Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-11-20
Periious Night Ride In q Balloon,

'"s1 '""'Pso", WHO ascenueo recently
from Toronto, descended safely near this city,
the balloon having been taken by strong
current across the lake. Much anxiety was
felt in Toronto, as to Thompson fate be.
fore the telegram arrived announcing hia
safe landing. MIR Thomson gives the fol.
lowing account Of his adventure: "The bal.
loon at 4.40 and from the velocity the bal.
loon was travelling at, soon preceved tina,
It was foolish to try to descend. It scon be.
came evident to he that landing in Canada
was out Of the question, and that all arran.
semen:s must be made to be driven across
the lake. The first thing that struck me
was to drop the grapne! to the full extent,
100 feet. This acted as guild to the dis
tarce the balloon might be kept above the
surface Of the water; i; being now dark,
and BY placing one hand on the rope, the
effects Of the grapnol striking the water was
distinctly felt With an open bag Of ballas.
on ny knee, every time the grapnel struc;
the water couple of handfu!s Of sand wer,
thrown oat-and to this plan alone l ovo
my own preservation and success The bal.
last taken was about $50 pcunds For
three hours the. plan was carried out, and
,h:n camc en- one Of the most dronching and
mereileSs rains have ever fit. Icould not
see Gte.cn feet before me- and the nc;,e ce
the rain On the balloon and the water was
such as to en.!te!y unne:vc me. My hand;
became numb, ard I was drenchcd to the
skin. now began to pee i've ny position
more acu.ely, though I determined not TO
give up until all the ballaz. and u.oveables
were gone. The rain was making the bal.
loon heavier every moment and the ballast
was thrown cut more freely till about ten
o'clo;:, when tie fatigue overcame me,
TEL! into stupor for Il few moments. By
ihis tiue he ba loon had descended to with
in sbou: six feet Of the water and instantly
ont went twenty eigh pounds of the ballast.
The effects of this was that the balloon rose
to an altitude Of a mile, entirely through
he rain clouds and then the moon shown
brilliantly, and in this position it remained
about u quarter Of IN hour. The effects Of
the moon shining on the clouds beneath was
such as any artist might be proud Of. The
shad5w CT the balloon was destinctly to be
seen travelling over the rough and uncaven
clouds, giving the idea Of balloon race
Everything now became calm. No longer
the hum of the lake or the rain. All was
still, but whether the storm ragged beneath
was unknown. As tie balloon descended
i. was evident that 3 change he'd come over
The scene. The rain had ceased, and the
appearance Of everything was Of the darkest
hue whether it was an under stratu@ of
dark clouds could not be known. Suddenly
a glimmer oflight was seen for moment;
then with anxious eyes cast down to perceive
any object, at last small squares with darker
margins were clearly visible. These proved
to be the fields and hedges, and they ap-
peared to vanish as Qic y as obje IS
passed when in an express train. \ town
was at las. seen. and heard the sound ct
musical Instruments l called out to know
where was but TIE reply was unintelliglble.
They however, saw it wa, balloon Alb u
two miles further on til g mel caught in
large oak tree, and fast. This afterwards
proved to be a little vilage near Cleveland.
I then called out Justly; the sounds Of per-
SONS singing and playing music were heard.