The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-30
FROM THE CLOUDS.
scHEPP's AERonAUs DROP MAMMA LIKE IRON
ON HIGH-THEIR BALLOON BURSTS IN THE
MIDST OF A THUSDxB CLOUD TERRIFIC
DESCENT.


MIDST OF A rHUSDxs CLOUD TERRIFIC
DESCENT.
PHILADELPHIA, Juno 20, 1876.
Yesterdays HERALD contained an sccoun. OF an
ascension rom the Exhibition grounds al Philadelphia,
on Wednesday, by Professor Coleman and Mr.. +. J.
King, In The .manna balloon" owned by Mr.. schepp,
who used this means OF bringing before the public his
newly invented food preparation, proposing drop II,
like tho mama Of old, from high The aeronauts
went up IN storm. and while in md the balloon
burst Fortunately neither OF them killed al
though both injured. The following account OF
the trip was written BY Professor Coleman for the
HERALD
PROFESSOR coLEMAx,s ACCOUNT.
1t the intention ascend between SIX and seven
O'Clock and attempt voyage 10 New York. Prior 10
this some captive asccnsoas be made. Shortly
after four p. NJ thunder storm coming up, haste
made TO make II possible. al least captive
sion beIorc the final While about 800 feet high
the wind, which preceded the RAIN struck the balloon
and began surge upon the rope quito strong The
storm, which rosembled large letter U, was already
closing in semicircle from north by east to south
west From somo cause the balloon seemed to be
stanty weakening, the valve cord clear, aud an
occasional bag Of ballast necessary keep The
balloon above aagstans and other distractions. We
soon came 10 the conclusion that this would no. do
and motioned that tho ropc should be cut Consdera
Bile delay occurred before this DONE during which
time two attempts were made to get to the ground,
as we had not on board our carrier pigeons. or any
other appliances beyond tho srapncl ane pair Of
Antwerps had been loaned US through the courtesy
Of Mr. wcatheroy the brceder but they not des-
tined TO bear US company.
WHEN WAS FINALLY CUT
and VIC had begun to move OF several parties in the
street, who imagined she had broken loose grasped
hold Of the rope, and we describing the arc OF
circle toward the observatory, upon the Main Exnib,-
ton Building when cast loose tie rope and gradu-
ally rose clear OF tho building BY at least 100 The
motion OF the balloon very steady and
regular at this time, and the notion that she was
steadily losing power slowly passed from minds.
Despite the rushing aud roaring Of the approaching
storm passed out by parachucs samples OF tho
in the East Park we found ourselves in an eddy,
whero the approach Of the storm could be plainly
perceived 10 be- gaining upon us The gas IN tho
balloon by glanco into tho neck was to
DO getting milky. hazy appearance in Tho
Immediately adjoining atmosphere, accompanied
with ntful gusts OF wind gave swayiug motion 10 tho
balloon aud served TO admonsh us that We had better
90 down and 90 before IT, go up above and lot II
pass undcr. While We were considering this
found ourselves dropping rapidly We allowed this TO
continue with the expectation OF holding up W APP
preached the denser atmosphere the surface but
ment did not seem 10 diminish. some ballast was
thrown out and we began TO check up . little Al
about 1000 ect from the surface little
thrown out the anglo of descent carrying
us upon lot west OF Broad, Monument Cemetery.
but downward movement was constantly de-
crcasing We knew that any more ballast would mako
again.
GETTING READY poR 1 GENTLE nuxr.
We greeted terra nrma with little love pat and
nicely again. crowd OF men and boys, open armed,
were rushing TO receive US, but were disap-
pointed TO find looking down upon them from safe
distance OF 500 or 900 feet rho storm was now not
only up 10 us but ahead Of u.s. and at the rate we were
moving seemed 10 be likely 10 encompass Rain
was patterng upon tho balloon and the prospect OF
again coming 10 ground by this additional weight in
duccd TO conclude to get above the II posi-
BILE Rising through snow storm with cool stream
Of running down backs from the neck OF the
balloon tho admoniton to keep cool was entirely IN
npropos. We soon plunged into ths storm cloud, and
were brilliantly received with salute Of electrical
paper hung upon the concentrating ng that were
rising, the thick cloud developed spon every side.
grandiy we rose over cadron u boiling and bubbling
clouds. Now VIC were all right, only tho gas dis
charging itself from expansion and
A BrzzISG IN THE
like bee hive told US we were well up in the world
While we we're floating here watching the pot boil
motion Ike an inverted wSwnd srssped Us IL is
embrace, and, amid a swaying OF the basket,
winch brought us momensarily to our knees.
storm-just tho place wc wished 10 avoid
Down went, as II tho bottom had dropped out OF
things In general, and then up again, II some one
had Us under the arms ard was giving Us lit The
basket took q circular motion and crooked in
the cradle Of tho deep with yeDgeance
Overlooking our ballast, aud being satisfied
with tho muster wo began to feel that afer all wo
SOMETHING WRONG.
Bag in hand, We were awaiting tho lifting process
amid flashes OF lightning, when FASH brighter than
the rest, aud binding IN It's ncarrcss cracked
about our ears. Mr. King my companion, exclaimed,
1--WE struck" The reply, THAT can't be. hardly
out OF mouth before unusual lurch intimated some
thing wrong Looking up at the indis,inct and hazy
mass overhead, tho muslin was plainly 10 he told
ing itself up and the wind rushed past ikea
thoughts OF New York melted of mind ana visions
OF Jersey sand and pines took their place. In haste
uUs ea es. ballast bag cut
up ready for oump to change our
anglo Of descent II necessary. Swinging and gyratipg
the network, out Of the cloud to
ment west OF the Delaware. When we entered tho
msae dou 10 the westward u asscr need
half circle, As when We fell ont OF the
cloud into sight wo' expected TO see Haddon-
Delaware 10 the east almost under Out went
the ballast bag and all other ballast articles; stI
from The time we left the cloud until struck tho
ground could not have been more than two minutes
perfect gale was raging at the time, and when We
struck the loose muslin woaId have fallen dead to tho
ing II along until tautened the rigging and
gave as Jerk Of about sixty feet before
called out ds 10 % Ens 70
was his iaconic rather than classic reply, and the
basket came up aganst panel OF the low board fence
bringing hts head against OF the boards and knock
ing Il oil as neatly II sledgc had dealt the blow
crowd, despite tho pouring rain, gathered around,
overzcalous to render assistance, and the bal
loon rolled up, net and ALL and wagoncd under
cover.
wnEx We UsRoLLED THE BALLOON
ia tho morning found the neck neatly and tightly
packed up tho valve Mr.. King complained That
his hip hurt him. As for myself escaped with
trinng from bottle broken In the basket by the
fall and scratched That tho balloon, IRON
cause was losing power gradually from the first am
satisfied, As is my fellow voyager That u was struck
bv lightning ] cannot believe The tact Is,
that Immediately aer tho closest and most vivid ash
suddenly settled but that tho lightning produced the
collapse hardly be credited. The balloon surg
ing violently At the time, much so that We
upon knees moro than half the time It must have
been bali hour from the Time We leu the Globe
Hotel until settled down Broad street, and We
were in the storm cloud fully that length oil time.
'oS rEgTn
The crowd who gathered descent expected TO
see VI dead, falling 81 such rapid rate, but
instead upon our feet and busy getting
tho wreck together Several inquiries were made as
20 where the bodies carried and ~ two A. N. .
nf Mr. KsuU anna IN n " mort IL