Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-10-14

sions, when daylight favored us, and no.
tably on the 18th of July, when we float
ed out over Cape Cod Bay across Marsh
field Beach-the dashing of the ocean
surf 1t seemed louder in one particular
direction than in any other, and was to
be heard less from beneath us than upon
either side. Still the line of agitation
of the waters was clearly defined and its
loudness in a particular spot might read
lily be ascribed to the nature of the coast.
We tried to make it sound like the MUIR
muir of brook and the merry music of
the mountain cascade, but it would not,
nor could we make it assume the equally
joyful rumble of distant railway train
We we're travelling at the hight of mile
or more, and immersed wholly in the
clouds as we were, we could discern no
thing below us. That we were travelling
at a very rapid rate was rendered certain
by our quick approach to a region of
perfect quiet The sound of the waves
became fainter and fainter, and soon died
away altogether We listened in vain
for recurrence of the music of the dan
cling streams, made so familiar to us
through the livelong night, for it had
never been stilled till now, but no sound
reached our ears. An intense and most
painful stiffness reigned around us, while
the cold and treacherous waves rolled
stealthily below. Mr.. King pulled the
valve cord for the first time since start
ing, allowing not only the gas to escape
but also q shower of water which had
collected upon the top of the valve to
come down through the balloon upon our
heads. The sound, although accompa-
MED by an involuntary shower bath, was
welcome in the terrible stiffness, which
was broken by nought else save our own
voices. The escape of the gas soon
brought us down through the thick mist,
and then the good services of the guide
rope again came into play. The mist
seemed wet and chilly, whereas in all
our previous approaches to the surface
we had encountered warmer and more
comfortable temperature. We soon be-
came conscious through a peculiar hiss
ing sound that the end of the guide rope
was being drawn at a lively rate through
the water. Indeed, by taking hold of
the rope, Mr.. King had ascertained when
it touched, and by the steady resistance,
as we'll as the peculiar sound referred to,
that it was dragging in the water and
not over the tree tops. The entire length
of the rope was about two hundred feet,
, and half of it probably rested in the
water. We were doubtless at times
within twenty five feet of the waves, but
, the thick fog enveloped US like cloak
, and we could not see them. At no time
had we encountered such dense and i'm
r penetrable mists. 1t was a period O
r terrible suspense. We were surely being
driven over the water. and in all proba
: bility far out TO sea. Only one fate coulC
r await us under such circumstances, fo
4 our chance of falling in with vessel a
! great distance from the coast, even i
e we should be able to keep the balloon
n above the waves until daylight, was in
: fnitesimal The best of aeronautic skill
: and this was certainly vested in tn
). person of the commander of our frail lit
: tie craft-could avail but little out a
S sea after the balloon could no longer sus
b tain itself in the air. But where wer
f. we? There seemed strong probabilit
IS that we had drifted from the wilderness
5 far south and over the coast of Maine
IT but what point had we reached? If tn;
1T was the case we might possibly fall
1t with some vessel plying between the Tn
lie ted States and the Provinces, or Europ
is but our opportunities in this direction
a. with heavy fog and stiff breeze blow
ut ing, was one in thousand The on
y real mishap which occurred during tt
'e whole voyage befell Mr.. King while v
S. were out over the water 1t was the 10
IN of his hat. After peering in vain in
e, the murky mass below he drew in h
ut head, and the hat was knocked off
I'd coming in cantact with the ropes.
s, STRANGE BUT WELCOME SIGHT.
lg We we're conscious of being over t
al water from twenty minutes to half
ne hour, when strange but welcome visi
he arose before our eyes. 1t was as if t
ps misty curtain had suddenly been rent {
we under disclosing scene of most inten
lrs blackness, which, in fact, seemed to
IN within our very reach. The line of f
was as clearly defined as if drawn wi
mathematical precision. In nome
lot more Mr.. King proclaimed the joyful
fit. dings that the rope was dragging oN
ty the tree tops. We knew then that
'ps had escaped from the cold embrace
m. the waves, and the wilderness of tr,
we which had been our terror through I
ly, long weary watches of the night beca
eff welcome and hospitable.
Ter AT MOORINGS.
ich We were now close to the tree-tops, a
ON the guide-rope was catching among
led branches. To detain the balloon WI