Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-03
HIGH UP IN A BALLOON.
A Thrilling Adventure in the WiIds of
the Sierra Nevada.


together from all quarters Of the city to
witness the ascent of monster balloon.
In that ascent our artist and the faithful
reporter were directly interested; nor was
the flight into ether which they and the
Captain an experienced arOnaut) of the
undertaking proposed by any means a
commonplace affair, being no less than
an attempt to cross in mid-air the mighty
range OF the Sierra Nevada and land far
on the other side of that tremendous pail
SADIE in Salt Lake City itself
1t is hardly necessary to state that this
9ronautic feat had never been accom-
plished. Undertaken, the truthful writer
regrets to confess, it had been, and by the
same yenturesOme trio, who, sitting in
shame on the roof of the cOw-shed where
they had collapsed at the very outset of
their trip, rallied at the brick chimney
which had wrecked their air-ship, en-
dured the jeers of the thrOng below with
humility, and vowed to repeat the attempt
within week. A charity picnic afforded
an excellent opportunity. The balloon
had been patched, the temper of the trio
restored and once again the immense
swollen bag tOppled in air, pulling up
ward With all OF Its $4,000 cubic feet of
gas.
Our party were fairly prompt. We took
our places amid the cheers of the crowd.
Everything was looked to quickly. ''Are
you readyy' rang out the question.
Ready; let gOg' assented the Captain.
The cables were jerked off; with the
sweep of the hurricane our 9rOstat shot
up into space. The ground, the crowd,
the buildings surrounding the gardens,
the tallest treetops outlying us, dropped
like enchantment belOW-still further be-
low-far beneath. Our undertaking was
well begun.
So much has been said of the impress
sions which the air YOyager derives dur
ing 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 uptuTned faces
and black coats in the cOncOurse of spec
tatOrs becoming black and white dots; the
universal ''tOre-shOrtening" of all creation
as one looks down upon it-all combine to
produce a feeling that can never pail. The
fascination Of floating at so vast an alti-
tude as a balloon can soon attain is deli
ciOus. Few persons are troubled by gid
diness. Confused sounds rise lullinglY to
the ear, one scarcely distinguishable from
the rest. A kind of intOxication steals
over the navigator. To live and move
thus seems a rapture. Small wonder that
the man who balloons once will ssbaI-
loon" again and again. each time becOm-
ing 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 reached the
level Of 1000 feet above the bay of San
Francisco, which stretched out gIimmer-
ing toward the horizon. We could dis
Germ the city, the Golden Gate, the Faral-
lone Islands. On the east rose Mount
DiablO and the Coast Range SUBMITS.
NOrthWard rippled Sacramento Bay, with
a golden dust of cloud hanging over it.
The prospect invigOrated us and soda
water was appropriately absorbed by all
present, stronger beverages being inter
dicted.
Sunset came on. We had been gradu-
ally reaching the speed of ninety miles an
hour. Not that it was possible to perceive
the fact without scientific help. Even if
a hurricane be blowing, there is still the
endless sensation of floating, floating; for
the air current and the airship keep exact
pace. Thanks to the pieces Of tissue pa
per which were flung out laYishly from
time to time and to the gauZe streamers
huttering from our cCrdage we could as
certain the direction Of the wind. Even
Il few handfals of sand thrown out from
the ballast bags hanging out over the rail
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. Dusk advanced. 1--WE must
descend and put up for the night, friends
said our Captain. With the vault above
turning to a deep indigo, we sank gently
and skirted along the country from which
the Coast Range rises.
We were just in time to attract the at
tention Of number of farm hands re-
turning from work through the fields.
With much shouting back and forth our
dragging ropes were caught and made
fast. Tie it to anything from gate post
to steeple," suggested our artist, in a
series of whOOps worthy of a calliOpe.
After a stiff battle, in which some of our
kind assisters were pretty severely pulled
about, we found ourselves on terra tirma
and on the way 20 a neighbOring farm
house. There we made light of famous
supper, washed down gayly with superb
California wine. Our first stage was ac-
cOmplished and we slept the sleep which
1t would be great pity for only the just
to enjoy.
Daylight already" was the common
exclamation when cur vigilant Captain
administered sundry shakings to each one
of us In an hour breakfast was over and
we were retracing cur steps through the
fields. The anchors were lOOsed after
hearty handshakes with our hOspitable
hosts; once more the delightful sensation
Of bOundless freedom and buOyancy.
isn't this rising early in the morning
with a Yengeance| queried one Of the
fraternity, as the Captain announced us
to be overlapping 5000 feet.
The man who Will make joke of that
character under such matutinal circum-
stances deserves to be thrown out of this
conveyance" responded the Captain,
grimly. But cur atmospheric conditions
were not long favorable to joking. The
cold grew intense. Our voices seemed
mysteriOusly mUtiied and it was neces-
sary to shout instead of chat. Ears tim
gled and the rush of blood to the head
fOreshadOwed the sudden nose-bleedings
that followed. Our Captain, prudent sail
or, thoroughly approved Of outstanding
the ascensional powers OF his craft. We
dropped apace to 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 soOnr' 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.
s'LoOk over there" calculated the Captain.
''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 furry of sa-
luting handkerchiefs from the car win
dOws. But our mighty air ship could not
delay for cOurlesies; the lightning express
fell far behind. Steadily, wind and all
else favorable, we rose and swept forward.
With fresh cheer we saw the highest
peak OF the lofty mountain wilderness
lying 5000 feet beneath US. SAT this rate
we shall be on the other side and asleep
in salt Lake City tonight" cried two
of US.
Alas! this boast was scarcely uttered