Several persons
who had seen the balloon descend had come
to the scene and were standing near They
afterwards assisted him. His arms and legs
were badly bruised and himself stunned, but
no bones were broken or internal injury sus>
tained The spot where he fell is seven miles
from Bay City He stopped over night at
farm house, near by, and yesterday morning
returned to Bay City. The time that he was
in the air was less than thirty minutes, and
the reason that he was not carried further
was on account of passing through different
currents of air.
4 NOVEL METHOD OF CATCHING MICE
A correspondent says: "Having on several