Vermont Phoenix, July 7th, 1855 “BALLOON ASCENT.—Mons Gustave Reynard, an experienced aeronaut, ascended in a balloon from Springfield on the 4th. The Springfield Republican says:
“The wind was high, and when the cords were loosed, the balloon with its daring aeronaut shot upward like a rocket. It rapidly rose and swept away to the east of north and in a very few minutes was lost behind a large bank of white clouds. When at an estimated height of four thousand feet, the aeronaut detached his parachute, an umbrella-like structure, to which was attached a live white cat in net work and basket. This came slowly and safely down, but was wafted so far north by the wind that it only reached the earth in Chicopee Falls. Pussy was very badly frightened, net unhurt.
“The balloon descended at New Salem in Franklin County, about 30 miles to the east of north from Springfield. It started from here at five minutes past four, and came down at New Salem at twenty-five minutes of five, thus traveling thirty miles in thirty minutes. Mr. Reynard, the aeronaut, was seen descending by a party of gentlemen who were on a fishing excursion, and they followed him until they saw him throw out his anchor, when they rendered as much assistance as was necessary. At first, in descending, his anchor caught on a fence, but that giving away it next became entangled in a tree in some woods, and he was thus brought to the ground, at a place in the northern part of New Salem, about five miles south of Orange. The balloon sustained no injury in the voyage.
“Mr. R. let go the parachute at a distance of some three thousand feet from the earth and not more than a half a mile (had the parachute fallen in a straight line) from his starting point. On letting it go he distinctly heard the shout made by the crowd on government square, and on entering the cloud, soon after, which hid him from sight, he plainly heard the cackling of hens, a dog barking and the noise of some crows. His highest ascension was fifteen thousand feet. During the time he was in the air he met several different currents, but none of consequence, and was driven on a t a tremendous speed towards the north-east. He passed over several thunder storms, saw the lightning and heard the thunder below, while the full sun shone on him above, and at times the wind was so strong that the bottom of his balloon was blown up, giving it a convex shape; and although he opened the escape valve the balloon still rose. At times Mr. R. says he experienced sensations of want of breath, intense coldness, and thought himself for a while lost, the clouds below hiding the earth from himself.””
