The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-11-02
la MOUNTAINS AND WISE-S TRIP
OVER The AMERICAN
CONTINENT.


July /, 1859 It was the longest trip
ever made in balloon. The sdven-
turers were John L. Mountain, a noted
aeronaut. o \ Gager, John Wise, and
Wm Hyde Of the st Louis IRep'hlican
The voyagers meant To sail from ).
LOnis TO New York The balloon, the
Atlantic. was owned by Professor l.,
Mountain. Il was made Of the best
! Chinese silk, and held about GO 900 feet
Of gas A boat was attached for use in
case of accident. Mr. Hyde described
the trip in a long letter to his journal
Hs said that they left St Louis at 6 =
rM. The cargo consisted Of 900 pounds
/ Of sand. in bags; large quantity of
cold chickens. tongues. potted meats
sand wiches. &c; numerous dark col
orcd, long necked vessels. coutal alning
champagne, sherry. sparkling Cataxba.
claret, Madeira. brandy aud porter; a
plentiful supply Of ovefcoats, shawls,
blankets and fur gloves; a couple or
three carpet bags. a pail Of iced lemon
nde, and bucket Of water; a compass,
barometer. thermometer aud chart;
bundles Of the principal st Louis news
papers: an express package. directed to
New York city; cards Of candidates for
clerkships in several # the courts;
tumblers, cups, knives And other ar,i-
clos.
At the word. those wno were holding
onto the sides Of the boat. sitnultane-
ousiy let go. aud the Atlantic rose slow
ly and majestically above the mlny
thousands who were gathered i" the
vicinity, aud sailed oil Ia nnrthw. ST.
oriy direction Wnhin "a s,w minutes
the strips of timber land and fields Of
newly harvested grain III Illinois were
benratn the yOyggers. At T:l0 the
barometer stood at y, ani the tarr-
mometer Indicated DO. Dir Hyde eX-
perienced singular sensation about
the ears 1t was unplea ant anc annoy
ing. but not paiuful-very much such
feeling as a man has when bathing and
his ears become filled with water
making the tymparum CRATE htr.hly
at every sound. All aar0ntuts exp
rlcnce this feeling on their first voyage
In few nilnutes gas was blown "tf
from the tuba at the mouth Of the bal
loon, the signal that it mad become in
h.tcd to it's full capacity. Prof Wise,
who had charge of the rope connecting
with the valve at tie top. promptly
gave it a pull. and Immediately there
after quantity of blush vApor fl aated
IF and circled upward. This was at
fifteen minutes after seven o'clock. \
quarter Of an hour later the air ship had
doscended considerably, the barometer
indicated - inches and the ,hermome-
ter 90 degrees. All this time the hap
py quartette had been conversing about
the magnificent scenery, relating ancc-
dotes and watching with interest the
progress Of Mr. Brooks balloon. the
Comet. which preceded them from st
Louis.
Every yestise of st Louis had now
vanished from their sight, and they
were dritring at wonderful rate of
speed toward their destination. The
motion was perfectly steady. There
was no rocking OF the boat or car, no
rustling of the silk; nothing. indeed,
but the receding forests and fields be
meath to tell them they were not poised
between earth aud sky in dead calm.
No breath Of breeze was stirring. The
buoyant down Of thistle released from
the willow car would have fallen TO the
boat by its own specific gravity. In all
its calmness the monster bubble fioated
through the clouds Twilight was on
the earth, and gave to the color of the
soil the appearance Of frozen lakes. by
this time the sun had set to the inhabi-
tants Of the earth. thongh to the voya'
gers it was four or five degrees above
the horizon. And thirty-two minutes
after they saw the Comet ettecting
landing far to the northeast. 1t looked
like mere bladder.
At 1:lO they were mile high. To
atone for the descent caused by the
discharge Of gas. few handtuls Of sand
were thrown overheard. At o'clock
the barometer showed that the ship had
lifted herself to the requisite hight.
She was moving as steadily as clipper
ship. The weather was bitter cold.
Shawls, coats aud gloves were used.
but the limbs of the excursioDists were
numb. and their teeth chattered as
though they were suffering from ague.
An alarming incident occurred. Prot
Wise crouched in the wicker car, Gov
cred his body with shawls and other
articles of warmth. aud was sleeping
The balloon had again become Inflated
to its iuilcs. tension, and the professor
lay under its mouth. Mr. Gager ad-
dressed some remarks to him, but re
ceived no answer. Mr.. 6 again accost-
ed him, this time IN louder tone
Still there was 10 response. - third
aud fourth time did be call. but heavy.
deep and convu!sive breathings were
the only result. Mr. .Gager. almost
p.le with apprehension lest something
fearful had occurred to Prot Wise, a.
once bounded to one of the upright
irons of the fan wheel machinery. and
with assistance from one Of his fellow
voyasers, clambered into the car. 1t
was lucky for Prof Wise that he did.
for Mr. eager found that the tube at
the mouth of the balloon was directly
mn Ter the formers nose. and that the
expansion Of the gas had driven some
of the hydrogen directly into his lace.
He was a. the time insensible, though
"A soon as the tube had been removed
by Mr. eager from the Professor nos
trils, and few hearty shakes given
him, the comatose man revived, raoood
his ewes. muttered few incoheEen,
syllables, and inquired what was the
matter.
While this was going on the Atlantic
had found the current that the aero
nauts had declared was alwys blowing
-a.,aps from, the YVES; 10