The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-10-19

Yesterday afternoon, as our readers are
.~.re. Mons. GODDARD made his second ball
loon ascension from this city, this time taxi
In, nj. mammoth balloon America, and sew.
s,'l messengers. Ats 2 O'Clock the huge |
,,,bs was announced to be fully inflated,
and those entitled to seats in the miniature |
house attached 20 the balloon, invited TO |
occupy them. The following gentlemen /
stepped forward and took their seats Col. |
Latham, Tickle, agent Great Miami Railroad /; |
Mr.. VIM. r Hoel. River Pilot; Mr.. Her
man Ilipp. Clerk in the County Treasurers
Office Mr.. Bellman, OF the Gazette, and
ourself
We occupied wicker car, inside OF the
miniature hUuse; windows, however. giving
our yisuals nee access to all Ou,-Of doors
For several minutes the crowd gathered so
thickly round the car, some 10 shake hands
with the passengers and some out Of curios-
ity, that il was impossible TO manage the
balloon. IL was with great difficulty the
crowd was pushed and kept back ut a rea-
sensible distance. Mons GODDARD soon ascer-
tanned that he had too much weight, and
invited Mr. Hipp to step out OF the car,
while he arranged the 5allest. Having
everything arranged, he gave the command
10 "let gon and away We sailed to the
great modification OF Mr.. Hipp, who had
been left behind.
THE ASCENSION.
The pleasure we felt when the balloon,
Gu. loose from terra frma and commenced
gliding through the air, is inexprsssable.--
The immence concourso OF people below
seemed to be moving gently away from US,
and whsteyer fears or apprehensions we
might have entertained previously, were all
forgotten in the pleasure Of the moment
Our eyes were with rapture fixed upon the
city lot, with its thousands Of up.turned
faces, until attention was called to another
point by our fellow passengers. IL was the
grand, indescribable view OF the city, the
river and the scenery beyond. The city
seemed like a well arranged set Of toys lined
by strip OF silver lace. The passengers
were all in ecst,cy, and were continually
pointing out new beauties to each other.
When we first east our eyes directly be-
low u. we were sailing over the llth ward.
Everything had n miniature appearance
The houses looked like playthings, and the
people and vehicles in the streets like
swarms OF ants running over the ground
Though subject IN dizziness, we here looked
down upon mother earth" without expe-
riencing the least unpleasant feeling. In
deed we were enraptured beyond express
ion.
We passed directly over Mount Auburn,
the house here being lowered below the car,
and giving US n better view. The long
steep road extending up to Mount Vernon
from Sycamore steet, looked precisely like
broad chalk line upon level ground, aud
the whole country was as Hat in appearance
ms could be- AS we hurried by, we endeav-
ored to distinguish the hill sides, but to our
vision no hills were there.
THE SAIL.
While passing over the city, we sailed
quite gently, bur once over The hills moved
or at u speed which Colonel Latham good
humnredly remarked beat railroad time all
10 pieces. Clouds soon shut the city from
our view. and our attention was directed to
the outside Ian Escape upon every hand -
Our height could not have been very far,
for We distinctly heard loud conversations
below US. and, with the aid Of the speaking
trumpet, conyersed with those baneath us.
Our course. north-norIheast Of Mount
Auburn, we moved towards Cumminsyille,
and then drilted over towards che Reading
turnpike, almost directly above which we
sailed until within the neighborhoOl of
Sharon. At one time the villages Of Cum
minsyille, College Hill, Mount Pleasant,
Cathage. LOckland, Reading, Sharon. and
three or four others. which we could not
distinctly recognize, were all within view
The whole scene looked like m immense
garden, with little stIeamlets running
through i. the vast forests and fields looking
like small enclosures Indeed, as Mr.. lloel
laughably remarked, ga big farm don't
amount to much when observed from bal
LOOM
We conversed frequently with the people
below. One farmer invited US 10 stop and
take glass Of bard cider, another, for sup
per, and another was very anxious to know
if we intended 10 run all night. We dis.
tine,y heard the establishments and
"wonders " Of beyy Of farm girls in a
dairy yard. and their horror when one OF
them exclaimed, "why the men in it are
talking
The party thus spent the time. now ad-
mirins the iairy.like scenes which lay before
us, or enjoying ehit.chat with the folks be-
low.
About halEpast o'clock, when near
Sharon, we glided OF into northwesterly
course. Mons. GODDARD, pointing to heavy
dark cloud before US, said, " No good, and
BY gestures Oor he can speak bu. u few
words Of En.lsh) indicated there was dan
ger Of our getting duckine il we did not
override the clouds lie threw out large
quantity Of ballast. and We shot rapidly up,
ut tho same time approaching the frowning
clouds beyond. A large village lay to our
right, hat il was too dark for US 10 disiin-
guish IT, We supposed il to be Lebanon.
The earth was now covered with darkness,
and all we could observe below US was the
lights from the houses, which ilickercd like
mellow yellow stars.
We seemed to float around and around this
village until at last penetrated the clouds
IL then appeared as il we were enyeloped in
gauzy veil, and the white ileecy appear
ance of the clouds drew forth simultaneous
expressions ofdelight from the wholi party.
While thus yelled in mist, we heard ], rain
ing below US The sound was so much like
the rattlins Of n railroad train that we took
il Tor that until better informed.
Mons. GODDARD seemed anxious 10 override
the rain clouds. He east loose the frame Of
house which surrounded the car. and let
it drop. We heard IL Dap Dap ZAP! un'
Ill the sound died away in our ears. More
ballast was thrown out, and we assembled TO
n height OF IL. 900 feet The atmosphere
was still damp and very chilly. Whilst at
that altitude we were yery much troubled
with roaring through the ears sometimes
80 boisterous as to deaien US altogether.
TIE DEscENr-A TERRIBLE SCENE
Soon alter Monsieur GODDARD had furnish
ed US the altitude from his barometer. he
gave US uolicc that We were descending.
BY gesture. he ordered Us to lay aat down
mt the bottom Of the car, when he gave the
word OF c. mmand and not to jump out OF
..l.. 4.