The Topeka Daily Commonwealth of July 5, 1882, opened its coverage of the Independence Day celebration noting a cool and breezy morning that was “just the day for a holiday.” Observance of the day began early.

“The late sleeper was awakened by the sound of exploding fire crackers and general commotion, and the noise was pretty evenly distributed over the city. Where there was a small boy in the family, there was at least a bushel of patriotism and several dollars worth of explosives.”

A large crowd of spectators gathered early along Kansas Avenue to view a test of the new Holly Water Works installed to fight fire. The Capital City Cornet Band was on hand, attired in new blue blouses with gilt epaulets and sporting white cork hats “surmounted by a brass peak.”

Near 10 o’clock, large streams of water were thrown an estimated 139 feet into the air through “inch nozzles” while the band “played excellently.”

A second test used two lines of hose attached to two hydrants with a “siamesed nozzle” 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Water thrown 175 feet into the heavens pleased everybody in attendance.

A third test utilizing three hoses and a 2-inch nozzle was supposed to go even higher, but only sent the water 166 feet in the air and 200 feet in a horizontal direction.

At the conclusion of the test, the operators found that one of the hydrants had not been turned on, limiting the water pressure. At full pressure, the stream was estimated to reach 200 feet “straight up.”

At the water works, a stream was “kept playing” all day for the pleasure of the great number of visitors to the new facility.

By 1 o’clock the streets were abandoned “for the cool shade of the woods at various places.” Preparations had been made for the pleasure of the public at Hartzell Park. Cool nooks, shady walks and drives with fountains, refreshment stands and other attractions looked very inviting, however, the 50 cent admission kept many away. Those who entered were entertained with a variety of amusements from rope-walking, bicycling and skating to wheelbarrow and sack races. The band triumphed with excellent music, “winning high and well-merited compliments from the audience.”

Of great interest was the advertised wedding of Miss Jennie Adams of Shawnee County to Mr. Albert Morris of Sangamon County, Ill. The wedding had been advertised for weeks as the “marriage of a lady and gentleman in the air, in the balloon car, with renowned aeronauts Profs. Chas. E. Wise and John Wise Jr.”

A fresh breeze caused the restless balloon to tug forcefully at the ropes that were holding it in place. Wise stepped into the basket followed by the bride and groom. Finally, Justice Hazen boarded the car. The ropes were loosened. The balloon stirred to the delight of the crowd. As it halted at a height of 20 feet, silence fell over the attending throng.

“Only those who were quite near heard the questions and response, but all noticed Justice Hazen congratulate the married people.”

The basket was lowered, Justice Hazen stepped out. With a wave to the crowd, a roar of loud cheers and cries of farewell greeted the newly wed couple. The balloon ascended to a height of 100 feet, drift- ing with the wind in a southwesterly direction. As it left the city, the balloon rose rapidly until the basket appeared as merely a tiny speck below a goblet-shaped balloon.

“The trip lasted about a half an hour; the voyagers alighted a few miles from the city.”

Later that evening a Daily Commonwealth reporter found the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Morris, in the dining room of Myers Brothers restaurant. They were perfectly willing to talk about their trip through the skies, rising to 2,000 feet at the start according to the barometer. They sailed very easily until they found themselves sinking. At that point, ballast was discarded, allowing them to shoot up to a height of 5,000 feet.

“There we stopped, and on looking down saw the fair ground and timber of the creek below us. We had been revolving gently all the while, and the motion continued while we were not moved in any direction ... Every farm looked like a flower garden, the yellow of the wheat and green of the hedges and grass blending into lovely combinations ... Everything looks different and prettier up in the air.”

They rose to a height of 7,200 feet before descending to land 7 1/2 miles southwest of Topeka.

“We struck the ground about 10 times before we landed, and the first bump was a pretty hard one.”

They brushed through a hedge row and bumped across the field before their grappling hook finally caught in the hedge on the other side of the field. Within a few minutes, they were surrounded by a surprised group of rural picnickers. The newlyweds exited the basket and Mr. Wise sailed off, first to the southwest. Turning east, the balloon disappeared as though it were no more than a dreamy vision of days gone by, on The Way West.

“The Cowboy” Jim Gray can be reached at 220 21st Rd., Geneseo, KS 67444, (785) 531-2058 or kansascowboy@kans.com.