The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-10-12
Preilous Voyage inIa Balloon.


NJ. GODDARD lately had balloon ascension in Gin
cinna,, and was attended by several other persons
In the upper regions, a storm overlook the party
and they assembled to an altitude Of seventeen thou
sand four hundred and fifty feet Here they we're
dashed along at the rate Of 70 miles hour and al
most frozen.
The following is the concluding portion of the &C
count:
Relieved Of laore ballast, gained altitude Of
seventeen thousand four hundred and fifty feet. Here
sensations Of chillness came over us, and the atmos-
phere being damp, our party experienced very un-
pleasant feelings. Over-coats, shaws, wines, cor
dals, &c., were not sufficient to keep s from shak-
ing, and for time the "chills had control Of U.S.
The storm was terrible; the lightning leaPed from
cloud TO cloud, accompanied BY peals OF thunder
The gloom was fearful. Never had beheld ouch
warning of the elements 1t seemed as 1t the storm
was tearing and rendng its way through the path
our balloon was taking, and had brought all the ar
tiery of heaven into action. Ifby chance, our cap
tain, or any Que of US uttered word, there were
airy tongues below hooking from each side. The
wind which drove the clouds onward SO rapidly,
also hurried us on at the rate Of seventy miles an
hour.
In few minutes we sailed by the clouds, and the
lights of farm houses were again visible. Mons g.
deemed it best to descend, notice was iven for all
to crouch down in the bottom of the car. The valve
rope was pulled and down we went. Our anchor
caught, and for moment held US, but strong gale
Of wind caught our balloon, snapped the cord to
which the anchor attached and we were left 10
the mercy of its fury. The night was "visiby dark"
our party at no time being able 10 recognize each
other-the rain all the time pouring upon in tor
rents.
Suddenly we felt our car rushing over the tops of
trees, crushing and tearing the limbs the balloon
tal drtV u.llnp al.
and mounting the side of the car, he ordered us to
hold fast lu another moment he landed in a corn
held and by the force of the wind we were dragged
and bumped along The ground, a distance of half
mile, now through fence, then striking stump or
tree, or whirng through the corn stalks at fearful
velocity; our heads raped each other, and not
frequently we saw stars all around. Up and down
we went, when the car struck tree and Mons. G.
was hurled to the ground, distance Of thirty feet
the next moment we were crashing against a tall
stump of a tree, when Col. Latham and MIR. Hoai
thrown with great violence from the basket, the
former on the back Of his neck and shoulders, and
the latter on his breast. Mr.. Crppen and myself
were left alone in the car. Mr.. Crippen, obeying
instructions to keep in the bottom of the car, and
holding with all my night to the valve-rope, up we
mounted. Fortunately we dashed into the limbs of
tall dead tree, and in instant tree balloon car and
aerouauts were fiat on the ground. Mr. Crippen
was beneath the tee, insensible while lay covered
up by the basket. BY digging the earth beneath MIR.
Crippen with my hands, soon extricated him from
his position, and dragged him from bcne ath the hea
Wy tree. Mons. GODDARD and Messrs. Latham and
HOal then came up.
Mons. G. had his lip badly cut, and the flesh la
cerated on one Of his limbs; Colonel Latham had an
ankle spraned, and head, shoulders and body gener
ally bruised; Mr.. HOal, his breast crushed n three
ribs broken, and otherwise badly injured; Mr.. Grip
pen, his head and neck ''skewed," and generally
scratched and bruised l was bruised somewhat,
h.f matt Iy .,..,.a IL
pour down in sheets, when it was decided that Col.
Lutham and should go in search Of a farm house.
Clngng to each other, and after perambulation of
about three miles through brush, mud, etc., we found
the residence of MIR. George E. Smith, who gather
ed together several Of the neighborng farmers and
went with us to the relief of those mostly injured.
The only way of finding the remainder of our party
was by screaming at the top of voices, and
cevng from them like response.
At nine O'Clock we were all comfortably seated in
Mr.. Smiths pleasant home, in front Of large baz-
ing fire. Every attention was given us by Mr.. 8.
DilIey, of Waynesvile, who had beeh sent for,
arrived, and the Messrs. Crippen and Hoal, were
promptly attended TO. We were informed that our
landing place east Of the Miami river one-fourth
of a mile south of Caesars Creek, and about three
miles south of Waynesve, or about ifty-one miles
from Cincinnati. We remained with Mr.. Smith I'M
til morning, when four Of placing ourselves under
the care OF A. F. Cole, the clever conductor the
Little Miami Railway, we arrived safely in Cincin-
natl, all of having the appearance OF just getting
off 'sbender.''
Mr.. Hoal was left behind, his injuries being of
such character that his physicians did think it
best to move him. His condition, however, is not
dangerous. The wreck of the balloon will be gath
cred up Wednesday and brought back to this CITY,
l am in no mood to describe the scene which we
have just passed drought is really indescrbable
and can never be thought Of by without kind of
shuddering horror. Respectfully,
J. c. BELMAN.