The New York herald., 1879-01-01

until all sound ceased. 1t seemed as though
were spirit of some Old World legend rushing in
silence through space. scarcely guess what
picture T. the Knight OF Science. would have
presented to mortal eyes, but the silence be-
came intoerabie. could tho beating of
the wings and the rise and fall of the
piston rod. This told me that was not losing
seriousness, but the thought that had become deaf
gave me a terrible moment OF uneasiness. saw the
Hudson River to my left. knew the old stream
well. lay back in my chair and raised my hand to
my head Something cracked and at there
came q great thrush of sound. There thin
piece Of ice upon my gauntlet. saw at once what
had happened; the earholes of my helmet had be-
come choked with ice. This an intense relief to
me. looked at the clock-thirty, minutes past
eleven. had now travelled sixty miles, for saw
Poughkeepse beneath. The Catskill Mountains.
the river white and grand at the SUBMITS. but
belted with darkness below, were soon passed by. 1
looked ahead.
ALBANY rvx MINUTES.
Icould discern light, which knew came from
Albany 1t took stout wrench to start the steering
gear which had not moved after leaving New York.
However. the ship obeyed beautifully.
and afterward took the pracaution while high
mp to do little steering every minute or so. lest
the gearing might become absolutely caked with ice.
need not say that this increase of weight from the
congealed vapor necessitatcd the occasional OF
some of the aotative force whose character
or mode OF use am not permitted to describe lest
some English professor or German Herr should
pirate it in advance OF the patent. need simply
that the compartments moved easily into place. At
twenty-five minutes to twelve was Just south of
the State capital. / had not much time left it is
true, to accomplish 100 miles, with an ascent of
5000 feet, or 46 feet inches to the mile but
relied upon the HERALD weather prophets prediction
to help me through This must be my apology for
stacking speed and descending couple Of hundred
feet The hly city of Albany looked fat enough
from this height. seemed to feel myself among hui
man beings again. and could not resist the tempta-
ton of crcling around it for the sake of company,
it were, like storm bird round ship the ocean.
OLD ALBANY ASLEEP
I recollccted the optical instrument and took
it from the locker. Happy thought, as the white
roofs Of the city disappeared and the people in the
old city sumbering peacefully met my gaze. Pres
emily saw that all were not abed One great house
seemed full of life. Ha! thought, the Delavan.
Sure enough. Rooms filed with men, some playing
cards. drinking steaming beverages out of
glasses met my gaze. You will be making laws for
New York next week, thought They were not
daintily clad elegant hammered as New YORK
city legislators and hence concluded that they
''countrymen" who had hurried forward to enjoy
their new dignity: 1 looked around the city. The
Governor was sound asleep. With sigh for poor
humanity brought the airship's head around to
north northeast pushed the lever to the full
and driving quicker than the wind direct for the
White Mountains Putting forth more Of the hota-
tive force I rose rapidly.
A TERRIBLE ASCENT.
knew that would have to reach 5000 feet before
I could hope to strike the air current which the
weather prophet had promised me- At 1000 feet the
thermometer marked ten degrees below zero Still
kept rising, and found that my lungs inflated
at every breath to the full. was now above ver-
mont, but the green hills of summer white now
Three thousand feet at last, but current. Ush!
had gone with rush through cloud but
was soon above it. Three thousand three hundred
feet. Heavens had entered the promised current.
The airship fairly trembed it beat its way into the
flying wind had my left hand upon the steering
wheel and brought her into its course which was
northeast. continued ascending, only keeping the
wings moving TO prevent the sockets freezing At
1000 feet the speed was two miles minute. which
then seemed snaiIs pace. sThe thermometer had
risen to four degrees above The wind, however,
gave great chance to put forth almost
all the engine power to aid the ascent. The
better to SEQ that all going well I
stood up, and found that the ice was
forward reflector and the effect dazzling.
Everything the airship glttercd like diamonds in
the CLEAN of tho electric light. But could not wait
to look at this for than second The fotative
force abundant and the whole contrivance worked
admirably, 5000 feet. She was rising more
slowly now SO detached the magnets; the light at
the beak went out. and in minute We were at the
altitude OF $500 feet.
SIX THOUSAND FEET.
Above this found that the force Of the air current
was diminishing, but all the faster 1t became
harder to breathe in the rarefcd air Six thousand
feet was reached and l was gong barely with the
force of the wind l was now, knew, above New
Hampshire. but could distinguish nothing of the
land below, save now and then white hilltop would
appear Pretty soon. thought, shall reach an ad-
verse current / prepared for the utmost force
might meet 1t labor of great difficulty to work
the wing extenders. and 1 had to Chamber
up the port stanchion beside the balloon
body to knock the ice of the slot through
which the extender rod moved. This done,
l set the wings at their topmost speed and was
soon more flying ahead of the wind. / still
could now see the mass Of the White Noun
tain peaks to the north. They still little above
my level At 500 feet left tho friendly current
below me. 1t had done good service The wind
I entering--the great, constant curront-was
blowing from the west but with the increased wing
power it scarcely affected me. had, however. TO
engine force to.rise to the required ecyas
ton.
AMONG THE GIANT FATHERS
steered duo north, and the tall crowns OF Mount
Webster and Mount Jackson seemed just ahead of me.
1t minutes to twelve. Two minutes later
at the altitude of 6.SO0 feet and thus passed
over the white heads of Old Hickory and the Great
Expounder. Then Mount Franklin was passed.
knew the wise old printer for all his snow. But
there mistaking the goal-Mount
Washington. His great shceted ghost seemed
extended along the earth Us / approached
him from above. Suddenly became sensible that
there was change OF the wind scarcely to be cx-