The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-07-09

proclhJou we also tOOK n Qrlnk-y6S, Oh
water. We followed the Worcester branch of
the Winooski for some distance until 1t dis
appeared from our sight The scene we are
now passing over is grand In the extreme, and
would require very able pen to fully describe.
There are lofty mountains In every direction as
far as the eye can reach, but the greatest and
grandest OF them all is the noble Mansfield,
towering up to an immense height Immediately
upon our left. We are, however, far above its
lofty summit-more than mile--and look down
upon 1t with'contempt, and at the same time
with feeling OF admiration at its supremacy
over all the others. An immense, dazzling,
white cloud is now passing directly underneath
the balloon at least mile and q half below us,
and, passing over the mountain, shut out our
view of IL for some time. We have now
ascended to height Of thirteen thousand and
five hundred feet. Passed directly over Stowe,
Morrisville, johnson, Hyde Park and many
other places in sight. My companions are in
ecstasies over the many places they recognize,
cards, requesting the finder to return them
to Montpelier. We are still rising and the
balloon, which was not fully inflated with
gas when we started, is now quite full and over
flowing at the neck. The barometer now indi-
Gates height OF fourteen thousand and eight
hundred feet above the level Of the sea, the
highest point we reached, and since leaving
Montpelier we have not, up to this time, ex-
pended an ounce of ballast, of which we carried
one hundred and seventy-hve pounds. Not
withstandng our great height the atmosphere
was comparatively warm, and we did not at
any time suffer much from the cold, which at
this altitude Is generally excessive severe. The
usual buzziDg in the ears, dizziness, etc., were
experienced. We could not at this height dis
cover any living thing upon the earth, men and
animals being too small to distinguish. At
forty-fve minutes past six we began to descend.
We threw out piece of paper which, after
luttering around in the air for some time, re-
turned to the balloon. Soon afterwards we
threw out more paper, which apparently flut-
tered upwards, showing that we were falling
faster than the paper. The barometer soon
indicated eleven thousand feet at which height
we plainly heard cow-bel and the barking
Of dog. We continued to descend for some
minutes when, by the aid Of our field glass,
we could plainly see vehicles and people on the
roads in all directions, and crowds of people at
every village viewing the balloon with apparent
interest and excitement. AS we neared the
earth the excitement increased, cattle in
the fields and farm yards and the crows
in the forests catching the infection. Soon
the soundes and cries increased until there
was a babel of cow-bells, lowing of cattle,
barking of dogs, cackling of geese, and
affrighted cries of crows, etc. Soon we could
hear the distant shouts of the people, but could
not see them without the glass. Directly be-
meath US was forest OF trees, upon which we
shortly descended. Our drag-rope, which was
four hundred feet in length, was soon trailing
like serpent over the tree tops and up noun
tain side. We found the wind terrific, bend
ing the tree tops over and rushing through
them with mighty roar. We were soon up
and over the top OF the mountain, and, follow
ing down the lee side, was soon out Of the gale.
We found we were near village, from which
the people were running, greatly excited, to
intercept the balloon. We shouted to them to
| catch the drag-rope and hold on. number
| of men were running-and the first one, the
feetest runner, caught it as 1t crossed the road
| and held fast In a moment he was whisked
| head-over-heels over the fence. We shouted
| to him to hold on, which he did, and soon
large number were clinging to the rope, and
they pulled US down in green field by the
roadside They were greatly delighted and
insisted upon shaking hands all round Soon
the people began to flock in from all points.
| We found we were at Waterville. forty-five
miles from Montpelier, and the time five min
tftes past seven. We stepped out of the car
! and visited the farmhouse Of Mr.. John /.
Smith, upon whose grounds we had landed.
| Here we we're RECALLED with lemonade and bou-
| quets and very kindly treated. A gentleman
| came up with horse, with Mexican bride
which he stated he had received from Mexico
| that day. He requested US to ride the horse
for the novelty of the thing. We each rode
| the horse up and down the road, much to his
| satisfaction, after which we returned to the
balloon, and found it surrounded by a large
throng, examining with great interest the bal
loon and all its rigging and equipment. A
| large pail of ice-water which we had sus-
pended in the rigging we found nearly all con-
| sumed. So many Of them had sampled what
| they called the balloon-water" that it was
nearly all gone. Our country friends were
much surprised when they found we were
| about to ascend again, and seemed greatly dis
appointed. They pressed us hard to stay with
them and not go farther A number Of pretty
young ladies among the company told us there
was to be a ball in the village that evening,
and offered us a cordial invitation to attend.
Even this did not tempt US to stay, and, bid
ding them goodbye, we reascended at thirty
five minutes past seven, after remaining with
them half An hour. We headed directly for
large mountain to the windward, up the side
of which we swooped at lightning speed. On
the top stood some large maple trees, through
the center Of which the car dashed, making
the leaves and small branches fly in all direc-
tions. We were soon again at height OF six
| thousand feet with Lake Champain in sight.
| The country, which was now more level, was
passed over rapidly as we neared the lake, the
extent Of which could be seen for miles
We reached the shore at twenty-five min
utes past eight, and crossed 1t at height
lake behind we soon discovered we were in
Canada, with large river in full view, which
we soon crossed. We had flying interview
with Canadian farmer, and, as Mr.. Owler
could speak French we found the river we had
just crossed was the st. Johns. 1t was now
moonlight, and the balloon low down, the end
Of our drag-rope trailing on the ground. We
were passing over level cultivated country.
Ope part Of our outfit consisted OF a large tin
horn, which greatly delighted Mr.. Owler
Upon this horn he kept up an almost continuous
blast, loud and long, with no interval except to
shout to the alarmed Canadian farmers-Quelle
est la nom de cette place. what place is this. }
He frightened the inhabitants the cattle In the
fields and the crows In the woods to such an
extent that we had serious thoughts at one
time OF throwing him out. He, however, did
us some little service. He brought out a far
mer who told us we were ten miles from Mon
treal and going straight for 1t, and few min
utes afterwards we deserted long line Of
twinkling lights-out OF which we could
plainly pick number OF electric lights, and
then the mighty St. Lawrence loomed up We
approached 1t at a rapid rate, and found we
should cross little above Montreal We
passed over La Prairie, the balloon creating
great commotion among the residents and out
upon the river directly over the Lschine Rapids
Our drag-rope slushed through the water
nearly all the way across and the roar OF the
rushing waters through and over the rocks
could be plainly heard We we're over the river
at thirty five minutes past nine, and a few min
utes afterwards we opened the valve, threw
out the anchor, and came to landing in a po-
tato field one mile from the river and close to
the Lachine Canal We discharged the gas and
then sat down under tree and enjoyed an
other supper. While in the midst of this q
heavy rain-storm came on, which continued un-
abated all night. We left the balloon In the
. field and went TO the house OF Colbec Parker.
and found we had landed at the village Of Cote
! ST. Paul, two miles from Montreal. After fruit
| lass eff orts to find CONVEYANCE, we walked to