St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-10-15

open field near house, VIC called to
attract the attention of anyone near
to aid in making the stop. Soon a
grey haired man responded, and at
the request of the professor, seized
the end of the rope and running
along to tree for which we were
making, had just time to make one
wrap around the trunk and held us.
! The balloon descended till the basket
touched the ground, when, relieved
of the weight of its occupants, and
with slightly slackened cords, it
started up at quickened pace, tax
ing all with it. This motion was
continued for nearly ten mi utes, the
old man holding on for dear life,
doubtless thinking he was aiding in
the rescue of three mortals from peril,
and unable to loosen his hold long
enough to make fast, till more help
arrived in the person of an elderly
lady, who would tip the scales in the
hundreds, half dozen men and boys
who having gratified their curiosity
in seeing us make minatur ascents
and descents, finally caught on and
narrowed down the rising ambition
of the balloon till it rested quietly on
the earth. We learned that we were
on the farm Of Geo. F. Fletcher, in
Bridgewater, some six miles from
Plymouth, and eight from our start
ing point. We remained till we saw
Lillian safely disposed up and ar
rangements made for her return at
once to Plymouth, and taking on a
little ballast the professor gave the
word again to ''let go" and we part
ed from the little company who had
the double pleasure of seeing bal
loon land and depart; not however,
till the old gentleman, to whom we
were indebted for capturing the
rope, had given us the friendly ad-
vice that as we had landed safe we
had better not try it again. We rose
to an elevation of about 5000 feet
and a little after 4 o'clock were over
the village Of New Hampton, with
course changed toward the Mecca of
our hopes-Laconia. Again the
wind left us, and our progress was
so slow we could only note it by
watching the balloons shadow on
the nearer hills, or looking along the
rope on to the ground underneath.
How often we wished for a freshen-
ing breeze to take us across the bav
and intervening country to the desti-
nation aimed at, even a cloud would
have offered some encouragement to
have caught hold Of its il1ny edge
and pulled ourselves along by. A
little later and depressed feeling
seizes the balloon and it sank slowly
down till portion of the rope rest
ed on the ground. We humored it
SO long asst did not care to go lower,
and for the larger part of the dis
lance, till our final landing, followed
the contour of the country over
which we were passing. Ordinarily
when we came to a hill the balloon
would follow the incline up at about
the same distance from the ground
as on a level passing the summit,
would follow down into the inter
vening valley. At any indication OF
failing to keep afoat a handful OF
sand thrown out would impart a
more elevating tone to it's actions
Occasionally the wind would freshen,
and we would bowl along at ten
or neutrality-suspicious. rate. AT
such times the rope would look like
a long slender snake running through
: the grass with sharp kissing sound
! now over the tops of fences with a
: noise like that of a rapidly paying
out hawser, or climbing the tall trees
= thatlay inits way, leap from branch
D to branch, it's vicious, twisting tai
II swapping off the leaves and twigs
r in the most spiteful manner; ther
) down to the ground with a thud ano
[ on and after US again.
Much amusement was afforded by
: watching the horses and cattl,
g quietly grazing below. Suddenly
n they would discover the huge body
S floating over them, and terror strick
y en- would made for the nearest wood
t One old horse, apparently absorbed
g in reverie and as unconscious Of GU
t approach as my own friends were O
u my whereabouts, was suddenl,
a awakened from his dream by tn
g rope spinning across his back. H
t. did not tarry long in that part Q