The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1857-10-21
Narrative ofthe .Eronaut.

GENTS My ascension to-day was
rather unpropitious, though it went off
handsomely from the ground prepared for
it on Summer street. The day was squal-
ly and the imitation was accomplished in
two hours-not without good deal of
trouble and anxiety on account of the
busterousness of the weather. At pre-
cisely twelve o'clock Mr.. the honr an
nounced for starting, the young Ameri-
ca was released from her earthly tram
mels sand she dartcd upwards like wing
ed steesl, vibrating and gyrating tremen-
dously fos the first five minutes of ascen-
sion, owing to the great ascending power
with which she started, and which was
necessary in order to clear Instructions
around the point of departure
After the clouds y ere surmounted
long line of sea coast glittered among the
heavenly tenements, and it was an en-
chanting scenery in that direction. TO
see the Aeecy clouds aud the ocean inter-
mingled, as it appears to the aronaut
when sailing above the level of the clouds:
is sight that cannot well be described;
it must be seen to be appreciated
Upon taking a general observation 30
minutes after starting, found the cur
rent waiting the air ship rapidly east
ward, and thisout of the direction G Great
Works, the place. had calculated to land
at. By the time had lowered into the
current with which started, the line of
direction was into an nncearcd and I'M
inhabited country, and | made prepara-
f<,, n, ,rl,& III, L. 4
,ization as possible. | could no intercept
a single clearing, and the balloon was
making rapid strides over q wilderness,
and my next best calculations was to alight
in some thinly wooded Juniper bog, which
was accomplished about five miles north
cast of Great Works river. The grapne
took hold and everything promised to.
lcrable fair landing, and already the gas
was fast exhausting; and upon looking at
the time, I found the voyage was Of
hour and five minutes duration, when all
of a sudden a squall came bowling
through the trees, and snap went the
side ofthe car. The force ofthe wind rip
ped the grapnel rope through the side Of
the car; and the willow work flew in all
directions, and such was the force Of the
wind that the balloon hauled the car over
the tree tops, and occasionally jamming it
against the body Of trees 50 as to cause
most terrific conclusions with considerable
wear and tear upon my apparel, and an
occasonals admonition that it were best
for me to spring from the car to save
broken bones. [ stuck to the ship. how
ever, until it had dragged me over mile
across tree tops and swamps full of under
brush and finally through pond or lake,
doueins me several times under the water.
This part of the voyage was a terrific
as the earliest part was sublime, and felt
10th to part with my ship, and did not
until it had dragged me across the pond,
and was about tashing me headlong into
q scraggy piece Of dried woodland, where
concluded it was best to lump.
At five INMATES after l p. M, the
"Young America left me in the midst of
a wilderness, ont Of which | made my
way with compass and chart. After
travelling two hours | made the stream
of Great Works. This followed down
four or five miles, which brought ne near
Olltown, where | arrived at six O'Clock
and from whence took the cars and ar
rived in Bangor at eight. ,JoHN WISE.
Bangor House, 10 P. NJ, Oct. LIST.
Belfast l4Ne.l Journal Of Oct. 1914.