Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-10-13

1t beat the train from Ansonia to Sey-
mour, and was seen at Waterbury at
noon and at Watertown at 1890. After
passing over Watertown its course
changed toward the northeast and it
sailed slowly over Litchfeld, where it
was low enough to enable the occupants
to hail man who was working in
field.
TWO CARRIER PIGEONS
were dispatched bearing the following
messages:
1T is now twenty minutes past 9 /
o'clock and we are 1000 feet high. Lunt
is raising the old Harry with the horn
and we all feel jolly. The scene is mag
nifcent. The sun shines splendidly and
Donaldson has just been singing DO
they miss me at Home. Mr.. H. H.
Wheeler of Brooklyn was the last man
we could distinguish from aloft.
(Signed) Ford
..IN THE CLOUDS, 1906 A. NJ. We
are 400 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
ballast, and stopping every moment to
admire the surprising grandeur of the
scene. 1t is very hazy all around us, and
light clouds are floating below. We
have just heard three cheers below and
have given a .toot-toot' with the fog
horn in reply. We are now at an alti-
tude of $3.50 feet. or just one mile. We
have just strnck the lower portion of
the eastern current. We have just pass
ed over Norfolk.
(signe6 ALFRED Ford
LATER.
The aeronauts had a pleasant time of
it up to about noon. when they began to
get into the stormy area of Lltchfeld
county. After passing over mountain
they arrived at a valley where all mo-
tion of the balloon was suspended, and
they were for time shrouded in dense
cloud of mist and pouring rain. the bal
loon every now and then being caught
and shaken by violent gusts of wind.
The adventures were uncertain what to
do. At first they thought they would
wait until the balloon descended suffi-
GENTLY and then cut all the ropes and
drop the boat letting the bag escape.
The storm, however, soon increased with
such violence that this was given up as
impracticable, and it. was decided to
open the valve; but at this moment
Q:1O P. NJ the balloon was struck by a
tremendous squall of wind and rain and
was driven to an immense height above
the valley and then down again to the
earth with frightful velocity, spinning
over the tops of the trees. across a small
brook and towards bank at the bottom
of the mountain. Donaldson then gave
the order to prepare to jump. and he
and Ford scrambled to the side of the
boat, and when the balloon had reached
within thirty feet of the earth sprane
simultaneously. They were very much
strained, but were otherwise unframed
Lunt was not quick enough and the bal
loon shot into the air, carrying him
clinging to the ropes. He was speedily
in the storm cloud again and being whirl
ed about in the most alarming manner
The bag was shaking about above hin
with awful force and he could see moth
ing, so thick was the cloud. He seizcc
the valve cord and attempted to open it
but could not, as it was entangled witt
the neck of the balloon. Suddenly he
tops appeared above the fog, and in al
instant the balloon was whirling through
the branches. Lunt climbed to plac'
above the concentrating ring and, as th
balloon rushed into thicket, he swun!
himself out and dropped. He managed
to catch hold of the topmost limb Of
tall tree, but the boat scraped over hi
hands. f,rcing HIM to let go, and he fel
through the branches to the ground, for
tunately unhurt. A DIR. Adams drov
him to New Canaan. where Donaldson
aud Ford soon afterward arrived in
wagon belonging to Mr. Charles Levi
of North Canaan, on whose farm the
landed. The balloon was captured in
sadly demoralized condition mile fun
Their OH.