Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-12-07


stantly allowing gas to escape. Our ape
preach TO the earth was announced to US
by the noise OF water falling. Found the
mountains, and 10 little time we could
discover their highest tops, partially seen
through broken masses CT clouds. Never
was there fiDer or more sublime s2ecta~
Gle Witnessed than now presented itselfs
the dark aud barren tract OF that mountain
country which we had just passed, pare
tally buried by huge masses Of dark va.
por, and clouds rolling along their sumo
mits, contrasied with the highly cultivated
aud magnificent prospect, which, though
family discovered, was every instant pre-
seHtiug new objects, and deiishting US by
their variety. Three minutes past iours
the balloon was again agitated, with more
violence than at first; we found we had
reached the first current OF south west,
Here we descended so low as 10 perceive
The trees agitated by the wiud; and on
Mr.. Livingston calling to person who
was Immediately under us at work, what
county We were in, was told Yorkshire.
From our observation now Oh the passing
objects, we were struck by the very rapid
progress we were making our eye was
scarcely fixed on particular place ere
We had left il far behind as the w,ud had
Increased very much since we left Liver
pool. AT eighteen minutes past four Mr..
Livingston pointed out to me circum-
stance which deserves remark; il has
been hitherto supposed that the balloon,
| in its rising, turns on its axis from left 10
right, and retains that melton until it de-
lscends; this, however, we found not to
be he case, for although il had taken that
motion on its ascending, at this period it
had ceased, and he observed il change TO
a kind of oscillating motion, but alter
time returned TO the first. Probably this
was given by the change of current. We
again descended very lew, AID az car :;a.-
lqniry where we were, received the iufor-
nation, in the county of Durham.
The country all seemed alive. hundreds
running along the road and across the in-
closures, Fastening, we presume, TO where
they supposed we would come down; but
| Of this we had no intention. Here we
counted our ballast, and consulted the
watch-we found we had ten bags unex.
lpended and that it wanted len minuies 10
live; we ACCORDINGLY acknowledgements
tup until six o'clock. and prosecute our
voyage to the utmost This determination
we however we're obliged 10 relinqnish,
for in looking forward in the direction Of
iour route We were struck with its appear
ance.
At first We supposed il to be clouds res.
| ting on high lands, but in few minutes
our approach was SO quick, that the sea
burst upon us; aud, consulting our map,
we found ourselves on the verge OF the
north sea. No time was now 10 be lost
Mr.. Livingston set every thing in order in
the car, put aside our instruments, and pre-.
pared for landing, while was busiiy em-
lployed 10 fastening the grapDeI, and low
lering it over the car. Our approach to
the earth was now much accelerated by
the discharge Of gas, and we had scarcely
time TO suspend ourselves from The ropes,
when the car struck with great violence,
rebounded, and almost Immediately again
struck with accumulated force; the Crap
mel now look hold in the ground, but such
was the force Of the wind that it instantly
snapped, and we were dragged along fora
considerable way the second hook got
fast, but this also gave way by bending
nearly straight, aud our hopes in being
stopped by means Of the grspuel were
over. We had been hurried by vielouce
over the third field, striking and bounding
almost every yard, when the hoop of the
car providentially got entangIed 10
| gu ckset hedge, where II remained near a
minute, and gave us time TO renew our hold
and get strength. The wind was now We
| ry high, and, by sudden gust, the bal
loon forced the car thro' the hedge. Here,
am sorry to say, Mr.. Livingston recei-
we'd most severe hur, by the sudden jerk
Of the car, which struck his chest and side
with great violence against the earth, and
shattered the rail where he sat, and had
serious fears, that, from his being render
ed nearly insensible, he would LET go his
hold but was happy TO find he still
struggled with i. and held fast, thus secu-
ring our mutual safety, as, by the balloon
heing released of his weight, it would have
Immediately reascended and carried me
out TO sea. We now had been dragged
nearly over the fourth field, when the gust
Of wind died away, aud by continually ex-
hsusting, the balloon fell TO the ground,
and was secured by us, before some men,
Who had followed it, but were afraid to lay
hold, had come up. We now found we
had descended at Norton, about 3 2
miles from Stockton upon Tees, and With
| in five miles Of the German ocean. On
rough calculation, we supposed we had
travelled between 100 and 40 miles. but