Carlisle Patriot, 01 Oct 1825 - Sights of the Week (3)
petra.mi...@doctors.org.uk
Saturday 01 Oct 1825 (p. 3, col. 1-3)
SIGHTS OF THE WEEK.
[continued]
THE BALLOON.
Messrs. GREEN's superb Balloon ascended on Thursday, and was the grand object of attraction.
So early as eight o'clock in the morning, every entrance to Carlisle was literally crowded with equestrians and pedestrians flocking in to witness the ascent of the Balloon—an object wholly new to ninety-nine out of every hundred, for we believe this is the first exhibition of the kind that has taken place in Cumberland.
We have already hinted that Mr. GREEN was so fortunate as to obtain leave to ascend from the green or area within the walls of Carlisle Castle, as fine a situation as any in the kingdom.
In order to fill the Balloon with facility, iron pipes were laid from the Castle to the bottom of Castle-street, and there connected with one of the mains belonging to the Gas Company. The process of inflation commenced on Wednesday morning; and by four in the afternoon the immense machine was so much expanded as to display its vast proportions and beauty to a great number of visitors, who crowded thither for the purpose of seeing persons taken up to a certain height, and pulled down again by a string; but the inflation had not sufficiently advanced to admit of taking up more than forty or fifty pounds, consequently those who promised themselves so great an elevation were disappointed in their ambitious projects!
Between twelve and one, on Thursday, was the time announced for the ascent. Many hundreds were admitted to the Castle at various prices, according to station and age, long before that hour. Seats were provided for the ladies, and a band of music attended; the grey walls of the old fortress were covered with beauty and fashion, who, in addition to what was going on within, enjoyed one of the finest landscapes that can be conceived. The high grounds on the opposite side of the river presented a spectacle of the most interesting description—they were studded with thousands upon thousands of anxious spectators.
At one o'clock, a pilot balloon was sent up to announce that the inflation was complete: it went off with great rapidity, before a fine breeze, in a north western direction.
The Balloon is a very fine one. It is composed of red and yellow silk, in alternate stripes: its circumference is 107 feet; it's capacity 16,000 cubic feet, or 141,360 gallons of Gas.
When thus expanded, undulating in the breeze, eager, as it were, to burst the fetters which bound it to the earth in order to explore the region of the clouds, it presented a magnificent and most interesting object of contemplation.
Great anxiety was evinced, as to who was to be Mr. GREEN's adventurous companion. A gentleman of Carlisle was named, and really intended to ascend, up to one o'clock; but a medical friend having declared that his health was not in a fit state for such a voyage, he with great reluctance resigned his seat in the car to Mr. William RAMSHAY, third son of the Rev. Thos. RAMSHAY of Brampton.
Just before two, the stupendous machine was brought nearly to the centre of the area; Mr. GREEN and Mr. RAMSHAY took their appointed stations, and every thing being ready, the command to "let go" was obeyed, and off they went, amidst loud cheering, before a strong breeze, in the same direction as the pilot balloon, with a majestic rapidity which no words can describe. The aeronauts had not time to display their flags, at bounding away, but they waved their hands, and Mr. RAMSHAY, in a few moments, took off his hat, and twirled it in a manner that proved he was nothing daunted by the novelty of his situation.
When the Balloon attained an elevation of a few hundred feet, it got into a steady current of air; the oscillation ceased; and the tens of thousands below had a full opportunity of contemplating ærostation in perfection. It remained in sight from the Castle-walls exactly 38 minutes, gradually diminishing to a mere speck in the horizon.
Curiosity gratified, the countless multitudes quitted their positions, and bent their way towards the town. The people returning, in dense mass, over Eden Bridge, presented a scene scarcely less interesting than the Balloon itself at the moment of leaving the earth. For more than half an hour this immense stream of human faces flowed uninterruptedly into Rickergate, the new road, and the race-course; it is not in our power to state the number with any pretensions to accuracy; but our opinion is, that from sixty to eighty thousand persons were assembled in the Castle and around the City to witness this interesting spectacle. All appeared to have been highly gratified, and not an accident occurred, so far as we are aware, to damp the enjoyment of the day.
The following is Mr. GREEN's own account of the voyage and descent:
"At a quarter before two, every arrangement being complete, I released the balloon from its moorings, but owing to the boisterous state of the wind, the balloon was so much agitated, that the car was some time before it gained its equilibrium. My companion was highly delighted with his voyage, continually expressing his delight at the views beneath him. After remaining in the atmosphere one hour and a half, I made every arrangement for a descent, which was effected in a pasture-field not far from Beatock-Bridge, in Scotland; but from the violence of the concussion, I conjecture my companion was dislodged from the car; and the Balloon, on losing so much of its weight, immediately rose to a considerable altitude. On attempting a second descent, not having the means of checking the same, my store of ballast being exhausted, I experienced some difficulty, but finally effected a landing in a grass field belonging to Alexander SCOTT, Esq. of Stenries-hill, near Moffat, to whom, for his generous disposition towards me, I beg to return my warmest acknowledgments: I also owe to this gentleman the preservation of the balloon from injury. My highest altitude was a mile and a thousand feet before the first descent; the Balloon afterwards rose considerably higher. I take this opportunity of returning my grateful thanks to Colonel SKERRET, Messrs. PORTER, and other gentlemen totally unknown to me, for their kindness and assistance on this occasion.—In compliance with the wishes of a considerable number of the inhabitants of Carlisle, it is my intention to make a second ascent from the same place, in the course of a few days, the precise time of which I shall duly announce in the public papers."
Mr. RAMSHAY reached the ground in perfect safety, but we are sorry to say that Mr. GREEN was considerably hurt by the violent manner in which the car afterwards came in contact with the earth, on account of its lightness. He was however well enough to return to town early this morning, and having kept himself quiet, is in a convalescing state, and will probably regain his strength in the course of a few days.
[to be continued]
