The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-10-17
MISCELLANY.
THE GRAPHIC BALLOON.
For the Old Country via Canaan.


on Monday, caring with it Professor
Donaldson, Alfred Ford, and John A.
Lunt They started with cries of "All
aboard for Europe" but landed at Ca
naan, Connecticut How it Jared after
the ascension, is thus stated:
The first course of the balloon was
due north until it had reached a proba-
BILE altitude of nearly a mile, and then
it turned east. The PROV of the boat
pointed Furopeward. Fifteen minutes
from the start the course had shifted to
the northeast, veering eastward again
when it was last seen from the Capitol
inc Grounds. The surface wind was
blowing from the south, but the balloon
seemed to have already risen above it,
and struck some sort of an easterly cur
rent. From the highest points of New
York and Brooklyn it was visible until
after 10 O'Clock, and at that time it seem
ed to be just penetrating the dense clouds.
When last seen from the signal service
room in the tower of the Equitable
building through a powerful glass it
looked like black dot in the clouds
Its distance was then estimated to be
forty miles, and it was going northeast
erly at height of about a mile.
ALL SORTS OF CURRENTS.
Two of the carrier pigeons arrived at
the farm of their owner in River Cliff,
Connecticut, before IL O'Clock. They
carried the following dispatches from
the balloon:
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 ballast, 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 "toot,
toot," with the fog horn in reply. We
have just struck the lower portion of the
eastern current. We have just passed
over Norwalk. ALFRED FORD.
Later-It is now 1920 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 mag
nifcent. The sun shines splendidly, and
Donaldson has just been singing, "Do
they miss me at homer" FORD.
The balloon crossed the Sound at Glen
Cove at $50, and went northward ovel
the lower corner of Westchester county
Then it SHE'D northeastward over Bethel
Connecticut, at II, having occupied an
hour and three-quarters in going about
seventy miles. Its next vagary was 9
southern bolt of fifteen miles to Bridge
port, and then a northwesterly one Of
about forty miles over New Haven and
Waterbury. Thus far it had drifted
about one hundred and thirty miles il
two hours and half. During the mex
two hours it floated slowly to the north
west, reaching New Canaan, Litchfelc
county, at II.
AN ACCIDENT ON THE AIR LINE.
| New CANAAN, CO nn., Oct. 6-3 P. NJ
We have met with terrible misfortue
In the midst of a terrible storm of raiI
we were trying to effect descent, wher
it was thought advisable that we Should
leap out. Donaldson and myself leapeC
twenty feet from the boat to the earth.-
Mr.. Lunt, however, was not quicl
enough, and was carried away clingini
to the anchor ropes. We fell 'on tn
farm of Mr.. Charles Lewis, at North Ca
naan, Litchfeld county, Connecticut.
was driven over to the town of Canaan
and there, to my great surprise and jo..
1 found that Mr.. Lunt was all right.
appears that he went up the side of tn
mountain in the balloon, and that as sool
as he found himself near the earth, b
jumped into a tree and fell down througl
the branches upon the rocks beneath
He then walked over to a farm hous
near at hand, and was brought over here
|
was lost We had very pleasant tim
of it up to about II o'clock, when we be
gan to get into stormy area in Litch
: field county. After passing over a noun
tain we came into valley, where al
motion of the balloon was suspended
and we were for a time shrolded in
l dense cloud of mist and pouring rain
! The balloon was caught and shaken wit
: violent gusts of wind. Donaldson wa
uncertain what to do. At first we though
e we would wait until the balloon cam
down, and then cut all the ropes an
e drop the boat, letting the bag escape
The storm, however, had increased wit
1 such violence that this seemed utterl
4 impracticable, and Lunt advised that til
I valve should be opened. We were no
e suddenly shaken in gust of wind an
a sent to an immense height over the va
ley. The rain, which was now pourin
e in torrents, however, soon rendered ii
balloon so heavy that she came dow
again, spinning over the tops
y the trees, across a small brook, an
: toward a bank at the bottom of IL
/ mountains. Donaldson said. "You ha
IS better all make ready to jump out" al
(, placed himself at the side of the boat
followed his example, and thoug
n Lunt had taken care of himself. Wht
l. we were about twenty feet from the ear
: Donaldson and I jumped simultaneou
e ly.
d The balloon was found about mi
q from Canaan.
Could we but live our life over agai
e. starting from boyhood, how many erro
r how many mistakes would we try
te avoidl Men and boys make mistake
j. We wonder they do not commit MOI
j. Many spot in the road of life won
,r be avoided. We should try to be mo
n brave; more earnest in defence of t
Al. L