Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Balloon

American Friend & Marietta Gazette, August 23, 1828

On Wednesday last a balloon 16 feet long and about 9 or 10 feet in diameter was prepared and sent up, from the vicinity of the Court House, in this place.  Its ascent was truly grand; its altitude was supposed to be about a mile; when at its height it appeared about the size of a barrell, and was in the air from twenty to twenty-five minutes and descended to the earth about three hundred yards distant from the place where it was started, without sustaining injury.  In the evening it was again sent up - nothing could be perceived but a ball of fire, which diminished in size till it had the appearance of a large star - it landed upwards of a mile from the place whence it was started without injury.

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