Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-07
AT HOME IN THE AIR.
The Remarkable Voyages. Perils and
Escapes or Miss Lizzie IblIng Wise
Daring Feat OF her Cousin,
Miss CIarIssa WimbIey, at
Hight of 1000 Feet.

the queen OF aeronauts, has been stopping
quietly at the Planters house, in this city, for
the past two days. Miss Wise is a quiet, I'M
assuming lady of a somewhat petite form,
with handsome features, in whose lIneaments
there is evidence of the daring that has made
her famous in her profession. One would
hardly suppose that she was the heroine OF so
many perilous exploits to meet her IN the
parlor, or that the small and slender hands
with which she accompanies her speech in
gesture had been at the helms of about two
dozen air-ships, and guided them ON as many
successful, but sometimes perilous and incl
dent laden, atmospheric Journeys. The talk
between herself and the reporter could be
hardly styled an interview, as there was no
attempt made at interviewing, the young
lady merely detailing the facts given below
IN a short, rambling conversation. Miss Wise
Is the niece of Prof. Wise, of aeronautic fame,
Is native OF Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and
was introduced to her profession by her dis
tinguished uncle. Her first ascension was
made In Philadelphia, when she accompa-
MED Prof. Wise and grandson, from Market
street, in the City of Brotherly Love, upon a
ted without any incident or accident worthy.
of record. Her first trip alone was also
made In Philadelphia on the occasion of the
nlnety-nlnth anniversary of Independence
Day. A distance of seven tn )usand feet was
attained, and the winds carried the balloon
distance of three miles, when itexplcded over
a mile In the air. The yalye-cord of the bal
loon was little short and kinked, and it is
to this circumstance she attributed the explo-
sion. Fortunately, In oollapsing parac hute
was formed, and, nothing daunted by her
terrific surroundings, alone in mid-air, with
her life hanging to the cords of an exploded
gas-bag, the daring lady remained
besket, and came down nicely and safely to
terra 6rma, landing in beautiful field three
miles from the city, where she came to an
Choir on the horns of a COW. Another ascen-
sion followed shortly after at Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, where hight of eight thou
sand feet was reached, and the trip was ex-
tended In safety to a distance of thirty-six
miles. Ascensions followed at other points,
Miss Wise meeting with no accident until
last fall, when she made an ascension from
this city, starting from the Grand avenue
baseball grounds. The balloon used was the
Amazon" The day was pretty squally,
and the trip, although advertised for AN early
hour, was delayed until latein the afternoon,
darkness, In fact, being already on the earth,
relieved only by the feeble light OF new
moon. The ropes were cut at very nearly six
o'clock, and away shot the Amazon" sky
ward, amid the approving plaudits of friends
and the best wishes of everybody for the safe
ty of the aeronaut- Up it went distance of
several hundred feet, when it suddenly ca
make the young lady turn her thoughts
somewhat from earthly things. But it was
only for moment, as the balloon almost as
suddenly righted itself, and once again made
for the clouds. Black as the blacklist
night stood mountain OF
clouds right overhead, and the air
ship was making right straight Soon the
mountain mass was pierced. There was no
ray of light to be seen on any hand, over
head or under foot. To make the situation
as gloomy and impressive as possible, there
was war streak in the atmosphere that al
most chilled the blood, but soon the cloud
cavern was emerged from and brightness
again shone upon the course of the amazon"
Away it chased on its aerial waves, bending
its way towards the Mississippi. The cold
night air here caused the balloon to descend,
and Miss Wise looked down upon the glisten-
ing stream over the side of her car, expect
ing every moment to strike the waving wa
tiers beneath. The Amazon" took a tack
along the river edge, safter the ballast had
been hghtened, and, two thousand feet hav-
ing been again reached, sailed toward the
south along the shadowy shore. Thinking
a safe descent could then be made, steering
clear of the water, another plunge for the
earth was made through the clouds. The
balloon caught IN the tall tree tops this time.
Fortunately there were persons below. A
rope was thrown them, but the efforts of the
men failed to clear the balloon from its nest
among the branches. Finally gentleman
called to Miss Wise to slide down the
rope, and this she did, coming down head
foremost, and jumping distance of twelve
feet INTO the strong arms of Mr.. SheYa. TIE
landing was effected in the Columbia bottom,
a distance of sixteen miles from the city.
This the young lady considers her most per-
llous voyage. During the four years she has
been engaged In her profession, Miss Wise
has made twenty-one ascenslons alone, the
highest point ever reached during that time
being two miles. What are known as para
chute ascensions are performed by exploding
the balloon at any hight, when the canvas
forms a parachute or umbrella
shaped vehicle, whose resistance to the atmos-
phere makes the descent perfectly safe one.
Professor Wise says he never knew an ascen-
sion, or descensioD, rather, of this sort to be
attended with accident. Miss Wise manu-
featured the celebrated Graphic balloon, in
which the Inflated Donaldson intended to
sail across the Atlantic.
MISS wIMBLEY's FEAT.
Philadelphia Times: Perhaps the most re-
markable of the special attractions to be
offered hereabouts on the Fourth of July
will be new departure" in aeronautic feats.
exhibited at Hammonton Park, New Jersey,
on the Camden and Atlantic railroad. Miss
Clarissa Wimbley, of tbs city, who was a
pupil of the unfortunate Donaldson, and a
niece of Prof. Wise, proposes to make two
from the park, and In the second
Of which, when at the height of four thou
sand feet, cause the balloon to explode and
form itself into parachute that will enable
ner to descend IN safety. This exploit. so
seldom attempted. while seemingly rash, will
De done to demonstrate the feasibility of con.
balloons that would insure com
oarative safety for their passengers in the
,vent of the air-ship being caused to explode
'y rareted atmosphere, collision or any
,ther mishap. The balloon to be used by
Miss Wimbley is, when inflated, sixty-fye
eet high and forty-6ve feet wide, Containing
wenty thousand cubic feet of gas, and capa-
DE of carrying two men. Fastened by a
ope to train, and elevated one hundred
eet above the track, the balloon, carving
Mss Wimbley, will be drawn from Camden,
he place of its initiation, to Hammonton,
Instance of thirty miles. The young lady
las made many ascensions, and recently at
Slmira, New York, a crowd of twenty thou
and persons gazed at her perilous perform
.uces In mid air.