Wichita eagle., 1889-05-19
BALLOON ADVENTURES.
An Exciting European Experience
of an American Aeronaut
Aerial Flight from Copenhagen, Denmark,
to Sweden, and q Drop Into the Sea
at the Dead Of Night-A Dc.
scent Into the Baltic.

at the Dead OF Night-A Do.
scent Into the Baltic.
In 1871, says Rufus Gibson Wells, the
veteran Philadelphia aeronaut, in the Press
of that city, l made several noteworthy
aerial voyages from Copenhagen, the beau
titul and very interesting capital Of Den
mark The directors Of the famous Tiyoli
garden, one Of the largest and finest in the
world, had read the description Of the gi-
gantic aerial machine, rs feet in length,
which built for the French government in
1870. and requested me TO construct new
one of the same shape, but Of much less di-
mansions, with which to make my ascen-
sions from their spacious garden. Many
hundred yards of fine linen were obtained
instead of silk, and cigar-shaped aerostat
of 100 feet in length and fifty in diameter
was soon manufactured In one Of the i'm
mense dancing halls at the Tlvoli
An immense multitude came to witness
the first ascent. An American traveller and
Danish photographer, Mr.. Schroeder, con-
cluded to accompany me on the trip across
the channel, or sound, thirty miles wide to
Sweden The wind was favorable for such
an excursion. AS we intended to make a
trip Of several hundred miles over Sweden
and Norway if the wind permitted, we were
provided with plenty to eat, with scientific
instruments for observations in the higher
regions, life preservers, etc. l had con-
structed fine life dress of rubber, similar
TO the one used by Captain Boyton In his
wild adventures in many lands.
The band played the ''Star-Spangled Ban
ner" as 1 flung our National flag to the
breeze and gave orders to let go the ropes.
We scared aloft majestically, amid the
shouts Of the multitude. 1t was glorious
day The grand old city, with its ancient
walls and houses, and its picturesque pal
aces and romantic gardens, its thousands OF
vessels in its spacious harbor, decorated
with flags OF all nations, the distant shores
of Sweden and the placid Baltic beneath US,
all presented a picture of varied interest
and beauty. AS we passed over the ships
and steamers we could distinctly hear the
cheers and shouts of the sailors. We soon
reached the altitude of one mile and enjoyed
charming view Of the two kingdoms as we
gradually approached the shore of Sweden,
about two miles west Of Malmo.
As night came on we found our course
was toward the northeast, and we hoped to
be able to make long journey over Sweden
before morning, as we had plenty Of gas
and ballast. Mr.. Schroeder had a long
trumpet, with which he would now and
then give terrific blast, or talk with the
people when we came near the earth, to
learn over what part of Sweden we were
travelling. We had an excellent map of the
kingdom which we could examine on our
way without any danger of an explosion, as
the mouth Of the balloon was well tied while
the lamp was in use. Our Danish friend
could speak the Swedish language, and
when he informed the farmers that we had
left Copenhagen only a few hours before
dark they could hardly believe it. When
they heard the horn or trumpet above
them they could not imagine what it meant.
We learned afterward that some Of them
thought that Gabriel was surely coming at
last.
In order to move more rapidly we assembled
sometimes above the clouds. There we met
a current that bore US eastward and after
sailing nearly hundred miles over Sweden
we found that we were rapidly approaching
the Baltic Sea IN the direction of ST. Peters
burg. II l had been alone l would have
crossed the Baltic to Russia or Finland. l
did not feel justified, however, in running
the risk of being lost in the sea with my
ballast and plenty to eat and drink. We
might have passed safely over to Russia in
a few hours or if we were forced to descend
we no doubt would have been rescued by
some vessel, as there are many Of them
traversing the Baltic during the
summer.
As the coast was covered with trees con-
;luded to descend into the sea, so as not to
IL ha1lN I 60
Ind took my stand on the concentrating
hoop and pulled the valve cord. There be-
ng some wind, we were carried nearly half
/ mile from the shore before we struck the
water. My Yankee friend stood up in the
ar, but the Dane, who weighed over two
hundred pounds, kept his seat, and, being
Il the side that struck the sea first, he was
completely baptized, and came up blowing
Ike a whale as the balloon recovered from
he shock. The large anchor soon caught in
he shallow bay and kept US from driftingout
o sea. Having the Boyton hfe-dress on,I
lid not get wet, but my friends suffered a
title from the cold water, since it was late
n the season. The Dane blew his trumpet,
md soon we saw light, and some fish.
)rmen came and carried US ashore at
mail fishermen's village about one hundred
niles from Copenhagen.
We obtained means to return and trans
)ort the balloon back to Copenhagen. Long
Of our journey were published |
n Denmark, Sweden and Norway, and I |
vas requested to visit Stockholm and |
1hristiania, the capitals. I prepared to
make another ascension from the Tivoli
nd again to cross the channel to Sweden,
he public having become greatly excited
ver it, AS the royal family had taken
,reat interest in the enterprise and some.I
# them expressed desire to make captive |
scents with me, the managers concluded |,
0 arrange powerful windlass and cable /
o use on the next occasion previous to the F,
rec ascent.
Several of the officers took much pleasure |
Z the captive ascents, and said they would |
Ike to cross the Baltic with me if ] would |
gree to return them the next day. said /
hat it was my desire to reach the most
orthern part Of Norway, or pass over Swe-
en- to Finland, should the wind be favora-
lie, and therefore would not make anv
romise when should return The Amer
AN was SO enchanted with his romantic
ide above the clouds, and our fine recep-
ION by the fair fishing maids on the shores
I the Baltic, that he asked permission TO
ross the channel with me again. Wemade |
delightful trip, and as the wind died away
re concluded to land near college, a few
liles from Maluo, where we were invited
V an engineer who could speak English to
emain with his family until we desired to
eturn next day to Denmark by the steamer
rom Malmo.
Comnonness OF Adventures.
l.
ldes of all conditions that warm upon the !
arth asingle man who does not believe
lat he has something extraordinary to re-
lie Of himself Jvhn T0ar &