The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-10-09
FOR ECE,OPE VIA CANAAN.
THE ADVENTURES OF TIE GRAPHIC BAL
LOONlSTS AS TOLD By THEMSELVES.

The carrer-pigeons took to New York the
following dispatches from the balloonsts
who started for Europe on Monday, with
a disastrous result, hitherto briefly stated:
EVERYTHING LOVELY.
In THE CLOUDS, 1905 A. M-We are forty
seven hundred feet high, going northeast.
We all feel very happy. Donaldson says:
"The dream of my life is now realized"
Lunt is busy doing something with the bal.
last. and stopping every moment to admire the
SURPRISING grandeur Of the scene. 1t is very
hazy all around us, and light clouds are float
ing below. We have just heard three cheers
below, and have given " foot, toot,' with
the foe-horn in reply. We are now at an
altitude of five thousand and eighty feet, or
lust on mile. We have Just struck the lower
portion of the eastern current. we have
lust passed over Norwaik. ALFRED FORD.
Ldter.--It is now 9:20 o'clock, and we are
two thousand feet high. Lunt is raising
:. the old Harry" with the horn, and we all
feel Jolly. The scene is magnificent. The
sun shines Splcndidlv. and Donaldson has
Just been singing "Do they miss me at
home." Ford.
The balloon crossed the Sound at Glen
Cove at $50 and went n0rthward over the
lower corner of Westminster county. Then
It SHED nortncastward over Bethel, Conn,
at IL, having occupied IN hour and three
quarters in going about seventy miles. Its
next yaeary was 4 Southerly bolt Of fifteen
miles to Bridgeport, and then Il northwest
crlv one of about forty miles over New Hal
ven and Waterbury. Thus far it had drfted
about one hundred and thirty miles III two
hours and a half. During the next two hours
it floatcd slowly to the northwest, reaching
New Canaan. Litchtield county, at 1:l5.
AN ACCIDENT ON TIE AIR LINE.
New CANAAN, CoSS., October G-3 p. NJ
We have met with Il terrible misfortune. In
the midst Of n terrible storm Of rain we weIe
irving to effect Descent when it was
thought advisable that we should all leap
out. Donaldson and myself leaped twenty
feet from the boat to the earth. Mr.. Lunt,
however, was not quick enough, and was
carried away clinging to the anchor-ropes.
We fell on the farm Of Mr.. Charles Lewis, at
North Canaan, Litchield county, Conn.,, at
|1:l5P.M. was driven over to the town
of Canaan, and there, to my great SUI
prise and JOY, ! found that Mr.. Lunt
was all right. 1t appears that he Went
up the side Of the mountain in the
balloon, and that as"soon as he found
himself near the earth he jumped into u
tree. and fell down through the branches
,1pon the rocks beneath. He then walked
over to farmhouse near at hand, and was
brought over here. Of course the balloon
and everything was lost. We had very
pleasant time of it up to about y O'Clock,
when we began to get into stormy area i'll
Litchtield county. After passing over
mountain we came into 4 valley, where all
motion of the balloon was suspended, and
we were for a time shroudcd in 4 dense cloud
of mist and pouring rain. The balloon was
caught and shaken with violent gusts OF
wind. Donaldson was uncertain what to DO.
At first we thought we would wait till the
balloon came down, and then .5
CIT ALI. TIE ROPES AND DROP THE BOAT,
letting the bag escape. The storm, however,
had increased with such violence that this
seemed utterly impracticable, and Lunt adj
yised that the valve should be opened. We
were now suddenly shaken in a gllstof wind
and sent to an immense height over the val
lev. The rain, which was now pouring IN
torrents, however soon rendered the balloon
50 heavy that she came down again, spinning
over the tops of the trees, across a small
brook, and toward bank at the bottom
of the mountain. Donaldson said:s You
had better all make ready to jump
out" and placed himself at the side
of the boat. followed his example. and
thought Lunt had taken care OF himself
When we were about twenty feet from the
earth Donaldson and I jumped simulta-'
neously. We were both very much stunned,
but nothing serious happened. Donaldson,
who is looking over my shoulder MS Write
this. saws have underestimated the distance
we iumped, and that it was thirty feet. One
thing is. the ground was softened by the
pouring rain, and therefore leap from
Considerable height would be attended
with less danger. / am sorry about the
pigeons. l hope the balloon will be
found and those beautiful birds liberated.
MR.. LUNT's EXPERIENCE.
CANAAN, Conn.,, October Ga Z. M-We
were attacked by tremendous squat OF
wind and rain at fifteen minutes past l
O'Clock. and were driven near the earth with
frigiitful velocity. Everything was thrown
overheard, without avail. and rs we dashed
to the earth Donaldson and Ford spraIs Gu,
md tha balloon shot into the air, bearing me