That my countenance was serene and placid, without
earnestness or anxiety, he had noticed before going into the
ring. It then struck him that I was insensible. He wished then
to approach me, but could not, and he felt insensibility coming
over himself. He became anxious to open the valve, but, in
consequence of having lost the use of his hands, he could not;
and ultimately he did so by seizing the cord with his teeth and
dipping his head two or three times. No inconvenience followed
our insensibility. When we dropped it was in a country where no
accommodation of any kind could be obtained, so that we had to
walk between seven and eight miles. At the time of ceasing our
observations the ascent was at the rate of 1,000 feet per minute,
and on resuming observations the descent was at the rate of 2,000
feet per minute. These two positions must be connected, having
relation to the interval of time which elapsed between them; and
they can scarcely be connected at a point less than 36,000 or
37,000 feet high. Again, a very delicate minimum thermometer was
found to read minus 12 degrees, and that reading would indicate
an elevation exceeding 36,000 feet. There cannot be any doubt
that the balloon attained the great height of seven miles--the
greatest ever reached.
Pages:
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230