Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-12-08

"Last fall participated In an experience
that for its wonderful phases has never
been duplicated
John Bennett reached for his pipe, filled
and lighted 1t, and then glanced toward me
as II to ask If wished to hear what he
had to dvulge. He Is a very remarkable
man, of that rare type fast disappearing
For more than half century he has made
his home In the heart of California's maJes-
tic mountains. and like the Poet of the
Sierras," he wears a flowing patriarchal
beard, and hair to match, and is himself
q student and poet by nature,
l settled myself in my chair with an ap-
preciatjye nod, and John Bennett began
what Is truly q most remarkable story.
II am the oldest graduate OF Yale IN
California" he said: land / think 1t was
this that brought to the ranch a 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 q secret of theirs.It will not do any
harm to tell as much as l intend to, how
ever. ~ -
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.
90 In a sort of superficial way l have al,
kindred sciences; and when they asked me
to accompany them as guide ana compan'
lon accepted the invitation with nlacrity.
We went farther up into the range, and
made camp. They took their machine out
and began the work of assembling the
parts; and want to say here that 1t was as
complete thing as ever man made. Tncrc
was everything calculated TO make'tne~ trip
a success and every appliance to prevent nc
cident It's pretty cold up on top of the
l.av,. .lNsn NA 70
had been made to prevent this condition
from retarding the experiments. The car
OF the balloon was made of isinglass over Il
frame of aluminium 1t was entirely en-.
closed, and was heated from an electric
motor, which also propelled the machine,
Hydrogen gas was used as the lifting
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 week
and when the ascension was made 1t seemed
that not thing had been overlooked All
sorts of thermometers, barometers and Their
mOmeters were taken along, and everything
necessary for the proper study of the con-
ditions that might confront the party after
leaving the earth.
''It was sparkling morning when the
signal was given, and we arose with O
bound and were soon soaring over the tops
or the snowy peaks. Never shall | forget
that sight as gazed through the sides and
bottom of the transparent car. So bright
was the sunshine that we were forced tt
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 a stone drops
from the top Of tall building; and the
atmosphere had become so rarefed that tn,
oxygen tank was opened into the car, ant
the heating motor was started. Far of
to the west, we could see the tiny valleys
and, still farther, an endless blue expans
that marked the Pacific Ocean. Many mel
have exulted in the view from a balloon
but few have ever had the experience o
making an ascension to height aboy