Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1855-10-18
i' l.IN fll- .fIIf.t HA
= Fearful balloon Ascension.


er made another AERIAL voyage this evening
through the skies. We cut loose from the
earth at twenty minutes TO six o'clock, the
passengers for this trip being Mons. Go
dard, Col. William Latham, General Agent
of the Grca, Miami Railway; Mr.. WIZ
liam II. ioal, River Pilot; William U.
Crippep, of the Daily Times, aud your Re-
pcrter As we ascended HeavenNard, the
thousands of human beings on The city lot,
streets, houses, &C., were again the first
objects of attention then the panoramic
view OF our Aourishing city, Covington and
Newport, and the Ohio and Licking River
The sensation experienced in the ascen-
sion was one OF undeiinable pleasure,
Striking current OF air, our mammoth
balloon bore off to the Northeast, passing
over Mt Auburn. Sharon, Lockland and
Reading. The passengers frequently had
chit chat with the farmers upon political
and other topics, and many amusing inai--
dents occurred. We were invited down
to take tea, to drink of hard CIDER, and at
ono time to come down and wait until the
storm which was approaching, had passed'
all of which were respectfully declined
and with fierce rushing our monster
globe hurried US above the clouds. Pre-
vous to darkness gathering around us, the
landscape was the object of our unbounded
admiration.
Turnpikcs and roads were like "chaIk
lincs," or ssing at irregular angles, while
upon Them horses and wagons were plain
ly seen moving to and fro, very diminu,ivc
in appearance, and resembling mites
drawing crumbs of bread. Villages were
passed over in rapid succession, and at half
past six o'clock, we were over Lebanon
BY this time the storm was rapidly near
ing US, and all eyes were turned to our he
roic commander. He relieved The balloon
of the miniature house surrounding our
car, and on, on we sped. Below us, the
clouds appeared like heavy fogand around
us, OIL every side, we were enconpassed
with mist. As the storm drove us on
ward, we distinctly heard the rain pouring
down upon mother ear'h, the sound resem-
bling the passing of train OF cars.
Relieved of more ballast, we gained an
attitude of seventeen thousand four hundred
and fifty feet. Here sensations of chilli
ness came over us, and the atmosphere be.
ing damp, our party experienced very un"
pleasant feelings. Overcoats, shawl',
wines, cordials, &c, were not sufficient TO
keep us from shaking, and for a time the
"chills" had control of us. The storm was
terrible the lightning leaped from cloudt
10 cloud, accompanied by peals of thunder.
The gloom was fearful. Never had | be-
held such warning of tho elements 1t
seemed as if the storm was rending its way
hrou h the path our balloon had takon, and
had brought all the artillery of heaven into
action. If by chance, our Captain, or one
of us, uttered a word, there were airy
tongues below mocking US from every side.
The wind, which drove the clouds onward
so rapid y, also hurried Us on at the rate of
seventy miles an hour. .tn. ...
In a few minutes we sailed by the clouds
and the lights of farm houses were again
visible. Mons. G. deeming it best to des.
cend, notice was given for all to crouch
down in the bottom Of the car. The All
chor caught and, for moment held us, but
strong gale of wind caught our balloon,
snapped the cord to which the anchor was
attached, ahd we were left TO the mercy of
its fury. The night was "vsibly dark
our party at no time being able to recog-
nize each other--the rain all the time pour
ng upon US in torrents.
Suddenly we felt our car rushing over
the tops.of trees, crashing and tearing the
limbs as the balloon was driven along
Mons. G. gave us the valve rope, and
mounting the side of the car he ordered us
to hold fast In another moment we landed
IN corn field, and by tho force of tie
wind we were dragged AMI bumped along
the ground, distance of halt milo, now
through fence, then striking a stump or
tree, Or whirlng through the corn stalks at
fearful velocity our heads raped each
other, and not unirequcnily we saw stars
all around. Up and down we went, when
The car struck troe, and Mons. Goddard
was hurled to the ground, a distance o 80
feet tho next moment we were crashing
against a tall stump of a tree, when Col.
Latham and MIR. Hoal were thrown with
great violence from the basket, the. former
on the back of the neck and shoulders, and
the latter on his breast. MIR. Crippen and
myself were left alone in the car. MIR.
Crippen, obeying instructions to keep in the
bottom OF the car. and holding with all
my might TO the valve rode, up we mount
cd. Fortunately we dashed into the limbs
of tai tree, balloon, car and eronauts
wore lat on the ground. Mr.. Z. was be-
meath the tree, insensible, while | lay COW
erod up by the basket. by digging the
earth beneath Dir. &. with my hands, ]
soon extricaied him from his position, and
ragged him from beneath the heavy tree