Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-09-30
From the Detroit Tribune, Sept. Is.
A BALLOON LOST IN THE SKY.
TERRIBLE ADyENTURE-A "A SEATED ON
THE VALVE OF A BALLOON.
We have learned full particulars of the

balloon Ascension at Adrian, on Thurs
day its subsequent descent, and its see
ond ascension aud runaway with the
eronant while beyond his control. Ii
is a..brief narrative, bat. of thrilling In
terest. A man f6Tt in the skyi There
can scarcely be a more terrible thought
1t makes the flesh creep and sends a shud
der through every nerve.
The first ascension took place about
nine O'Clock in the morning, 1t was on
the occasion. Of q large Sunday School
celebration at Adrian. The balloon was
a very large and well constructed one,
being about the heigth Of a two.story
building when inflated and ready to cut
loose from its fastenings. Messrs. Ban
MISTER and Thurston took seats in the
car, attached to the balloon and ascend
ed safely and steadily. After remaining
about forty minutes in the air, sailing
towards Toledo all the time, they alignt
ed in the woods in the town Of Riga,
Lenawee Co., zeal knights station on
the Southern Road, distant aboet eigh-
teen miles west of Toledo. Several men
came to the assistance of the adventures,
and they proceeded to prepare the bal
loon for packing abe taken back to
Adriaa.
In doing this, the gonster balloon was
turned oyer and partially upside down to
disentangle the netting and to reach the
valve. To do this, Mr.. Ira Thurston one
of the aronants, took off his coat, and
got astride he valve block. He shen
suggested that the car be detached from
the balloon while be should hold it down
with his weight. This proved a fe2rful
calculation, for no sooner was the still
inflated body relieved of the weight OF
the car than it shot into the air with the
suddelness of a rocket, taking Mr.. Thurs
ton along with it, seated upon the valve
of the balloon, and holding on to the
collapsed silk Of the air ship in that por-
ton of it's bulk.
In this perfectly helpless condition,
the Inflated man sped straight into the
sky in the full sighto Of his companions,
ever more helpless than himself. SO Tar
as is known there w#s no means for him
to secure his dssaakLhether safe or
otherwise The part of the balloon
filed with gas was full twelve feet above
him, so that there was no chance for him
to cut it and escape. He conld only
cling to his precarious hold and go with
e~rsoever the currents Of the air should
take him.
Without regulation Or control OF any
kind the balloon continued to mount up
waro, sailing off in the direction OF this
city andsLake Erie. The fatal ascension
took place about eleven O'Clock, and at a
few minutes past noou it was seen IN the
town of Blissield, Lenawee county, ap-
parently three miIeseEfgh, and about the
seize of a star in appearance. 1t was
still going up and on At q quarter
past one o'clock it was last dimly visible
going in the direction Of Maiden, as as
certained by compass bearings taken by
parties observing IL
What is his sfat1 afaes conjecture ;
but it is horrible, Est beyond proceed
ent there can be 10 doubt. There is
not one chance in a million for a success
full escape. Whether the unfortunate
man was carried, up so high as to become
benumbed and senseless ,Sdeath ensuing
or whether he fell of at length from his
tremendous altitude, to have his breath
sucked from him in Ills fearful descent,
and to be sunk in the lake or dashed
into a shapeless mass upon the earth, 1t
is doubtful if any save God will ever
know. The mind stands appalled, in
contemplating this fearful disaster, and
blindly gropes in mazes of wonder at
where his place Of sculpture shall be.
Mr.. Thusten was an experienced bal
~loonist, having built several and this be-
ing his thirty seventh ascension. He was
formerly a resident in the vicinity of Lii
ma and Rochester in Western New York,
but has lately resid@ in Adrain, where
he was extensiSal4aged in business
as q nurseryman. he was a widower,
having lost his wife last winter. He
leaves an interesting daughter about sew
enteen years of age to mourn her fathers
unknown, terrible fate /?
The latest ews concerning Mr.. Thurs
ton, who was carried off in his balloon
from Adrain, Michigan, is given by the
Detroit Free Press of Sept. 22d. The
DaEl00n lauu0Q IN ttc marshes near Dap
tist Greek, Mich, 4 hours after it went
up, and has been secured, but concerning
Mr.. Thurston's fate there are no tidings.
The balloon came down at half past
2 o'clock Of the same day that it went
up, having been in the air about 4 hours.
The balloon is open for inspection by
the bubble at our counting-room. It is
in the same condition as when it came
down with the unfortunate man, with the
exception that the "a has been pulled
apart and spread der to prevent its
sticking togethere Ssely as to become
useless. That portIdM which was clasped
in his arms was compressed so tightly as
to render a separation almost impossible.
The small valve upon which he sat, still
remains in its position, and is regarded
with feelings Of tue greatest curiosity
It was about half torn off by his weight,
and hangs exactly as he left it.
We change our heading to day. says
the Detroit Tribune. Lost is a fearful
word to say of one who but 0 vas in
midst in the high tide Of life, strong,
bold, full Of hope, with troops OF friends
2 o,tk., . Eoot II ronndc likp the