The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-10-15
III, ~ q Balloon.

Z
Mr. LUNT's EXPERIENCES on THE ROAD TO
rASAAN-s THRILLING ADVENTURE GRAPH
CAl.!.Y DESCRIBED.
fGrorgr Ashton lunt IN New York Graphic.J
While consulting ~ 10 the best method Of
rysGin~ the mountain region and its change
able currents we We're suddenly cnVeiopeu
in \ thick cloud. and IN instant later terri
fr surluIl of wind and rain caught the bal
loon twisting and shaking it so violently
tho, 7 own that | deemed its almost instant
destruction certain. and in another moment
We were Whirled of we knew not whittier.
The great bag above us tapped and doomed
! like the sails Of D ship when too close hauled,
and every CONFUSION was echoed from the
interior and prolonged into dull and oml-
nous roar. That the moment was one OF
extreme danger ! could not for moment
doubt, br. the horrible noise above ana the
kissing below of the wind over the tops OF
the still invisible trees rendered conVecsa-
ton almost impossible.
was standing in the bow of the boat ut
this time: Mr.. Ford was in the centre, and
Mr.. Donaldson in the cockpit. Suddenly the
latter shouted. look out! BE ready 10
lump when / tell YOU" and the next instant
the green tree-tops swept past the boat on
either side, At this moment we descended
out of the cloud, and i saw that we were
falling-literally falling-into small open
space between two pieces Of woodland. In
an instant had dropped over the side OF the
boat and was holding on to the gun"ale,
and 4 glance showed my companions 10 De
also in readiness behind me. Down we came,
the balloon driven furiouslv earthward by
the seemingly perpendicular gale, and the
| boat spinning about like mere chip. SUD
denly Donaldson shouted, "Jump out,
quick :" and suited the action to the WORD,
followed il another second by ( o"d. nearo
the double thud with which they struck the
| earth with horror, and all that donaldson
had told me OF toe difficulty OF Judging dis
lance after an ascent lEiSheQ through my
mind, and turned my head to see the effect
! Of their fall. -.
They were both rising from the grass, but
NV readers may judge my sensations when
| saw that they were a hundred feet below
| me. and the balloon was shooting into the
mir again. One second Of ndecison and |
SWING myself upon the boat, and shouted
| 10 Mr.. Donaldson Nv hat shalt do: The
| fury Of the storm. however, drowned NY
| voice and his, and in another moment was
| again in the clouds, which were so thick
| that even the great bag above me was m
visible. The time from Mr.. DOnaldson's
| first warning until now could not have eX-
| cerdcd thirty seconds: yet, there was
alone in the largest balloon ever success
fully inflated, and perfectly ignorant prac-
ticaliy Of its management. For short
time / stood absently clutchnS the ropes,
and wondering what was 10 become OF me,
hut soon felt that my safety depended upon
prompt action, and began TO think what had
better be done. Should | cut of the great
dran-rope, ascend above the storm, ana trust
TO luck to make another landing IN a
smoother country? I drew my knife Tor
tbe Durpose, but remembered that L had
asked several aeronauts what would be the
effect Of such sudden tightening OF Il bal
loon, and they had each said It would pro-
badly burst. AS had no desire to include
this performance in my lmpromptu pro-
gramme, the knife was returned 10 us
sheath and the valve reSoued to. Inc coIo
tangled by the neck Of the balloon, ana
for some time my entire weight was aplN'-
rently inadequate to open II.
1t appears, however, that TINS was al error
OF Judgment on my part, ana that dlo
really open the valve. This must nave been
thc case. for in short time the extension OF
the dra@-ropc at III acute angle showed me
that the balloon had again descended, ana
began TO anXioUsly peer through tue mist
for signs Of the earth. They came with
vengeance. The roar of the storm over the
trees became audible again, and a moment
later the balloon emerged from the cloud.
and | saw myself nearing the forest with
alarming rapidity. | had let out 100
much yas from the valve. and the bal
loon was descending even faster than be-
fore. | had barely time to climb into the
tl,F. hn.i
dashed against 4 tall tree; the balloon
striirhtencd out in line with the wind, and
away went the whole machine, humping and
crashing over the tree-sops, your artlst-cor-
respondent studying the topography Of the
surrounding country with great energy, and
feeling a newIv-awakened but deep interest
in fine heretofore neglected subjects OF TIM
Der. meadow, and ploughed ground. Watch
ing nv opportunity, IsWung myself into
tree at q moment when the boat anu rigging
were so entancled as to deaden the way OF
The balloon; but before | could make myself
secure it again broke loose, ana some OF tue
oear. coming in contact With my hands,
scraped me OF.
Under ordinary circumstances, eehtle-
man in thin boots, and minus hat ana coat,
would consider two.mile walk In pour-
ing rain, over swampy ground, Win Incl
dental fence-climbing, ditch-wading, &c, a
lust cause for invective against the Thousand
ills that flesh is heir to. Whether the state"
mcnt that never enjoyed walk so much
before in my life will be received Simply as |
evidence that am one Of those rare beings
who accept without grumbling the dlspcn-
sations of Providence, / know not. The
circumstance may be attributed to meekness
or ecceutricty, as my readers please. 1t is a
fact. however, which will maintain till my
dying day, that of all the pedesirianism in
which / have heretofore engaged for pllr-
poses of pleasure even those well-re-
inembcred evenings by moonlight alone
with her by my side--none ever gave me
more unaloyed joy, nor did l ever labor