The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-10-20

phantom balloon. All the time we were
above the clouds, we were following a shad-
ow which kept about two hundred wards in
advance-a perfect image of our bonnie
CLOUD nymph. Around 1t was a peculiar
halo that Prof. King pointed out 10 me, one
ofthe wonderful things we saw in cloud-land.
A peculiarly OF the air currents may be
mentioned here. Sometimes we seemed to
be going in an opposite direction from the
clouds. A novice would have declared that
such was the case, but the experienced sreo-
naut who had the direction of our air ship
said that it was only because we were in a
current that was travelling faster than the
one in which the clouds were moving.
Presently we began our final descent.
Gradually we came down, nearer, and
nearer to the clouds, until at about
twenty minutes of o'clock, we were
completely enveloped in what below would
be called dense fog. / looked up into the
balloon, the gas In which had before been
transparent, and it was filled with dark.
murky vapor. Our breath condensed as on
frosty morning, and the penetrating air
chilled US. Soon hazy something opened
out below US, and as it grew more and more
distinct we saw that we were approaching
Mother Earth again. We had gotten into
another cold current of air, and as soon
as we struck it the professor had re-
marked that that would bring us down.
1--WE are going down rapidly" said Prof.
King, as he leaned over the side of the
basket, and with his practiced eve anxiously
scanned the face of the country. We were
yet at great elevation, and the landscape
again assumed that lilliputian beauty that
has already been spoken of. Lower aud
lower sank the Cloud Nymph, until the
fences and branches of trees became visible.
We were heading apparently right into the
center of grove. But the Cloud Nvmph
was tickle and had no intention of landing
us there. Gently we were waited over the
fr-an tons fsrlr1 n.
rope by this time just touching the ground.
Still we did not come down, and as we were
then approaching wide stretch of forest
the possibility oflanding in the tree tops was
not so far distant as such things should
always be. By this time the drag rope was
trailing tor 90 feet over the tops of the
trees, and the ''sizzing" over the leaves
could be clearly heard. Then came the
only moment of anxiety during the voyage
Prof. King grasped the provision basket and
leaned over the side ready to drop il at any
moment. "Get that canvass cover up in the
"If we light on the tree tops be sure to stick
to the basket" came his next
order, in calm, even tone.
Lower and lower we sank, but still the ex-
temporized ballast was not thrown over, and
great was our satisfaction to see that we
were clear of the tree tops and approaching
grassy field. Over to the right ofus were
some persons hoeing potatoes, and Professor
King shouted to them to run up towards the
drag rope. So filled with astonlshment
were they that he had to repeat his or
der several times before he could
arouse them to action. By great
exertion one of the men reached the rope
before it had passed him-for we were going
rapidly-and, obeying the orders shouted
to him, he took turn of it around the fence
Look out for slight bumpw quickly ex-
claimed Prof. King, and a moment after
ward we struck the earth. In
moment the balloon went up again with
a bound, but by this time three or
four had hold of the rope, and we were
slowly drawn down. We were soon sur
rounded by an eager crowd, and found upon
inquiry that we had landed in a field be-
longing to Mr.. Cyrus Rice, near Auburn,
Geauga county, having been in the air just
two hours. Assistance was promptly of
fered, and soon the balloon was neatly
folded and packed for shipping.