Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-05-29
THRILLING BALLOON VOYAGE.


papers the following account of recent
trip from Dublin to .Westmoreland in a
balloon n 8tt Asfs
I The balloon ascended a LAO and took
q northerly direction to Clontarf, where
it was my intention to descend; but
from the velocity the balloon was travel
ing at, perceived it was foolish to try
In half q minute | was over the muddy
strand between Clontarf and Howth,
where another attempt was made to land;
but before the balloon descended one
hundred feet it was driven between
Howth and Irelands Eye. 1t now be-
came evident to me that landing in
Ireland was out of the question, and that
all arrangements must be made to be
driven either to Wales or Lancashire.
The first thing that struck me was to
drop the grapnel to its full extent-one
hundred and twenty 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 my
hand on the rope, the effect Of the grap-
mel striking the water was distinctly felt.
With an open bag of ballast on my knee,
every time the grapnel struck the water,
couple of handsful of sand was thrown
out; and to this plan alone / owe my
own preservation and success. The bal
last taken was about thirty five stone.
For three hours this plan was carried
out, and then came on the most binding
and merciless rain ever saw or felt. l
could not see fifteen feet before me, and
the noise of the rain on the balloon and
the water was such as to entirely uRnerve
me- My hands became numb, and |
was drenched to the skin. now began
to perceive my position more acutely.
However | determined / would not give
up until all the ballast and moveables
were gone. The rain made the balloon
heavier every moment, and the ballast
was thrown out more freely until about
ten O clock, when the fatigue overcame
me and | fell into stupor for few
minutes. By this time the balloon had
descended to within six feet of the water,
and instantly out went one hundred and
twenty. eight pounds of ballast. The
effect of this was that the balloon rose to
an altitude of mile, entirely through
the rain clouds, and there the moon
shone brilliantly; and in this position it
remained about a quarter 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 travel
ing over the rough and uneven clouds,
giving tie idea of balloon race. Ev-
erything now became calm; no longer
the hum of the ocean or the rainfall was
still. But whether the sea still ragged
beneath was unknown.
AS the balloon descended, it was evil
dent great change had come over the
scene-the rain had ceased and the ap-
pearance of everything was Of the dark
est hue--whether it was an under.stratum
of dark clouds could not be known.
Suddenly a glimmer Of light was seen for
moment; then with anxious eyes cast
down to perceive any object, at jast
small squares with darker margins were
clearly visible. This proved to be fields
and hodges and they appeared to vanish
as quickly as objects passed when IN
mail train. A town, afterward proved to
be Appleby, was at last seen, and the
sound Of musical instruments heard. /
then called out to know where was, but
the reply was unintelligible. They,
however, saw it was balloon.
About two miles farther, the grapnel
caught in large oak tree, and held fast
This afterward p: owed to be Dagla
Wood, Dufton, near Applebv, We-'-
moreland. / then called out Justify, and
sounds Of persons singing aud playing
music reached me. These proved to be
four young men coming from Appleby,
where they had been to q ball. They
were natives Of Dufton, and as they ad-
vanced nearer their native village they
heard my voice.
One of them, more bold than the rest,
was sent forward to see il 1t was really
"bogle," as they had heard Of such
tk;ags before. However, their fears
were soon dispelled when the replies 20
their questions was answered satifae-
torily. They at once set to work to pull
the balloon out Of the wood, and cor
vey il to field whore il could be folded
up. IL was then three O'Clock in the
morning. Those young music ans after
ward played tune TO the village; and
many were the heads out Of the windows
10 inquire the reason Of such an unusual
proceeding. When It became known
that a balloon bad come from Dublin,
hundreds came As early as five ocissk
10 see II, and many were the inquiries as
TO how man could come from Dublin
IN - such a thing as that" /, however,
shall neyer forget their kindness; macy
were the breakfasts prepared for me, and
I was positively pressed 70 eat tive. All
wished ne long life sud prosperity ht
narlinr- and hnnei n ever l cane TINT