National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-11-08
Niuht Ride in a Balloon.


acronaut named Thompson. who as
cended recently from Toronto. de
scended sofely near this city, the
balloon having been taken by
strong current across the lake
Much anxiety was felt in Toronto,
as to Thompson's fate before the
telegram arrived announcing his
safe landing. Mr. Thompsonn gives
the following account of his adven-
TUE: THE balloon assembled at
4: 80 and from the velocity the bal
loon was travelling ut, | soon per
ceived it was foolish to try to de
scend. 1t soon became evident 10
me that landing in Canada was ont
OF the question, and that all ar
rangcmcntS must be made TO be
driven across the lake. The first
thing that struck me was to drop
the grapncl TO the full extent, 100
feet This acted as guide to the
distance the distance the balloon
might be kept above the water; it
being now dark. and 10y placing one
hand on the rope, the effect OF the
grapncll striking the water was dis
tinctly fel,. With an open bag of
ballast on my knee, every time the
grapnell struck the water, a couple
of handfulls of sand were thrown
out and to this plan alone | owe
my own preservation and success
The ballast taken was about $40 HIS.
For three hours that plan was car
rled out, and then came on one of
the most drcnching and mcrcilecS
rains have ever felt ! could not
see fifteen feet before me, and the
the noise OF the rain on the balloon
and the water was such as to entire
lyunnervc me. My hands became
numb, and | was drcuChCd to the
skin. | now began to perceive my
position more acutclY, though | de
tcrmincd not to give it up until all
the ballast and movoablcS were
gone. The rain was making the
balloon heavier every moment, and
the ballast was thrown out more
freely till about 10 o'clock, when the
fatigue oycrcame me, and fell into
stupOr for q few moments. By
this time The balloon had descended
10 within six feet of the water and
instantly ont went - pounds Of bal
laSt. The effect of this was that
the balloon rose to an altitude Of
mile, entirely through the rain
clouds, and then the moon shonc
brilliantly, and in this position it re.
NAMED about quarter Of an hour
The effect of the moon shining ON
the clouds beneath was such as any
artist might be proud OF. The shad
ow OF the balloon was distinctly
seen travelling over the rough and
uneven clouds, giving the idea of
balloon race. Everything now be
came calm. No longer the hum of
the lake or the rain All was still.
but whether the storm still raced
beneath was unknown. AS the bal.
loon descended, it was evident that
a change had come over the scene.
The ram had ceased, and the ap.
pcarancc of everything was of the
darkest hue; whether il was an IN
der stratum of dark clouds could
not bc known. suddenly Il glim-
mcroi hight was seen for moment
then with anxious eyes east down to
perceive any object. at last small
squares, with darker margin were
clearly visible. These proved to be-
fields and hedges, and they appear
cd to vanish as quickly as objects
pass when IN an express train. \
town was at last seen, and | heard
the sound of musical Instruments
called out TO know where was,
but the reply was unintclligihlc.-
lheN however saw that it was a
balloon. About two miles furtbc,
on, the grapncl caught in an oak
tree and held fast This altcrward
proved to he a little village nca,
Clcvcland. then called out msti
~; thcsound Of persons singing and
playing music WAS heard. Tbos,
proved to be four Young men who
mad been TO q ball. They were ma.
lives OF Cleveland, and as they adj.
Yahced nearer, my voice was heard.
hcy at once set to work to pull the
balloon ont of the woods and con.
Iey 1t to field where it could he
lolde' >. 1t was three o'clock IN
me IN, ing.-CicrclaHd Pioigdeal,,
DcL ,.