The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-02-07
A Balloon Voyage.

90 mucn mas Deen SAID OF the I'M
pressions which the air-yoyager de-
rives during the first half-hour of his
ascent that space may be saved here.
The thrill of intense excitement as all
connection with earth seems sundered
the up-turned faces and black coats in
the concourse of spectators becoming
black and white dots: the universal
'fore-shortening" of all creation as
one looks down upon it-all combine
to produce q feeling that can never
pail The fascination of floating at so
vast an altitude as balloon can soon
attain is delicious. Few persons are
troubled by giddiness. Confused sounds
rise lullingly to the ear, one scarcely
distinguishable from the rest. A kind
OF intoxication steals over the naviga-
tor. To live and move thus seems a
rapture. Small wonder that the man
who ''balloons" once will balloon
again and again. each time becoming
more infatuated in tempting fate.
Our evening was perfectly serene
and cloudless. A gentle breeze waited
US northward. The earth became a
pale green and gray map as we reach
ed the level of 1000 feet above the bay
of San Francisco, which stretched out
glimmering toward the horizon. We
could discern the city, the Golden Gate,
the Farallone Islands. On the east
rose Mount Diablo and the Coast Range
SUBMITS. Northward rippled Sacra-
mento bay.
Sunset came on. We had been grad
ually reaching the speed OF ninety
miles an hour. Not that it was posi-
BILE to perceive the fact without help.
Even If hurricane be blowing, there
is still the endless sensation OF floating,
floating, for the air-current and the
air-ship keep exact pace. Thanks to
the pieces of tissue paper which were
flung out lavishly from time to time,
and to the gauze streamers futtering
from the cordage, we could ascertain
the direction of the wind. Even few
handfuls of sand thrown out from the
ballast bags hanging over the baskets
rails caused US to rise perceptibly, for
the best and most delicate scales in the
chemists laboratory cannot register
the fractions of an ounce as does the
balloon. The sun went down. The
cold grew intense. Our voices seemed
mysteriously mutfled, and it was neces-
sarv to shout instead of chat. Ears
tingled, and the rush of blood to the
head foreshadowed the sudden nose
bleedings that followed. Our captain,
prudent sailor, thoroughly approved of
outstanding the ascensional powers Of
his craft. We dropped apace to a
warmer and more normal level, where
life was livable at lower pressure.
BY this time our second day was well
begun. The morning mists evaporated
around, above and below us. The west
wind spun US toward the gigantic
peaks of the Sierra Nevada, which
finally mounted the eastern sky in full
sight. We greeted them with cheers.
''Ah, old fellows, we will be on the
other side of you soon!' cried one of
the party.
Take care" responded the captain,
smilingly; you are by no means there
yet"
beautifully penciled in green and black
the forest slopes extended to our view
Look over there" calculated the cap
tain. ''Do you make out the track of
the Central Pacific? See! there is a
train climbing up that grader Our
artist did make out railroad and train,
and contrived to sketch the same. In
little time we passed nearly over
both, and caught the rumble and roar
of wheels and the sight of a furry of
saluting handkerchiefs from the car
windows. But our mighty air-ship
could not delay for courtesies; the
lightning express soon fell FAR behind.
oil ,l- l. l.
we rose and swept forward. With q
fresh cheer we saw the highest peak of
the lofty mountain wilderness lying
three thousand 1eet beneath us. "At
this rate we shall be on the other side
and sleep in Salt Lake City tonight,
cried two of US.
Alas! this boast was scarcely uttered
before its punishment came upon US.
Streaks appeared above the great Ne
yada table-lands to the north. Its
speed and ours increased; the captains
uneasiness grew evident.
Who could fifty describe the frightful
sensations that ensuedS With ali vis-
ions dissipated of success in our expe-
ditIon, and possibly reaching Salt
Lake City or anywhere else alive, we
crouched with clinched hold and set
teeth in the wicker car, Occasionally,
as we were borne across some depres-
sion in the mountains sides, we were
free from collisions, and were swept
somewhat upward. l well remember
that during one of these intervals our
captain, finding the rope of the escape
waive had become entangled above,
with mastery address clambered the
network of the bounding globe, and,
cInging tightly to what slender hold
he found, adjusted it. 1t was feat to
tremble at in recollecting. .-HGrper's
Weekly.