Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1867-10-23
WHOLE NUMBER 1869
PERIL0US BALLOON VOYAGE ACROSS
LAKE ERIE.


From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.1
An exchange informs us that an aero
naut named Thompson, who ascended re.
Gently from Toronto, decended safely near
this city, the balloon having been taken
by strong upper curren. across the
lakes. Much anxiety was felt in Toronto
as to Thompson's fate before the Telegram,
arrived announcing his safe landing. Mr..
Thompson give. the following account of
his adventure: "The balloon ascended a,
4:4O, and from the velocity the balloon
was travelling at, soon perceived it was
foolish to try to decend. 1t soon became
evident to me that landing in Canada was
out Of the question, and that all arrange
ments must be made to be driven across
the lakes. The first thing that struck me
was to drop the grapnel 20 the full extent,
120 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 placing one hand on
the rope, the effect of the grapnel str;k-
ing The water was distinctly felt. With
al open bag of ballast On my knee, every
time the grapnel struck the water, a couple
of handfuls of sand were thrown out
and to this plan alone l owe my own pres
ervaticn ana success
"The ballast taken was about three hun
dred and fifty pounds. For three hours
that plan was carried out, and then came
one Of the most drenching and merciless
rains | have ever felt. 1 could rot see
fifteen feet before me, and the noise tf
the rain on the balloon and the water was
such as to entirely unnerye me. My hands
became numb, and was drenched to the
skin. l now began to perceive my Iosi-
ton more acutely, though | determined
not to give up until all the ballast and
movables were gone. The rain was max
ing the balloon heavier every moment,
and the ballast was thrown out more free
ly, till about 10 o'clock, when the fatigue
overcame me l fell into stupcr for a
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 brlloon rose to an altitude Of d
mile, entirely through the rain-clOuds
and then the moon shone brilliantly, anu
in this position it remained about quar-
ter of an hour.
The effect OF the moon shining on the
clouds beneath was such as any artist
might be proud of. The shadow of the
balloon was distinctly to be seen travelling
over the rough and uneven 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 still ragged beneath was
unknown. As the balloon descended, il
was evident a change had come over the
scene. The rain had ceased, and the ap-
lpearance of everything was Of the dark
est hue; whether it was an under stratum
of dark clouds could not be known. Sud
denly glimmer Of light was seen for
moment; then with anxious eyes east
down to perceive any object, at last small
squares with darker margins were clearly
visible. These proved to be the field,
and hedges, and they appeared to vanish
as quickly as objects passed when in an
express train.
town was at last seen, and | heard
the sound Of musical instruments. |
then called out to know where was, but
the reply was uninteliigible. They. how
ever, saw it was a balloon. About two
miles furtber on the grapnel caught i'll 4
large oak tree, and held fast. This after
wards proved to be a little village near
Cleveland. L then called out Justify
the sound of persons singing and playing
music were heard. These proved to be
four young men who had been to ball.
They were natives of Cleveland, and as
they advanced nearer my voice Was heard
They at once set to work 10 pull the bal
loon out of the woods and convey it to
field, where it could be folded up. 1t
was then three o'clock in the morning.
Ig- 1t is singular fact that ladies
who know how to preserve everything