Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-10-21

The back second story room had been
turned into a workshop and all over the walls
We're hung rope, rigging, parting hoops and
the various machinery pertaining to balloons.
In one corner were several great wicker
baskets, stacked one inside another. On q
long table big heaps of silk and muslin
We're surrounded by piles OF white
cord. Around this table several ladies
were at work sewing the enormous
bags together which were destined soon to
find their way up among the clouds An i'm
mense scale plan is laid upon this table by
aid of geometrical figures. This gives the
precise size and form of the sections, which
are then cut out Of muslin or silk. These are
sewn together, and form the balloon. At the
top n circular aperture is covered by q cap of
stiffened muslin, and when the balloon is
finished q line is attached to this and run
down the balloon, allowing the aeronaut in
the basket to open the valve on the top and
allow the gas to escape and the balloon to de-
scend. After being sewn the immense bag is
taken to the city gas works, near at hand,
and n pipe is connected with the neck of the
bag, as the lower and narrower portion CT
the balloon is CRIED. Through this pipe the
gas from the n~eighboring tank is conveyed
and allowed to slowly initiate the balloon by a
stop cock placed in the pipe.
As the cloth fills out a couple of men with
pots of varnish cover the balloon with a
waterproof coat, which shines in the sun
light like SO much glass, making the balloon
appear like an immense air bubble. As the
bag slowly rises the rigging is placed around
it. This is called the net, and is made
much like q fisherman's seine. The ends Of
the lines of this net are fastened to sand bags
by means Of hooks, and are let ont nch by
inch. When it has all been coated the basket
is brought out. This is mad of wicker, and
is both light and strong. hen the lines from
the net are fastened firmly around a large
hoop of iron about four feet from the bottom
of the balloon. Three feet below the ends of
the cords are attached to the basket. After
everything else the iron graphing hook is
hung to the basket side by a long rope and
the balloon is made and reody for a voyage
in the air.
In speaking of his family Mr.. Wise said;
Ever since j can remember our family have
been in this business, and were you to write
all its history and incidents or adventures
you would have a book which I may say
without egotism would be well worth read
ing. My father and his father were III. tho
business in Europe, and when father came to
this country he settled at Lancaster, In Penn
sylvania. He was on familiar terms with all
the leading aeronants in Europe and America,
and many were the trips in the air he made
with them from our old home, "down coun-
try You will remember he WAS lost in the
great forests of western Canada, or at least
that is our theory, some years ago. He went
up from st. Louis, Mo, with a gentleman of
means who, becoming infatuated with the
stu iy of aerial navigation, had purchased a
balloon and invited. father to accompany him.
A .eayy storm swept them northward and
no sign ever denoted where or how they had
met death.
Yes; 1t Is dangerous, but there Is a fasci-
nation that cannot be resisted connected
with ballooning. have been landed in the
tops of big pine woods many miles from hui
man habitlation.
Dropped down on tops CT tall buildings,
swung around and tangled up on a church
spire. Dragged across small lakes and blown
down into swamps, but the FUNNIEST accilentI
ever heard OF happened tony son John, WHO'S
now away in California making ascensions
for the United States government ineteoro-
logical department.
He was engaged to make an ascension in
Missouri for an agricultural exposition and
took the biggest balloon, known as the Quaker
City. She is and always has been an ugly
customer TO manage, and in q storm seems
endowed with tIa haltisk desira to work all