The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-10-08

OBJ 1ailp 5onrnal,
ACCIDENT TO THE BALLOONIsTs

ACCIDENT TO THE BALL00NIsTs.
Monsieur GoDARD's balloon descended about
fifteen minutes after seven O'Clock Monday
leyening on the farm Of George E. Smith. three
miles from Waynesyille, Warren county, Ohio
The aeronauts encountered a severe storm, in
landing Capt. WM. HOLE, was severely injured
the others escaped with slight bruises.
We append the following quotation from the
story of the performance by w. G. CRIPPEN
of the Daily Times:
Soon after Monsieur GODDARD had furnished
US the latitude from his barometer he gave
us notice that we were descending. BY gesture
he ordered US to lay fiat down in the bottom OF
the car, when he gave the word of cammand,
and not to jump out oft car under any cir
cumstances. just then we struck tremend-
ous gale of wind, and it was evident that we
were not only sailing furiously, but descending
rapidly. 1t was SO dark that nothing could
be discovered, but our commander mounted
the side ofthe car cast out his anchor and wait
ed the result. lie commanded us to lie down,
and we had hardly obeyed, before we felt the
car brushing over the tree tops. The anchor
caught and held us for moment, then we
dashed with furious speed into an adjoining
corn-feld-a field, however, that was full of
StumpS. Suddenly the ear was dashed with
great force against tree; then up We went
then down, now dragging on a fence, again
stirling stump or a tree with great velocity
and aggin whizzed over eornstalks at lightning
gallop. Every man laid close to the bottom of
the car except Mons. GODDARD, who stood up
holding upon the valve, all hoping that the
mouster would soon be controlled and we land
ed safely on terra Jira1sa.
Suddenly the baIlon took fearful leap and
brought the car with tremendous crash
against stump, half, upsetting it. Mons
Godard's face struck the fence, and he was
thrown to the ground. At the same moment
Col Latham and Mr.. Hole were thrown head
iformost out Of the car. Mr.. Bellman and our
self were left in the car alone, and relieved Of
the greater portion of its weight we expected
to bound again into the air. Mr. BeIlman
with great intrepidity, clambered up the car
side and seized the valve rope, while Mo Ms
GODDARD took hold of the rope swinging below
j A furious wind at that moment swept past,
the balloon made another bound, and dashed
thecar against tall heavy dead tree. The
blow knocked ds insense, and the next we knew
We were lying with our back upon the
ground, the rain beating in our face, our head
crowded into one corner of the car, and the
trunk of tree lying across our body. We
could not move. 1t appears that the netting
caught in the tree we have mentioned and so
strong was the force of the wind that the bal
loon pulled it overon to the car and the gas
then escaping rapidly the tree held the balloon
secure.
On hearing the circumstances Mr.. Smith
gathered his men and came to oIir help, and
also dispatching Mr. Edward NJ Smith to the
nearest village, for a physician By s O'Clock
we were all assembled around Mr.. Smiths
comfortable family hearth, receiving the kind
L 4 1
and all his household. We then found that
we were within three miles of Waynesville, in
| in Warren county, and about fifty miles from
the city. Drs. Dilley and Adams, of Waynes-
vile, came Immediately to our aid as soon as
they received word, and paid US the kindest
attention. a
This morning, we found the injuries Of each
Mr. Hole has one or two ribs broke.
Mons Godard's mouth and face is much
lacerated, and the flesh en- one of his legs bad
Ily torn.
COL Latham has an ancle sprained, and is
bruised up generally.
Mr. Bellman received three or four cuts on
different parts of his person.
We have "skewed" neck, bruised face,
and divers other inhictions.
Mr. Hole is still at the residence Of Mr..
Smith, where he is receiving the best attention.
The rest of the party came home this morning
being conducted safely here by friend Cole, of
the Little Miami Railroad.
Col Latham and Mr.. Bellman helped us out
of our tight quarters, but we were SO stunned
by the blow that was some time before we
could retain our feet. 1t was also found that
Mr. Hole was badly injured, when the two gen.
tlemen named started in search of help. After
wandering in the mud, rain and dark for about
half an hour they came across the farm house
! of NJ Gaorc,e II Smith