Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-09-29

ultut 70 II iHlgate Ln5 Bteerdg6 WIN burning
tar, which operation was to be performed by
the boaIswain, under the superintendent of
the fourth officer. The boatswain heated the
end OF chain to dip in tar to produce smoke.
The end became too hot to hold, and he let it
drop upon the deck, to which it set fire. The
tar also upset, and Immediately all about was
in flames. A feeble attempt was made to ex-
tngulsh the fire, but it was without effect.
There was nothing at hand to meet such an
emergency.
The rescued passengers saved nothing but
the clothes on their backs, and even the great.
er part of these were torn and otherwise lost.
Six hundred souls were supposed to be on
board, may of whom were women and chill
dren.'
The LATE BALLOON ASCENSION IN ILLIN-
DIS authentic PartjcuIarS.- The startling
story of the late frightful ascent of two small
children alone i'll balloon, has naturally ex-
cited some Iucredulty, which, i'll turn has
been increased,by the rather diverse accounts
given of the event. But the return to our
city of the eronaut, Mr.. S. NJ. Brooks, en-
ables US to give an authentic confirmation and
true version of the thrilling narrative. This
gentleman kindly informs US substantially as
follows:
He was to have assembled from the fair
grounds at Centralia on Friday the 18th iu-
slant, but finding himself unwell, accepted
the offer of another eronaut Mr.. Wilson,
who volunteered to take his place in the bal
loon. Mr.. Wilson effected beautiful ascent.
at 2 p. m, foated west ward and then
southwestward, rising TWO and half miles,
and about l. p. m. decended, six teen miles
sontheastward OF the starting point He
was caught by tree about forty five rods
from the farm house of Mr.. Benjamin Har
vey. The spot is some two miles and halt
from Rome, Jefferson county.-Mr Harvey
and his family, and others, gathered, and
dlsentangled the air ship. They then pulled
the car to the ground and some boys held the
ropes as the voyageur alighted, and while he
was drawn off III conversation with the in
quisitive people, the balloon was 'towed to
the house, and Mr.. Harvey prepared to have
some sport by rising the length of the rope,
to be pulled down. Proving too Leavy o
rise, he stepped out and put in his three Oh IL
dren-a lad Of three years, girl of eight,
and still older girl. AT this point Mr.. w.
called out to those holding the ropes to be
sure and hold fast. But the three children
were too heavy, and the eldest was taken out
AT this Instant, through the unwatchfulness
OF the persons at the cords, the balloon sud
denly and very swiftly went up The an
chor struck in rail fence, but tore it away,
while a cry OF horror burst from the agonized
group. The children screamed with horror.
and the pi,eous appeal. ''Pull me down,
father y as it instantly grew fainter and faint
er, rendered the parents and indeed all pres
ent, for the time perfectly frant C. 1t was
now past seven clock, was becoming dark,
and the balloon was soon lost sight of. A
period Of more intense wretchedness to the
parental heart can scarcely be imagined.
AS there was little wind, the balloon had
gone almost directly upward, till its disap-
pearance in southeasterly course. Messen.
gers were dispatched through the region in
every direction, and the alarm spread rapidly,
creating everywhere the intensesl excitement.
In all quarters the men and boys rallied in
parties to scour the country and search the
woods, III the expectation that the victims
would somewhere descend and be subjected
to the perils of drowning, or else of starving
undiscovered
At Centralia, the intelligence caused an in
describabe sensation. The popular Anxiety
almost agony called out Mr. Brooks, who
assured the people that the balloon would
probably descend within two or three hours,
and within at most thirty miles of the point
OF starting lie also sent to the distracted
parents the best assurances possible in the
case, informing them that there would be no
danger except from descent in the woods
when the children might be with difficulty
found, and from the older child first stepping
out and leaving the younger again to rise.
Apart from these perils, in themselves inn
probable Mr. Brooks apprehended no danger
to the little voyagers. Yet the idea became
current that they might encounter frigid at.
mosphere which they could not survive
II was about three o'clock on Saturday
morning that Mr.. Ignatin Atchison, living on
Moore's prairie, eight miles from Mount err
non, got up, he says, and went out upon his
porch 'to see the blazing star"-the comet
An immense spectre rising from tree, about
twenty yards distant, rather appalled, him,
and he reentered the house and walked his
family. On his coming out again, weak
and piteous voice called to him from the spec.
tire, "Come here and let us down; we're al
most froze !" Mr.. Atchison speedily perceiv-
ed the astonishing nature of the case, muster
ed help, cut away several limbs of the tree.
and drew the car to the ground
The little boy was lifted out, and when
placed upon his feet, instantly ran several
yards, then turned, and tor a moment con-
temPlated the balloon with apparently intense
curiosity. The little girl told their sorrows
with an almost broken heart, to these people,
Who strangely, indeed, had not heard of the
disaster.
A messenger arrived ct Mr.. Harvey's IS
miles distant, at p. M, with the transport
ing udings that the children were safe. We
wall leave 1t to our readers heart to suggest
the JOY which the intelligence caused. 1t was
late III the afternoon when the litue one ar.
rived, and were clasped once more in the arms
OF their parents.
Inc happy result was received in Centralia,
and announced on Sunday morning in the
churches amid estacies of JOY. The children
were brought there on Monday, and WELDON.
ed with the firing of cannon and a general
Jubilee. Photographic portraits of them were
taken by Mr. William b. Matthews, artist in
Centralia, and variety of presents were made
to them. The girl is named Martha Ann,
and her little brother David Isam. She saws
that he soon cried till she slept little, and
then awakened in the tree.
Mr. Brooks uifrms that the balloon must
have descened by II o'clock of Friday night,
end hence had remained in the tree till its dis.
covery through the kindness of ''the blazing
star" and the astronomical observations Of
Mr.. Atchison.
Mr. Brooks has the Photographic portraits
OF the juvenile adventurous, which we sup.
pose may soon be seen by all the curious NJ
the st. Louis Museum.--iH. Louis Democrat.