Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-01-29


some uncasiness, and anxiously inquired
whether thought he could be recognized by
any one at our then distance from the EARTH
| told him it was impossible. Nevertheless
he continued very uneasy, frequently repeating
Il hope they don't see,' and entreating me eur
nestly to discharge more ballast Itthen fash
ed upon me for the first time that his offer to
ascend with me mad been a whim of the mo-
merit and that he feared being seen at that Pc
rilous elevation by any member of his own fam
lily. Therefore asked him if he resided at
lIoxtoh, to which he replied in the Affirmative
urging again, and with great vehemence, the
emptyng of the remaining sandbags.
This however, was odt ofthe question: con-
sidcring the altitude of the balloon, the course
of the wind, and the proximity of the sea coast
But my 'comradc was deaf to these rcasons-he
insisted on going higher and on my refusal to
discharge more ballast, deliberately pulled off
and threw his hat, coat, and wastcoat over
board.
Hurrah, that lightencd her = he shouted
"but it's not cnough yet, and The began unlooscn-
ing his cravat.
Nonsense said I, my good fellow, nobody
can recognise yoa at this distance, even with
telescope
Don't beto sure of that he tet1ltcd rather
simpiyS' they have Sharp eyes at Miles's.'
AT wherer
AT Miles's Madhouse.'
Gracious Heaven the trdth flashed npon
me in an instant, I was sitting IN the .hail car
of o balloon, at least mile above the earth,
with lunatic! The horrors OF the situation,
for a mirinte, seemed to deprive me OF my own
sense. A sudden freak of distempered fancy
"A transient fury-the slightest struggle
might send us both at moments notice, into
eternity! In the meantime, the maniac, still
repeating his insane cry of higher, higher.
higher dipestcd hfFascf, succcssively cfevcry
remaining article of clothing, throwing each
portion, as soon as taken off, to the winds. The
! inutility of remonstraRce- or rather the proba-
biity of its producing fatal irritation, kept me
silent during these operationsj but iGdge of
my terror, when having thrown his stockings
overheard, heard him say. We are not yet
high enough by ten Thousand miles-one Of us
must throw out Tire other
/ Todcscrbe my feelings at this speech rs i'm
| possible. Not only the awfulness of my po-
sition bat its novelty, consplred TO bewl!der-
Tor certainly no flight Of ifnagnation--nc, not
the widest nightmare dreatn--had ever placed
| 4 & 4,
was horrbc-horrible Words, pleading, re.
monslrances were useless, and resistance would
be certain destruction. | had better had been
unarmed in an American wilderness, at the
mercy of a savage Indian And now without
daring to stir a hand in opposition, | saw thu
lunatic deliberately hcave first one, and ther
the other bag OF ballast from the car, the bal
icon OF course rising with prorortionate rapid
y. Up, up, it soared-to an altitude hat
never even dared to conternplate---the ear.l
was lost to my eyes, and nothing but huge
clouds rolled beneath us ! The world wa
gone felt for ever! The Maniac, however
was still dissatisfied with our ascent and agaiI
bcgan to mutter,
Have you wife and children !! he aske,
abruptly.
Prompted by natural instinct, and with
pardonabie deviation from truth, replied tina
| was married, and had fourteen Young one
who depended on me for their bread.
IIa, ha ha, laughed the Maniac, with
sparkling of his eyes that chilled my yer
marrow. Ihave three hundred wives and tie
thousand children and if the balloon had nj
been SO heavy by carrying double; | shoul
: have been home to them by this time
'And where do they live J! asked, anxiou
. to gain time by any question that first occurre
TO me-
In the moon,' replied the Maniac; IAN
! when have lightened the car shall be ther
:, in time.
4 heard no more, for suddenly approaching M
!. and throwing his arms round my body
n The national debt of Russia i. uT
n wards of $500 100000. 1t draws onl
5 per cent. interest, and yet the certif
1t Gates sell in England at IA per cen
IS premium, TO the same capitalists wh
rs will not touch the United States six pc
to cent loan
:, We know a man the tones of who's
:. = voice are so silvery, that his wore
y readily pass for quarter dollars.