BALLOON ADVENTURE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 23, 5 December 1861, Page 6 (Supplement)

BALLOON ADVENTURE.

The following narrative of a recent perilous balloon assent and its consequence appears in the ‘Morning Post “The ascent was made - in the Eoyal Normandie, constructed for Mr. Simpson, of Cremoi’ne Gardens, at a cost of £6OO, the conductor of the expedition being Mr. Lythgoe, the experienced aeronaut of ninty-four previous journeys. The day chosen for the ascent was that of the recent aristocratic fete at Cremorne, the 24th July, and two scats had been secured by Mr. Arthur Vivian and Mr. Noel Anderson. At eleven o’clock at night the balloon was released, and shot into the air. Many miles being traversed, it -was deemed expedient by Mr. Lythgoe to penetrate the clouds beneath, in order to ascertain the nature of the surface of the country, with the view of effecting a lan ding. On emerging from tlio clouds a flat country could be dimly discerned, and preparations were instantly made to let go the grappling-iron on the first favourable opportunity. This soon occurred, and it was not till then, when, as they approached the earth, field after field, as it wore, flew under them, that they realised the fearful velocity at which they were travelling, The grappling-iron was dropped. An instantaneous check was felt, proving that a firm hold had been taken. In another instant a sharp snap was heard, and the balloon, swaying to and fro, burst again into the air. Now were put to the test the experience and presence of mind of Mr. Lythgoe, who, deprived of the usual means of effecting a landing, had, as it appears, but one course open to him—viz., bursting the balloon against trees or some other opposing object, thereby exhausting its powers. Seeing a bank of trees at some distance, be made up his mind, if possible, to mm into them, and, to effect this purpose, let the balloon descend on to the land. The wind was blowing with frightful force and the car dashed against the earth with such a shock that Mr. Vivian was nearly stunned, and Mr. Anderson, not having time to secure himself sufficiently, was thrown partly out of the car as it turned over, his head and shoulders being thus pushed along the ground. In struggling he pitched with a somersault from the car, and on recovering found himself, at 12 o’ clock at night, in the centre of a field of beans, the balloon having in the meanwhile completely vanished. After some difficulty he made his way to a village two or three miles distant, which, on inquiry was discovered to be a High Eoading, to the north of Essex. He was sheltered in the cottage of a labourer, who said he had heard shortly before, ns he was returning home, shouts issuing from the clouds, which he not unnaturally concluded to be unearthly ; immediately after which he became sensible of a gigantic body rushing with great violence past his ear. The cause of his'fears was soon interpreted by the traveller. The balloon, relieved of 2501b5. weight —much ballast having been lost at a time of the first concussion with the earth—shot up like a rocket to the supposed incredible height of three miles and a quarter. Mr. Lythgoe allowed as much gas to escape as vvasdoemedatall consistent with safety in descend ing, but still it was some time before the balloon began again to take a level course through the air. The cold at this height, where the temperature is stated to have been below 40 deg., was intense. The silence was relieved only by the flapping of the silk, which was like the" report of fire-arms. At last, as indicated by pieces of paper thrown out, they commenced gradually to descend, when before long a dull grumbling sound was heard which resembled the moaning of the ocean. The sound died away, recommenced very shortly ; and a break in the clouds below opened lo their view the sea immediately beneath them ; but, watching the line of breakers on the shore, they, to their infinite relief, discovered that the course of the balloon was bearing gradually inland. It was determined now immediately on coming over (he land, to let out the gas as quickly as possible, and effect a landing at all hazards. The shock was terrific, and, the wind blowing very heavily at the time’, the balloon made the most tremendous bounds, dragging the two inmates of the car, hanging on by the ropes, over more than two miles of country carrying them through hedges and many other obstacles. When sufficient gas bad escaped from the balloon to prevent it from rising again, at an agreed signal they both let go at once, and, after a series of somersaults found themselves on their 'backs on some marshy land, the balloon beiim brought up at afew hundred yards distance against a mill, from which, however, it very quick!}- escaped and they saw it no more. After some difficulty in crossing Tho country the travellers arrived at a labourer’s cottage door, and on being admitted, discovered that they were close to Lowestoft on the coast of Suffolk, the hour being two o’clock Jn tbc morning. The balloon lias since been found.”

We extract the following observations, having reference to an article which appeared in the Herald a short time since, from the Southern Cross of the 29th ult. :

Hawke’s Bat. —ln our last issue wo published an extract from the Hawke's Bay Herald, giving an interesting sketch of the progress of that province and the port of Napier during the last four years. To-day we make extracts from the same journal, which go far towards showing the mistake which the Provincial Government of that young Province has fallen into, in the matter of the waste lands administration. The arrival of the Montezuma at Napier, from Sydney, gives the Herald an. occasion for impressing on the settlers of the Ahuriri the necessity for promoting direct communication with Sydney, and other Australian ports. The desire for an extended traffic is natural, and the enterprising spirit of our friends in Napier is commendable. We trust they may succeed beyond their most sanguine expectations ; but if the absolute loss of a land revenue, which the Herald predares the public to anticipate at no remote day, is to be replaced only by an increase on the customs revenue on merchandize imported direct to Napier then indeed we fear that sad times are approaching. What says the Napier paper;—“For some time to come there is little prospect of acquiring more land from the natives ; possibly, indeed, the change now impending in the policy of the Governor towards the natives may have the effect of annihilating that source pf revenue for the future. The limited amount oflaud now held by the Crown is being rapidly swept away in sales at ss. an acre; so that we must look forward to a period—not very far distant —when our land revenue shall be reduced to a mere fraction of what it has been for the last three years. Unless, therefore, we can increase the ordinary revenue, by means of the customs, (which furnish already the principal portion of it), we see no resource for the future but in direct taxation.” This extract speaks for itself. The waste lands of the Province have been disposed of at a nominal rate; and failing an increased customs revenue, direct taxation must be resorted to for the ordinary expenses of Government. We would not have noticed the article in our cotemporary, but from the alarming statements which it contains, in relation to the future prosperity of the Province of Hawke’s Bay. Prudence should guide, at the eleventh hour, the public men of that Province, and possibly the evil day may yet be averted. —Southern 'Cross, October 29.

Wreck of the Barque Don Pedro ll.—The Government schooner Harriet (says the Hobart Town Mercury of 21st inst.,) which arrived yesterday morning from Port Arthur, brought up Captain Evans, the crew and the passenger (in all seven persons) of the barque Don II., belonging to this port, which was totally wrecked on her voyage from Otago, New Zealand, on Wednesday 16th October, on the iron-bound coast between Fortescue Bay and Cape Pillar. The Don Pedro was the propeaty of Captain Wiliam Fisher, Hobart Town. On the Monday night previous a boy, who was aloft stowing the top gallant sail, fell over board and was drowned. — Sydney Morning Herald, Nov. 9. The Largest Fortress in the World.— Eighteen miles from Warsaw stands the largest fortress in the world—a fortress with casemated and bomb-proof barracks for 40,000 men and with a circumference of 11 miles. Whether this fact is generally known or not it is certain that very few Englishmen—very few persons of any country but Eussia—have been allowed the opportunity of inspecting this wonderous stronghold. Nor, I believe, is our Government at present in possession of any plan or sketch of the immense works ; and as evidence of the jealousy with which it is hidden from the eyes of strangers I may mention that special permission from the Czar is requisite to enable any foreiegner to enter it. The fortress is called Modlin, or the Georgian ; in Eussian, NovoGiorgievsk. It is almost overpowering to wander about the huge works. Mile after mile one may explore stores and magazines and batteries—pass ravelin, from work to work, and one half of Modlin is not seen. There is something very Eussian in this crowning of fort within fort. At the Malakoff this fault was apparent ; traverse, parapet upon parapet defence and crowning defence till it seemed as though the labyrinth at Hampton Court had been thickened and petrified into a forttess—such was the Malakolf. On a large scale this description certain extent, holds good for Modlin ; though on this more extended scale it is less remarkable, and the defects less appreciable ; there is no crowding certainly, for there is room for them all but one within the other are collected the works, and it seems to be the opinion of the Eussians themselves that this great fortress has been somewhat overdone. They are very proud of it nevertheless ; and well they may be, for they may feel sure that no strangers who visit it have ever seen its like. — Once a Week. The Bowie-Knife in the States. —So certain indeed, is the bowie-knife to appear in a quarrel, that the great anxiety of a dis putant in the south seems to be always to strike the first blow. So much so is this the case, that, in a violent argument with a Memphis or Vicksburg man it would be unsafe to scratch the back of your neck, for it is down the back that the bowie-knife is often kept ; to pull out your watch, for in the waistcoat pocket often lurks the miniature Derringer pistol ; to take out your pocket handkci’chief from your coat-tail pocket because there is the den of the “ five shooter.” Indeed it is the rule, when you quarrel with suspicious characters, rowdies or gamblers, as one of them himself told me, to fire the Derringer from the trowsei s-pocket the very instant you have called your opponent “darned thief,” “scoundrel,” or flung whatever mud of curses and abuse you choose to pelt at him. If you do not, ten to one three bullets and a bowieknife will be in you before you can draw your pistol and fire, and there you will bo dead and gouged on the bar-room floor. To draw the Derringer would be dangerous, but by firing it from the trowsers or a platetot pocket, you gain a move in the game ; and if the “ blue pill” go right through brain or artery, the result to your enemy is unmistakeably “ checkmate,'’ or, as rowdy would say in billiard-room jargon, “ one love. — Temple Bar.

The True Gentleman. —The following sketch called the pro trait of a true gentleman. It \va found in an old manor house in Gloucestershire written and framed hung over the mantelpiece of tapestried sitting-room :—The true gentleman is God’s servant, the world’s master, and his own man ; virtue is his business, study his recreation, contentment liia rest, and happiness his reward ; God is his Father, Jesus Christ his Saviour, the saints his brethern, and-all that need him his friends ; devotion is Ids chaplain, chastity his chamberlain, sobriety his butler, temperance his cook, hospitality his housekeeper, Providence his steward, charity his treasurer, piety his mistress of the house, and discretion Ids porter, to let in or out, as most lit. Thus is his whole family made up of virtues and he is the true^master of the house. He is necessitated to take the world on his way to heaven ; but he walketh out of it as fast as he can, and all his business by the wav is to make himself and others happy. Take him in two words—a Man and a Christian.” A Message from the Sea. —A slip of paper was found in a bottle some weeks ago, on the western coast of Hist, in the Hebrides; and forwarded to us by our agent at Stornoway. The paper, apparently the leaf of a pocket-book used in the hurry of the moment, was covered on both sides with pencil marks, from which the following was with difficulty deciphered : —“ On board the Pacific , from L’pool to N. York. Ship going down. (Great) confusion on board. Icebergs around us on every side. 1 know 1 cannot escape. I write the cause of our loss, that friends may not live in suspense. The finder of this will please get it published. Wm. Graham.” If we are right in our conjecture, the ship here named is the Pacific, one of the Collins line of steamers, which vessel left Liverpool on January 23rd, 1856, three days before the Persia, and has not since been heard of and this slip of paper, three inches by two, is probably the only record of the fate of the missing ship.— Bllipping and Mercantile Gazette. Two Forgiven Deserters. —A lady of Alexandria relates the following incident, which affords a striking but sad illustration of the effects of civil war : —The lady in question has resided with an only daughter formally years in Alexandria. About nine months since, a mutual friend introduced a young gentlemen of Kichmond to the family. The young people soon became intimately acquainted and, quite naturally, fell in love. The parents on both sides consenting, the parties were betrothed, and the marriage day was fixed for the 4th of July ult. In the meantime, however, Viginians were called upon to decide on which side they would stand. The ladies declared themselves on the side of the government, but the gentlemen joined the forces of his State. No opportunity -was afforded for the interchange of sentiments between the young folks, or anything settled as to their future movements. Matters thus remained till 4th July, when exactly within an hour of the time ormnallv fixed for the marriage, intelligence was conveyed to the residence of the ladies that the young man had been shot by a sentry two days before, while attempting to desert and join his bride. His betrothed did not shed a tear, but, standing erect, smiled, and then, remarking to her mother, “I’m going to desert, too,” fell’ to the floor, while the life blood bubbled from her lips, and on Monday her remains were conveyed to their last resting place.— New York paper. A “ Perfect Cure” for "Wounded Honor.— Eeally, the disciples of Eseulapius on Bendigo are a pugnacious race. Difference of opinion between doctors is a common thing all over the w orld ; but for doctors to differ and fight over their differences, Bendigo is certainly unparalleled. First we have had members of the healing profession damaging each others optics over some particular point of professional etiquette ; and hardly had that little incident been forgotten when a fierce paper warfare was maintained by some of our medicos as to the origin of hadatids, and for weeks they were pelting each other with Latin names hard enough to annihilate any head but a doctor’s ; and now we have to chronic an appeal to the laws of honor and the duello between two of the fraternity. The cams belli is variously stated, although we believe that a lady was at the bottom of this as they are—so it is said—the cause of every mischief that happens. It appears, so saith the deponent, that the quarrel having arisen in the way mentioned, the gentlemen agreed to arrange the affair by mortal combat. Seconds were chosen—also cf the medical profession—preliminaries were discussed, and it was at first suggested that they should fall back on the professional weapons of distinction—the scalpel or the dissecting knife ; but as it was anticipated they might be more fatally proficient with these than firearms the latter mode was at last adopted. Thursday evening sundown, the plains of Bagshot were the time and place appointed ; and at the hour and place were to be found the men, and the affair havinogot wind a pretty large audience was gathered together. There were to be seen there members of the medical profession, the legal fraternity—probably to perform the testamentry duties if required —and as the late Governor’s reception programme enumerated, the members of various other bodies. At all events, a large crowd assembled and breathless was the interest as the distance—rather long by the way some 30 or 40 yards—was paced by seconds. Back to back the belligerents stood until “fire” raised the intensity of the feelings of tho spectators to a pitch. At the word, flashed forth the fire from the pistol of Dr ; but harmless the effect. No antagonist “ quivering on a daisy” told the tale of the bullet having found a billet, but on the contrary his vis d vis was to be seen pulling his trigger and countenance in every possible way, and cursing the pistol that would not go off; and no wonder, for as it afterwards appeared, it had not been cocked. The seconds now interfered and the principals having declared their honors satisfied, the whole party returned homewards. In the course of the journey, it oozed out, in some unexplainable manner that the seconds in loading the pistols, had omitted to put in those necessary ingredients, bullets, but whether from motives of mercy or inexperience ih affairs of honor, is not known. The final result is however, satisfactory, and the whole of the faculty who were present, admitted that the resort to the duello is, when doctors differ, a “ perfect cure.”— liendirjo Adver- ■ User. 2Gth October.