Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-09-30
DAILY DEMOCRAT.


An mrousut named Thompson, who 49,
cslnied recently from Tosonto. dcscended
safely uea. Cleveland, the balloon having
been taken tv . s.roag upper current acrcss
the lakes. Much anxiety gas fsls in Toron-
TO - to Mr.. 1'honpson's ffte before the tels
egrsm arrived announcing his safe landing.
Ms Thompson gives the following account
Of his adventure "fhe balloon aecended
At 4:4O, and from The velocity the balloon
was travelling nj, l soon perceived Il vas
foolish 20 try 10 descend. II soon became
evident 10 me that landing in Canada was
out Of the question, and that all arrange
men,s must be made to be driven across the
lakes. The first thing that struck me was
to drop the srapnel 10 the full extent. 100
feet. This acted 40 guide TO TIE distance
the balloon might be kept above the surface
Of the water; Il being nov dark, and BY
placing ono hand on the rops, the eject Of
the grapnel striking the water was diseinct>
iy felt. With an open bag Of ballast on
my knee, every time the grapncl struck the
stsr . couple Of handfu!s Of sand were
thrown out-and to this plan alone owe
my own preservation and success. The
ballast taken was about $50 pounds. For
three hours that plan was carried out, and
then came on The most drenching rain
lave ever felt. could not see fifteen feet
before the, and the noise Of the rain on the
balloon and the water was such 10 to entire
" unnc,ve me. Ny hands became numb,
and was drenched to the SKIN l nov be-
gan to perceive my position moe acuteiy,
though determined not to give up until
all he ballast and mt, ables were gone. The
rain vas making the balloon heavier evefy
moment, and the ballast was thrown out
more freely till about ten o'clock,
when the fatigue overcsms me. | fell
into . stupor for . few moments
By this time the balloon had descended 70
within six feet Of the water, and instantly
cut went TWEEN, eight pounds Of ballast =
The effect of this vas that the balloon rose
to an altitude Of mile, entirely through the
rain clouds, and then the moon shone 6Ril>
lisntly, and in this position It remained
about quarter Of an hour. The fleet Of
the moon shining on the cloud beneath was
such ~ 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
Every thing now became calm. No longer
the hum Of the lake or the rain. All WAS
still. but whether the storm still ragged be.
meath was unknown. As the balloon ds>
scended, it was evident change had come
over the scene. The rain had ceased. and
the appearance Of everything WAS Of the
darkest hue whether il was an under STRAIT
um oi dark clouds could not be known.-'
Suddenly gi.nmer Of light was seen for
moment; then, with anxious eyes cast down
70 ., receive any object. At last small squares,
| with darker margins. were clearly visible.
These proved to be fields and hedges, and
they appeared 70 vanish as quickly Is Oh
jects passed when in IN exposes train. A
town was at last seen, and heard the sound
Of musical instruments. then called out
to know where was. but the reply w.s un.
ineligible They, however, saw it WAS .
balloon. About two miles further on. the
grapnsl caught in large oak tree, and held
fast This afterwards proved to be . little
village near Cleveland then called out
Justify the sounds of persons singing and
playing music were heard These proved
to be ionr young men who had been to a
ball They we're natives Of Cleveland. and
Is they advanced nearer my voice was heard
They at once set 70 work to pull the balloon
out Of the woods and convey it to . field
where it coull be folded up. 1t was then
three o'clock in the morning"