The New York herald., 1874-08-06
EXPERIMENTAL AERoNAUTIsM.

Professor Wisc Still Demonstrating tho
Essterly Current - Ascent OF Mr.
Charles e. Wise from stratford, On
tario-A Successful Voyage and Safe
Landing.
SrRATPoRD, Ont, August T. 1874
Towards noon to-day your correspondent ar
rived at the lively Canadian town Of Stratrprd,
and, after q drive OF two miles along highway
thick with sunocating dust, aligned at hospit
able hotel, where Professor Wise was busiiy en-
gagged IN preparing Tor his ascension in the balloon
Ontario. He stated that he had already made AT
aerial voyages and anticipated in the present In
stance, to accomplish the most successful ever
attempted In the United Provinces. He COM
planned OF indlsposition but said he would be
better when once he was In the air, his proper
element.
VISIT TO THE FIELD
where the balloon was did not give a very full
assurance of the success OF the Intended flight.
The imitation had just commenced. Instead OF the
mammoth canvas there was seen On the ground
one far short OF the ordinary dimensions. The car,
which 1t was rumored wOuld contain five persons,
had, by some unaccountable MEANS dwindled to
wicker basket, which was certainly not moro than
thirty inches in diameter and about fourteen
in depth.
THE CAPACITY OF THR BALLOON
did not exceed seven thousand cubic feet,
and, in addition to the netting and basket,
the gas would not sustain weight OF three
hundred pounds greater part OF the after
noon was spent in filing this small structure,
which had q perpendicular height OF forty-fve
feet and transverse diameter OF twenty
i've. At twenty minutes after five every thing was
announced to be in readiness 1t was found i'm
possible to assign to the HERALD correspondent o
place in the wickerwork; but. apart from space,
the balloon would not raise two persons, even had
the basket been Of proper limits. Professor Wise
was prevailed upon by his son, Mr.. Charles E..
Wise. to allow him TO make the trip-a request rem
dered exceedingly acceptable, "a the Professor
had not reganed the usual buoyancy OF his spirits.
With few pounds OF ballast the balloon rose grad
ually from the earth and took s0utheasterly di-
recti0n. The spectators greeted the sight with
prolonged applause, and the fearless aeronaut,
standing upon the perilous edge OF the basket, re-
echoed their welcome cheers.
THE ASCENSION
was made at an inclination OF about forty.fve de.
grees. lew scattered feecy clouds lay around
the sky, and against one Of these the balloon ad.
vanced until in the clear light 1t stood out In
beautiful relief Passing the cloud 1t rose into the
blue unclouded deep, and, going eastward, finally
dwindied almost away. AS 1t was departing Pro-
lessor Wise. whose commanding appearance
eUClCcQ many IcudIh VI TcSpoCts 0IOoc Ou ING
gas tank and delivered short but
INSTRUCTIVE ADDRESS
upon the wonders yet to be achieved by agrial
navigation. About seven O'Clock the balloon, look
ing like a SNOWFALL In the eastern sky was seen to
rapidly descend, and was lost behind q dense
woodland IN the far horizon. With many specula-
tions upon the adventurer the crowd, which num-
bered several thousands, quietly dispersed. Tow
ards O'Clock at night intelligence was received
HAD SAFELY LANDED
some nine miles distant and was on his way to
town. On his arrival he showed how he had risen
steadily to altitude OF $4,000 feet, had passed
through everal eddying winds and had entered
the great eastern current In this he remained
Tor quarters OF an hour, until the balloon,
filling out IN the rarefed atmosphere. lost large
quantity of gas ana began to descend. WithOu,
ballast the arrest Of the downward progress was
impossible. On nearing the earth the grapple was
thrown out, but catching too suddenly broke the
cable short distance further on the balloon
dashed against q fence and was almost imme
diatey secured by several persons who had beer
watching Its approach.
THE VOYAGE
| was without incident. Mr.. Wise and the balloon
I were taken into the town late In the evening. Tn
only scientific result associated with the adventu
! rous tight is the confirmation OF past views
that It Is possible to reach Europe by keeping II
the great eastern current.