The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-09-24
4 Terrible Voyage.

We Yesterday published a short notice
from a Cleveland paper, of one of the most
fearful occurrences that ever came under
cur notice-the carrying of of aronaut--
whose name we now learn is Thurston-
by his balloon. without rope, or string to
hold to, and hanging only by such portions
of the hnge canvass as he could grasp with
his hands. \ dispatch to the Cleveland
Herald OF Saturday, says that he was seen
few hours after, very high mp, in the di-
rection of Maiden, c. W. Hardly any hope
of his safe descent was entertained. The
Toledo Bld8c of the 18th, says:
The telegraph infIrms us that the wan
dering balloon and its unwilling passenger,
Mr.. ThurstOn. were seen at a quarter past
one clock on Thursday afternoon, in the
direction of Maiden, G. W. 1t would seem
from this, that it was going from the Lake,
and thus some little hope is offered for his
safe descent-but very little. The only
hope, of course, is that he may have been
able to retain his position until the gas
shall have 50 far escaped as TO let the bal
loon down. and that his place of descent
shall be a favorable one. The chances, GER
tainly,.are against this; for, if the initiation
was as perfect as represented, he must have
aScended to an altitude at which, in conse-
quence of the rarity and GOODNESS of the at
mOsphere, his self-contrOl and Consciousness
in a great measure, would be lost.
The way the fearful occurrence was caused
is thus related. II will lie seen that the
;eronaut is in one of the most awful situa-
tfons that man ever experienced:
The balloon with MessrS. Bannister and
4 Thurston in the car, arose from the enclose
nre at about s! o'clock. 1t went up steadi-
ly and beautifully, taking a southeast di-
rection, and soon became lost to the sight OF
the multitude assembled at Adrian. After
the GrOnauts had been UP what they con-
sdercd sufficient length of time, they let
the gas escape slowly and made handsome
descent near kRights Station Riga Post
Oiiicel, a few miles from Sylvania. The
1rOnauts stepped from the car, and iInmc-
diately proceeded TO unias,cn the car. and TO
remove the netting from ihe balloon, which
gradually turned over, finally resting with
the neck upward. Mr. Thurston got astrad-
die Of the main valve. which was a wooden
box or frame. fixed in the top of the gas
sack (Which was very large, containing 25,-
600 cubic feet of gas, and Was engaged in
forcing back the valve, which opened in
ward, at tie same time requesting Mr.. Ban
mister 10 uutic the neck of the bag. The
latter Mr. B., who was busy with the nett
ing, neglected to do.
fhe moment the netting was off the sack
suddenly arose, Ar. 7. still clinging to the
valve. Mr.. Il. instantly grasped for the
ascending balloon, but ThurSton exclaimed
Hold on Bannister she will soon come
down again; for he supposed that his COM
rade had united the neck of the sack, which
. would, of course, soon relieve it of gas, and,
therefore, of its upward tendencies but he
was doomed 10 a terrible disappointment.
Up and up the balloon ascended with its
precious burden OF human life, and when
last seen by the terrified Bdnnistcr, was full
two miles high, and sailing rapidly to In,
northward. Mr.. b., sick at heart, and
dreaduily alive to the extreme danger o
his comrade, hurried to Sylvania, arriving
in time for the up train from Toledo, Las
\. NJ, on which he soon arrived at Adrian
with the unhappy tidings.
Mr.. ThurStol resided in Adrian, and has
a daughter there, his wife being dead. Hope:
are yet entertained OF his having landed il
safe Y somewhere in the interior, by perfor
ating the sack with his knife or some Other
means. Nothing further had been hearC
from him up to late hour this morning.
\ telegraph dispatch from Detroit datet
the 2lst instant, says that the balloon Cam'
down near Baptist Creek, in Canada West.
Thur>tOn was seen upon il, n shorttin.'
before it was secured, and is probably nov
in the marshes, near Lake St. Clair. Searcl
is being made for MIN.