The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-02-07

An Editor nSkylarking.o

Mr.. Wood, one of the editors of the
New Orleans Crescent, gives an entertain
ing acooun, OF his experience in balloon
voyage:
Our experiences in locomotion have,
heretofore been considerable. From walk
ing to riding wild jackasses; from travelling
on horseback to travelling in stage coaches;
OIL express engines running mile min
ute, and Mississippi steamboats, with tur
pentine beneath their boilers, on pinkey
schoone.s and full rigged ships; we have
tried them all. We have been down in a
diving bell, and now we have been up in
balloon.
DESTROYS Of obtaining the exact rela.
tionship existing between the two Cres-
cents-celestial and terrestial-we took
passage for the upper world with Mr.. Eu-
gene GODDARD, on Sunday afternoon last.
and, rising easily and pleasantly from
Mother Earth, sailed off towards the
South. west. In about five minutes from
the moment of cutting loose we had an
altitude ,hatiaid the city open to our sight
like grand panorama. Its streets and
shipping and buildings; its churches and
cathedrals, with all the little iauxbourgs
adjacent, were translated into grand
picture, of which the horizon was the bor
dering. Lake Poncharirain lay clearly
exposed on the one side; the Mississippi
seemed like great thread of silk. grow
ing momenty more and more indistinct
underneath We could see the white
sails of vessels on the one and the smoky
| IS ,hoa fha ofh q
cheers Of crowds in Gretna and Carroll
ton came indistinctly to our ears. and
through the glass we could almost make
ou. the numbers assembled. A more beau
tiful picture cannot be conceived, and the
clearness Of the day rendered it doubly
grand.
As soon as we had risen to the comforta.
BILE height OF four or FIVE thousand feet,
NJ. GODDARD hung up his barometer to one
side Of the netting, PLACED small ma
lhoganv board across the car for table,
and commenced getting dinner! |; was
an exceedingly mundane and terrestrial
matter. but better claret, cake and cham
pagne we never discussed-washed down
with q glass of veritable Cogniac. The
health and prosperity Of New Orleans;
Of its pretty women and other agreeable
in sttutons, were all duly drank as we
progressed on our journey to the celestial
empire. Dinner having been disposed Of
a natural inclination rose for getting high
and something "oi the earth, earthly
was thrown overheard in the shape of bags
of sand. The balloon evidently felt re-
llieved, for it bounced up two or three
thousand additional feet and increased
1 tho ei.- s,f.ha -nicinra in-aH- -eanlyuies.
ratio. We saw lakes, and creeks, and
bayous. and swarnps, and plantations, ant
mnltitudinous other agreeable things tt
be seen; but they all served to remind u.
too strongly OF the quarter whence w
came. Accordingly more ballast was dis
posed of, and Lake Salvador somewha
diminished in depth. The balloon re
sponded to the wish expressed, and rose
up in the clear inane until matters ant
things underneath began to look rathe
indistinct Great lakes dwindled int
mere wash-tubs, and big bayous dwarfet
to an utter contemptibiiity. Owingto th'
/, calmness and clearness Of the atmosphere
we enjoyed fine opportunity for exam
lining every matter within range. until tn
: last struggle upward, which brought tn
. clouds much nearer than the churches.
In this agreeable state Of suspension
the balloon remained, following the cours
OF the wind, until it was deemed exPedi
ent to try the truth of that poetry whic
3 SAYS faciIis descensus Arerni. The valv
= was opened and the descent commenced
!, The sensation accompanying it was of
Ia. Ia I In
continued, would, We should imagine
:, produce pleasant sleep. When prol
= unity Of four or five thousand feet to tn
) earth had been attained. NJ. Godar
made a reconnaissance, bu, found nothin
. visible beyond illimitable' swamps, creek
> and bayous. 1t was, however, becomin
!, y, season to get down, if down we intende
TO come before night; and, accordingl,
the best place visible was selected an
the balloon lowered into a swamp not fa
8 from a bayou or canal, skirted with can'
;, ;, brush and cotton wood. The party whic
:. consisted of lady and two gentlemen
" besides NJ. GODDARD, waited patier tly un,
!, the anchor had taken fast hold in til
= brush and then started for the levee. Th
. locality was utterly unknown; but as n
- ! houses COutu Oe SetH III oDy uHcChous
: campn,ent became necessity. According
", while two Of the gentlemen detache
g the car from the balloon and let up Il
latter as far as the cable would permit, Il
:" third made fire and the lady began pre-
. . arations for supper. Darkness came Q
10 during these operations, but it found
! bright fire burning. piles Of fuel collecte
~ and rude table set out with claret, cal
y and champagne; roast duck. gelatin
~ ham, bread, and other similsr eatabl
=, !. and drinkables.
y After supper the party gathered arour
the Gre and discussed matters and thin
. in general-esPecially where they We
and how they should get back. tt
re prospect was certainly anything but plea
ne ant, but was met with all the bonhomm
and good nature that distinguishes Fren'
n. character. After while the car was
he ted up for the lady's bed chamber. al
the masculines stretched themselves I
ne the qround-their mrial wings and wish
in materially lessened. The stars were owe
lie head, however, and the Crescent as mu'
he above its conpeers as usual. The le