Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-11-01
Night Ride In a Balloon.

An exchange informs us that an aero
naut named Thompson, who assembled re-
Gently from Toronto, descended safely near
this city, the balloon having been taken by
a strong current across the lake. Much
anxiety was felt in Toronto, as to Thomp-
sons fate before the telegram arrived an
nouncing his safe landing. Mr.. Thompson |
gives the following account of his adven-
ture the balloon assembled at 4:40 and
from the velocity the balloon was travel
ing at, soon perceived it was foolish to
try. to descend. 1t soon became evident
TO me that landing in Canada was out OF
the question, and that all arrangements
mus. be made to be driven across the lake.
The first thing that struck me was to drop
the glapnel to the full extent, l20 feet.
This acted as guide to the distance the
balloon might be kept above the surface Of
the water; it being now dark, and by plac-
cling one hand on the rope, the effect OF
the grapnel striking the water was distinct
ly,felt. With an open bag of ballast on my
knee, every time the grapnel struck the
water, couple of handsfull of sand were
thrown out--and to this plan alone owe
my own preservation and success. The
ballast taben was abont $50 pounds. For
three hours that plan was carried out, and
then came on one of the most drenching
and merciless rains have ever felt. i
could not see fifteen feet before me, and
the noise of the rain on the balloon and
the water was such as to entirely un-Eerve
me. My hands became numb, and ! was
drenched to the skin. now began to
perceive my position more acutely, though
l determined not to give it up until all the
ballast and moveables were gone. The
rain was making the balloon heavier every
moment, and the ballast was thrown out
more freely till about ten o'clock, when
the fatigue overcome me, / fell iaio stu
por for few moments. BY this time the
balloon had descended to within six feet o
the water and instantly out went twenty
eight pounds of ballast. The effects o
this was that the balloon rose to an altitud
Of mile, entirely through the rain clouds
. and then the moon shone brilliantly, an
in this position it remained about a quar-
u ter of an hour. The effect of the moo
% shining on the cloud beneath was such q
0' any artist might be proud of. The shade
u of the balloon was distinctly TO be see
= travelling over the rough and uneve
2 clouds, giving the idea of a balloon race
y Everything now became calm. No longe
- the hum of the lake or the rain. All wa
= still, but whether the storm still ragged be
y meath was unknown. As the balloon de
scended, it was evident that change ha
= come over the scene. The rain had ceased
and the appearance of everything was {
. the darkest hue; whether it was an un
y der stratum of dark clouds could not b
known. Suddenly glimmer of light wa
+" seen for moment; then with anxieu
eyes cast down to perceive any object, {
e last small squares, with darker margin wer
10 clearly visible. These proved to be field
L and hedges, and they appeared to wants
" as quickly as objects passed when in a
10 express train. A town was at last seei
l. and l heard the sound of musical instr,
= ments. | called out to know where | wa
: but the reply was uninteligible. Tho
:. however saw that it was a balloon. Abo,
~ two miles further on, the grapnel caugl
&c in large oak tree and held fast. Th
N afterwards proved TO be a little yillas
Vi near Cleveland. l then called out lustil
"s the sound of persons singing and playir
Ut music was heard Those proved to |
NC four young men who had been to bal
e They were natives of Cleveland, and
Gu they advanced nearer, my voice was hear
VI They at once set to work TO pull the ba
Is loon out of the woods and convey il to
'h field where it could be folded up. II wa
then three o'clock in the morning C2ey
~ LaYd Pldindealer, Oct. 3.