The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-20
FIVE MILES ABOVE LONDON
Highest RaIOOn Ascension Save One,
That Ever Was Made.

London, Sept. 15.-More than five miles
above the smoke Of London, where only
a strong telescope could sift them out
from the blue, two daring men lowered to-
day in a Greenland temperature, inhaling
compressed oxygen from tubes in order
that the blood mibht not gush from their
lungs.
Only once before had higher altitude
been reached. In the records of aero
nautics this feat stands a noble second.
To be precise, Stanley Spencer and DR..
Berson reached a height of 1850 feet
above the earth. Their balloon has a ca
pacity of $500 feet It is more than likely
TIT their observations with instruments OF
precision viii be of scientific value.
Stanley Spencer is an aeronaut Of re-
nown. DR.. Berson. his companion, is an
investigator of physical science. They
made their ascent from the grounds of
the Crystal Palace. at Sydenham, in the
presence of the usual holiday
crowd.
Inflated as it was with pure hydrogen 70
the utmost capacity consistent with safe
ty, the balloon shot skyward when cut
loose with incredible swiftness. Thous-
ands of eyes were fastened upon it shrank
to a mere speck and then vanished. so far
as the naked eye was concerned; but
while the unlearned discussed the exhfI-
aratiOn OF the rising and the peril Of
falling. the learned reflected upon the
suffering of the adventures who mounted
thus boldly into the regions of perpetual
cold.
Those suferings were told when the
baloonists descended. many hours later.
near Romford in Essex. with traces Of
the frost stiu in their faces. But they
mad something nobler to talk about than
mere physical pain and the struggle for
life in that atmosphere untitled FOR human
life. The panorama they had looked
down upon, as the earth diminished unde>
meath them. had 50 powerfully affected
them both that they confessed irabi,;.,-
% find words Of description. Quite plairlv
was the coast Of southern England out
lined in blue. like a map; while the coun-
try Itself lay like a scho0lgfrI's SAMPLER
crazy-quilt patchwork in yarjous
shades Of green. with here blue ribbon
OF river and there grey hlemisb Of tow,
And around them. above them. a b,na
Of such deep and vivid intensity thar -ba
dNel}er upon the surface of the ea--e,
even in Italy. can have no convention -
II. say the voyaC gers
The lowest temperature recorded Nv
our thermometers. said Or. Be~sor. vas
81 degrees below zero. Fahrenheit We
were prepared for il. Of course. having So
out Win ,he intention Of going very bf-h.
but it caused rs severe suffering. never
the,ess. UT breath CONCEALED in the ,o-e-
trls. and our heads grew heavy win
holr frost.
''ft'at plunge out % the humid warmth
Of London into an arctic temperature Vas
rather trying. but iatensiv exhile-a+f,e
The extreme cold had the wholesome a.
feet Of modcratins the physical trans
ports induced by the rarlfed a-uaznhe-a
oa- as Va Eoch higher this had lis dan
serous aspec; and AT an altitude OF *
e} feet We were glad 70 use the com
pressed oNysen which We had carried win
rs m tubes Otherwise Ne should nor
have survived toe "trip"
TIE enc ascension whose record ev>sz.+.
tia; % Or Bu~s2n ana NJ. Spencer was
also made in England. ana Tor scie,-ss,
purposes is hero was Professor James
Ola scae-. a Fellow of ths ROYAL S7.ie-v
10 whom che science Of aeronautscs owes
much
On September 5. Isse. Mr.. Gla.sher. SC
companied BY Al experienced ae-ouuau;