The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-11-13
SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER
Perilous Balloon Voyage Across Lake Erie

| From the Cleveland Plaind ealer
An exchange informs US that an aronaut named
Thompson who ascended recently from Toronto, de-
scended safely this city, the balloon, having been
taken by strong upper current across the lake. Much
anxiety felt in Toronto to Thompsons fate be-
fore the telegram arrived announcing his safe landing
Mr. Thompson gives the following account of his ad-
venture:
The balloon ascended at 44o, and from the velocity
the balloon travelling at perceived it was
foolish try descend. 1t soon became evident to
me that landing in Canada out of the question,
and that all arrangements must be made to be driven
across the lakes. The first thing that struck was
to drop the grapnel to the full extent-l20 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 hand on the rope, the effect
of the grapne striking the water was distinctly felt
With open bag of ballast on my knee, every time
the grapne struck the water couple OF handsfu OF
sand thrown out, and to this plan alone owe my
own preservation and success.
The ballast taken about three hundred and fifty
pounds. For three hours that plan carried out,
and then came on of the most drenchng and mer-
cess rains have felt could not see fifteen
feet before me- and the noise of the rain on the bal
loon and the water such as to entirely unnerve
me, My hands became numb, and I was drenched
to the skin now began to perceive my position
more accutey, though determined not to give up un-
til all the ballast and movabes gone The rain
was making the balloon heavier every moment, and
the ballast was thrown out more freely, till about ten
O'Clock, when fatigue oxercame fell into stu
por for a few moments By this time the balloon had
descended within six feet Of the water and instantly
out went twenty-eight pounds of ballast The effect
of this that the balloon rose to an altitude OF a
mile, entirely through the rain-couGs, and then the
shone brilliantly, and in this position itremained
about quarter of an hour. The effect of the moon
shining on the cloud beneath was such as any artist
might be proud of. The shadow of the balloon was
distinctly to be travelling over the rough and un-
even Clouds giving the idea of balloon race Every
| thing became calm. No longer the hum of the
lake the rain. All still but whether the storm
still ragged beneath unknown. As the balloon de-
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 it was an
under stratum of dark clouds could not be known.
Suddenly glimmer of light seen for moment
then, with anxious eyes cast down to perceive any OBJ
ject at last small squares with darker margins were
clearly visible These proved to be the fields and
hedges and they appeared to vanish quickly as OBJ
jects passed when in express train. town was at
last seen and heard the sound of musical instruments
| then called out to know where was, but the reply
untelgible. They, however, saw it was balloon.
About two miles further the grapnel caught in a
large oak tree and held fast This afterwards proved
to be little village Cleveland. l then called
out Justify; the sounds of persons singing and playing
music we're heard. These proved to be four young
men who had been to ball They were natives of
Cleveland, and they advanced nearer my voice was
heard. They at set to work to pull the balloon
out of the woods and convey it to field, where it
could be folded up. 1t then three o'clock in the
morning.