Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-11-08
CALIFORNIA BALLOONING.
Hunting for the Raptoriy current-A Ludicrou'
Adventure,


The Ana Cali6,rnia says that two re.
porters, representing tue ohron'e" s an,
the Cali, made a balloon ascension lsou,
San Franrlsco the other day In search OF
he "easterly current" Ine lo'o"iHs
account Of the attempt Is given -.
"They placed two bags OF sane, onr
hnelset Of sand. ak bottles OF soda water
and one bottle Of whisky, Into the bassel,
Inmned in themselves and were cut leose
The dav was serenely beautiful. Not
breath Of wind was stirring. Up they
rose. slowly out went the two sand bags,
and M they went faster. They We're
soou at a distance Of three thousand feet
above the sea, and directly over the
Gardens.
1That easterly current was then en-
eountered, but II happens TO be going
towards the northwest. They took pass
age on this fickle object of their scientific
inouiry. and were coon floating over the
Golden Gate. Al O short time before
dark Il became evident that they were
going ont TO sea, or else up tto coast,
Instead of towards New York. There
was general CONSERVATION among their
friends, and the Young gentlemen would
have felt highly gatlhed TO hear the
numerous tributes to their daring that
we're indulgfd In by the spectators
"The descent Of man was next de-
scribed by the balloon, which came
pluuglng down through the air from us
great height. It was observed to drop IN
the vicinity of Point Dlablo, 10 the sea-
near the spot where the Costa Rica went
ashore. Ii rebouuded and struck again
Then II was seen sailing oil, rising to
great height, and moving norlhwards
Just at dark Il was about one mile out
from the land 10 the Vicinity Of Bollnas
Bay, twelve miles north Of the Golden
Gate. That easterlY current was work
Ing well, indeed. II happened, however,
that help was at hand when the balloon
struck the water near Point Dlahlo.
"a Whitehall boat was lying of North
Head and had lust started to return To the
city when the two men In the boat dis
covered the balloon defending near them,
and pulled 10 its direction. They were
within a few feet of Il when II struck the
water, the basket going well under the
waves, and souslng the two '9rials.
/ As II rebounded, the Call man let 20, and
was caught by the boatmen and dragged
| into the boat. Before letting 20 he
yelled to the Chronicle man TO jump, hut
the latter beld ou to the outside OF the
basket with a desperate grip.
"As soon as the balloon was relieved OF
the weight of the Call man, II shot up In
| the air again to the height of quarter
of mile with the Chronicle man dang
| ling on the outside. lie was encouraged
| by calls from the h0atmCn-' Let 20, let
| 90, YOU fool, > while the Call man shouted,
| as loud as bis chattering teeth would let
him, Hold on hold on you are all
| right
'"The balloon was drifting slowly sea-
ward and gradually descending. Al
though II was fast growing dark, the
boatmen pulled hard, and were up with
ii when II struck the second time. As
soon as the Chronicle man again felt the
splash Of the sad sea waves,' he let "a
with his hands, but his feet held on, and
he plunged head. foremost into the 'briny
deep lie was being lifted from his bath
by the heels, when the hoatmen caught
the basket and held on until they got him
loose. They tried to save the Balloon
but il was unmanageahle, ana came neal
capszing the boat, SO they were compelled
TO let 90, and il sailed away IN search Of
the eastern current.
The Chronicle man had lost his hat,
and was inclined to upbraiA the hoaimeI
for not saving it. A tug boat which was
passing inside, towed the boat 70 Mtigg'
wharf, where the 'ieronauts, after offer
iug couple Of salt water soaked cigar
to the b0atmen, were hrdyd. ]. is sal,
that they tremhlcd so that they cOult
scarcely stand, and looked as though
they had seen the ghost Of all their dea,
relatives. The bOatmcn, Chas. Hodge
and WIN. McGiunis, deserve much prais
for their bravery in saving them, rs the.
were in imminent danger Of being cap
sized while doing So