Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-09-22
From the Detroit Tribune, September

From the Detroit Tribune, September Is
We have learned full particulars Of the Balloon
descen and its second ascension and runaway
with The 9ronaut while beyond his control. IL
is brief narrative, but of thrilling interest. A
man lost In the sky. There ran scarcely be a
more terrible thought. IL mikes the flesh creep
and sends shudder th rough every nerve!
The hrst ascension took place about nine o.
ss1si I. 70 me s1 IL We, on the OCCASION
The balloon was very large and well constructed
one, being about the height Of wo-story build
ing when inflated and ready to cut loose from its
seats in the car, attached to the balloon and as
cended safely and steadily. After remaining
about ~ minutes In the air, sailing towards To-
ledo all the time, they alfg hted in the woods in
the town Of Riga, Lenawee county, near X nipb hts
station on the Ssntherna Road. distant about Is
miles west Of Toledo. Several men came to the
| to prepare the balloon for packing to be taken
back to Adrian. .. Fl.
In doing this, the monster balloon was turned
over and partially upside down to disentangle
the netting and to reach the valve To do this,
MI. la Thurstou, one of the aronauts, took of
bis coat and got astride Of the valve block He
then suggested that the car be detached from the
balloon, while he should hold IL down with his
| weight. This proved fearful calculation, for
no sooner was the still inflated body relieved of
the weight of the car than II shot into the air
with the suddennsss of rocket, taking Mr..
Thurston along with it, seated upon the valve of
| the balloon, and holding on to the collapsed silk
| Of the air-ship In that portion of it's bulk. In
this perfectly helpless condition, the iIl .fatsd
man sped ST. aight into the sky In the full sight
| Of his companions, even more helpless than him
| self so far as Is known there was no possible
means for him TO secure his descent, whether 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
| could only cling to his precarious hold and q
| whithersoever the current of air should take him
Without reg ulation control Of any kind the
| Balloon continued to mount upward, sailing of
| In the direction Of this city and Lake Erie The
| fatal ascension ,ook place about IL O'Clock, and
| at a lew minutes past noon 1t seen In the
| town OF Blissteld, Lenawee county, apparently
full three miles high, and about the size Of a star
| in appearance. 1t was still going up and on !,
At quarter past O'Clock II was last dimIy Wis
| IDLE going in the direction of Maiden, as ascer-
| talhed by compass bearings taken by parties
| observing 1t.
| What is his exact fate ba Ties conjecture: but
that IL Is horrible, almost beyond precedent,
| there can be no doubt There Is not one chance
| In million for successful escape. Whether
| tue unfortunate man was carried up high as
| to become benumbed and senseless, death ensu-
| 1ng-or whether he fell off at length from his
| tremendous altitude, to have his breath sucked
| from him In his fearful descent, and to be sunk
| into the lake or dashed into a shapeless mass
upon the earth, 1t is doubtful il any, save God ,
| will ever know. The mind stands appalled, in
| contemplating this fearful disaster, and blndly
| gropes in mszes Of wonder at where his place Of
| sepulture shall be.
MIR. Thurston was an experienced balloonist
having built several, and this being 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 he was extensively engaged in business
| as nurseryman. He was a widower, having
lost his wife last winter He leaves An intere II.
| Ing daughter about seventeen wears of age to
| mourn her fathers unknown, terrible fate.