American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-10-08
and in the Cheat River region, is pictu.
resqucly sublime beyond description.
N.N.I.
A BALLOONIST LOST IN THE SKY.
Terrible Adcenture--A Man seated
on the Palue-rope of a Balloon Car
II riea into the Clouds.

on the Palue-rope of Balloon Car
II ried into the Clouds.
From the Dccroit Tribune, Sept. ls.
We have learned full particulars of
the Balloon ascension at Adrian, on
Thursday, it subsequent descent, and
It's second ascension and running away
with the @roraut while beyond his con-
troll. 1T is brief narrative but of
thrilling interest. A man lost in the
sky! There can scarcely be more
terrible thought. 1t makes the flesh
creep and sends shudder through cv-
cry nerve
The first ascension took place about
nine o'clock in the morning. Itwas on
the occasion Of a large Sunday School
celebration at Adrian. The balloon
was u very large and we'll constructed
one, being the height of a story build
ing when inflated and ready to cut
loose from its fastcnings. Messrs.
Bannister and Thruston took seats in
the car, attached to the balloon and as.
cendcd safely and steadily. After re-
naming about 40 minutes in the
air sailing toward Toledo all the time,
they alighted in the wood near the
town of Riga, Lenawcc county, near
Rights station on the Southern road,
distant about Is miles west Of Toledo.
Several men came to the assistance Of
the adventures, and they proceeded
ito prepare the balloon for packing to
take back to Adrian.
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 Mr.. Ira
Thrushton, ore of the eonauts, took
off his coat and got astrde the valve
block. He then suggested the car dc.
tached from the balloon while he should
hold it down with his weight. This
proved fearful calculation, for no
sooner was the still inflated body re-
lieved of the weight of the car than it
shot into the air with the suddenness
of rocket, taking Mr.. Thruston a.
long with it, seated upon the valve of
the balloon, and holding on the colaps-
ed silk of the air-ship in that portion
of its bulk. In this perfectly helpless
condition the ill.fatcd man sped straight
into the sky in the full sight Of his
companions, even more helpless than
himself. SO far as is known there
was no possible means for him to Sc
cure his descent, 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 cutYt
and escape. lie could only cling to
his precarious hold, and 90 whithcrso.
ever the currents Of air should take
him.
Without regulation Of any kind the
balloon continued to mount upward,
sailing of In the direction of this city
and Lake Erie. The fatal ascension
took place about II o'clock, and in a
few minutes past noon it was seen in
the town Of Blissfcld, LchaWce county,
apparently three miles high, and about
the size Of star in appearance. 1t
was still going up and on Att quar-
ter past 1 o'clock it vas last dimly
visible going in the direction of Nal
den, as ascertained by compass bear
iags taken by parties observing it,
What is his exact fate battles con-
lecture but that it is horrible, almost
beyond precedent, there can be no
doubt. There is not one chance in q
thousand for Successful escape. ..4--
Whether the unfortunate man was car
rled up so high as to become bcnumb-
cd and senseless, death ensuing=- or
whether he fell from his tremendous
altitude to have his breath sucked from
him iii his fearful descent, and to be
sunk in the lake or dashed shapcless
mass upon the earth, it is doubtful if
any save God will ever know. The
mind stands appalled, in contemplating
! this fearful disaster, and blindly gropcs
/ in mazes of'wondcr at where his place
Of scpulture shall be.
| Mr.. Thruston vas an experienced
balloonist, having built several, and
this being his thirtysscventh ascension.
Ho was formerly resident in the vi.
cinity Of Lima and Rochester in Yves i
tern New York, bat has Iattcrly resi-.
dod in Adrian, where he was extensive.
ly engaged in business as nursery
man. He was q widower, having lost
his wife last winter. lie leaves an in,
tcregting daughter about seventeen
years ofage to mourn her fathers un.
known, terrible fate