Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-06-06

Seven Miles up in the Air.

On the fifth day of September, 1862,
two English 9ronauts, Glaisher and Cox
well by name, made one of the most re.
markable ascents recorded in the history
OF ballooning. They started from VOL
verhampton, England, and the elevation
was the highest ever attained by man
nearly or quite seven miles above the
earth
Mr.. Glaisher has given modest vet
thrilling account of this almost fatal ad-
venture. The balloon left the earth at
three minutes past one p. M. Nothing
important occurred until the party, at for
y minutes past one, reached the altitude
OF four miles from the earth. Discharg-
ing sand, they rose to the height OF five
miles during the next ten minutes. More
sand was discharged. and the balloon shot
rapidly upward. Soon Mr. Glaisher's
sight failed. and he could not read the
fine divisions on his instruments. All the
time the balloon had been spinning round
and round, and the valye-line had become
so entangled that Mr.. Coxwell had to
climb into the ring above the car 10 ad-
just it. nHT
AT this moment Gone o'clock and fifty
four minutes) Mr.. Glaisher looked at the
barometer and found It's reading to be g.
3-4 inches, implying a height Of over
90, 900 feet. Wishing to record the OBJ
serva,ion, he found mis- right arm power
less. lie tried to move the other arm, and
found it powerlcss too. '@
Then tried to shake myself, and sue
| ceeded, but seemed to have no limbs.
On looking at the barometer, my head fell
over my left shoulder; 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 shoul-
der; then tell backward, my back rest
ing upon the side of the car and my head
on its edge. In this position my eyes
were directed to Mr.. Coxwell in the ring.
When ! 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 arms or my legs.
As IN the case Of the arms, SO all mus
cuiar power was lost in an instant from
my back and neck. Idimly saw Mr.. Cox
well, and endeavored to speak. but could
not. In an instant intense darkness over
came me, hut | was still conscious, with
as active Il brain as at the present moment
whilst writing this. thought had been
seized with asphvxia. and believed |
should experience nothing more, as death
would come unless We descended speedily
other thoughts We're entering my mind.
when l suddenly became unconscious AS
on going to sleep"
Meanwhile. MIR. Cox we'll was in quite
as critical condition. IIoar-frOst was all
around the neck of the balloon, and the
ring was pierceingly cold He attempted
to leave the ring. and found that his hands
were frozen. He dropped to the car al
most iusensible, and discovered that his
companion was apparently dead. He
tried to 90 to him, but could not. He
wished to open the valve, but his hands
were frozen and his arms powerless.
Feeling insensiblity coming rapidly over
him, he made a desperate effort, caught
the valve-line with his teeth, and held the
valve open until the balloon took tlecid-
ed downward turn.
In u lew minutes Mr.. Glaisher began to
revive, and soon became conscious that
Mr.. CoNwell was tryi to rouse him.,
~ then heard him speak more emphati-
cally. but could not see, speak, or move.
heard him again say DO try; now do
Then the instruments became dimly yisi-
bic. then Mr.. Coxwell, and very shortly
saw clearly. Mr.. Coxwell told me that
were black, and | poured brandy over
them .,0 .,t..,
What if Mr.. Coxwel had lost the use Of
his neck also!
1t has been said that during the critical
moments when Mr.. G.aisher was uncon-
scious and Mr.. Coxwell nearly so. the
balloon reached the fearful height OF seven
mies.-St. Nicholas for June.