The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-31
YESTERDAY,S BALLOON ASCEN-
SION,
uiss Helene Augusta and the Lion
Land IN the River.

Land IN the River.
Yesterday evening about O'Clock
Miss Helene Augusta made the prom
ised balloon ascension. She relates her
"trip in the following words:
"Owing to the extreme heaviness of
the gas that we get In this oity it was i'm
possible for Prof. Harry Gilbert to make
the ascension advertised for yesterday,
as the balloon could not carry him. In
using gas made from hard coal we get
lifting power OF forty to forly,four
pounds to each one thousand ieet, while
with soft coal, such as is used in Gin
cinnati, the llLing capacity is only
twenty-five to thirty pounds-a vast dIt.
ference in a small balloon; and SO, owing
to this fact, l made the ascension in
stead OF Professor Gilbert, at a few
minutes after the time advertlsed-4:30 80
z. M.-accompanied by one of the yuung
lions from the biological Garden. This
young fellow was bother, as | owe my
dip in The OHIO River TO his frantic ei-
Iorts to get out OF the basket, he taxing
all OF my time 10 Keep him quiet. On
entering the basket it was lound neces-
sary to leave the drag.rope-a very valu-
able adjunct to balloon in a landing
also u pail of water that l wished to
carry, and could only take my anchor
and Its rope attached, with one bag Of
sand as ballast. Ere rising fifty feet
the balloon began to se.tle, COM
pelling the throwing out of even this. |
then started very rapidly amid the
shouts and waving of handkercnieis OF
The vast numbers present. At first l
held the young llou III my arms, but not
very long, as my attention was neees-
sariy 10 be gwen to the balloon. He
groWled at starring, evidently not wish
ing to go; so put lin in the bottom Of
the basket, where he amused himself by
snarling, growing and crawling up the
outside VI my dress. Putting MIN down,
be then would work himself halfway to
the top OF the basket, thus taking up
nearly all OF my attention. | mus. have
risen over mile by the time l was
nearing Eden Park, and Intended TO lana
there, but l found it impos-
BILE. Then l discovered l was
bearing toward Kentucky, and not
desiring 10 land there l pulled
the valYe-cord, hoping TO land on this
side. In an instant l saw that was i'm
possible, SO | shut the valve; but the
balloon had lost SO much power that If /
passed over the river l would do we'll.
She was not able to cross, however, and
RAPIDLY descended in the Ohio River,
opposite a place called Bellevue, l think,
lust above Newport. l struck about the
middle of the river, and was rapidly
being carried down stream, the basket
sinking waist-deep, while the balloon
bsr maintained it's upright position.
The lion had to be saved, and my atten-
tion was given to him, as the managers
of the ZoU had informed me that he was
very valuable, and | did not wish TO sac
fee him. SO, taking him i'll my arms,
| awaited events, gradually sinking. A
number OF boats puG out from each side
of the river, but nOOle young gentle
man, MI. John ;. Llttletord, seeing my
predicamenr, plunged in ANA swan OUT
Iar enough to cat h the rope. which was
floating. lie was Joined very soon by Il
gentleman named Arnd katenhorn, ana
their united efforts soon brought Us
ashore; myself rather Watery as we'll as
Mr.. Lion, whom | wrapped up in coat,
seemingly well .easeu at this and now
remarkably doclle. The tive gentlemen
named were also very kind in keeping
back rather turbulent crowd that
greatly impeued me at my landing. My
thanks are also due to the gentleman
who ferried US across the river, as he
would not receive a cent from Professor
Gilbert, who arrived shortly after was
on the shore, and under his direction we
soon reached the city with The balloon
and The troublesome lion. This trip l
saw the city, Notwithstanding the
smoke, aud at the elevation L reached il
had rather pigmy appearance. Except
the landing, The ascension was grand
success, and gave satisfaction to all who
witnessed it.
EAlISS HELENE AUGUSTA,
"Pupil Of Professor Harry GllDerC."