Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-09-24

TERRIBLE ADvENTURE-A Nan seated on,
the Vat0e Of Balloon Carried into the
C5ouds.-We have learned full particulars of
the Balloon Ascension at Adrian, Michigan,
on Thursday, its subseqent descent, and its
second ascension and runaway with the ero-
nant while beyond his control 1t is brief
narrative, but of thrilling interest. man
lost in the sky There can scarcely be
more terrible thought. 1t makes the aesh
creep and sends a shudder through every
nerve.
The first ascension took place about nine
O'Clock IN the morning. 1t was on the occa-
sion OF large Sunday School celebration at
Adrian. The balloon was a very large and
well constructed Que, being about the height
OF a two story building when inflated and
ready to cut loose from it's fastenings Messrs.
Bannister and ThuIston took seats in the car.
attached to the balloon and assembled safely
and steadily. After remaining about 40 min
utes i'll the air, sailing towards Toledo all the
time, they allighted in the woods in the town
OF Riga, Lenawee county, near knights sta
ton on the Southern road, distant about Is
miles west of Toledo. Several men came to
the assistance of the adventures and they
proceeded to prepare the balloon for packing
to be taken back to Adrian.
In doing this, the monster balloon was
turned over and partially upside down to dis
entangle the netting and to reach the valve.
To do this, Mr.. Ira rhurston, one of the
aronants, took off his coat, and got astride of
the valve block. He then suggested that the
car be deteched 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 car than it shot into the air with the
suddenness OF rocket, taking Mr. Thurston
along with 1t, seated upon the valve of the
balloon, and bolding on to the collapsed silk
OF the ship in that portion OF its bulk.
In this perfect helpless condition, the i'll.
fated man sped straight into the sky inth
full sight of his companions, even more helm
less than himself. So far as is known, there
was no means for him TO secure his descent
whether safe or otherwise. The part of the
balloon filled with gas was full twelve feet
above him, SO that there was no chance for
HIM to cut it and escape, He could only
CHING to his precarious hold and go whittier
soever the currents OF air should take HIM.
Without regulation or control of any kind
the balloon continued 10 mount upward, sail
ing off in the direction Of this city and Lake
Erie, The fatal ascension took place about
II o'clock, and at few minutes past noon it
was seen in the town of Blssheld, Lenaweee
Co, apparently full three miles high, and
about the size of star in appearance. 1t
was still going up and on AT quarter past
o'clock 1t was last dimiy visible going in
the direction of Maiden, as ascertained by
compass bearings taken by parties observing
it,
What is his exact fate battles conjecture;
but that it is horrible, almost beyond prece.
dent, there can be no doubt There is not
one chance in million for a successful es
cape. Whether the unfortunate man was
carried up SO high as to become benumbed
and senseless, death ensuing-or whether he
tell Oil at length from his tremendous alti
tude, to have his breath sucked from him in
MS fearful descent, and to be sunk in the lake
or dashed into a shapeess mass upon the
earth, it is doubtful if any save God will ever
Know. The mind stands appalled, contemplat.
ing his fearful disaster, and blndly eropes in
mazes of wonder at where his place of sculp-
ture shall be-
Mr.. Thurston was an experienced balloon
ist,g having built several and being his
thirty seventh ascension He was formerly a
resident III the vicinity Of Lima and Roehes-
ter in Western New York, but has atterlv
resided in Adrian, where be was extensively
engaged in business as nursery man. He
was widower, having lost his wife last win
ter de leaves an in erestiHg daughter about
seventeen years Of age to mourn her fathers
unknown terrible fate - Detroit (Michiqan).
Tribune, Sept. Is.
The Detroit Advertiser of the 2Ist instant,
says;
inns afternoon we saw an individual who
informed us that balloon had been found. on
Saturday afternoon, on the farm Of Mr.. Marks.
in West Iilbery, place situated about six
miles from Baptste Creek station, and that
he, near neghbor of Mr.. Marks, had seen
IT, They had then heard nothing Of the as
cent OF Mr.. Thuston, or the terrible excite.
ment felt in regard to il. He described il as
very large balloon, soidety rent in three
places. We have no doubt this is the MISSING
balloon, and from the mans account of The
condition in which it was found, the convio.
ton forces itself upon us that the balloon
reached such an altitude that the rarihed con.
dition OF the atmosphere caused il to hurst
which leaves little room for speculation as TO
the fate OF Thurston."
MI. Bannister, the associate of Mr.. Tbnrs-
ton, and who has gone to Baptiste Creek IN
search for him, is, on the other hand. fnll 81
confidence that his friend will be found and
alive. He thinks that the gas would % far
expend that the balloon would come down