Daily national Democrat., 1858-10-20
Ascent of two children in a balloon.

One of the most thrilling occurrences we
ever read, is the following, which we extract
from an Atlantic paper:
On the l7th September, an eronaut named
Wilson, (probably the same man who was
several years ago in California, and went
from here to the City of Mexico,) ascended
in a balloon from Centralia, Mo-, and success
fully descended about Is miles from his start
ing point, alighting near Rome, where hi'
tcS.nioon became entanglcd in tree Bepja
min Harvey, living near, and others, Olsen
tangled the balloon, and towed 1t to Mr. II. I
house, where they proceeded to have sport
! by getting in the car and being carried up
the length of a rore 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, a lad of
three years 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 up!
The anchor struck in a rail fence, but tore it
away, while a cry Of horror burst from the
agonized group. The children screamed with
horror, and the piteous appeal "PW me
dorm .tather p as it instantly grew fainter
and fainter, rendered the parents, and in
deed all present. for the time perfectly fran.
tic. 1t was now past seven o'clock was be-
coming dark, and the balloon was soon lost
sight of A period of more intense wretch
edness 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 a southeasterly course Messen-
gers were dispatched through the region in
every direction, and the alarm spread rapid
ly, creating everywhere the intensest excite
ment 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 somewhere descend and
be subjected to the perils of drowning, or
else of starving undiscovered. At Centralia,
the intelligence caused an indescribable SEN
sation. The idea became current that they
must encounter n frigid atmosphere which
they could not survive.
1t was about . o'clock on Saturday morn
ing that Mr.. Ignatin Atehison living on
Moore's Prairie, eight miles from Mount Yer
non, got up, as he says, and went out upon
his porch Ito see the blazing star'-the com
ct. An immense spectre rising from a tree
about twenty yards distannt rather appalled,
him, and he re-entered the house and walked
his family. On his coming out again, a weak
and piteous voice called to him from the
spectre, Come here and let as do,cn ne re nrt
almost troze p Mr. Atchison speedily per
ceived the astonishing nature Of the case
mustered help, cut away several limbs of the
tree and drew the car in safety to the
ground. The little boy was first lifted out
and when placed upon his feet instantly ran
for several yards then turned, and for u mo
ment contemplated the balloon with appa.
rently intense curiosity. The little girl told
their sorrow andadyentures with an almost
broken heart, to these people, who, strange
to say, had not heard of the disaster.
A messenger arrived at Mr.. Harveys, eigh
teen miles distant, at P NJ, with the trans.
porting tidings that the children were safe
| We will leave it to our readers heart to sug
gest 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.