The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-07-22

! odhooh sHooKJ tfeInbled and vlbrated much as
ship will IN passing from smooth into very
| rough sea. We were then four thousand feet
above the water, and descending very rapidly.
could only hope TO check the descent by cut
! ting away the machinery, and this was EorIorn
chance. Hyde looked up at me sorrowfuTIy.
His courage, which bad lasted in a remarkable
manner before this, gave out but such scene
was enough to frighten any green hand. Above,
the clouds were as black as ink-around, the
wind was bowling as il alive with demons
and below, the waters, capped with foam, and
| lashed by the contending air currents, swept up
IN swells fifteen feet high, that ran in every
conceivable direction. Mr.. Hyde said TO me,
81 guess we are gomez and with despairing
countenance climbed up with Wise and eager
into the basket, leaving alone in the boat. II
was desperate time, butI cannot say | was
disconnected. ! had seen worse perils OF the
same sort before. MY only thought was, that
at point on the shore Gimly visible from
where | stood, my mother lay buried. Wise
looked over the basket and shouted, ssFor Gods
sake, La Mountain, throw overheard anything
you can lay your fingers on" | knew Mr..
w. was excited, and did not care to waste my
ballast SO high above The water.
THE FALL ON LAKE ONTARIO.
Down we came at the rate OF mile and
three quarters minute, or three times the
velocity OF an express train, and plump we
went upon the water. The effect of striking
the wave crest was the same as would have
been descent upon sharp pointed rock. /
was holding on by the ropes when the shock
came. Its force was so terrible as 10 dash in
three planks on on side of the boat,-but the
water was prevented from coming in by the
strong canvas on the outside. After the con-
cussion, we bounded up fifty or sixty feet, like
a rocket shot. was jerked by the shock so
that my head hung over the water. My bea-
yer fell of, and my watchguard was broken
square in two. Recovering myself l seized
hatchet, and proceeded to cut away the
lining, &C., and threw them overheard. NV
companions above were exctedy calling out
to ne on all sorts of subjects, but paid as little
attention as possible TO them. After we esca-
ped the first shock, felt perfectly confident
that we would come out safely, and told them
so, but they hardly seemed TO believe me.
PROPOSITION TO SWAMP THE BALLOON.
Mr.. Wise proposed here to descend into
the lake and swamp the balloon-in other
words, to leave US at the mercy of waves
shore. he iIdo, ,'4.Rwjm lortY-hVe miles to
thoughtlessly but, OF course, l perpmptorily
declined 1t. | called to my companions 10 hand
me down their carpet bags, valise, mail bag.
and other articles; which ] su ccessively threw
into the lake, and thus kept above The water
alternately by cutting away parts of the boat.
L knew if climbed into the basket with the
others, we should all be drowned together.
hoped that BY clinging 10 the boat and cutting
1t up pIecemeal, we might be saved. At all
events, was determined not to be drowned if
could help it-though, thinking sucha result
not impossible, pinned my watch in nv
pantaloons pocket, thinking that If we were
drowned, my bod might be washed ashore,
when my wife would get the keepsake. The
result verified my anticipations. The balloon
did not strike water again, but varied fIom six
10 htty teet above 1t, as threw out the pieces
Of the boat [ cut away.
ESD OF THE VOYAGE.
We soon came in sight Of land, forty miles |
TO the leeward. took out my watch, and saw
hat 1t was ten minutes past one This was
he most delightful sight during the voyage
was now confident that we could keep the
balloon up during the remaining distance
When within twelve miles OF land, at twenty
i've minutes past one, we passed the propeller
Oswego, and saluted her by swinging piece
IT board and then throwing it over. As we
leared shore, we saw that we were tending TO-
ward va cant field near piece Of woods, and
determined il possible 10 have the boat car
merely skim this field, and let the balloon 90 IN
'leces against the trees. AT twenty-seven
minutes to two we swept on to shore, and as
ny mission in The boat was accomplished |
llmbed up into the car, where was warmly
eceFed by my companions As the gale took
he shore, 1t caught up about fifty feet, carry-
ng US that height, and leaving US on the tops
! the trees without car and anchor, dragging
through them. On we went, the balloon SUI ;
ing, heavhg, and literally moving its way,
weeping off the tops of branches, tearing up
Tees, swinging some times almost vertically, ,
nd leaving clear path through the woods bv ,
ur course. AT last, Just as We were about
the balloon caught in the last tree
j the woods-a monstrous elm the silk gave I
ray, swung backward and forward al tremen-
Gus rate several times, then dropped at
lccessiye stages fifty feet down the branches +,
nd we were safe. Need say we teIt thank
Il was too sick and weary to express my
ratitude, besides being somewhat hurt: but ,
" companions displayed their pleasure forci-
y. MIR. Hyde threw his cap in the air and
ade the woods ring with his shouts. ,
Yesterday left for Troy, and here am,
lily satisfied with the results of the trip, and ),
ore determined than ever to go forward with "
e enterprise. JOHN La MOUNTAIN.
Troy, July 7, 1859. ;,
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT WITH A MowING Ma
4INE.-Mr. George Shelmire, proprietor Of
e Spread Eagle Hotel, at Huntingdon, H b
Ionigomery county, Pa, whilst driving a
owing machine, on Friday last, leaned for