The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-05-04
FALLING FROM THE CLOUDS.



uncontroIiabio Balloon.
Robort Wv. scwcll IN tho Artists Ad
ventures series IN Tho Century, Describes
his first and last balloon ascension.
Il was in 1880. when Mr. Sewell was a
student NJ tho Academic Julian, that no
made his ventura, taking advantage 81
public ascension. When tho artist and tho
aeronaut entered the basket, tho rupees wcro
cast OF
We did not rise, and being informed that
we must leave behind either "a sand bng or
ny heavy winter ovcrcoat / hcruically
sacrificed the latter Standing In the has
kct / tossed "a to friend when. presto.
he as well az the rest 81 the world sank
out Of sight AZ that moment sat down
i can still recall the howl Of dcrsion and
delight which greeted this commonplace
net.
Tho cries Of tho spectators yycrc succeed.
ed by most profound silence, broken only
by the fenrsome crcaking Of tho willow
basket "a my companion leaned from side
% side
l was SOON aware Of another sound, 10
which my ears sccmed slowly TO become
nttuncd--thc low, mullcd ronr Of the great
city which produced a continued note al
most as purs ~ a musical tone, but lower
in pitch than any note Of the musical
scale.
The barometer soon showed an elevation
of half IA mile, and looking over the side
of the carl was still seated on the floor
i saw the whole Of Paris beneath mo
the public buildings, the Madeleine with
its bright copper green roof, tho toy cathe-
dral Of Notre Dame on its little island.
Tho distance was % great that all giddi-
ness was gone, and tho roar Of tho city
WIN fgsfs %.
store ~ sand, we roso into great cumulus
clouds. The barometer indicated height
Of two miles. Tho air had tho purs but
thin feeling Of an Alpine mountain top.
There was no sight, no noise save the pat
ter Of the feet Of two pigeons on the sum
nit Of the balloon. They had refused 20
leave us, and after lowering like land birds
about "a ship had settled on our rigging.
In the utter silence of these heights tho
novice, awed by the sublimity Of the stu
alton, has no thought OF danger Tho vast,
sightless. silent void in which tho bubble
hung self poised impressed the mind with
sense not Of violence, but of calm. Yet
danger them was, and that most immi-
nent. AnxiOusly scanning tho barometer,
my companion announced that we wcre
falling. Selling a bag Of tissue papers, he
threw n handful from the car. Instantly
lntl ulHlUicdtNus put above us We MtFt
rushing down To the city at an angle Of a.
degrees. Now the two pigeons left the bal
loon, and even this slight diminution Of
weight gave Us a short respite. As we ap-
preached tho earth we struck the ground
breeze, which we saw would carry Us near
ly the entire length Of tho city Quickly
divesting ourselves of our coats and waist
coats we took a rapid inventory Of the pit
fully small remainder Of ballast, with
Wow 70 keeping the airship a1oat as long
as possible
To "A novice who has ever Como down
toboRgan slide the horror Of that rush over
the spires and chimnoys Of the great city
may hc dimly shown If ne can imagine his
scnsnti ms increased a thousandfOld. Col
lision with building meant almost sure
death while the speed was 50 great that
landing in "A boulevard was an impossible
ity Tho roar Of one street as IL grew less
distinct was quickly followed by tho roar
Of the next as the excited and interested
Parisians watched our flight. Several
times we avoided collision only by throw
ing out n coat, basket or bottle, the bal
loon each time taking a slight bound and
clearing the obstacle.
The standard" muslin underwear is conceded