The Montana post., 1867-11-09
From the Cleveland Plaipd.sl..
A Perflons Balloon Voyage Acro..
. Lake Erie.

/ An exchange informs us that an 4,,.
naut named Thompson, who ascep5ss
recently from Toronto, descended sai.i,
near this city, the balloon having be-,
taken by a strong upper current acrO,,
the lakes. Much anxiety was Eel, IN
Toronto as TO Thompson's fate beto,s
the telegram arrived announcing his SAT,
landing. Mr.. Thompson gives the follow
| ing account of his adventure
!" The balloon Ascended at 44O. and
| from the velocity the balloon was trsy.
cling at, Issoon perceived il was foolish
| to try to descend. 1t soon became eyi
dent TO me that landing in Canada wa,
out of the question, and that all arrange
ments must be made 10 be driven across
the lakes. The first thing that struck
me was to drop the gTapPel to the full
extent, 120 feet. This acted as guide
to the distance the balloon might be ken.
above the surface of the water, it being
now dark, and by placing one hand On
the rope the effect of the grapnel striking
the water was distinctly felt. With E
open bag of ballast on my knee, ever
time the grapnel struck the water con.
pie of handfulls of sand We're thrown cut.
and to this plan alone | owe my owl
preservation and success. The ballast
taken was about $50 pounds. For thrss
hours that plan was carried out, and
then came on one of the most drenching
and merciless rains / have ever felt. |
could not see fifteen feet before me, and
the noise of the rain on the balloon and
the water was such as to entirely IN
nerve me. Ny hands became numb and
/ was drenched to the skin. now be
gan to perceive my position more sccu
rately, though l determined not to give
up until all the ballast and moyables
were gone. The rain was making the
balloon heavier every moment and the
ballast was thrown out more freely, till
about ten o'clock, when the fatigue over
came me. / fell into a stupcr for few
moments. BY this time the balloon had
descended to within six feet Of the water
and instantly out went % pounds OF bal
last. The effect of this was that the bal
loon rose to an altitude OF mile, en-
tirely through the rain clouds, and then
the moon shone brilliantly, and N THIS
position it remained about quarter o.
an hour. The effect of the moon shining
on the clouds beneath was such as an
artist might be proud of. The shadow
of the balloon was distinctly 10 be seer
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 rain. All was
still, but whether the storm still ragea
beneath was unknown. AS the DalloO1
descended, it was evident change mao
come over the scene, The rain had ceaseu
and the appearance of everything was
of the darkest hue whether II was 81
under stratum of dark clouds could no'
be known. Suddenly glimmer OF Dgl'
was seen for a moment; then, Win anA
ious eyes cast downwards TO percei,tS
any object, at last small squares Wl.I wiz
darker margins were clearly TlSlDie, ,,
These proved ID be tie fields and heugTo
and they appeared to vanish as qulsA!
as objects passed when in an express
train. "A town was at last seen anu
heard the sound of musical instruments
| then called out ia know where wac,
but the reply was unintelligible! Inc!
however, saw it was a balloon. AUOu.
two miles further on the grapnel cagSE'
in large oak tree and held fast. LIE LIE
proved to be little Vlille;
near Cleveland. / then called out lus'5
y the sounds of persons singing &n J
playing music were heard. These PIO.Sa
20 be four young men who had been tUS
pail. They were natives of CleyeLaH;u'
md as they advanced nearer my VII
vas heard. They at once set 70 "O nd
o pull the balloon out of the woouS - -
,onvey it to field, where it coulI =
olded up. 1t was then three oeiocA
he morning"