The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-22
AN ERoNAUT LOST IN THE CLOUDS
[From tho Detroit tribune


We have learned full particulars of the balloon assem-
sion at Adrian Thursday its subsequent descent and lis
second ASCENSION and away with the eronat while
beyond his control 1t is brief narrative but of thrill
ling interest man lost in the sky There scarce
ly be terrible thought 1t makes the flesh Green
and sends shudder through every nerve
The first ascension took place about clock in the
morning. 1t was on the occasion of large Sunday
school celebration at Adrian. The balloon was a very
large and welIconstrcted one being about the heiobt
of two-story building when inflated aud ready to cut
loose from its fastenings Messs Binnister and Thurs
ton took seats in the attached to the balloon and as
cended safely and steadily. After remaining about forty
minutes in the air sailing towards Toledo all the time
they aghted in the woods in the town of Riga Lenawee
county Knight Station the Southern road dis
tnt about eighteen miles west Of Toledo Several men
came to the assistance of the Adventures and they pro-
ceeded TO prepare the balloon for packing be taken
back to Adrian.
In doing this the monster balloon was turned over and
partially upside down to dentangle the netting and TO
reach the valve To do this Mr. Ira 1hurston one of
the eronauts took off his coat and got astrde Of tho
valve block He then suggested that the be detach
ed from the balloon while he should hold it down with
his weight. This proved fearful calculation for no
sooner was the still inflated body relieved of the weight
of the than il shot into the air with the sdennss
Of rocket, taking Mr. Ihurston along with it, seated
upon the valve of the balloon and holding on to the
collapsed silk of the airsbp in that portion of its bulk
In this perfectly helpless condition the ilted man
sped straight into the sky in the full sight of his CON-
known there were possible means for him to secure
his descent, whether safe otherwise The part of the
balloon filed with gas full twelve feet above him. so
that there chance for him to its sides and al
low the gas to escape He could only cling to his pre-
carious hold and 80 whithcsoeyer the currents Of air
should take him. ..
Without regulation control Of any kind the balloon
continued to mount upward sailing off In the direction of
this city and Lake Erie The fatal ascension took place
about III o'clock and few minutes past noon 1t was
seen in the town of Bssteld, in Lenawee county, ap
parently full three miles high and about the size Of
star in appearance 1t was still going up and on At
aquarter past clock it last dimly visible going
in the direction of Maiden asccrtaned by compass
bearings taken by parties observing it,
What is his exact fate battles conjecture but that il Is
horrible almost beyond precedent there can be no doubt
There is not one chance in million for a successful c
cape. Whether the unfortunate man was carried up SO
high to become benumbed and senseess death ensu
ing whether he fell off at length from his temen
dous altitude to have his breath sucked from him his
fearful descent and to be sunk in the lake dashed into
shapeless mass upon the earth it is doubtful if any
God will ever know. The mind stands appalled, in
templatng this fearful disaster and bndly gropes in
mazes of wonder at where his place of sepuchre shall be-
Mr.. Thurston was an experienced balloonist having
sion He formerly resident in the vicinity Of
Lima and Rochester, in western New York, but has lat
terly resided in Adrian, where he extensively
gagged In business as nuTsoryman He was widower,
having lost bis wife last winter He leaves interest
ing daughter, about IL years of age to mourn her
fathers unknown terrible fate.