Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-12-25
THE WISE-BURR ASCENSION.
The Conditions Under Which 1t Was Made
AflOat In the Air Without Drag-ROpe.

AUOaL In tine All W1C1OuG q Drag Rope.
The ascension of Burr and Wise was
made from Lindell Park, Sunday after
noon, September 29th. The balloon filled
much faster than Professor Wise expected
it would, the gas pressure at the Lindell
Park being greater than had been reprea
sented to him. At twelve o'clock the bal
loon was inflated sufficiently to carry
four passengers, and it was the Professors
intention at this time to take three COM
panions with him-young Burr, Charlie
Gonter, and Mr.. Downey, his nephew.
The ascension was not to be made until
five o'clock. About three o'clock gen
tie breeze turned to strong wind, and the
balloon surged about in violent man.
ner, and finally broke its fastenings-the
network to which the sand-bags were
attached. Professor Wise and his assist
ants, one of the latter his grandson,
caught the balloon and held it down till
the valve was opened and the gas let out.
The balloon. of course, collapsed and fell
to the ground entirely. The Professor was
Disguised with the way the Pathfinder
had acted, and he said that he would
postpone the ascension to some future
day. The netting was all broke, and it
would take all afternoon to fill the bal
loon again. The ascension would
have been actually postponed had it not
been for the Professors friends, and par
ticuiarly the three who wese to accom-
pany him on his voyage. They could fill
the balloon again in time, they said, and
repair the netting. There would be a
big crowd of spectators there, and it
would be a shame to disappoint them.
Balloon people were generally looked
upon as humbugs, any way, and it would
never do at all to disappoint the hun
dreds and thousands who would surely
gather on the grounds to sec an ascen-
sion. Young Burr was particularly anx-
ious that the ascension should be made.
He was all fixed for the trip, the profess
sor had promised him time and again to
take him along, and he didn't want to be
disappointed. Beside, if the Professor
wouldn't make an ascension himself, he,
Burr, would for him, for the people must
not be disappointed. At last the old
aeronaut gave in, and the initiating of the
balloon recommended and the netting
patched up.
/ 1t was agreed between the four parties
most Interested in the ascension that in
case the balloon received only sufficient
gas by five o'clock to take one man, that
Burr should GO. up II there was gas
enough for two then Professor Wise
should 60. If three could go, the third
should be Charley Confer, and if four,
then Oowney was to be one of the voy.
ayers. When the hour of five o'clock
arrived the netting had been repaired
and the balloon about two-thirds infia-
ted. The professor thought that she
would carry no more than two persons
besides the packages of Mabley's adver-
t1sements and the Iron Mountain rail-
road circulars add couple OF sand bags
for ballast. All these things were put
into the basker, and also several bottles
of Anheuser's bottled beer and dozen
or two sandwiches. The park was pref
ty well filed with people, or at least
that portion of it about the balloon was,
and the street outside the park was
crowded with people. The scene in the
vicinity of the balloon was Of worry live
ly character. "Crazy Ward" cracked
skull painter, with an ambition for the
stage, was making himself very
conspicuous in the crowd about the bal
loon, saving the air with his arms, recit-
ing Shakespeare and Byron and yelling
to Professor Wise every now and then.
asking him if he didn't remember the
time when they two sailed over Lake
Michigan once in balloon. When the
gas was cut off and shut off, and the has.
ket fastened to the netting, about forty
mon in the crowd stepped forward and
took hold Of the netting. The sand-bags
were then all unlocked from the netting,
and the basket and ballon were dragged
/ over to the extreme southwest corner of
the open space between the trees, some
forty feet from the position the balloon
first occupied. This was done because a
strong wind was blowing from the south,
and the Professor warted all the. room
he could get in which to clear tho trees.
Burr stepped into the basket and stood
Upright. He was smoking cigarette
at the time, and his hands were kept
busy saaking hands with his friends.
Professor Wise climbed into the basket:
snow, can you all let go when / say
| the word2r he asked.
Yes, answered half q dozen of the
men holding the top rim of the basket.
"All right, let her CO.
+ The hands Of all left the basket at the
same time, and up shot the balloon, TAX
ling direction almost due north.