Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-09-21
Balloon Ascension at Barton, VT.

We copy from the Boston Journal the
following interesting account of recent
balloon ascension at Barton, Vt: Mr.
Samuel A. King, the we'll known Boston
aeronaut, made his 159th ascension, al
Barton, Vt, on Friday last, in connection
with fair held at that place. Some five
thousand people were present, attracted
in the main by the balloon ascension, and
the spectacle was an uncommonly inter
estipg one inasmuch as the balloon re.
mained iu sight long tima. Mr.. King
manufactured the gas used on the ground
and was accompanied on his voyage by
Mr.. William Joslyn of Barton. The
ascension was made at balf-past o'clock
p. m, and the balloon ascended nearly in
straight line to an altitude of about two
miles, as shown by the barometer. A.
this height there was slight breezt
which carried them almost in south
southeasterly direction. The balloon con
tinued at this altitude, with only slight
variation, for some twenty miles, when
Mr.. King once more descended to a lower
region and effected a landing upon the
Knox Farm, i'll Kirby, about seven miles
east of Lyndonville.
The balloon descended at six o'clock, hav
ing been an hour and half on its jour
ney from Barton. In coming down near
the earth counter currents were encoun-
tered, and for little distance the balloon
was carried on a back track, but soon
struck another current which took it back
again in its onward course. The landing
was effected in a very convenient place
without accident. The voyagers describe
their journey as one of great interest and
enjoyment. The atmosphere was very
clear and the view was very extended
The mountains of Vermont and New
Hampshire were almost beneath their feet,
and Mr.. King states that in place of the
fat appearance presented by country
beneath a balloon, the elevations were
plainly distinguishable, a phenomena that
arose from the magnitude of the details
in the landscape. All the Green Noun
tains the White Mount4ins, the AdirOn-
dacks, and even more distant peaks were
to be seen, besides the northern portion
of New England, large part of Canada
was visible. The plains in Canada made
the horizon present straight line, but in
every other direction it was notched by
mountain peaks. Innumerable were the
lakes and rivers to be seen. One of the
first objects which attracted the attention
of Mr.. King and his companions was
Lake Memphremas sog, witch stretched
away 1T the north, aud soon nearly the
whole of Lake Champlain was visible,
Mount Mansfeid obscuring q small por-
tion along the eastern shore.
The aerial tourists looked directly over
Mount Mansfield on to great portion of
the Lake, and into Plattsburg, n. Y,
where a tin-roofed church became a
" shining light" The setting sun made
a golden pathway across the Lake, aud
its waters by some strange effect seemed
lifted through the sheen to the level OF
the balloon. The White Mountains seemed
to form high wall, beyond which nothing
could be seen. The shadows Of the noun
tains in Vermont could be distinctly seen,
and doubtless aided the eye in detecting
the eminences. At one point a train of
cars was seen on the Connecticut and
Possumpsio Rivers road, appearing like
some little creeping thing. Both he rumt-
ling of the cars and the LOGON olive whistle
was heard at the hight of two miles, but
human voices were not 10 be heard above
the altitude of about mile. Contrary to
common experience the temperature at
the hight of two miles was found much
warmer than at half that elevation.
While the balloon was ascending, the
Thermometer marked So degrees, when
the barometer indicated the hight of a
mile, and at the altitude Of tive miles it
had assembled to so degrees-both con-
ditions being shown in the shade.
Mr.. King makes an ascension at Cazon-
ovia, Madison county N. Y, on Friday
next, and Thursday, Oct. 5, be is to ascend
from the Fair Grounds at Plymouth,
NY, on the OCCASION of the Grafton fair,
which occurs Oct 3, 4 and 5.