St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-04-25
ADVENTURES IN A BALLOON
One Of the Wild Experiences of Phila=
delphia Aeronaut.
a DESCENT INTO THE BALTIC.
Flight from Copenhagen to Sweden and
Midnight Drop Into the Tossing
Main.

In 1871, says Rufus Gibson Wells, the
veteran Philadelphia aeronaut, in the
Press of that city, l made several note
worthy aerial voyages from Copenha-
gen, the beautiful and very interesting
capital of Denmark. The directors of
the famous Tivoli garden, one of the
largest and finest in the world, had
read the description of the gigantic
aerial machine, It's feet in length,
which l built for the French govern
ment In 1870, and requested me to con-
struct new one of the same shape, but
of much less dimensions, with which to
make my ascension from their spacious
garden. Many hundred yards of fine
linen were obtained instead of silk, and
and cigar-shaped aerostat of 100 feet
Of length and fifty in diameter was soon
manufactured in one of the immense
dancing halls at the Tivoli.
An immense multitude came to wit
ness the first ascent. An American
traveller and Danish photographer,
MI. Schroeder, concluded to accompany
me on the trip across the channel, or
sound, thirty miles wide, to Sweden.
The wind was favorable for such an ex-
curSion. AS we intended to make a
trip of several hundred miles over
Sweden and Norway if the wind per-
mitted, we were provided with plenty
TO eat, with scientific instruments for
observations in the higher regions, life
preservers, etc. 1 had constructed a
fine life dress of rubber. similar to the
one used by Capt. Boynton 10 his wild
adventure in many lands
The band played the ''Star-Spangled
Banner as L flung our national banner
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 palaces and romantic
gardens, its thousands of vessels in its
spacions harbOr, decorated with flags of
all nations, the distant shores of Swe-
den, and the placid Baltic beneath US,
all presented picture of varied inter-
est and beauty. AS we passed over the
ships and steamers we could distinctly
hear the cheers and shouts of the sail
Ors. 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, land we hoped
TO be able to make long journey over
Sweden before morning, as we had
plenty of gas and ballast. Mr.. SHREDDER
had 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 Ian
guage, and when we informed the farm
erS that we had left Copenhagen only
few hours before dark, they could hard
~ believe it. When they heard the
horn or trumpet above them they could
not imagine what it meant. We learned
afterwafd that some OF them thought
that Gabriel was surely coming at last.
LII order to move more rapidly we as
cended sometimes above the clouds.
There we met current that bore us
eastward, after sailing nearly hundred
miles over Sweden we found that we
were rapidly approaching the Baltic in
the direction of st. Petersburg. If had
been alone | would have crossed the
Baltic to Russia OF Finland. I did not
feel justified, however. in running the
risk of being lost in the sea with my
companions, although we had consider
able ballast and plenty to eat and
drink. We might have passed safely
over to Russia in few hours, OF if we
were forced to descend we no doubt
would have been rescued by some YES
sci, as there are many of them constant
ly trayerSing the Baltic during the
summer.
AS the coast was covered with trees.
concluded to descend into the sea, so as
not to wreck my balloon. | put on my
life-dresS and took my stand on the con-
centrating hoop and pulled the valve
cord. There being some wind we were
carried nearly half mile from the
shore before we struck the water. My
Yankee friend stood up in the car, but
pounds, kept his seat, and, being on the
side that struck the sea first, he was
completely baptized, and came up
blowing like whale as the balloon re-
covered from the shock. The large
anchor soon caught in the shallow bay
and kept US from drifting out to sea.
Having the Boyton life-dress on, l did
not get wet, but my friends suffered lit
tie from the cold water, since it was late
III the season. The Dane blew his trum-
pet, and soon we saw light, and some
fishermen came and carried us ashore
at q small fisherman's village about 100
miles from Copenhagen.
We obtained means to return and
transport the balloon back to Copenha-
gen. Long descriptions of our Journey
were published in Denmark, Sweden.
and Norway, and l was requested to
visit Stockholm and ChriStiania, the
capitals. l prepared to make another
ascension from Tivoli and again to
cross the channel TO Sweden, the public
having become greatly excited over it.
As the royal family had taken great in
terest in the enterprise and some of
them expressed desire to make cap
tive ascents with me. the managers con-
Guided to arrange powerful windlaSS
and cable to use on the next occasion
previous to the free ascent.
Several of the officers took much
pleasure in the captive ascents, and said
they would like to cross thesBaItic with
me if | would agree to return them the
next day. | said that it was my desire
to reach the most northern part of Nor
way, or pass over Sweden to Finland,
should the wind be favorable, and
therefore would not make any prom
Use when l should return. The Amer
lean was so enchanted with his roman
tic ride above the clouds, and our fine
reception by the fair fishing maids On
the shore of the Baltic that he asked