Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-10-21

ed and chatty, until about half-past z, i
when we distinctly saw lights, and heard j
the roaring of a mighty waterfall. We '
descended into valley near a very high
mountain, but as the place appeared
rather forbidding, we concluded to go up
again. Over with thirty pounds Of bal
last, and skyward we sailed. In about
twenty minutes we again descended, but
this time no friendly light or deep
mouthed watch dogs heavy bray greet
ed us. We were over dense wilder
ness, and settled down over a small lake.
We had our life-preservers ready for use,
but got up again by throwing over all
our ballast except about eighteen pounds.
Mr.. La Mountain now said it was
folly and madness to stay up any longer,
that we were over a great wilderness,
and the sooner we descended the better.
We concluded to settle down by the side
of tree, tie up, and wait until morning.
In a moment we were near the earth,
and as we fell l grasped the extreme top
of tall spruce, which stopped her de-
scent and we were soon fastened to it by
the large drag rope. The touch of that
spruce sent a thrill of discomfort to my
heart, for / knew that its kind did not
grow in any well settled, nor any warm
country.
Mr.. La Mountain said, after he look
ed around and made as much of an ex-
animation of the scenery as we could do
= for the darkness and rain, (for it had
e rained the past hour that the Atlantic
e was played out-we were far into the
t woods, and if we got out alive we ought
q 70 be thankful
We rolled ourselves up in our blank
|. cts, and patiently waited until morning
: The rain dripped down upon us in rivu
II lets from the great balloon, and it was
e not long before we were as wet as mer
could be. After night passed in grea
= discomfort, we were glad to see the frs
{ faint ray of daylight. Cold, and wet
T. and rainy, the morning broke, the typica
precursor, we were to learn, of many
% other mornings to be spent in those unin
'e habited wilds. We waited until O'Clock
It in hopes the rain would cease, and tina
the rays of the sun, by warming the ga
in the balloon, would give us ascendin
. power sufficient to get up again, for tn
purpose, if no other, of obtaining a viev
of the country into which we had de
scended. The rain did not cease, an
- we concluded to throw over all we had i
the balloon, except a coat apiece, tn
" life-preservers, the anchor, and the con
- pass. Overheard, then, they went-goo
III shawls and blankets. Mr.. Fay's owe
- coat, bottles Of ale and a flask of cordia
> ropes and traps of all kinds. The A
:, lantic, relieved of her wet load, ros
it'll :,
- majestically with US, and we were alb
,e to behold the country below. 1t was a
- unbroken wilderness of lakes and sprut
- and we felt then that we had gone tt
- far, through miscalculation of the vel
"a city of the balloon.
As the current was driving us still
the north, we dare not stay up, as '
W were drifting further and sill further
'''i' that frozen tide from which we knt
ny there was no escape. Mr.. La Mounta
UP seized the valve cord and discharged g
~ and we descended in safety by the 81
NY of tall spruce. We made the Allan
80, fast by her anchor, and for a nome
talked over what we should do. We
.' not a mouthful to eat, no protection
'''e night from the damp ground, were dista
'"0 we knew not how far from habitat,
were hungry to start with, no eartl
's hope of raising a fire, and no distinct it
'''on as 10 where we were. We concluded
i"ue trust TO the compass kindly loaned by
'" X. Newcomb, Esq, and take a cou
-. which would bring us out of any wild
uiu- ness we might be in. We settled in
nees own minds that we were either in j
p Browns Tract or in the great Cans
US wilderness-to the south, we thought
bal ,ho O.,ou, o,5 l.on A..
ner- south by east would take us out, if
oou' had strength enough to travel the
Gen. lance. La Mountain stepped up to
TINS balloon and gave the edge of the has
-ner- a parting shake, saying, Good bye,
now Atlantic and l fancied could see a
"eie in his honest eye when he said it.
seemed greatly to regret his inabilit
perform his engagements at the King
90 and New York State Fairs, at boil
- which he was advertised to make as
's sions.
dis
TRAMPING IN THE WOODS.
To the southeast, then, we starte,