Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1858-10-05
From be petroit TIibane.
An AfOnant lQst In ths tl0ldA


balloon ascension a Adrian on Tuesday,
its subsequentdescetit. and It's second AZ
.cension, and run away with is nrouaut
while beyond his control. 1flis brief.
narrative. but of thrilling interest. a
man lost in the sky ] There can scarcely
be- a more terrible thought. It makes
the flesh creep, and sends 4 shuddef
through evefy nerve ] Il
The first ascension took place about 3
O'Clock in the morning. Il was on,the
occasion Of a large Sunday school cele-
bration at Adrian. The balloon was 4
very large ana well.constructed one, be-
ing about the height OF atwo story baild-s
ing when inflated and ready to cut loose
from its .fastenings. tMessrs. Bannister
and Thurston took seats in the car at-
|iached 10 the balloon, and assembled safely.
and steadily. After remaining about
forty minutes ia Tie arr sailing towards
Toledo alltle time, they alighted IN the
woods in the town of Riga, LeanpRwee
county. near knights Station, on the
Southern road. distant about eighteen
miles west Of Toledo. Several men came
70 he assistance Of the adyenturefs, and
Ethey proceeded 10 prepare the balloon for
packing. to Be taken back 10 Adrian.
In doing this the monster balloon was
turned partially upside down to olsen
tangle the netting and reach the yalye.---l
To do this, Mr.. Ira ThRrsson, sone Of
he aronauts. took OF his ceat and got
astride Of the valve block. He then sug-
gested that the car be detached from the
balloon while he should hold It down
With his weight. This proved feaffitl
calculation, for no sooner was the still i'm
fiated body relieved Of the weight Of the
car than it shot into the air with the sud-
denness Of rocket, taking Mr.. Thurston
along with it, seated upon the valve Of
the balloon. and holding on ID the COLI
lapsed silk Of the airSship in that portion
Of its bulk ! In this perfectly helpless
condition the ill-fated man sped straight
into the sky in thesfull sight Of his cum
panions, even more helpless than himself.
So farsas is known. there were no possible
means for him to secure his descent
whether safe or otherwise. The part Of
the balloon filed with gas was fall twelve
feet above him, SO that there was no chance
for him to Quits sides and allow the gas
to. escape He could only cling to its
precarioushold and go wbithersoever the
currents fair should take him.
Without regulation or control Of any
kind the balloon continued to mount ur-
wards, sailing off ia the direction Of this
city and Lake Erie. The fatal ascension
took place about II o'clock. and a few
minutes past noon it was seen in the town
Eof Biissfeld, in Lenawee county, appar-.
emily full three miles high. and about the
size of a starin appearance. Il was still
going up and on. Ats quarter past one
O'Clock II was last dimly visible going in
the direction of Maiden. as ascertained BY
compass bearings taken By parties obser-
wing it.
What is his exact fate. battles coniect-
|urs but that It is horrible, almost be-
.yond precedent, there can be no doubt.
There is not one chance ID million for
! successful escape. Whether the an
fortunate man was carried up 50 high as
10 become benumbed and senseless, death
ensuing--or whether be fell off at length
from his tremendous altitude. to have his
breath sucked from him IN his fearful de-
scent. and TO be sunk in the lake or dash.
ed into shaples5 mass upon the earth.
~ is doubtful il any save God will ever
know: The mind stands appalled, in.c ou-
templating this fearful disaster. and blind
iy gropes ia mazes Of wonder. At where
his place OF sepulcIfe shall be.
Mr.. Thurston was an experienced bsl-
loonist, having built several. and tins be-
ing his thirty seventh ascension. He
was formerly a resident in the vicinity Of
Lima and Rochester, in western New
York, but has latterly resided in Adrian,
where be was a nursery man. He uasa
|widoMef. having lost bis wife last winter.
He leayessan interesting daughter, about
~ years of age, toinourn her fathers an-
known; terrible fate.
A teIesFaphic dispatch from Detroit
says. chat the balloonlof the unfortunate
aronapt, came down Oh the Goth inst.
near Baptist creek, Canada West, aud
that his body Is supposed 10 81 somes
where IN the marshes about that eTeekg
and that search was p be made for Il.
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