The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-16
BALLOON VOYAGE.
Two Miles Above the Catskili Mountains-
Splendid View.


From the Poughkeepsie Eagle, Dec. 1871
That very successful aerial voyager, Professor s.
A. King, made a splendid balloon ascension from
Ellenviiie Ulster county, short time SINCE and MS
description OF his trip is SO Interesting that lt Is
worth publishing
Soon alter rising from the starting point the whole
of Ulster, Sullivan and Delaware counties. the
Gatsklll Mountains, the boundaries OF Pennsyva-
mia ana much more were brought into view.
and his excamauons were wildly in ac-
cOrdance. Thlee-fourths OF the way to the
long steep precpce, and when they reached the top
they found there wide plateau on which was q
pond OF water. Higher and higher rose the balloon,
che blood OF the aeronautS cOurstng through their
veins at tremendous speed TILL suddenly the aerial
ship entered the clouds seven minutes and half
after It's departure from earth. Suddenly the air be-
came singing cold and the voyagers were compelled
TO turn up their coat collars and 10 rub their and
moses to prevent them from freezing Their checks
Teddened their eyes sparkled and their whole frames
seemed to be singuiarly affected. They were hid
den from everything earthly entirely. The cloud
balloon noated upwards and through it, prismatic
col0rs flashed and wavered before the optics OF the
s daring voyagers: For full i've minutes were they
time they were, Of course, unable to ascertain
towards which point OF the compass they were
white and 1eecy surroundings the good ship Of
the air broke from its close confinement
Into the most glorious sunlight and above it as far
as the eye could see the blue arch Of heaven was
visible, while below the white rolling clouds, tnged
Win tue rays OF the sun, added to scene at once
1t was wonderful On all sides lowered mountains
of snow, white clouds so brilliant that the eye could
scarcely gaze upon them while between them Law
apparently dark CULTS, and long, deep ravnes.
Then did the cold relax Its hold upon the voyagers
And the temperature rose to a genial warmth, SO
That 1t seemed like sudden transit from winter to
summer.
While looking at one Of the mountains OF vapor
before them, one OF which seemed to tower hun
dreds OF feet above all Of the others, and whose
broad white velyety side appeared TO be extraOrdi-
nary beautiful the yoyagers exclaimed smqa.
place upon the surface Of the cloud alluded to-a
picture OF some kind was coming to light upon It.
like painting from dissolving view. Gradually
y became more distinct till finally Jac S,Datle or
the balloon and its occupants lay against the broad
white bosom Of the floating cloud-a shadow cast
by the SUM- From 1t radatsd halo Of light In ram
Itself.
1t was beautiful, yet strange phenomenon. But
We balloon feels the rareiyng power OF the sum- and
iiom this cause begins to mount more rapidly soon
leaving the clouds far beneath It,
Then came pictures OF mountains, dark shadowy
valleys and chaSmS, as FAR as the eye could reach,
Currents Of air ran In different directions all clouds
moved to the eastward. and higher up the air cur
rents ran the same way. There was not sound OF
any description to be heard. IL was PAINFUL and
was only broken as the balloon passed the neigh
pornood u the Waikiki Valley Railroad, when the
,uhUyagers heard train OF cars passing beneath
snem Shortly after another train Of heard,
ga1,rn e balloon had passed over the Hudson River
mime Inc highest point reached from earth was two
ratirooa ~ lew moments after the noise OF third
thai sialn seemed to inform tue Professor that
and iusf sYar me vicinity OF the Harlem railr DAD,
the southweat ms break in the clouds revealed to
Then the "lo"o I,e hudson river 1t Crugers Point.
~ on n ING CLOUDS broke away and revealed beautl-
and as the balion, covered with farms and villages,
t S Gown and showed himself again between
sne norizon and the under surface OF ths Glands AZ
nyo oCiock ~ Inc afternoon the yovaUera landaa m
West Norwak, having made the distanco OF ara ~
seventy-dve rules IN an hour and apon
pa'nutss- '"e1V''"o