CHAPTER XVII.
BALLOON STILL DESCENDING.
Section 98. THE Car, gliding over Trees in the farther Hedge-Row of a Grass Field, glanced on the Ground.
The Aironaut, being prepared for the Event, supported a Part of the Weight of his Body by his Hands, grasping the upper Hoop.
The Balloon stooping, and declining from the North-West Breeze, drew the upper Hoop out of the Perpendicular: by which Means, the Bottom of that Division of the Barometer-Frame which contained the Tube, pressed against the Bottom of the Car on the Ground, was separated from the remaining Half of the Frame, and fell on the Grass.
The Balloon, then rising with an elastic Bound, elevated the Car a few Yards, and descended to the Ground, but more gently than before: rose again; and the Aironaut perceiving that the progressive Motion of the Breeze was bringing the Balloon near a third Hedge; took up his Knife, (which lay by him ready open for Use) and cut away the remaining Half of the Barometer-Frame; threw out the Basket with the Bottles,More Ballast parted with, viz. seven Pounds. and Tunning Dish; the Speaking Trumpet; the Woollen Gloves, the remaining half Mile of Twine on the Reel.[31]
The Car cleared the Hedge, and slightly for an Instant touched Ground, the third Time.
99. During these Operations; the Aironaut had observed different Persons in Motion towards him, who proved to be several Farmers and Labourers who had run themselves out of Breath to overtake the Balloon.
One asked the Aironaut, whether he intended to alight; and was answered, “Not for any Time.”
100. The Car alighted each Time so smoothly, that neither the Watch nor Thermometer that lay near each other on the green Bays at the Bottom, were displaced. Nor was the Glass Tube containing 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 the Mercury in Vacuo, which fell against the Top of the exhausted Tube.
The Car first landed 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.