Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-09-18

our neither world more closely to TAX,
observations, for IL was the opinion o
several, familiar with lake navigation
that we were going In the direction oI
Lake Huron, course that was to bC
carefully avoided in the present state oi
our ballast and gas, which had both beer
largely drawn upon.
Sighting the earth once more we saw
the lights and fires of charcoalburners
and the top valve was opened freely and
often to expedite our descent. Nearing
the abodes Of our fellow-men once more
we found that our course had been
changed in all probability, and the lights
| of large town were discerned, while as
we approached the earth and could dis.
tinguish the dwellings we rent the upper
air with repeated cheers to the extent OF
our voices. On our right hand lay a
river, which / hardly supposed wide
enough for the st. Clair, and hundreds
of lights were cleaning in every direc.
tion. Our drag-rope now was sweeping
over the tops of the trees and roofs OF
the dwellings, causing the basket to sway
violently to and fro aud rendering a good,
firm grip almost Intellectual to hold one
firmly in place of safety.
Swiftly now we approached the earth,
calling Justify from time to time for aid
from those below who might hear our
earnest shouts, though still we were
doomed to disappointment, for no an
swering halloo was borne to our expect
ant ears.
But now the time had come for decl-
sive and immediate action, and Mr.. King
pulled frequently on the upper valve
rope, causing a rushing discharge of gas,
N nd r Al.
inflated monster which had borne us so
swiftly and safely over perilous passage
of 450 miles, two-thirds of which was
over the waters of Lake Erie and St.
Clair. All our thoughts and energies
were now called into active play, for the
landing of this almost unwieldy air-ship
was an event, we well knew, fraught
with many dangers. Firstly, we might
strike small pine, or become entangled
in the branches of the forest trees; our
balloon, of such slight fabric, might be
rent in moment from top to bottom
spilling out its living freight upon the
impaling branches of the tall monarchs
of the forest. 1t might be borne over
some of the many charcoal pits and the
gas become suddenly ignited before we
could eXtricate ourselves.
But down, still down we descended,
until clear spot seemed to be close at
hand, and on sudden "plump" came
our basket upon terra fImd once more,
and King and Cozad grasped the stump
of a burnt log, and while the latter
clung to it with all his might and main
Prof. King quickly passed the lanyards
attached to the heavy iron rings at the
base of the balloon around the bole of
tree, and another one took hold of the
drag-rope and securely fastened it around
a neighboring log. Each one was eau
toned not to leave his seat in the basket,
as all the weight was needed to make
our anchorage secure. Thus we re-
manned, the air-ship meantime swaying
fearfully overhead, and threatening to
tear out anchor and trees from their
earthly hold. One of the number was
dispatched to rouse the neighborhood
and get such aid rs we greatly needed in
order to bring our unruly ship to the
ground with as little damage as possible.
In short time sufficient number of
men and boys had assembled to grad
ually secure the rampant fabric, whose
peculiar and appropriate place was
above the clouds, and which seemed
to struggle against any contamination
with the grosser earth. But it was not
until after two hours of arduous labor
that this victory was attained and
the immense volume of vanished
cotton lay collapsed and supine before
us. During all these hours of midnight
toll the rain poured down upon us, and
at four O'Clock on Saturday morning we
accepted the proffered hospitality Of the
Widow Nudge and her next neighbor,
and sought couple of hours of needed
rest for the cramped position of our
legs in that wicker basket for twelve
long hours made reclining one very
grateful.
We learned that our landing had been
effected at the above locality, in ST. Clair
County about three miles from Smith
Creek Station, on the Grand Trunk Rail
road, and twelve miles from Port Huron.
Our highest altitude was attained at
three p. m. of Friday, being 4,697 feet
above the lake level.
In passing over Mersea Township, Es-
sex County, on the Canada side, we de-
scended within 500 feet of the lake level.
Thence sweeping over West Tilbury
Township, we crossed Lake st. Clair
about half mile above the clouds.
The lowest temperature was indicated
by the thermometer while over the lake
at So deg, and the highest at 70 deg.
Fahrenheit.
Prof. King justly considers that this is
one of his most wonderful and success
full trips through the realms of space, and
it most certainly is so. Perhaps our
passage up and down the lake is without
parallel in the history of balloonipg.
Passing to the northeast, midway between
the American and Canada shores, to
point some distance below Erie, at high
with southwest wind, then
falling until our drag-rope touched the
water, and reaching the southwesterly
current of air,we were borne back toward
the southwest with great velocity for
some time, when the wind was found to
be setting us quite rapidly on west
northwest course, and we'll in toward the
Canada shore.