The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-10-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
From The St Louis Democrat, Sept. 29
The voyage of the Youthful Ero
naltS.

| ibC WY dBc VI inc L OuC11ul H,rO-
nauts.
The startling story of the late frightful
ascent of two small children alone in
balloon has naturally excited some incre.
! dulity, which in turn has been increased
by the rather diverse accounts given of
the event. But the return 10 cur city Of
the aeronaut, Mr.. j. NJ. Brooks, enables
us to give an authentic confirmation and
true version of the thrilling narrative.
This gentleman kindly informs us sub
stantially as follows:
He was TO have assembled from the Fair
ground at Cenlralia on Friday, the 18th
instant, but finding himself unwell, accep-
ted the offer of another acropaut, Mr.. Viii
son, who volunteered to take his place 10
the balloon. Alr Wilson effected beau
tiful ascent at 1-2 p. NJ, ioated west
ward and then south-eastward, rising two
and half miles, aud at about 6 1-2 p.
NJ, descended, sixteen miles southeast.
ward of the starting point. He was
caught by tree about forty-fve r,ds
from the farm house of MIR. BENJAMIN
Harvey. The spot is some two miles and
half from Rome, Jefferson county. Mr..
Harvey and his family and others gather
ed, and disentangled the air ship. They
then pulled the car to the ground, and
some boys held the ropes while the voya-
ger alighted, and while he was drawn off
in conversation with the inquisitive peo-
pie the balloon was towcd' to tho house
and MIR. Harvey prepared to have some
sport by rising the length tf the rope, to
be pulled down. Proving to heavy TOO
rise, he stepped out and put in his three
children, lad of three years, u 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 to heavy, and the
eldest was taken out At this instant
through the unwatchiulness of the persons
at the cords, the balloon suddenly and
very swiftly went up. The anchor struck
in rail fence hut tore it away, while a
cry of horror burst from the neonized
group. The children screamed with hor.
Tor, and the piteous appeal, "Pull me
down, father" as it instantly grew fainter
and fainter, rendered the parents, and in.
deed all pre'cnt, for the time perfectly
frantic. 1t was now past o'clock, was
becoming dark ard the balloon was soon
lost sight OF. A period of more intense
wretchednoss to the parental heart can
scarcely be imagined.
As there was little wind the balloon
had gone almost directly upward, till it.
disappearance in southeasterly course
Messengers were dispatched through tn,
region in every direction, and the alarm
spread rapidly, creating everywhere the
most intense excitement. In all quarters
the men and boys rallied in palties tc
scour the country and search the woods
in the expectation that the victims would
somewhere descend and he subjected tc
the perils of drowning, or else of starving
undiscovered
AT Centralia tho intelligence caused al
ndescribable sensation. The popula
anxieiy-almort agony-ealled out Mr.
Brooks, who assured the people that tn,
balloon would probably descend within
two or three hours, and within, at most
thirty miles Of the point of starting. II
also sent to The distracted parents the bes
assurances possible in the case informing
them that there would be no danger, ex
eept from a descent in the woods, whe
the children mightbo, with difficulty foun
and from the elder child's first steppin
out and leaving the younger again to rise
Apart from these perils---in themsevC
improbable-Mr. Brooks apprehended n
danger to the little voyagers; yet the ide
) become current that they must encounte