The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-08-31
For the Detroit Tribune.
ACCOUNT OF wIsE's l42d ASCENSION!
Made from Detroit, Mich. Aug. 81, ,52.

The Ulysses was detached from terra firma
at five minutes past p. NJ Having started
with a strong ascending power, the lower cur
rent, which was from the N. f. was soon sur.
mounted, and at the height of mile and q
quarter the wind came from the S. w. This
current took me to the N. W., until heigh,
of ga miles attained and there the current
from the west prevailed, taking me back near
| the city for few moments and until lower
ed from it, as wished to pursue my voyage
westward.
The prospect was surprising grand; from
! this point Detroit looked like magnifcent map
handsomely illustrated, and tho surrounding
waters were marked with white specks of sail
ing craft.
Lake st. Clair and Lake Erie appeared "a
be but a few hundred rods apart. The whole
of st. Clair was visible and on the middle OF
the lake rested pyramidical pile of cloud
richly illuminated. Turning my observations
westword, the eye passed over splendid coun-
try, richly studded with farms and villages
Some distance westward dazzling cluster OF
spots shone with splendor, rendering it diff
cult to survey for a while the real nature of the
scene. 1t reminded mo of telescope view OF
the moon when looking at the brilliant spots.
AS the region was neared / found it contained
an innumerable cluster of Lakes, which at
tented TO count, but stopping at 81, l take it
for granted the number cannot be short of a
hundred They were of various hues-white,
green, and black, this must be owing to their
bottoms and their depths. Judging from the
number Of fields that encompassed some, they
are from two to three miles in diameter, while
some contained about as many acres. Some
also had beautiful little islands in the middle
Taking it all in all, it was the most beautiful
sight ever beheld, and it is utterly impossible
for the people who inhabited this region to
conceive the real grandeur of their terrific
ry. Here, no doubt every farmer has, if not
whole lake to himself patch of one Of the
larger class.
When got as far N W. as Pontiac, or rath-
er when | had sailed about 25 miles with the
upper current, came down into tho lower one
which took me south Of east, and in this cur
rent I sailed at height varying from quarter
to half mile, so that / could converse with
people in passing along. In this current
sailed about 20 miles further, and the people
below were aroused far and wide, asking where
l camo from and whittier was going. in
variably told them came from Detroit and
was merely exploring the country and lakes.
Now and then l was furnished with an anima-
ted equestrian scene; but always got the
lead ofthe pursuer, as the Ulysses was making
in this current mile in ! 3-4 minutes; this /
ascertained by inquiring the distance from one
point to another.
l got many kindly invitations to come down,
but as did not come down for while, some
took it for granted could not come down, but
was destined to wander in the fields of space.
At all events | could understand that they
sympathised for my not being able to descend,
and before ] could relieve them from this
mistake would be so far of, and engaged in
conversation with new acquaintances. that it
was quite impossible to enter into details.
At 6 o'clock landed in Highland Township,
section 33, Oakland county. The first 25 miles
of the voyage having occupied one hour and
fifteen minutes, and the last % miles but forty
minutes The point where l landed is AZ
miles from Detroit by direct route.
JOHN WISE.