The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-25
TIE PERILOUS BALLOON ASCENSION IN ILL
ru t NOLS. tt aEa ss9
IFrom tho Cincinnati Enquirer, Sept. 2s.l

CESTnAIIA, Ill., Tuesday September 20.
| 10 ae Editor Of Tie Enquirer:
The young adventurers, who unexpectedly departed
for tho upper regions Friday night last in the balloon
Mr. Brooks safely found next morning, WISER if
better children The facts learn them from Mr.. b.
as follows: t t attsa
Tho balloon left Centralia at about four p m Friday
afternoon and after very pretty ASCENSION and even,
quiet ride of about twenty-five miles, finally descended
safely the farm of Mr. Harvey, twenty miles south
west of Centala where it secured to fence by the
anchor Farmers from the neighborhood gathered
around and while Mr.. Wilson who made the ASCENSION
entertained of the party others amused themselves
in letting the balloon go the length of the rope usual
ly attached to such high-minded poyagsus Finally Mr..
Harvey put in of his children who seemed enjoy
the ride immensely then he put in two and after toying
with them for few minutes was Mortified by having the
md taken from his grasp and seeing his children sail rap
idly into the air. sgt a
5 Mr. b.. who visited these ordrcn and conversed with
them the parents and those who witnessed their untey
fight led to suppose that they about three and
half hours and that they must have assembled at lcast
four and half miles before commencing to come down.
He arrives at it thus Before the children started the
father who weighs hundred and fifty pounds tried its
powers and found that the balloon would raise him with
the slightest assistance the hand placed under the
car; the children, who weighed only eighty pounds
then seated ia the car, and away it shot like an
arrow. The ascending power, therefore, seventy
pounds but allowing ten pounds for the assistance
decd by the hand, it sixty, which, he never en-
poys upward power of from four to six pounds
must he concludes have taken them to the height
above stated The little girl who eight years old last
April, states that after being up time, she dis
covered the valveope and seeing that it went up into
the balloon she jerkcd it, and finding that she could
hear ''ihe chickens more plainly when she pulled
il" she hung on to it until she found her ail ship fast
in trec-top, where she stad until daylight and was
rescued from her perilous situation by Mr. Atohson
and his neighbors. isG 4t9 atf t.tss ..I lne.H e
The girls name was Martha Ann Harvey and the lit
tic boy, not three years old until next month, David
Isa Harvey, the children of wealthy and respectable
parents living twenty miles south of Centralia,
Ii is difficult TO get connected story from children
youn yet enough be learned to justify in saying
that they had very pleasant dc-pleasng to those
whose tastes lean that way-and they about the
youngest mronants record They are to be in Cen
traa to-day for the double purpose of satisfying public
curiosity and having their heads arsticay taken off by
q dagucrreotypist.
They were found forty miles from this place, the
edge Of Moores prairie and about eighteen from the
farm of Mr., Harvey. Long may they wave.
rt ANDIE.