Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-08-19
PerIlaus Rnlloon Adyentura.

APerlleus Balloon Adventure.
The New York papers have mentioned
in their columns 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 en-
abled TO lay before our readers the fol-
lowing interesting narrative of the whole
affair by one of the serial adyentureTs.
The balloon was of enormous size, and
belonged to MIR. Coxwell, the widely
known English seronant, who took part
in the excursion. The writer of the
account in question says
When MIR. Coxwell proposed TO de-
scend, he gave to us the strictest in
struction how to behave. He told us to
sit down at the bottom of the basket,
with our backs toward the willow work,
and to leave our limbs in an easy, UNI
constrained position. He forewarned
us of the heavy knocks and bumps we
should get, and told us we must not
mind them. On landing, he told us to
get out Que by one, and not to let GO
our hold of the car on any account, as
lively exhausted, and it had but little
buoyancy left. In spite of Mr. Cox
wells injunctions, some of the passen-
gers could not be induced to sit down.
When the car struck the ground, and
was carried along with great violence,
knocking us about severely, the excite
ment got intense. Some prayed aloud,
others shouted TO Mr. CoxwelI, TO "let
off the gas - others cried ont Eve are
all lost"-in short, they behaved in the
widest manner, losing completely their
self-control. Several of them now
pulled at the valve cord violently, and
there appeared to be a general panic. =
We, who sat down, obeying Mr.. Cox
wells commands, were trampled upon
by others, as if it were struggle for
life. At last the grapnel caught, and
the car settled down squarely on the
ground, when Mr.. Coxwell gave the or
der to get out but he repeated his in
functions to leave the car one at time,
and by all means to hold on to the has-
ket until all were out. Instead of that,
il was a scramble, each man for himself
the more powerful men thrustiin.;gl back
the 5weaEee11 those getting out first
abandoning their hold of the car as
soon as they reached solid ground 9th.
ers, among whom was Mr. Coxwel, held
on, but were obliged to let go, when the
balloon, relieved of the weight OF sew
eral persons, rose again with renewed
buoyancy.
All this opened in but very few
moments, so that when climbed upon
the basket, the balloon was already if
teen feet high, and l was left with a
single companion, Mr.. Halferty. Mr..
Coxwell and some of the passengers
tried to hold on to the cable, but their
strength was not adequate to the task;
the anchor broke loose and off we went,
rising to heigth of about one thou
sand feet. My companion said calmly,
'"The Lord have mercy upon us; our
lives are lost. We had better be resign
ed" was looking out for the valve
cord to pull the valve, but could not
find it. At length 1 discovered it en-
tangled in the netting. pulled it, but
alasi it had no longer any connection
with the valve. My companion, who
saw me occupied with the cordage,
asked whether / understood the man
agement of balloon? ''No," Ireplied,
shut if / did it would be of little avail,
since the valve cord is broken" About
the same time discovered that we were
again falling, so / told my companion
to cheer up, that we might yet be saved.
We were gradually coming nearer to
the earth, and the anchor was then
striking ground from time to time. i
looked out for assistance, but could dis
cover none in the mountain wilderness
we were then careering over. At length
saw several men, to whom / shouted
out for help. They, however, staring
with vacant gaze, stood motionless, like
| so many statues. Onward we swept. /
saw another batch of men, to whom /
made the same appeal, but with SINH
lar result. Some remained motionless;
man and a woman ran away at full
speed, and one tail fellow actually
dropped down on his face, struck down
with terror. Onward we swept-tien a
fearful eonoussion of the car--the crap
mel had caught. prepare for a bumpw
I shouted to my companions; almost inn
Immediately the balloon surged down, and
afterwards the car struck the ground. -
Mr. RAFFERTY, was pitched quite out by
| the violence of the shock, whilst was
thrown against the netting, and fell
back again into the car. j tried to
scramble through the ropes, but was
in an instant again house<high- for the
balloon relieved of the weight of Mr..
Halferty, rose with renewed Yigor. Mr..
Rafferty,, although he had q heavy tum
BILE, did not lose his self possession, but
Immediately caught the cable and tried
to secure il, but his poor strength wa:
of no avail. The anchor broke loose
and away I went. 1 did not rise high.
The balloon moved on very soon in &
horizontal direction, straight toward
the sea, which we We're then. rapidly
nearing, at the height of about twice
the length of the mooring cable. Th,
, thought had struck me several tunes 3,
try by any means to make a rent in thu
balloon, for, although I had no knife, !.
might have torn the silk with my teeth
1 climbed up short distance, butsthel
il occurred to me that as soon as tn
gas escaped the anchor would strike tn
[ ground again, and / should not be abb
, | to support the conclusion while hang
ing in the netting, and was sufferin