Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-07-21
A STORM BELOW

party In the great trip OF Me Atianic oai
loon:
STORM BELOW.
Al half past ten O'Clock we had LAX
Erie and Lake Ontario both in sight,
spectacle that coulj not be viewed withou
mingled sentiments of admiration and won
der. The balloon had now attained a,
attitude of nearly mile. A terrible storm
was surging beneath US, the trees waving
and the mad waves dashng against th,
shore of Erie in an nwfully tempesiuou,
manner. But above the cereering whirl
poo Is and the laundering breakers swan
The proud Atlantic, not a cord displaced
nor breadth of silk disturbed. soaring aloi
with her expectant crew, und gaily heading
for the salt crcsts which bound our vast
Republic. Nov like gurgle, comes the
subdued roar OF the plashing und headlong
ca ataract of Niagara.
THE DESCENT,
Passing the western terminus OF the Erie
Canal the balloon was borne directly to.
wards Lake Ontario. Our ballast was now
nearly exhausted, and to have determined
on crossing the second lake would have
been sheer recklessness and harhood. A,
this point it was resolved to descend 10 the
earth, land Mr. eager and myself. in our
stead take in a sufficien quantity of new
ba last, and again steer for the Atlantic
Ocean. The airshp was lowered, but was
Immediately caught in the hurricane which
was then raging, and carried very near the
tops of trees which were bending and sway
ing to and fro by the force of the wind
Mr.. Lampuntain once threw over the
buchets and their contents, and the lift
this gave US kept us from being crushed in
the woods. Like 5ullett we shot out into
the Lake. The machinery was got 10
readiness to be tossed out, and every possi-
BILE preparation made for keeping out of the
waves. For awhile we cherished the hope
that we would be able 10 pass the broad ex-
panse of the deep in safety, though we knew
we had nearly one hundred and nenety
miles to traverse. But this hope died out
in less than an hour, as TIE trooping winds
bore on us, it seemed, with greater and in
creasing ferceness. We had got far out
and there was no land in sight A dreary
waste of nearly seven thousand squire miles
of water was before and around u.s.
At length we nearpd the dashing bllows,
which were wildly finging up their white
caps and chasing one another towards the
Northeast For me, "a lifetime was con-
C centra,ed IN that awful perilous moment. 1t
was the first time since had set foot in
the balloon, that nad-xyeraeffccd fear as
to my safety looked around at INV COM
panions; they were calm, but their coun-
tenanccs gave me no assurance. Plunge,
plunge, went the IRON bars of the machinery
into the waves, nov rolling ten feet in
height! And the Atlantic, obedient to this
magic control, again bound upwards out of
The way of the dark and hungry elements.
There was great relief in this, but the cool
est reason could not have seen in :he cir
;umstances anything but momentary en-
cannot recollect whether
it was at this point, or before, that Mr.
eager climbed up into the car with Prof.
Wise. Whenever it was, he die so as much
or the security of the entire party as for
ais own safety, for there is 70 sellishness
in MIR. eager, see him where you will.
For time again our flying ship was
,uoyed up out of the way of hazard, but
would frequently dart down as though in
ent on burying us, all. This movement
was promptly checked by throwing out
some articles as ballast. and thus, carpeI
sacks containing clothing, oyercoats, bum
lies of papers, provisions, were pitched out
nto the lake, and still we kept in almost
hopeless proximity. MIR. Lamuuntain had
,aid he desired TO take care of the boat, and
ldv ised me to get into the car above, with
Messrs. Wise and eager, which FASTENED
10 do. No sooner had planted mysel
irmly in the wicker basket than down.
lown, down with fearful speed went the
balloon towards the lake. closed my eyes
but was quickly aroused by
era sh and a lunge of the car forward
and splash. One moment of my life,
thought |. Looking around beheld a hat
1oating off, and the same instant the balloon
larted out OF the water. ..--g.
"Poor La Mountain was in my heart to
say, for thought him gone; but cheerful
'all right, boys" stopped me and lightencd
ne of one grief. Now Game u ,t'st Of La
bravery. and noblj did he stand
il. Taking u hatohet which was handed
Iown TO him from the car where it was
swung, he began loosening the planks
making the lining of the boat, which he
sent overheard a. every indication o:anvther
descent. When he hai gone as tar as pos
sible this way unscrewed the nuts which
mad been placed in the side of the boat by
which to fssten the machinery. Gathering
all articles, OF no matter how little weight
together, he sent them with the rest. The
Dars went over next, and at last there was
nothing in the boat. He had taken off his
coat to it, and worked till the perspiration
ran from his brow like rainfall the while
speaking hopefully and endeav oring to quiet
our apprehensiuns. When there was moth
ing more to be done below, Mr.. Lamountain
drew himself up by the rope, into the car.
Everything had now gone but an overcoat
and two blankets, which we're saved to be
used as the final resost.
How wstfully did four persons strain
their eyes that d1y in the direction of the
shore; and would it never, never Come in
sight! Mr.. Gager's face bore an express
sion of mingled sadness and solici itudc:
perhaps he was thinking of group OF hap
py fsces, all unconscious of his peril, away