The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-02-15

TO De appalling, ana all mad become
breathlessly still. Suddenly we were
lighted up with crinkling fire, that
seemed to play all round and through
us, and which was followed bya crash
of thunder that shook us from our feet
The ladies screamed, and / believe ev.
cry man of us, not even excepting the
professor, uttered exclamations of sur
prise and terror. We had large, five
pronged grapnel aboard, for catching
into trees, bushes, fences and hedges,
when near the earth, and we were afraid
| the lightning would be attracted by
this. 1t was terrible to think of the
consequences which would follow lit
tie damage to our frail vessel. Thous-
ands of feet below us, our breathless
mangled bodies would be found by
strangers. Again that awful lightning
crinkled over us, lingering around, and
seeming to set us all on fire, and again
that crashing pea! succeeded. In the
com parative silence that followed we
could hear the wild roaring Of the wind
below us; but with us all wasstill. Five
times more did that crinkling fire and
almost deafening roar make us think
our last moment was at hand, and then
we suddenly emerged into alighter re-
gion, and saw the stars above and the
clouds below us.
Alas! we had only escaped one danger
for another. We were ascending, and
the valve was fast! We had no means
by which to force ur3elves down! AL
ready the gas was pouring out below,
and we soon began to feel the unpleas-
ant sensations in our heads. We were
going up, up, up, and would soon be at
a point where the balloon would burst!
What was to be done? Something
quickly, or our voyage would end in
eternity. The professor himselfbecame
alarmed. He pulled and tugged at the
cord till he felt it was hopeless, and
then stood for a few minutes with his
hands pressed against his temples
There was no crying or complaining.
We all knew our danger; and in silence,
except, perhaps, an occasional moan,
were preparing ourselves, by repen-
tance and prayers, for our last great
change.
Suddenly the professor started and
threw off his outer garments with great
rapidity, and then drew off his boots.
The next moment, without word to
us, and before we were aware of his
purpose, he had swung himself clear of
the car, and was boldly climbing up the
ropes to the netting above, with moth
ing to keep him from the eternal fall
but the frail hold of his hands. We
comprehended his designs; and ah |!
how prayerfully we watched him, in
the dim LIGHT. till he had gone beyond
| our sight! and then how we clasped
each others hands, with tremulous eX-
pectation, and silently stared in each
others wondering faces, and fervently
prayed fol his success.
Five minutes, that seemed like an
eternity then, and we heard the peculi-
ar sound of the escaping gas. Noble
man! God bless him! he had saved
us! Another minute, and, in the dim
light we saw his form descending, and
we prayed for him still. for we could
not aid him. Down, down-slowly,
cautiously-till at last his feet rested on
the car; and then, with wild shout,
we caught him in our arms, and ming
led our tears of gratitude with his.
We now struck current of air that
carried us away from the storm, and
then we descended to the earth as gent
ly as bird on the wing, and found
ourselves within two miles ofa railway
station and hundred from London.
The next morning we were within the
limits of the mighty city, relating our
adventures to our anxious and wonder
ing friends.