The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-10-27
PROF. KINGS BALLOON VOYAGE.

Graphic Description by Hasbngen, of the
signal seivice-Five Days Terrible Suf'
E~rinE In the swamps.
81. G. Hashagen, of the Signal Service, who
accompanied Prof. King on his recent balloon
voyage, writes the following interesting account
from Chippewa Falls Of their trip:
Before five minutes after leaving terra Jirmd
we reached an altitude of 4, 800 feet, moving
southwest. A few minutes later we reached an
upper current moving slowly westward, SO
slowly that we barely moved But what pros
pect was beneath us. We were soon shut
out by night, and could see nothing but
myraids Of lights twinkling in the distance. We
remained there suspended, neither rising nor
falling, for several hours, but at last puff Of
air sent US southwest, changing before morn
ing to west and northwest. While going SOUTH
west we remained becalmed about three hours,
swinging in q circle over a small city that,
from its location, I judged to be Peoria, Ill.
At 5:15 on Friday we passed over Spring
Valley, Wis, startling the natives by dragging
our drag rope over their roofs, and one ambi-
tious fellow sent shot after us. We passed
over the Platte Mounds at 7:15 a. m. We re-
mained for long time swinging round these
picturesque mounds, when the balloon, although
ward turn, carraing us 4, 900 feet above the
strata Of clouds, and literally burying us In q
milkway for an hour.
In passing Little Falls, Monroe County, Wis,
we came SO near the ground that we came in
contact with the trees, and were compelled to
take large portion of one along as q souvenir.
When we neared the ground we were greeted
with beautiful view of verdancy in every
variety of form. The children were hushed,
the dogs called of, horses were whipped up,
and old country matrons stood in their doors
with arms akfmbo, and with the most surprised
and comical attitude. At a. m. we passed
over Putlan, or some similarly named place.
At $40 q. m. we BASED Tomah, Wis. At $50
we arose among the clouds, and lost sight of
mother earth for o few hours. The wind in
creasing, carried us at q rapid rate, probably
forty or fifty miles per hour, and not being
able to discern stationary objects could not tell
where we were or what course we were pursu-
ing.
Meanwhile the rain poured down in torrents,
collecting on the outside Of the balloon. It
poured down the mouth of the bag into
the basket in a steady stream, compelling
Us to put away the instruments. But it was
useless there was not dry spot as large as q
pin head among them.
At 12:45 p. m. our highest known elevation
| was reached, being $500 feet. From the last
| person spoken to we found we were forty miles
| from st. Paul, and when we descended at 2:3C
| p. m, on the west bank Of the river, half q
mile inland, We concluded we were in the State
| Of Minnesota, probably forty miles from St
Paul, on the mississippi River. With this sup.
| position in our minds we stepped out of our cal
| into about eighteen inches of ice-water, found
we were in a cranberry bog, and had to get out
To recite our experience after that for the
| succeeding five days is too horrible. How We
| walked for five days, up to our knees through
boggy swamps, without food, except half
pint Of berries how wolves and bears snarlet
around us at night; how we slept on the wei
| ground at night, through heavy frosts, only tc
start again in the morning through swamps
with its ice-water, and falling over muddy log
at every step, 1 cannot put in words. As a las
resort we built raft, expecting to go over st
Anthony's Falls. OF our subsequent disap
later. But oh, our JOY. when, at o'clock il
the evening of the fifth day, we reached Flam
bean River, and were carried across by Clera
mere and Michael Miner, voodmen, and her
! We are, enjoying the good things given us.