The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-11-17

| piece or the torn DaIoon that came
floating down and. drawing it over my
head. sat upon a stump to wait till the
| rain was over. There was little left OF
the balloon, but the man was just as
good as ever.
Fortunes favors partake Of the mar
velous at times Few persons cog
INFANT Of the limits of balloon en-
durance would think it possible that
one carrying only two persons and but
three bags of ballast could be kept
afoat for thirteen hours and have hall
the sand left, even though human life
depended upon it. Here are the facts
to prove it possible. county fair in
New HAMPSHIRE offered the occasion
and drizzly September day the time.
No one would have surmised, from
the start made by the balloon that it
would take q northeast course lmme-
diatcly on entering the clouds; but it
did. nevertheless. A descent for re-
connoitering purposes an hour after
ward revealed the fact that the White
mountains had been crossed in the in
term, all vestige of civilization left be-
hind, and that the great Maine and
Canada wilderness was before us. It
was startling discovery, but we had
had many adventures together before.
and naturally determined to make the
best of the situation. Night was upon
us when the balloon lowered over Lake
Umbagog, upon one of the banks of
which cleaned some hunters camp
fire. Unfortunately it was out of our
reach, and the best that could be done
was to bring the balloon down lower,
in hopes of finding others The drag
ropes trailed over the trees, until the
tain. where it was becalmed. This was
an excellent opportunity to make
landing, "a the balloon might be
moored to the trees. and we could slide
down the rope. But what then? Our
little basket of provisions would have
lasted scarcely single day. It seemed
like madness to go further, and yet it
was death to stop here. Half our bal
last was already gone. How, then,
could we hope to get out of the great
wilderness with what remained? But
we determined to experiment with pos
sibiiities, and by elfing out the sand to
the last degree, we hoped, if we did not
believe, that a safer harbor might b
reached. How grudgingly the sand was
thrown away, and, in consequence,
how slowly the balloon rose into tho
clouds; but above all with what aston
ishment we saw it halt in its ascent,
and, content to remain in company with
the clouds, continue, poised, hour after
hour, At one constant height. There
was no moro OVERLOOKING Of the gas,
no more " aste of sand. and we knew
that we were flying over the great
woods with the velocity of the accom-
panyin1 storm. Such marvellous feat
was this, SO far outdoiag any previous
experience. that my conrade more
then once expressed the belief that
supernatural poser was specially aid
ing US
SIX hours had passed over the inky
abyss after leaving our mountain shell
ter, when the warning sound Of break
ers reached our ears. A now dread
was upon US, for even while we
listened, the sound of the surf began
to die away in the distance, leaving the
swelling sea as our only refuge. Some
Juggling at the valve turned the balloon
downward and just then we rejoiced in
the possession of a drag rope, which
presently was heard swishing through
the water, leaving the ear high and dry
above the waves All hope was not
lost, bad as was the prospect, but
solid footing on the land, even though
it should have been in mid wilderness,
would have been better appreciated.
The sea was so wet and cold to sink
into at last. There were no regrets,
however, at the course pursued. and
we waited patiently for the next turn,
whatever it might be. The ropes
length allowed the car to Aoat on q
level with a gray fog that lowered over
the water. Leaning over the edge of
the car, with heavy eyes we tried to
keep watch but frequently fell asleep |
In spite of the threatening situation.
How far the balloon would drift out |
to sea before daylight was all conjec-
ture, and We had no idea of finding re- |
lief before seeing human beings or be- |
Ing seen by them. But suddenly, above |
the gray fog, narrow black line ap- |
peaxed, which threatened to intercept |
the balloon. Itpuzzled as greatly, for |
while it seemed almost within reach, |
II still kept away; yet it was growing |
wider every moment, until at last its |
nature became apparent. Then the |
gray mist slipped away from beneath |,
cur feet, and the black wooded country, |
which we had seen askance the fog, |
took its place. The drag rope seemed |
10 trip merrily over the trees, rsspon-
sive to our own feelings, and 1t last tho
balloon found q shelter, where il lay |,
until daybreak Upon rising again it
was found that . counter-current had
brought the balloon back to the main
land. A road was soon discovered and
a landing effected near II: when we
found ourselves in the province Of
Qnebec, near the guilt Of ST. Lawrence
from whose waters wo had escaped
Ind On the only road running through,
he wilderness. 1t was . marvellous
voyage from beginning to end
s. A ExHA