The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-01-21
Mistellantous.
UNPARALLELED ADVENTURE
OF ONE
HANS PFAALL,

Having attained the altitude before
mentiOned-that is to say, three miles
and three quarters--I threw out from
the car a quantity of feathers, and found
that still ascended with sufficient ra-
pidity; there was, therefore, no necessi-
ty for discharging any ballast. l was
glad of this, for wished to retain with
me as much weight as l could carry,
for the obvious reason that could not
be positire either about the gravitation
or the atmospheric density of the moon.
as yet suffered no bodily inconveni-
ence, breathing with great freedom, and
feeling no pain whatever in the head.
The cat was lying very demurely upon
my coat, which 1 had taken off, and
oyeing the pigeons with an air of non
chalancc. These latter being tied by
the leg, to prevent their escape, were
busily employed in picking up some
grains of rice scattered for them in the
bottom Of the car.
At twenty minutes past six o'clock,
the barometer showed an elevation of
26 90 feet, or five miles to fraction.
The prospect seemed unbounded. In
deed, it is very easily calculated by
means of spherical geometry, how great
an extent of the earth's area l beheld
The convex surface ofany segment of a
sphere is, to the entire surface of the
sphere Itself, as the versed sine Of the
segment to the diameter of the sphere.
Now, in my case, the versed sine-that
is to say the thickness of the segment
beneath me-was about equal to my
elevation, or the elevation of the point
of sight above the surface. "As five
miles, then, to eight thousand" would
express the proportion of the earth's
area seen by me. In other words, l be-
held d as much as a xteen-hundredth
part of the whole surface of the globe.
The sea appeared unruflled rs mirror,
although, by means of the telescope,
could perceive it to be in state Of vio-
lent agitation. The ship was no longer
visible, having drifted away, apparent
ly, to the eastward. l now began to
experience, at intervals, severe pain in
the head, especially about the ears
still, however, breathing with tolera-
BILE freedom. The cat and pigeons seem
cd to suffer no Inconvenience whatso-
ever.
At twenty minutes before seven, the
balloon entered a long series of dense
clio nd, which put me TO great trouble,
by damaging my condensing apparatus,
and wetting me tothe skin. This was,
to be sure, a singular rencontre, for had
not believed it possible that n cloud OF
this nature could be sustained at so great
AN elevation. l thought it best, how
ever, TO throw out two five-pound piece
of ballast, reserving still weight of one
hundred and sixky.hye pounds. Upon
so doing, soon rose above the difficult
ty, and perceived Immediately, that
had obtained great increase in my
rate of ascent. In few seconds aftel
my leaving the cloud, flash of vivit
lightning shot from one end of il to the
other, and caused it to kindle up
throughout its vast extent, like ms
of ignited charcoal. This, it must b'
remembered, was in the broad light o
day. No fancy may picture the sub
limity which might have been exhibit
ed by a similar phenomenon taking plac'
amid the darkness of the night. Hel
itself might then have found a flttini
image. Even rs it was, my hair stoo'
on end, while l gazed aiar down withiI
the yawning abysses, letting imagina
ton descend, and stalk about in th'
strange vaulted halls, and ruddy gulfs
and red CHASTITY chasms of the hideou
and unfathomable fire. i had indee'
made a narrow escape. Had the bal
loon remained very short while long