The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-09-30
The Bat,es In the balloon,

from t7s BhsfnnzDe Paragraph
The thrilling occurrence OF two small
children being accidentally carried up in q
balloon, from the neighborhood Of Centralia
was briefly noticed in oIr local columns on
Monday morning. 10 passing through
Centralia On Sunday night, We learned the
sequel Of the affair, and are much gratiiied
To announce that the children have been
safely rescued from their perious situation
1t will he remembered that the celebrated
aronaut, Mr.. Brooks, made fine ascension
from the Fair Ground on Friday evening,
some time before sunset. After beautiful
voyage, be descended shortly before dark,
near the house Of Mr.. Harvey, some sew
enteen miles nearly east Of Centralia. Mr..
Harvey's whole family, of course, came out
to see the novel visitant from the upper air,
and Mr. Brooks allowed several OF them
to take short excursions upward the balloon
being. Of course, held by strong rope by
those below, and hauled down at pleasure
But at length, when only two children-a
little girl Of eight years and boy of four
aud hAlf--were in the car, the balloon BY
some means got loose, and dashed of into
the upper regions, completely beyond the
reach Of human aid Night, too, was al
ready closing in, 50 that the air.ship with
its helpless freight was soon lost to the view
Of the horrifed gazers below.
The night proved quite cold, of course
increasing the danger Of the lost little ones
and the agony Of their parents. The news
reached Centralia the next morning, and we
understand that hundreds OF men turned
out TO search the praries for the lost child
rem. The excitement over wide circle OF
country was extreme
On Saturday morning, however, the child
ren were already 10 safety. The balloon
had descended during the night near the
residence OF q farmer 10 the vicinity OF
Mount Vernon, Jefferson county. The an
Choir caught in q tree, and the farmer when
he rose in the morning, saw the balloon
floating in the air. and soon pulled it down
and rescued its tenants who were not mate
rally the worse for their voyage.
The little girl, with the sweet, sacrificing
motherly instinct Of her sex, had taken of
her apron and carefully spread it over her
little brother to shield him from the cold
and then watched patiently and unweariedly
over his slumbers throughout the long night
and until help arrived in the morning. 1t
appears by her story, that the balloon at
some period Of the night, descended so far
that the suspended anchor caught in tree ;
that she began pulling on the rope to draw
the balloon down, when the anchorage gave
way, and the vessel again drilted until the
anchor again caught where they were
found
How long they had iloated at the will OF
the wandering currents of air, what route
they had Travelled, and what hour the
friendly anchor finally became fast, seem to
be matters which must be left to OBiecture
The place Of their descent would seem, on
the map, to be some twelve miles from that
OF their asceut--bnt they doubtless sailed
much farther than this,
The news OF their safety reached Cen.
tralia on Sunday morning, and wa an
nounced in all the churches calling forth,
AS may well be supposed, from many a
heart, iervant burst OF gratitude to that
Being who had kept the helpless innocents
in the hollow Of his hand. and restored them
TO their weeping parents just when hope
began to seem hopeless. Truly, sorrow bad
endured for a night, but joy came with the
morning.
Taken all in all, we doubt whether the
annals OF ballooning can show more ex-
traordinary case Of danger and deliverance
than this.