The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-09-07
Ballooning Perils.

Let the hearts best impulse Danish
1 Aught that crowds byother down.
! Ballooning Perils.
In june 1868. made my third balloon as
cent in South America, from Buenos Ayres
the capital OF the Argentine Republic. MANY
gentlemen were very DESTROYS OF making al
| aerial trip across the Rio La Plata TO Uru.
quay with me. Ipreferred, however, to &c
alone, as the river was thirty miles wide and
l wanted plenty of ballast instead of passen
gers. War was going on il Uruguay at that
| time. - r
As it was a national day an immense mul.
/ titu6e had assembled to see the ballOon as
cension. I 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. | assembled to a great
| height, and could see both sides of the mighty
! river for more than one hundred miles up and
down the vast stream. Many small boats
| were seen upon Its smooth and CLASSY surface.
and could even hear the sound OF the labor
| ing oar so mOtionless and silent was every
| thing in that vast aerial ocean which sur
rounded me. 1t was glorious day, the sun
brilliantly shining in almost clOudless sky
and pouring flood of glorious splendor over
the surrounding scene, a. if proud Of the
realms he shoAe upon. While passing oyer
the French mail steamer ia port they waved
the tri-color, which returned by saluting
them with the star spangled banner and the
flag of the Argentine Republic. When nearly
across the river the wind suddenly ceased
blowing, leaving me suspended about two
miles in height. Whenever nay balloon lost
its force descended near the water and then
would throw out ballast and rise again. con.
tinuing to do SO until all my ballast was gone
l then cut away one anchor, and later the
other, until finally haG only my car left. The
setting sun seemed to melt away beyond the
distant horizon, dissolying into golden
shower, and lighting up the western land
scape with unearthly splendor. Not desiring
water, all night and float into the Atlantic
Ocean, concluded it was best to cut away
my car. Putting on my life-belt and securing
large gas bag, which was full of air, to the |
circle or concentrated hoop to which nv car |
was hung,I placed myself upon the circle. |
which had few cords tied across it, to form
seat, and then cut off every rope which held |
my car, and LETT it in the river. My balloon !
assembled 30 very rapidly that l was aston
ished to see the sun rising above the horizon
in the west.
From the celestial regions I witnessed the
second setting OF the sun, whilelts golden rays
shining upon the balloon, which had been re.
Gently vanished, gave it the appearance of an
asteroid to the people on the western shore of |
the La Plata who were anxIOtlsiY watching
it, l expected to find q current Of air in the
higher regioifs whic b would take my balloon
to Uruguay, or buck tosthe Argentine Re
public. was about three miles in height,
and breeze from the ocean was carrying me
which l attained, soon began to feel the
effects OF the cold and rarified atmosphere In
! short time some cords, which had been in
he river, were covered with ice. After ga
ling tor nearly an hour upon the wonderful
md sublime scenes above, beneath and around
ne, the balloon commenced to descend on
account OF the condensation of gas in the
colder atmosphere above. Again descended
IN the bosom Of the mighty river, but did not
Ind the water rs cold ~ had anticipated,
although It WAS winter in the southern hem
sphere). 1t was much colder Il, 900 to 20, 900 !
eet above the river than in it. After remain
ng in the water up to my waist for some time, !
light wind came up from the east, which ..
lnally carried me back TO the western shore. !
rom which had started at Buenos Ayres .
Before cut away my car had tied large !
lag OF both nations and new and heavy over
0at IN the network above my head to keep !
hem dry. had likewise tied small but !
cry strong cord TO the circle, and fastened q
vhch was about sixty feet in length. In or '
er to keep the balloon dry and constantly
Dating in the air l slid Down the rope and
oOk my seat upon the flat gas bag, which,
lade quite a comfortable seat under the cir !
To my surprise | soon felt my
elf pulled out OF the water by the balloon, .
'hicli gained considerable ascensonal force, !
y the wet cord passing rapidly through my =
ands on my leaving the hoop. was taken J
p several hundred feet at the same time, :
1hirled around like top for some time caused 7
y the cord rapidly untwisting on account of !,
~ weight and II being new one. Luckily !,
did not break and give me plunge bath y
several hundred feet through the air into q
le river. H =
The wind increased in strength, and caused 4
10 balloon TO act like large sail which towed j
" along quite rapidly over the surface OF the h
;ream, while was seated upon the large. flat =
rs bag. Now and then the balloon would
It me few feet above the river and whirl -
e around few times in the alr and then y
ring me down on my back amsng the waves, u
hen it:required considerable energy to regain /,
" position upon MY air-inhated seat After /,
sing dragged more than twenty miles through ~ u
le water was thrown upon tbs western II
lore. On account OF not being able to reach Is
lie valve cord, which was tied to the hoop, +,
xty feet above my head. it WAS impossible to 4,
OPP the balloon, and not wishing to be injured II
killed by being dragged eyer fences in the ~
lrk, let 60 Of the rope Immediately the 81
Ill0on passed out Of sight, carrying of my ce
'ercoat and flags. Thus ended my thrilling Of
'rial adventure with my splendid South nj
mercan balloon Washington, with which lie
had made several ascents in the southern r.
,misphere. 1t flOated off towards the home T.
the condor in the lofty Andes, and never ~
ard of il ap0in I went to the nearest farm -