Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-10-07
THE La MOUNTAIN BALLOON VOYAGE.
Narrative Of Mr.. Haddeck, a Companion Of
the Trip.

NoEIduve u h300oCE, SomY0UlOu Oh II
the Trip.
The public has already been informed II the !
safe arrival at Ottawa, C. W., on the Sd inst Of
Professor La Mountain and Mr.. Hsddock, who
assembled in the balloon Atlantic from Watcrtown,
N. ", on the 22d September, and for whose safety
much fear was felt The watertown Courier Of
October 5th, contains 9 long report of the voyage
| of the Atlantic, and the wanderings and suffer
ings in the wilderness Of the baloonists La Noun
| tain and Haddock The account written by Mr..
| Haddock Is interesting The balloonists were up
! in the AIR from four to Eve hours, when, finding
themselves over dense wilderness and the dark
ness of the night around them, they concluded to
descend. They did %, and passed the night in
the balloon fastened TO the top of tall spruce tree
and exposed TO drenching rain. At daylight
they again assembled, and here we leave Mr. Had
dock to speak for himself
''As the current was driving still to the north,
we dare not stay up, as we were drifting farther
and still farther to the frozen tide from which
Mountain seized the valve cord and discharged
gas, and we descended in safety by the side OF a
| large 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
| protection at night from the damp ground, were
hungry to start with, no earthly hope of raising a
fire, and no distinct idea as to where we were.
| tWe settled in our own minds that we were in
| John Browns tract, or in the great Canada will
derness-to the south, we thought, Of the Ottawa,
and knew that course south by east would take
lance. La Mountain stepped up to the balloon
| and gave the edge of the basket a parting shake,
saying, "Good bye, old Atlantic, - and ffancied
could see tear in his honest eye when he said IT,
''To the southeast, then, We started. After uav-
cling about mile and half we came to the
bank of small creek, flowing down from the
westward At this point we were agreeably sur
prised to find some human being had been there be-
fore for we found several small trees cut down,
the Goals from an old fire, and half barrel which
had contained Po,I ! eagerly examined the
This settled the question that we were in Cana
| da-for l very well knew that no Montreal in
sPection OF pork ever found its way into the inte
rior Of New York state We travelled all day
| Friday up the unknown creek which kept its
general course south Of west, crossing II about
noon on floating log, and striking on Its south
| ern bank a "blazed'' track, lying on the opposite
side from large numbering shanty. We hoped
one Of the lumber roads might take us out to a
settlement, but after travelling up them all until
| they terminated In the wilderness, we concluded
night. La Mountain got across safely; but my
weight was meater than his, and the raft left me
into the stream. sank in all over, and swan
out, though II required all my strength to do So
and reaching the bank found myself so
chilled az scarcely to be able to stlnd. took off
my clothes, wrung them, and we proceeded to
the shanty, where we found plenty Of refuse
straw, but 1t was dry, and under it we crawled,
pulling it over our heads and faces in the hope
that our breath might aid in warming our chilled
bodies. ! thought the most revengeful, stony
heart would have pitied our condition then -
which they Polled down stream about ten miles,
when again they met with huge pine tree which
blocked their passage. They united the pieces,
tied the raft again, and polled down the stream
| That day they are each ratc frog Down the
cree. they went, into lake two miles long. At
alders on the bank, where they had half an hour Is
sleep After again travelling next day they were
SO exhausted that locomo.ion was impossible, and
turning and having laboriously worked, Haddock
found clam, which he gave to La Mountain to
eat: Their clothes were nearly torn of; La Noun
tain's hat was gone; and still In this condition,
with death staring them in the face. entering an
other long stream, La Mountain commenced to
sing cheering words. Four days had now passed
since they eat a meal; and returning once more to
the point where they entered the lake, they heard
| the report OF gum quickly followed by second
report Seeing the smoke rolling the tops Of
the trees, they felt that they were saved. They
went to the shanty and heard noise, and noble
looking Indian came to the door. Haddock asked
him, Partez cons Franeais' Yes, he said, and
| English too. They went into the cabin, and found
| there, besides, noble-hearted observation-disclosures
Cameron. They then found out that they were
i5O miles north Of Ottawa-in dense uninhabited
| forest, whose only limit was the Arctic circle
| Mr.. Haddock thinks that after travelling about
one hour, they struck another current from vari-
alton Of their attitude, which bore them of North
west and travelling in a current at the rate of 100
miles an hour, they soon reached country not
| pleasant nor profitable TO land balloon in Mr.
| Haddock finished his narrative with great praise
| Of Mr.. La Mountains noble behavior. He also
declares that this mishap has by no means shaken
| either his or La Mountains faith in the great
| theory OF ballooning. Notwithstanding the great
danger, there must be singular fascination in
| these practical experiments in .aerostatics, for
| though the balioonists run into extreme peril
are hurled to earth are dashed against trees, and
are landed In desoiate forests.they yet cling with
the greatest tenacity to their favore theories and
| are ready to cry, " Bind up my wounds bring me