Evening star., 1932-08-19

ically closed, we are perspiring pro-
fusely. The atmosphere within the
naceIle is extremely oppressive owing
to the expansion of the hydrogen.
5:57: Here we are at a point $500
meters. 1880 feet. above sea level.
We, therefore, approximate the alti-
tude of the lofty, snow covered crest
of Mount Everest. that Himalayan
giant which reaches 29,oO2 feet into
the sky.
Sis: The view is grandicse. 1t Is
almost beyond our conception. There
Is Glaernish. And there below us are
the Silberhorn and Eastern Alps, which,
/, as q young mountaineer. climbed Is
years ago. Never, then, did l dream
of this.
GIT: The temperature has dropped
to 4 degrees centrigrade. about SO de-
grees above zero in the Fahrenheit
scale. The gas in the balloon is ex-
panding. The result is that the bal
loon Is now completely spherical.
7:07: We are sorry that our work
prevents us from reveling in the ma
jestic view around us. And besides,
time and the work we must do pre-
vent us from so occupying ourselves.
Much to Be Discovered.
7:42-we release more ballast, and
climb up and up.
e:42-And now we come in sight of
Obergurgl Glacier What memories this
brings back to me of last years ascent.
when / first ventured into the STRAIT
osphere. We came down then on that
very sheet of ice which at this moment
glistens before US. Cosyns is working
very well. We are both extremely busy.
We have much to do, little time In
which to do it. There Is so much to
be discovered
1I:lo-We are sailing over the En-
gadine.
ll:50-We have only 20 sacks of bal
last left. We decide that the time has
come when we must prepare to descend.
We shall make our landing in Italy.
IL noon-At this instant we open
valve releasing hydrogen in the bal
loon This Is our first release Of hy-
drogen. !.
1912 pm.-We have attained an al
titude of 16,500 meters, 54,l20 feet.
or more than ten and one-third miles.
All human records are broken. Try to
imagine our elation. 1t is very cold.
The thermometer records Is below zero
centigrade, or below zero Fahrenheit.
We ere suffering intensely, but what
we have accomplished compensates for
that. We release more hydrogen.
12:l8-We are now drifting north
ward of Lake Garda. Italy is gra-
cious land, spread there beneath us.
Suddenly we remember, however, that
we have brought neither Identity cards
nor passports. But perhaps they will
he hind n those Italians and OVer-
look our forgetfulness. As-a o.
Balloon Begins Descent.
12:29-We release still more hydro
gen. We are dropping at the rate of
two meters a second, about six and q
half feet. That is quite satisfactory.
1:05-We continue to descend rap
idly. We see that there Is snow be-
meath US. Our valves are functionins
we'll, but the sun still dilates the gas.
1:24-Owing to this dilation the bal
loon has started climbing again and
so we have to release more hydrogen.
All, now she is dropping. We are
going down 10 feet q second This Is
very good, but we must avoid crash
ing into that mountain there below US.
meters, or 40,344 feet and we are leav-
ing the stratosphere.
3:2s-we continue to drop 10 feet
a second. We are now 21,320 feet
above the earth.
3:55-I open our port hole and can
see that we are descending on broad
plain, before me is the wide expanse
of Lake Ga-da. Not a ripple breaks
its deep blue surface. Clearly there Is
no wind
5:0o-We shall be on terra firma
again in one minute All. here we
are, our adventure Is ended. With
success. And our study of the OBJ
servations we have made will show Just
how much.