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The Balloon Ascension.Evly (his morning, tho roads from every direction, lending into town, was pretty well occupied with people, of *11 sixes and colors, coming to town to sec the balloon ascension. By 10 o’clock the streets were lined with them, and the court house equire was occupied by a patient crowd, waiting to see the big balloon inflated. At 11:30 Prof. Fisk commenced tho preparation for raising tuu canvas, tho fnrnaco had been prepared yesterday evening, and the long timbers wcro speedily raised to attach the balloon for infl ition; the guy ropes were fastened and by 12:30 everything was ready to commence the work of patting in the gas. This was the work of only about twenty minutes, and was accomplished by means of tbe furnace heretofore mentioned. This wa3 an excavation of about 20 feot, made in the ground so as to form a boiler-shaped tunnel, with an outlet like a locomotive smoke-stack, over whioh the balloon was suspended. A fire was made of combustible materia], lightwood and gasoline and coal oil, and soon the monster balloon, 60 feet high by 150 incircnm-ference was ready to go on its voyage in space. Attached to tho balloon was the paraohnte, an invention of Prof. Fisk, which was oomposed of strong cords and canvas, no ribs, and waJ about 20 feet in circumference; to tho parachute w*s a stout bar, about two and a half ftet longvou whioh Prof. Perry, the roronaut, was to make his ascension and trapeie performance. This para-ohute was attached to the balloon by stout cords, so arranged that when desired the aeronaut could detach the parachute—this was done by pulling on a stout cord attached to a hickory pin of about 18 inches, whioh, when pulled out, let the parachuto fall. At. 3:30 o’clock the fires were lit and at 4 the balloon started on its voyage, Prof. Ferry performing some interesting feats on the trapeze, while in sight Tho monster balloon, filled with gas, obedient to loosened ropes, rose majestically for some distance and then float ed gracefully off in an easterly direction. Profeseoc P«rry looked like a specie.Tho vast crowd watched the receding aeronaut with breathlees interest,watch-ing every moment to see him make the drop.Whin at the height of a thousand feet perhaps, tho parachute was seen to gradudly expand, and in a moment afterwards Perry sepagfted it from the balloon and shot downward, swiftly at first, but gradually tho parachute slowed in its downward flight, finally grado ally desoendiog to the earth, when the Professor was again on terra firms. It was k bold, daring flight in mid air. As we went to press, immediately after the ascent, we are not informed exactly as to where the professor alighted.The ascension was a brilliant success. The Luge crowd was thrilled by the sight and in every way pleased with the performance.Latxk : Prof. Perry has just returned to to town. He reports a safe descent. The parachute landed him in the Pike pear orchard near Jackson street The balloon landed tome two miles jrom town.
Newspaper Details
Thomasville Times
Thomasville, Georgia, US
Sat, Apr 13, 1889
Page 3
Full Page
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Anonymous
DE 05 Jan 2024
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