Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-10-14

The BALLOON VOYAGE OF LAMoUNTAIN
AND HADDocK.-The extended narratives
of their aerial and terrestrial travels and
trials, published by Mr.. LaMOuntain and
Mr.. Haddock, are exceedingly interesting
1t seems that they had no idea of the dis
lance, and but an imperfect one OF the dlrec
ton they were carried, while in the air.
The earth was partially obscured by clouds,
so that they could make out no landmarks,
and they had so little idea of the velocity OF
the balloon, that even when they landed in
the woods, they did not suppose themselves
fifty miles from WatertOwn, and were I'M
certain whether they were in Canada or
Northern New York They fancied they
were in John Browns Tract, whereas they
wore in John Bulls Tract, and if they had
stayed up a few hours they would have been
on Sir. John Franklin's tracks. They had
no difficulty in landing. They accomplished
it twice or three times, having assembled
once to ''get out of the woods" and once to
see what kind of country they were in.
They left the balloon hanging in the trees
of the wilderness. Their wanderings and
destitute condition would certainly have
terminated in starvation in the woods, for
they never could have found their way out,
but for the happy accident of running a
gainst a numbering party.
Mr.. LaMountain still holds to his theory
of a great east rly current, in the upper
attitudes. He says
awe ascended about three thousand feet, SO
great was our ascensive momentum, without
varying ten feet from a perpendicular line-the
broad square, with its Thousands who were gazing
heavenward to watch our course, remaining still
beneath our feet. After attaining this altitude,
the balloon struck the north eastern current. and
was drifted along with it at about the rate Of
twenty-five miles an hour, and still ascending
very rapidly This current was one Of great
depth. a.. although we went up to the height Of
three and n half miles, we did not lose 1t. After
reaching an altitude Of three miles and a half.
we took a still more ~easterly course. As some
journals have argued, Judging from the point at
which we landed, that the %easteriy current Is not
always reliable, l pause here to remark that l
never found it more s., than on that Thursday
afternoon. l thought then, and still continue
to think, that had l maintained an altitude of
two and a half miles, l could have crossed the
ocean IN Uhirty-slX hours, and without any more
ballast than in making an ordinary local ascen-
sion. 1t must be remembered that it was when
we left this ever reliable stratum, and descended
into the local currents, that we were carried in a
n%0rtherly course.
We remained at an altitude of three miles and
a half about half an hour. At this height We
were going almost due east
Of the first and with the exception Of three OF
four clams,) the only food they were able to find
in their four days wanderings, he says
W found two tiny white frogs. They were
the first food we had seen in twenty-four hours.
Perhaps they were not eaten-probably they
were. Not headquarters alone; we were not
dainty; four-quarters, head, bones, and all. I
never tasted a sweeter morsel in my life, and my
companion came to the conclusion that Soyer
could not have fabricated a more tempting morsel.
Yet the unsatisfed, longing cry Of our stomachs
was, Give give more ; more y But 20 more
dainty little frogs-not even a snake-responded;
and we went without We thought we knew
what it was to feel hungry then; we found after
ward that we were only taking the first rudiments
in our lesson"
At the lumberer's old shanty where they spent
might, they found after the rescue that they
were within less than three miles ola cleared tract
Of 200 acres, in the heart Of the woods. used for
raising food for the lumbermen Of GilRour 4
Co.
The papers state that Messrs. La Mountain and
Haddock appeared so much changed in appear
ance that their best friends scarcely recognized
them at first. They looked decidedly ~haggnrd. and
sareworn.