CHAPTER X.
4th Cannon heard.
Section 62.AT 10 Minutes and a half past II. o’Clock, the fourth or last Cannon, a Six-pounder (to announce, by preconcerted Agreement, that the Balloon began to be invisible to Spectators in Castle-Yard, Chester) was distinctly heard by the Aironaut; but had no Effect on the Balloon: did not agitate it in the least: the contrary of which was expected.
For the same Cannon, discharged the third Time at the Distance of 30 Yards from the Balloon, when it had risen a few Feet from the Ground; affected it so strongly, that the Aironaut was then only obliged to keep himself upright, by holding the Cords with his Hands.
Balloon first invisible to the Inhabitants of Chester.
63. At 17 Minutes past II. was heard the Sound of a Number of Voices, which it was then imagined came from Chester, as the farewel Salute after the last Cannon: but it was afterwards known that the Balloon did not become wholly invisible, till that Shout.
Distance of the Balloon calculated.
64. From an Observation made by a Spectator in the Castle-Yard, just half an Hour intervened between the Discharge of the third, and of the last Cannon; as therefore the Report was half a Minute, or 30 Seconds[21] longer in reaching the Balloon; the Distance of the Balloon at the Time of the Report was nearly six Miles and a half.
Chester seen as a small Model.