Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-07-09
THE GREAT BALLOON VOICE.

TIE GHEA 4 bAALOON= HO1AGE.
STATEMENT OF Mr. eAGEK-coURAeE OF MR.. La
MOUNTAIN.
The Troy Daily Times of July 8, contains the
statement of Mr.. eager, one of the passengers
in the late balloon voyage. We copy few ex-
tracts:
The principal feature which the voyagers OBJ
served during the night, was the prevalence
about, above, and under them, of q remarkable
IphoSphoreScent light which seemed to invest
everything, and give it peculiar appearance.
1t made the balloon look like globe of fire,
seen through oiled paper, us Wise described it.
1t was easy to tell the woods from the open
country by the belts of black lines which they
indicated-and on crossing body of water, it
seemed as though the voyagerS were passing
between two sheets of fame of mellow color,
which lighted them up, and gave to their coun-
tenanceS, and to the objects Immediately sur
rounding them, peculiar hue. This phenom-
enon was as agreeable TO those who witnessed
it, as it was remarkable.
AT 2.20, Rochester left about mile
abreast. La Mountain stood alone in the boat;
the other three were clinging to ebasket above.
Wise cried out excitedly 10 La Lountain, "For
Gods sake, heave overload anything you can
lay fingers on, La Mountain" La Mountain,
who was standing near the side of the boat, with
a propeller fan m his hand, ready to throw out
ut the criticize moment, cried out, "KceP cool,
gentlemen; it's all right" Mr.. Hyde looked up
at Wise, and said solcmnly, "Ths is dreadful
time, Professor, what shall we do2" "Trust in
God and our faculties" was the answer.
In few seconds more, the balloon went down
with full swoop upon the lake, Notwithstanding
Wise had thrown out heavy valse, an express
mail bag, and the remaining provisions. Phe
waters were surging and boiling awfully, the
waves running from twelve to fifteen feet high,
and moaning as if for the impending doom of
| ha wa drao nj
1t stove in one side of the boat, and ierked La
Mountain so that his hat fell into the water
"For Gods sake, John, are you out2" shouted
Wise over the basket. "Don't trouble YOUR
selves about me, gentlemen" was the response,
I'm all right, and Tn going to take you across
safe yet" And over went the propeller fan,
lifting the balloon few feet above the water.
The voyagers now began to question how
they would be killed. Wise said he was re.
signed; eager was willing to go but for hispoo
wife; Hyde prepared, but would rather die on
land than water; La Mountain insisted that no.
body was going to be killed, as he would land
them all safe. A moment after, the propeller
young America" was signaled and asked to lay
to, but before she could do SO, she was mile
astern. Wise now proposed 20 descend, swamp
the boat, and trust to the chances of being
picked up. This La Mountain peremptorily re.
fused to do, declaring that such movement
would be certain death for all. By tearing up
the planks from the bottom of the boat, and
throwing off his heaviest clothing he kept the
balloon afioat, until at about 1870, the shore
was struck, in piece of woods in the town of
Henderson. Instantly the anchor was thrown
out. 1t first caught tree an inch in diameter,
but broke it off like a Pipestem-the balloon
suTging on with a power equal to that Of
two or three locomotives Next, the an
Choir caught in large tree, and the prongs,
which were of an inch and quarter iron
were broken squarely off. Mr.. La Mountain
might at this moment have cut loose the boat
landing himself and leaving his companions to
their fate; but instead of doing so, he Chamber
ed into the basket, determined to share with
them their perils. Overcome by admiration,
Mr.. Wise sprang up, exclaiming, "By God,
John, you are hero. If can come out alive
you shall have gold medal, and the credit of
saving US ALL" At this moment, the balloon,
which was whiring over the trecs-the Voyag-
crs cllngins to the basket and sometimes hang
ing head downward-struck main branch Of a
tnonstrous oak, lead on. Away went balloon,
car and limb hundred feet in the air, and down
again with fearful plunge, leaving all suspend
cd in the air, alive and safe, the balloon torn
from top to bottom, but the only passenger in
Ijured being the hero of the voyage, Mr. Noun
tain, who was badly bruised in the side.
--oaSsS
IT will be remembered that after the election
in 1857, the Republican press of Minnesota
charged the leading members of the Democratic
party in that stnte-some of whom were feder-
al officers-wth series of high handed frauds
in the canvass. The charges were supported at
the time by evidence which entitled them to
belief, but until recently there was no positive
proof of the iniquity. Atlength, however, the
facts have come to light Ex-Governor German
himself, has fully confessed tho villainy perpe-
trated in the election of that year. German
duplicates Senator Rice, Governor Sibley, Sec
rotary Chase and himself in the forgeries of re-
turns by which the State was secured to the
democracy -forgeries which should subject