The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-24
JOURNEYlNG THRO' AIR.
The Varied Experience of a Veteran
Aeronaut


Professor s. A. King, the celebrated aeronaut,
of Philadelphia, is in the city, aud it is very
probable that arrangements will be made with
him by the executive committee of the State
Board OF A griculture for grand balloon ascen-
sion from the Exposition grounds during the
week of the State fair. Professor King is prOba-
bly, the oldest and most successful aerOnaut in
the world. He is now iifty-fve years old, but
looks younger, and from his appearance would
be supposed weil-todo farmer. He is an easy
talker, and in narraring his aerOnautlc expert
ences the listener cannot help becoming ell
thralled with interest. He knows when to talk,
however, and is not man who can be trotted
out for all occasions. In a conversation yesJer-
day afternoon with Journal reporter he stated
that he had made 247 balloon ascensiOns, and,
although his escapes many times have been
nothing short of miraculous, he has never met
with an accident, and OUT of the hundreds of
people who have accompanied him on
the different trips not one has been
seriously injured. He has drifted out at sea,
has been lost in the mOunta ms and has landed
in the wilderness. but has come safely through
all the countless dangers incident to hazardous
aeronantic travel, and there are few men who
have experienced more hair-breadth escapes 81
DO not think that my situation was ever more
was caught in a thunderstorm when made
ascension at Burlington, Iowa. We were com
pletely Immersed aud the elements were plying
about us IN all their fury. The escape was
simply miraculous.
THE GREATEST DANGERS.
"What are the greatest dangers which you are
likely to encounter in your aeronautic trips4"
"rhere many. 1t is, of course, rather haz-
ardous, ard often success depends upon luck. 1t
is not a pleasant thing 10 run into a storm-cloud,
and myself very much dislike dropping into
tree-t0ps. Then there is also some danger of
coming down in water. In the management of
plosion, but il an aeronauJ thoroughly under
stands his business lie can avoid it just rs surely
AS an engineer can avoid the explosion OF HIS
steaIn-OOiler. As the balloon ascends the gas
expands, and 1t Is necessary to give careful at
tenton TO regulating the escape For this rea-
son we keep the neck OF tine balloon open. In
the travel, however, there are many dangers
against which there can be no safeguard"
81 have often thought that L would take "A bal
loon trip, if the opportunity was ever offered"
suggested gentleman who nad been listening
to the conversation.
III the weather is fair" the aeronaut said,
land yoI are very certain that IL is likely to
cor time until the balloon has descended, |
would a"ylse You to go. II is great expert
ence. II. however, the weather is at all threat
ening. or there are any indication that storm
VIII come up, it would be better for you to re-
FRAN from nsking ascension"
"What is the feeling of one while the ascension
Is being madt!'
THE EFFECT ON PASSENGERS.
IF man is not cOnsttutionay coward, he
has no unpleasant sensations. One may feel
some sense of dizziness when the balloon has
first risen above the tree-tOps, but after that
there is generally no strange feeling expert
enced. The movement OF the balloon is imper-
ceptible to the passengers, and no one
but an experienced aeronaut can tell
even in what direction It Ia travelling.
The crossing Of fields seems as II you were cross
ing space no wider than the palm of the hand,
ana when height is reached that things below
are no longer visible, there is much less fear
than when the ascension is just begun. In fact,
the higher you travel the easier YOU feel and
the sensation of dizziness becomes less Oppres-
sive. In descending, we sometimes have trouble
with persons who take fool notion to jump out
before they ought"
The last ascension made by Prof. King at
Cleveland, on the 4th of July last, when
newly married couple accompanied him. His
first trip was made in 1851, and lie has since
travelled over nearly all America through mid
air.