The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-07-09

The GREAT BALLOON FEAT Landing Of
the Balloon. - Messrs. w Use La Mountain and
eager have accomplished the greatest balloon
feat ever performed in This or any other
country. Asaready stated, they assembled at
st. Louis on FRIDAY evening, with the inen-
ton OF making trip to the Atlantic seaboard
Very little hopes were entertained that the
experiment would be successful. but des-
patch informs us that the bal loon and its
occupants landed near Troy, New York, on
Saturday afternoon. The Troy Wing learns
from Mr. eager, one of the seronauts, the
following particulars:
Saturday ! p. NJ. St. Louis time, were
abreast Of Rochester, over Lake Ontario
when the altitude was changed on increase
of NE wind, which was blowing perfect
hurricane, accompanied by rain. The supply
OF gas was small, consequently the balloon
did not reach the altitude above the storm. -
The vessel was immediately headed for shore.
When the storm was highest, the vessel was
only about thirty feet above the level of tn,
lake.
Hereached land in a few seconds in the
town of Henderson Jefferson county, with all
hands on board. We landed in an edge q
woods with the basket swinging to and fro
making rapid evoutions among the highe,
branches OF the trees, the passengers c,lngine
to the rigging. The strength and general
excellence OF the arrangement of the balloon
basket probably saved the party. The bal.
loon was left in nigh tree, swinging above
the boat and much damaged.
The whole distance Travelled is ], $50 miles.
we started at 6 40 P NJ. Oil Friday from st.
Louis, and landed at Henderson, Jefferson
county, at . 20 Saturday p. NJ.
The peril of the aroneauts oyer Like
Ontario is thus described by Professor Wise
For while they were within sixty feet Of
the water and every particle of ballast mail
Diapers tlosn the overland route from Califor.
ma which had been made up for them) pro.
visions, baggage, oycrcoats. instruments, and
even the p,lDks Of the boat were thrown over.
board, but despite this they struck the lake
twice. The waves were rolling high, dashed
into fury by the tornado, and the side of the
boat was stove in by them. The first time
they struck La Mountain was in the boat, and
ne ne was at once drawn upi Into the basket -
LEY then were fortunately raised some sixty
lcet, al winch altitude they were carried at
about fifty miles an hour, to the American
shore which they struck at the town of Hen
derson, Jefferson county. Here they were
N"''iNH WV q "oou, TAXING me TOPS Oh the
trees, and finally brought up IN one, some if
teen feet from the ground, the boat catching
in limb eight inches in diameter and of i'm.
mense size. This fastened them but few
seconds, when terrific gust whirled them off,
snapped the limb, and carrying it off with
them ut weighed full 600 pounds y and car
rled them up several feet. Here another gust
took them. A few rods of fearful speed, and
down went the ship into an elm tree, the
boat and car becoming inextricably entang-
led. Mr.. Wise took observations, found it
impossible to get loose, and the patty conclu-
ded to disembark, which they did by crawl
ing out and climbing from limb to limb, to
the ground. In the meantime the SPLENDID
balloon was torn to pieces by the tornado.
Messrs. La Mountain and eager were injured
by the contact with the trees. The former in
his ribs and the latter in his face and hands.
1t is marvellous that any one Of them escaped
with life.