The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-13
The Balloon Excitement.
INTERESTING LETTERS FROM Mr.. LA MOUNTAINOUS
BALLOONS IN PROGRESS.


favor the idea that he has charmed hfe re informs
thai he has number of balloons in progress of con-
srucon for ransoceanic and other purposes and by his
request append the subjoined letters
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Troy. Oct H. 1859.
TEAR sR--Pcrmit me an opportunity, through the me-
diam Of the PRESS to express to THO many generous
ro DIS who have extended TO their hearty congratua
TORS, on my escape from the Canadian wilderness, my
heartfelt thanks; and to those noble who assisted Mr.
Hddock and myself to return safety to homes and
families, I would say, God bless you.
Mr. Angus Cameron, who furnished us food, clothing
d shelterwho, in fact rescued from the very jaws
81 deahwl have place in my hearts purest affections
IS org as life continues. And to Andrew J. Morrison,of
e Troy Times, who led the search and TO M.ssrs Camp,
Cark editor of the Journa Clark, (edi!o Of the
tca) Rice, Tomlinson, Trowbridge and ali the citizens
of Waterfowl, who subscribed literally and organized in
IA bodyto search for US evncing an interest in be-
half that disnteresed it heroic, would
press my deepest obligations And finally, the press,
wbose mighty influence exercised 10 elicit an interest
behalf, and thorough search for the lost balloon
sts, has imposed debt of gratitude which fear
repay. have received many letters Of con-
graduation, 10 which am unable TO make separate replies
Among others the following from Mr.: Hyde, one Of the
editors Of the St. Louis Republican, which should be glad
have you publish, not much account of its
pmens for my self answer to the sneers OF one
two newspapers which have Chased baooning with rope
walking and other break neck adventures and baloonsts
with Bondin and De Lave. Very truly. yours
JOHN La MOUNTAIN.
ST. LOUIS, Oct s, 1859.
Ny DEAR la MISUNDERSTANDING participated in the
genera! apprehension and relative your late
adventure, assure you am heartily glad to near of
your coming out alive though sorry the trip dis
astrous in other respects. You have had two
row escapes, and aeronaut your career has
probably been the most eventful, considering its COM
parative brevity, OF any within tho scope Of the
history of balloonng. The life Of man like
ATM ntaAp and ototslot sVsrs
possessing qualities besides which and not
less manly valuable to be lost the depths Of On
taTio away among the wlds Of almost nterminable
Canada forest, and for the sake of your family and
friends for your sake and FOR the sake of the beau
iu art OF air sailing rejoice that the worst fears felt
TO the termination of the voyage Of the I'D ut have
been realized. Do you know, La Mountain that scarcely
day has passed since cloud cleavng, lake shipping
and tree hashng ride Of last summer that have not in
some way or other thought OF you and Wise and eager
and wonderful from the terros Of the storm?
We all owe our lives to your presence OF mind GOODNESS
with your conduct that perileus occasion, when you
toed and sweat to prevent our going down IN those
angry, ashmg waves that seemed to leap for the pur
pose of swallowing all Whatever disceuraging effect
may have been produced you by your recent unucky
adventure, feel as much convinced that the
dangers Of navigating the air estimated
by the public as l did when with unfinohing
step got aboard of the Atlantic in Washington
square, st. Louis, the 1st of July last. Those
principal danger being in mid air, whereas, you
know far better than |, it all lies in the landing, and
that stoppage may be effected with perfect and
safety Ships, which are commonly guided into port with
system and precision sometimes get the better Of the
navgatoIs and pitch about at the mercy of the winds
until they wrecked and all on board destroyed. Rail-
read trans occasionally of the track, steamboat
boilers explode, coaches upset. and horses throw their
riders Even pedestransm has its pcris, and in
locomoion Of any kind is unsafe The first time
in my life remember to have experienced fear of
at Adams n Y, and compared the jotng, jumping,
Gathering banging, ostle of the cars, with the smooth
of the proudly careerng Atlantic Whether baleoning
will ever come to anything Of importance not de-
of those who present take the Affirmative side of the
question. The world was not made in day, and every
thing must have beginning You viii find many who
aventurer and sheer ut some Of your cherished ideas
You afford to let these people apply such ephes as
may please them to you aud your projects so long as
have the sympathy Of your friends, which is vaua
bic than empty greatness. ! have written this letter
gratitude and kindness 10 express in some way my sin
pleasure 10 know Of your safety Trusting when you
essay future voyages in the air dr. indeed your past
haps may not nave induced your friends TO prevail you
TO fore the profession that you may accomplish all you
under take and hoping that your life may long be spared
remain, very truly yonr friend WIN. HYDE
We published some time since Mr.. Haddock's account
Of the late balloon voyage We have another ac-
count before from Mr. In Mountain in the columns Of
the Troy Daily Times but it in almost every respect
similar to that Of Mr. Haddock give such portions only
as relate to The various currents and other phenomena
which the aeronauts observed. The intended voyage
Europe by Professor Lowe some time during the present
month, in his mammoth balloon the City of New York.
gives interest TO this part of the narratives
started from Watertown to make short or ocal"
ascension the afternoon of Thursday Sept % TWEEN
ty seven minutes before six O'Clock.
nlled the balloon far did with pure hydrogen
because by process which / employed l was able
to make the gas much faster than formerly, and obtain
double the usual quantity from the came materials.
The day opened stormily and unpromsng, aud was
IN great doubt whether was advisable TO undertake the
enterprise. About twelve O'Clock ! commenced filing
The gas made rapidly and the noble Atlantic soon
filed out in beautifully rounded proportions, and
ready for her voyage skyward At five O'Clock the in
fation was comp!eed and as saw the globe rounded
the equator with the pure hydrogen il contained felt
more confident than had ever done before of making
voyage with which everybody should be delighted.
At hall past five Mr.. John A. Haddock, editor of the
WatertoWn hetGymer " no TO be my companion in q
somewhat longer and more excl ing trip than either Of us
imagined at that moment, took his place in the with
me; the word 10 "let go was giyen and like
from bow the aerial shot up into the untracScd
and unboundcd regions Of space.
We assembled about coo feet so great our ascen-
sive momentum, without varying ten feet from perpel-
dcuar line, and at this altitude the balloon struck the
northeastern CURRENT and was drfted along with II at
about the rate OF twenty five miles an hour and still ascend
ing very rapidly This Of great depth as
although went up 10 the height Of three and half
miles did not lose it. fr reaching an altitude of three
mes and hat we took still mare eaeriy course As
journals hare dr5a'e judging from tie point az 'oich ne
landed Hdt he ed, current Is not dldys reliable pause
here 10 remark that fo,pad than that
MnrdGy afternoon thought thru, and sM continue 10
Hit'Uut9Lu
mS eoad hare crossed TIE oceda IA irtysE hours and
without using any more ballast than in making ordina
ry local ascension 1t must be remembered that it
when we left this reliable stratum, and descended
INTO the local CURRENTS that We were carried in north
erly course.
We remained at an altitude of three miles and half
about half an hour At this height going almost
due east AT two minutes past six O'Clock the thermo
meter Indicated thirty degrees having fallen eighteen
degrees after departure from the earth. At 615
were still about three miles and hall above the earh
which the clouds entirely shut out from view, and still
gong almost due east We continued in this for
few minutes, remaining almost in equilibrium, when the
sun left u.s. and the gas became somewhat Dense
we commenced TO descend After getting far the
Top Of he clouds supposed that had left the eastery
current and travelling due north at the Of about
twenty five miles an hour did not think had jour
neyed moro than twenty five miles northeast Of Water
town, and if the current was going in the direction sup
posed, by keeping little while would have crossed
the 81. Lawrence, landing the line Of the Grand
Trunk Railroad on the direct route for Kingston where
my next ascension was TO have taken place.
THE EASTERLY CURRENT.
ylatt haC