The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-10-15

ling in the distance twelve miles away,
and the earth below me was misty and
dim:
Thus far there had been no sign Of dam
ger, only the sense of insecurity due to de-
ranged apparatus. As | commenced to
fall the torn bottom of the balloon hut-
tered upward and presently began to tear
open. This made the fall more rapid. In
a few minutes another rent appeared and
now two long Sits began race from the
bottom toward the top Of the balloon. the
long tongue Of cloth between them rolling
itself upward till it lay curled up in the
top of the balloon, now wholly open on enc
side. The balloon now resembled a huge
umbrella with one or two segments miss
ing. l stepped upon the edge of the
basket and pulled that side Of the netting
down SO as to make the opening dome
Wore uniform overhead. The balloon fell
steadily in the direction Of its lowest edge
without any oscillations. twas an air
line" course at an angle Of about forty
five degrees.
AT Il miles elevation the balloon was
empty of gas, a mere curved sheet of cloth
held by netting. Fragments of the cloth
peeled off or tore away with the swooping
fall and sailed along by themselves far be-
hind. The rushing air played upon the
tense netting cords like aolian harp
strings, singing moaning tune, while
the sides Of the torn canopy above me
rustled and tapped accompaniment. Mean
while | was busy. did power of think
ing. l sharpened all my previous expert
encetoa fine point, and l acted speedily
upon every instinct or knowledge Of the
conditions existing. adjusted my ballast
to better distribute the strain and change
the inclination Of fight, and l threw it
out judieiously at intervals. was COM
ing down toward hard, bare ground. [
knew that to strike it would be dangerous.
probably fatal, and managed to so guide
the flight that with ballast thrown out at
just the right time 1 finally succeeded in
swooping down through grove of soft
fir trees. whose bushy branches received
the whole shock Of the ia l, and without
an instant delay l was deposited, on the
ground beneath them, while the ballon ex-
tended in fragments from the earth to the
tree tops. Thus / landed safely without
severe shock or slightest injury, at East
man Springs, thirteen miles from Ottawa
one hour after leaving there. Friendly
hands gave immediate assistance and ex-
tended the utmost hospitality. At eight
O'Clock | was again at the Grand Union in
Ottawa, where I met an enthusiastic re-
ception, which only ended when the mid
night train carried me southwark to meet
my next enlightenment at Lyons, N. Y,
where made a fine ascension with the
balloon Zephyr, and ''Flying Dutchman'
apparatus for propefling and guiding the
air ship.
Subsequently the following tribute was
received
OTTAWA, CANADA, July 18th. 1883
To Professor C1rI Myers, 1fohd1ck, ". Y:
DEAR SIR.-Ata meeting Of the Exeeu- |
tive Committee in charge of the late Do |
minion Day demonstration, composed of |
the City Council and leading citizens OF |
OTTAWA, IL was unanimously agreed that |
their thanks be rendered to you for the
very satisfactory manner in which the
arrangements for the Balloon Ascension |
were carried out faithfully by you on that |
day, against very adverse circumstances
impossible to control; and at the same
time to convey to Carlotta, thro' you, their
admiration of her daring, and courage
displayed on the same occasion in riskiDg |
her life by ascending in the damaged bal
loon, SO as TO keep faith with the Commit
mittee, and tho large number of people. |
lover 20. 000) who were assembled to wit |
ness the ascension
Signed in behalf Of Committee SEAL
WlT. j, LETT, City Clerk.
RoBT. SURTEEs. City Eng, z. ST. JEAN, |
Honorary Secretaries. Eagor.