Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-03

before Its punishment came upon us.
Streaks of cloud suddenly appeared above
the great Nevada table lands. The wind
veered to the north. Its speed and ours
| increased. Our Captains uneasiness grew
evident. A moisture like dew began TO
| freeze over us. We began to sink rapidly.
Clearly we were in train for experiences
of a most unexpected sort.
Throw out the ballastw called our
Captain. Rising once more, we darted
into a dense cloud and there drifted with
lightning speed still nOrthward. Water
frOze upon our cordage. There was only
one thing now to do. "Over with all the
ballastv commanded our leader. 1t was
in vain. We shot down perpendicularly
with the speed of a bullet, 500 feet in
each second. Presently the whizzing of
the gale in the tree tops of the mountain
SUBMITS became terribly audible. To
land under such conditions was impOssi-
Die. Everything we possessed was tossed
OYerbOard-Our spare clothing, our pre-
visions-still to no purpose.
A moment or two later, with a series of
crashes and bounds and leaps that made
us hold on like grim death itself, our bas-
ket was dragged through the thick-set
pine tops. Who could fifty describe the
frightful sensations that ensued? 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
mountains side, we were free from col
lisiOns and 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 a feat to trem-
bic at in 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 a mighty forest giant
and held firm. To pull the ripping rope
was the work of a second. With a crack
d whole seam Of the balloon parted. The
gas Tell about us IN our wretched situa-
ton, nearly choking us. Our late tyrant
collapsed and hung suspended from its
colossal peg, the pine tree. We were safe.
Upon the remaining adventures of that
luckless day neither reporter nor artist is
disposed to dilate. Our valiant Captain,
being Injured to such untimely ends to ali
the pomp and circumstance of glorious
Dalloonlng, was subsequently seen to
smile over the affair.
glide down the slippery trunk of the pine,
whose only branches, among which we
were perched, grew 50 feet from the
ground. We had landed on the summit
Of spur of the Sierras. 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
habitatiOn and we were forced to fight our
way through the dense underground until
nlghtfau. Without provisions and ut
terly exhausted, our little party threw
themselves down under the thicket's shell
ter and slept till the pallid dawn. A sec
ond day of such fruitless wandering meant
something so nearly approaching to death
that we hardly cared to contemplate it as
we trudged onward.
BY noon Of the second day the strength
Of one Of the party had given out entirely.
The other two were manfully preparing
to carry him between them, when a roar
ing brook was struck and feeblv followed
with reviving hope. 1t was scarcely
quarter of an hour before the expected
hume was discovered, at the foot of a
steep decliyity. A solitary Chinaman
stood beside 1t plying a spade. We made
our way toward him. At first our bag
gard appearance and scarcely understood
tongue made the suspicious Celestial lit
tie disposed to listen to US or have aught
to do with us; but, speedily becoming
convinced Ihat we had no designs upon
his claim, he lent very wondering and
compassionate ear to the narrative which
our Captain communicated, and presently
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 in that lonely camp
before mules and wagons and men could
be summoned from Nevada City, 80 miles
distant.
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 Fran
cisco, in defeat, but with thankful souls.