Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-08-11
Extraordinary Balloon VOyage-TwO
Wen Seven Miles from Earth and
Helpless.

In the St. Nicholas Magazine is an ac-
count of balloon ascension which took
place several years ago in England that
reads more like a romance than fact:
"Two English prouauls, G Glaisher and Cox
well by name, made one Of the most re-
markaGle ascents recorded in the history of
ballooning. Their started from Wolver-
hampton, England, and the elevation
reached was the highest ever attained by
man-nearly or quite seven miles above
the earth. Mr.. Glaisher has given q mod
est yet thrilling account Of this almost fatal
adventure. The ballo IL left the earth at
three minutes past l o'clock p. NJ. Moth
ing important occurred until the party, at
40 minutes past l o'clock, reached the alt-
tude Of four miles from the earth. Dis
char ging sand, they rose to the height of
five miles during the next ten minutes.
More sand was discharged aud the balloon
shot rapidly upward. Soon Mr.. Glaisher's
sight failed, and he could not read the fino
divisions on his instruments. All the time
the balloon had been spinning round and
round, and tho valve-line had become so
ntanGled that Mr.. Coxwell had to climb
into The ring above the car and adjust it.
At this moment Il o clock and 81 minutes),
Mr.. Glaisher looked at the barometer and
found its reading to be % inches, implying
height OF over 20 900 feet. Wishing 10 re-
cord The observation, he found his right
arm powerless. He tried 10 move the 9TH
er, and found it powerless too. "Then l
tried 10 shake myself, and succeeded, but
seemed 10 have no limbs. On looking at
the la rometer my head fell over OH my
left shoulder; l struggled and shook my
body again, but could not move my arms.
Getting my head upright for an instant
only, it fell on my right shoulder; and
then I fell back ward, my back resting up
on the side of the car, and my head on its
edge. In this position my eyes were di-
rected to Mr.. Coxwell in the ring. When
1 shook my body, seemed to have full
power over the muscles of the back, and
considerably so over those of the neck, but
none over either my my arms or my legs.
AS in the case of The arms, so all muscular
power was lost in an instant from my back
and neck. l dimly saw Mr.. COxwell, and
endeavored to speak, but could not. In
an instant intense darkness overcame me,
~
brain as at the present moment whilst writ
ing this. 1 thought had been seized with
asphyxa, and believed should experience
nothing more, as death would come unless
we descended speedily; other thoughts
were entering my mind, when suddenly
became unconscious, as on going to Sleep"
Meanwhile Mr.. Coxwell was in quite as
critical a condition. Hoar-frost was all
around the neck of the balloon, aud the
ring was piercingly cold. He attempted to |
leave the ring, and found that his hands |
were almost frozen. He dropped TO the |
car almost insensible, and discovered that |
his companion was apparently dead. He |
tried TO go to him, but could not. He |
wished TO open the valve, but his hands |
were frozen and his arms poweress. Feel |
ing insensibility coming rapidly over him |
he made desperate effort, caught the valve |
line with his teeth and held the valve open |
until the balloon took decided downward |
turn. In q few minutes Mr.. Glaisher be-
gan TO revive, and soon became conscious
that Mr.. COxwell was trying to rouse him.
II then heard him speak more emphatical-
ly, but could not see, speak or move. l
heard him say, do try; now do Then
the instruments became dimly visible, then
Mr.. Coxwoll, and very shortly saw very
clearly. Mr.. Coxwell told me he had lost
the use of his hands, which were black, aud
poured brandy over them" What If Mr..
Coxwell had lost the use of his neck alsoH
1t has been said that during the critical
moments when Mr.. Glashier was uncon-
seious and Mr.. Coxwell nearly so the bal
loon reached the fearful height of seven
miles.
China, afler centuries Of civilization,