Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-07-07

Inc loast-MasterS acknowledge tile contrib.
lions Of their friends with many thanks.
About noon the " Regulators " went through
the streets, and by the grotosquen IS of their
costumes, and their amusing antics attracted
much attention and made a great deal Of fun.
During the afternoon the large crowd gradual
ly collected about the Pavilion, the steps snd
the yard Of the State House, and the hill back
of the Common. The roofs Of the adjacent
buildings were covered and their windows were
filled with an eager and cxpectant mass Of faces.
waiting to see the Mammoth Balloon Pride of
America, go up
at twenty minutes past five O'clock, Prof.
LaMountain made the ascension, and we have
prevailed upon him to give US a sketch of how
the voyage appeared to one in the car:
At $40 P. NJ, every thing being in readiness,
my Balloon was detached from the initiating APP
paratus, and allowed to rise; but on doing
SO, found that it had not sufficient ascending
force to carry me up with the amount of ballast
had, which was about sixty pounds. how
ever determined to try it, and was let 60, as
cending about thirty feet, when struck q tree
Bounding from that, | again descended to the
road, striking the corner Of the Insurance Office
in my descent. Throwing out every pound of
ballast which my car contained, again ascend
ed, magnifcently clearing all distractions, and
taking south-easterly course. After passing
about two miles, | found that | was ascending
but slowly, and resolved to throw every thing
out OF my car, in order to ascend moro rapidly
Throwing out my anchor and number of de-
spatches, which were the only things | had on
board, my ascent was then nearly perpendic-
ular, passing up through the clouds, and losing
sight Of the vast throng of people below, who
appeared to be viewing the balloon with almost
breathless admiration, as they seemed riveted to
the spot.
Alter passing above the clouds, witnessed
sight worthy of notice The shadow of my bal
loon painted itself on the clear white surface
Of the clouds below me, and u beautiful rainbow
encrcled the bottom of my car Looking down
upon the clouds, they seemed like one vast ocean
OF icebergs, unevenly pointing up one above
another. can but confess that this was the
most magnificent sight ever witnessed on any
ascension.
Having attained an altitude of about three
and q half miles, drew on my valve-cord to
discharge gas, and soon found myself descend
ing. the atmosphere at this hight was extreme
ly cold, but colder when passing through the
clouds. After breaking down through the
clouds, perceived Montpelier again, far down
below me in the distance.
| Viewed from this hight, the earth seemed con-
cave, the rivers, meadows, trees and hills
as one smooth surface, rising up on all
sides from me, and the streams looked like little
white lines triangling along over the surface,
while Berlin Pond showed about as large as u
man S hat
| still continued to descend, and found on
alghting that | was twelve miles south Of
Montpelier, on the farm of Mr.. Martin Burn
ham in W Misunderstanding been one hour
and ten mipn!es in making the ascension.
No accident occurred, and should not have
broken basket of eggs had had them aboard.
EDWARD LAMoUNTAIN.
The calmness and presence of mind of the
Hronaut in ascending was surprising to the
spectators, who sent up shout after shout in
response to the greetings of his waving flag as
he slowly disappeared.
The fireworks in the evening g went off, to
the satisfaction of every body, after which the
crowd :" went off" The day was beautiful,
though rather cold, and nothing occurred to
mar the festivities of the occasion. There were
without doubt more than twenty thousand PEG
pie in town.
Great credit is due to the efficient Committee
of Arrangements for the prompt and satisfac.
|
tory manner in which everything was carried
out.