Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-10-26

'ney saw the sea. Alter passing CdnleF-
bury, the course altered towards the north,
which would have carried them into the
German Ocean. The point was now to
change the course in the direction of Pa
ris. Ballast was now thrown out, the BAL
loon rose in another current, recovered her
direction TO the southeast, and crossed the
Straits of Dover in exactly an hour, about
| 5000 feet above the level of the sea.
1t was fifty minutes past five, conse-
i, quently the balloon rapidly plunged into
| night. The aspect Of the world now be-
came curious in the extreme. The whole
plane of the earth's surface for leagues
round, as far and farther than the eye
could distinctly embrace, seemed absolute
y teeming with the scattered fires Of the
population, and exhibited starry specta-
Gle below, that almost rivaled the lustre Of
the armament above. necessarily, during
the early portion Of the night, before the
inhabitants had retired TO rest, large sour
ces Of light, exhibiting the presence of
some more exclusive community, would
appear just looming above the horizon in
the direction in which they were advanc-
ing. bearing at first no faint resemblance
o. some vast conaagra;on. BY degrees as
they grew higher, this confused mass of
illumination would appear to increase in
intensity, extending over large portion of
the view, and assuming more distinct ap
pearance, until at length as the balloon
passed directly over the spot, it suddenly
resolved itself into streets and squares, ex
hibting the perfect model of town, but
diminished into curious minuteness by the
height from which it was seen. In this
manner the aeronauts rapidly traversed a
large space Of the continent, embracing a
vast succession Of towns and villages sole
ly distinguished by their nightly ilumlna-
ton. One Of these views snguarly cap
tivated their attention. They approached
district which seemed actually to blaze
with innumerable fires, studding the whole
horizon. As they swept along, they saw
a central city in the midst Of this circle Of
flame, with every line of its streets marked
out by its particular range Of illumination,
The theatres and other public buildings,
the squares and all the prominent features
Of the city, were indicated by the larger
Accommodations of light. They could even
hear the busy murmur Of the population
the whole forming an earthly picture Of
the most striking contrast to the darkness,
the serenity, of the vast region above in
which they were moving. This was the
city Of Leige, whose surrounding iron
foundrcs, formed tho horizon Of fame.-
This was the last spectacle of the kind
which me, their eyes. Thencefor,h it was
all midnight, every sound was hushed, ev-
cry light died, and all was solemn and aw
full obscurity. Withdrawn from the earth
which was buried in the profoundest still
ness, they looked to the heavens. There
was no moon. The hue Of the sky was
intensely black, but the stars redoubed in
their ustre, shone like sparks of the viii
test silver. Occasional flashes Of lightning
in the north.
In a situation, which il was never in the
power of man to describe before, the sketch
Of night given by Mr.. Mason, has all the
iterest of a new source Of ideas. Moth
ng,' says this clever describer, 'could ex-
coed the density Of night, which prevailed
during this part Of the voyage. Not sin
gle terrestrial object could any where be dis
llISutSllCu. an oUS IS vi
da rkness visible seemed TO encompass US
on every side. And, as we looked for
ward into lis obscurity in the direction in
which we were proceeding. we could scarce
ly resist the impression that we were cea-
wing our way through an interminable
mass Of black marble, in which we were
imbedded, and which, solid few inches
before US seemed 10 soften as we approach
ed, in order TO admit us farther within the
precincts Of its cold and dusky Enclosure.
Even the lights, which, at times were low
cred from the car, instead Of dispeling,
seemed only to augment the intensity Of
the surrounding darkness, and as they de-
scended deeper into its frozen bosom, alb
solutely TO meet on their way downwards.'
The cold was at the point of congealation.
The oil, the water, and the coffee were
completely frozen. Yet the sufferngs Of
the 9ronauts were not severe, in conse-
quenc eof their being entirely exempt from
the action Of the wind.
While they were thus rushing on with
almost whirlwind rapidity through the
ocean of darkness, yet almost unconscious
of motion, an accident occurred calculated
to alarm them in an extraordinary degree
By the discharge Of ballast, the balloon
had suddenly risen TO an elevation of abou,
10000 feet, (about two miles. In a few
moments after they heard violent burst
from the top of the balloon, followed by a
loud rustling Of the silk, and all the signs
Of its having been torn suddenly open.-
Immediately the car began TO toss, as if Sc
vered from the ropes, and appeared TO be
sinking to the earth. 4 second and a
third explosion followed rapidly, evidently
giving the voyagers the impression that
they were upon the point of being dashed
10 pieces.
But the alarm was brief The great ma
chine suddenly recovered its stiffness. and