Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-08-31
ThflllIns balloon voyage Across
the irish ghAnnrI,

the Iflsh ChnnntI
NJ. Il0daman aonds ~ The Irish
inlWfa the following account ~
rweot trip from IJublln W West
inorcland In balloon
The balloon assembled NJ 10, and
took norihcrly direction 10 Clon-
tart, here II was my intention 10
dcpccnd, but from tho velocity the
balloon was travelling nj, ] pcrcciv-
al u was foolish 10 try. IN half u
minute was over the muddy strand
between Clontarf aud lIowth, whore
rnothcr attempt was made 10 land
hut before tho balloon descended ono
hundred feet IL was driven between
llowth and Ircland's Eye. n now
ocame evident TO mo that landing
in ireland was out If the question,
and that all arrangements must DO
made 10 DO driven either TO Walcs
or Lancashire. Tho first thing that
struck mo was to drop tho grapnol
10 it's full cxtcnt-ono hundred and
twenty feet. THIS acted as n guido
10 the distance tho balloon might DO
kept above the surface of tho water,
il being now dark; and by placing
one hand on tho rope, the effect of
tho grapncl striking the water was
distinctly felt. With an open bag
of ballast on my knee, every time
tho grapncl struck the water, n cou-
pie OF handsiml of sand were thrown
out, and to this plan alone owe
my own preservation and success.
The ballast taken was about thirty
five stone.
For three hous this plan was car.
ricd out, and then camo on the most
binding and mcrcilcss rain ] ever
saw or felt. l could not 500 fifteen
feet b, fore me, and tho noise of tho
rain on the balloon and the water
was such as to entirely unnerv" mo.
My hands became numb and was
drenched to the skin. Inow began
to perceive my position more acute.
sy. However, l determined would
not give up until all tho ballast and
movables were gone. The rain made
the balloon heavier every moment
and the ballast was thrown out
more freely until about ten o'clock
when tho fatigue overcamo mo and
I fell into q stupor for few mo-
ments. By this time the balloon
had descended within six feet of the
water, and instantly out went 12e
pounds of ballast. The effect Of
this was that the balloon rose to an
altitude of a mile, entirely through
the rain clouds, and there the moon
ehone brilliantly: and in this posi-
ton it remained about quarter Of
an hour. The effect of tho moon
shining on the clouds beneath was
such as any artist might be proud
of. The shadow of the balloon was
distinctly to DO seen travelling over
the rough and uneven clouds, Civ
Sag tho idea of q balloon race. Eve
rything now became calm; no long
or the hume the ocean or thorain
all was sytill. But whether tho SEE
still raj ed beneath was unknown
As the balloon descended, it was
evident a great change had como
over the sccne-the rain had ceased
and the appearance of everything
was of the darkest hue--whether il
WAS an understratum Of dark clouds
could not be known. Suddenly {
glimmer of light was seen for mo
ment; then with anxious eyes cast
downward to perceive any object, al
last small squares with darker mar
gins were clearly visible. Thu
proved to be fields and hedges, ant
they appeared to vanish rs quickly
as objects passed when in mai
train. A town, afterward proved t.
Ly Appleby, was ut last seen, ant
the sound of musical instruments
heard. / then called out to know
where 1 was, but the reply was un
Ineligible. They, however, saw il
was q balloon.
About two miles further, tho crap
mel caught in large oak tree, and
held fast. This afterward proved L
be Dclga Wood, Dufton, near APP
pIeby, Wcstmoreland. / then call
cd out Justify, and sounds of per
sons singing and playing music
reached me. These proved to b
four young men coming from APP
pleby, where they had been to ,
ball. They were natives of Dufton
and as they advanced nearer thci1
native village they heard my voice
One of them, more bold than thu
rest, was sent forward to see if i
was really "bogle," as they hac
heard of such things before. How
ever, their fears were soon dispcllet
when the replies to their questions
were answered satisfactorily. They
at once set to work to pull the bal
loon out of the wood, and convey i
to q field where it could be folded
up. 1t was then thrcc o'clock in thu
morning. Those young musiciani
afterwards played tune to the vii
lago; and many wero tho heads ou
of the windows to inquire tho rea.
son of such an unusual proceeding
When it became known that bal
Soon had come from Dublin, hun
dreds came as early as five O'Clock
to SEQ it, and many were the inqui'
ries as to how man could come from
Dublin in "sic thing as that" l
however, shall never forget theil
kindness; many were the breakfast
prepared for me, and was pressed
TO cat two. All wished long life ant
prosperity at parting, and hoped ]
ever came that way again, to Civ
them call.
yrom the Clarksviiie Standard
Incorrect.