Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-10-14
Douot,,sou.s Balloon Forage.

Alter the collapse of the Graphic bal
loon, the proprietors turned the materia
over TO Washington Donaldson. who has
made the necessary repairs with the in
tention OF making another trial. OG
Saturday the mammoth balloon was part.
" inflated at the Capitoline Grounds,
Brooklyn, under the direction of Prof.
King, of Boston. and il could have been
started Sunday. but the proprieiors OBJ.
jectcd to going on the Sabbath. AT $3.50
Monday morning, the gas was shut OF
with 800. 900 feet in the balloon, nj 9
o'clock the ascension commenced, the
lie boat being we'll filed with ballast,
provisions, etc. Its occupants were
Messrs. Donaldson. Lunt and Ford. The
balloon rose very rapidly moving To-
wards the north. then rose higher and
took northeasterly direction; Their
moved towards the east, and finally
seemed 10 strike westerly current, and
took n course due east. At 80 it pass
ed over Glen Cove. l.. L.. going out d
sight there at 10: 10 on an east northeast
erly course. At lilo it passed VveI
Bridgeport. CT. going eastward. Prot
Fowler, of Bridgeport. measured its ALI
tude when over that city. finding il was
two miles above the earth and going the
rate OF mile minute. At IL 40 il was
seen at New Haven. going northeast. 1t
beat the railroad train from Arson Il
Seymour, and at the latter place disap'
pesred behind the clouds. 1t passed
over Waterbury AMI Litchfield, Conn, nj
the latter place bong quite near the
earth. At ll.50 it reached Canaan. CT
where the aeronauis threw out ballast
and the anchors. which were bringing il
to the earth. When they were thrown
out, the balloon beins thus lightened sail
cd off into space amidst heavy rain, and
disappeared.
4 special 10 the BusIon Herald say
that the Laliuun encountered u violent
storm near Canaan. about L. NJ; n
squall driving il with frightlul velocity
to a great height aud then down again,
spinning over the tree tops at fearful
rate. when Donaldson ave ths word Ia
lump lOr lilc. When about "thiIiI iect
from the earth. It says. Donaldson and
Ford lcapcd. and although terribly Strain
ed. were otherwise uuhdrmcd. 'Lnn'
was not quick enough. and the balloon
shot into the air, carrying BIN elingins
to the ropes lie wa' speedily IN Ihe
storm cloud again. rnd being whirled
about ia tho most alarming manner The
bag WAS shaking about above hun. anti
he could see nothing. 50 thick was the
cloud. lie seized the valve cord and al
tempted 10 open j.. but could not. Is II
was entan.lcd in the neck OF the balloon.
Saddcnly tree tops appeared above The
fog and in an instant the balloon was
whirling through the branches. Lanl
climbed 10 Il place above the couceniral.
ing ring. aud. IS the balloon rushed into
a thicket he swung himself out and drop
ped He managed To catch hold OF the
topmost limb ol II tee, but the boat
scraped over his hands. iuiciug him TO
let 60. aud he fell through the branches
to The ground. fortunately unhuri. 4 DR.
Adams drove him 10 New Canaan.
where Donaldson and Ford soon after ar.
rived in wagon belonging TO Mr..
Charles Lewis. Ul North Canaan. on
whose larm they landed. The balloon
was captured in sadly demoialized
condition mile further OH