The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-12
HOW IT FEELS
ABOVE THE CLOUDS
Seven Miles Above the Earth
In a Balloon
Mr.. GLAISHER'S ACCOUNT
OF Thrilling Experience in Company
With CoxweIl-ItaIIan Said to
Have Surpassed Record
Of EnglIshman.


reached a height of $1,000 feet, or seven
miles. The italian officers record shows
him to have attained about one-ffth Of a
mile more than the English aeronauts,
whose record until the present time has
been unequaled.
Until the fatal ascension of the balloon
Zenith, in which a French aeronaut.
CASTOR Tissandier, and two companions
arose to a height of about $500 feet.
during which Tissandier's companions
succumbed, the record of Glaisher and
Coxwell was received as an accurate
statement but since the experience - the
three Frenchmen In 1878 became known
the attainment Of the English aeronauts
has been accepted with caution. In both
cases circumstances were such that the
accuracy Of the records has at times been
statements of Glashier and Coxwell, and
to some extent the achievement of Tis-
sander may not be found to be wanting
in the case of the record of the Albatross.
The reason for doubt in these cases is
based upon the fact that the observers in
each instance became unconscious during
the period when the aerostat arose be-
yond six miles- 1t seems that above that
height human life can be preserved only
with the greatest difficulty, and not at
all II the use of an oxygen aspirator Is
dispensed with.
Glaisher and coxweii.
In the whole range Of adventurous bal
loon ascensions there probably are few
more dramatic incidents than those which
occurred during the ascension of Glaisher
and Coxwell In 1862 and during the ascent
of the French balloon Zenith in 1875, and
no story of the adventures half SO inter-
esting as the actors own accounts.
James Glaisher was scientist who took
an interest In exploring the upper atmos-
phere by means of a balloon, and In order
to facilitate his explorations he engaged
with professional aeronaut, Henry Cox
well, to ascend in the latter's balloon.
Several ascents were made in the sum-
mer of the year 1859 from various parts
of England, but on September s Coxwells
immense aerostat, which had capacity
of $4,000 cubic feet Of gas, arose with the
two aeronauts from Wolverhampton. The
balloon was only about one-third filed
with gas. The voyagers left the earth
at 1:os o'clock in the afternoon, when
the temperature was 81 degrees. In 81
minutes height Of four miles was
reached. and from this point the adven-
ture began which almost resulted in the
death of Mr.. Glaisher.
1.-THE temperature" he relates, was s
degrees, tho dew point minus 10 degrees.
or AZ below the freezing point of water.
Discharging sand, we In ten minutes at
tanned the altitude of five miles, and the
temperature had passed below zero and
then read minus degrees At this point
no dew was observed on Regnault's hy-
grometer when cooled down to minus 30
degrees. Up to this time had taken OBJ
servations with comfort, and experienced
no difficulty In breathing. while Mr.. Cox
well in consequence of the exertions he
had to make had breathed with difficulty
for some time.
Having discharged sand, We assembled
still higher the aspirator became trouble
some to work. and I also found difficulty
in seeing clearly. At 1851 O'Clock the ba-
rometer read 1913 inch. About 1.61 or later
I read the dry-bulb thermometer az MI
nus degrees; after this could not see
Thermometer nor the hands Of the watch
nor the fine divisions Of any instrument.
Muscular Power Lost.
''I asked Mr.. Coxweil to help mo read
the instruments. In consequence how
ever, of the rotary motion Of the balloon,
which had continued without ceasing
since leaving the earth, the valve limo
had become entangied, and he had to
leave the car and mount into the ring to
read1ust It. I then looked At the barom-
eter, and found it, reading to be s%
inches, still decreasing fast implying a
height exceeding %. 900 feet Shortly after
I laid my arm upon the table. possessed
Of it's fun vigor. but on being DESTROYS
Of using 1t I found It powerless-it must
have lost its power momentArily; trying
to move the other arm. found II power
less also.
Then I tried to shake myself and suc-
ceeded, but I seemed to have no limbs.
In looking at the barometer my head fell
over my left shoulder: I struggled and
shook my body again, but could not move
my arms. Getting my head upright for
an instant only. It fell on my right
shoulder: then fell backwards, my
back resting against the side Of the car
and my head on its edge. In this position
my eyes were directed to Mr.. Coxwell In
the ring.
when shook my body seemed to
have full power over the muscles Of the
back. and considerably 50 over those Of
the neck. but none over ej.sier arms or
legs. Az in tho case Of the arms. 90 all
muscular power was lost In Az Instant
from my back and neck.
II dimly saw Mr.. Coxwell ana en-
deavored to speak, but could not
I'm an instant intense darkness over
came me so that the optic nerve lost
power suddenly. but was stin conscious
with a. active q brain a. at the present
moment whilst writing this. I thought I
had been seized with asphyxia, and be-
lisved should experience nothing more
as death would come unless We speedily
descended; other thoughts were entering
my mind, when suddenly became un-
conscious ~ on going to sleep.
Il cannot tell anything Of the sense Of
hearing a. no sound reaches the air to
break the perfect stiffness and silence Of
the regions between six and seven miles
above the earth. Ny last observation
was made at 1.54 above q. 900 feet sup
posed two or three minutes TO have
elapsed between my eyes becoming In
sensible to seeing nne divisions and 1.51.
and then two or three minutes more to
have passed till I was insensible. which
I think, therefore. took place about 1.b6
or 1:E7.
whilst powerless heard the word
Temperature and observation and
fk1naw Nh CoxwolI - IN TIA ear npAak-