Morning journal and courier., 1884-01-16
Price Three Cents
A Balloon Voyage.
Sailing Three Thousand Feet Above the highest of the Rocky Mountains,
 From Harnaris WaatIv1

HABhesL OG Nne FGOcky MOumtRfna,
 From Harpers wsekly.l
 So much has been 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 excite ment as all connection with earth seems sum- dered the np-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 a feeling that can never pail. The fascination of float ing at so vast altitude as a balloon can soon attain is delicious. Few persons are troubled by giddiness Confused sounds rise l1llingy to the ear, one scarcely distinguish able from the rest. kind of intoxication steals over the navigator. To live and move thus seems 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 cIoudless. gentle breeze waited us north Sard. The earth became 8 pale green and gray map as we reached the level ot 2OOO feet above the bay of San Francisco, which stretched out glimmering toward the horizon We c ruld discern the city, the Golden Gate, the Farallone islands. On the east rose Mount Diablo and the Coast range summits. Northward 1ippled Sacramento bay.
 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 if hurricane oe bowling, there Is still the endless sensation 1f floating, hoating. for the air current and sbe air ship keep exact pace. Thanks to the pieces of tissue paper which were flung out iavlshly from time to time, and to the gauge streamers huttering from our cordage, we could ascertain the direction of the wind. Even few handfuls of sand thrown out rom the ballast bags hanging over the bas- 4et's rail caused us to rlss perceptibly for he best and most delicate scales in the ;hemist's laboratory cannot register the ractions of an ounce as does the balloon. The sun went down. The cold grew intense. Our voices seemed mysteriously muf1ed, and 1t was necessary to shout instead of chat. Ears tingsed, and the rush of blood to the 1ead toreshadoWed the sudden nose -bleedipgs hat followed. Our captain, prudent ka Tor, thoroughly approved of husbandipg the tscensionsl powers of his craft. We dropped space to a warmer and more normal level "here life was hvsble at lower pressure
 By this time our second day was we'll begun. The morning mists evaporated around, above and below us. The west wind spun us toward the gigantic peaks of the sierra Nevada, whicr finally mounted the astern 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, D responded the captain, snlil- ingly; ''you are by no means there yet"
 Beautifully penciled in green and black, the forest slopes extended to our view Look over there." eiaeulated the captain Do you make out the track of the Central Pacific? See there is a train climbing up chat grade !' Our artist did make out rail road and train, and contrived to sketch the same. In little time we passed nearly over both, and caught the rumble and roar of Whsels and the sight of furry of sAluting handkerchiefs from the car windows. But our mighty air ship could not delay for cour- tesles 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 Rilderness lying three thousand feet beneath us 'tAt 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 be- fore it's punishment Came upon Streaks appeared above the great Nevada table-lands to the north. Its speed and ours increased the captains uneasineas grew evident.
 Who could fitly describe the frightful sen- sations that ensued? With all visions dissi. pated of success in our expedition, and pos- sibly reaching Salt Lake City or anywhere else alive, we erouched with clinched hold and set teeth in the wicker car Occasional iy, as we were borne across some depression in the mountains sides, we were free from collisions, and were swept somewhat upward. well remember that during one of these in tervais our captain, fiudiug the rops of the escape -Yat9e mad ~bteueue ensangisL above, with masterly address clambered the net work of the bounding globe, and clinging tightly to what slender hold he found, ad- iusted it. It WAS feat to tremble at in recolecting.