The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-10-21
BALLOON VOYAGE.

aCCOunI Ol the voyage De ana BaM0untHln
made from Watertown, ending in the
wids Of Canada. lie says they left the
earth at 5.23 p. NJ.
Let 20 ALL" and away we soared-the
horses on the square "reared and
pitched" a good deal at the novel sight,
but in an instant all minor sounds Of earth
had ceased, and we were lifted into 81.
lent sphere, whose shores were without
an echo, their silence equslleG only by
that Of the grave. Not the least feeling
OF trepidatlon was experienced-an ex-
traordluary elation took possession 81 my
soul, and fear was as far removed as
though | had been sitting in my own
room at home.
AS we rose into The light Aeecy clouds,
they looked between US and the earth like
patches of snow we see lying upon the
landscape in Spring time but when We
rose little higher the clouds completely
shut out the earth, and the cold while
masses below us had precisely The same
look that mountainous snow covered
country does as you look down upon ii
from higher mountain. Those who
have crossed the Alps by the Symptom
Pass-or have stood upon one Of the
SUBMITS of the Sierra Nevada, and gazed
down upon the eternal SHOWS below and
around them, will be able to catch The
idea | am trying TO convey. In six min
utes we were above all the clouds, and
the sun and we were face 10 iace.
An unpleasant ringing sensation had
now become painful, and | filed both ears
with cotton. This made my head leel
good deal as very large hollow pumpkin
may be supposed to, with hummlng-
bird buzzing upon the surface. Al 5:59
we put on our gloves and shawls. The
wet sand bags now became stiff with cold
they were frozen. Ascending very
rapidly. AT 5:54 Thermometer 90, and
falling. Here we caught our las, sight of
the earth by daylight. ! recognized Tie
ST. Lawrence 10 the southwest of US,
which showed we were drifting nearly
north. AT o'clock we thought we were
descending little, and Mr.. u Mountain
dlfeced me 10 throw out about twenty
pounds Of ballast. This sho, us up again
-thermometer 26 deg, and falling very
| slowly. Al 6:o5 22 deg :,
my feet were very cold. The AT.
lantic' was now full, and presented a
beautiful sight. The gas be gan to dis.
charge itself at the mouth, and its abom
Unable smell, as it came down upon us,
made me sick. La Mountain was suffer.
ing good deal with cold. passed my
thick shawl around his shoulders, and
put the blanket over our knees and feet
Al G:l0 ther. 10 deg. We drifted along
Il erealter the balloon began to descend
! AT $50 thermometer 22-rsing. Threw
over about pounds ballast. We mus
have been, before we began to descenc
from this height, 81 miles high. AT G:5(
it was dark and could make no more
memoranda.
We heard, soon after dark locomo
motive whistle, and occasionally coulc
hear wagons rumbling along The grounC
or over bridge, whilst the dogs Kept W
D an almost ceaseless se.enade, as il Con
scious ther was something in the sky mon
. strous and UNUSUAL. We sailed alon.
contented and chatty, until about half pas
seven, when We distinctly saw lights, ant
,, heard the roaring of mighty waterfall
, We descended into valley near very
8 high mountain. but as the place appeared
Q rather forbiddlng, we concluded to 10 VI
: again. Over with 80 pounds of ballast
and skyward we sailed. In about @
: minutes we again descended, but this lin
4 no "deep mouthed watch. dogs heav
bay" greeted us. We were over a dens
a wilderness, and settled down over sma
!. lake. We had our life prcservers read
Q tor use, but got up again by THROWN
! over all our ballas. excep. about |
a pounds.
!; Mr.. LaMountain now said it was foil
n to stay up any longer, that we were owe
d great wilderness, and The sooner we de
d scended the better. We concluded I
IS settle down by The side of tree. tie W
and wait till morning. In moment "
n were near the earth, and as we fell
u grasped the extreme top Of tall spruce
r which stopped her descent, and we wei
% % soon fastened to it by the large drag rop'
u The touch Of that spruce sent a thrill {
n discomfort to my heart, for knew thu
is ITO h'hu uiu NV Sio" ia any "Sh-oSN'iCS
J. nor any warm country.
n Mr.. LaMountain said, after he locke
j. around and made as much OF an exam
J. !, nation of the scenery as we could do f
70 the darkness and rain for it had rainC
>. the past hour, that the /" Atlantic WI
If played--we were far into the woods, ar
= if we got out alive we ought to be than
full"
We rolled ourselves up in our blanket
and patiently waited until morning. ri
n. rain dripped down upon us in rivule
lie from the great balloon, and it was n
y, long before we were as wet as men cou
g. be. After a night passed in great discon
lis fort, we were glad to see the first ray
daylight. Cold. and wet, and rainy, Il
in morning broke, the typical precursor, v
a were to learn. of many other mornings v
ny were to spend in those uninhabted wild
We waited until 6 o'clock. in hopes Il
g rain woul' cease, and that the rays Of Il
"S n9 sun, by warming the gas in the balloo
-" a., would give us ascending power suffcie
III ii, to get up again, for the purpose,if no othe
10 of obtaining view o! the country in
:. which we had descended.
in The rain did not cease /; and we CO