The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-10-13

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Cbarged, leaving about l20 pounds on hand.
We distinctly heard dog bark thermometer
% rising rapidly. At 6.45, thermometer 33.
1850 It was dark, and could make no more
memoranda. / put up my notebook, pencil,
and watch, and settled down into the basket,
a. much at home as though at my post in the
Psformer Office. From this point until the
morning, | can only give my experience from
memory. The figures in the preceding nara
tive we're all made at the time, and the varia-
tons on the thermometer can be depended on
IS accurate.
We heard, soon after dark, locomotive
whistle, and occasionally could hear wagons
rumbng along the ground, or over bridge,
while the dogs kept up an almost ceaseless
Sereuade, as if conscious there was something
IN the sky monstroas and unusual. We sailed
along, contented and chatty, until about half
mast seven, when we distinctly saw lights, and
heard the roaring Of mighty waterfall. We
descended into a valley, near very high
mountain;. but as the place appeared rather
forbidding, we concluded TO go up again. Over
with thirty pounds of ballast, and skyward we
called. IN about twenty minutes we againeede.
scended; but this time no friendly light or
adeep.moutbed watch-dog's heavy bar" greeted
rs. Wewere over dense wilderness and settled
down over a small lake. We had our life pre-
servers ready for use, but got up again by
throwing over all our ballast except about lS
rounds Mr.. La Mountain now said it was
folly and madness to stay up any longer; that
w we're over great wilderness, and the sooner
re descended the better. We concluded to
settle down by the side Of tree, tie up, and
wait till morning. In a moment we were near
the earth, and as we fell, grasped the extreme
top Of tall spruce, which stopped her descent,
and we were soon fastened to ii by the large
drag-rope. The touch of that spruce sent q
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 looked around
and made as much of an examination of the
scenery as we could do for the darkness and
rain, for it had rained the past hoar,) that the
Atlantic was played out-we were far into
the woods, and if we got out alive, we ought to
be thankful"
We rolled ourselves up in our blankets, and
patiently waited until morning. The rain drip
ped down upon US in rivulets from the great
balloon, and it was not long before we were
wet as men could be. After a night passed in
great discomfort, we were glad TO see the first
faint ray Of daylight. Cold, and wet, and rainy,
the morning broke, the typical precursor, we
we're to learn, of many other mornings to be
spent in those uninhabted wilds. We waited
until six o'clock, in hopes the rain would cease,
and that the rays of the sun, by warming the
gas in the balloon, would give US ascending
power sufficient to get up again, for the pur-
pose, if no other, Of obtaining view of the
country into witch we had descended. The
rain did not cease, and we concluded to throw
over ali we had in the balloon, except a coat
apiece, the iife-preservers, the anchor, and the
compass. Overheard, then, they went-good
shawls and blankets, Mr.. Fayel's overcoat,
bottles of ale, and flask of cordial, ropes and
traps of all kinds.
The Atlantic, relieved of her wet load, rose
maiestically with US, and we were able to be-
hold the country below. 1t was an unbroken
wilderness of lakes and spruce-and we felt,
then, that we had gone too far, through a mis-
calculation of the velocity of the balloon. As
the current was driving us still to the north,
We dared not stay up, as we were drifting further
and still further to that frozen tide" from
which we knew there was no escape. Mr.. La
N. seized the valve cord, and discharged gas,
and we descended in safety by the side of
tall spruce. We made the Atlantic fast by her
anchor, and for a moment talked over what we
should do. We had not mouthful to eat. No
at night from the damp ground, were
distant we knew not how far from habitation,
were hungry 10 start With, no earthly hope Of
raising fire and no distinct idea as to where
we we're. We concluded to trust to the COM
pass kindly loaned by II. K. Newcomb, ESQ.,,
aud take course which would bring US out Of
any wilderness we might be in. We settled in
our own minds that we were either IN John
Browns Tract, or in the great Canadian wilder
ness-to the south, we thought, of the Ottawa -
and knew that course south by east would
take us out, if we had strength enough to travel
the distance. La n. stepped up to the balloon,
and gave the edge of the basket parting shake,
saying, "Good-by, old Atlantic" and fancied
| could see tear in his honest eye when he
said it. He seemed greatly to regret his inabil-
lily to perform his engagements at the Kingston
aud New York State Fairs, at both of which he
was advertised to make ascensions.
Trampiaq in the Woods-Mr Haddock then
continues TO say that, after travelling about a
mile and half, they came to the bank of a
creek, where they were agreeably surprised to
find that some human being had been there be-
fore them, for, among other things, they found
q barrel which had contained pork, marked,
" Mess Pork, S. NJ, Montreal"
Being convinced that they were in Canada,
they travelled all day Friday along the creek,
and crossed it along deserted timber road
lying opposite large shanty. They tried to
return to the shanty, but, on recrossing the
creek, Haddock fell into the stream. After he
re-reached the bank, they both entered the
shanty, where they found dry straw, with which
they tried 10 warm themselves. Their condi-
ton was most pitiful. In the morning they
constructed a raft, with which they polled down
stream about ten miles, when again they met
with huge pine tree, which blocked their pas
sage. They united the pieces, tied the raft
again. and polled down the stream. That day
they ale each a raiC frog. Down the creek they
went, into lake two miles long. AT 10 o'clock
at night, they crawfed in under some alders on
the bank, where they had half an hours sleep.
After again travelling next day, they were so
exhausted that locomotion was impossible, and
they were prepared for death.
Next day, on returning, and having again
laboriously worked, Haddock found clam,
which he gave to La Mountain to eat. Their
clothes were nearly torn off. La Mountains
hat was gone. And still in this condition,
with death staring them in the face, enter
ing another long stream, La Mountain COM
nenced to sing cheering words Four days
had now passed since they eat meal, and, re-
turning once more to the point where they had
entered the lake, they heard the report of a
gun, quickly followed by second report. See
ing the smoke rolling over the tops of the trees,
they felt that they were saved. They went to
the shanty, and heard noise, and noble look
ing Indian came to the door. and Haddock
having asked him, Payiez rous Eruncaiss Yes,
he said, and English, too. They went into the
cabin, and found there besides noble-hearted
Scotchman, Angus Cameron. They then found
out that they were $50 miles north Of Ottawa
IN dense uninhabited forest, whose only limit
was the Arctic circle.
Dinner was ready, and the famished balloon
lists partook of it with inexpressible delight
The stream which they had descended is called
Fillimans creek, a tributary of the Ottawa.