The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-07-30

BIZ sJx1us HENRI BROWNE.

GOING Up In A BALLOON.
BIZ sJNIus HENRI BROWNE.
There wss lull in balloon ascensions
for some time; but early in the spring,
just before the war, Professor Lowe was
TO make q voyage from Cincinnati. Twas
there at the time, and as soon as heard
of it wrote him note telling him Of my
earnest wish and frequent attempts to
make an ascension. He told me In per-
sonal interview thst l should have the
first chance, and on the afternoon OF the
day advertised was in the enclosure very
early, resolved not to be cheated again out
of my airy ride, coveted in vain since
childhood.
The number of people in the enclosure
was quite large, and on the outside i'm
mense. The balloon was filled from the
CITY gas-pipe,-it used to be necessary to
make the gas for the purpose, which was
troublesome and expensive, and three or
four hours were needed to fill the great
globe.
Balloons are usually supposed to be
made of silk, but those which take men
up very rarely sre. Silk would cost q
great deal, and be hardly strong enough.
Coarse linen or cotton cloth is cut in long
strips, and sewed together (imagine q
melon cut In pieces, ard then put together
again, and you will have an idea OF the
process) until the whole is in the shape OF
an egg. The balloon must be so tight that
the gas with which it is filled cannot es-
cape. To effect this the pieces are var
nished over and over again, particularly
where the seams are. The varnish makes
the cloth lighter and more yielding, and
after layer upon layer has been put on,
one drying before another is given, the
balloon is found to be alright. Then Q
hole is cut in the top, and thick block OF
wood, but somewhat larger than the hole,
fitted to it. To the block cord is fsstcn-
ed, and run through the inside of the bal
loon down within reach of the man In
the car. A nettiDg of strong linen cord,
diamond shaped, is thrown over the bal
loon, and the ends of the cord below are
fastened to q hoop Of iron. The car, q
large basket usually, is also fastened to the
hoop by ropes, aud the ball being filed
with gas, it is all ready for the voyage.
The lower end of the balloon is not tied
very tight, for the gas always rises to the
top, and there is no danger, therefore, OF
its escaping at the bottom.
Three or four hours before the balloon
is to go up, tie process of filing the bal
loon begins. A large cylinder, generally
made of vanished cloth, is attached TO the
gas-pipes in the street, and the other end
is introduced into the mouth of the balloon,
which at first lies along the earth on thick
canvas to prevent its getting moist. But
as it gets fuller and fuller, it swells and
swells until at last it rises up straight. 1t
is of light yellow color, and resembles a
huge pumpkin made 30 thin that you can
nearly see through it. 1t is kept down by
small bags Of sand which are tied to the
netting l have mentioned. But for them
IL would dart off, and be lost for the gas
Is constantly pushing upward, and strug-
Cling to carry it into the air.
When the balloon is full of gas, the ends
of the Irvine are united from the sand
bags, and fastened to the iron hoop of the
car. A number of men cling to the bal
loon, let it up little way TO see how
much power it has, and then pull it down.
A portion of the bags of sand, and an
iron anchor attached to a strong rope,
with thermometer and barometer are
placed in q Car. If the day is windy,
the ascension is generally delayed till
about shutdown, as the wind is apt to die
away at that hour.
When was going up there was quite a
gale. The balloon swsyed to and fro, and
/ was afraid the attempt would not be
made; for there was danger that the
wind would blow the big ball into
the trees and houses before it could
get above them. Having been dis
appointed so often, 1 got into the
car as soon as it was fastened to the bal.
loon, and would not get out. That bal
loon, at least should not go up without
me-
Professor Lowe had much doubt about
the voyage and kept watching the sky and
clouds closely. | expected to hear him
say every minute, 1--WE can't go. The
weather won't allow it. | must put il
Off" But at last, about six o'clock, the
wind lulled, and he whispered to me that
we should start in a few minutes. was
very glad. | could hardly believe it real
sat down in q corner of the car, and
was very quiet, but anxious to be off
Many of my acquaintance came up and
shook hands with me, and wished me q
pleasant voyage. Some urged me not to
go; said it was foolish and dangerous
while others envied me and wanted to be
my companions. Some would have given
hundreds of dollars to be in my place
and others would not have been there fol-
any sum of money. / needed little what
was said. All thought about was going
up.
At last, after examining everything, the
Professor stepped into the car At q
given signal the men let go of the balloon
which rose very slowly. A sudden gust
Sc I'D aarrht no etH chnulA hax W
struck the chimney of building near the
enclosure, had we not quickly thrown Out
a bag of sand. which carried US Just above
the roGf. We missed the chimney by
three or four inches, which was fortunate
for we should probably have been hurled
out if the car had hit it, and had oul
necks broken at the very outset Of the
voyage. We threw out another sand bag
and we went up rapidly. We were fal
above all the houses, even above the spirs
of the Cathedral, one OF the highest
churches in the city.
There was no consciousness Of motion
The city seemed to have dropped away
from us just as the houses and wood.
seem to run from you on q railway train
Looking over the side of the CART wal
necessary to keep very quiet, for thu
whole balloon rock-we appeared to b.
standing still, and the earth slipping away
faster and faster. 1t impressed me as if
were in balcony and seeing the GROUND
fall farther and farther from me.
The journey was very pleasant and
enjoyed it greatly; but it lacked the ex
element had expected. l had supposed
my blood would move rapidly, and my
pulses throb as we whirled through tn,
air. had fancied tho feeling would b,
something like riding on locomc tiv,
with the wind singing through my hair
and all objects flying past me as if vas
giants were throwing the world at N,
head. 1t was not, though. 1t was 5 Yer!
calm and restful feeling. I could hav,
gone to sleep in the car, and believed
was lying on 8 sofa at home, 80 quie
was the journey.
After we had been up five or ten min
utes, the view was very grand. We saw
the whole city, the Ohio river, the Mill
Greek Valley, the hills about Cincinnati
aud those in Kentucky, with the Lickin
river and the towns of Newport and Coz
ington, all spread out before us. TIL
cities looked exactly like the little woodel
houses and trees That children have TO
playthings The men and women in tn
streets. and the horses and wagons, SCENE
like ants and mice, and soon disappeare
altogether. We could hear voices an
all sounds very plainly, though we had n
idea where they came from. The win
changed our course from the northeast t