PERILS IN THE AIR.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1821, 24 January 1863, Page 5

PERILS IN THE AIR.

AN EXTRAORDINARY BALLOON ASCENSION, AND

WHAT CAME OF IT.

The last balloon ascension undertaken for scientific purposes was that of Mr Glaisher, winch took place in England in September. With utter disregard of safety or comfort, this gentleman has ventured upon scientific experiments id higher altitudes than any timid person would car.: to be, and although his last expedition nearly proved fatal to him, he has returned safely with a remarkable chapter of aerial experiences to narrate. The London Atheneeum justly remarks that in his hands the balloon is restored to it 3 old rank of a philosophical agent. Gay Lnssac has shown the men of science how to use the balloon for scientific purposes; but Mr Glaisher, by his successive ascents, is adding largely to our knowledge of the higher regions of the atmosphere. The September ascension was made in Mr Cox well's great balloon, and the highest point reached was 5| miles. Mr Glaisher's interesting narrative of this voyage thus describes the effects of the atmosphere at different altitudes:

THE FREEZING POINT AT TWO MILES.

When we attained the height of two miles, at 1 h.2lm, the temperature had fallen to the freezing point ; we were three miles high at Ih. 28 m., with a temperature of 18°; at 1 h.39 in. we had reached four miles, and the temperature was 8°; in ten minutes more &c had reached the fifth mile, and the temperature of the air had passed below zero, and there read minus 2 ° , and at this point no dew was observed on Hegnault's hygrometer when cooled down to minus 30°. Up to this time I had taken the observations with comfort. I had experienced no difficulty in breathing, while Mr Coxwell, in consequence of the necessary exertion he had to make, had breathed with difficulty for some time.

DIMNESS OF SIGHT AT FIVE AND A QUARTER

At 1 h. ftl m. the barometer read 11.05 inches but which requires a subtractive correction of 0.25 inch, as found by comparison with Lord Wiottesley's standard barometer, just before starting, both by his lordship and myself, which would reduce it to 10.8 inches, or at a height of about 5h miles, I read the dry bulb as minus s° ; in endeavouring to read the wet bulb I could not see the column of mercury. I rubbed my eyes, then took a lens, and also failed. I thea tried to read the other instruments and found I could not do so, nor could I see the hands of the watch. I asked Mr Coxwell to help me, and lie said he must go into the ring, and he would when he came down. I endeavoured to reach some brandy, which was lying on the table at about the distance of a foot from my hand, and found myself unable to do so.

TOTAL LOSS OP POWER AT FIVE AND THREE

QUABTER^MILES.

My sight became more dim : I looked at the barometer and saw it between 10 and 11 inches and tried to record it, but I was unable to write. I then saw it at 10 inches, still decreasing it fast, and just noted it in my book; its true reading, therefore, was at this time about 9| inches implying a height of about 5J miles, as a change of an inch in the reading of the barometer at this elevation takes place on a change of height of about 2,500 feet. I felt I was loosing all power, and endeavoured to rousa myself by struggling and shaking.. I attempted to speak and found I had lost the power. I attempted to look at the barometer again ; my head fell on one side. I struggled and got it right, and it fell on the other, and finally fell backward. ' My arm which had been resting on the tables fell down by my side. I saw Mr Coxwell dimly in the ring. It became more misty, and 1 sank unconsciously as In sleep -, tLio nmct hnvfi hfipn lh. 54m. I then heard Mr Coxwell say, '• What is the temperature ? Take an observation ; now try." But I could neither see, move nor speak. I then heard him say more emphatically, "Take an observation ; now, do try." j Lsbortly afterwards opened my eyes, saw the instruments and Mr Coxwell very dimly, and soon saw clearly, and said to Mr Coxwell. "I have been insensible;" and he replied, "You have, and I nearly" I recovered quickly, and Mr Coxwell said I have lost the use of my hands ; give me some brandy to bathe them." His hands were nearly black. I saw the temperature was still below zero, and the barometer reading 1 1 inches, but increasing quickly. I resumed my observations at 2h. 7m., recording the barometer reading 11.53 inches, and the temperature minus 2° . I then found that the water in the ve*ssel supplying wet-bulb thermometer, which I had toy frequent disturbarces kept from freezing, whs oue solid mass of ice. Mr Coxwell then told me that while in the ring he felt it piercingly cold, that hoar frost was all round the neck of the balloon, and on attempting to leare the ring he found his hands frozen, and he got down bow be could ; that he found me motionless, with a quiet and placid expression on the countenance, He spoke to me without eliciting a reply, and found I was insensible. THE AERONAUT'S EXPEDIENT, He then said he felt insensibility was coming over himself ; that he became anxious to open the valve ; that his hands failed him ; and that he seized the line between his teeth, and pulled the valve open until the baloon took a turn downwards. This act is quite characteristic of Mr Coxwell. I have never yet seen him without a ready means of meeting every difficulty as it has arisen, with a cool self possession that has always left my mind perfectly easy, and given to me every confidence in his judment in the management of so large a balloon. Mr Gluipber is convinced that the balloon (containing only himself and the aeronaut Coxwell) finally reached an altitude of over six miles, but of this he is not positive, as his ability to 'read the instruments ceased at the height of 5f miles. On this pom he says : On asking Mr Coxwell whether he had noticed the temperature, he said he could. not as the faces of the instalments were all towrffeis' me ; but that he had noticed that the centre of the aneroid barometer, its blue hand, and a rope attached to the car, where in the same straight line. If so, the reading must have been between 7 and 8 inches. A height of 6£ miles corresponds to 8 inches. A delicate self registering minimum thermometer reads minus 12° ; but unfortunately I did not read it till I was out of (he car, and I cannot say that its index was not disturbed. THE DESCENT. The account of the descent is equally interesting, Mr (xlaisber says: i On descending, when the temperature rose to 17° it was remarked as warm, and at 24° it was i;oted as very warm. The. temperature then gradually increased to 57^° on reaching the earth. It was remarked that the sand was quite warm to the hand, and steam issued from it when it was discharged. Six pigeons were tukcu up. Oue was thrown out at the height of three miles ; it extended its wings and dropped as a piece of paper. A second, at four miles,