The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-08-13
A PERILOUS AIR VOYAGE.

One of the most thrilling of all the
recorded balloon experiences was that of
Prof. John La Mountain and John A.
Haddock, in 1859. La Mountain was an
intrepid and successful aeronaut. Had
dock was newspaper editor. The as
cent was made from Watertown, n. Y,
on the Odd day of September. Mr.. Had
dock published n graphic account of the
hazardous and exciting voyage i'll the
Watertown Reformer, of October 5,
1859. After mentioning the arrange
ments, good-byes, and starting, the mar
rative proceeds as follows
GAS we rose into the light, fleecy clouds,
they looked between us and the earth like
patches of snow we see lying upon the
landscape in springtime; but when we
rose q little higher the clouds completely
shut out the earth, and the cold, white
masses below us had precisely the same
look that mountainous snow-covered
country does, as you look down upon it
from q higher mountain. Those who
have crossed the Alps-or have stood
upon one of the lofty SUBMITS of the
Sierra Nevada, and gazed down upon the
eternal SHOWS below and around them,
will be able to catch the idea l am try
ing to convey. In six minutes we were
far above all the clouds, and the sun and
we were face to face. We saw the time
after that when his face looked very fair
to us. In eight minutes after leaving
the earth, the thermometer showed a fall
of twenty-four degrees. 1t stood at
eighty-four when we left. The balloon
rotated good deal, proving that we
were ascending with great rapidity. AT
5:48 thermometer stood at forty-two, and
falling very fast. At 80 we were at least
two miles igh-thermometer thirty
four. At this point suggestion made
by friend just before starting was found
to be very good one. He had advised
the taking along of some cotton with
which to fill the ears when at great
heights, and my father had procured me
some. The unpleasant ringing sensa-
ton had now become painful and filled
my ears with cotton. This made my
head feel good deal as very large
hollow pumpkin may be supposed to-
with humming bird buzzing upon it'
surface comparison with which,
doubtless, many who read this account
will hardly quarrel. At 5:52 we put OF
our gloves aud shawls-thermome
thirty-two. The wet sand bags now be
came stiff with cold-they were frozen
Ascending very rapidly. At 5;54 ther
mometer twenty-eight, and falling. Here
we caught our last sight of earth by day
light. recognized the st. Lawrence t.
the southwest of ns, which showed W,
were drifting nearly north. At 6 oclocl
we thought we were descend
ing little, and La Mountain directed
me to throw out about twenty pounds o
ballast. This shot us up again-ther
mometer twenty-six, and falling yer.
slowly. At sos thermometer twenty
two-my feet were very cold. The AT
lantic was now full and presented q mos
splendid sight. The gas began to dis
charge itself at the mouth, and its abom
Unable smell, as it came down upon us
made me sick. A moments vomitin,
made me feel all right again. La Noun
tain was suffering good deal with cold
L passed my thick shawl around hi
shoulders and put the blanket over on
knees and feet. At Clio thermomete
eighteen. We drifted along until tn
sun left MS, and in short time there
after the balloon began to descend. A
6:3O thermometer TWENTY-FIVE, rising
Threw over about five pounds ballast. w
must have been, before we began TO dc