The New York herald., 1873-10-01
, NAVIGATING THE AIR.
AVoyage by MR.. King-Thrce Miles and
Tbr.e quarters High, Vet No nastern

Avoyage by Mr. King-Thrce Miies and
Thr.e quarters High, Vet No Eastorn
Current. sds 81. Nelf.4t rsg .s e-
s From the Boston Journal Sept. 2a] b 4
M Samuel A. Kings balloon VOYAGE from Ply
mouth, N. H.. on Thu sday last proved tobe one Of
the most thrilling and exciting aerial adventures
ever performed In this country. He lett terra erna
at seventeen minutes past three O'Clock, the bal
loon at that time being quite hair iulf OF gas
Hydrogen gas WAS manufactured for the imitation,
and leaky tank prevented full supply. There
was enough buoyant power, however, to carry up
the balloon and it's appurtenances, including o
drag rope and anchor, and from 200 TO $50 pounds
o. ballast, together with the acronaut. A Second
passenger would have gone bur for the fact
that II was desirable to take good supply Of bal
last, in order that the mountain region might be
SAFELY traversed. The lower current o. air was.
IRON the southeast and there were heavy masses oi
clouds above, winch appeared to be pass NJ toward
the lloou disappeared IN the clouds, having then
assumed nor herly course. Ten or d. teen minutes
later when the balloon NV was sr Wholly beyond tue
seen by Mr.. WOodinan, conductor o. tile drawing
room car Mount Washington, and other persons on
vicinity ul nltos,. t then appeared to be over the
mountain region and above The bank Of c0uus
when still overhung that section.
Mr.. KING reports that when he reached the
regions above the clouds every vestge Oi The earth
Was hidden from ms View, except long dark
miles north or northeast OIL him.. ths was doubt
less Aoosilauke. All the other mountains we're
covered uy clouds, the upper surfaces. Of wnlcl
seemed to cvniorm to the mountains m.d valleys.
Tor . tune he seemed to De drawing toward
se sse ascsnaea Snsr he n'ss propaS
different oirectl0n, for the mvuntain faded
from view or was lost IN the clouds. 10 had
been Mr. Kings intention not. TO ascend apove
the Clouds bui to avail nlmscll OF the surface cur
rent, and thus journey ,oward the Passumps.c
River Railroad, over winch he might be enabled 10
take the night train aud to reacl Lowell carry In
the morning. This plan was frustrated by = trining
ma a. are OaSsn Ss wsr was Sn m
drawn up to one side, Upon attempting 10 pull
the valve cora he round that IL WAS retained by the
cloth by en- anglement with the c0liapsing cord,
and disturbance Ol the latter was not parricu-
larry desirable, he deemed 1t the better coui se 10
let the gas distend the oailoon and TINS Tree the
At s:45 the barometer indicated only fifteen
inches, or height OF 1907 eet aboye tlymoutn,
minutes later the barometer had sunk to i175,
nearly three aud three-lourth miles. Nj.
King was at tins time SAILING hlgu above
franoonla Mountains, although he, had
nothing to indicate the latter TACT at the time. he
began TO realize that b. Mad reached cold'region.
other Indications tnan cold temp rature Oi great
attitude. FOR example, he found tn.t the puIsa-
able and there were disagreeable sensati6ns in the
head. The thermometer at u quarter TO l0ur
to s degrees - at ou u ana III
past Jour- the balloon having fallen to ABOUT IL 500
ieet at the latter reading. The wet bulb WAS
covered by q film oil Ice aud the mercury tnerein
conde nsed slower, marking successiveiy -, ~ and
20 while the dry bulb marked 70. % and 81 reapect
lively. 1t afterwards sunk TO 10 deg ees, while me
dry bulb indicated "a a twenty minutes past four,
when the balloon had uescendct TO wit.in lds14
ieet OF the sea leve.. AT twenty-five minutes past
four the balloon was ut an eievaton Of l3 TAI Ieet
and the temperature was "a, the wet bulD still IN
dicating 10. While The balloon at its greatest
envelope to It's luilest capacity, although 1t had
not Deen nali nlled a. starting ia.. 4
Mr.. King gradually began 10 see through riffs IN
the clouds, out naught but 1os ests met MS view.
He could also see beyond the cloud banks IN
soulnerly direction. Not long after leaving
heard several heavy discharges OF cannon or rock
blasting, but no other sound ca up to INN IN his
lofty quletude, the music Of the mountain ILLS aud
cascades even being hushed. AS he descended TO-
ward the clouds ne heard railroad tram beneath
hun. and as he passed through the misty mantle he
siderable altt ude. 1t was q tram on the Grand
Trunk Railroad, which was passing through West
AS he sailed over the valley Mr.. King saw the dark
renectlon oil tue balloon IN tae waters OF the
ground the rag-rope did good service as the balloon
itself was brought beyond the cleared land and
over the wooos. He decided uron crossing The
WOODS and landing IN valley he had previously
seen to the east and northeast, leading into the
Androscoggin Valley, aud accordingly did SO, the
miles, ana directly over the top OF SLACK Mountain,
IN Bethel AT iortytnree minutes past five O'Clock
he landed the balloon in q little cleared space pe-
yond the woods, and found hmse on the land OF
Mr.. Stilfnan Littehaie. IN Riley Plantation Mr..
Littlehale's place Is Oh the Bull Branch Vi sunday
River, and there IS NO other Gearing beyond this
for q long distance. Alter leaving West bethel tire
balloon took the southeasterly surface current
again and drifted nOrtnwesterly toward the town.
ship OF Success, wooded sect on OF country Just
across the New Hampshire border, which would
prove anything but success as landing place
Tor balloon traveller con tiuuation OF
the northeasterly course which the balloon had
taken over the Franconia and White Mountains
would have speedily brought Mr.. KING over The
Maine wilderness, which he traversed in has mem-
orabe voyage from Plymouth last year, and q
northwest course from Bethel was not much more
desirable since 1t would have led INTO the wilus OF
the Upper Coos. Alter the descent rne balloon was
lowed to better protected spot near Mr.. Lutner
Litteha'es house, where 1t was packed up Tor re-
movai to Bethel. from whence Mr.. King returned
to Boston via Portland.
IL viii be observed that the upper air currents
on this occasion moved not easterIy bnt in north
easterly direction. The entire distance travelled
was not far from eighty miles, and the time ol the
voyage Was TWO hours ana tw .nty.siX minutes.
The balloon probably passed q little south OF Mount
Washington. This was Mr. Kings 171sJ ae ial voy.
age. An Incorrect rumor prevailed on Friday that
the balloon had landed in Brdgton, Me.
THE COMMISSIONERS OF CHARITIES AND
n0QpprrTon