Year: 1873

To-day the HERALD scars above all creation 10
Rubicund, rich and influential, the City Father OF
Lowell who thus addressed me this morning,
spoke conscienriousy. Lowen was to be honored; !;
the great national journal to be represented
in the final celebrations OF the glorious Fourth and
the balloon ascension by Professor King was to be
accomplished. Had not the lofty aspirations Of
this people been twice dampeneds Had not gas
been encircllng the town ever SINGER Was not
90 900 cubic feet let loose from the mighty Colos-
Sus on Friday last, filing the halls of the City
Councilf and had not the President of the
Council been compelled to discharge even up to
midnight to prevent suffoca tionP 1t was, there
fore, matter for congratulation that the people
were not to be disappointed Notwithstanding the
havoc OF the elements on the national holiday.
'La Belle France" was to rise in her majesty above
the smokestacks and patent medicine shops, and
at noon, too when corporations as old as the town
and female operatives as numerous as Davd's host
should meet in common and send OF the aeronauts
with laundering applause that should make the
valleys ring. Neither roaring cannon nor musical
medley was to interrupt the harmony Of nature.
Beautiful economy was to be transparent. Ltera-
ture and Science like twin brothers, were to
dangle side by side between heaven and earth in q
wicker basket. All was to be joyfury successful.
The city Of Lowell intended all this and little
more.





And so matters stood this morning, when the
weatherwse declared for sunshine and north
easterly wind. soft breeze noated over the
North Common, the threatening clouds passed
away rapidly towards the south, when, at nine
O'Clock, the balloon apparatus was brought on the
ground preparatory to filing. In one corner Oi
this popular breathing place, shaded by tall and
stately trees the gas company had arranged for the
imitation. The city, too, had made some police
rangements. such as drawing a Gordon around the
balloon and keeping the great unwashed from cut
ting out pieces from the air ship as mementoes of
the event, rendering scuttling quite easy. But
things are not done In hurry up here, and as the
men couldn't find the ropes or the ropes couldn't
lind the men, am not quite certain which, the
Gordon and blue coats were not to be seen until
about eleven O'Clock. However, the gas was finally
turned on and the Belle France rose upward.


THE AIRsHIP AND CAR.


This balloon was made and brought to the United
States by M. Chevaier, of Paris some two years
ago, who, having made some strange miscalcula-
tions to the cost Of living In New York, found it
necessary to convert his arship into money. It's
capacity is 90 600 cubic feet, rather less than
One-lourth the size OF the Colossus, which was
rent by the wind just as party of Ten were about
to embark on an unknown voyage beneath 1t, q few
days since. The car, which is attached to the





OF the balloon by a large wooden hoop Of about
three feet In diameter. is about three feet
deep, two and o haf feet wide and four feet long,
capable Of carrying two persons and about three
hundred pounds of ballast. As the city and Mr..
King had agreed that your correspondent was to
be the only passengers to accompany the aeronaut
] felt deeply interested In the accom- mh1odatlons,
and, although having every confidence in the man.
agement and judgment OF my fellow UOvageur who
has made 107 successful ascents without
breaking his neck even, was some time before
could mentally allot the limited space in the car
Tor the live and dead ballast.


ENCOURAGES LES ANTREs


When 1t became known that the balloon was GER
tainly ..going upn was astonshed to find myself
and the Professor the objects OF special sympathy.
Mayor Jewell and Messrs. Chase Lord, Dobbins and
Haggett of the Celebration Committee and men,
bers OF the Council, had been down to the Common,
and cordially expressed their hope for fine weather
and fair sailing. But there was certain air Of mel
ancholy about several other gentlemen. Finally the
Superintendent OF the gas works asked me if
had heard of the awful death OF the Michigander,
La Mountain, who had just been picked
mp in small pieces after falling from his
car while at great height. / had no
sooner discussed the chances in our favor to-day
than Boston newspaper was placed in my hands,
giving the most narrowing details OF the catas-
trophe, the latest marked for my special benefit,
with request that would read it. confess !
had only taken o fish breakfast; but read it,
though with the strong determination not to make
my will against my will.


Tsay, young man, can you tell me how far that
Western man fell before he was dead ?" asks an
other. "Did the neck of his balloon tear away. or
did he pitch out head foremost ?"


Mountains fall on usI began to think OF strange
warnings and what would do II our balloon should
become disgusted at two miles high and leave us
TO find our way back alone. Leaving the scene, I
travelled toward the town, to fetch the wetand-
dry bulb thermometers and the aneroid barometer,
rs well as basket Of provisions had lett at
friends in the morning. Entering the Merrimac
House for q second, the proprietor informed me ne
had dispatches for myself and Professor King.
opened the first ofmy own. Here are its contents.


NO. / DESPATCH.


JULY Q, 1873.
Cheerful. Particulars Of the death Of La Noun
3Ain the GrOnaut, are continued IN The morning