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New York History, April 1963

Local reporters seemed inspired to draw on their superlatives to describe the "beautiful and fearless Carlotta."  She was a favorite wherever she went.  But in addition to her attractiveness, she had a remarkable skill in handling a balloon, and in understanding the atmosphere.  She was undoubtedly the most expert aeronaut of her day.

In a small scarce pamphlet about her adventures "Sky-Larking in Cloudland," written by Carlotta in 1883, she tells in her own words how this Watertown flight ended:

Where are we now? Behind is Watertown where I know are thousands of eyes gazing at the little planetary dot so essential to my preservation. On my left are fields, fences, forests, and sandy farm lands. Northward glimmer the cool waters of the St.
Lawrence River, its Thousand Islands seemingly proving title to their number, as one glance takes them in. Before me stretches Lake Ontario. Its far extent of dull and leaden surface curves toward sunset and is lost in distance. There is only one
suitable spot, quite a distance ahead and to the right of my wind course, and I decide instantly that there is only one way of getting to it and remaining there in the face of the wind.

I must let out so much gas that the balloon will drop swiftly and land with so little gas remaining in it that it will not rebound into the air, or be dragged along the ground by the wind. I must also tilt the balloon and basket toward the right so that, instead of oscillating in the swift fall, it will glide on an inclined plane to the right while blown forward by the wind toward the target at which I aim. I pull the valve cord down, and now with a rush, in swift diagonal course, earth and balloon fly at each other.

Carlotta then describes her landing at some length and expresses her thankfulness at finding herself safe and unhurt after such a dangerous and abrupt landing. Then she goes on:


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