Daily Republican., 1880-10-07
BaIlsoulne An . Wind s,or run.

D8hsDo1hhkh N - vino $40 rMs
The balloon ascension Of Prof. John
shsarsr, Of Reading City, from the
Berks county fair grounds, ON Wednes.
day, was full OF exciting adventure,
peril and romance. His narrow esca pes
at the fair grounds, his sweeping the
tree tops on the mountains and his 70
mantio and laughable landing are full
Of interest. His own version Of the AZ.
fair Is herewith given:
"0n account Of the wind ] did NO!
finish filing the balloon until late.
then took just gas enough to take me
out, as the people were becoming un-
easy at the delay. About half past Ave
o'clock / gave the werd to "lst 60 )"
but the parties holding the rope, in
stead Of letting the balloon up a short
distance, allowed it to go up too nigh, dis
regarding my orders to hold back, and
the balloon struck the telegraph wires,
which run across the grounds. had
no can or basket bat was seated ON
rope run across the iron hoop or con-
centrating ring, where the ropes meet
below the balloon. The netting broke
of part of one Of the glass insulaters
on a telegraph pole, but fortunately the
balloon was not torn.
! had the balloon pulled hack, and
after getting another start the balloon
rose up quickly, the ground appearing
10 drop Suddenly downward, as the bal.
loon rose at once to the height Of /, 600
feet, as shown by the barometer. (Mr.
Shesrer shaved the reporter the ba.
romster used. II is an aneroit baron.
eter, made expressly to measure alti-
tudes. 1t is circular, about two inches
in diameter, and an inch thick, with q
needls and mercury tuba under the
glass. 1t somewhat resembles o large
watch, and Is covered with stsut leath-
sr for protection in case of rough hand
ling, and provided with ring to fasten
/. to the hoop or netting TWAS quite
cold In the upper regions, the lowest
after sunset being about
so degrees, and though | was warmly
dressed, nay hands were numb with
cold. l could see the fair grounds and
the people for a long time. The wind,
both upper and lower currents, was
east, a little 10 the south. The current
was strong near the earth, but above
the wind was not &c strong.
saw Birdsboro, Stoneville, Pfiedens-
burg, but after sunset the gas began to
cool, and the balloon began to sink. |
allowed II 10 descend, and at six
o'clock struck in the middle Of the
top Of Long mountain, in Amity town
ship, with no house In sight. Here the
balloon seraped along the low tree tops,
md sunk down over an open field, oc
Dasionally touching the ground, in
valley between Long Branch and Fancy
Hill. Ithrev ont the anchor, which
oanght on post and rail fence, and
tore 1t away. The balloon than went
into an apple tree, when quickly
pulled the end OF the branches around
he hoop and held the balloon tor abou
fifteen minutes, and blew the horn,
when the people from house mile or |
70 away, who had seen and followed
he balloon, came and helped me to
pull 1t down. There was q small hole
.orn iii the bottom of the balloon IN
oosening 1t from the tree. landed
IN the farm OF Henry Butcher, about
our miles this side Of BOyertown,
hink in Amity township, and IA miles
from Reading. |
Twas In the air half an hour, and
slt that | was travelling rapidly, es.
,ecially as passed over the woods
With q strong wind on the mountain,
,ut received only few scratches, and
think l had remarkably good luck
considering the very rough weather.
Occasionally the balloon careened right
ully. and l was in considerable dan.
,er.
After We had packed up the balloon
was loft lying in the field, and | en-
aged Henry Butcher to bring IL to
leading. l then started on foot, not
,eing able to get team, and walked
0 reading, arriving here soon after
,idnight. consider the ascension q
cry satisfactory one. The day was
lear and | was not obliged 70 pass
trough the clouds.
Ny balloon was the "Ariel" made BY
lyself, Of strong oiled muslin. 1t con-
.ins about ATS square yards Of mate
al, and holds about 16, 600 feet Of gas
hen fully inflated.
About q dozen persons gathered
round the balloon after 1t struck the
'ee, men, women and children. One
the women thought rode inside the
alloon, and asked in German How
ID he get out? Another, boy asked
ew many more are therei They treat
me very kindly but looked at me
ith much amazsment. I feel we'll after
" trin and not at all tirad or gora