The Nevada Democrat., 1858-10-27
Fearful Adventure of Two Children In n
- balloon.

HnIIO0ns
frightful adventure of two children, being
carried off accidentally in q balloon, at Contra
lin, Missouri, occurred on the 18th Of Sept. An
aronaut, named Wilson, had made successful
ascent, and descended again sixteen miles from
MS starting point, about two miles from Rome,
Jefferson county. Here the balloon became
entanglediu a tree, and Mr.. Benjamin Harvey,
his family and Others, dsentangled it, and tow
ed 1t to the house of Mr.. Harvey, where they
attempted to have some sport by ascending the
length o: the rope by which it was held. Proving
too heavy to rise, Mr.. Harvey stepped out aud
put in his three children, lad of three years. q
girl Of eight, and still older girl. At this point
Mr.. Wilson called out to those holding the rope
to be sure and hold fast. But the three child
ren were too heavy, and the eldest was taken
out. At this instant, through the unwatchful-
ness Of the persons at the cords, the balloon
suddenly and very swiftly went upl The an
enor struck in aral Tense, but tore it away
while cry OF horror burst from the agonize6
group. The children screamed with horror
and the piteous appeal, "pull me down fatherl'
as 1t grew fainter and fainter, rendered the pa.
rents, and indeed all present, for the time. per-
fectly frantic. IL was now past seven O'Clock,
and becoming dark, and the balloon was soon
lost sight Of A period of more intense wretch.
edncss to the paternal heart can scarcely be
Imagined. AS there was little wind, the balloon
had gone almost directly upwards, till its dis
appearance In n southery course. Messengers
were dispatched through the region in every
direction, and the alarm spread rapidly, Great
ing everywhere the most intense excitement.
In all quarters the men and boys rallied in par
ties TO scour the country aud search the woods
with the expectation that the victims would
somewhere descend, and be subjected to the
perils Of drowning, or starving, undiscovered.
AT Centralia the intelligenc ecaused an inde-
scrbablc sensation. The idea became current
that they must encounter q friged atmosphere
which they could not survive.
1t was about three O'Clock on Saturday morn
ing that Mr.. Ignatin Atchison, living on Moore's
prairie. eight miles from Mount Vernon, got
up, as he says, and went out upon his porch
"to see the blazing star''-thc comet. An i'm
mcnse spectre rising from n tree, about twenty
yards distant rather appalled, him, and no re-
entered the house and awakened his family. On
his coming out again. weak and piteous voice
called to him from the spectre. "Comc here and
let us down; we're almost frOzeW Mr.. Atchi-
son speedily preceived the astonishing nature
Of the case, mustered help, cut away several
limbs of the tree, and drew the ear in safety to
the ground!
The little boy was first lifted out, and when
placed upon his feet. he instantly ran for several
yards, then turned, aud for u moment contem-
plated the balloon with apparently intense GU
riosity. The little girl told her sorrows and
ad ventures, 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, cigh-
teen miles distant, at two O'Clock +. NJ. with the
transporting tidings that tho children were safe.
We will leave it to our readers heart to suggest
the Joy which the Intelligence caused. It was
late in the afternoon when the little ones arrived.
and were olasped once more in the embrace Of
their parents.
The little girl is named Martha Ann, and her
little brother David Isam. She says that he
soon cried himself to sleep aud that she cried
till she slept little, and then awakened in the
tree.