CHAPTERXVII.BALLOON STILL DESCENDING.Section 98.THE Car, glidingoverTrees in thefartherHedge-Row of a Grass Field, glanced on the Ground.Caution on Landing.The Aironaut, beingpreparedfor the Event, supported aPartof the Weight of his Body by his Hands, grasping theupperHoop.The Balloonstooping, and declining from the North-West Breeze, drew theupperHoop out of the Perpendicular: by which Means, the Bottom of that Division of the Barometer-Frame which contained theTube, pressed against the Bottom of the Car on the Ground, wasseparatedfrom the remaining Half of the Frame, and fell on theGrass.The Balloon, then rising with an elasticBound, elevated the Car a fewYards, and descended to the Ground, butmoregently than before: rose again; and the Aironaut perceiving that the progressive Motion of the Breeze was bringing the Balloon near athirdHedge; took up his Knife, (which lay by himready openfor Use) andcut awaythe remaining Half of theBarometer-Frame; threw out theBasket with the Bottles,More Ballast parted with, viz. seven Pounds.andTunning Dish; theSpeaking Trumpet; theWoollen Gloves, the remaining half Mile ofTwine on the Reel.[31]The Carclearedthe Hedge, andslightlyfor anInstanttouched Ground, thethirdTime.Farmers offering their Assistance.99. During these Operations; the Aironaut had observed different Personsin Motion towards him, who proved to be severalFarmersandLabourerswho had run themselves out of Breath toovertakethe Balloon.One asked the Aironaut, whether he intended to alight; and was answered, “Not for any Time.”Proof of thegentleDescent.100. The Car alighted each Time sosmoothly, that neither theWatchnorThermometerthat lay near each other on thegreenBays at the Bottom, were displaced. Nor was theGlass Tubecontaining the Quicksilver, separated from the Division of the Frame in which it was originally fixed: but the whole was brought back, a few Days after, in a perfect State:except a small Hole, made in Consequence of the inverted Situation of theMercuryin Vacuo,whichfell against the Top of the exhausted Tube.Balloon landed near Frodsham.The Carfirstlanded at 28 Minutes past III, in a Field belonging to a Farm called Bellair, in the Township of Kingsley, near two Miles East by South from the Town of Frodsham, and twelve from Chester.END OF THE FIRST PART.
CHAPTERXVII.
Section 98.THE Car, glidingoverTrees in thefartherHedge-Row of a Grass Field, glanced on the Ground.
Caution on Landing.
The Aironaut, beingpreparedfor the Event, supported aPartof the Weight of his Body by his Hands, grasping theupperHoop.
The Balloonstooping, and declining from the North-West Breeze, drew theupperHoop out of the Perpendicular: by which Means, the Bottom of that Division of the Barometer-Frame which contained theTube, pressed against the Bottom of the Car on the Ground, wasseparatedfrom the remaining Half of the Frame, and fell on theGrass.
The Balloon, then rising with an elasticBound, elevated the Car a fewYards, and descended to the Ground, butmoregently than before: rose again; and the Aironaut perceiving that the progressive Motion of the Breeze was bringing the Balloon near athirdHedge; took up his Knife, (which lay by himready openfor Use) andcut awaythe remaining Half of theBarometer-Frame; threw out theBasket with the Bottles,More Ballast parted with, viz. seven Pounds.andTunning Dish; theSpeaking Trumpet; theWoollen Gloves, the remaining half Mile ofTwine on the Reel.[31]
The Carclearedthe Hedge, andslightlyfor anInstanttouched Ground, thethirdTime.
Farmers offering their Assistance.
99. During these Operations; the Aironaut had observed different Personsin Motion towards him, who proved to be severalFarmersandLabourerswho had run themselves out of Breath toovertakethe Balloon.
One asked the Aironaut, whether he intended to alight; and was answered, “Not for any Time.”
Proof of thegentleDescent.
100. The Car alighted each Time sosmoothly, that neither theWatchnorThermometerthat lay near each other on thegreenBays at the Bottom, were displaced. Nor was theGlass Tubecontaining the Quicksilver, separated from the Division of the Frame in which it was originally fixed: but the whole was brought back, a few Days after, in a perfect State:except a small Hole, made in Consequence of the inverted Situation of theMercuryin Vacuo,whichfell against the Top of the exhausted Tube.
Balloon landed near Frodsham.
The Carfirstlanded at 28 Minutes past III, in a Field belonging to a Farm called Bellair, in the Township of Kingsley, near two Miles East by South from the Town of Frodsham, and twelve from Chester.
END OF THE FIRST PART.