Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1886-09-14
A BALLOON EXPERIENCE

From an article on Amateur BALBOA
ina" in the September Century We quote
a. follows;
as nearly ., could be Jaiged, was
more than = mile high, Ani all sounds
from the earth hal ceased. There wa. =
death like silence which was simply awful
IL seemed 10 my oVcr-trslnei nerves To
foreboie disaster. The ticking OF the
watch In my pocket sounded like trip
hammer. could feel the blooi - Is shot
through the veins %. my head ani arms.
NV straw hat AMI the willow car snapped
and cracked. being contracted oJ the
evaporation ol the moisture la then anu
by the f.st-coollng temperature. wa'
compelled 10 breathe little quicker than
usual on account OF the rarity OF the At
mo.ohere. 1 became sensible OF loud,
mouotonOns hun In my ears, pitched
about on middle Z OF the piano, which
seemed 20 bore into my head from each
side, meeting la the centre with pop :
then for an instant my heal would be clear Z,
when the same experience would be re-
peAtei. by throwing Out pieces OF tissue
paper I saw that the balloon was still rap
IDLY ascending. While debating with my.
self as To the adyisAblliIy OF pulling the
yalye.rope q WAS afraid ~ touch IL Tor
fear IL would bresk) aud dlschargiug some
gas, the earth was lost sight OF, aud the
conviction was forced upon me that This
must be the clouds. II made me dlIfy To
think OF H. Above, below. aud upon AL
sides was dense. damp, chilly fOg. Upon
looking closer, large drops OF rain could
be seen, silently falling down oui OF sight
into what seemed bottomless space. i Was
alone, q mile from the earth, In the midst
of rain.cloui and the silence OF the grave.
Moreover, I had sole charge OF the bal.
loon; II IL hsi not been for this fact could
have taken q little comfort, as | hsd no
confidence In my ability % manage H. a
rain storm upon earth ID accompanied
by noise; the pstter Of the rain upon
the houses, trees, aud walks always at
tends the storm; while here, although
the drops were large. they coald not be
heard falling upon the balloon or its be-
longings. silence reigncd supreme. The
quiet spoken OF by DIR. Kane and other
Arctic explorers n existing In the north.
ern regions, WAS q hubbab beside this
place. More tissue-pspsr was thrown out (;
seeing that II seemed TO ascend, knew
that the apparatus was slowly descending,
being brought down by the weight OF rain
upon IL. Soon the earth was In view.
How peaceful aud quiet IL iookedl fmme-
distely the whistllng OF railroad trains
could be heard. Nov mountains could be
distinguished from valleys, and the cav
ing OF frightened crows and the shouting
OF men could be heard. Ipassed immedl'
s,ely over Talcott Mountain tower, where
there were some two hundred people en-.
Toying the day. could plainly hear one
OF them blowing horn. As the balloon
slowly descended men could be seen run
ming rom all sides towards the place OF
landing. Now the hum OF insects could
be heard, and the grspnel, with huntred
feet OF rope attached. Was thrown out IL
soon struck the ground, and dragged lsEl-
ly along through the turf and over the
stones without getting secure hold.
approached man weighing three hundred
pounds, VINO was sitting upon Q stone
wall ali out Of breath from running. with.
out the formslity OF an Introduction. l
asked him TO catch on 10 that anchor and
stop the business With Q woe.begone
look upon his honest face aud an omlnous
shake OF the head he replied; IT'S no use,
young fellow; I can't work my bellows
But as the rope twltched along near him,
he fell upon II, and my journey Was
ended"