The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-09-17
81 A Balky Balloon.

assSs Special to the Globe democrat. ,-as..,.
st Paul, September ia correspondent
with the balloon ,olsgraphs from a farm
house in Ramsey county that, owing to the
dead calm, which made progress in any
direction except up or down. impossible,
the balloon was anchored to wait for wind.
The following is his description of the trip:
The balloon left the ground exactly at
$50 local time, and started slowly southeast
The FIRST rise was to the height of 5000
feet; then wo settled slightly, and
some sand wss spilled. 1t only
takes shout half as much Of the earthly
material ss was required to compose Adam
to send our delicately-poised vehicle thou
sands Of feet into space, and in q few min-
uIes we were 4 900 feet in the cir, but as we
looked upon the scene spread out before US
The cry arose. We are decendlng, and Of 0
verify we we're, and so fast that We did mob
care 10 throw out much more sand. In the
hurry of dropping over the drng.rope part
oft wHs still in coil, so that the earth came
up TO meet US with great deal more rapid.
ty than was pleasant, but the folisgo Is soft
and the warning to keep inside the support,
ing ropas was Needed, so that when into the
tree tops our car dashed no ono was even her.
vous, and the only damage done was the
loss of the carefully prepared shelf by Signal
officer Upton. Fortunately he had his in.
strumenis, When the drag.rope was at
length dropped, it stuck, and 100 pounds Of
sand dispensed with We assembled rapidly,
though not TO any great distance, and the
end of the drag resting on the earth kept us
almost stationary Az length, finding we
were not making % slightest hesdwav, the
professor concluded TO land, and a number of
men below US took the rope and towed the
party over tree tops and fences through a
marshy meadow, and beyond ayawning ditch,
70 q safe anchorage. Hundreds of pounds
Of stones weighted the hydroged birds wings,
and that thing of the air Is now crbbed.
When tho voyagers will take q fresh start
depends entirely upon the wind, and all pray
earnestly for hard one, which will carry
the balloon southwark and eastward. The
meteorological . oil sorvs ions. II need
scarcely be said, have no especial value as
ye', The heigh! so far attained being com.
paratively small; but Mr.. Upton
Is thoroughly prepared for further
progress, and during its contin
usnca will take observations constantly.
This aneroid Demonstrations arc two on
board-wcrk 10 charm, and there is
nothing TO mar the success of the expe6i-
ton save the lack Of wind. Professor
Kings bolloon snd crew are still where
they landed last night, waiting for favor
ablo wind. A brifk southwest br,eze has
been blowing all day, making II laborous
work 10 keep the balloon, which
this afternoon nearly escaped, and
made lively work for the crew 10
loading bsskou with stones add securing Il
with cables, Professor King wouldn't start
to-day because tho present wind would
drive him straight 20 Lake Superior and la
thousands OF miles Of uuinhsbited forests
Tbs balloon 10 keepiug WE'LL there being Blu,
little escape and Kine will start "A sson %
hsreis chance Of making hesdway In tho