Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-10-14
The Porlls OF Aerial NavIgntion.

cended from WATERFOWL, N. T., on the 22d
Of September in the great balloon Atlantic,
81 minutes before P. M. In six minutes
they were above the clouds, and at eight
minutes the Thermometer, which stood at
"a when they started, showed fall Of "a
degrees. The balloon rotated a good deal,
indicating rapid ascension. At $50, ther-
mometer at 80, and wet sand bags frozen.
AT s 5:54, thermometer at 2s, and falling
AT 6:05, thermometer at 22--feet very
cold. At 6:45, thermometer at 33. At
so it was dark We add Mr.. Haddock's
deeply interesting narrative:
ave heard, soon after dark, locomotive
whistle, and occasionally could bear wagons
rumbling along the ground or over bridge,
while the dogs kept up an almost ceaseless
seranade, rs ifconscious there was something
in the sky monstrous and unusual. We
sailed along, contented and chatty, until
about ] whenwe distinctly saw lights, and
hearcd the roaring of a mighty waterfall,
We descended into a valley near very high
mountain, but as the place appeared rather
forbidding VIC concluded to go up again.
Over with 80 lbs ballast, aud skyward we
sailed. In about 20 minutes we again de-
scended, but this time no friendly light or
decp-moulhed watch-dogs' heavy bay greet
ed us. We were over n dense wilderness,
and settled down over a small lake. We
had our life-prcservers ready for use, but
got up again by throwing over all ballast
except about 8 pounds Mr.. La Mountain
now said il was folly and madness to stay
up any longer, that we were over a great
wilderness, and the sooner we descended
the better. We concluded to settle down
by the side offs tree, tie up, and wait until
morning. In moment we were near the
earth, and as we fell grasped the extreme
top of tall spruce, which stopped our de-
scent, and we were soon fastened to it by
the large drag-rope. The touch of that
spruce sent thrill ofdiscomfort to my heart,
for knew that its kind did now grow in
any well settled, nor any warm country.
Mr.. La Mountain said, after be looked
around and made as much of an exanina-
ton of the scenery as we could do for the
darkness and rain, (for it had rained the
past hour,) that the atlantic was played
out-wc were far into the woods, and if VIC
got out alive we ought TO be thankful"
We rolled ourselves up in our blankets,
and patiently waited until morning. The
rain dripped down upon us in rivulets from
the balloon, and it was not long before we
were wet as men could be. After night
passed in great discomfort we were glad to
see the first faint ray Of daylight Cold
anl wet, and rainy, the morning broke, the
| typical precursor, we were to learn, of many
other mornings to be spent in those unin
| habted wilds. We waited until oclocl
in hopes the rain would cease, and that th'
f rays of the sun, by warming the gas in tho
balloon, would give us ascending power tC
get up again. for the purpose, if no other, o.
, obtSinng a view of the country into which
we had descended. The rain did not cease
and we concluded TO throw over all we haC
in the balloon except coat piece, the
lfe-presevers, the anchor and the compass
Overheard then they went-good shawl.
and blankets, Mr. Fayle's over-coat bottle.
of ale and flask of cordial, ropes and traps
of all kinds. The atlantic, relieved of hel
wet load, rose majesticly with us, and we
were able to behold the country below. II
was an unbroken wilderness Of lakes and
spruce--and we felt, then, that We had
gone Too far, through a miscalculation oi
the velocity of the balloon. As the current
was driving us still to the north, we darc
, not stay up, as we were drifting further anc
, still further to that "frozen tide" from which
| we knew there was no escape. Mr.. La
: Mountain seized the valve cord and dis
S charged gas, and we descended in safety b,
a the side of tall spruce. We made tn
balloon fast by her anchor, and for mo
ment talked over what we should do. w
, had not,a mouthful to cat. No protection
at night from the damp ground; were dis
tant we knew not how far from habitation
f were hungry TO start with, no earthly hop
r of raising fire, and no distinct idea as L
where we were. We concluded to trust {,
the compass kindly loaned by H. X. New
comb, Esq, and take course which woulC
I bring us out Of any wilderness we might b
t in. We settled in our own minds that W
S were either in John Browns Tract or in Il
: great Canada wilderness--to the south. W
! thought of the Ouowa--and knew that
0 course south by east would take us out,
a VIC had strength enough to travel the di,
4 tance. La M. stepped up to the balloon
S and gave the edge of the basket partin
b shape, saying "Good bye, old atlantic
and ! fancied could see tear in his hoI
est eye when be said it. He seemed grea
ly to regret his inability to perform his eI
n gagements a. the Kingston aud New Yor
$ State Fairs, at both Of which he was a,
s vertised TO make ascensions.
n TRAMPINe IN THE WOODS.
s To tho southeast, then, we started. Aft
It travelling about a mile and half we can
;. to the bank Of a small creek, flowing dow
p from the westward. At this point we wei
n agreeably surprised to find that some h
D. man being had been there before US, for v
7, found several small trees cut down, the Goa
L. from an old fire and half barrel which ha
rs contained pork. l eagerly examined Il
n stamp. 1t read:
r. "Mess Pork,
4 Pm.
% Montreal"
A This settled the question that We were
er Canada, for very well knew that no Mo