The New York herald., 1873-10-07
THE MAMMOTH BALLOON FIzzLE-

Another Failure I'm the Clouds-The Big
Bag Breaks Down in Connectfcut-Tho
Pigeon Despatches-How the Balloon
Rugged the Mountain-The Whole
Details Of the Voyage I'm . Nutshell.
The transatlantic balloon that was to sail so de-
liciousy across the wide, wide ocean, went up,
after some hard struggling, yesterday morning, at
nineteen minutes past nine O'Clock. The starting
scene was, usual, OF the Capitoine grounds, aud
the aerostat was the same old bag, but somewhat
diminished in size. that Professor Wise pro-
nounccd unit for any expedition. badly con.
structed and rotten from the weather. Although
the mammoth gasbag was partially repalred
and improved in Its arrangements, 80 that somd
sort OF an ascension became feasible, the affair
arose to remain up only for q while and then fell
prostrate again, complete failure: or course it
was altogether too stormy yesterday, and there
are other excuses to be given why the slxty-nour
trip across the ocean could not be made Just
now
After rising the balloon sailed due east and AFTER
wards In northery direction, until at last sne
kept in the balloon, and despatches we're sent DY
them 10 tell the whereabouts OF the aer0nautss =
FIRST PIGEoN..Ten O'Clock A. NJ, Rye, West
chester county. "a balloon has just passed over
this place."
SECOND PrGEoN.-Bethe Conn.-'The gasbaQ is
coming on Its trip this way" +
THIRD PIGEONS SToKY.-Bridgeport, Conn.,, Oct.
g. IL A. M.-"Ihe balloon has just passed over this
FOURTH PrGEoN.-New Haven. Conn.,, October 9,
II 4o A. M.-"Ihe balloon has just passed five miles
FIFTH PIaEoN-.in the clouds,n 1906 A. NJ
1--WE are all very happy. Donaldson is dreaming
and Lunt is liking his ballast"
SIXTH PIGEoN.-Waterbury,2 P. MAI quar-
ter-past one p NJ. the balloon passed over the land
OF Canaan, Conn.,, and at twenty-five minutes past
one P. N. the bag descended and the cats Jumped
The last pigeon that brought despatch was an
dated October Ga p. M.-"The storm has arisen.
We have met with terrible disaster. We fell ON
Litchaeid county, Conn., at . quarter-past ono
O'CLOCK"
medium sized hill in the above locality and began
to mug the big trees and knock It's uncouth ap-
pendages against the projecting rocks to the great
and shaking from the wind and rain in the nonsen-
seal Old bag. Then Mr.. Donaldson said "he did not
know what to do" whereupon Mr.. Lunt suggested
ito open the valve and let the gas out Of her.v
They were then shaken by gust Of wind, aud so
violently that the good people OF Canaan could n0t
understand where the screaming came from.
Donaldson then said, "Let us all jump out.n The
bag was only thirty feet from the ground and
soon after only twenty feet above ground. Lunt
jumped into tree and fell down through the
Mr.. Ford jumped opt simultaneously. The despatch
further describes Mr. Lunt's critical position in the
air sweeping the cobwebs on the sky and asking
walingly yet resignedly 81 am sorry about tho
pigeons. hope the balloon will be found. We Will
bring 1t down in the morning.
"P. S.-The balloon has been found mile rom
here"
Such is the story mystery and curious train Of
circumstances which attended the tragic balloon
ascension yesterday. The bag has burst once more
and for the last time. The next TINE @ ~ "a ascension
made, and It Is hoped the weather wiz be more
favorable and the people better pleased. The bals
and without doubt will the Atlantic In sixty
hours. 1t will be very nice indeed.