Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-09-04
A Balloon Adventure.

A MOST thrilling scene was witnessed
last evening about dusk on the Delaware,
in front of the city, and one which came
near being attended with fatal results. A
balloon ascension had been announced to
take place at Point Airy, the southern eX-
tremity of Windmill (or Smith's) Island,
and as the hour appointed (6:30 o'clock
drew near, hundreds Of spectators gather
ed on the city wharves and upon the street
corners in the neighborhood adjacent to
the Point Airy and Smiths Island ferries
to witness the novel sight. At the hour
appointed, from Front street and Delaware
avenue the upper portion of the balloon
could be seen slowly expanding above the
lumber piles on the island, which inter-
cepted the view, and the general anticipa-
ton of the expectant multitude was that
like previous exhibitions, the ascent
would not exceed a certain altitude by
reason of stay rope attached to the bal
loon. There was no little CONSERVATION,
therefore, when shortly before seven
O'Clock the balloon shot directly upward
to a great height, without any visible
means of holding it in position. A steady
breeze was blowing from the southwest,
and as the air ship moved OFT to the north
ward its progress was watched with
breathless expectancy by gaping crowds
on both sides of the river Meanwhile the
balloonist, clad in the bespangled costume
of a circus actor, went through a variety
of evolutiOns upon the suspended bar,
which seemed to float along in the wake
Of the balloon. Now with his head to
the earth, now twisting and turning, the
daring man continued to dispOrt himself
with the utmost apparent recklessness
r., bai hat no
gymnastic operations were hardly visi-
bic, but in short time the bal
loon was observed to slowly de-
scend over the channel at Smiths Island,
the purpose of its controller having been
evidently to effect landing on the north
ern extremity of the island. Either ow-
ing to the failure Of the gas to escape
with sufficient rapidly; or because Of the
stiffness of the breeze then blowing, the
attempt was unsuccessful, and the balloon
and its manager did not come within
thirty feet of the surface, but went sweep
ing along over the river beyond. Some
distance above the island the man struck
the river, but still retained his hold Of the
| ropes, which, propelled by the fast-drift-
ing balloon, were dragged through the
water at a fearful rate Finding himself
growing weaker from the constant strain
upon his muscles and being momentarily
in danger of becoming entangled in the
ropes Of the balloon. and dragged beneath
the surface, the man finally let go his
hold, and in his exhausted condition
struck out with tired, overstrained arms
for the nearest refuge. Several small sail
boats shot out from the shore, and from
their course on the river and headed for
the now apparently drowned man but, be-
fore they could reach the sinking balloon
ist, the ferryboat America, which had left
the Market street slip to cross the bar,
reached him just as he was about giving
up, and took him on board. The credit
of his rescue is due to the night force of
the America, who lost no time in running
a ladder into the water, upon which the
man was helped on the boat in a thor
oughly exhausted condition.-Phllodek
ph5a Press, Atgust7.