The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-09-15
AERIAL NAVIGATION.
THROUGH THE AIR.

Il
A special dispatch to the Chicago Tribune
from Cleveland, the 9th inst, gives the
following description of the late balloon
voyage of the "City of Buffalo, starting
from that city: The balloon "City of
Buffalo," which started from the park in
this city at IL A. NJ. Friday, made a most
interesting voyage of nearly 500 miles,
and landed at 1l:20 p. NJ. near Smiths
creek, 10 miles from Port Huron,
| Michigan. It's course was at first northwest
| from Cleveland, until, when about miles
| from Cleveland, it rose into an easterly cur
rent, ana was carried down the lake to
point beyond Erie. Then the balloon was
| brought down several thousand feet into
| westerly current and carried to the mouth
of Detroit river. thence northward over
! Detroit and Lake st. Clair, to point
OF landing 4 special correspondent of
the tribune, who accompanied Prof. King,
saws of the voyage: AT noon our
altitude was 2,97l feet, aud we seemed
alUlost stationary for a short time. Tne
professor gradually discharged his sand
| ballast, hoping to find a sea breeze at
/ higher altitude, and thus be enabled To pass
over the land. After short experience
there however, it was found that we were
destined to a voyage lakeward, and per-
! haps to Buffalo, which would have been
| salts factory arrangement. at 1880 our alti-
| tude was 2, 527 feet above the lake. AT $50 p.
NJ. the Buffalo was off gainesville, and the
air was still very light and variable. Prof
Holden sat with his Instruments constantly
before him, and be consulted the barometer
and thermometer from time to time, report
ing to Commodore King the status OF affairs,
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 several songs, under the
leadership of Prof. King. At 2 p. NJ. we no.
ticed the singular, but well known, phenOm-
enon 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 height OF 1852
feet were borne slowly in that direction
that is, we were under the influence of a
light air (it could hardly be called breeze)
from the southwestward. Capt. KING,
on getting over the lake, let down
his dragrope, two-inch MANILA cord
about $50 feet in length. This had a
tendency to steady the air ship, so that its
motion was almost imperceptlble. AT $50
masts of Ihree-masted vessel were seen
standing about 10 or 20 feet above the sur
face of the water of gainesville, or between
that point and Ashtabula. Our highest al
titude up to p. NJ. was zoos feet; at 3:l5,
, 200 feet above the level of the lake, or 4, 7SC
; feet above sea level: at 6:i5 P. NJ, 1000 feet
: Just below the Erie peninsula Capt. King
decided TO approach the lake and try the
merits of the drag-rope. Descending until
within about fifty feet of the water, we
struck the northeast current of wind, and
f instead of reaching Buffalo, as we had
hoped to do at one time, we were borne
l swiftly on the back track, and were swept
! along about west-southwest. Soon after
ward the current again changed, and oul
we gradually neared the land, to our salts
faction. We flew past POint-au-Pin
and slowly descending. we eagerly
' scrutinized the shores to distinguish any
permanent point or settlement that nigh
. lie in our path At l p. NJ. we ran in owe
the Canada shore, and sweeping down clos
: over the land we aScertained that we Wer
1 just below Point .au-Pellee, in the town o
Morsea, In Essex county, and crossing
4 thence the township of West Tilbury ant
: the widest portion of Lake st. Clair, soarin!
away
ABOVE THE CLOUDS
in our transit This was one of the mos
intensely interesting and remarkable exper
fences of our trip. The feeling awakene,
in me was similar to that have known OF
witnessing some of the gorgeous transforms
tons in the Black Crook at Niblo's. TIL
great globe above our heads seemed poise.
In perfect vacuum, while not wor
was spoken for some minutes a
y the minds of all seemed thun
derstruck at the strange, imposing scene
: While sweeping over the county of Essex
we had frequent exchanges of words wit
the inhabitants, whom King asked to tax
d hold of our drag rope One fellow, an Irish
b man undoubtedly, sang out, Och, wees go
!, ing too fast for that So on we swept on GU
airy flight, now rising, now slightly falling
and discharging ballast from time to time a
circumstances demanded. a weird and impo
" sing scene lay below us, while at times W
were borne along on the wings of the win,
u literally, and all the time a solemn stillnes
: reigned. At one point of our passage acros
4 the Canada shore our drag -rope caught in th
a | trees and we were steadily anchored, as j
seemed, but not 50 steadily either, for th
q wind blew in strong gusts, and the aeria
monster swayed fearfully above our heads
FINALLY, after most exciting experience. w
: managed, by throwing over sufficient bal
8 last, to tear the rope loose, and the balloon
8 shot upward with tremendous Jerk. almos
: throwing the passengers from their seats
@ After an hour and half of tnis cloud -expe
: rience, as near as we could iudge-for. a!
$ no fire was allowed near this gassy monster
we could only judge of our course and tim
by guesS-wOrk-King Judged it wise TO ap
proach our neither world more closely K
: take observations, for it was the opinion O
S several familiar with lake navigation tina
we were going in the direction OF LAX,
:. Huron. a course that was to be care
r fully avoided in the present state 0
: our ballast and gas, which had both beer
largely drawn upon. Sighting the earti
once more, we saw lights and fires OF char
. coal-burners, and the top valve was opened
: freely and often to expedite our descent
q Nearing the abodes of our fellOw-men one
q Ilore, we found that our course had beer
I changed in all probability, and the lights o
{ large town were discerned. As we ap
:, proacned the earth and could distinguish
9 the dwellings.
WE RENT THE UPPER AIR
with, repeated cheers at the extent of our
u voices. But now the time had come for de
: cisive and immediate action, and Mr.. Kin,
0 pulled frequently on the upper valve rome