Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1846-12-01
Exploring ExpeditiOn-COntinurd
CHAPTER y.

4 y I'd
fla; Iudefneablc position; Danger; a,
/ larm and delirium; Poetry; Disaster
and Imminent peril to The porld.
+ As | emerged late one morning, from
the region of darkness. my attention was
arrested by dense column ofdark black
smoke, as if rising from the ruins of some
vast conflagration. At times it appeared
luminous and again resembled clouds of
inky blackness, in a thunder storm, ris.
ing like cove, in wave like volumes tow.
ering higher and still higher until lost in
the heavens. This singular scene fixed
my attention, with the mSst intruse inter-
est. But imagine my alarm, when dis
covered that was rapidly approaching
this terrific whirling column OF fame. My
fears became frightful. could liken il
to nothing but column of lava, flame and
smoke, spouted from the centre of an &C.
tive volcanoe. | heard roaring sound
like the wind rushing through forest of
pine. discovered too, that was sail
ing round this pillar of cloud at the dis
lance Of about twenty eight miles; and
that that the rapidity Of my approach to
We may form, perhaps, faint idea of
what must be the feelings ola ships crew,
when they find themselves within the
grasp of that II emendous malstroom on
the coast of Norway. Their vessel ca.
reers TO the siding vortex; an awful gulf
yawns TO receive them, and they are
drawn towards it by power, strength
On
But their gallant bark mag obey the
healm; the winds may blow propitious;
they may ply the oal, spread the sail, and
be cheered by hope, even in despair
What efforts could avail me any thing?
No breath of heaven could reach me, and
whichever way turn the vortex yawns.
sprung upon my wings until large drops
ofperspiration rolled from my forehead;
drying the moment my efforts were relax
ed, from the feverish heat Of excitement
that almost consumed me. My efforts
were in vain! With frightful rapidity
whirl round and am drawn towards this
whirlwind of fire. A stunning thunder
sound, and the rush ola thousand TEN.
pests roar around me,
1.-The hope expired, and terror and dismay.
Wave their black banners on the stormy
way"
Alarm overpowered my senses: my
blood chilled in my vains, and reason,
failing to define my fate, as if affrighted
fed, and left me, to all appearance, a
prey to most appalling death. How
long remained in this situation cannot
tell, was aroused from my delirium, by
the creaking of the cords in my balloon,
and found myself enrelloped in thick
mist, and under pressure of atmosphere
almost insupportable. Wild and frenzied
with fear, tancied myself enduring cvery
variety of torment. was an abolition
list. now euraptured with the smiles Of
Sambo and Dina, the embrace and per-
fumery of darkies; then seized; rode on
a rail, tared and feathered for conscience
sake. was pollution, elected to of
fee, delighted with chance at the spoils;
made TO free; fell under public condemna-
ton, and was nominated for the presi-
dency, and then | thought legions of
friends enyironed me, and howled in my
ears such horrid opportunities for office.
and such dire imprecautions if not graft
fed, that with the very noise | was par
TALLY estored to my senses. Alas the
horrors of my walking moments were
more intolerable than those of sleep. /
discovered that, the hands of my watch
stood still; asifT Time had ceased TO wave
his weary wing, and stayed his ceaseless
plight. Was | indeed, in position
where time knew no progress, where
reigned an eternal snow! How dreadful
were The emotions of my mind; cold cla-
my sweats came DER me.
And anon frey thrill shot through my
veins" submitted myselfa passive OBJ
jectto the control of fate; refreshed my
selfwith food, took glass or two of spir-
its. q don't want my temperance friends
to find this out. felt perfectly cool and re-
conciled to whatever fate awaited me-
ALI Indications of change were in the tenn
perature of the air; my thermometer fell
TO u below zero: and the cloudy pillar
in which was enveloped, Suddenly be-
came luminous. With frensied eager
ness Iseized my telescope. and was able
to discover few objects distinctly. Over
come with delight and joy, was com.
pelledto desist, for a time, from making
observations, TO recover my strength and
senses. MY spirits prompted me to give
a few specimens of tie Polka, but were
restrained through fears Of the demorali-
zing tendency of bad examples. My at.
tention was, at first arrested by the point
Of a mountain, that appeared to move
round me in q circle. And the next mo-
meat, OH horrors, nall is it possible to
endure appre tensions more dreadtuH ]
had become stationary at the north pole
and, the motion Of the mountain was that
ofsIhe earth, revolving upon its axles!--
Tossed with such violence TO the extremes