The age-herald., 1898-01-05
UP IN A BALLOON.
Went Up in One With General Fitz John
 Porter.

From the Washington Star
 Since I came to Washington, couple of weeks ago, l have had not less than a dozen invitations by friends to accompany them to the top of the Washington monu- ment, but each has been declined with thanks" said J. M. Underwood, of oalifor- mia to Star reporter at the National.
 "There isn't money enough in the world to tempt me to go to the top of the monu- ment. I recall with shudder one time in mylife when I went up high enough to more than satisfy me- and I made solemn VOW then that if I lived to get back to ter ra firma I would spend the rest of my life as near to the earth possible.
 How was it? Well I don't mind telling you, if 1 do not bore you. During the war the government employed Prof. Low, an aeronaut to make ascensions in the in- terest of the union army. It was practi- cable, inasmuch as the movements of the enemy could be easily watched. At York town, Va, one day. Gen. Fitz John Porter, wl1o was then in command, made an ascen- sion with Prof. Low, and I accompanied him.
 "Usually two soldiers were detailed to accompany thep rofessor. On this occasion only one was necessary. The two men who had been previously detailed began to bubble among themselves to who should go, and the captain of our com pany finally gave the order that neither should go.
 Whats the matter with your going, Underwood? the captain yelled to me.
 "I didn't stop to think what I was get ting into, and assented at once. The ba- loon was controlled by ropes attached to windlasses on the ground. Two soldiers were usually stationed at these windlasses and they pulled the balloon back to earth upon signal from the professor. On this occasion. the men at the windlasses let us up several hundred feet, and, as the pro- lessor was about to survey the enemy with his glass, something gave way down below and we began soaring away into space
 Higher and higher we went, the wind lasses dangling at the end of the ropes in the air. Prof. Low took in the situation coolly and seemed apparently at home the higher we got.
 I've will go up until we get into an- other current of air. he said to Gen. Por- ter and me, as he caught hold of a valve.
 Don't be alarmed, as we shall get back all right. But I caution you not to look downward
 "If he hadn't admonished us not to presume that I wouldn't have thought of it. At the time, was standing up in the basket, with my gun in one hand. With the other hand I had firm grasp on one of the ropes that held the basket. My 1dHhee curlOSlty asserted 11Self and looked down. God forbid that I may ever again have such feelings. I can't describe them. I only know that I fairly swooned and sank to the bottom of the basket. My gun went overheard.
 "Such agony of mind I had never expe- rienced before. I have never experienced such feelings since, and I am confident that I shall never place myself in condi- tion to experience anything like them in the future
 Well we went up into another current of air, which, with the professors control of the balloon, enabled us to drift back to- ward where we went up Gen. Porter was as cool as a cucumber, though I recall that he expressed himself as feeling more secure when we returned to terra firma. The bal loon, after the windasses became disen- gagged. had 1oated over the enemy and to- ward Richmond.
 That experience away from earth was enough for me. Not much do I care to visit the top of the monument. I never look at it without shudder.