The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1859-08-06
THE LATE BALLOON VOYAGE

long account of the trip, from which we
take the following:
At II o'clock, having skinned over
the Lake shore. still bound eastwardly,
the balloon broughtus in sight OF Buffalo
and Niagara Falls a. also Of the cclc-
bratod Wclland Canal. We had reached
a hight of more than mile, the baron
cter mark ling % & inches. At II o'clock
we were nearly between the Falls and
Buffalo. inclining rather 10 the lett OF the
latter Passing the western terminus OF
the Erie Canal, the balloon was now
nearly exhausted, and to have determined
on crossing the second lake would nave
been sheer reckless hardlhood At
this point il was resolved to descend 10
the earth. land Mr. Eager and myself, IN
our stead take in n sufficient quantity Of
new ballast and again steer for the NJ
lantic Ocean. Gould this have been done,
there is scarcely doubt OF Messrs. W isr
and I.amountain's reaching their dosti'
nation The airship 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 swaying t. and fro 10y the force 81
the wind Mr.. I.amountaiuat once threw
over the buckets aud their content, aud
the lift this rave rs kept rs from nelhg
crushed in the woeds Like a bullet wr
shot ont into the Lake The machinery
was got IN readiness to be tossed out
and every preparation made for keeping
out OF the waves. For awhile we chci
ishcd the hope that We would be able +"
pass the broad cvpnusc If The deep IA
safety. though 81, knew we had nearly
one hundred and ninety miles 10 traverse.
But this hope died out ia less than ah
hour. as the troopiug WINDS bore doWh
uu us. ID seemed, Muh greater and ih.
crcasiur hercouess We had got TAT out
and there was no land iu sight \ drnA
waste # nearly seycn Thousand squaro
miles of water was before and around
us Al lrnRth We uoarcd the dasinhg
fdllaws which were wildly ihnglng az
their white caps. and chasing oue another
towards the northeast Ion lao, li'c.
time WAS concentrated ia that awful
pprifau, moment. Ii was the inst ime
since hal set foot In the boat suspend
cl te the balloon that ] had experienced
fear as to my safety booked around
at my companions they were calm. hut
their countenanccs gave me no assn
rance. Plunge, plunge, went Tie non
bar. ut tl,. machinery into the wave
u,y rolling ten feet in hight, And tic
Ntl,uti. oIadi,nt 4, this magic control,
t...,;,, bounded up,.ard~ aut 1T the way
II tEc dark and hugrv element Ihcru
was great rchti iu this, but the coolies,
reason could not huyo seen 10 tho y.ic1u-
stances ANYTHING ut momcutary cu.
cannot tee ilicci WheiH
tr IL Was at this puiu: or before that VIZ
Gaccr climbed up iHfl the car with fgnl
Wise Whenever il was, he did SO as
much flr the security of the entire party
As for his own safety. Tor there ~ Ho sci
hshness in Mr. eager, see HIM where You
will.
- , ,inn AGAIN our living shin wa
Loayr1 mn out 81 the way Of haznrd but
r,on.n,ly dart downward as though in-
t,,.i in, lntvlnr as AN This movement
CO.. ,,,...,u,,ilv checked bv throwing uuf
s,,,. ,r,iri. ns ballast and TINS carpet
s,,l,. containing clothing. oycrcoais.
t.,,,,ll,s 90 u,rn,s proylSious. Wort
,,t,,l..l .,, I'M, the Lake. aud still wc
k,,,, Il, aI,.s, homeless nroNimity Mr.
I,,,,.,,,,,in had said he desired to take
'.,',., ...r IN, Loa, and advised me tu sot
int.. ti,,.. ,',,. ,l,,,. with Mcs~r- Wise aud
G,.,,, Which, / FASTENED 10 do. ~ saar-
-, lad ula.tod myself firmly in The
,i..ker h,s4.t tl,au down. down. down