The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-27
1ER1GHrFu1raSHENTURE.
Professor LIN Mountains Recent Ascen-
sion In neutrality-suspicious. OF the
Balloon nearly Three Miles above the
'Earth-W ON derful Escape from
Death.

Balloon ascensions are always perilous.
The other day, Professor La Mountain at
tempted one in Saginaw, Michigan, when,
owing to q contretemps, he made sudden and
involuntary aerial voyage, the result Of which
was q narrow escape from frightful death.
The particulars Of the affair are thus given In
aSaginaw paper:
The balloon was filed before starting to its ut
most tension, but owing to recent repairs, leaked
badly. go that after one or two unsuccessful at
tempts Mr.. Headley, who was TO have accom-.
panied Professor La Aountain, was obliged to get
out of the car. Mr.. Fl. had the eatables, instru-
ments Of observation, and tissue paper used 70
ascertain the ascending and descending force OF
the balloon, and as he stepped out OF the car, be-
fore he could transfer the articles named those
who had hold OF the car let go, and the balloon
shot up with rapidlty that carried it TO an al
titude Of two miles within O few minutes. A per-
feet gale OF wind was blowing at the time, and a
moment after rain and sleet commenced laiilng.
The balloon was still ascending wnen iost 10 slght
In q cloud. Professor La Mountain, In relating
his experience says that 1t became all at once In
tensely cold. The cloud he entered was one
swimming mass OF snow-nakes, interspersed with
rain, which formed frost-worK on tne netting Oh
the balloon. The cloud. with the snow-nakes
forming and flying hither and thither, had, as he
expressed 1t, the appearance OF cloud OF steam
through which the sight could not penetrate. the
earth was lost to view BY tearing up ms nand anu
scious that he was passing upward with wonder
full rapidity, and along with the current OF the air
eastward toward the lake. Nothing was discern
ible but the thickenng mist, and overhead MS
balloon which, as the air became lighter, had ex-
banded the thin cloth covering TO Its utmost
length. Fearing that he might be carried into
the lake. and without pound OF ballast TO regu'
late his descent, he reacned Ior tne valSe rope
To his surprise the valve would not open. Tne
rain and sleet accommodating on the top OF the pal
loon had frozen the valve so tight as 10 resist the
pressure from below. Putting ms % waoie streng.n M
to the task, he gave strong pull on the rope,
milling out the iron staple attaching the rope to
the valve the rope falling down into the car. Tlie
balloon was mounting up raster than ever. IL
had nassed the storm cloud, which was mile
below and the heavens above were as clear,
and the sun shining as bright, as at mid
day in June. But the air was very c0ld,
and La Mountain was benumbed with cold. But
little time was lest In speculation. He had at
tained n height of over three miles, The balloon
could not burst for when the expansion became
too great the gas could escape from the lluc or
valve below, which was open; put no%was learlui
Of being carried into or over the lake without
having made preparations for such an event.
Mounting the hoop overhead nc reacneu lot MS
knife only TO find that he had lett u on the GROUND.
Clnging to the rope Win one manu-, WIN lne
other and his teeth after some eXerton, he sue
cecded i'm tearing a rent in the balloon from the
bottom ten or fifteen feet upwards. Ihen serving
the opposite side the same way, he descended 10
the car to watch the progress During this ope-
ration the ends of the fingers OF both hands had
become frozen For n few minutes the balloon
kent ascending, and then, as the gas escaped, II
reached an cqrlipose, and moment after COM
menced gradually to descend to the earth. Every
instant increased its downward speed. The Pro-
fessor saws that he heard the cloth tearing, the
rents enarging until with crash that sounded
like q deatb-knel the cloth gave way TO the pres
sure. opening seam OIL both sides from the bot
tom to the top. The gas escaped instantly, leav.
ing not thousand cubic feet, while the air rushed
in. filing up the vacuum, the balloon acting as
parachute The professor gives II as MS opinion
that at the height of two miles there was not
foot of gas in the balloon The cloth, belyng out,
formed q strong resistance 10 the atmosphere,
and retarded the descent. lie remembers dls-
tinctly passing through a cloud, ana tne sensa-
ti0n on rcCaIning sight of the earth. lie las an
almost indisiinct recollection OF approaching the
carth's surface. a dull moaning Ike the sulging
of the waves greeting his ears, the mapping OF the
cloth became louder and moment after he be-
came unconscious On regaining his senses he
fonnd himself living in the woods and his balloon
was some Yards distant. Several persons who had
seon the balloon descend had come to the scene,
and were standing near. They afterwards as
sisted him. His arms and legs were badly bruised,
and himself stunned, but no bones were broken
or internal injury sustained. The spot where ne
fell is seven miles from Ray City, He stopped
over night at farm house near ny, ana yestcr-
day morning returned to Bay City. The time that
he was in the air was lesS than thirty minutes,
and the reason that he was not carried further
was on account Of passing through different Cur
rents of air,