Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-09-29

rsss Az EaoNApr I.osr IN TINS fGIouDs-We have
iearned fun particulars OF the balloon ascension st
Adrian on Thursday, its subsequent descent and fs
second ascension, md fhn away with the seronaut
while beyond his control It lisa brief narrative.
but of thrilling interest. lost in the SKY
There scarcely be more terrible thought. 1t
makes the flesh creep. and sends shudder through
every nervel -=-7 +sr et'n1e'sn ff
The first ascension took placessbostis o'clock in
the morning. 1t on heoccasion of large Sun
day School celebration at Adrian. The balloon
very large and we'll constructed ore, being about
the height of twostory building when inflated ana
ready to. cut loose from its fastenings. Messrs.
Bannster and Thurston took seats in the attach
ed to the balloon and assembled safely and steadily.
After remaining about forty minutes in the air, sail
ing towards Toledo all the time they aghted in the
woods in the town of Riga, Lenawee county, near
Knights Station the Southern road distant about
eighteen miles west of Toledo. Several men came
to the assistance of the adventurers and they pro-
ceeded to prepare the balloon for packing, to be
taken back to Adrian.
In doing this the monster balloon was turned over
and partially upside down to disenangle the netting
and to reach the valve. To do this, Mr.. Ira Thurs
ton one of the eronauts took off his coat and got
astride of the valve block He then suggested that
the car he detached from the balloon while ne should
hold it down with his weight. This proved fear.
full calculation, for no sooner was the still inflated
body relieved of the weight of the than it shot
into the air with the suddenness of rocket taking
the balloon, and holding on to the collapsed silk Of
the alr-shp in that portion of its bulk! In this per-
fectly helpless condition the i'll fated man sped
straight into the sky in the full sight of his compan
ions, even more helpless than himself So far as is
known, there were possible means for him to
cure his descent, whether safe otherwise. The
part of the balloon filled with gas was full twelve
feet above him, that there was no chance for him
to cut its sides and allow the gas to escape. He
could only cling to his precariouS hold and 60 width.
ersoever the currents of air should take him.
Without regulation or control of any kind the bal
loon continued to mount upward, sailing off in the
direction Of this city and Lake Erie The fatal
cension took place about II o'clock, and few min
utes past noon it in the town of Blissfeld,
in Lenawee county, apparently full three miles high,
and about the size of Star in appearance. 1t was
still going up and on At quarter past one o'clock
it was last dmly visible going in the direction of
Maiden, ascertained by compass bearings taken by
parties observingit.
What is his exact fate battles conjecture; but that
it is horrible almost beyond precedent, there can be
no doubt. There is not one chance in million for
a successful escape. Whether the unfortunate
carried up so high as to become benumbed and
senseless, death ensuingor 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 in the lake, or dashed into shapcess
upon the earth. it is doubtful if any save God
will ever know. The mind stands appalled, in con-
templatng this fearful disaster, and blindly gropcs
in mazes of wonder at where his place of sepuchre
shall be-
Mr.. Thurs,on was an experienced balloonist hav
ing built several, and this being his thirty seventh
ascension. He formerly a resident in the vcin-
ity of Lima and Rochester. in western New York,
but has lattcrly resided in Adrian where he
tensively engaged in business a nurseryman. He
a widower, having lost his wife last winter
He leaves interesting daughter about II years Of
age, to mourn her fathers unknown, terrible fate
Detroit Tribune