Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-05-23
PERILoUs yoYAGE-A LOST BALLOON
EnffNn

An extra from tho office Of the Hollidaysbutg
Register, iniofm Us ibs, John Wise. the rronau,
made balloon voyage from that place on Saturday
last. lie was quite successful in his assent but on
coming down he dashed aeain., tree, and escaped
himself. with the loss OF his balloon, which was
oond on the same evening on the premises ola cler
gymsn in Lexington, n. Y. Wise has published
letter. W which he gives this Of his perilous
descent and escape.
The balloon took a northcrly direction, and was
ascending rapidly until reached an altitude Of abou,
1000 feet where IL encountered violent gale from
the West, swinging TO and fro, and cracking the
network at every surge. Ny heart at once began
TO ,icken a, the idea Of falling away from the bal
loon tina, height, with nothing 10 protect me but
the car and network and the sensations and scenes
were rendered still more gloomy by the lowering
appearance Of the heavens in every direction, as
around and beneath, the clouds appeared TO be dis
charging torrents Of rain and wind. ] could also
see the valleys west OF the Allegheny mountain
where the sun was shedding down lis beams flight
and life.
AT this crisis, an expedient flashed across my
mind The valve rope would at least bear a hum
dred pounds and the top Of the balloon being equal
ly strong threw the greatest part Of the weight OF
my body upon it, This necessarily opened the
valve to it's full extent, and must soon bring the ma
chine to the ground. But the velocity Of the wind,
(being the rate of about SO miles per hour0 car
RED me 10 miles before | reached terra firma. /
threw out my anchor, which grappled in fence and
capsized it, and after bounding over the field it
caugh, again in a fence and broke rail. This
cussion was so violent, and finding myself dIi-
wing into a rugged piece Of timber land made an
ai,emp, TO Jump overheard into nloughed field; but
the balloon rose with violent surge, and | was
caught in hitch of the ropes by one Leg fortunate
ly grasped the drag rope in an inverted position,
thinking would hang 10 that, If my leg should
be released.
Having los, considerable ballast in the concus.
sion, the balloon n few minutes dashed me into
the top OF high tree in piece Of woodland; my
leg still fast in the rigging Of the car Here took
hitch 10 the limb of tree, and even succeeded in
tying firm knot. ] now made desperate effort to
release my foot from the car, which was tossing
abou, 10 the tree top, and the squalls against the
balloon would draw the tree over making me fear
full that the top would be broken off. BY violent
kick succeeded in releasing my foot, with the loss
Of my boot, from the car.
single rope still held it fast 10 the tree, and az
ter got foohold on the tree, secured the valve
cord in my hand the squalls however became strong
er until 1t broke the rope by which had dashed il
to the tree top with terrible crash, and jerked the
valve rope through my left hand, burning the skin
to crisp The balloon in a moment dashed out Of
sight, the car keeping in tolerable trim.
The following paragraph from the Ca,skill IN
W Recorder shows where the balloon went to. and
the rapid rate it mus, have been driven, 10 have
reached ,ha, place on the same day
Who has Inst Balloon ION the evening Tho
4,h inst balloon alligh,ed on the premises of thu
Rev. John P. Van Vslkenburgh, of Lexington II
this county The car which was attached to the
balloon, contained lady's basket in which was
quantity Of cake, small bottle tin cup and sew
eral papers printed at Holldaysburg' fa.' dated
Nav |, 1874 Attached to the basket was paper
upon which was written John Wise, Philadelphia
The balloon was of size requiring abou, six hun
bred yards Of silk"