The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-07-07
The ErtaI Voyage.

made the most remarkable voyage on rec
ord. Messrs. Wise, La Montaine, Gaye
; and Hyde, left st. Louis in this balloon ol
Friday evening, the 1st, at s O'Clock and Al
minutes bound for the Eastern cities. Tht
telegraph kept the public advised of it
course as follows: On Saturday mornin,
at about o'clock the balloon passed owe
Fort Wayne, Indiana; at 1880 it was owe
Sandusky, O.,-rather it was north of tha
place over the Lake, but so low down tha
it's name could be read and the persons in
seen. A newspaper was thrown out but i
fell into the water. 1t passed nearly ove
Kelley Island. 1t is said this balloon wal
seen from the city over the Lake going East
but we are not certain this was so. 1t wal
opposite and above Fairport, Lake county
at 9:3O and the passengers on the steamboa
Sea Btrd-bound from Buffalo to this city
had rare opportunity of seeing the aria
ship. 1t remained in their sight half ar
hour coming so near the water that buck
ct was let down and water drawn up by the
voyageurs. The balloon was over Niagara
at 1915, over Medina, N. Y, little later,
and landed her passengers in safety about
four O'Clock in the township of Adams, JEFF
ferson county, N. Y. Adams is IL miles
South of Wutertown and go miles, in q
North line from Syracuse. The distance
sailed was about 900 miles in direct line
of course the actual distance travelled was
somewhat greater, and was accomplished in
about 81 hours.
The following is the account by Mr.. Ga
ger. one of the passengers in the Atlantic.
He says:
Saturday, 1-2 r. NJ, St. Louis time,
were abreast Of Roches, over Lake Ontario,
when the altitude was changed on increase
of the wind, which was blowing perfect
hurricane, unaccompanied 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 the Lake.
We reached land in few seconds in the
town of Henderson, Jefferson county, with
all hands on board. We landed in an edge
woods with the basket swinging to and fro,
making rapid evolutions among the higher
branches of the trees, the passengers cling.
ing to the rigging. The strength and gene
raj excellence of the arrangement of the
balloon basket, probably saved the par.
ty. The balloon was left in a high tree,
swinging above the boat and much damaged.
The whole distance travelled is 1850
miles; we started at $40 P. NJ. on Friday
from st. Louis, and landed at Henderson.
Jefferson county, at 2:20 Saturday P. M
Mr.. LaMountain remained in charge of the
balloon.
A grand reception was given to the parties
at the village of Adams, Jefferson county.
The Buffalo Erpress of Monday morning
learns from HYDE, one Of the passengers as
follows:
The party, composed of himself, Prof.
Wise, Prof. Lamountain, and another, whose
name we did not learn, left st. Louis at 1920
p. N. Friday. They Immediately rose to on
altitude Of about two miles which was the
highest point gained during the trip. Here
they found the easterly current expected and
sailed along at the rate of about mile per
minute. The air was intensely cold and
several extra garments failed to prevent q
constant shivering among them. 1t became
at last nsufterable, and Prof. Wise, thinking
TO lind the same current nearer the earth,
allowed the balloon to descend few hun.
dred feet. Here they were struck with
current running north, which, before they
could again ascend, carried them several de-
grees to the northward, thus passing north
of Buffalo, when they intended passing this
point much farther south. At about 2 o..
clock Saturday afternoon they were over
Lake Ontario, when Prof. Wise experiment.
ed in the different currents in order to gain
information for his projected Atlantic trip.
This brought them in contact with the gale
which prevailed over this portion of the
country, and ere they could rise above it, the
balloon boat struck the water and was dash
ed into thousand pieces, the voyagers be.
ing in the car above.
Everything, coats, boots, provisions and
books were thrown overheard in order to
tighten the balloon, and it soon rose about
fifty feet and passed on to the land in Jeffer-
son county. Here they were met by dense
forest, and the graphing irons (very large
eighing ten pounds) attached to ropes fifty
feet in length were thrown out. The bal.
loon at that time was making two miles per
minute, and irons seized large limbs of trees,
tearing them from the trunk, and giving the
track they made the appearance of one
caused by n whirlwind. At fines the car
upset. and the balloonists clung to the ropes
for safety. At 4 P. M. on Saturday the car
caught in high tree, and the force of the
wind swung the balloon around the branch.
es, tearing it into shreds. The passengers
were thrown out on the ground near small
village, from whence Mr.. Hyde came to this
city on his return to st. Souls and the rest
Of the party went to Albany.
" On Friday morning last, DR.. William
Bushnell, while picking cherries from O tree
in bis garden, fell, breaking three of bis
ribs, and 1t was feared, his collar bone. We