Year: 1859

| enough 10 llakc any lHStTulllcntu oDSefNa-
i tionS.


At half past ten o'clock we had Lake Eric


and Lake Ontario both in sight-a spectacle


that could not be viewed without mingled SCH


timcnts of admiration and wonder The bal


loon had now attained an altitude of nearly a


mile. A terrible storm was surging beneath


US, the trees waving and the mad waves dash
ing against the shore OF Eric in an awfullv tenn


pcstnous manner. But above the careening
whirlpoos and the laundering breakers swan
the proud -4hlantic, not cord displaced, nor a


breadth Of silk disturbed, soaring aloft with her


expcctant crew, and gaily heading for the salt


crcsts which bound our vast republic. Now,
like a gurge, comes the subdued roar of the


FLASHING and hcadlong cataract of Niagara


At l O'clock, having skinned over the lake
shore, still bound castwardly, the balloon


brought lis in sight of Buffalo and Niagara
Falls, as also of the celebrated Welland Canal.


We had reached height OF more than mile,
the barometer marking % t inches AT II
o'clock we were nearly between the Falls and
Buffalo, inelining rather to the left of the lat
ter Here We had view OF the great cataract
O-ni-au-ge-rah, "the thunder Of water" as the
Indians call it, Gen. Brooks monument, Queens
town, Grand Island, St. GATHERINGS, Gravel Bay,
Lewiston, Black Rock, Fort Erie and other
celebrities of that locality. The famous falls
were quite insignificant seen from our altitude.
There was to us descent of about two feet,
and the water seemed to be perfectly motion
less. The spray gave the whole an appearance
as of ice, and there was nothing grand Or sub
lime about it. Passing the western terminus
of the Erie Canal the balloon was borne direct
" towards Lake Ontario. Our ballast was
now nearly exhausted, and to have determined
on crossing the second lake would have been
sheer reckcssness and hardihood At this
point it was resolved to descend to the earth,
land Mr.. eager and myself, and in our stead
take in sufficient quantity of new ballast and
again steer for the Atlantic Ocean. Could this
have been done there is scarcely doubt. of
Mcssrs Wise and La Mountains reaching their
destination. The air ship was lowered, but
was Immediately caught nthc hurricane which
was then raging, and carried very near the tops
Of trees, which were bending and swaying to
and fro by the force of the wind.


Mr.. La Mountain had said lie desired to
take care Of the boat, and advised Inc to get
into the car above, with Mcssls. Wise and Ga
ger, which l hastcned to do. No sooner had
planted myself firmly in the wicker basket
than down, down, down with fearful speed
went the balloon towards the lake | closed
my eyes involuntariy, but was quickly aroused
by crash and a lunge Of the car forward
Three times were there terrible clatter and
splash. One moment more of life, thought l.
Looking around bchcid hat floating off, and
the same instant the balloon dartcd out of the
to sa5; Thought MIN Inn gone but cheer.
ful "ll right, boys" stopped me and Eghtencd
me of one grief Now came test OF l." Noun
tans bravery, and nobly did lie stand it
Taking hatchct, Which was handed down to
him from the car where it was swung,hc be-
gan looScning the planks making the lining OF
the boat, which he sent overheard at every IN
dcaton Of another descent When lie had
gone as far Is possible this way he unscrcwed
the nuts which had been placed in the side of
the boat by which to t;lstcn the machinery
Gathering all articles, Of 70 matter how little
weight together he sent them with the rest.
The oars went over next, and at last there was
nothing in the boat lie had taken off his coat
to it. and worked till the pcrspiration ran from
his brow like rainfall the time speaking
hopefully and cndcavorng to giict our appre-
tensions. When there was nothing more TO
be done below, Mr. La Mountain drew himself
up by the rope into the car. Everything had
now gore but an 0vcrcoat and two blankets,
which were saved to be used rs the final re-
sort.