The weekly Butte record., 1858-10-23
Ascent Of two Children in /. Balloon.

Ore OF the most thrilling occurrences we
ever read, is the following, which we extract
from ON Atlantic paper
On the / 1th September. an arouaut named
Wilson, probably the same man who was sew
eral years ago in California, and went from
here to the City OF Mexicol ascended in a
balloon from Centralia, Mo-, aud successfully
descended about Is miles from his starting
point, aiighting near Rome, where his balloon
became entangled in tree. Benjamin Hur-
vey living near, and Others diSentangled the
balloon, and towed it to Mr.. H. house. where
they proceeded TO have sport, by getting in
the car and being carried up the length OF a
rope held by parties below. Mr.. Harvey first
got in, but his weight being too great for the
balloon to rise, he stepped out and put in his
three children, lad of three years, girl Of
eight, and still older girl. At this point Mr..
Wilson 1.-THE aeronaut) called out to those hold
ing 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 suddenly. and very swiftly went up
The anchor struck in a rail fence but tore il
away, while a cry Of horror burst from the
agonized group. The children screamed with
horror, and the piteous appeal Pull me down,
father ~ as it instantly grew fainter and faint
er, rendered the 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 intense wretchedness to the parental
heart, can scarcely be imagined.
As there was little wind, the balloon had
gone almost directly upward, till its disappear
ance in southeasterly course. Messengers
were dispatched through the region in every
direction, and the alarm spread rapidly, crea-
ting everywhere the intensest excitement In
all quarters the men and boys rallied in par
ties to scour the country and search the woods,
in the expectation that the victims would
somewhere descend and be subjected to the
perils OF drowning, or else of starving undis-
covered. At Centralia, the intelligence caused
an indescribable sensation. The idea became
current that they must encount frigid at
mosphere which they could not survive
1t was about o'clock on Saturday morn
ing that Mr.. Ignatin Atchison, living on
Moore's Prairie, eight miles from Mount Yer
non, got up, as 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 re-entered the house and walked his family.
On his coming out again, a week and piteous
voice called to him from the spectre, Come
here and let US down we are almost froze =
Mr.. Atchison speedily perceived the astonish-
ing nature of the ease, mustered help, cut away
several limbs Of the tree and drew the car in
safely to the ground. The little boy was first
lifted out, and when placed upon his feet in
stantly ran for several yards, then turned, and
for moment contemplated the balloon with
apparently intense curiosity. The little girl
told their sorrows and adventures with an al
most broken heart, to these people, who,
strange to say, had not heard of the disaster
A messenger arrived at Mr.. Harvey's, Is
miles distant at P. NJ, with the transporting
tidings that the children were safe. We will
leave it to our readers heart to suggest the
JOY which the intelligence caused. 1t was late
in the afternoon when the little ones arrived
and were clasped once more in the embrace OF
their parents.