Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-08-30
BALLOONING PERILS.
An Exciting Ascent in South America in the La
Plata.
From Prof r. G. Wells New Book.]

An Exciting Ascent in South America in the La
Plata.
From Prof r. G. Wells New Book.J
In June, 1868, I made my third bal
loon ascent la South America, from
Buenos Ayres, the capital of the Argen-
tine Republic. Many gentlemen we're
very DESTROYS of making an aerial trip
across the Rio La Plata to Uruguay with
me. Ipreferred, however, to go alone,
as the river was thirty miles wide, and
wanted plenty of ballast instead of
passengers. War was going on in Uru-
quay at that time. AS it was a national
day, an immense multitude had assem-
bled to see the balloon ascension. [ felt
sure that [ would be able to cross that
wide and majestic river in one or two
hours and land safely. on the shore of
another republic. I assembled to a great
height, and could see both sides of the
mighty river for more than 100 miles up
and down the vast stream. When near
" across the river the wind suddenly
ceased blowing, leaving me suspended
about two miles In height. Whenever
my balloon lost its force I descended
near the water, and then would throw
out ballast and rise again, continuing to
do so until all my ballast was gone. /
then cut away one anchor, and later the
other, until finally [ had only nay car
left. The setting sun seemed to melt
away beyond the distant horizon, dis
solving IN a golden shower, and light
ing up the western landscape with IN
earthly splendor. Not desiring to re-
main in the river, up to my waist IN
water, all night, and float out into the
broad Atlantic Ocean, [ concluded it was
best to cut away my car. Putting on
my life-belt, and securing a large gas
bag, which was full of air, to the circle
or concentrating hoop to which my car
was hung, I placed myself upon the cir
Gle, which had few cords tied across it,
to form seat, and then cut off every
rope which held my car, and left it in
the river Ny balloon assembled so very
rapidly that / was astonished to see the
sun rising above the horizon in the west
It was a glorious TRANSPORTATION of ma
ture In the west I beheld a
magnificent cloud, like an angel
of light, or beautiful bride.
standing, as it were, before the males
tic white altar of the snow-capped
Andes, blushing at the departing kiss of
the golden sun. From the celestial re-
gions I witnessed the second setting of
the sun, while its golden rays shining
upon the balloon, which had been re-
Gently vanished, gave it the appearance
Of an asteroid to the people on the west
err shore of the La Plata, who were
an1iously watching IL. I expected to
find current of air In the higher regions
which would take my balloon to Uru-
quay, or back to the Argentine Repub-
lie. | was about three miles In height.
and breeze from the ocean was carry
ing me slowly up the river. At the
great height to which I attained. I soon
began to feel the effects of the cold and
rarified atmosphere. In a short time
some cords, which had been in the river.
were covered with ice. The light house
and the gas-lamps of Buenos Ayres ap-
peared as If one of the bright constella-
tons Of the heavens and the planet
Venus had fallen beneath me, and, like a
wandering spirit, [ was gliding through
the unfathomable regions of space.
After gazing for nearly an hour upon
the wonderful and sublime scenes above.
beneath and around me, the balloon
commenced to descend on account of the
condensation of the gas in the colder at
the bosom of the mighty river, but did
not find the water as cold as / had antic-
ipated (although it was winter in the
southern hem1sphere). It was much
colder Ii, GOO CT 20, 900 feet above the
river than in it. After remaining in the
water up to my waist for some time q
little wind came up from the east which
finally carried me back to the western
shore from which had started at Buenos
Ayres. Before [ cut away my car
had tied a large flag of both nations
and new and heavy overcoat in
the network above my head to keep
them dry. [ had likewise tied a small
but very strong cord to the circle, and
fastened large gas bag to the other
end of the cord, which was about sixty
feet in length. In order to keep the
balloon dry and constantly floating in
the air, i slid down the rope and took
my seat upon the fat gas bag, which
made quite comfortable seat under
the circumstances. To my surprise I
soon felt myself pulled out of the wa
ter by the balloon, which gained con
siderable ascensional force, by the wet
cord passing rapidly through my hands
on my leaving the hoop. [ was taken
up several hundred feet at the same
time, whirIed round like top for some
time, cause by the cord rapidly untwist-
ing on account OF my weight, and it being
new one. Luckily ii did not break and
give me a plunge bath of several hun
dred feet through the air into the river.
The wind increased in strength, and
caused the balloon to act like a large