The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-08-26
New York Herald

New York Herald
PLEASANT VALLEY, DyTCBEss COUNTY,
NY, August N.-After travelling about
a hundred miles IN five and half hours
the balloon "Columbus" descended In
the midst of q terrific Thunderstorm, and
was torn apart In clump Of trees right In
the centre Of the worst quagmire that can be
found in this lovely farming country. Pro-
lessor Grimley and your correspondent are
both safe, although we had very rough
time in landing, having been dragged
nearly a quarter OF mile through corn
fields, trees, and marshes.
Sic itar dd dStrd. For certain.
We started from the great Bavarian fes-
tiyal In HarIem-River Park at half-past 8
O'Clock yesterday In smart twenty-mile
breeze. After all the pulling and hauling
and glorious old see-sawing OF our car by
the crowd Incidental TO the final test OF the
balloons ascensive power, we were glad TO
be free at last-glad even to crash into
tree and hear the waves Of sound roll up
from the human sea below-glad TO see the
broad expanse oi-great heavens Is that
little patch Of rusty red color really the
Empire city, and is Central Park Of such
pigmy proportions that the green shade on
q blind mans eye seems gigantic by com
parison? We can see Long Island in Its
entirety Out we are fast gliding away from
both IL and Manhattan) and far out on the
ocean besides. Jersey City, Sandy Hook,
and Newark grow small in the distance.
The rivers and creeks wind and twist about
beneath like wnggling arpents, and how
grand the Hudson looks as it stretches It's
shining length away to the north Noble
river. Even when seen by two aerial
nomads from the misty cl0udlands it can
not lose its transcendent beauty. We have
loosed six OF Mrs. Starts carrier-pigeons,
and they whirl swiftly away toward their
home. Three eXtra-swift birds are still
wrapped up in paper, and IS they hang in
the rigging they look as il they wondered
what IL all meant. They do not struggle
or squeak, these faithful, patient messen-
gers, but blink their meek eyes fitfully.
One OF them has already flown over $50
miles, averaging about mile minute.
THREE THOUSAND FEET.
We arc three thousand feet above the
level OF the sea, and have only been out ten
minutes. The barometer is beginning to
fall and the balloon is almost standing still
directly above the Harlem river. This loss
OF speed is due to the fact that we passed
ont Of the swift surface current and into a
calm upper stratum, and now ii is that we
must look out for surprises. The Professor
saws that we may be struck by sudden
wind which Will sweep us out on the ocean
before we can descend. Shades OF Coney
Island! Blow the liie-preseryers up. No,
never mind; we are rising fast and our
course has changed so that we are advancing
toward the Hudson. out with the ballast
and advertising cards! Over with the $50
feet OF drag-ropei Hold on; it's tangled,
and swings beneath us like a bunch OF
worms. Now it's free, and hangs down
straight and plumb. Our air-ship is over
Abe river, and the Palisades look like a vast
green velvet cushion, while the sky above
Is sombre and gray. The highlands of Jer-
sey are belted round with mists and cloudy
patches. In the river the steamers look
like white mice, and behind each one the
ioamy track resembles an exquisite ostrich
feather.
What's that noise?
Is it?
lis.
The calIiope is going at full blast, and
beneath us. 1t is that diabolcal waltz
from "Ohvette." Professor Grimley has
seized bag OF sand ballast and is going to
throw it in pure indignation, but have
stayed his murderous hand. There is
large steamboat Just ahead Of us on the
river and we are overhauling it rapidly.
The breeze must be going over twenty-five
miles an hour. Now we have passed the
steamer and left it far behind. The balloon
is going down, and as we have only bag
and u half Of ballast left we must not be
too lavish in its Use. Yonkers is to
the west Of us now, and the people
are evidently excited. Hundreds are
running along the roads and inviting
us TO descend. No Use to ask, sonny;
we are bound for Albany, the home OF the
blind fool, or blind pool, or whatever you
call 1t. High Bridge is away behind lis and
looks very romantic in the distance. We
are close to the Jersey shore now, and the
end OF the drag-rope is trailing in the
river. Grimley is trying TO persuade me to
consent to dip in the water, which he
says looks very inviting. We are suffering
from an intense thirst induced by the eX-
element of the departure and the inhala-
ton OF the ocean breeze which Is blowing
across the salt marshes.
Water, water everywhere,
Nor any drop TO drink.
But we have something else to drink
something we took along to cure snake
have to descend to the snake-iniested earth.
and, as an ounce Of precaution Is better
than a pound Of cure, here goes good
liberal ounce to make sure. 1t is curious
that there is such a terrific pressure upon
the drums Of our ears. l have been up
twice as high and failed TO experience this
sensation. The only explanation that can
give is that we are in the dense air OF the
sea-coast, while the former trips were far
inland.
CLoUD-TMPRIsONED.
ask the question Of Grimlcy and the
answer Is, eve have gone right into the
middle OF cloud" And so we have.
The mist shuts us in thickly on every side.
and the rigging of the ear is becoming wet
But suddenly the moon breaks from her
gloomy letters and the foggy air blazes
with a sudden glory as our misty prison
walls are transformed in twinkling into
hoating palace OF pearl. Still we can
see nothing but the glorious illumi-
nation as the full, unhindered light
OF Luna shimmers through and through
our cloud. IL comes from above, it
comes from below, and from the
four points Of the compass. 1t sparkles
on the rope, 1t CLEANS on the balloon and il
dances In the Professors eyes. But we
may be drifting toward the seacoast Tor
aughf we can see, and so, as nearly all the
ballast is gone, Grimley cuts a piece from
The drag-rope, and, as he heayes it over
board, we shoot up, up above the clouds
and into the clear skies, where we can look
afar of at the pale landscape and the BEAM
ing lake which lies TO the southwark. A
Fash OF lightning plays for moment in the
heavens and peal of thunder shakes the
car. Rains Exactly, but not yet. The