, 1884-02-19
UP IN A BALLOON.
A Thrilling Adventure in the Wilds
of the Sierra Nevada
Landing on the summit or n Noun
tain spur---A Feat to Trembie
at---Trnmping In tho
Wilderness


[Harper,s Weekly.l
Late on a clear autumn afternoon Of 1SS-
the well known woodward Gardens in the
city of San Francisco, could scarcely contain
a surging crowd come together from all quar-
tors of the city to witness the ascent of a
monster balloon. In that ascent our artist
and the faithful reporter were directly inter
ested; nor was the flight into ether which
they and the captain ian experienced aero
naut OF the undertaking proposed by any
means a commonplace affair, being no less
an attempt to cross in mid-air the mighty
range Of the Sierra Nevada, and land far on
the other side of that tremendous palisade in
Salt Lake City itself.
1t Is hardly necessary to state that this
aeronautic feat had never been accomplished
Undertaken, the truthful writer regrets to
Confess, it had been by the same venturesome
trio, who, sitting In shame on the roof OF the
cowshed, where they had collapsed at the
very outset Of their trip. rallied at the brick
chimney which had wrecked their air-ship,
endured the jeers of the throng below with
humility, and vowed to repeat the attempt
within a 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 upward with
all Of its $1,000 cubic feet Of gas
OFF IN THE AIR
Our party were fairly prompt. We took
our places amid the cheers Of the crowd.
Everything was looked to quickly. "Are
you readyf' ram out the question. Ready;
let gol' assented the captain The cables were
jerked off; with the sweep OF the hurricane
our aerostat shot up into space. The ground,
the crowd, the buildings surrounding the
gardens, the taIlest tree-tops outlying us,
dropped like enchantment below-stin
further below-far beneath. Our under
taking was well begun.
So much has boon said OF the impressions
which the air voyager derives 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 upturned faces and black coats in the con-
course OF spectators becoming black and
white dots; the universal Hfore-shortening" of
all creation as one looks down upon tall
combine to produce a feeling that can never
pail. The fascination of floating at so vast
an altitude as a balloon can soon attain is de-
licious. Few persons are troubled by giddi-
ness, Confused sounds rise lullingly to the
car, one scarcely ~distinguishable from the
rest A kind of intoxication steals over the
navigator. To live and move thus seems a
rapture. Small wonder hat the man who
balloons" once will balloon" again and again,
each time becoming more infatuated in tempt
ing fate.
THE LANDSCAPE BELOW.
Our evening was perfectly serene and
cloudless. A gentle breeze waited us north
ward. 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 glimmering toward the horizon.
We could discern the city, the Golde Gate,
the Farallone 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 invigvrated us, and soda water was
appropriately absorbed by all present,
stronger beverages being interdicted.
Sunset came on. We had been gradually
reaching the speed OF ninety miles an hour.
Not that it was possible to perceive the fact
without scientific help. Even IL a hurricane be
blowing, these is still the endless sensation
of floating, floating; for the air-current and
air-ship keep exact pace. Thanks to the
pieces of tissue paper which were flung out
lavishly from time to time, and to the gauzs
streamers futtering from our cordage, we
could ascertain the direction of the wind.
Even a few handfuls OF sand thrown out from
the ballast bags hanging over the rail caused
us to rise p~erceptibly, for the best and most
delicate scales in the chemists laboratory can
not register the fractions of an ounce as does
the balloon. The sun went down. Dusk ad-
vanced. 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 slirted along the country
from which the Coast Range rises
DUR FIRST NIGHT.
We were just in time to attract the atten-
ton OF a number OF farm hands returning
IL
shouting back and forth our dragging ropes
were caught and made fast. "Tie it to any
thing, from a gate-post to a steeple," sug-
gested our artist in a series of whoops worthy
OF a calliope. After a stiff battle, in which
some Of our kind a~ssisters were pretty Sc
verely pulled about, we found ourselves on
terra firma, and on the way to a ~nelghboring
farmhouse. There we made light of a famous
supper, washed down gayly with superb
California wine. Our first stage was accom-
plished, and we slept the sleep which it would
be a great pity for only the just to enjoy.
Daylight alreadyf' was the common ex-
clamation when our vigilant captain ad-
ministered sundry shakings to each one of US.
In an hour breakfast was over, and we were
retracing our steps through the fields. The
anchors were loosed after hearty handshakes
with our hospitable hosts; once more the de
lightful sensation of boundless freedom and
buoyancy.
@Isn't this rising early in the morning with
a vengeancei" queried one of the fraternity,
as the captain announced US to be overtop-
ping 5000 feet
"The man who will make a joke of that
character under such matutinal circumstances
deserves to be thrown out of this convey
ance," responded the captain, grimly. But
our atmospheric conditions were not long
favorable to joking. The cold grew intense.
Our voices seemed mysteriously muffied, and
1t was necessary 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 as
occasional powers OF his craft. We dropped
apace to a warmer and normal level, where
life was livable at lower pressure.
THE sIER NEVADA.
By this time our second day was well be-
run. 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 soonI' cried one Of the party.
take CARE responded the captain, smil-
ingly; "you are by no means there yet"
Beautifully pencned in green and black,
the forest slopes extended to our view.
Look over there calculated the captain.
Hnn 70. r,aka oat che ooI, - a. C...-.h