Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-02-23
VOYAGE IN THE UPPER AIR.
Log Book of the TItp-A Race with
Train of Cars-Th@ BailoOn shOt
At Alarm OF a Household = The
Balloon wrecked IN 10 Tree.
Augusta (C,. J cOpstitutiopalist. Feb. 12.l

Augusta (Ga Constitutionalist. Feb. 12l
Yesterday Prof. A. King, the daring
and accomplished @ronaut, who made
such successful balloon ascension on
/; Wednesday last, returned to the city on
the 4:30 am. train from Charleston. We
give below the highly interesting and
graphic description of hisvoyage, penned
by Prof. King himself:
MEssRs EDIroBs-Below give you
brief account of my ascension from Au-
gusta, which hope may prove interest
ing to your readers. At fifteen minutes
past four, the preparations being all COM
plete, the balloon was allowed to ewing
by single rope, the ballast was adjusted,
and rising clear above the reach of those
| below, the cable was loosed, and the vey.
age began. The wind was high, and /
moved off rapidly in q northessterly di.
rection. l knew by the shouts of the peo-
| pile, which we're given with will, that my
balloon ascension thus far had proved
satisfactory, and / began to look around
| on the grand scene presented to my view.
| The atmosphere was very clear, giving
me prospect bounded only by the hori-
zon, which was sharply defined, and
mountainous projections around lis en-
tire circumference. The whole face of
the country appeared exceedingly level.
Though occasionally / saw hills, the rene
ral appearance was that Of a plain. i had
view of the city just at the start, but in
consequence of moving awsy so fast,
could but notice its general appearance
of regularity and nestness. Hearing q
train of cars beneath, looked down and
found that had overtsken the Charles
ton train, and was having lively race
with them. They tried hard, as ! have
since learned, to keep up with me, but in
vain. | crossed the road diagenslly, and
left them far behind. At hsifpast four |
had reached the hight of one mile, and
feeling little chilly, put on my over
coat To the left of my course | saw
three villsges-they were Granville,
Aiken and Blackville. The general ap-
pearsuce of the country was as if the
whole face of it had been once q com
plete forest, and spaces made here and
there by clearing off the timber, thus
leaving the great mass of woods, and dot
ting the country over with plantations.
Occasionally came low enough to hear
voices of persons below, but though |
tried repeatedly to get some information
of my whereabouts, failed to elicit any
response to my questions AS / passed
over one house felt quite sure that the
dwellers therein had received terrible
scare, for the women were screaming in
terrible manner, aided by single male
voice. The wind bore me rapidly by the
place, and had my quiet laugh ut their
expense, when | saw fash near the
door of the house, followed by the re-
port of o gun. / have 20 doubt the
shot was intended for the bal |
loon, but / was out of the reach Of
any ordinary gun, aud so had another
laugh to myself / heard a number of
shots fred during the trip, but supposed
that they we're either fired by hnntsmen,
or simply to attract my attention. Az |
precisely o'clock crossed the South I
Carolina railroad, about eight or ten |
miles southeast of Blackville. / saw no
more villages after this; the country had
sameness of character, varying only in
showing greater number of plantations
and q larger area of woodlands. As
sail on the water il q good sppetiser, so
is a voysge in the air, and this was no
exception. Being well provisioned, /
partook of hearty supper, stopping
occasionally to observe the movements
of the balloon, and to put out little
sand occasionally, for The sun was get
ting lower, and the gas that had been
warmed by its rays vas cooling and con.
= ',using, thus gradually losing portion
of;,, buoyaney. Night was approaching,
"a ,Lo,,gh / felt sure that it should be
moanI;Shs. 49, 7 looked in vain for the sill
vsry orb Thirk;ug must be mistaken,
/ thought of laBdipg without further
DELAY. and looking hsloK found that the
suu's rays had left the eesth, though 1t
was still shining on the bslloonj 10 psss-
inc over acme water almost directly BE-
meath me. the reflection Of the moon on
its surface. bright ss the original, caught
NV eve. the balloon had hidden il IRON
me. 90 / continued on my journey. Dur
inc daylight had noticed smoke curling
mn from The woods ia many places, but
now ali over the cogutry near and
far the fres could be seen, fairly sprink'
linz tbe earth with lights; IN some places
thew we're 80 numerous aud near to-
gether that they gave in the distance TIE
sxact anpsarAuce Of q large city, with
its thousands Of gaslights ] thought at
the time, however, that no matter DO"
fine to look upon they would be danger
Qua places to come in contact With when
landing. looked at my compass oeea.
sionaliy, and sometimes found myself
roiug north Of east and sometimes south-
east the upper current carrying me 10
the latter direction. i did not know my
exact whereabouts, but hoped was
nearing Charleston. and this caused ne
to continue the voyage longer than
otherwise shopld have done. The moon
did ne good service in the reflections
Tiveu as / passed along, showing the ex-
act nature Of the gronnd, whether sSamps
or dry land. Il vas past seven O'clock,