Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-10-07
That Balloon.

The balloon that was seen to pass over
Bethel on Thursday OF last week. proved
TO be that OF MIR. Samuel A. King who
made an ascens lou at Plymouth, n. H..
upon that day lie left terra frma ut
seventeen minutes past 8 L. NJ, and
soon reached IN altitude oil nearly three
and three JoarthS miles. We take the
following account of his landing from
the Boston Journal:
Nj. King gradually began to see
through riffs in the clouds, but naught
but forests met his view. lie could also
see beyund the cloud banks in souther-
ly direction. Not long after leaving
Plymouth. but after he got above The
clouds, he heard several heavy discharges
of cannon or rock blasting, but no other
sound came up 10 him in his LOFTY quiet.
udc; the music Of the mountain nils and
cascades even being hushed. As he de-
seconded toward the clouds he heard a
railroad train beneath him, aud Is he
passed through the misty mantle he was
brought directly over it, though al con-
siderable altitude. 1t was train on the
Grand Trunk Railroad, which WAS pass
ing through West Bethel, Me, OIL its way
from Portland 10 Montreal. As he sail.
ed over the valley Mr.. King saw the
dark reflection of tie balloon in the wa
tiers OF the AndI oscoggin river. As the
balloon approached the ground the drag
rope did good service, rs the balloon it,
self was brought beyond the cleared
land and over the woods. He decided
upon crossing the woods aud landing in
valley he had previously seen 10 the
east and northeast, leading into the An.
droscogsin valley. and accordingly did
SO, tue journey taking him "a further dis
lance oil about ten miles, aud directly
over the top OF Black Mountain in Bethel.
AT forty three minutes past live o'clock
he landed the balloon in little cleared
space beyond the woods, and found him.
self on The land oil Mr.. SIiIman Little
hale in Ripley Plantation. Mr.. Little
halc's place is on the Bull Branch Of Sun.
day river, and there is no other clearing
beyond this for long distance. AMER
leaving West Bethel, the balloon took tho
southeasterly current again. and drifled
noIthwesterly over township Of Success, u
wooded section OF country just across
the New Hampshire border, which would
prove any thing but success ~ land.
ing place for balloon traveller. 4 cou-
tinuation of the northeasterly course
which the balloon had taken over the
Fraaconih aud White Mountains would
have speedily brought Mr. King over the
Maine wilderness, which he traversed in
his memorable voyage from Plymouth
last year, and northwest course nom
Bethel vas not much mole desirable,
since il would have led into the wilds OF
luc I ppet NOOS. AibtI TUG uc>SeHt the
balloon was towed to better protected
spot near Mr.. Luther Liltlehale's house,
where it was packed up for removal 10
Bethel. from whence Mr.. King returned
10 Boston via Portland.
1t will be observed that the upper ait
currents on this occasion moved not
eastcrly but in a northeastery direction.
The entire distance travelled was not far
from eighty miles, and the time OF the
voyage was two hours aud twenty.s six
minutes, The balloon probably passed \
little south of Mount Washington. This
was Mr.. Kings one hundred and seventy
first aerial voyage.