Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1855-02-23
The BALLOON AscsSs1oN OF MISS BRlD,


LEY AT EAsToE, PA.-On Thursday morn
ing week ago the citizens Of Esston an d
vicinity were grati6ed with view Of one
of the finest aseensions Of balloon, per-
baps, ever enjoyed by any community
Miss Lucrelia Bradley made a balloon
ascension from this borough on Thursday
a week ago. She ascended from Centre
Square, where large crowd Of people had
:, collected during the morning from the
town and neighboring country. The day
was clear and cold. and the balloon ascend
ed perpendicularly 10 height Of more than
two miles, when It took a southerly direc-
lion, and 10 the great horror Of the specta-
tors. quantity Of gas was seen to escape
from the top of the balloon, when il veer-
ed, and made sudden descent of from
one TO two hundred feet 4 parachute was,
however. formed against the network Of
the balloon. which conveyed her safely to
the earth. and she landed in large field
about three miles from Easton. in the State
of New Jersey. The sight to the crowd
below was frighlfui, and the suspense un-
iii her safe arrival in town exceedingly
great. 5s.Hhsis s s aisd laj ess 4
The following is Miss Bradley's descrip-
ton Of the voyage, which We copy from the
Easton Whig..
& I rose witl perfect calmness and great
Vilocity to height Of over two miles. my
whole feelings being those of indescri5able
tranquility and gra,iied delight. There
y,s ~, ,,aroaotibfa braaza ,,nfil I raacbad
the highest point Of my voyage. directly
over bend Of the Delaware, when four
heavy currents struck my balloon on all
sides with equal force. Finding the ball
loon full !, l opened the valve three times
in succession, and while letting off the gas
as fast as l could, (ihe balloon at the same
time rapidly emptying itself from the
mouth, very strong undercurrent forcing
up into the mouth Of the balloon, caused
roaring like the ocean in a heavy storm.
followed by noise like the discharge Of
cannon, and sudden fall of about hun
dred feet then looked up and saw-my
balloon all shattered, with the exception Of
two pieces-one being about one eight the
size Of the balloon-formed parachute 10
the top of the net work, and the other o.
a sail at the side. and bore me off eastward !
The wind rocked the car violently at the
time, and for ten minutes succeeding
Knowing my situation. had no feeling Of
fright or anxiety whatever, but TRANQUILITY
trusting in that same Almighty Power |
ever loved 70 trust, prepared myself in
the best possible manner could for my
descent, believing should land safely. !
threw out my sand and graphing iron.
placed myself firmly in the car in an,upright
position, my hands extended, claspipg the \
handles on each side. deliberately look
ed on all sides and admired the indiseribable
grandeur aud beauty of, the scene. Ispent
ten minutes in singing song of praise to
the Creator Of such scene of beauty and
sublime grandeur. Rapidly descending 1
landed safely, but with very great force, in
the center of large clover field. in Still
Valley. N. j, four miles from Easton, at
III O'Clock, A. NJ. having been up Just
half an hour. twenty minutes of which |
was after the bursting Of the balloon. j
Miss Bradley is from New London, Conn,
and not from Philadelphia, as is stated in
the papers which have noticed her ascen-
sion. 1t was her first adventure Of the kind, I
and she exhibited nerve and self-posses-
sion not often found in her sex. Although |
nut. one of the most beautiful when on ter
ra frnla, it was remarked by many that
when she cut .he rope, dressed as she was
IN her hippodrome costume, with a French |
crown cap, white feather. encircled with a
wreath of green and white flowers. she |
looked like fairy.-Easton COur,, Feb. 8.