Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-12-25

spring of 1862, that was ordered by my par
| ticular friend, General Beauregard, to whose
staff belonged, to make survey of the coast
| between Charleston and Savannah.
SAM said the General, he always called
me, Sam, familiarity Il have temporarily at
| tached you to the coast survey, knowing your
great personal courage and presence of mind
added to your scientific attainments. You are
| to make reconnaissance in balloon and ascer-
tain the number of the enemy's blockade feet,
and their position also to take a Typographical
sketch of their forts, batteries and camps on the
various islands along the seaboard. Your aerial
car is now ready for you, having been freighted
and Inflated by Professor Civor. [ feel conf
dent that could not entrust this important duty
to one more capable or patriotic. M
[ shook the General warmly by the hand, and
assured him that [ would perform the duty to
the best of my ability.
A journey in a balloon, gentlemen, is a grand
thing, decidedly grand thing. found in the
car provisions for six days, various Instruments
for making observations, map-paper, pencils,
ct cetesa. The cord was cut, mounted to the
ETHEREAL regions, and such was my velocity that
in three minutes and forty-tWo seconds | found
| myself precisely five miles above the surface of
the earth. The wind was blowing pretty smart
ly from Northwest by-west, Twas consequently
driven over toward the ocean. | had fine
exchange of com pliments between the enemys
monitors and our forts.
Night came on The cold became so intense
and the atmosphere so rare that was able to
breathe only once every ten minutes, and that
was accomplished by condensing the aiF in my
hands, as boys make snow balls, and respiring
it thus warmed by animal heat. At nine o.
clock at night, the balloon came in collision with
something hard, the shock threw me from my
J. - Loox, Of |
would have been thrown out of the car. ~
On examination, found that my aerial ship
had run afoul of frozen cloud some three miles
long and two miles wide. [ Immediately threw
out one of my anchors which, after dragging for
awhile, caught hold of something of a Zig-zag
shape which, after close observation, found to
be CONCEALED streak of lightning. Having Sc
cured the balloon safely, got out OF the car,
and proceeded to explore the floating island
Some hours elapsed ere | could obtain foot
hold, the surface of the cloud being so smooth
and CLASSY. I, however, took off my boots, and
having woollen socks on succeeded pretty well
in getting over the sleek folds ofthe cloud. AS
day began to break, | reached the highest swell
Y GU may believe me, gentlemen, the sight was
grand, magnifcently grand The dark map of
the earth lay beneath me- the broad ocean with
its mighty heave. L could begin to discern the
rivers, lakes, mountains and cities, for day was
beginning to dawn in the east. leXamined my
thermometer, and found that the mercury stood
at ninety degrees below zero. Pretty cold, |
assure you but, as the sun showed himself
above the horizon, the mercury took a higher
range As | sat watching the glorious king of
day, thought heard rumbling noise--it re-
sembled the faint low of bull and was accom-
panied by a slight quaking of the ice beneath
me. At first became alarmed for my safety,
and thought Of making my way back to the
balloon with allspeed, butmy ardor in the cause
of science compelled me to remain. The rum
bling became louder and the tremulous motion
OF the Ice more severe. What could be the
cause of the commotlOn?
The heat of the sun now became intense, and
the smooth surface of the cloud even more slip
perry than before. bethought me ofa volcano
and its warning throes when it was about to
vomit forth its contents of fire, but there was
certainly no VOLCANOES in the ETHEREAL regions
The vapor arising from the melting ice dimmed
the rays Of the rising sun, and soon splendid
ly gorgeous iris spanned the battlements OF ice,
one end of the arc was near me, the other rested
on my balloon about mile distant. [ could
not reach my ark Of safety by the route had
travelled before, so [ made up my mind at once,
as the cloud was fast melting and the rumbling
noise increased at fearful rate, | commenced
climbing the rainbow at the end nearest me and
soon reached the highest point Of the segment,
from thence slid down easily, alighting safely
in my car, only slightly staining my pantaloons
with the purple tinge of the iris
[ had scarcely time to haul in my grapple
when a loud explosion took place and the abyss
of space echoed with tremendous peal as if
from a battery of ten thousand pieces Of artil
lery. The cause was quickly explained. The
thunder which had been frozen all the previous
night had thawed under the influence of the
sun, and burst from it's prison in the bowels of
the cloud nc45 .r.
Here the Major took breathing spell, CLAN
cling round the circle, as if to see if any one
looked doubtful.
pretty good, Major" said Smilax, tugging
away at the ends of his moustache and winking
to the mess; you have managed admirably to
destroy the gravitation of the earth as well as
that of the muscles of our faces. The clap of
frozen thunder, no doubt, put to shame the
guns Of the Federal blockaders as they peppered
Wagner. -
''Sir, rejoined the Major, looking scornfully
at his tornlentOr, there are phenomena IN nat
ural science unknown to vulgar minds. Had
you studied deeply and attentiyely, as l have,
these things would not appear as mysteries to
you-they can all be accounted for. !" Then,
resuming the thread Of his narrative, he con
tinued. a ~
''The clearness Of the atmosphere enabled me
to make some useful observations, l ascer-
tanned the position of the blockading squadron,
and drew correct map of the locality. OF the
enemys batteries and camps. My balloon,
| however, became very uneasy, and moved on at
such rapid rate that | was compelled to aban-
don my survey Of the coast. The rarity of the
atmosphere, too, caused the gas to expand and
press heavily on the internal surface Of the silk.
It was with the greatest difficulty that [ breath
ed ; the blood gushed from my nose and ears,
and | knew that unless. speedily descended
into denser regions, [ should suffocate. My
usual good luck attended me. The Federal
batteries on the coast had frequently discharged
their long-range guns at me- Some balls pass
ed me and others fell short. Two of them,
however, I managed, with great dexterity, to
catch in my hands [ laid them at the bottom
of the car With this additional weight the
balloon began to descend, and, when [ found
myself within two miles of the surface of the
earth, threw out one of the shot and contin-
ued my aerial journey in horizontal line. [
must add, gentlemen, that [ learned afterwards
that the shot threw overheard struck a solid
column of yanks while drilling, and killed TWEEN
ty Of Them
''Killed them outright?' asked NIldew, with
a look of surprise.
A''Of course, sir--I presume you do not doubt
my assertion p interrogated the Major, looking
fiercely at the youth.
ssDoubt, sir? Oh, no-by no means But
were there no wounded ~ -
"No, SIR shouted the Major. Il never yet
wounded a man. [ don't do things by halves
NV name s Major Sam Stretcher, sir: dead