Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-05-29
BARBER COUNTY INDEX.
BALLOON ADVENTURES.
An Exciting European Experience
OF an American Aeronaut
Aerial Flight from Copenhagen, Denmark,
to Sweden, and Drop Into tho Sea
at the Dead Of NIght-A De-
scent Into the Baltic.

W oWOOeng anu u drop Into tho Sea
at the Dead Of NIght-A De-
scent Into the Baltic.
In 1871, says Rufus Gibson Wells. the
veteran Philadelphia aeronaut, in the Press
OF that city, / 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, 175 feet in length,
which built for the French government in
1870, and requested me to construct a new
one OK 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
meDse dancing halls at the TIvoli
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. 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 l 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. IL was a glorious
day. The grand old city, with its ancient
walls and houses, and it's 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
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 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. III l had been alone / would have
crossed the Baltic to Russia or Finland /
did not feel justified, however, in running
the risk Of being lost in the sea with my
companions, although we had considerable
ballast and plenty to eat and drink We
might have passed safely over to Russia in
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
constantly traversing the Baltic during the
summer.
AS the coast was covered with trees con-
Guided to descend into the sea, so as not to
wreck my balloon. put on my life-dress
and took my stand on the concentrating
hoop and pulled the valve cord. There be-
ing some wind, we were carried nearly half
a mile from the shore before we struck the
water My Yankee friend stood up in the
car, but the Dane, who weighed over two
hundred pounds, kept his seat, and being
on the side that struck the sea first, he was
completely baptized, and came up blowing
like u whale as the balloon recovered from
the shock. The large anchor soon caught in
the shallow bay and kept us from drifting out
10 sea. Having the Boyton life-dress on,
did not get wet, but my friends suffered a
little from the cold water, since II was late
Sn the season. Tho Dane blew his trumpet,
and soon we saw light, and some fish
ermen came and carried us ashore at a
small fishermen's village about one hundred
miles from Copenhagen.
We obtained means to return and trans
port the balloon back TO Copenhagen. Long
descriptions Of our journey were published
in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, and /
was requested to visit Stockholm and
Christiania, the capitals. / prepared to
make another ascension from the Tivoli
and again TO cross the channel to Sweden,
the public having become greatly excited
over it. AS the royal family had taken
great interest in the enterprise and some
OF them expresseda desire TO make captive
nscents with me, the managers concluded
10 arrange powerful windlass and cable
to use on the next occasion previous to the
free ascent.
Several OF the officers took much pleasure
sn the captive ascents, and said they would
like to cross the Baltic with me il / would
agree to return them the next day. said
that 1t was my desire to reach the most
northern part of Norway, or pass over Swe-
den to Finland, should the wind be favora-
BILE, and therefore / would not make any
promise when should return The Amer
lean was so enchanted with his romantic
ride above the clouds, and our fine recep-
ton by the fair fishing maids on the shores
OF the Baltic, that ne asked permission to
cross the channel with me again. We made
a delightful trip, and as the wind died away
we concluded to land near q college, few
miles from Malmo, where we were invited
by an engineer who could speak English to
remain with his family until we desired to
return next day TO Denmark by the steamer
from Malmo.
SOLD INTO SLAVERY.
The Romantic Story Told by Pennsyl-
vania Soldier.