Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-07-07
Greatest Erisl Voyage on Record-From st
Louis to Adams in Nineteen hours.

Friday evening at twenty minutes past
seven, the balloon Atlantic left st. Louis tor
a trip to the seabnard Messrs. Wise, La
Mountaine, eager, aud Mr.. Hyde, OF the Re
publican, were the passengers. Their de-
parture was most suspicious, and WAS WIT
messed by thousands of spectators. The Dat
loon landed near Adams, Saturday afternoon,
ut twenty minutes past two having travel
ed n distance Of twelve hundred miles In
nineteen hours.
The balloon landed on the farm OF Mr.
Whitney, in Jefferson co., \. L., about eight
miles from Adams village. 1t travelled over
the whole of Lake Erie, from Toledo. across
| Long Point-passing between Buffalo anu
! Niagara Falls at IL o'clock, Saturday noon
After it had passed Buffalo, and just before
reaching Rochester, the balloon encountered
a violent hurricane, which swept it from lts
course and carried the voyagers over Lake
Ontario. Ii was their intention to have fol
lowed the Central railroad - near us possible
to Albany, and but for the storm Of Saturday
they would have been successful.
The wind swept the balloon with great We
locity over the Lake, and before reaching
within sight Of the eastern shore "l Lake
Ontario, the ;eral ship lost her ascending
power, and rapidly sank down toward the
water The ballast had entirely given out,
and the PROVISIONS water supplies, and some
of the clothing OF the passengers were thrown
overheard; still the balloon neared the Lake
with great velocity, when it Was found ne
cessary to take OF the propelling machine
and pitch it overheard.
These efforts were unavailable, To give the
balloon ascending power when the oars and
seats of the boat were given To the waves
| All hands then left the boat and clambrred
into the ear sixteen feet above. In spite oil
all exprtons, the air vessel skinned Ia with
in thirty feet of the water and actually dash
ed the boat into the lake. 1t rlghted ltSell
however, and the balloon went OH with the
speed Of two miles per minute. AZ tins
point the propeller Young America, OF Us
wego, was spoken.
Providsntialy the balloon reached the
shore, having travelled over fifty mllrS-.jnst
above the waves which were rough and boIs-
ferrous But terrific peril now appeared
The balloon rushed into thick forest and
tearing down trees and breaking branches.
pursued its resistless course for upward OF q
mile and a hali-dashing the occupants OF
the car to and fro against trunks and limbs,
until at last it caught in tall sycamore aud
the silk was rent into ribbons: when the APP
paratus ut once came to halt, leaving the
the voyagers suspended thirty feet in the
air. Mr.. La Mountaine was slightly injured
by striking against limb, but all the others
reached the ground in safety.
A number of farmers had observed the bal
loon rushing along over the forest, and
of course at its landing a crowd had collect
ed Refreshments were supplied to the voy-
ayers, and every courtesy and attention
promptly paid them. They were afterwards
taken to Adams, whore they arrived about
o'clock.
The excitement in Adams upon learning
of the arrival of the distinguished voyagers
was intense. At first the people were incre-
dul0us-they smelt a meteOr-remembercd
moon stories-did not wish to see elephants
or any such sort Of animal-but when Mr..
Wise produced veritable ST. Louis papers,
dated the day before, and other evidences OF
the voyage, the people believed, and the ero-
nauts were the lions of the town. An I'M
promptu meeting was called at Saunders
Hall. At least eight hundred people were
present COL Hungerford presided, by whom
the voyagers were introduced to the audi
ence Professors Wise aud eager respec-
tiyely related their experiences during the
trim,
From them we learn that the night after
leaving ST. Louis was passed without spe-
ciaI incident. The voyagers all slept com
fortably. DAYLIGHT Saturday morning found
them 1yer Fort Wavnp. Indiana: passing
East they reached Toledo and struck of
across Lake Erie. AT Toledo, the voyagers
we're within hearing distance Of persons on
tarro frma who verv generously and en-.
tbusast;col,v shouted that's - biz Lake. "
"thot's Iske Erie " ..don't 90 there. you'll
oet lnstn 30 The neople opnearrd very
9mucL axctpd and alarmed for RI. safety Of
,ha ravs rs,n,,-.n,ly ;ynorsnt Of wbo
tbsv wsre or If tht nurnosr If their mis-.
s;nn
A. vor;ous mint. the farmers along their
conrss wonlJ catch a olimnse Of the balloon.
and Frequently the yoyupers could hear the
rural swain call 10 his snouse to get no ana
see the wonderful sight in the heavens. -
Tbey describe the effect Of the sunrise, when
thew approached lake Erie, as grand in the
extreme. They GOULD not find words tu rx-
nress the sublimiy of the grand panorama
surrounding them.
In passing over Lake Erie their route was
almost direct to Buffalo from Toledo. Upon
the Lake, steamers and sail vessels were
seen and hailed and responses were made.
nro,s;n, tba lo b., THAR ., varuua snen1 wos