Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-10-01


voluntary ascent Of su e-ouaut Mr. THURsros, from
Knights Station, Michigan. and the telegraph has
informed US Of the descent Of Che balloon and that
search was being made fer The man. The eircum-
stances are Of intense interest and We publish fun
particulars this morning as taken from the Detroit
papers:
+ From the Detroit Tribune, September ls:
We have learned full particulars Of the balloon
/ ascension at Adiren on Tuesday, its subsequent
descent, and its second ascension and runaway with
the eronaut while beyond his control II is brief
narrative, but Of tkrilling interest. man lost in
] the sky, There eau scarcely be q more terrible
thought. It makes he flesh creep and sends shud-
der through every nerve
The first ascension took place at o'clock in the
morning Il was On the occasion Of large Sunday
School celebration at Adrian The balloon was &
very large and well constructed one, being about
the height Of two story building when inflated and
ready to cut loose from its fasenings Messrs Ban
mister and Thurston took seats in the car attached
to the balloon and aseended safely and steadily.
After remaining about forty minutes in the air sail
ing from Toledo all the time they allighted in the
woods in the town Of Riga LeDaWee county, near
knights Station, on the Southern road distant
about eighteen miles from Toledo. Several men
came 10 the assistance Of the adFenurers and thev
proceeded 70 prepare the balloon for packing to be
taken back to Adrian.
In doing this, the monster balloon vss turned
over and partially upside down 10 disehtauqle the
netting and 70 reach the valve. To DO this Mr. Ira
ThurstOn, one Of the ssronauts, took of his coat,
and got atrida Of the valve block He then suO-
gesied that the car be detached from the balloon
while he should hold itdoBn wi d his weight This
proved fearful calculation, for no sooner Kss the
still inflated body relieved s -. "eIgnt OF the car
tbs, -Lo4fnru- air with the suddenuess Of n Z
rocket 5aking Mr. Thurston along with it. seated
upon the valve of abe balloon, aad holding the
collapsed silk Of the air ship, in that portion Of its
bulk. In this perfectly pless condition the Ill
fated man sped straight into the sky in the full
sight Of bis companions, even more helpless than
himself So far as is kuoEn here we're no possible
means for him to secure his descent, whether safe
or otherwise. The part Of the balloon filed with
gas full twelve feet above him, so that there
was chance for him 10 cut IL and escape He
could only cling 10 his precariOus hold and 20 I
whithersoever the currents Of air should take him 1
Without regulation or 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 Rlaoe about eleven o'clock and af
few minutes past noon It vas seen in The town Of
BlissReId, Leuawee county, apparently full three
miles high. and about the size Of star in appear
snce u was still going up and oni At quarter
past o'clock il was last dmily visible gong in
the direction Of Maiden, as ascertained by compass
bearings taken by parties observing it.
From the Detroit Daily Advertiser, Sept %
Mr. THURsToS NOT YET FOUxD THE intense ex-
gard 10 the dieaPpearan,e Of Mr.. ThurstOn, is .
gradually subsidiDg into belief that he isno longer
among the living aud that the discovery Of his re-
mains viii be the final act Of this melancholy, yet
thrilling tragedy. There is possibility that he 4
may have reached the ground somewhere in safety;
aRd that being weak aud exhausted, the balloon es-
capped from him, arose in the air and aoated away
TO descend where it was found He may have been 4
discovered and cared for, but owing to the distance
from the telegraph or some other cause been unable
to communicate his situation and condition to those
who are SO anxioU5 to hear. But this is hardly /
probable From the direction the balloon was seento
take by those who agoniziDgy watched the ascent,
compared with the course il was pursuing when 90.
served a. different points, the path is distinctly de-
6ned He reached the earth sometime during the /
afternoon Of Thursday, aud if alive some intelli-
gence must surely have reached US ere this
Men living in Tilbery West, who saw the balloon
descend state positively there upon q! As
soon as Mr. BanDister arrived at that place. he pro
eeeded to the house of Mr.. Joseph Marks Municipal
COuneillO or Of the township and identfedthe balloon
packed up and sent in irresponsible hands to this city
where il arrived at o'clock last evening" and Mr
Bannster began at the search for his lost friend
and companion. Up to two O'Clock yesterday after
noon the search had been inefeotual and we have
DO further intelligence at the time Of writing this
III p. n. That his body viii eventually be found
We have no doubt, but that Mr.. ThurstOn is now
alive we do not entertain the shadow Of a hope
The balloon came dsEn st half past two o'clock Of I
The same day that Il went up having been in the air
about four hours The numerous reports in regard /
to his having been in the sir for twenty fourOr forty
eight hours, alike Improbable and without foun
dRiion. . "
The balloon is open to the inspection Of hePublic
at our counting rom. Il Is in The same condition
as when il came doWa with the unfortunate man,
with the exception that the silk has been pulled
apart and spread 10 order 10 prevent It's sticking TO
gether so close as to become useless. The portion
which was elasped 10 his,sfms was eompassed 50 Z
tightly as TO render araton almost impossible
The small valve upon which he sat, stIll remains in
its position and is regarded with feelings Of the
greatest curiosity tt was about malt torn on oy ms
weight. and hangs sxacrly as he left il.
Mr. Thurston Wasao experienced ballooRist, haY-
ing built several aud this being his thirtyseveuth
ascension. lie was formerly resident Of Steubeu
county, in Western New York, bat has latterly re
sided Ia Adrian where he vas extensively engaged
in business as uurseryman. He vas WidOEer, /
having lost his wife last winter. He leaves in
teresting daughter about seventeen years to mourn
her father's unknown, terrible fatel