The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-10-13
THE GREAT BALLOON VOYAGE
Mr.. Haddock's Account.
From the waterrown Rrformer, CEx,ra,) Oct.

From the Wateriown R-ormer Extra Oct ?.
Nearly every one in this locality is aware
that the second ascension Of the Atlantic was
advertised for the goth of September. The
storm of that and the following day obliged the
postpOnement of the ascension until the 22d
Thursday Every arrangement had been
made for successful imitation, and at 81 min.
utes before p NJ, the glad words, all
aboard" were heard from La Mountain, and
myself and that distinguished Gronaut stepped
into the car. Many were the friendly hands he
shook many feryent God bless you, and
happy voyage" were uttered and many
hapdkerchieis waved their mute alden. Just
as L stepped in, my good friend FaYRl stripped
OFF his overcOat, and pressed it upon me, saying
that, as Mr.. La Mountain had no outer garment.
we would need more than we had. l took it,
and 1t did me good service but l was never
able to return it. Mr.. Burnett, Of the Ameri-
can, In the kindest manner supplied us with
seme eatables and drinkables. Let 60 all"
and away we scared the horses on the Square
reared and pitched good deal at the novel
sight, but in an instant all minor sounds Of
earth had ceased, and we were lifted into 8
silent sphere whose shores were without an
echo, their silence equalled only by that Of the
grave. Not the least feeling Of trepidation was
experienced; an extraordinary elatiou took
possession of my soul, and fear was as far re.
moved as though / had been sitting in my own
room at home.
Two or three things struck me, in looking
down from an altitude of half mile. The
small appearance of our village from such
height, and the beautiful mechanical look
which the straight fences and oblongsquare
fields Of the farmers present. The buildings
in the village do not, from So, q height, ap-
pear to cover a tenth part Of the ground. The
poor old courthouse looked like a pepper.bOx
standing on ten-acre lot, and the first church.
spire barely equalled in size a respectable May
pole.
As we rose into the light heecy clouds. tbey
looked between us and the earth like matches
of snow we see lying upon the Landscape in
spring-time but when we rose a little higher.
the clouds completely shut out the earth, and
the cold white masses below US had precisely
the same look that q mountainous snow-covered
country does as you look down upon IT from
higher mountain. Those who have crossed the
Alps by the Simplon Pass, or have stood upon
the lofty SUBMITS of the Sierra Nevada, and
gazed down upon the eternal SHOWS below aud
around them, viii be able to catch the idea /
am trying to convey. In six minutes, we were
far above all the clouds, and the sun and we
were face to face. We saw the time, after that.
when his face looked very fair to u.s. In eight
minutes after leaving the earth, the thermome-
ter, kindly loaned US By T. H. Camp 6 Co.,
showed a fall Of "a degrees. 1t stood 81 when
We left. The balloon rotated good deal show
ing that she was ascending with great rapidity
At 54S, thermometer stood at ~, and fall
ing very fast. At $50, we were at least two
miles high; thermometer, 81 At this point.
suggestion made just before starting, by Judge
Clark, of Plessis, was found to be very good
one. He had advised the taking along Of some
cotton, with which to FL the ears when atgreat
heights, and my father had procured me some.
The unpleasant ringing sensation had now be-
come painful and l filed both ears with cotton.
This made my head feel good deal as a very
large hollow pumpkin may be supposed TO-
with ahumming-bird buzzing upon its surface
a comparison with which, doubtless, many who
read this account will hardly quarrel. At $50,
we put on our gloves and shawls-an extra pair
for Mr.. La Mountain being found in friend
Fayeps overcoat; thermometer, 80. The wet
sand bags now became stiff with cold; they
were frozen. Ascending very rapidly. AT ssh,
thermometer %, and falling. Here we caught
our last sight of the earth by daylight rec,
ognised the ST. Lawrence to the southwest Of
us, which showed we were drifting nearly north.
At o'clock, we thought we were descending
little, and Mr. La Mountain directed me TO
throw out about twenty pounds Of ballast This
shot as up again; thermometer &c; and falling
very slowly. At 6.O5-thermometer, 22-my
feet were very cold.
The Atlantic was now full, and presented
most splendid sight. The gas began to dis
charge itself at the mouth, and its abominsble
smell, as 1t came down upon us, made me sick.
had been trying some of friend Burnett's
sinews of war;" but everything that would
come up left my poor stomach in food. A
moments vomiting made me feel all right
again. La Mountain was suffering good deal
with cold. / passed my thick shawl around
his shoulders, and put the blanket over our
knees and feet. at Clio, ther. Is, we drifted
along until the sun left us, and in a short time
thereafter the balloon began to descend. At
$50, thermometer 30, rising. Threw over about
Eve pounds of ballast. We must have been,
before we began TO descend from this height,
81 miles high. At $50, thermometer %, rising.
We we're now about stationary, and thought