The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-11-05


We had been sailing through the cloud
at varying height of mile and quar-
ter to a mile and half and two, entirely
unconscious of our course or the velocit,
with which VIC were traveling-for ever
the compass could only indicate the diff
ferent points while we seemed to bt
moving not at all-when we emerged
from the clouds and found ourselves il
close proximity to a bare mountain peak
We were not more than three or foul
hundred feet above it, and as we contin
ued TO descend slowly we soon found one
or two neishboring peaks towering above
our heads. Near us was deep black
chasm, in the recesses of which we could
hear the gentle music of cascade. The
black mountain top, overspread by a
black inky pail, lowered up in awful
grandeur. 1t was only quarter pas,
five o'clock, but the dense and murky y
clouds threw an almost midnight black
ness over the scene. A few handfuls oil
sand were thrown out-the first that had
been expendcd-and the balloon turned
and rose again above the peaks, Oul
progress at this time was very rapid, aud
we had passed over several of the sum.
mits in briefer space of time than i,
takes to record the fact. The strange
and unfamiliar appearance of the several
peaks when viewed from above, coupled
with the fact that both our course and
speed had been wholly hidden from us
mislead us as to our true position. AL.
though we had left Plymouth only fifty.
seven minutes before, we were already
sailing over Mounts Clay, Jefferson and
Adams, forty miles distant from Ply.
mouth in an air line. While in the clouds
we had sailed over Pemigewasset Noun.
tain, just west of Mount Carrigain, WI.
ley Mountain, and thence across the
White Mountain notch, not far above the
Wiley House, and on over Mounts Web
ster, Jackson, Clinton, Pleasant, Frank.
lin, Clay, Jefferson and Adams. Mounts
Monroe, Washington, and Madison were
left little distance to the east, and, with
those three exceptions, we had passed
over every peak of the White Mountain
range proper. Although | had been up.
on the summit of every peak east of the
White Mountain notch, save Mounts
Webster and Madison, | failed to recog
nizc any Of those we saw,until subsequent
development showed our course to have
been as above,a circumstance well enough
accounted for in the changes and unfam
iiar appearance OF everything when seer
from above. Mount Washington wa!
yelled in clouds as we descended from ;
much higher altitude short distanc,
northwest Of it, and sailed on over Clay
Jefferson and Adams; and from the lat
ter we look across the great gulf just il
time to see its great cone dimlv appear
ing among the mists which were for tn,
moment partially dispelled. None of tn,
buildings, however, were to be discerned
and it was not until we had crossed tn,
valley of the Androscoggin, and approach
ed Lake Umbagog, far beyond, that tn,
real truth of our position dawned upol
us.
They passed the Androscoggin Vale,
imagining that it was Saco Valley. The,
heard the whistle of steam engine, bu
were unable to hear anything further
Their progress at this time was at th'
rate Of fifty miles an hour. They sool
discovered that they were leaving tn,
human habitatons behind them. They
heard vood-chopping and saw camp fires
apparently in dense woods. Night haC
now fully set in. About 10 o'clocl
Mount Carmel, the last recognized land
mark, faded from view. The report says
1t was a strange sensation, and by nj
means a pleasurable one, to be thus jour-
neying through the air over wild and
densely wooded region Of which we knew
nothing-for even our course was nidder
from us-with strong probability tha
We would ultimately be compelled to de-
scend, perhaps in the very heart Of the
wilderness, and work our way out as bes
We might, without the most remote indi
cation of which direction we had bes
take to reach the nearest settlement, and
hundred miles or more away.
They made several brief halts, bu
moved on when their balloon showed any
signs of becoming entangled in the trees
The night wore on very heavily. They
had to be on the constant lookout fol
mountain peaks, and could not possibly
get wink of sleep. They found it hare
work resisting drowsiness. The stillnes
around them was painful. While they
sat up straight they were comfortable
enough, but on attempting to take re
cumbent position they suffered martyr
dom. They were chilled at times witt
the cold. When they descended neal
the earth they were very comfortable
Twice during this painfully long nigh
did they hear the sound of breakers, an(
once they were assured that they wer,
passing over waters of some description
The prospect Of watery grave was no
very pleasant, and they actually felt re
licved when they found themselves among
the tree-tops again.
With daylight they began to feel tina
they were in the neighborhood of som'
settlement. The report proceeds:
We were now close to the tree-tops
and the guide.rope was catching among
the branches. To detain the balloon
when it should become fastened to som,
of them was no difficult matter, for ther'
was a light wind at the surface but i
became necessary to steer clear, so far a:
possible, of the high trees and the deat
aud scraggy branches. A puncture o
the balloon might cause us to be precip
itated to terra firma more uncermonious
ly than we might desire. BY much pull
ing and hauling and net little pushing
we managed to navigate ourselves safe j
over the branches.
After much maneuyering they succeed
ed in anchoring themselves to tree, an(
descending to the ground. They quick
! l.. l. al 81. xrox ont Of tho Uoo1o pf