The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-10-29
Balloon Ascension from Baldwin.
Augusta Fair.
CLOSING SCENE. -PRATT's BUBBLE A
SUCCESS.


CLOSING SCENE. -PRATT's BUBBLE A
SUCCESS.
| Without intending any disrespect to TIL
secretary of the Baldwin Augusta Fair
whose energy and confidence in the bal
loon ascension were rewarded by one of tn
most beautiful and perfectly satisfaction,
conclusions to the printed promises tina
Madame "Carlotta'' would actually take ;
Trip to Ciondland, from the grounds of thu
Association on Friday last, we have
taken the liberty to designate it as Pratt'
Bubble, a name which the sceptical hat
applied in advance, growing out of the dis
appointments which attempted shot all
fizzles'' heretofore had produced. So deer
rooted was this prejudice that it is ever
said one member of the Board of Directors
avoided talking about the proposed ascen
sion before the Fair, and would invariably
change the subject when it was brought
up in conversation. To-day in the light OF
It's completes success we are confident i
future announcement would crowd the
grounds to behold its repetition. When il
was known that Mrs. Carlotta Myers. the
lily aeronalit. had returned to her hotel
Unframed. Il reporter from the VIRGINIAN
called 10 pay his respects and make such
inquiries in reference to her experience as
she might be willing to give TO public
now full of interest in everything cor
nected with aerial navigation. We found
her modest, intelligent little lady, whose
manner and descriptive talent afforded us
a rare entertainment. Mrs. Myers COM
menced her narrative by explaining some
Of the difficulties attending the prepara-
ton. At Winchester she was to have as
cended on Wednesday, and her balloon,
the FL, ing Cloud, = had been liled with
coal gas from the street main. Time lost
IN filling necessitated Il postponement I'M
til Thursday morning. The balloon was
quietly resting at anchor Oh the grounds,
but during the night ali inquisitiye watch
man investigated too closely with lantern
in llnd--so combustible and light a fabric
and the explosion and complete destruc-
ton OF the air ship was the result. 1t
went Off in a manner Characteristic of its
name but not in accordance with the pro.
gramne. Prof. Myers. with character
istic energy, set to work on Thursday
morning to provide an entertainment with
bis hydrogen balloon, the Sky Lark, and
by $3.50 p. IN. the anxious crowd was re-
warded with a beautiful ascension. She
landed at Berryville in 80 minutes. Fri
day morning the Professor with his APP.
paratus for generating hydrogen gas was
early upon the Fair grounds and the infla-
ton began. Anxious people watched and
wondered as the silken folds expanded,
and at seven minutes past four, D. M.
"Carlotta" stepped into the car, the band
played 1.-The Sweet Bye and Bye,'' the
cords. which held the graceful .sSky Lark y
were loosened and its flight commenced.
Taking a northerly course until about over
the village of Chnrchyille, second current
of air watts her southeast until almost
over the town of Waynesboro, when as
the balloon mounted higher, still another
current in a direction paralIal to the first
course took her northward, and ''Carlotta''
brought her silken servant safely to land
on the farm of Mr.. d. III. Sites, one mile
from New Hope. The family of Mr.. S.
furnished her assistance and of their kind
ness and hospitality she speaks inthe high
terms. Mr.. S. brought balloon and lady to
Staunton where she arrived in time for
supper. The barometer which she carried
with her registered $4,000 feet of altitude
Tor two and half miles), and the distance
Travelled in the zlg-Zag course described
about about q miles the time occupied
just I of an hour. This was her l5lst
ascension with hydrogen, besides numer-
GUS ascensions with coal gas. She assured
the reporter that she did not experience
the slightest fear, save the apprehension
that something might occur to disappoint
her spectators, but that so soon as she
was free from the earth she felt perfect
confidence in her ability to control that
success was then in her own hands. She
described the sensation of exhileration as
the smoky-impure air which surrounds the
earth was left beneath, and she eXper-
fenced desire to take deeper draughts of
the pure ether WHICH were as grateful as
water from acrystal spring to one who had
from circumstances been forced to slake
his thirst at muddy pool. The bracing
GOODNESS of the upper atmosphere, the dis
tinctness with which objects can be seen.
the enlarged vision as the eye takes in the
lovely panorama spread out beneath, ex-
tending for rs miles in every direction, all
contribute to the enjoyment of the beauti-
full, Then the thought that you alone, of
all the thousands upon earth 8 surface. are
permitted to drink in such beauties is the
intoxication of enjoyment. The roads be-
meath are like tiny ribbons stretched across
the lovely plain, the fences are mere
stitches, such as are made upon 'scrazy
work" by the expert fingers of the needle
woman the forests with their variegated
tincs resemble exquisite beds of moss, be-
cause seen from above all objects lose their
altitude, and the architectural monuments
of earth sink to the level Of the plain.
We feel some hesitation in presenting the
following experience as narrated to us be-
cause of a I'VE sensation An editor
had published far and wide his intention
of making an ascent, from --, with
Madame G. The hour arrived, every
preparation was complete, the two entered
the car and loosing from earth were speed
ing skyward. When about two miles high
the lady's attention, which had previously
been bestowed upon her balloon, was sud
denly called to her companion. who was in
the act of precipitating himself from the
basket, and thereby insuring the death of
both, as the balloon, relieved of the weight
of the would besuicide, would ascend with
such rapidity that before the valve could
be opened the expansion of the gas as it
mounted into more rarified atmosphere
would cause it to burst. She saw his ex-
preston was wild, his lower jaw dropped,
and selling him by the shoulder she pressed
his limp body to the bottom of the car,
telling him she had as much as she could
do to manage her balloon without taking