Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-05-18
Periieus Balloon Observation-Disclosures Lost
nud Found.

Periicus Balloon nAdventure..Dsiioop Lost
aud Found.
We learn from the Holidaysbu,g Register that
Mr. Joha Wise, the intrepid aronaut, made an
ascension from that place on the ith inst, in
the "vesperus," and met with most perilous
and thrilling adventure The ascension was
made in the midst of storm. I, was with the
greatest difficulty that the process Of imitation
could be performed and the network, during the
process, gave way about the top Of the balloon
At the time Mr.. Wise cut the rope. bulb as
large as hogshead protruded through the rup-
suse of the netting. The balloon took North.
erly direction, and ascended 1000 feet, when it
encountered violent gale from the West, swing
ing it to and fro, and cracking the network at
every surge. Mr., Wise, in his account, says his
heart began to sicken at the idea Of falling away
from the balloon at that height. He rcsortcd to
the expedient OF throwing the weight of his body
upon the valve.rope This necessarily opened
the valve TO its full extent, and must soon bring
thefmachine to the ground Bntthe velocity of
the wind (being at the rate of about fifty miles
Der hour) carried him lG miles before he reached
terra frma. Mr. w threw out his anchor, bnt
il caught against the fence end broke the rail.
aIr. w then attempted to jump from the car in
to ploughed field, but the balloon rose with
violent surge, and he was caught by one of his
legs in a hitch of the rope He grasped the dag
rope and heli on, in an inverted position, until
the balloon dashed him into high tree He took
a hitch to limb OF the tree, and then endeavored
to extricate his leg, the tree bending ready to
break by the tossing of the balloon, and he only
succeeded in getting clear by drawing oFhis boot
which he lost in the car. The squalls increased
iii violence, snapped the rope which held the bal
loon 10 the tree, and in few moments it dashed
out of sight, the car keeping il in tolerable trim
Mr.. w. says
II discovered, in viewing the machinery, that
had taken unnecessary alarm in the breaking
Of the network, as it plainly proved itself sufh.
ciently strong TO have borne its load 10 any de-
sired distance. My regret was enhanced by the
favorable opportunity that was before me OF
reaching Philadelphia by early candlelght AT.
ter soliloquizing in the tree top upon the days
adventure for while, began TO Chamber down
its trunk, leaving the end Of me drag.rope dang.
ling in its top, ready for port of entry 10 touch
at in my contemplated trip from Pittsburg, across
the mountains TO the eastern cities, soon as
can rig up new machine"
The following paragraph from Tie Catskill IN
York; Recorder shows where the balloon went to
and the rapid rate it must have been driven, to
have reached that place OH the same day
'WHo HAS LOST A BALLOON On the even.
ing Of the 4th inst, balloon alghted the
premises of the Rev John ?. Van Valkenburg
Of Lexington, in this county. The car which
was attached TO the balloon contained lady's
basket, in which was quantity Of cake, a small
bottle, tin cup, and several papers printed al
Holidaysburg, Pa, dated May d, 1914. Attach
ed to the basket was paper, upon which wa.
written "John Wise, Philadelphia" The bal
Ioon was of size requiring about six hundre.
yards Of silk"