The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-05-18
The Balloon Zenith" Disaster.

TO breathe. Their objects we're to test
the air at the highest possible altitude.
bring down tubes of it for analysis, and
observe the effect upon themselves. Sivel
was called the best aeronaut living, and
was man of high attainments in the
science. He had been sailor, and was
of great size and strength. Croce.Sfinelli
was also very strong, and man of great
daring. M. CASTOR Tissandier, the third
of the party and survivor, was very deli
cate. Tissandier has been the hero OF
the hour at Paris, rinoo tho disaster.
This is the first time baloonists have ever
died from suffocation at a great hight.
The acronauts went up possibly 5000
meters between FIVE and six miles) though
we have no means Of knowing, they were
so overcome, Tissandicr tells the graphic
story of the ascension
will relate to you what | know OF
this sad drama, for, during two consecu-
tive hours, | was in state of complete
unconsclousness. The ascension from the
works a. La Villette was accomplish.
ed favorably. AT one in the afternoon,
we were already at more than 5000 yards
of altitude (prcssurc 400. We had pass.
ed air into the potassium tubes, felt our
pulses, measured the interior temperature
of the balloon, which was more than 20 G.
(6S Fahr.), while the exterior air was
less than 5 G. al Fahr) Sivel had
trimmed the car Croce had used bis
spectroscope, and we were all in high
spirits. Sivel threw out ballast and we
ascended, breathing oxygen, which pro.
duced an excellent affect.
At LII. 20m. the barometer marked
800 NM; we were over 1000 yards high,
and the temperature was less than 10 g..
go Fahr.) My companions were pale; |
felt weak, but l inhaled a little of the
gcs, which somewhat revived me. We
still asccnded Sivel turned toward me
and said I'VE have a large quantity of
ballast; shall | throw some out p re.
piled, ''Do as you please" He put the
same question to our friend, who nodded
energetically in token of approval. We
had five sacks with us. each weighing %
kilos (about so pounds, and at least
four more were hung outside the car.
Sivcl took his knife and successfully cut
three cords. The bags we're emptied, aud
we mounted rapidly. All once found
myself so feeble that could not even turn
my head to look at my companions, who.
| believe were seated | desired to OBJ.
tain the oxygen tube, but could not lift
my arm, but my mind was still quite
iucid. L nau my eyes on uue Da.O.-...-
and | saw the needle pass over the figure
Of pressure 290 mm., then $50, which it
went beyond. l wanted to exclaim, 1--WE
are at 5000 yards" but my tongue SEEM
ed paralyzed. All at once my eyes closed
and felt inert, entirely losing all recol.
lection the time was then about 1:30,
At 1,52 revived for moment. The
balloon was descending rapidly l was
able to cut sack Of balas. to slacken
the speed and to write on my register the
following lines, which copy -
1--WE are descending. Temperature, 8
c., (17.6 Fahrenheit). | am throwing
out ballast. Elevation, 315. Sivel and
Croce still insensible at the bottom of
the car. Descending very rapidly"
had scarcely written these lines when
a sort of trembling fit seized me, and
sank down fainting for the second time.
[ was conscious of violent wind, indi-
eating very rapid descent. a few mo-
meuts later, felt myself shaken by the
arms, and recognized Croce, who had re-
vivcd. Throw out ballast" said he,
I'VE are going down." But l could
hardly open my eyes, and l did not no.
tice whether Sivel was aroused, re.
member that Croce unfastened the aspir.
ator aud threw it out, as well as some
ballast, extra wraps and the like. All
this is an extremely confused recollection,
which was quickly extnguished, for l re-
lapsed into insensibiity more thoroughly
than before, and l felt as if was going
off into an eternal slumber. What hap.
pened then? supposed that the balloon
being lightened, impermeablc as it was
and very warm, shot up once more into
the upper regions. About quarter pas.
three O'Clock l reopened my eyes, feeling
giddy and weak, but my consciousness re.
turned. The balloon was rushing down.
ward with frightful velocity.
The car swayed violently from side TO
side, and described great oscillations.
raised myself on my knees, and pulled
my companions by the arm. "Sivel.
Croce :" | cried, "rouse yourselves :"
They were both crouched down in the
car, with their heads concealed. 10 their
cloaks. summoned up all my strength.
and endeavored to lift them up. Sivel's
face was black, his eyes dull. mouth wide
open and full of blood. Croce-Spinelli
had his eyes closed, and his mouth blood
stained also. To relate what occurred
then is quite beyond my power, l noticed
tremendous wind from below upward.
We were still at an attitude OF 6000
meters There were still in the car two
bags Of IF ballast, bbai which east out. Soon
we neared the earth aud | sought for
my kniia in order to cut the attachment
of the anchor but could not find it.
was distracted and kept calling out,
'Sivel Sivel :" Fortuuately laid my
hand on d knife, aud was enabled TO free
the grapnel in time The stock of the
fall was extremely violent. The balloon
appeared to flatten itself out completely.
and thought il would so remain. But
there was strong wind which carried it
along. The grapnel did not hold firmly,
and the ear was dragged across the fields.
The dead bodies of my unfortunate friends
were jerked about, and | feared at each
moment that they would fall out of the
car. Meanwhile succeeded in grasping
the cord Of the valve, and the balloon was
quickly emptied and was finally exhaus.
ted against tree. This was about four
O'Clock.