The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-09-17
IN THE AIR.
Voyage of the Balloon Getty Of
Buffalo,"
Five Hundred Miles in Twenty
four Hours.
Scenes and Incidents Of the
Trip.

Scenes and Incidents Ofthe
Trip.
Special Dispatch to The Chicago Tribune.l
CLKyxLAND, o., Sept 6.-The balloon
"Ci,y OF Buffalo" which started from the
park in this city at II q m. Friday, made
a most interesting voyage of nearly so
miles, and landed at 1l:20 p. m. near
Smiths Creek, 10 miles from Port Huron
Mich. Its course was at first northwest
from Cleveland, until, when about D
miles from Cleveland, it rose into an cas-
terly current and was carried down the
lake to a point beyond Erie. Then the
balloon was brought down several thou
sand feet into Q westerly current and
carried to the mouth of Detroit River,
thence northward over Detroit and Lake
st. Clair to point of landing. A spec
ial correspondent of the Tribune, Who
accompanied Prof. King, says OF the
voyage: AT noon our altitude was
2,97l feet, and We seemed almost sta
tionary for short time. The Professor
| gradually discharged his sand.ballast,
hoping to find a sea breeze at . higher
altitude, and thus be enabled to pass ov.
| er the land. After q short experience
there, however, it was found that We were
destined to voyage lakeward, and per-
haps to Buffalo, which would have been
satisfactory arrangement. At 1880
our altitude was 1881 feet above the
lake. At l;30 p. m, the Buffalo was of
| gainesville, and the air was still very
Eight and variable. Prof. Holden sat
| with his instruments constantly before
him. and he consulted the barometer and
thermometer from time to time, report
ing to Commodore King the status OF al.
fairs, whether we were rising or falling;
while the Leader man took the bearing
and held the compass. After q good,
substantial lunch, the members of the
expedition Joined in the chorus of sever
oil songs. under the leadership of Prof.
King. At 9 p. m. welnoticed the singu.
lar, but wel,.known, phenomenon of the
different currents Of air in the upper
deeps. The schooner which We saw far
beneath Us was making short tacks with
| the wind from the northeast, while We
at q height of l, 152 feet were born slow
/ " in that direction-that Is, We were
under the influence of a light air Git could
hardly be called . breeze) from the
southwestward. Capt. King on getting
over the lake let down his drag-rope, q
2-inch MANILA cord about $50 feet in
length. This had tendency to steady
the air-ship. so that its motion was al
most imperceptible. At $50 the masts
OF thyee-masted vessel were seen stand
ing about 10 or 20 feet above the surface
of the water off gainesville, or between
that point and Ashtabula. Our highest
altitude up to 8 p. m. was 1886 feet; at
3:l5, A. 200 feet above the level of the
lake, or ALSO feet above sea level; at
Gas p. M. 1000 feet. just below the
Erie peninsula Capt. King decided to ap-
proach the lake and try the merits of the
drag rope. Descending until within
about fifty seet of the water, We struck
the northeast current of wind, and in
stead OF reaching Buffalo, 40 We had hop
ed to do at one time, We were borne
swiftly on the back track, and were
swept along about West-south-West.
Soon afterward the current again chan.
eed. and our course was thence about
west northwest, and We gradually near
ed to land, to our satisfaction. We few
past Point an. Pin, and slowly descend
ing, we eagerly scrutinized the shores to
distinguish any permanent point or SET
Element that might lie in our path. At
d. m. we ran in over the Canada shore,
and sweeping down close over the land
We ascertained that We were just below
Point-au- Pellee, in the Town of Morsea,
in Essex County, and crossing thence
the Township of West Tilbury and the
widest portion of Lake st. Clair, soaring
away above the clouds in our transit
This was one of the most intensely in
teresting and remarkable experiences of
our trip. The feeling awakened in me
was similar to that have known on wit
Messing some of the gorgeous transforma-
tons in the Black Crook at NiblO's. The
great globe above or heads seemed
poised in perfect vacuum, while not q |
word was spoken for some minutes, as |
the minds Of all seemed thunder-struck |
at the strange, imposing scene. While |
sweeping over the County Of Essex, We |
had frequent exchanges OF words With
the inhabitants, whom King asked TO |
take hold of our drsg-rOpe. One fellow,
an Irishman undoubtedly, eaDG
cut, och. yee's going too fast for
that So on we swept, on our
airy flight. now rising, now slightly TALL
ing, and dischargeing ballast from time |
TO time as circumstances demanded. A
weird and imposing scene lay below Us,
while at times We were borne along on
the wings of the wind literally, and all
the time a solemn stiffness reigned. At
one point of or passage across the Can
ada shore our drag-rope caught IN the
trees and we were steadily anchored, as
L,,t fnp
the wind blew in strong gusts, and the
aerial monster swayed fearfuliy above
our heads. Finally, after most excit-
ing experience, We managed. BY throw
ing overheard sufficient ballast, to tear
the rope loose, and the ballon shot up
ward with q tremendous jerk, almost
throwing the passengers from their seats.
After an hour and half Of this cloud
as near a. We could judge
for, as NO fire WAS allowable near this
CASEY monster, We could only judge of
our course and time BY guess-work.-
King judged it wise to approach our
neither world more closely to take obser.
va,ions, for it was the opinion Of several
familiar with lake navigation that We
we're going in the direction OF Lake Hu.
ron, . course that Vas to be carefully
avoided in the present state Of our bal
last and gas, which had both been large
~ drawn upon. Sighting the earth once
more, ve saw lights and fires Of charcoal
burners, and the top valve was opened
freely and often to expedite our descent.
Nearing the abodes Of our fellOW.Den
once more, We found that our course had
been changed in ali probability, and the
heights of large town were described.
Az We approached the earth and could
the dwellings, We rent the
appear air with repeated cheers ut the
sxtent of our voices. BY and BY We
could even Distinguish the French Cana
lian patoia On our right hand lay .
liver, which hardly supposed wide
enough for the ST. Clair, aud lights were /,
in every direction. Our drag j:
'opo vas nov sweeping over the tops Of [