Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-03-22

It was rumored last night that the body OF
Mr. Thurston, who was carried up by balloon,
last fall, had been found, and this morning we
were called upon by Mr.. Drake Covert, who
Lives near the spot where the remains were dis
covered, from whom we learn the full particu-
lars of the finding:
| On Saturday afternoon son of Mr.. Hoag was
searching in piece of wood for some lost sheep
on the farm of Mr.. Salmon Minor, situated on
the Indiana road, about six or seven miles from
this city. In his search he penetrated knoll
surrounded by wet land, and there, at tie foot
of large oak tree, he discovered articles of clio
thing, bones, &C., which satisfied him that dis.
membered body had decayed, and portions of it
eaten there by animals. 1t was near dark, the
boy returned with all speed to the house with
the news; but 1t was too late to prosecute the
examination further that night, and it was post
poned till morning. .a.ln r.. a
| On yesterday morning the neighbors were
called, and party proceeded to the spot where
the boy had found the remains. There were
lportons of human body, without doubt, scat
tered around near the tree above mentioned
Close by the tree and imbedded in the earth,
was found the jawbone, broken, and matted hair
partly in the earth. About two rods from the
tree was found one of the boots of the person,
containing foot nesrly perfect but much de.
composed, and portion of the shin bone, with
flesh adhering to it. The boot had been guaw-
ed, and evidently the flesh had been eaten by
hogs or wild animals. The other boot was near
| by. Portions of the spine were also found scat
tered about, and several of the nails, teeth, &c.,
and parts of the skull were lying near. The
clothes were, however, the only means OF lden-
tifying the body; they not being so much des-
l,,,kk kl,.tt -. ha dioNnUnra6
The pants were of small check or plaid pattern.
The shirt was considerably rotten. The coat
seemed to be snuff colored, and black silk
handkerchief has found, tied as it was on the
neck. Ia the pockets of the clothing were found
a Lepine silver watch, jack-knife, and buck
skin purse containing $l.36 in money. a pair
of gloves were found in one of the coat pockets,
and n another letter and several cards. The
letter, after drying, was readable, and was found
to be directed to Mr. Thurston. 1t was from o
Philadelphia house, in reply to some inquiries
he had made about silk for balloon.
From the cards, letters and memoranda, it is
rendered if not certain, extremely probable that
the BODY there scattered about was that of Mr..
Thurston-last seen near Knights station on
18th of September last, when carried away by
the escaped balloon-dashed to pieces, and those
pieces gnawed by animals in that secluded
thicket
1t will be remembered that Mr.. Thurston was
seated on the valve olasping the silk with his
arms. when last seen. When the ballon was
found at West Tilbury, Canada, the disc of the
valve was torn off three efourths of the way
round. When at q great height almost out of
sight, the silk around the valve must have Civ
en- way, precipitating Thurston to the earth
The calculations of his friends, based upon his
probable powers of endurance, led the search far
beyond where his mutilated remains lay. The
wood was treqnented during the past winter by
rabbit.hunters, and Mr.. Minor had hauled wood
near by the thicket, and the wet nature of the
ground around the knoll, and the thick brush
wood, naturally turned aside all passers by.
The balloon assembled from Adrian at o.
clock, on the 18th of September last, with Mr..
Bannister and Thurston in it; descended on the
farm of Mr.. J. Diage in Ogden, near Knights
Station, at about 10 o'clock, and the escapade
occurred at about 10 IL o'clock owing to the
removal of the car-ropes and other weights,
while Mr.. Thurston was trying to open the
yalve-wben. as bYstanders expressed it, the
balloon bounded up "like rocket" carrying
Mr.. T., as above stated. 1t must have been
within 90 or 80 minutes of this time that the
valve gave way, and he fell.