The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-07-14
l 10

milky-way looked like an illuminated stratum
OF cumuIus clouds. Whenever we crossed
water, the heaven-it dome was as visible below
by reflection as above So remarkable was
this phosphorescent light of the atmosphere.
that the balloon seemed translucent, and looked
ike light shining through oiled paper. We
could also tell prairie from forest, and, by keep
ing the eye for moment downward, we could
see the roads. fences, fields, and even houses,
quite distinctly, at any elevation not over mile,
and even al the greatest elevation we could dis
tinguish prairie from woodland and from water.
Whenever We halloed, it was followed by a
distinct echo and even this served as differ
entail index 10 height. We always found a
response IN numerous bow-wow-wows and
these, too, always indicative of the fullness
and sparseness of the habitations below, as we
could hear them for many miles around US.
Mr. La Mountain remarked that nobody lived
in that country but dogs, or else the people
barked liked dogs, he having got a little out of
humor, because nobody would tell him in what
State we we're sailing and he gave up the in
9uiry with the remark that it must be over
some other country than America, as We had
been moving along at a rapid pace.
AT 3 A. NJ, Saturday, we came to a general
conclusion that We were somewhere over the
State of Indiana or Ohio. At 4 A. NJ. we
passed city, but could not make it out; but
al A. n. We discovered Lake Erie ahead of
as and then concluded that the city we left
little south of our track must have been Fort
Wayne. At { a. NJ. we passed Toledo, and
about an hour Afterwards We lowered on the
margin of the lake a little north of Sandusky.
After few moments consultation, and review
of our ballast, We determined TO risk the length
Of Lake Erie, and TO test the notion that bal
looms cannot be kept up long over water, be-
cause of some peculiar affinity of the two-a no
ton that never had any belief with me.
Just as we merged upon the Lake, little
steam screw, that was propelling up river or
bar, headed for our track, and some one aboard
OF her very quantity cried aloud to US, = That
IS the Lake ahead of you Mr.. La Mountain
cried back, d" Is it Lake Erie !? and the answer
vas, Yes, it is, and you had better look out"
Our good friend, the propeller, finding We dis
carded his kindness. rounded off gain, sounded
as a good bye with his steam whistle and went
his way up the river.
Here We mounted up until the balloon got /
full, and the barometer fell to q, In order TO
make along near the southern shore Of the
Lake; but at Mr. La Mountains suggestion
that ne could make the city Of Buffalo by sail
ing but a few hundred feet above the surface
OF the water. opened the valve until we
gradually sank to within 500 feet of the water.
Here We found gentle gale of about the speed /
of mile per minute, and We resolved to float I
on it until we should heave in sight of Buffalo, /
and then rise and sail over 1t. This was the 1
most interesting part Of our voyage. We over /
took seven steamboats,, passed mutual saluta- (
TONS and would soon leave them fitting on the /
horizon in our rear.
One Of these lonely travellers remarked as
we passed him, I" on are going it like thun- |
der At 20 minutes past 10 A. NJ. we were I
skirting along the Canada shore, and passed 1
near the mouth Of the Reland Canal and soon 4
began 10 mount Tor our more easterly current,
so as to take Buffalo in our track but we cir /
cled up into it between Buffalo and Niagara |
Fails, crossing Grand Island, leaving Buffalo I
TO the right and LockpOrt to the left of US, in /
our onward course. Finding ourselves In the /
State of New York, but too far north to make |
the city of New \ FORK, it was agreed that we
would make a landing near Rochester, detach
the boat, leave out Mr.. eager aud Mr. HYDE !
and Mr.. La Mountain and myself pursue the
voyage to a point at Boston or Portland
Accordingly We descended gradually but
before we got within n thousand feet of the
earth, We found a NEST terrific gale sweeping
along below. The woods roared like a host of
Niagarss, the surface Of the earth was filled
with clouds Of dust, and | told my friends Ger
rain destruction awaited as, if We should touch
the earth in that tornado. The huge Atlantic
vas making terrific swoop earthward; al
ready we're We near the tops of the trees of
" foT Gods sake, heaye overheard ANYTHING
YOU can lay your hands on, La Mountain and
in another moment he responded, all right
standing the side of the boat with a shaft
and wheels intended for the working of the fan
wheels, and ready 10 heave 1t over should it be-
come necessary.
Mr.. Hyde looked up TO my car, and very
solemnly said, - This is an exciting time, Pro
fessor. What shall we do?"
=" Trust to Providence and all our energies"
said l.
We were fast running on to Lake Ontario,
and oh, how terribly II was foaming moaning,
and bowling. | said, La Mountain, have
$50 pounds of ballast In my car vet, aud "a
heavy valise, express bag, (sent to the L. s.
Express Company's Office IN Broadway, New
ork,) and lot Of provisions"
Well, If that won't do, ] will cut up the
BOAT for ballast, and We can keep above water
until We reach the opposite shore which was
near a hundred miles off in the direction we
were then going.
Here handed my ballast down to La Noun
tam, as we were rapidly mounting above the
terrific gale, believing that bv that course we
should al least get out offts main track
Everything now indicated that we should
only salvation was to keep ahoat until we got
out of the gale, If we could. / said. " Y on
must all get into the basket, if you want to be
saved, should We ever reach the land. And |
truly tell YOU that the perils of the land are
even more terrible than those of the water with
our machines and 1t would be easier to meet
death by drowning than TO have our bodies
mangled by daShing against rocks and trees"
By this time, Mr.. eager had clambered INTO
the basket with me- Mr.. Hyde said, very cool
IL. am prepared to die. but would rather
die on land than in the water" | said. What
do YOU say, Mr.. Gager?" He replied. a
would rather meet 1t ON land but do as YOU
think best" Mr.. La Mountain was busly en-
gagged Ia collecting what he could for ballast
Everything was now valuable to us that had
weight. Our carpet bags, our instruments, the
express bag our provisions, were all ready to
go, and go they did, one after another, until we
were reduced to the express bag-that went
overheard last.
We now deserted the shore, some forty miles
ahead, peering between sombre bank of cloudk
and the water horizon, but we were swoopinp
,n.seaTful rate upon the turbulent water. and
We :, moment crash went the boat upon
10 introduc2wise, staving in two of the planks,
ance to the Ghole craft two fearful jerks bv
more heeominoaves. La Mountain stuck 10
on these and ouro, but lost his hat, and got a
should the Co, 5, but soon recovered, and
stitution of T. xpress bag and the last remain
or probibi.And cried out, Be easy, gentle
the move have her ahoat once more" In
other r.noment we were up few hundred
na~gain, and the steamer propeller Young
sherica was lacking across our track
/ now proposed to swamp the boat and the
balloon IN the lake, and trust to being picked
up by the Young America, but the desire was
that we should make the shore, and try the