Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-11-08
Perilous Night Ride in a Bal
loon.
PROM the Cleveland Plain Doaler, Oct. 3.


An exchange informs us that an AFRO
nant, named Thompson, who ascended re,
Gently from Toronto, decended safely,
near this city, the balloon having been ta-
ken by a strong current across the lake.
Much anxiety was felt in Toronto, as. s.to
FhOmps0ns fate before the telegram ar
rived announcing his safe landing. Mr
Thompson gives the following account o
hi. adventure: The balloon usgended al
4:4O, and from the velocity the balloon wa'
travelling at, soon perceived it was fool
ish to try to descend. 1t soon became evi'
dent to me that landing in Canada was
out Of the question. and that all arrange
lnents must he made to be driven ae=oss
the Lake. The first thing that struck me
was to drop the grapnel to -he full extent
l2O feet. This acted az a guide to the dis
tancc the balloon might he kept above tlt
surface Of the water; il. being now dark
and by placing one hand on the rope, th'
effects Of the grapnel striking the waite
was distinctly felt With an open bag o
ballast on my knee. every time the crap.
mel struck the water Il couple of handslul
of sand were thrown out-and to this plan
alone ! owe my own preservation aud sue
cess. The ballast taken was about 33U
pounds. For three hours that plan was
carried out aud then came on one OF the
most drenching and mcrciess rains have
ever felt. | could not see fifteen feet
above me, and the noise OF the rain on the
balloon and the water was such as to en-
tirrly unncryc me-. My hands became
numb. and was drcnched to the skin.
now began to perceive my position more
acutcN, though determined not to give VI
until all the ballast and moveables were
gone. The ram was making the balloon
heavier every n,Omcnt. and the ballas was
thrown out more freely till about ten
o'clock. when the fatigue Overcamc me. !
fell into stupor for few moments. by
this time the balloon had descended to
within six feet of the water, and Instantly
out went twenty eight pounds OF ballast.
The effect OF this was that the lalloan f"se
to an altitude of mile, cntiraly through
the rain clouds, aud then the mOen shonc
brilliantly. and in this gasitlon it remained
about a quarter Of an Hour, The effect OF
the moon shining on the cloud beneath
was such as any artist might he proud o''
The shadow of the balloon was distinctly
to be seen travelling over the rough aud
uneaven clouds. giving the idea OF bal
loon race. Everything now became calm.
M longer was heard the hum OF the lake
or the rain. All was STILL but whether the
storm still ragged beneath was unknown
As the balloon descended. it was evident
that change had come over the sccnc.-
The rain had ceased, and the appearance
Of everything was of the darkest hue
whether it was an under stratum of dark
couls could not be known. Suddenly Il
sllmmcr of light was seen for monrHt
then with anxi1us eyes cast down to per
ccivc any object, at last small squares
with darker margins were clearly visible
Those proved to be the fields and hedges,
and they appeared to vanis!: as quickly IA
objects passed when in am express train
A town was a. last seen, and heard tlit
,ound of musca. Instruments. l callct
out to know where ] was, but the reply
was unutelli:iblc. They. however saw
it was balloon. About tive miles fur
ther on the grapnol caught in large oa,
tree, and held fast. This atterward proved
to be little village near Cleveland.
then called ont Justify; then sounds ot per
sons singing aud playing music were heard
Those proved to be young men who had
hcen to bali. They We're natives o
Cleveland. and as they advanced ncarel
my Voice was Ecail. I hey at once set t.
work to pull the balloon out of the wood
and convey it to field where it could b'
folded up, 1t was then three O'clock II
the morning.