The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-10-09

spot where the balloon was being inflated
and the adjacent trees bore boys in clus.
tiers. The balloon was Of oiled silk, and
its perpendicular and lateral diamcters
were respectively about 30 and Is feet,
and bore upon its sides, its name, "YouSC
AMERIoa,"'a spread eagle, and an outline
map Of the Western Hemisphere, with the
inscriptions, MANIFEST 1857 DESTINY
.-"MARcH or FREEDOM" The nronant's
car is wicker basket about 3 feet deep
and wide, attached to the balloon by a
strong net work enveloping it. The bal.
loon and car, before imitation, weighed
100 pounds, but when inflated, it weighed
400 pounds less than nothing! As the
intrepid nronant scared aloit majestically
and waved his Acknowledgements, a sea OF
uptured faces greeted him with smiles,
rendering the scene grand and imposing,
Mr.. Wise's descent was quite perilous,
in which his balloon was lost, and is par
ticularly described in his letter, part Of
which follows:
my calculation was 10 alight in some
thinly wooded juniper bog, five miles north
east OF Great Works river. The grapnel took
good. held and everything promised toler-
ably fair landing, and already the gas was
fast exhausting, and upon looking n. the
time of day found the voyage was Of l
hour five minutes duration, when oil OF a
sudden squall came bowling through the
trees, and snap went the side Of the car
The force Of the wind ripped 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
hurled the broken car over tho treo tops,
occasionally jamming it against the bodies
1 of trees 80 as TO cause most terrific concus-
tons. with considerable wear and tear upon
my apparel. and an occasional admonition
that il were best for me to spring from the
car 10 save broken bones. l stuck to the
ship, however, until it had dragged me over
a mile across tree tops and swamps full OF
underbush, and finally through q pond or
lake, dousing me several times under water.
This part Of the voyage was as terrific us
the earlier rart was sublime, and felt 10th
to part with my ship, and did not until il
had dragged me across the pond, and was
about dashing me headlong into scaggy
piece of dried woodland, where concluded
that it was best to jump.
At FIVE minutes after p. NJ. the "Young
America" left me in the midst OF wilder
ness out Of which made my way with com.
pass and chart. After travelling two hours
| | followed down four or five miles, which
brought mo near Oldtown, where arrived
nj q O'Clock in the evening, and whence
took the cars and arrived in Bangor at eight
o'clock"
The attention of visitors was next at
tracted to'thc Show grounds to witness
the trial for the prizes offered for Ladies'
Equcstrianism. Long before the hour
appointed for the trot, every availablcsea'
and standing room was occupied. There
could not have been less than twelve
thousand spectators.
There were but three entries, Miss y. ~
Bearcc OF Mcddybemps, Washington Co.,
Miss Emily Bearcc, do, and Miss Adelinc
Low, of Watcrvillc. The young ladies
were mounted on noble steeds and man
aged them to admiration. Their per-
formances were witnessed with great in
terest, and the concoursc frequently cx-
pressed their admiration in loud applause.
The prizes were silver cups of the value
respectively of $40, $50 and sl5. The
first prize was awarded to Miss A. a.
Bcarcc, l years old; I'd to Miss Adclinc
Low, Is years old; Sd TO Miss Emily
Bearcc.
After this performance, a procession
was formed and, escorted by n band, pro-
cceded TO large pavilion where an able
address was delivered by II. c. Leonard,
Of Watcrillc, Ne.
Friday being rainy, prevented all ope-
rations at the grounds, to the disappoint
ment Of many who Were expecting an cx-
hibition in the grand trotting contest as
signed inr that day, and which was to
conclude the State Fair. II was deferred
until Saturday, when it came off with the
following results:
The first prize of 5000 (for fastest trot-
ter raised and owned in Mainc) was won
by lady Bunham," owned by A. BODICE
of Winthrop, best two In three, time, 2.
45-2.4i-2.iG. The second prize OF
5000, free to all horses, was taken by
"IIary Walton, in three straight heats,
horse exhibited by J. Walton of South
Reading, Mass.
The Fair is regarded as very success
full one, considering that the Society is
vet in its infancy, and reflects great credit
both upon the trustees and contributors.
Good order and sobriety, in an eminent
degree, characterized the immense con-
course during the occasion. .
The India Mutiny.