The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-06-07
Facing Death in the Clouds.

Prof. ). hlnG tne tcfeiliu1, au'ci-
tisel that he would make an ascension
from Atlanta, Ga, on the LIST OF Janua-
nv. 1870. Eight thousand persons as
sambled to witness it, but sleet storm
was coming up, and the Prof. would not
risk and ascent. FIIe offered to return
the money, and acted fair in every
way. DR.. Albert Hope, who had
already made one ascent, stepped up
to Prof. King and said: "The people
are terribly disappointed. | have been
up with you once, and yon know
whether you can trust me. If you ii
lend me the old chebang I'll take her
nm. storm or no storm" every WE'LL"
replied Prof. King; know your cool
ness and presence of mind. You may
go if yon want to-"
.sYou had better take IN some more
ballast" said King, as DR.. Hape stepp-
ed into the basket. Instead OF taking
in more ballast, the Doctor threw out
two bags of sand ready in it. and cut
the ropes. He made the first mile up
ward in two minutes and half. The
descent was accomplished in one min
ute. Round trip of two miles, three
minutes and half. Here is the Doc
tors own account of the journey:
The small quantity of ballast carried
gave such great ascentive power that it
required but two minutes and a half to
reach an altitude of one mile. The
cheers frem 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
rapidity with which was travelling,
f Init as the neck of the balloon was 25
J inches in diameter, and entirely open,
D no danger was apprehended. The
]. sides gave no evidence OF being tense,
D and the possibility of an explosion was
J not thought OF. t9
6 A heavy sleet and snow commenced
o falling, and it was so intensely cold
:, that | was anxious to get through the
r clouds and into the sunshine beyond
l. Already Imagination pictured the little
d craft as sailing smoothly above the bad
It weather, and my heart swelled with
d enthusiasm as fancy painted the beau
n ties of a winter snnset-a sunset above
Sc the clouds. l had decided to remain
"a up all night, and to prolong the voy
t. age as far as possible.
te was awakened from my revery b!
lS sharp explosion. The balloon hat
t. burst near the point of its greatest di
a ameter. and had collapsed. 1t began
ct TO descend with great rapidity. 1t
on peculiar shape gave it rotary motio
or that was rather unpleasant. inii
IN realized the danger of my situation
ak Death was inevitable unless l coul
a succeed in forming the wreck into
ot parachute, and to do this require
to much physical strength and perfee
nd GOODNESS. The loss of self-possessiol
to or a neglect to preserve the oscillatin
On, motion of my craft, would be attende
no with loss of life. However, l "kne
nd the ropes" and determined to pu
ny them.
Tor 1t was necessary that the rotte
me cloth should not only be retained
ef- the netting, but kept in such pos
as ton as to offer the greatest possib
I'VE resistance to the atmosphere. My era
5es proved to be unruly. 1t soon plunge
violently, with the peculiar motion
NJ kite that has losts its ballast. !
OF each lunge it swung through the a
ina like great pendulum. l soon attai
res ed terrible velocity, being frequen
ers ly thrown higher than any hutteri1
ON portion of the wreck, and was sever
last times thrown entirely out of the bask'
are Like Micawber, l confidently e
us pected something to turn ups" in ia
no there was great danger of the basE
nat "turning up" on top of the canvi
all which would result in instant deal
By strict attention to business the
owe mad lunges were modified, and
A velocity was more uniform, thou
NE still very rapid.
and now decided to throw out p
ing ton or all of the ballast, and LITE
the bag to the edge of the basket for t
and purpose, when the thought occur
able that it would he less dangerous to k'
Let it in the basket. l threw out lett
and and, by watching it as it fiuttered
for the air. was enabled to tell with C
nth. siderable accuracy as to where
for wreck would strike. To throw
sod, ballast at this time would prolong
Then VOYAGE to the woods beyond, even
/ on did not cause the basket and conte
are to be thrown on top OF the wire
Taking this view, it was decided
retain all the weight in the basket
I possibly could.
when within 300 feet of the gro
ST. cut the cord attached to the anc
- rope, and, watching the "rise and
anu scent" managed to throw at the pre-
gives moment. 1t struck in time to les
low the force with which 1 would Ii
N in otherwise struck the ground. A
NO :, was, the shock produced unconsci'
ness.
On awakening there was no sci
J. B. ton of pain save numbness, that
the ways attends a heavy fall. The
urer, rain was falling in my face, an
t and could not lift my head for the bl
alton that encircled me with a perfect
the work. ,,!e Gf a:' UAa
inter- Near by stood lady. After ga
know at her for moment bowed my
per- pliments, and wished her ga ha
'edly.. New Year" She smiled, and, inqu
are whether I was hnrt.. "No MAN,
price convince her of the fact arose,
NO after securing peculiar black be
Id TO TO stepped forth.
~ 'i H. The Hyperion" presented a
,IH spectacle. Ropes, netting, and
e en,nu ments of rotten cloth, it lay an
e' a.. the bushes and briars an utter WI
= D hs With the exception of a few S
o. ce scratches had received no in.
s ILL., % The loss of paper collar and q
lse &c .sincidentals' was all that needed