Litchfield enquirer., 1858-09-30
THRILLING BALLOON ASCENSION.
From the S. Louis Democrat.

THRILLING BALLOON ASCENSION.
 From the S. Louis Democrat.
 The startling story of the late frightful as- cent of two small children alone in balloon, has naturally excited some incredulity, which, in turn, has been increased by the rather di- verse accounts given of the event. But the re- turn to our city of the aronaut, Mir. Brooks, enables US to give an authentic confirmation and true version of the thrilling narrative. This gentleman kindly informs us substantially as follows:
 He was to have ascendcd from the Fair Grounds at Centralia on Friday the l7th inst. but finding himself unwell, accepted the offer of another a-onout. Mr. Wilson, who volun- teercd to take his place in the balloon Mir. Wilson effected beautiful ascent, at 5! P. M.. hoated westward and then south eastward ris- two and half miles, and at about 6I P. NJ. de- scended, sixteen miles south-castwald of the starting point. He was caught by tree about farty-five rods from the farm house of Benj Harvey, two miles and half from Rome, lief fersen county. Mir. Harvey and his family, and others. gathered, and disentaneled the air-ship. They then pulled the Car to the ground and some boys held the ropes as the voyaguer a. SheVuy uttu NiiliC It WiiS uIdNH OH III sation with the inquisitive people, the balloon was towcd" to the hausc, and MT. Harvey prepared to have some sport by rising the length of the rope, to be pulled down. Proving too heavy to rise, he stepped out and put in his three children-a lad of three years, girl of eight, and still older girl. At this point Mr. Wilson 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 unwatchfulness of the persons at the cords, the balloon suddenly and very swiftly went up! The anchor struck in rail fence, but tore it away, while cry of horror burst from the agonized group. The children screamed with horror, and the pteous appeal, Pull me dopm. fuller p as it instant ly grew fainter and fainter, rendered the par ents, and indeed all present, for the time per fectIy frantic. It was now past seven o'clock, was becoming dark, and the balloon was soon lost sight of. A period of more intense wrctch"dness to the parental heart can scarce ly be imagined.
 As there was little wind, the balloon had gone almost directly upward till it's disappear ance in southcastery 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 menand boys rallied in parties to SCOUT the country and search the weeds, in the expectation that the victims would some where descend and be subjected to the pcrils of drowning, or else of starving undiscovered.
 At Centraia, the intelligence caused an ii- describahe sensation The popular anxiety almost agony-called ont MT. Brooks, who as- sured the people that the balloon would proba- by descend within two or three hours, and within at most thirty miles of the point of starting. He also sent to the distracted par ents She best assurances possible in the case, informing them that there would be no danger except from descent in the woods, when the children might he with difficulty found and from tie older cllld's first step ping out and leaving the younger again to rise. Apart from these perilS, in themselves improbable, Mr. Brooks appreheuGed no danger to the it- tie poyagers Yet the idea became current that they must encounter frgid atmosphere which they could not survive
 It was about three o'clock on Saturday morning that Mir. 1gnatian Atchison, living on Moore's prairie, eight miles from Mount Yer non, got up, he says, and went out upon his porch |" to see the blazing star"--tle comet. An ;mmense specter rising from a tree, about twenty yards distant, rather arpall' d him, and he reentcred the house, and walked his family On his coming out again, weak and pteons voice called to him from the sl'cct,r, Come hrre and let us down we're almost froze P Mir AtchiSon speedily perceived the astonish- ing 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 lifted out, and when placed upon his feet instantly ran for several yards, then turned, and for moment contenl- plated the balloon with apparently intense cu- roSity. The little girl told their sorrows and adventures with an almost broken heart, to these people, who, strangely indeed, had not heard Of tue disaster.
 A messenger arrived at Mir. Harvey's, eight cen miles distant, at ? p. m 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. It was late in the afternoon when. the little, ones arrived, and were clasped orce more in the etubrace of their parents. s1
 The happy result was received in Centralia, and 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 portraits were taken of them by Mr. William B Matthews, artist in Centralia, and 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, aud then awakened n the tree.
 Mr. Brooks afirms that the balloon must have descended by II o'clock of Friday night, aLd hence had remained in the tree till its dis covcry through the kindness of " the blazing star," and the astronomical wakefulness of MT. Atchison.
 Mir. Brooks has the photographic portraits of the juvenile adventures, which we suppose
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