The New York herald., 1879-08-02
SAILING THE SKY.
Exciting Voyage Of the All
Ship Canada.
RUDDER AND PINIONS
Both Used with Some Degree
OF Success.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. I

Grimley, Cowan and Page at haf-past five last
evening. when the aerial voyagers stepped boldly
into the We commenced to float at just quar-
ter to six o'clock. and Gro the cheers of the few
hundred people who were assembled had fairly COM
menced had risen above steepes and trees The
wind was blowing due east and passed over the
aristocratic part Of the town with speed that was
startling to tho novices in balloonng who crowded
the basket. There six in all--Messrs. Grimley
and Cowan and Page; Mr.. Moulton. of the Montreal
Witness; Mr.. Browning, of tho Montreal Herald. ana
Mr. Harper. of the Montreal Star staff. The latter
gentleman started at moments notice. and had
not the slightest intention Of going until Mr.. Cowan
called for him.
There very little conversation after the bal
loon started. The crowd cheered and waved their
handkerchiefs. Those the forgot TO do
either until they more than half mile high.
when Mr.. Cowan made the suggestion that it should
be done. He was mounted upon the netting hoop.
and from that place gave his orders coolly if
he stood the quarter deck of United States
frigate. Mr.. Moulton manned the helm. which had
been remodclled with the intention of causing the
air ship to act in the same manner ordinary
vessel. The new rudder made Of linen and was
provided with powerful lever a handle. No one
thought Of manning the flying machinery.
A BEAUTIFUL BIRDsRYE VIEW.
We fioated upward with great rapdity and when
crossing the docks at the mouth Of the La
chine Canal 1900 feet high. We were lazily
watching the scenery. bright and beautiful pros
pect before. behind. all around u.s. and the eye
puzzled which side of the compass it should
rest upon longest, the mind to which scene
the senses were most delighted with. We could see
the Lachine Rapids; their foam now dwindied to
almost imperceptible proportions. tiny speck
upon the surface Of the water looked like small
I>,,tv tn fxy< <ho ado
boat, which had carried it's crowd of excur-
sionsts past the Thousand Islands The back
waters of the Ottawa shone like silver threads
in emerald carpet of various shades. and the
waters of the Richelieu had the appearance Of q
narrow streamlet shining afar off. Victoria Bridge
looked like fairly sized cable stretched the
river and the Boucherville Mountains sank into in
significance. As we rose to height Of $500 feet
we could the difference between the water of the
Ottawa River on the north side Of the st. Lawrence
and that of the ST. Lawrence itself. which foated
naestically along. We could discern every rock in
the bed Of the St. Lawrence River and 1t had the ap
pearance OF q stream only three or four inches Deep
Steamers were plying to and from either bank. but
they looked like straws upon the surface
The balloon commenced to fall when we had
reached the st. Lambert wharf, the south side Of
the river and we could distinguish small objects on
shore very plainly. We must have travelled very
quickly, this point is about six miles from that
from which started. and the watches showed that
goodby to the Shamrock Lacrosse Grounds.
CONVERSATION IN MID AIR.
Each OF the party was in wrapt admiration OF tho
scene. though what each one thought of his personal
safety difficult question. We stood almost
stili at this point nearly seventeen hundred feet
high, and conversation commenced to How.
''Are you afraid at alp" asked Mr. Grimley of the
Star reporter.
Not at all" replied the other. II do not care
much for the sensation. however. Look at my
hand, it is steady enough and he held up his hand
as did also Mr. browning, of the Montreal Herald
here Cart no m uery
either. Suddenly Mr.. Cowan, perched q Ia commo
dore in the rigging. cried OUT
Turn the wings We have forgotten to
them"
Then commenced the first experiment of the day
with the machinery. Mr.. Moulton steered. Mr..
Grimley and Mr. Harper manned the port side OF the
wndlass which worked the wings. and Mr.. Browning
and Mr.. Page took the other side. Away went the
wings, while the balloon showed Immediately that
they added considerably to her momentum. The
fans had been fixed to ascend and We went up
very fast, until Mr. Page cried out. 'Stop! sop We
saving away the balloon netting!" And sure
enough there was much need Of caution. The basket
had been rugged little too the netting of the
balloon. Had tho friction of the paddles upon the
ropes. which had been hauled taut by the weight of
the car. continued there is little doubt that they
would soon have been separated. The six men and
400 pounds of ballast would then have flown to
mother earth without further trouble. The balloon
must have felt the impetus of the wings however.
for without throwing out any ballast we quickly
rose to the highest altitude yet attained-some two
thousand sevon hundred feet We were fairly over
st. Lambert village now, and heard chiidrens
and the shrieks of locomotives and steamers
ssluting us. We answered as usual with waving
handkerchicfs while Mr. Cowan spoke to people and
they answered back proving tina. conversation
be carried on ut that distance.
SINKING IN A CALM.
Tho wind had died away considerably aud the
weather afforded the best opportunity which had
been had for testing the balloon. Mr.. Cowan was
impatient to commence the work, but Mr. Page and
others suggested that would be better to wait until
should draw the earth. We already de-
scending. handful of handbiils thrown out flew
upward with rush. few seconds longer and
struck lower current Of air. which carried us along
800 feet. Mr.. Grnley threw some ballast, but
the descent continued until the barometer showed
but 800 feet from the earth. We did not get any
lower just here. We were now between st. LAM
bert and Longue and the watches showed
that we had been fifteen minutes in the
air. Tho thermometer stood at s5 degrees, and tho
heat of the sun intense. while the gas was run
ming out OF the mouth OF the balloon with sckenng
Look up the mouth Of the balloon" said Mr..
Grimley.
The gas was as transparent air. and VIC could
see every stitch in the canvas which separated us
from prospective eternity above and perlous
plunge below
'It would not take us long to get down." sug-
gestcd one of tho party.
The suggestion sent a thrill through moro than
of us, which heightened by the noise of
cord in the netting snapping. Just before the bal
loon left the earth clumsy citizen. while removing
of the ballast bags from the netting, had
torn a large hole in the netting and the crack,
crack OF the companion cords every now and then
not encouraging But who cared? We
prospect beautiful and intoxicating in splen-
-
and there was charm In the whole business which
drove fear from the heart OF the most tmid.
TESTING TIE WINGS.
Suddenly the balloon gave n urch. and MIR. Cowan.
whose nervous movement had caused II. remarked.
"Wo must have trial OF those wings" BY this
time We were nearing the Richeieu River. Boucher
vile Mountain was below us. to the right. and the
large lake looked like mirror. except that could
that its banks composed of weeds, rock aud
mud. "Come up here, Mr.. Grimley." said Mr..
Cowan. "Wo must try tho wings"
MIR. Grimlcy, supplied with knife aud
stout cord climbed into the netting and
proceeded to take rest In the support
ing ropes. Mr.. Cowan helped him. anu the
pair worked away there. 1850 feet above the earth
coolly as IL they seated IN some workshop
on sixth avenue. Meanwhile the air very calm,
and the little party at the bottom of the basket waited
with impaenco for the result At length Mr.. Cowan
remarked
There she isl That will do now"
Mr. Grimley then descended to tho basket and in
few moments the wings were adjusted. Isy this time
II fifteen minutes past SIX o'clock. The wheels
manned, and. tho fans having been adjusted to
lower tho balloon. away she went with few turns
300 feet down. We hoatcd TOR n time downward, and