Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-09-28
Authentic Particulars of the Late Ballesu
Ascension by Tive Children.

Authentic Particulars of the Late Ballesn
Ascension by 1--WE Childfen.
The startling story OF the late frightful ascent
OF two small children alone in a balloon, has
naturally excited some incredulity, which, in
turn, has been Increased by the rather diverse
accounts given of the event But the return
to St Louis of the eronant, Mr.. S. M. Brooks,
enables the Democrat to give what it states to
be an authentic confirmation and true ysrsion
OF the thrilling narrative. This gentleman
states substantially as follows:
He was to have ascended from the fair grounds
at Centralia on Friday, the 18th inst but find
ing himself unwell, accepted the offer of another
seronaut, Mr.. Wilson, who volunteered to take
his place in the balloon. Mr.. Wilson effected
a beautiful ascent, at 81 ?. m, foated westward
and then south eastward, rising two and halt
miles, and at about 81 p. m. descended, sixteen
miles south eastward Of the starting point
He was caught by tree about IS rods from
the farm house of Mr.. Benjamin Harvey. The
spot Is some p miles from Rome, Jefferson
county Mr.. Harvey and his family, and others,
gathered, and disentangled the air ship. They
then pulled the car to the ground and some
boys held the ropes a. the voyager alighted
and while he was drawn of in conversation with
the inquisitive people. The balloon was towed
to the house, and MIR. Harvey prepared to have
some sport by rising the length of the rope, to
be pulled down. Proving too heavy to rise, he
stepped out and put in his three children, lad
OF years, girl Of 8, and n still older girl At
this point Mr.. Wilson called out to those hold
ing the ropes to be sure and hold fast But the
children were too heavy, and the eldest was
taken out.
At this instant, through the unwatchfuIness
OF the persons at the cords, the balloon sud-
denly and very swiftly went up, The anchor
8 uck In q rail fence, but tore it away while n
cry OF horror burst from the agoniEed group.
Inc children screamed with horror, and the
piteous appeal " Pull me dorm. E1tkpr ~ as il
instantly grew fainter and fainter, rendered
tne parents, and indeed all present, for the
time perfectly frantic. 1t was now past seven
o'clock, was becoming dark, and the balloon
was soon lost sight of! A period Of more in
tense wretehedness to the parents heart, can
scarcely be imagined.
As there was little wind the balloon had gone
almost directly upward, till its disappearance
In sOutheasterly course. Messengers were
dispatched through the region in every direc-
ton, and the alarm spread rapidly, creating
everywhere the intensest excitement. In ali
quarters the men and boys rallied in parties to
scour the country and search the woods in the
expectation that the victims would somewhere
descend and be subject to the perils of drown
ing, or else of starving undiscovered
At Centralia the intelligence caused an indie.
scribable sensation. The popular anxiety-al-
most agony-called out Mr.. Brooks who as
sured the people that the balloon would proba-
bly, descend within two or three hours, and
within, at most, thirty miles of the point of
starting. He also sent to the distracted pa-
rents 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's first stepping out and
leaving the younger again to rise. Apart from
these perils, in themselves improbable, Mr..
Brooks apprehended no danger to the little
voyagers. Yet the idea became current that
they must encounter a frgid atmosphere which
they could not survive.
1t was abOnt three o'clock ON Saturday morn
ing that Mr.. Ignatin AtchisOn, living on Moore
prairie, eight miles fIon Mount Vernon, got nm
as ne says, aud went out upon bis porch to see
the "blaZing star''-the comet An immense
spectre rising from a tree, about twenty yards
distant, rather appalled, him, and be re entered
the house and walked the family On his CON-
ing out again a weak and piteOus voice called
to him from the spectre, Come hare and let as
d0Dn i; Ios're almost frO@p - Mr. Atcbisop
speedily perceived the astonishing nature of
the case, mustered help, cut away several
limbs OF the tree, aud drew the car in safety to
the ground
The little boy was first lifted out, and when
placed on his feet instantly ran several yards,
and Tor n moment contem plated the balloon
Win apparently intense curiosity. The little
glrl told their sorrOws and adventures with an
almost broken heart to these peOple. who
strangely indeed, had not heard of the disas.
ter.
Messenger arrived at Mr. Harvey's eighteen
miles distant, at p. m, with the transporting
tidlngs that the children were safe. We will
leave 1t to our readers to suggest the joy which
the intelligence caused. 1t was late in the
afternoon when the little ones arrived and
were ciasped once more in the embrace of their
parents.
Ine happy result was received in Centralis,
anu announced on Sunday morning in tie
churches amid ecstacies Of joy. The children
were brought there on Monday, and welcomed
with the firing of cannon and a general Jubilee.
photographic portraits of them were taken
by Mr.. William b. Matthews, artist in Cen
tralla, and variety of presents were made
to them. The girl is named Martha Ann, and
her little brother. David Isam She saws that
ne soon cried himself to sleep, and that she
cried tlll she slept little, and then awakened
In the tree.
Mr.. Brook afi rms that the balloon must have
descended by III O'clOck Of Friday night, and
hence had remained in the tree till its discoye-
ry through the kindness of - the blazing STAR
am the astronomical wakefulness OF Mr. At
Gibson.
MI Brooks has the Photographic portraits Of
the Juvenile adyenturers, which we suppose
may soon be seen by all the curious at the ST.
Louis Museum.