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uously strove to keep it down； and at last the former party prevailed； and the balloon； being fairly cast into the air； grazed a neighbouring chimney and then plunged into an adjacent plot； not； however； before the distracted traveller had flung away all his little stock of sand。 There now was brief opportunity for free action； and to the first bystander who came running up Wise gave the task of holding the car in check。 To the next he handed out his instruments； his coat； and also his boots； hoping thus to get away； but his chance had not yet come； for once again the crowd swarmed round him； keeping him prisoner with good…natured but mistaken interference； and drowning his voice with excited shouting。 Somehow； by word and gesture； he gave his persecutors to understand that he wished to speak； and then he begged them only to give him a chance； whereupon the crowd fell back； forming a ring； and leaving only one man holding the car。 It was a moment of suspense； for Wise calculated that he had only parted with some eighteen pounds since his first ineffectual start from the filling ground； but it was enough； and in another moment he was sailing up clear above the crowd。 So great； as has been already shewn； is often the effect of parting with the last few pounds of dead weight in a well…balanced balloon。
Such was the first 〃send off〃 of the future great balloonist； destined to become the pioneer in aeronautics on the far side of the Atlantic。 The balloon ascended to upwards of a mile； floating gradually away； but at its highest point it reached a conflict of currents； causing eddies from which Wise escaped by a slight decrease of weight； effected by merely cutting away the wreaths of flowers that were tied about his car。 A further small substitute for ballast he extemporised in the metal tube inserted in the neck of his fabric； and this he cast out when over the breadth of the Delaware； and he describes it as falling with a rustling sound； and striking the water with a splash plainly heard at more than a mile in the sky。 After an hour and a quarter the balloon spontaneously and steadily settled to earth。
An ascent carried out later in the same summer led to a mishap； which taught the young aeronaut an all…important lesson。 Using the same balloon and the same mode of inflation； he got safely and satisfactorily away from his station in the town of Lebanon； Pa。； and soon found himself over a toll gate in the open country； where the gate keeper in banter called up to him for his due。 To this summons Wise； with heedless alacrity； responded in a manner which might well have cost him dear。 He threw out a bag of sand to represent his toll； and； though he estimated this at only six pounds； it so greatly accelerated his ascent that he shortly found himself at a greater altitude than he ever after attained。 He passed through mist into upper sunshine； where he experienced extreme cold and ear…ache； at which time； seeking the natural escape from such trouble； he found to his dismay that the valve rope was out of reach。 Thus he was compelled to allow the balloon to ascend yet higher； at its own will； and then a terrible event happened。
By mischance the neck of his balloon； which should have been open； was out of reach and folded inwards in such a way as to prevent the free escape of the gas； which； at this great altitude； struggled for egress with a loud humming noise； giving him apprehensions of an accident which very shortly occurred； namely； the bursting of the lower part of his balloon with a loud report。 It happened； however； that no extreme loss of gas ensued； and he commenced descending with a speed which； though considerable； was not very excessive。 Still； he was eager to alight in safety； until a chance occurrence made him a second time that afternoon guilty of an act of boyish impetuosity。 A party of volunteers firing a salute in his honour as he neared the ground； he instantly flung out papers； ballast； anything he could lay his hands on； and once again soared to a great height with his damaged balloon。 He could then do no more； and presently subsiding to earth again； he acquired the welcome knowledge that even in such precarious circumstances a balloon may make a long fall with safety to its freight。
Mr。 Wise's zeal and indomitable spirit of enterprise led to speedy developments of the art which he had espoused； the road to success being frequently pointed out by failure or mishap。 He quickly discarded the linen balloon for one of silk on which he tried a new varnish composed of linseed oil and india…rubber； and； dressing several gores with this； he rolled them up and left them through a night in a drying loft； with the result that the next day they were disintegrated and on the point of bursting into flame by spontaneous combustion。 Fresh silk and other varnish were then tried； but with indifferent success。 Next he endeavoured to dispense with sewing； and united the gores of yet another balloon by the mere adhesiveness of the varnish and application of a hot iron。 This led to a gaping seam developing at the moment of an ascent； and then there followed a hasty and hazardous descent on a house…top and an exciting rescue by a gentleman who appeared opportunely at a third storey window。 Further； another balloon had been destroyed； and Wise badly burned； at a descent； owing to a naked light having been brought near the escaping gas。 It is then without wonder that we find him after this temporarily bankrupt； and resorting to his skill in instrument…making to recover his fortunes。 Only； however； for a few months； after which he is before the public once more as a professional aeronaut。 He now adopts coal gas for inflation； and incidents of an impressive nature crowd into his career； forcing important facts upon him。 The special characteristics of his own country present peculiar difficulties； broad rivers and vast forests become serious obstacles。 He is caught in the embrace of a whirlwind； he narrowly escapes falling into a forest fire； he is precipitated； but harmlessly； into a pine wood。 Among other experiments； he makes a small copy of Mr。 Cocking's parachute； and drops it to earth with a cat as passenger； proving thereby that that unfortunate gentleman's principle was really less in fault than the actual slenderness of the material used in his machine。
We now approach one of Wise's boldest； and at the same time most valuable； experiments。 It was the summer of 1839； and once again the old trouble of spontaneous combustion had destroyed a silk balloon which was to have ascended at Easton； Pa。 Undeterred； however； Wise resolutely advertised a fresh attempt； and； with only a clear month before the engagement； determined on hastily rigging up a cambric muslin balloon； soaking it in linseed oil and essaying the best exhibition that this improvised experiment could afford。 It was intended to become a memorable one； inasmuch as； should he meet with no hindrance； his determination was nothing less than that of bursting this balloon at a great height； having firmly convinced himself that the machine in these circumstances would form itself into a natural parachute； and bring him to earth with every chan