, 1858-11-19
Forced Ascent Of Two Children in a Bal.
loon.

fOTCou hSCoul VI lHO OunuI0u III q Ddl-
loon.
On the l7th September, an @ronaut
named Wilson, (probably the same man
who was several years ago in California,
and went thence to the City Of Mexico,
assembled in balloon from Centralia, Mo,
and successfully descended about l6 miles
from his starting point, alighting near
Rome, where his balloon became entangled
in tree Benjamin Harvey, living near,
and others, disentangled the balloon, and
towed it to Mr. IS house, where they pro-
ceeded to have some sport, by getting in
the car and being carried mp the length Of
a rope held by parties below. Mr.. Har-
Vey FIRST got in, but his weight being too
great for the balloon to rise, he stepped ont
and put in his three children, o lad Of three
years, a girl of eight, and a still older girl.
At this point Mr. Wilson (the eronaut)
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 unwatch-
fulness Of the persons at the cords, the bal
loon suddenly and very swiftly went upl
The anchor struck in q rail fence, but tore
it way, while cry Of horror burst from
the agonized group. The children scream
ed with horror, and the piteous appeal
Pull me dOlOn, fatherP as it instantly
grew fainter, rendered the parents, and in-
deed oil present, for the time perfectly
frantic. 1t was now past seven o'clock,
was becoming dark, and the balloon was
soen lost sight Of A period Of more in
tense 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. Mes
sengers were dispatched through the re-
gion in every direction, and the alarm
spread rapidly, creating everywhere the
most intense excitement. In all quarters
the men and boys rallied in parties tO scOur
the country and search the woods, in the
expectation that the victims would some
where dsscend aud be subject to the peris
Of drowning, or else Of starving undiscover-
ed. At Centralia, the intelligence caused
an indescribable sensation. The idea be.
came current that they must encounter a
frigid atmosphere which they could not
survive.
1t was about 2 o'clock on Saturday
morning that Mr., Ignatin AtchinsOn, liv-
ing on Moore's Prairie, eight miles from
Mount Vernon, got up, as he says, and
went out upon his porch Ito see the bla-
zing star the comet. An immense spec
tre rising from a tree, about twenty yards
distant, rather appalled, him, and he re-en-
tered the house and walked his family. On
bis coming out again, weak and piteous
voice called to him from the spectre,
" Come here and let US d0tOR ice're almost
frozc!" Mr. Atchison speedily perceived
the astonishing nature Of the case, muster.
ed help, cut away several limbs Of the tree,
and drew the car in safety to the ground.
The little boy was 6rSt lifted out, and when
placed upon his feet instantly ran for sew.
eral yards, then turned, and for q moment
contemplated the balloon with apparently
intense curiosity. The little girl told their
sorrows and adventures with an almost
broken heart, to these people, who, strange
to say, had not heard Of the disaster.
A messenger arrived at Mr.. Harvey's,
eighteen miles distant, at 2 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 intelli
gence caused. 1t was late in the afternoon
when the little ones arrived, and were
clasped once more in the embrace of their
parents.
The happy result was received in Centra.
lia, aud announced on Sunday morning in
the churches amid ecstacies Of joy. The
children were brought there on Monday,
and welcomed with the firing of cannon
and general jubilee. Photographic por.
traits Of them we're taken by Mr.. William
b. Matthews, artist in Centralia, aud a
variety Of presents were made to them
The girl is named Martha Ann, and her
little brother David Isam. She says that
he soon cried himself to sleep, and that she
cried till she slept little, and then awak
ened in the tree.
The balloon must have descended by i
O'Clock on Friday night, and hence had re-
mained in the tree till its discovery through
the kindness Of the blazing star" and the
astronomical wakefulness Of Atchinson.