The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-12-29
From the California SUNDAY Mercury
Thrilling Tale of an Involuntary
FrOnQW.

ErOnam.
In 1852 a famous aronaut advertised
that he would make an ascension from
Oakland. California Ii was total nov
city 10 nine-tenths of those he addressed.
and the public rushed 10 see him I'M
Towds- In the centre of the space from
winch the ascent was 10 be made. the
huge sphere iloated. held down 10 vulgar
earth by dozen ropes grasped bv as
many persons selected from among the l,r-
ISLANDERS. The navigator among the h,av-
ems had not yet made his appearance, and
the audience were growing impatient, as
manifested by their shouts and c,Ir~es.-
He WAS probably playing freeze-out poker
with some flush miner. IN some adjoining
tavern. q Ia ARENAS Ward. and could NOT
be ehoked off In few minutes more the
machine would have be,n torn inio
threads, when 4 gust of wind arising. 1lr
balloon was suddenly wrenehe,l from ihr.
hands that held ii. and rushed ike a rock
et straight toward the clouds DID We
say wrenehed from all : Not from all ,
A cry of horror rose from The lately tur-
hnlent crowd for there. cllnaina TO Il
slight wooden cro-S-piece attached io one
of the cords, WAS small dark ohiec.
which every one pronounced 10 l,e a hu-
man being, \ lad who had been selling
papers among the crowd WAS one of those
who had volunteered TO hold the guys. and
not being sufficiently alert, had been car
ried off with the balloon. The spectators
were appalled,, and every observer mo-
mentarily expected 10 sac him drop. Bui
The voung adventurer had no such idea.
and those who had glasses SAW him clam
her up the cord, and seat himself al>irid.
the cross piece The lralloon assembled
upwards in the glowing rays Of the sun, ii
seemed like a Speck, then vanished alto
geiher.
1t would have been difficult Just then to
have insured the life % that hov al anr
premium A. for the involuntary sero-
naui. what mu>t have been his feelings a.
he found himself thus severed frsm the
firm earth 10 which he had been acrlls-
TONED. Al firi hi little heart wsl> Ia his
throat. and a. seemed 10 have suddenly
fallen from some va-t hight into an lhv>S
OF fathomlesS air. The world vanished
inStantaneou>iy from sight The bor had
unfortunately wound the cord about his
hand in such a manner thai Il was impoS-
>ible 10 let Co al once Yet Knowing tn
fate that awaited him, should H.. fall.
and. by The eNertion of an amount ot
strength wonderful in one 80 Young. con
trived 70 assume the position OF eomparsl-
tive safety already noted There he >slw
the wind driven clouds OF different strata
rush paSi him with frigllfiul yeloritr and
looking down. could dimly discern the
landscape. and The ocean with liz ships,
spread oui Is on a map during ihe at-
ternoon the people OF Benria saw The car
dash hy. and little thought of the ihrol,-
bing heart that from that lawful eminenre
awaited in cold and anxiety the coming
might The blood began Ia conr,.ll in the
veins of the little traveller; the act OF
br,-r;hin. grew diff -ul. hi- muscles. In
creased TO s,ich telrial tension. wert be-
ginning 10 relax nnmlrle-> wa> ~eizins
on the fingers that -ri>ped the cord,
A few minutes NOR :lu>i evidently ter
inmate the terrible rid l!arsiigh space
All at once the rope ATTACHED io the v.llv,
WAS thrown against the b,s- lie clutch
Ell il in his despair a. an alliiional hold
upon life joy The waive o~en- IA.
gas escapes, the balloon i once more
nearing the earth, IL ru>hes into tn.
leafy embrace oi {. groye of trees. anl AZ
ter Il violent struggle. re>3> Eh,ai some
ranclman, who had bern WATCHING iiIe de-
Scent. reached the spot. he found the voun-
adreniurer seated on iie ground al Tia
foot OF an oak. looking the VERY picture ei
establishment. but none the worse to- hi>
Journey, except few scratches.
We have heard of persons wh"se hair.
from terror, has turned gr=ay in single
day- The HAIR ot lne lad. on conling
down. w;ls Il bright red. i,ui as il wlS rel
before he went up We do no: know ihar
this w:ls anything remarkable We macl
him-ihe boy then, the man hlily,
he looks like any other mortal, ami seems
TO have forgotten AL Tia. circumstances la
which he WAS indebted for hi elevation