The New York herald., 1874-07-26
Twelve Hours Between Heaven
and Earth.
Balloon Experience Ex-
tI'aOrdinary.
CAMP LIFE IN CLOUD-LAND.
A Lady Passenger Among
the Stars.

AS the representative OF the HERALD clambered
over the edge OF the basket attached to Donxdsons
balloon that rose from the Hippodrome on last
Friday evening he was conscious OF that peculiar
tingling sensation OF the nerves which comes but
thrice in this li1e-when you are up for your first
class examination, when you are being married
and when you make balloon ascension. 1t was
not fear, but that nuttering feeling about the
heart which Is rather delightful than otherwise.
To add to the excitement OF the scene there was
Q more than usually good audience present
watching the equestrian performances upon
the track The spectators seemed the Or
binary joyous holiday makers, but when
they turned their gaze to where the FIVE
journalists who accompanied Donaldson sat- in
the wicker basket beneath the belying, strug-
Cling, grassy monster, anchored to earth with bags
OF sand there came that saddened expression in
their eyes which is always noticed to be proper
part OF the makeup Of deputy sheriff at an exc
cutiOn. The ladies were particularly sympathetic
in their giances, and seemed 10 have made up
their minds, individually and collectively that five
innocent journalists and one daring aerOnaut were
going straight to cloudy grave. This added to
the thrilling nature OF the occasion, and gave a
man an opportunity TO imagine himself a martyr
to the cause OF science, and to entertain much
higher opinion OF himself than II ne were doomed
to tread the dull earth all his lie.
Time, which does not wait for any man or
any balloon ascension, stole around to four
O'Clock. BY that hour the balloon had been
gorged with its gaseous lunch, and acted as If it
were pretty full, plunging rearing and cavortlng
in 80 enthusiastic manner that it was evident to
the practsed eye of Donaldson that it could not be
held in leash much longer. There was the rush Of
race around the track, and the blare Of the band
a brasGV 4CL1f to dpDarturn DOnaldSOn
sprang into the ropes, and in an instant all eyes
were centred on the swaying wicker car. The mo-
ment had come. There was just time to see the air
grow white with the premonltory Kerchiefs, and
clear and distinct rang out DOnaldson's voice,
"Let her gop' In an instant flashed seven
hundred feet, straight as an arrows course, into
the air, and hung over the opening in the canvas
roof Of the HippOdrOme through which we had
ascended. But only for moment. There was just
time to respond to the waving OF adieux by
friends and spectators, and to listen the cheers
OF the popuace who densey packed the neighbor-
ing streets-cheers which came up to US with
faint and iar-away suggestion, when we began to
DRIFT toward the Hudson in a sOuthwesterly direc-
ton Then fully realized the fact that aerial
snip was launched for its uncertain cruise.
No one wanted to make notes then no one cared
a cent Tor the barometer or the direction OF the
current. The whole being was wrapped up in an
indescribable feeling OF delight. To several the
sight was as new as that presented by the virgin
earth to Adam, freshly created. Beneath lay New
York like city OF toy blocks, filed with q
tremulOus noise that came up clearly and yet
softly to us. We could trace every street its en-.
tire length, coudsee the people moving to and fro
ike black specks could hear alike the hoarse mur-
mur OF the populace, the twinkle OF the street
bells, and the bark Of a dog. Central Park lay
1a the 81 of It's and sm
pentine stream. Far away was the ocean, sheet or
glass, on which moved q multitude OF white
winged craft, with here and there black plumed
steamer. We could see the many y-steeped city OF
BrooHlyn and the gllstening Sound beyond,
the HacKensacK valley, all OF fair Weschester ana
far up the Hudson to where the mountains raised
purple barrier against the sight. Under sucn cir
cumstances 1t is not surprising that ones nature
expanded, and thoughts woven OF the sunlight in
which the balloon noated stole into the brain. For
a moment or 80 the voyagers became poets, and
were lost in dreamy meditation. Then the mystic
chain was broken; then they looked around asked
and pencil lell steadily to work measuring en-.
cnantment and surveying the airy dream
At nineteen minutes past four O'Clock we were
line with the Colosseum and rising rapidly
Forty-second street and Seventh avenue was
reached az twenty minutes past Jour- the barOm-
eter showing an elevation OF 1S00 teet At twenty
four minutes past TOUR the balloon was 1900 feet
above the level OF the sea.
Twenty-seven minutes past four O'Clock the bal
looms shadow Tell on the waters OF the Hudson,
our elevation being 2,45o feet. From this point
handfulS OF cOored circulars, taken along as parL
O our ballast, were thrown out, which slowly fut-
tered downward like
FLOCK OF GoRGEoUsLY TINTED BUTTERFLIES.
At hall-past four O'Clock we were $500 feet high.
Then began to descend until an elevation
OF l,S00 feet was taken at thlrty-three minutes
past four. BY this time we had reached the Jersey
shore and began to drift over Weehawken. Busy
as the party were, there was plenty Of time to
note the charming effect produced by the green
he. DIS, oted with villages that lay unrOlled
meath US like gigantic panorama. Through the
broad eXpanse OF the country rivers and streams
o SIN aer size crawl led like serpents, their silver
scales
GLIsTENING IN THE sUN.
Union Hill was passed at twenty minutes to five
O'Clock elevation, =, $50 leet. moment ater the
Midland Railroad was crossed, and the balloon
was greeted by cheering whistle from the engine
OF a train OF cars that scrrrled along beneath it,
the passengers. leaning out OF the windows Of the
Chiefs.
When the watch marked nfty-three minutes past
four O'CLOCK Donaldson came down from the ring
o. the balloon, where he mad been perched with
his umbrella and notified the five Journalists
VINO accompanied him to draw lots to determine
in what order they should be dropped, as
1t was necessary, to insure the success
Be ahtenedp I rradaay h the Five s,rShn peces sh0ua o
paper were numbered one, two, three, iOur and
five respectively, thrown into high white hat
aud tie drawing began, the understanding peing
that the men should get out in the order deter.
mined by their ballots. The result was as fol-
lOws:-HERALD, /; World 2; sun, 3; GrdDhic. q:
Tribune, 5. We were then at an elevation of 1000
feet.
AT THREE MINUTES OF FIVE WE PASSED OVER THE
HACEENsACK RIVER,
with Hackensack lying TO the west. At eleven
minutes past five the balloon had fallen SO low
that the barometer only marked $50 feet, and the