The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1859-03-18
The Lost Balioonist-D Discovery OF his
Remains.

->~~-~s~---
The Lost Balioonist- Discovery Of hi,
| Remains.
1t was rumored last night that the
body of Mr.. Thnrston, who was car.
ried up by balloon last fall. hsd
been found, and this morning we
were called npon by Mr.. Drake
Covert, who lives near the spo,
where the remains were discovered
from whom we learn the full par.
ticulars Of the finding.
On Sunday afternoon. a son of Mr.
Hoag was searching in q piece o.
woods for some lost sheep, on the
farm ,s Mr., Salmon M,n~-, climates
on TNo Iddiana road, about six o.
seven miles from this city. In biz
search be penetrated q thicket o
brushwood, on a knoll surrounded
by wet land, and there, at the foo. ol
a large oak tree, he discovered ar.
ticles of clothing, bones, etc., which
satisfied him that q dismombered
human body had decayed, and por-
tions OF it been eaten there by ami
mails. 1t was near dark, and the
boy returned with all speed 70 the
house with the news-but it was too
late to prosecute the examination
further that night, and it was post
poned till morning. 1t was then re-
membered that one Of tho boys,
abou, twelve years Of age, hal, on
the 10Th of Septemb r last-at just
about the time that the balloon
should have passed over the spot
seen something fall 10 that piece Of
woods. His attention WAS attracted
by peculiar whis,ling noise, as or
some large bird passing over, and he
looked up in time to see something
fall among the trees; he thought it
must have been paper balloon, and
started after it; but after going a
part OF the way, he returned to the
house, and tried to get an older
brother to go with him to the woods
after the paper balloon. He was
laughed at for wanting to 90 80 far
otter bit of paper, and finally gave
it up. 1t now seems that neigh
boris boy saw the balloon pass over
at the same time, at a great height,
and supposed it to be q kite, but
having doubts about It, asked tine
family "how high q kite could hy,"
describing, at the same tune, the OBJ
iect he had seen.
On yesterday morning, the neigh.
bors were called, aud party pro-
ceeded to the spot where the boy had
found the remains. The spot is
abont fifty or sixty rods south of the
indiana road, on MIR. Miners farm,
about alf.way between the houses
Of lloag and Miner. There we're
portions Of human body, without
doubt, scattered around near the tree
above mentioned. Close BY the tree
and imbedded in the earth, was found
the jaw.bone, broken, aud matted
hair partly in the earth. About
two rods from the tree was found one
ofthe boots Of the person, containing
a foot nearly perfect, but much de-
composed, and portion OF tho shin
bone with flesh adhering to it. The
boot had been knswed, and evident.
ly the fiosh hal been eaten by hogs
or wild animals. The other boot
was near by. Portions Of the spine
were also found scattered about, and
several of tho nails. teeth, ETC., and
parts OF the skull were lying near.
The clothes were, however. the
means OF identifying the body; they
being not 80 much destroyed but tina!
their texture could be discovered
The pants were of q small check or
plaid pattern. The shit was con-
siderably rotted. The coat seemed
to be snuff colored, and black silk
handkerchief was found, tied as i.
was on the neck. In the pockets ol
the clothing were found a Lepine
silver watch, jack. knife, and buck
skin purse, containing 81 S6, in
money. A pair Of gloves were found
in one OF the coat pockets, and in an
other, a letter and several Cards
The letter, after drying, was reada'
BILE, and was found to be directed t
Mr.. Thurston II was from Phil
adelphis house, in reply to some in
quiries he had made about silk for
balloon.
1t will be remembered that Mr.
Tburston was seated on the valve
clasping the silk with his arms, whcr
Last seen. When the balloon wa
found at West Tilbury, Canada, tn
disc Of the valve was torn of, three
iourths OF the way around. Whel
at the great height at which the lit
tie boy thought that immense balloon
was a kite, almost ont OF eight, tn
silk around the valve must have Civ
en- away, precipitating Thurston y
the earth. The calculations OF hi
friends, based upon his probabl
powers Of endurance, led the scare
far beyond where his mutilated re
mains lay. The wood was frequent
} ed during the past winter BY rabbit
: hunters. and Mr.. Miner had haule
wood near by the thicket, but tn
SC. na,,ra of tha pronnd around m
! knoll, and the thick brushwood, ma
J turally turned aside oil passers by.
: The balloon sscendej from Adria
at nine O'Clock, on the 10th OF Sci
I, tember last, with Messrs. Banniste
and Thurston in Il; descended on III
y farm of M. j. Dingc, in Ogdel
> near Knights Station, at about te
Z o'clock, and the escape occurred
: about half-past ton o'clock, owing
!, the removal Of the car and 9th,
:, we;ohts while Mr.. ThurstOu WI