The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-05-19
Facing Death in the Clouds.

bled to witness it, but sleet storm was
coming up, ana Prof. King would not
risk an ascent. He offered to return
the money, and acted fair in every way
DR.. Albert Hape, who had already made
one ascent, stepped up to Prof King
and said "The people are terribly dis
appointed. | have been up with you
once, and you know whether you can
trust me. If you'll lend me the old
chebang LII take her up, storm or no
storm" Very WE'LL" replied Prof
King Il know your GOODNESS and pres
ence of mind. You may go # you want
to-
You had better take in some more
ballast" said King, as DR.. Hape stepped
into the basket. Instead of taking in
more ballast, the Doctor threw out two
bags of sand already in it, and cut the
ropes. He made the first mile upward
in two minutes and half. The descent
was accomplished in one minute. Round
trip of two miles. three minutes and a
half. Here is the Doctors own account
Of the journey:
The small quantity of ballast carried
gave such great ascentive power that it
required but two minutes and half to
reach an altitude of one mile. The
cheers from the crowd below could no
longer be heard. All was silent except
the spiteful driving sound OF the winter
rain. | was we'll aware Of the great rap
idity with which | was travelling, but as
the neck Of the balloon was % inches
in diameter, and entirely open, no dan
ger was apprehended. The sides gave
no evidence of being tense, and the
possibility Of an explosion was not
thought OF.
A heavy sleet and snow commenced
falling, and it was SO intensely cold that
was anxious to get through the clouds
and into the sunshine beyond. AL.
ready imagination pictured the little
craft as sailing smoothly above the bad
weather, and my heart swelled with en-
thusiasm as fancy painted the beauties
OF winter sunset-a sunset above the
clouds. had decided to remain up all
night, and to prolong the voyage as far
as possible.
| was awakened from my revery by a
sharp explosion. The balloon had
burst near the point Of its greatest di-
ameter, and had collapsed. 1t began to
descend with great rapidity. It's pecu-
liar shape gave it rotary motion that
was rather unpleasant. | fully realized
the danger Of my situation. Death was
! inevitable unless | could succeed in
forming the wreck into a parachute, and
to do this required much physical
strength and perfect GOODNESS. The loss
of self-possession, or neglect to pre-
serve the oscillating motion of my craft,
would be attended with loss of life. How
ever, knew the ropes" and deter
mined to pull them.
1t was necessary that the rotten cloth
should not only be retained in the net.
ting, but kept in such a position as to
offer the greatest possible resistance to
the atmosphere. My craft proved to be
unruly. 1t soon plunged violently, with
the peculiar motion OF a kite that has
lost its ballast At each lunge it swung
through the air like great pendulum
| soon attained a terrible velocity being
frequently thrown higher than any tlut
tering portion Of the wreck, and wa,
several times thrown entirely out of the
basket.
Like Micawber, | confidently ex
pected something to turn up y in fact
there was great danger of the basket
" turning up on top Of the canvas
which would result in instant death
BY a strict attention to business these
mad lunges were modified, and the We
locity was more uniform, though still
very rapid.
now decided to throw out portion
| nra al of hn boil o.,
the edge of the basket for that purpose
when the thought occurred that it would
be less dangerous to keep it in the bas
ket. | threw out letter, and, by
watching it as it fiuttered in the air
was enabled to tell with considerable &C
curacy as to where the wreck would
strike. To throw out ballast at thi
time would prolong the voyage to tn,
woods beyond, even if it did not caus,
the basket and contents to be thrown
on top OF the wreck. Taking this view
1t was decided to retain all the weigh
III the basket that | possibly could.
When within 300 feet of the ground
cut the cord attached to the ancho
rope, and, watching the "rise and de
scent" managed to throw at the prope
ulOllclll. III SUTuCk III lllllc 10 lesser
the force with which | would have 9th
erwise struck the ground. AS it was
the shock produced Inconsistencies.
On awakening there was no sensation
of pain save numbness, that always at
tends a heavy fall. The cold rain wa
falling in my face, and | could not lif
my head for the briars that encircled m
with perfect network.
Near by stood n lady. After gazini
ut her for moment | bowed my com
pliments, and wished her "a happ,
New Year" She smiled, and inquired
whether ! was hurt. " No MAN, II
convince her of the fact arose, and
after securing peculiar black bottle
stepped forth.
The Hyperion " presented a sorr,
spectacle. Ropes, netting, and frag
ments of rotten cloth, it lay among tn
) bushes and briars an utter wreck. Wit
the exception of a few slight scratche
! had received no injury. The loss of
paper collar and few incidentals
was all that needed attention. Al
wants were supplied, and in a few min
utos I ,yaS AGAIN with NV friends