Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-05-09

balloon Adventures among the Paine ttOcs.
-ProfesoE1owe recently made balloon trip
traRa Cincinnati to Columbia, S. c. In his
! account of this remarkable aerial voyage he
states that he first attempted to land at Spar
| tansburg, but the people on the plantation
where he descended were frightened by the
sight of the balloon, the like Of which they
had never seen before, and ordered the negros
to let 90 the ropes that he had lowered to
them. The account continues being de-
sirous Of getting near railroad, l threw out
bag of sand and commenced to ascend AT
| that moment one of the bystanders, seeing the
bag of sand fall, sang out "Hello stranger,
come back l reckon you have lost your bag
gage IrOse seven thousand feet, and there
remained until | was waited some twenty
miles further to the east, which occupied half
an hour more, during which time l heard
many discharges of what | took to be mus
kets. Not knowing, but being apprehensive
that the globe over my head was the object of
the firing, prepared for making all the sig
nails possible when | should again near the
earth, but while | was thus elevated had no
fear, for it was impossible to send a ball with
in a mile of me.
When within half a mile of the earth l heard
loud cries Of terror, and saw people running in
all directions; but l was determined to land
for good this time, let come what would, and
in five minutes more the anchor took firm
hold in short scrub oak, and the car gently
touched the ground. Thus fast the globe,
gently swinging to and fro, presented a very
life like appearance. ] soon noticed some
heads peeping around the corner of log hut
that stood near by, and in which there seemed
to be persons in great distress | called to
them to come and assist me, at which they
took no notice until l threatened to cut loose
| and run over them, after which two white
boys, three old ladies and three negroes, in a
body, ventured within twenty feet ofme.
AT this moment gust o. wind caused the
| balloon to swing over near TO the ground, and
general stampede took place, which caused
me 10 abandon all hope Of getting any assist
| ance; but after telling them it was fastened to
I a tree, and would moi hurt them, they again
ventured up, in company with a Stalwart
young woman, six feet high, and well proper
toned, and took hold of the edge of the car.
| l inquired what was the matter in the house,
and was told that several old persons were
| praying as they thought the day of Judgment
had come. | then asked if there were any
white men about. They said they expected
them every minute; that they saw the great
thing coming, and had run for their guns
| HIS WAS IdlleT unpledSunl piece VI lIlOTul'
alton, and was determined to keep as large
crowd around me as possible.
In few minutes men with muskets began
to collect, but seeing women, children, and ne
groes surrounding the air traveller, there
seemed to be no use for firearms SO l dis
charged the gas unmolested, and packed up
the machine rea3y to leave. By this time
several more rough looking fellows arrived
and threatened destruction to the devil tina
could travel through the air-one adding tina
he had followed it ten miles, and had shot a
it six times without any effect
The tall young woman aforesaid assured mt
that there was no danger, Tor all the men il
the neighborhood were towards, as all tn,
brave ones had gone TO the wars, notwithstand
ing they all declared that they were not afraid
however, promising to give myself up when
arrived at the village, they consented SHOULD
leave under guard Of nine men. Procuring
team we started for Unionville, a villag
nine miles distant, and arrived that evening
hating in front Of stone building with
small checkered window A council was thei
held with the Jaler, who positively refused I
allow any such animal as they described +
come into the building.
was then taken to hotel and soon fount
persons of intelligence, who assured me that
was among friends. Here | remained owe
the Sabbath, and was called upon by man.
persons of fine education, who informed m
that OF all the places III the south, the spC
where landed the inhabitants were the mos
ignorant, for they could neither read nc
write"