The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-06

written for the Anaconda Standard.
London. Nov. 2S.-The aerial ascent
at the Crystal palace OF Stanley Spen-
Ger has caused a great sensation here.
and the feat has been declared to be
n record one. Spencer assembled TO a
great height. but there is still living.
at the age Of so. the famous aeron-
autist. Henry coxwell. who in 1862.
with James Glaisher. f. r. s, reach
ed a height Of seven miles from the
surface of the earth. Mr.. Coxwell,
who resides at Seaford. Sussex. was
requested by your correspondent to
give his views on the recent achieve
ment of Stanley Spencer as compared
with his own. He responded by writ
ing me the following for publication
in America:
The aeronautical feat for purely SCI
entinc objects which was accomplished
in England on Sept. S, 1862. 10 the un-
paralleled height Of seven miles. may
be contrasted and examined by the
eide OF Stanley Spencer's ascension
with DIR. Borsen. a German scientist.
on Sept. Is. OF this year. DR.. Borsen
claimed to TO have assembled previous
~ to very great heights alone before
he came TO London and placed him
self in the hands of the Spencers with
a view of surprising or equaling tine
1862 record, which is supported by the
clearest and most indisputable testi-
monies of scientific distinguished men.
10 The day selected for the recent cx-
ploration was most suitable n they
assembled, according TO Stanley Spen-
GERS account given TO the interviewer
Of a morning newspaper, $1,000 feet
from the earth. Before reaching their
maximum elevation, however. which
was only five miles and a nth from
the ground. they had TO apply them
selves to a vessel containing oxygen
10 prevent being s~uffocated by the
lighter and colder atmosphere watch
was encountered.
AT $1,000 feet" said Spencer TO his
interviewer. the air was so rarehed
that / began TO become giddy. / look
ed at DIR. Borsen and he was making
a gurgling noise as he breathed. 'ONy-
gem he gasped, and so ! handed him
a tube. which he sucked and felt quite
exhilarated. L feel confident he said.
that with a good supply Of oxygen we
could go higher than has ever teen
lone yet"
How high is that?" asked the in
terviewer. well 1 am inclined to
think that our ascent vas really he
record. j know that Glaisher and Cox
well reported that they recorded 90
600 feet. but after my experiences Of
yesterday L doubt II. Now, we both
found a~sphyxiation becoming severe
at $4,000 feet. and would certainly have
been unconscious before $1,000 feet but
for oxygen gas. Glaisher and Coxwell
had M nxNCan md 4 rRallN annfu IA
how they could either OF them have
been conscious at $4,000: / think some
error must have been made"
Let me narrate by way OF compari-
son under what circumstances. and
for what purpose Mr.. Glaisher and |
assembled in the year 1862.
The British Association for the Ad-
vancement Of Science at hat time
wished to determine the temperature
OF the air and it's hygrometrical states
at different elevations, and as high as
possible by meteorological observations
made from the car Of a great balloon,
which was a by me at hat time.
] constructed this balloon Of nearly
100, 900 cubic feet capacity entirely at
my own cost, which provided. IL may
truly be said. an aerial observatory,
expressly for James Glaisher, +. II. s.,
90 make a series Of observations to
Determine the temperature of the dew
points by Darrielli hygrometer. by
Ragnauld's condensing hygrometer.
and by dry and wet bulb thermometers
as ordinarily used, as well as under
the influence OF the a~spirator. so that
considerable volumes Of air were made
10 pass over both their bulbs, at DIFF
ferent elevations, as high as possible.
but particularly up TO those heights
where mar may be resident. or where
troops may be located. with the view
OF ascentaining the results as found
from them.
Other objects OF the ascension were.
To compare the readings OF ancroii
barometers with m%ercurial barometers.
To determine the oNygenic conditions
of the atmosphere by mea of ozone
papers. To determine the time of vi
bration of a magnet on the earth. and
at distances from "a. To collect air
at different elevations. To note the
height and III Of clouds. their density
and thickness. To determine. II pos
sible. the rate and direction OF differ
ent currents I'm the atmosphere. To
make observations on sound. To note