Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-10-10
AFesrfnI BaIioea Trip.

Mounfain IN his balloon Atlantis gives ious nc
count of the trip in an extra of the Wsfsrtown
R=forn,er Il Il idIi Of exefsment. We append
extracts. After describing the ascent. Mr.. Had
Al 0.50 IL was dark. and could make no more
memoranda put up my notebook. pencil, and
wat.b. and settled down into the basket. a. much
ut home NJ though at post in the Reformer ofhce.
From this point sntil the morningI can only
give my experience from memory.
We heard soon after dark. n locomotive whis-
tie, am. occasionally could hear wagons rumbling
along the ground Or over bridge, while the dogs
kent IN an almost cea-cless serenade, ~ II cut
scious there was something in the sky monstrons
and unnatural We sailed along contented and
chntty. until about "a, when We distinctly saw
lights. and heard the roaring OF mighty water
fall We descended into valley neara very
high mountain, but ~ the place appeared rather
forbiddng. we concluded to go up again. Over
with thirty pounds Of ballast, and skyward we
sailed. In about twenty minutes We again de-
scended. bat this time no friendly Lighter deep
mouthed Watchdog heavy bay" greeted Us. We
were over a dense wilderness, and settled down
over small lake.
We had our life prescrvers ready for use. but
got up again by throwing over all our ballast e!-
ceptng about eighteen pounds Mr.. LaMountain
now said 1t was folly aud madness to stay up any
longer. that We were over great wilderness, ana
tho sooner we descended the better. We conclu-
ded to settle down by the sido Of tree, ana tie
up, and whit until morning. Inn moment we
were near the earth. aud ms wo fell grasped the
extreme top al tall spruce. which stopped her
descent and We were soon fastened to 1t by our
large ,lrag.ropc The touch of that spruce sent II
thrill of discomfort tn my heart, for knew that
it's kind did not grow in any well-settled or warm
country.
Mr.. LaAlountain said, after he looked around
add made as much Of un examination of tho scene
4. l.,r I.r nd rain ipr
II had raned for tho past honr.) thet the "Atan-
tic was played out. We were far into the woods.
and If we got out alive ought to he thankful.
We role ourselves III our blankets, and
patiently waited until morning. The rain drip
ped down upon w in riynlets. from the great bal
loon. and it was not long before We wero wet ms
men could be- After n night passed in great
discomfort, we glad to see the fret faint ray
Of davlight. Cold. and wet, and rainy, the morn
ing broke tho typical precursor, we we're to learn
ofmany other mornings 10 be spent ~ those un-
inhabited wilds. Wo waited until 4 o'cl"ck. in
hopes The rain would cnsc and the rays of the
sun. by warming TIE gas in the balloon would
give ascending power sufficient to get up again,
for tho purpos, if no other, of obtaining view OF
tho country into which we had descended The
rain lid not cca.o. and concluded to throw over
nj! we hnd ia tho balloon except II coat piece. the
life prcseryers tho anchor and the compass. Over
boarI then they went good shnwls and blankets
Mr. Fayle's overcoat bottles of ale, and flask of
cordial, ropes and traps Of oil kinds. The Attain
ito relieved of her wet load, rose majestic My with
us, and VIC were able to behold the country l,elow.
1t vas an unbrokcn wilderness of sprucc-and
we felt thea that we had gone too far through
miscalculn,ion If the velocity Of tho balloon. As
the current was driving ns still to the north, we
dare pot stay up MS we were drifting further and
still further 10 that frozen tide" from which We
knew there Was no escape. Mr.. La Mountain
4 4 ~. a. aud
we descended in safety hv the side Of tall sprncc.
We made the Atlantic fast hy her anchor, and
for u moment talked over whit we should do We
had not mouthful to eat No protection Mt night
from the damp ground; were distant we knew not
how fur from hAbitntirn. were hungry tn start
with, no earthly hope ii raising fire, and no dis
tinct idea "a to where we were. We concluded to
trust to the compass kindly loanedby ii. w. New
comb, esq. and take course which would bring
US cat of any wilderness wc might be in. We set
tied in our own mind. that we're either IN
Jno Browns Tract or in tho great Canada wilder
ness to the south, we thought, of tho Ottawa
and knew that course south by east would take
w out. il we had strength enough to travel the
distance. La NJ. stepped up to the balloon, and
gave the edge OF tho basket parting shake, say
ing. GOOD bye, oil Atlantic.' and lancicd
could SEQ q tenr in his hInest eve when he said H.
lie seemed greatly to regret his inability to pcr-
form his engagements at the Kingston and New
York State Fairs, at both OF which he was a1vor
tiaed to make ascensions
TRAMpING IN TIE WOODS.
To the southeast. thcn we started. After tray
cling about mile and we came to the bank
of II small creek. flowing down from the westward
At this point we were aEreenby surprised to find
that some human being had been there before us,
for found sevcra! small trees cut down, the
Goals frnn, an old fire. aud half barrel which had
contained pork. | eagerly examined the stamp.
1t read:
Mess Pork. r. NJ, Montreal"
This settled the question that we were in Cana
dn, for very well knew that no Montreal inspec-
ton Of pork ever found ia way into the interior of
New York State. We travelled all day Friday up
the unknown creek. which kept its general course
to the south of west crossing it about noon on II
floating log. and striking on it's southern bank, n
"blazea' track, which led us up to n deserted
timber road lying on the opposite side from II
large numbering shanty. We hoped one OF tho
lumber roads might take us to settlement, but
attcy travelling up tlcm all until they terminated
in tho wilderness, we concluded IL cross the creek
to the -lianty and stay in it nil night. La Noun
tain got across safely; but my weight was greater
than his and the raft left me into the stream |
sank in all over and swan ont, though it required
all my strength to do SO, and reaching the bank
found myself 50 chilled scarcely to he able to
stand. | took off my clothes, wrung them. and
we proceeded to the shanty, where we found plen-
ty Of refuse straw: hat it was dry, and under a
pile OF it we ornwlri- pulling it over our heads
and faces in the hoHe that our breath might MD in
warming our chilled h,"ics. | think the most re-
venGeui stony heart would have pite,i con-
dition teen. The weary hours at nigh; ut last
wore away, and we hold new council. 1t was
evident, we reasoned, that the creek were up
on was ased i'r "rivias" logs in the sl,rng sea-
son. l., then. We followed il t, itscouhtruce with
the ottiwa "r s",ic stream which cmp.lHl into
the Ottawa, We would 10 time get ont the same
way the timi'r" CT tUt The tnpl ri the santv
WAS covered wi'h the halves al logs. scoope on.
ia manner ianiliar To all wuudnen. These