Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-07-18
BALLOONIN6 on THE BEACH.
4 Young Lady Journalist Describes the
First Ascension Of Prof. Kings Great
Balloon.
New YORK Graphic July >

scene Of animation and hustle attend
amt upon launching Professor Kings
great steam captive balloon on its first
aerial trip.
From Saturday morning until late in
the afternoon .! yesterday, Professor
King and his assistants busted them
selves i'll perfecting the details OF the
work and carrying on the initiation.
which by degrees developed the out
lines Of the great orlental-colored beauty
into perfect roundneSS. To realize what
this hydrogen, lighter than the breath of
morning, had accomplished, twas only
necessary TO glance ut the monster At
lantic, lying tiabby and helpless ON the
ground, a shapeless mass.
Yesterday noon $4,000 cubic feet Of
gas had been pumped into the balloon,
and all the 500 bags of ballast, weighing
in the aggregate ~ 800 pounds, were
necessary 10 keep the monarch of the
air from breaking loose.
The afternoon wore away and the
shadows grew longer while the professor,
patient and persevering, to say nothing
Of preserving his temper under storm
of questions and suggestions, lsbored
away to set everything into readiness.
At last every rope ana cord lay i'll its
place, the last mesh ofnetting had been
twitched into position, the gas was again
turned on ana $4,000 feet more were
sent putting in, and had the same effect
upon the balloon as the copious tea
drinking on certain characters that
Dickens describes.
The stays were loosened slightly 10
allow the airy globe to rise few inches,
which it did, disclosing large cistern-
like cellar beneath, in which had been
placed the large windlass upon which
was wound the cable that held captive
an impatient prisoner. This windlass
is so constructed that it allows the "a.
bic TO follow the balloon in any direc-
ton without danger of friction or tie
rope leaving its groove.
All was now ready, and the specta-
tors gathered about to take q tinal look
ut the canvas bird before she few. The
car of gayly painted wicker work, and
weighing 476 pounds, had been attached
by netting and numerous ropes, which
passing through two iron hoops sus-
pended it at n length of twenty-five feet
from the neck ot the balloon. Now she
lowered, car and all, 100 feet from the
ground, with n suow-crowned head
shining in the sun, gorgeous stripes
and circles III vivid colors covering the
base; Columbus smiling benignly down
from one side rs though approving this
n tnl NJ
the name Pioneer" standing ont in
bold relief on the other.
The whole thing conveyed such an
idea of light, life and gaye,y that it
seemed almost as aosurd to freight 1t
with human life as to harness ~ soap
bubble TO horse ear. With calm salts
faction emanatipg from every feature,
Professor King announced himself
ready to make trial trip-the test trip,
in tact. Everybody was ready to go on
the second trip, but with the exception
of few enterprlsing spirits, nobody
expressed themselves anxious to go IN
the first.
Finally, six passengers, including Mr.,
Henry NJ. Smith, Mr.. +. d. Patton, Of
the Sun, L. A. Masterson, of the Star,
and reporter for the Graphic, joined
the Professor, and after observing that
the thermometer indicated So degrees,
and the dynamometer showed strain
of 400 pounds, the word of command
was given.
In a tricc the stays from the forty
winches were loosened and lightly
caught to the netting. Mr.. Walter $.
King, a son of Professor King, gave the
order, Lift 1.-THE ratchet), "Turn" ire
ferring 10 the cranky, drop" Che
ratchet), LET her up" Scarcely was
the last word spoken when the balloon
slowly and with the lightness Of swal-
low, began to ascend, while the people
looked on with bated breath.
Gathering impetus every second, as
the cable responded to the tug, she con-
tinued upwards ut the rate OF 100 feet
per minute. AS she rose above the
amphitheatre and became visible to the
thousands Of pleasure seekers on the
sands, rousing cheer burst from their
threats and Gilmore'S band began with
much spirit up in Balloon"-that
air that had been laid by especially for
this occasion, and, being SO particularly
oppropos, elected much laughter from
the crowd. AS the balloon flew up.
ward through the yellow sunshine and
the blue-sky some one beneath loosed a
number Of baby balloons, bright as
butterflies in their colors, and floating
gayly up they circled around their ma
jestic mother.
As the gronauts ascended they found
the motion delightful, apd somewhat
similar to that experienced when sal!
ing through almost smooth water The
breeze, fresh but soft southwestern,
became more vigorous, and decided
change in the temperature was ielt
when height of 500 fect--attained in
five minutes-was reached. The Their
mometer then indicated IA degrees, a
difference Of ~ degrees from the start
ing point.
The first trip, however, covered only
800 feet-the professor returning tole-
peat some directions that had been
misunderstood. The descent was swift
and smooth, and when the yoyagers
touched terra .frmd they were greeted
with enthusiastic applause.
A second trip was then made. This
time the balloon sailed rapidly up 10 a