The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-09-01
A Balloon Experience.

From an article on Amateur Balloon
ing" in the September Csaory we quote
the following: A. nearly a. could be
judged, | was more than mile high. and
all sounds from the earth had ceased
There was a death-like silence which was
simply awful Ii seemed to nav over
strained nerves to forbode disaster The
ticking Of the watch in my pocket sound
ed like trip-hammer | could feel the
blood as it shot through the veins of my
head and arms Ny straw hat and the
willow car snapped and cracked, being
contracted by the evaporation of the
moisture in them and by the fast-eooling
temperature. was compelled 10 breathe
little quicker than usual on account of
the rarity of the atmosphere. | became
sensible of a loud, ni0notOnous hum in
my ears, pitched about on middle c Of
the piano. which seemed to bore into my
head from each side, meeting in the cen
ter with pop; then for an instant my
head would be clear, when the same ex-
perience would be repeated BY throw
ing out small pieces of tissue paper | saw
that,the balloon was still rapidly ascend
ing While Debating with myself a. to
the advisability of pulling the valve-rope
Il was afraid to touch it for fear it would
break and diseharging some gas. the
earth was lost sight Df, and the conyic-
ton was forced upon me that this must
be the clouds. 1t made me dizzy to
think Of it. Above, below. and upon all
sides was dense damp, chilly fog. Upon
looking closer, large lIrops Of rain could
be seen, silently falling down out Of sight
into what seemed bottomles- space.
Il was alone, mile from the earth, in
the midst Of a rain-cloud and the silence
of the grave Moreover, / had sole
charge of the balloon if it had not been
for this fact could have taken little
comfort, as ! had no confidence in my
ability TO manage H. \ rain-storin on
earth Is accompanied 10y noise the patter
Of the rain upon the houses, trees, and
walks always attends the storm while
here, although the drops were large, they
could not be heard falling upon the bal
loon OF it, belongings. Silence reigned
supreme. The quiet spoken Of by pr.
Kane and other Arctic explorers as ex-
.,,.... =, .L.a. ,,s,rtk.-r, r..f.,,r,- .s-a-
hubbub beside this place More tissue
paper aas thrown out; seeing that it
seemed TO ascend, knew that the apIa-
rltus Vas slowly descending, being
brought down by the weight Of rain upon
If. Soon the earth was in view. How
peaceful and quiet il looked ImIne'ii-
ately the whistling Of railroad trains
could be heard.
Now mountains could be distinguished
from valleys, and the cawing of frighten-
ed crows and the shouting Of men could
be heard passed Immediately over
TaIeott Mountain tower, where some two
hundred people were enjoying the day.
could plainly hear one Of them blowing
a horn. A. the balloon slowly decended
men could be seen running from all di-
rections towards the place of landing
Now the hum Of insects could be heard,
and the grapnel, with a hundred feet Of
rope attached, was thrown out; IT soon
struck the ground, and dragged lazily
along through the turf and stones with
out getting a secure hold. | approached
A man weighing three hundred pounds,
who was sitting upon stone vail, all
out Of breath fom running Without
the fornlality Of an introduction ! asked
him to catch on TO that anchor and stop
the business. With a wOe-begone look
upon his honest face and an o2inous
shake of his head he replied It's no
use, young fellow can't work nay bel
lows But az the rope twitched along
near him, he feIl upon it, and NV jour
ney was ended"