Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-05-16

vada table lands. The wind veered to the
north Its speed and ours increased. Our
captains uneasiness grew evident. \
moisture like dew began to freeze over us.
We began to sink rapidly. Clearly we were
IN train for experiences of u most unex-
pscted sort
LIKE GRIM DEATH.
Throw out the ballast" called our captain
Rising once more. We darted into dense
cloud. and there drifted with lightning speed
still northward. Water froze upon our cor
sage. There was only one thing now to do
over with all the ballast" commanded our
leader. 1t was in vain. We shot down per-
pendicularly with the speed OF bullet ,5Oo
feet in each second Presently the whizzing
OF the gale i'll the tree tops of the mountain
SUBMITS became terribly audible. To
land under such conditions was impossible
Everything we possessed was tossed over
board-our spare clothing, our provisions
still to no purpose.
moment or two later, with series OF
crashes and bounds and leaps that made us
hold on like grim death itself, our basket was
dragged through the thick-set pine tops.
Who could fifty describe the frightful sensa-
tions that ensuedl With all visions
dissipated Of success in our expedition,
and possibly reaching Salt Lake City
or anywhere else alive, We crouched
with clinched hold and set teeth in
the wicker car. Occasionally, as we were
borne across some depression in the noun
tains sides, We We're free from collisions,
ami were swept somewhat upward.
l well remember that during one Of
these intervals, our captain, finding
the rope of the escape valve had become
entangled above, with mastery address
| clambered the network of the bounding
globe. and, clinging tightly to what slender
hold he found, adjusted it. 1t was feat
to tremble at i'll recollecting. In less than
ten minutes after it had been accomplished
we struck the tree-tops again, and were
hurled more mercilessly than ever among
their creaking branches. until with one
tremendous shock our basket struck
the stronger limbs Of mighty forest giant
and held firm. To pull the ripping rope was
the work Of second. With crack whole
seam OF the balloon parted. The gas fell
about us in our wretched situation. nearly
choking us. Our late tyrant collapsed and
hung suspended from its colossal peg, the
pine tree. We were safe.
IN THE WILDERNESS.
Upon the remaining adventures Of that
luckless day neither reporter nor artist is dis
posed to dilate. Our valiant captain, being
Injured to such untimely ends to all the pOinp
and circumstance of glorious ballooning, was
subsequently seen to smile over the affair.
With vast difficulty we managed to glide
down the slippery trunk of the pine whose
only branches, among whick we were perched
grew eighty feet from the ground We had
n dad tof - 81
BY compass we took our bearings, and set out
for shelter. Around us rose the wilderness
pure and simple. There was no trace of road
or habltation. and we were forced to fight
our way through the dense underground until
liGhtfall. Without provisions, and utterly
exhausted, our little party threw themselves
down under the thicket's shelter, and slept
till the palld dawn. A second day of such
fruitless wandering meant something SO
nearly approaching to death that we hardly
cared to contemplate it as we trudgei on
ward.
BY noon Of the second day the strength Of
enc of the party had given out entirely The
ether two were manfully preparing to carry
him between them, when a roaring brook
was struck, and feebly followed with reviv.
ing hope. 1t was scarcely a quarter of an
hour before the expected fiume was dis
! covered, at the foot Of a steep declivity. A
solitary Chinaman stood beside it plying a
| spade. We made our way toward him.
At first our haggard appearance and
| scarcely understood tongue made the sus-
picious Celestial little disposed to listen to
us or have aught to do with us; but, speedily
becoming convinced that we had no designs
upon his claim, he lent a very wondering
| and compassionate ear to the narrative
which our captain communicated, and pres
emily summoned all his pigtailed fellowship
to hearken and aid us. We were, in truth,
very kindly cared for by our yellow-faced
friends during the two days which we found
we must pass i'll that lonely camp before
mules and wagons and men could be sum-
moned from Nevada City. fifty miles dis
| tant.
When they arrived the balloon was looked
up, and, ripped apart, forwarded to Reno.
! The overland train was finally taken, and
our trio speeded to San Francisco in defeat,
| bit with thankful souls