Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-11-26
Mystery of a Maine Man.

OF Frederick Covers last balloon ascen-
sion, Rear Admiral S. r. Franklin, u. s.
n, commanding the United States force in
the European station says: IL had pre-
| viously several conversations with him on
his method Of using balloons in warfare, and
| on the 18th of July, | was invited to hear
it explained in detail and to witness the as
cension by which he hoped TO demonstrate
its practic icabilty. | reached the ground at
1880 P. NJ, and there met Vice Admiral du
Pett-Thouars, prefet maritime at Cherbourg
and the Russian Admiral commanding in
the Mediterranean, whose flagship, the Gen
| eral Admiral, was then in port. The large
balloon, the Vile dHyeres, was already in
flated and was held down by twenty or more
French sailors the small or pilot balloon
was lying on the ground ready for in
fiation. When the company was assembled
Mr.. Cover caused the pilot balloon to be
filed with gas, and explained to us his
method in clear and succinct terms. Tie
said that after a careful study of the upper
currents of the atmosphere, he had decided
that the day was favorable for an attempt to
cross the channel, but that, should he fail 10
reach England, he thought he would
strike the French coast about Deppe. He
then released the pilot balloon, which went
off well in the northessterIy direction till it
reached a certain height, when it seemed to
change its course somewhat more to the
eastward As soon as the plot was fairly
on its Nay, Mr.. Cover embarked IN his car,
and, seeing carefully that everything was
secure and in good shape, he gave the word
to release tie Vile d'Hyeres, and followed
the small balloon. The Vile d'Hyeres did
not go OF. a, well as the other at the start;
as 1t s7gpt rapidly away before the fresh
breeze II barely cleared the roofs Of the
houses near at hand, and Mr. Cover began
at once 10 throw out ballast. 1t then rose
aud followed generally the movements Of
the pilot balloon.
The basket was a small affair Of wicker
work, barely large enough to accommodate
one person, and apparently containing moth
ing but the ballast and anchor, which lat
ter article was iashed to the outside. Mr
Cover carried small travelling bag which
he fastened 70 the sings q the basket above
his head. Tie seemed 10 be under the in
tuence Of excitement but was clear he AIDED,
and, although moving and working quickly,
he dad without the slightest uncertainty
or confusion. The wind in the harbor Of
CheTbourg at the time OF the ascent,
west by south, and blowing from fifteen to
twenty miles an hour. Il renamed at about
the same time and direction throughout The
day and the following night, and towards
the next morning thr weather became th.Cs
and misty, with drlzxhng ram
" hen Nh Cover started Il was late IN
the day to make such an ascension, hut he
would not lose such an opportunity afford
ed nm by such an audience. About two
c'ocN a frehen pito' "ho was pI'o'IhS we
rt'g"S" 'e''c' oS"'uFh my iiaI''' SPoAe
'he oA4'oot' "H.ca "aS 'hen No@eh hl"t'
"e'' 81 nafheuE' Ahe P''"' says he ""
neA' enough % SEE 'he expression O. NJ
"o"'r iac'' ana remembers ms n'ohae
"eAu' ne ca'.tu 10 nun ana asNeu Il ne
wished 'of anI'h'hg' ~here ne came 'fom'
ana "HtIt ne was gong: 'he last qAr',
l'on ''c Pi'o' ueC'aIrs VIZ "o"eE te'pohHs9
~ i'n1"1N- ioo ",''e %" lohS 700
ioh2 repeated, wat o'H pc ih'ehd %
20 'ohS- p'u' 'onSue Pos'.o'e
was tht P'o' dehHl'loh' nnt 'hinA ~
more "He'! mat "hat the piio' understood
700 'ohs' must nave oeeh 10 l-ohHIe''
III moment Inc oa9'ooh was "it o'
speah.hS distance ana saied on eastward,
MI 'o"rr waving MS mana 10 'he 'hlp ana
'nou,'nS' ooh NoHa-.' NH" '"e 'e''ef
"h'eh the pipeis sa'd nf. lower tHfeN 70
!oH from the hdttoon a'Hed. mere
was ho 'rUfF aha tna' pa!' q lhe story !
pure 'aoficauoh- IN lie" moments, |"
use 'he plots expression, the captain OF the
"osoourn caied tht pitot 10 'ooA al me
oai'o"h 'ha' ha" ia'Ieh INTO 'he sea, Al
most Immediately 1t rose agaIn without Inc
car. y had iAtieh ABOUT iour mics away
from ne Y n'eoonrn' "hich was SAILING
vessel Two miles nraTer ne balloon vas
steamship On southeast course u aIu
hot stop or chaHse rs utreci'oh' consequent
~ II coaIa not nave PICKED up Mr- bo"er.
Inc nationality OF the steamer cou'd not be
made out Inc p'4ot anu captain MacSo"
declare on oatn that 1t was Impossible tor
the nosohurn 70 he'p NJ uo"er' as al
that TINE mere was dead CAM "h'cA
seems very strange a. Acmra4 ffahkHh
makes the statement prouah'S iToH the 'os
o. tha' gay ne WING ~ 'he haFooF oi
'hefoouFe AZ tht Une OF ascent was "e''
and west BY south and bIoWins from hiteeh
to twenty miles an hour. renamed at
about the sane suehs'h ana direction
through the day
Inc narrative Is concIlded oy NE fTehch
admIrai dispatch p aamrai ffanAlh
"kfsearches along the coast OF my afron-
basement have been made TOR the oal'on
'H'e h!eres. regret 70 announce 20 you
mat tile ba.oon without the car mas otth
ti..'e' ir''4 i'"i'''''SI o' ,.'ePPe' -" va,