New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-04
OBITUARY.
"A FOUNTAIN, THE AERONAUT.

IA FOUNTAIN, THE AERONAUr.
John La Mountain the famous aerOnaut, died
Mt South Bent Indiana. tho 18th OF February. La
Mountains lib full Of daring adventures ana oil
incidents which frequently more interesting than
agreeable Iis was among the most fearless aeronaus
this any country and pursued his chosen profession
with higher object than TO merely make money by exhb-
itng himself He was compelled to make balloon ascen'
soIB for the public amusement means OF support.
but he hoped to make his experiments use
full in the advance OF science and the deyel-
opmont OF meteorological theories He finally
died poor at the age Of A. pet theory OF La Mountain
wasthat there was a the atmosphere cores
poning with the Gulf Stream in the ocean, and lowing
rstaeronaut to the Atlantic taking advantage OF
thiscurrent. He built the famous balloon " Atlantic
for This purpose This II ono OF the largest strongest
and most beautiful balloons ever made The aerOnaut
determined to test his theory by land voyage INST ana
started from 81 Louis for the East accompanied Dy John
wist, Mr Hyde, an editor OF ne .,a Missouri O,nr
Reptbhcan, and Mr.. eager sciehtn o man man
hours passing Lake Erie. and into Newfork state
L to this point they had enjoyed what seemed 10 tnen
calm, though Their motions mus nave neen w Ldp'
Who crossing Lake Ontario tornado sel2ed the balloon
H. y. The Atlantic" had Travelled I,loO hlcs III Tess
uan 10 hours This disaster ruined La Mountains plan OF
fossug the ocean for the time. He was saddencd, but
felt that the trip had Important results III showing tne
velocity OF Trlal motions. ana demonstrating Ihe
fact that balloon might cross Large bodies 9cdo'
OF water. a small balloon was nhIo ron
thu remnants OF the Atlantic ana ne started
a uip from Waertown, y. !, with MI JOhh A. hau'
dock. EDITOR OF the Rct0rncr rms trlp wac iehatka
bic ons The VOYAGES who expected 10 return IN Few
hours were not heard from for many days. Pubic cA
citemnt became Intense Ihe my stery Wa AZ Iast eA,
painri Having compass the aerOnauts had Ool hclr
hearings. and carried far INTO the dense WOODS Oh
The Ottawa reservation. IN Cahada Aier wandering Ior
many days subsstng upon leaves and berries they were
accidentally discovered IN the last stages OF Starvation
10y Indian scouts IN the employ OF uhoerhian'
Their story was widely published ana Illus
trate( by the newspapers. When tho late war
LegaI La Mountain turned his attention tO military bal
looms and the first aeronaut engaged IN tho service
The advantages gained IN war by balOOhlug were very
uncertain. however, and the entire system was soon
gyet up. The last serious adventure OF La Mountain
occurred IN Michigan, and probably FASTENED his death
An trDaticut crowd cast him of before he ready,
without an OyercOat Instruments and the valve rope
tied several feet above tho basket. lie shot IKE
rnctt mn into "A heavy cloud OF mist sleet. which
froZe tho valve board fast lie climbed, with frost
bttn fingers up the network, and tore the ballOn
with his teeth The opening extended far that the
balloon collapsed discbar ged its and fell with great
yClouty from hight OF nearly two mixes The aeronaut
was picked up beuumbod and insensible though not
dangerously injured