The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-05-13

the President OF the Aerial Navigation
Society, thus describes the voyage In
which the experienced aeronauts, Capt.
Sivel and Mr.. Croce-Spinelli lost their
lives. One Of their objects was to try ex-
periments of the effect upon human lungs
Of an extremely high atmosphere. M.
Croce-Spinelli also proposed to continue
those spectroscopic observations by
which he has already proved that no wa
terry vapors exist in the suns atmosphere.
N. Tissandier was to analyze the upper
air while Capt. Sivel attended to the bal
loon
CrRoN, (Indre,) April l6.
MONSIEUR: A telegram, sent officially,
will have informed you of the sad mis-
fortune which has befallen US. Sivel and
Croce-Spinelli are no more. They sue
cumbed to asphyxia in the high regions
of the air to which we had assembled. l
will relate to you what | know of this
sad drama, for, during two consecutive
hours, l was in safe Of complete uncon-
seriousness.
The ascension from the gas works at
La Vilette was accomplished favorably.
At one in the afternoon we were more
than 5000 yards of altitude (pressure4OO.)
We had passed air into the potassium
tubes, felt our pulses, measured the in
terror temperature of the balloon; which
was more than 20 G. ASS Fahr.), while
the exterior air was less than 5 G. al
Fahr.) Sivel had trimmed the car;
Croce had used his spectroscopc, and all
were in high spirits.
Sivel threw out ballast and we ascend
ded, breathing oxygen, which produced
an excellent effect.
At In. 20m. the barometer marked 800
mm.; we were over 1000 yards high, and
the temperature was less than lOC. $50
Fahr.) My companions were pale; felt
weak, but inhaled little of the gas,
which somewhat revived me. We still
assembled. Sivel turned toward me and
said: "We have a large quantity of
ballast; shall throw some out 2" re.
piled. ''Do as you please" He put the
same question to our fried, who nodded
eaergetically in token of approval. We
had five sacks with us, each weighing
twenty-five kilos, and at least four more
were hung outside the car.
Sivel took his knife and successfully
cut three cords. The bags were emptied
and we mounted rapidly. All at once I
found myself so feeble that | could not
even turn my head to look at my com.
panions, who, believe were seated.
desired to obtain the oxygen tube, but
could not lift my arm, but my mind was
still quite lucid. had my eyes on the
barometer. and saw the needle pass over
the figure of pressure 200 mm., then $50,
which it went beyond. | wanted to ex-
claim, "We are at 5000 yards!' but my
tongue seemed paralyzed. All at once my
eyes closed and fell inert, entirely los
ing all recollection. The time was then
about 1870.
At l:52 revived for q moment. The
balloon was descending rapidly. | was
able to cut sack of ballast to slacken
the speed, and to write on my register
the following lines, which l copy:
We are descending. Temperature,
G. l7.6 Fahrenheit). am throwing out
ballast. Elevation 3l5. Sivel and Croce
still insensibe at the bottom of the car.
Descending very rapidly.
had scarcely written these lines when
sort of trembling fit seized me, and l
sank down fainting for the second time.
was conscious Of violent wind, indi.
eating a very rapid descent. A few mo.
mcnts later felt myself shaken by the
arms, and recognized Croce, who had re-
vived, Throw out ballast" said he,
I'VE are going down." But could hard.
ly open my eyes, and did not notice
whether Sivel was aroused. remember
that Croce unfastened the aspirator and
threw it out, rs well as some ballast, ex-
ira wraps, and the like. All this is an
extremely confused recollection, which
was quickly extinguished, for relapsed
into insenIblity more thoroughly than
before, and felt as if was going off into
an eternal slumbcr. What happened
then! suppose that the balloon being
lightened, impermeable as it was, and
very warm, shot up once more into the
upper regions. At about SIS clock |
reopened my eyes, feeling giddy and
weak. but my consciousness returned.
The balloon was rushing downward with
fearful velocity.
The car swaycd violently from side to
side, and described great oscillations. |
raised myself on my knees and pulled
nay companions by the arm. ''Sivcl,
Croce!'' cried. rouse yourselves! They
were both crouched down in the car. with
their heads concealed in their cloaks.
summoned up all my strength and en-
deavored to lift lthem 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. noticed 4 tremen.
dous wind from below upward. We were
still ut an altitude of 5000 metres. There
were still in the car two bags Of ballast,
which | cast out. Soon we neared the
earth, and l sought for my knife in order
to cut the attachment of the anchor, hui
could not find it.
Twas distracted. and kept calling out
"Sivel! Swell Fortunately laid nv
hand on knife. and Was enabled to free
the grapnel in time. The shock of the
fall Was extremely violent. The balloon
appeared to aatten itself out completely,
and thought it would so remain. Blu,
thsre WAS strong wind. which carried il