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THE PATRIOT.
HARRISBURG, PA., SEPT. 16,1875. 

AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL EXHIBITION.
             
SECOND DAY OF THE FAIR - LIVELY TIMES - A LARGE NUMBER OF LADIES PRESENT - ANOTHER FINE BALLOON ASCENSION - EXCITING RACES, ETC., ETC., ETC.
The fine weather and the extraordinary attractions announced for yesterday, had the effect of drawing a large crowd to the driving park - an excess of 400 or 500 people over the previous day - a large number of the visitors being ladies, attracted to the park to witness the ascension of the smallest, youngest, and most daring aeronaut in the United States - John Wise, jr., whose ninth ascension was announced to take place at four o'clock p.m.
The balloon "Young America" was inflated corner of Broad and Second streets, where the "Republic" was filled with gas the day previous, and conducted over the same route to the driving park followed by a crowd of men, women and children. Several captive ascensions were made under the direction of Professors John Wise, sr., and Charles Wise, when the "Young America" was allowed to rise to an altitude of 650 to 700 feet, with Master Johnny Wise in the basket. The last captive ascension was made for the benefit of our friend Mr. Harry J. Steel, the gentlemanly and energetic superintendent of the Grand opera house. Mr. Steele ontended [[intended]] that he "was up something like 700 feet," but one of his numerous friends remarked that it must have been about seventeen feet! Harry denied the soft impeachment and boldly asserted that he was up as high as Colonel Unger's old apple tree in the orchard near by and that he saw the Experts at the Union grounds making three home runs! This settled the question.
 The grand stand was well filled with ladies and gentlemen watching the movements of the symmetrical air ship undulating gently from side to side, impatient to be freed from its anchorage. Little Johnny was the observed of all observers, and as the young gentleman was the hero of the afternoon he is deserving of a notice in this connection. 
 John Wise, jr., is the son of Prof. Chas. Wise and grandson of John Wise, sr., the noted veteran aeronaut of the United States. Master John is between fourteen and fifteen years of age, weighs eighty seven pounds, and is certainly a very remarkable lad. He is a pupil of the Central high school, Philadelphia, where he has distinguished himself already by his proficiency in the various studies he is pursuing. The young aeronaut has a bright countenance, dark, lustrous eyes, heavy eyebrows, broad forehead and well developed head. He is compactly built, and is remarkably intelligent in conversation. He wore a dark cloth suit, short coat or jacket, stiff, rimmed hat, watch, etc., and seemed the very model of a man yesterday. He has made nine ascensions in his lifetime. Twice in company with his father, twice with his grandfather, and yesterday made the fifth ascension on his own book. He made his first ascension at Chambersburg in July, 1869. His ascension from Fairmount park, Philadelphia, July 5, 1875, was a fine one - the young aeronaut landing between Bustleton and Holmesburg, Philadelphia county.
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In September, 1874, he ascended in company with his father, Prof. Charles Wise and Mr. Johnston, of Lancaster, the party landing at some point point in York county, twelve miles south of York, where little Johnny was left. Messrs. Wise and Johnston again ascending and landing at Shrewsberry, York county, twenty miles further on at eight p.m. Messrs. Charles Wise and Johnston reached their home in Lancaster at four a.m. the next day while little Johnny did not make this appearance till six p.m. the next evening.
 The "Young America" (John Wise, jr's., balloon) is made of the same material as that of his grandfather and Mrs. Ihling's, English cambric, varnished. Its capacity is from 5,000 to 6,000 feet of gas, and the material required to make it was about 200 square yards. It is the "tightest" little balloon in the United States, having stood at anchor in Fairmount park, Philadelphia, on the 5th of July last, for over seven hours without losing a single pound of its lifting power. 
 A short time previous to the hour of Johnny's starting off on his ninth aerial voyage, Prof. Wise, sr., edified the crowd which had gathered around the balloon to witness the preparations for the departure, with a short account of his eventful life and experience in aerial navigation, citing many thrilling scenes and hair breadth escapes which were eagerly listened to by the interested audience. "Forty years ago, he said, it was a dangerous thing for an aeronaut to fail in making an ascension. It was equal to being mobbed and the balloon torn to shreds by the disappointed crowd. To-day with all the modern improvements, and the easy mode of procuring a good quality of gas, a failure was a rare thing; but if an occurrence of that kind befell the aeronaut, the question would be only asked, 'what is the cause of the failure?' So much for progress and civilization!" 
Everything being ready for the voyage, at four p.m., Master Wise stepped into the car, ready for work. At this juncture an aged, wealthy and highly respectable lady residing on Front street (whose carriage was near at hand), expressed a desire to see Master Wise and the veteran professor. The desire was made known to Johnny, when he leaped lightly from his basket to the grass and stepped up to the carriage of Mrs.H---, where he was introduced by Mrs. Ihling and a lady friend to the lady above referred to. The aged mother spoke kindly to the youthful aeronaut, patting him on the head, gave him her blessing and wished him a safe voyage through the air.
Once more in his basket Master Wise exclaimed, "ready." Prof. Wise then delegated Mrs. Ihling and Mrs. C-- E--, her friend and relative, to take hold of the cord and give little 
Johnny a good send off. The ladies did as requested, towing the balloon to a safe spot, when at the words "one, two, three," the cord was abandoned and the balloon rose slowly up till it reached a height of fifteen or twenty feet when it suddenly dropped again. Before it could reach the ground, however, Master Johnny had thrown out a bag or two of sand. Thus relieved the "Young America" rose up gracefully amid immense cheering -- Johnny taking off his hat and waving it in response. The beautiful aerial ship then rose almost perpendicularly to a height of 1,000 feet - sailed gently to the river bank, thence down the river toward the city, crossing the city above Broad street on a line about a point south of east. Continuing on it rose higher and higher till it gained an altitude of many thousand feet, then floated proudly over Allison's hill, east Harrisburg, heading down the valley. It was observed for over an hour after the ascension by thousands of our citizens-moving away to the east, till it seemed at last no larger than an orange and was finally lost to view. Many were the surmises as to where the young aeronaut would land. Some suggested Lebanon, others Elizabethtown and some Lan
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caster. These conjectures were speedily dispelled by a dispatch received from Middletown stating that the daring young aeronaut had landed safely in Londonderry township, about three miles from that place. 
At eight p.m. Master Johnny made his appearance at the hotel an[[d]] I gave a PATRIOT reporter the following account of his adventure: 
"I landed safely in a corn field on the farm of Mr. Jacob Reider, in Londonderry township, Dauphin county, three miles from the depot at Middletown at 5:05 p.m., Mr. John Garrett and neighbors and some boys from Middletown lending me willing hands to help in securing the balloon. I sailed in a direct line about fifteen miles from the driving park. I had intended to go further, but had only a few pounds of ballast left. Reached Harrisburg at eight p.m."
 The plucky young aeronaut has promised to furnish us with a short sketch of his adventure yesterday. 
 Prof. John Wise will make a grand and final ascension on to-morrow (Friday) afternoon in his fine balloon "Centennial."
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THE PATRIOT.

HARRISBURG, PA., SEPT. 17, 1875.

JOHNNY WISE'S BALLOON ASCENSION.
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HIS OWN ACCOUNT OF THE AERIAL VOYAGE. 
Johnny Wise gives the following account of his trip in cloudland on Wednesday afternoon:
MR.EDITOR: The process of inflation having been completed, the balloon was towed out to the fair grounds on a wagon, and at 2.45 I was let up by the trail rope some 600 or 700ft and had a good view of the town, and at 3 p.m. I was pulled down again. At 3.55 I was let loose, and at 4 o'clock I was 1,500ft high and the thermometer marking 82º. I was then moving down the road towards the river, which appeared to be shallow, as I could see the bottom of it very plainly. I was now moving toward Harrisburg and I could see a great many small towns and villages. I was now nearing the base ball grounds, and I threw over a small amount of ballast. At 4:05 the barometer marked 2,800ft high and the thermometer 80º. I then happened to think of the bottles of pop and sarsaparilla which Mr. L. H. Nowviock had liberally provided me with, and I then uncorked the bottle, which made a loud report, and drank Mr. Nowviock's health. I watched where the cork fell until it went out of sight, but it must have fallen somewhere near the base ball grounds. At 4:10 I was right over Harrisburg. I was now 4,000ft. high, and the thermometer had fallen to 78º. Fairview was right opposite me. I threw out some circulars announcing the fair, which Mr. Noviock had thrown into the car. The sun now came out and the scenery looked very grand. I could now hardly see to the west, but to the east and northeast I could see a great distance. At 4:15 I was 4,5000ft. high; thermometer, 74º. I was opposite the two bridges and could hear the dogs barking very plainly and the bells ringing. At 4:20 I was 6,000ft. high; thermometer 76º. I could see Middletown, Hummelstown and another small town. I was now following the railroad. I lost sight of the park. At 4:25 I was 7,000ft. high; thermometer 80º. I was near a village. At 4:30 I was 6,000ft. high, coming down and balloon blowing off gas; thermometer 78º; balloon under the shadow of a cloud; threw out some ballast and the balloon reascend-
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Edited Do not need to indent new paragraphs.