The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-07-19

gathered in the vicinity, and sailed of in a
direction 4 little north or north east |
have seen many large assemblies lu. never
any to compare in numbers with the throngs
who occupied Washinrton.square, inside
and outside the inclcsure, who b'ackened
the roofs Of houses and tops of lumber
piles. and who filed the streets. The ap-
plauding shouts Of the people reached our
ears for some time after we left the earth.
growing fainter and fainter as We receded
When we 10 longer heard their voices, We
ceased waving our hats, and took seats, and
prepared ourselves 10 enjoy the sublimity
Of the varied scenery that presented itself
for hundreds upon hundreds of miles sround,
and Mr. La Mountain announced that it
was $40 o'clock.
The strips of timber land and fields Of
newly harvested grain of that portion Of H.
linois over which our silken globe was gil
ding was grotesquely mingled as they nigh,
be supposed to be when viewed from the
distance, but, lay Ike floor Of Mosaic
masonry, regular and square. To our Wis
ion there were 10 hills nor valleys, every
object appearing set upon level surface.
At ten minutes past o'clock the barome-
ter stood at ~ and the thermometer in
dicated 55o. had now the singular SEN
sation about the ears which has been de-
scribed As the experience Of all ;eronants
on their first voyage. Ii was unpleasant
and annoying, but by no means painful !;
very much Of a feeling one has when,
while bathing, these organs become stopped
up with water. making the tympanum CRATE
rather harshly at any sound. The monster
vessel had expanded good deal since the
accession, and had acquired more rotund
and symmetrical appearance than that ex-
hibited upon starting. In few minutes
gas was blown off from the tube at the
mouth of the balloon, the signal that it had
become inflated to It's fullest capacity
Professor Wise, who had charge of the
rope connecting the valve at the top. prompt.
ly gave it pull, and Immediately thereaf.
ter quantity Of blush vapor tloated off
and circled upward This was - minutes
after o'clock. y quarter of an hour later,
the air-ship had descended very considera-
hlv the barometer indicating - inches and
the therlnulnvter 90
At S:o5 o'clock We tloated over a village
composed of a dozen or SO houses in pret-
ty cluster. BY this time all the party
were awake and lively, and We chatted and
sung and ate till sunrise, at i:l5, when We
left to the right of us large town which
Nr La Mountain said was Forl Wayne,
Ind We could plainly hear the shouts Of
the a-touished and delighted inhabitants,
and Mr. eager led off with a resoundng
and Jolly hurrah, given by the whole of us
with a will We accordingly lost much
breath for nothing, for it was not probable
we were heard.
At half past 10 o'clock we had Lake
Erie and Lake Ontario both III sight, q
spectacle that could not be viewed without
mingled sentiment Of admiration and won.
der. The balloon had now attained an al.
titude OF nearly mile \ terrible storm
was surging beneath Us, the trees waving
and the mad waves surglng against the
shores of Erie in an awfully tcmpestuou,
manner. But above the careering whirl
pools and the thunderinc breakers swan
the proud Atlantic, not a cord displaced
nor breadth Of silk disturbed, soaring
aoit with her eXpectant crew, and gaily
heading for the salt crcsts which bound our
vast Republic. Now, Ike curgle, come.
the subdued roar Of the FLASHING and head
long Cataract of Niagara
At IL o'clock, having skinned over thC
Lake shore, still bourd eastwardly, the bal
loon brought US in sight of Buffalo and Nj
agara Falls, a, also Of the celebrated Vel
land Canal.
Fora time again our flying ship was buoy
cl M out of the way OF hazard, but wOul(
frequently dart downward and though in
ten, on burying Us all. This movemen
was promptly checked by throwing on
: some articles of ballast, and thus carpet
sacks containing clothing overcoats, bun
. die, Of papers, provisions, We're pitched on
into the lake, and still We Ike kept in al
most hopeless proximity. Mr. La Noun
r tain hal said he desired to take care of tn,
, boat, and advised me to get into the ca
I above, with Messrs. Wise and eager, which
fastened to do. No sooner had [ rlante,
myself firmly in the wicker basket thar
down, down, down with fearful speed wen
the balloon toward the lake. closed m,
eyes involuntarily. but was quickly arouse,
? by crash and 4 lunrc IF the car forward
: Three times were there 4 terrible clatte
= and splash. One moment more of life
4 thought /. Looking around beheld ha
c floating Of, and the same instant the bal
: loon daItcd out of the water. Poor l.;
Mountain, was in my heart to say, for
e thought him gone; bu, a cheerful AL right
: boys" stopped me ana lishtened me Of on,
e grief Now came test Of La Mountain
a bravery, and nobly did he stand it. Takin.
: a Ratchet which was handed down 10 hin
a from the car where it swung, he began loos
! ening the planks making the lining of tn
, boat, which he sent overheard at every III
, dication Of another descent When he ha,
, gone as far as possible this way, he un
= screwed the nuts which had been placed il
: the side of the boat by which to fasten tn
: machenery. Gathering all articles, Of n
E matter how little weight, together, he sen
G them with the rest The cars went ove
;, next, and at las, there was nothing in III
e boat. He had taken off his coat to It, an