The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1905-12-08

(v'Last fall participated in an experience
that for Its ~. wonderful ?. phases has neve
John Bennett reached for his pipe HlIet
and lighted it, and then glanced toward me
as If to ask IL l wished to hear what ht
4 had to divulge. He Is very remarkable
man, of that rare type fast disappearing
For more than half century he has made
his home in the heart of CALIFORNIA; males
tic mountains. and like the "Poet Of the
u Sierras,' ne wears flowing patriarcha.
beard, and hair to match, and Is himself
a student and a poet by nature.
I settled myself In my chair with an ap-
preciative nod, and John Bennett began
what is truly most remarkable story.
California" he said; s'and / think It was
this that brought to the ranch party
of scientists from my old university. l am
not at liberty to name them, for they are
coming again to try another experiment,
and until that has been made, the whole
thing Is secret Of theirs. It will not do any
harm to tell as much as intend to, how
ever.
"They brought with them dirigble bal
loon, and contided that they were going to
/ make an ascent and study the topography
\ Of the Sierras so as to be able to make an
accurate map of the entire range. 1t didn't
turn out that way however, as you will see.
- In sort of superficial way have al
ways been interested in aerostatcs and
kindred sciences; and when, they asked me
to accompany them as guide and compan-
Ion accepted the invitation with alacrity.
We went farther up into the range, and
made camp. They took their machine out,
and began the work Of assembling the
parts; and l want to say here that 1t was as
complete thing as ever man made. Tnere
was everything calculated to make the trip
a success and every appliance to prevent ac-
cident. It's pretty cold up on top of the
range above timber line, and arrangements
had been made to prevent this condition
from retarding the experiments. The car
of the balloon was made Of isinglass over a
frame of aluminium. 1t was entirely en-
closed. and was heated from an electric
motor, which also propelled the machine.
power, supplemented by another motor. and
oxygen was manufactured and supplied to
the occupants Of the car when the atmos-
phere, became too rarified for comfortable
breathing. Provisions were stored for the |
party-enough to last six men a week
and when the ascension was made it seemed |
that not thing had been overlooked. All |
sorts Of thermometers, barometers and Their
necessary for the proper study of the con-
ditions that might confront the party after |
leaving the earth.
1T, was sparkling morning when the
signal was given, and we arose with
bound and were soon soaring over the tops
|Apf the snowy peaks. Never shall I forget |
THAT sight as I gazed through the sides and
bottom Of the transparent car. So bright
was the sunshine that we were forced to
draw the green silk curtains at some of the
windows. Within five minutes we were
looking down on toy mountains that were
dropping away from us as stone drops
from the top Of a tall building; and the
atmosphere had become so rarefed that the
oxygen tank was opened into the lar, and
the heating motor was started. Far off
to the west, we could see the tiny valleys,
a9d, still farther, an endless blue expalise
that marked the Pacific Ocean. Many men
have exulted in the view from a balloon.
but few have ever had the experience of
making an ascension to Il height above