Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 September 1874 — REMARKABLE BALLOON VOYAGE. [ARTICLE]

REMARKABLE BALLOON VOYAGE.

Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 6. TnE balloon “ City of Buffalo,” which started from the park in this city at 11 a. ni. Friday, made a most interesting voyage of nearly 500 miles, and landed at 11:20 p. m. near Smith’s Creek, ten miles from Port Huron, Mich. Its course was at first northwest from Cleveland, until when about five miles from Cleveland it rose into an easterly current and was carried down the lake to a point beyond Erie. Then the balloon was brought down several thousand feet into a westerly current and carried to the mouth of Detroit River, thence northward over Detroit and Lake St. Clair to' a point of lauding. A special correspondent of the Chicago Tribune, who accompanied Prof. King, says of the voyage: “At noon our altitude was 2,971 feet, and we seemed almost stationary for a short time. The professor gradually discharged his sand ballast, hoping to find a sea breeze at a higher altitude, and thus be enabled to pass over the land. After a short experience there, however, it was found that we were destined to a voyage lakeward, and perhaps to Buffalo, which would have been a satisfactory arrangement. At 12:30 our altitude was 2,527 feet above the lake. At 1:30 p. m. the Buffalo was off the air was still very light and “variable. Prof. HoHen sat with his instruments constantly* before him, and he consulted the barometer and thermometer from to time, reporting to -Commodore King the status of affairs, whether we were rising or falling; while the Leeuier man took the bearing and held the compass. After a good, substantial lunch the members of the expedition joined in the chorus of several songs under the leadership of Prof. King. At two p. m. we noticed the singular but well-known phenomenon of the different currents of air in the upper deeps. The schooner which wc saw far beneath us was making short tacks with the wind from th<j Northeast, while we at a height of 1,752 feet were borne slowly in that direction, —that is, wc were under the inlluencc of a light air (It could hardly be called a breeze) from the southwestward. “ Capt. King on- getting over the lake let down his drag-rope, a two-inch manila cord about 350 feet in length. This had a tendency to steady the air-ship, so that its motion Vas almost imperceptible. At 2:30 the masts of a three-masted vessel were seen standing about ten or twenty feet above the surface of the water off Painesvitlc, or between that point and Ashtabula. Our highest altitude up to three p. m. was 2,09(5 feet; at 3:15, 4,200 feet above.the level of the lake, or 4,780 feet above sea level; at 0:45 p. m., 1,000 feet. Just below the Erie peninsula Capt. King decided to approach the lake and try the merits of the drag-rope. Descending until within about fifty feet of the water, wc struck the northeast current of wind, and instead of reaching Buffalo, as we had hoped to do at one time, we were borne swiftly on the hack track, and were swept along about westsouthwest. Soon afterward the current again changed, and our course was thence about west-northwest, and we gradually neared to land, to our satisfaction. \\ c flew past Point-au-Pin, and, slowly descending, we eagerly scrutinized the shores to distinguish any permanent point or settlement that might<lie in our path. At seven p. m. we ran in over the Canada shore, and sweeping down close over tljc land we ascertained that we were just below Point-au-Pellee, in the town of Morsea, in Essex County, and crossing thence the township of West era*? and tlie widest portion of Lake pt. Clair, soaring away above the clouds in our transit. This was one of the most intensely interesting and remarkable experiences of our trip. The feeling awakened in me was similar to that I have .known on witnessing some of the in the “ Black Crook at Niblo s. The great globe above our heads seemed poised in a tier feet foTsome mYnft" 01 * W ,° rd SK£‘ for some minutes, as the minds of nil seemed thunderstruck at the st™ imposing: scene. b wunge, “ White sweeping over the County 0 f Essex we had frequent bxcliangef of words with the inhabitants, whom King *'* tak ® h ?'. d of our drag-rope 8 One fellow, an Irishman undoubtedly SW* “ 0ch > >’ ee ' B too fast for that So on; we swept on our airy flight, pow rising, now slightly falling, and discharging ballast from time to time as circumstances demanded A

weird and imposing scene lhy below us, while at times we were borne along on the wings of the wind literally, ana all the time a solemn stillness reigned. “At one point of our passage across the Canada shore our drag-rope caught in the trees and we were steadily anchored, as it seemed, hut not so steadily cither, for the wind blew in strong gusts, and the aerial monster swayed fearfully above our heads. Finally, after a most exciting experience, we manage, by throwing overboard sufficient ballast, to tear the rope loose, and tlie balloon shot upward with a tremendous jerk, almost throwing the passengers from their seats.

“ After an hour and a half of this cloudexperience, as near as we could judge—for, as no fire was allowable near this gassy monster, we could only judge of our course and time by guess-work— King judged it wise to approach our nether world more closely to take observations, for it was the opinion of several familiar with lake navigation that we were going in the direction of Lake Huron, a course that was to be carefully avoided in the present state of our ballast and gas, which had both been largely drawn upon. “ Sighting the earth once more we saw lights and fires of charcoal-burners, and the top valve was opened freely and often to expedite our descent. Nearing the abodes of our fellow-men once more we found that our course had been changed in all probability, and the lights of a large town were discerned. As we approached the earth and could distinguish the dwellings we rent the upperair with repeated cheers at the extent of our voices. By and by we could even distinguish the French Canadian patois. On our right hand-lay a river. which I hardly supposed wide enough for the St Clair, and hundreds of lights were gleaming in every direction. “Our drag-rope was now sweeping over the tops of the trees and the roofs of dwellings, causing the basket to sway violently to and fro, and rendering a good, firm grasp almost ineffectual to hold us in a place of safety. Swiftly now we approached the earth, calling lustily from time to time for aid from those below who might hear our earnest shouts. Still we were doomed to disappointment, for no answering halloo was borne to our expectant cars. But now the time had come for decisive and im-

mediate action, and Mr. King pulled frequently on the upper valve*-rope, causing a rushing discharge of gas and a consequent rapid descent of the inflated monster which had borne us so swiftly and safely over tlie perilous passage of 450 miles, two-thirds of which was over the waters of Lakes Eric and St. Clair. Down, still down we descended until a clear spot seemed to be close at hand, and on a sudden plump came our basket upon terra flrma once more. “ Iving and Cozad grasped the stump of a burnt tree, and while the latter Clung to it with all his might and main the Commodore quickly passed the lanyards attached to the heavy iron rings at the base of the balloon around the tree. Another one took hold of the drag-rope and securely fastened it around a neighboring tree. Each one was cautious not to leave his seat in the basket/as all the weight was needed to make -Our anchorage secure. Thus we remained, the airship meanwhile swaying fearfully overhead and threatening to tear out anchor and trees from their earthly hold. One of our number was dispatched to rouse the neighborhood and get such aid as we greatly needed in order to bring our unruly ship to the ground with as little damage as possible. “ Our highest altitude was attained at three p. m. of Friday, being 4,697 feet above the lake level, and our mean altitude was 4,000 feet aboye the sea. In passing over Mersea Township, Essex County, on the Canada side, we descended to within 500 feet of the lake level, thence sweeping tfver West Tilbury Township. We crossed Lake St. Clair about half a mile above the clouds. The lowest temperature indicated by the' thermometer was while over the lake, 58 degrees, and the highest at 73 degrees, Fahrenheit.”