Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-09-15
A PERILOTs BALLOON ADVENTURE,

1hc New Qrk papers have mention
Cd in their column of foreign news the
fact that great balloon ascension re-
Gently took place in Ireland, the termi-
nation of which was nearly fatal. They
gave, however, no particulars. by
means of our foreign files, we are cna-
bted to lay before our readers the fol-
lowing interesting narrative OF the
whole atiuir By one of the aerial advcn-
turers. The balloon was of enorn Gus
size, and belonged TO Mr.. CoXwelI, the
widely known English 3erunant, who
took part in the excursion. The writer
of the account in question says:
When MIR. CoXwcll proposed t. de.
scend, he gave to us the strictest in.
struction how to behave. Heioid us tu
sit down at the bottom of the basket
with our backs toward the willow work
and to leave our limbs in an easy, I'M
constrained position. He forewarncd
us of the heavy knocks and bumps we
should get, and told tls we must not
mind them. On landing, he told us TO
get out one by one, and not 10 let go
our hold of the car on any account, as
the gas in the balloon was now COM
paratively exhausted, and il had but
little buoyancy left. In spite of Mr..
CoAweli's injunctions, some Of the pas
sengers could not be induced to sit
down. When the car struck the ground
and was carried along with great vio-
lence, knocking US about severely, the
excitement got intense. Some PRAYED
aloud, Others shouted to MIR. COxweIl,
to let OFF the gas" others cried out
I'VE are all lost''-in short, they behav-
cd in the widest manner, losing COM
pleteiy their self-control. Several OF
ha.ps Il Al -
lently, and there appeared to be gem
eral panic. We, who sat down, obey
ing Mr.. COywells commands, We're
trampled upon by others, as if it were
struggle for life. At last the grapnel
caught, and the car settled down square
ly on the ground, when Mr.. COxwell
gave the order to get out but he repeat
ed his injunctions to leave the car one
at q time, and by ali means to hold on
TO the basket until al were out. ln-
stead OF that, it was u scramble, each
man for himself--the more powerful
men thrusting back the weaker; those
getting out first abandoning their hold
OF The car rs soon as they reached soiR
ground; others, among whom was Mr..
Coxwell, held on, but were Obliged to
let go, when the balloon, relieved Of the
weight of several persons, rose again
with renewed buoyancy. W..
All this happened in but a very few
so that when climbed upon
the basket, the balloon was already fif-
teen feet high, and / was left with
single companion, Mr.. Haiferty. Mr..
Coxweli and some Of the passengers
tried 10 hold on to the cable, but their
strength vas not adequate TO the task;
the anchor broke loose and olive went,
rising TO heighth of about one thous-
and feet. My companion said calmly,
y The Lord have fnercy upon us our
lives are lost. We had better be resign
ed. i Was looking out for the valve
cord to pull the valve, but could not
find it.. AT length l discovered it en-
tangled in the netting. Ipulled it, but
alas! it had no longer any connection
with the valve. Ny companion, who
saw me occupied with the cordage, ask
ed whether 4 understood the manage
ment of a balloon? "No,r / replied,
= but If l did 1t would be Of little avail,
since the valve cord is brokenn About
the same time discovered that we
were again falling, so 1 told nay COM
panion to cheer up, that we might yet
he saved. We were gradually coming
nearer to the earth, and the anchor was
then striking ground from time to time.
l looked out for assistance, but could
discover none in the fnountain wilder
ness We We're then careering over. At
length i saw several men to whom /
shouted out for help. They, however,
staring with vacant gaze, stood notion
less. like so many statues. Onward we
swept. / saw another batch of men, to
whom l made the same appeal, but
with similar result. Some remained
a man and a woman ran
away at full speed, and one tall fellow
actually dropped down on his face,
struck down with terror. Onward We
swept-then fearful conclusion of the
gramnel had caught. " Pre-
pare for a bump!n J shouted TO my
companion; almost immediately the
balloon surged, and afterwards the car
struck the gro,nd. Mr.. Halfrty was
pitched quite ont by the violence of the
shock, whilst l was thrown against the
netting, and fell back again into the
car. tried to scramble through the
ropes, but l was in an instant again
for the balloon relieved of
the weight .Df Dir. Halferty, rose with
renewed vigor BIr. Halferty, although
he had heavy tumble, did not lose
his self rcsscTr'on, but Immediately