Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-11-05
The Balloon Accident to Prof. Atchi-
son.

y
To MAKE their fair successful, inviting
and attractive as possible, the Directors
and Managers of the Mclean County Fair
last week advertised a grand balloon as
cension. The services of Prof. s. D.
Atchison, q daring aeronaut of Cincin-
natl, and Mr. 9. G.. Grady as manager,
with q large and handsome balloon,
equal to the Dimensions of an ordinary
cottage house, were procured. Thursday
was the day, and four O'Clock in the after
noon the hour, for the grand ascension.
The bold and dauntless aeronaut steppetii
forward and grasped the trapeze. He was
cool, calm, collected and full of nerve, as
though enjoying the commonest every
day pastime. As he grasped the trapeze,
by order of Mr.. Grady the stays were cut
and up, up shot, straight as an arrow, the
air-ship, swift and graceful in featbory
lightness. AS he ascended the guy-ropes
were dropped and on he sped, amid the
tumutuous and deafening shouts of the
people. tf1 %
When she had reached an altitude Of near
| ly half a mile dense smoke was seen issu-
| ing from the balloon, curling bluely toward
the bluer skies, when, horror of horrorsl
the balloon was discovered TO be on fire,
as some thought it was before it assembled;
| tongues of red flame would pierce through
| and dart from her sides. She was soon
! enveloped in flame and smoke andr in
stantly collapsed. The scene now beg
CARED description. Down came the aero
naut in ball of fire and smoke. The
sight was sickening and painful. The
shouts of enthusiasm were changed into
wild walls of despair. Every cheek was
| blanched with terror. Downward with
arrowy swiftness came the intrepid aero
naut, a sea of fire kissing and roaring
| &, loa1 and oil of opNnlra on
veloping him. Nearer and nearer he ap-
proaches, his face TO the fire, his feet to
the earth. On he comes till his feet strike
plumb against projecting green limb of
a tree larger than mans leg, which was
stripped from the body as though
it had been blade of fodder upon corn
stalk, so great was the force OF the con-
cussion. A second more and his feet
struck the ground with such force as to
make quite an excavation. lie instantly
fell senseless, and was thought by all to
have been killed outright. He was res
cued and borne away from under the
burning balloon, which was destroyed.
Restoratives and proper medicinal appli-
ances were resorted to, and soon the per-
ilous voyager through air and fire was
brought 10 consciousness. His left thigh
between the knee and hip,joint was shat
tered TO splinters; his other leg was
bruised and hurt his right hand was
badly lacerated, and bleeding and pain
full abrasion appeared on the left temple.
Beside these his breast was mashed in,
and it was thought he had sustained fatal
internal injuries. He manifested the ut
most GOODNESS and fortitude, and was taken
to the Lucas Hotel of that town, where he
was kindly cared for. He was still alive
when we left Calhoun on Friday, though
/ little hopes were entertained of his recov-
! cry.
p. S.-Just before going to press we re-
ceived special dispatch from Calhoun
stating that Prot. Atchison will likely sur
9 vive.-BoOIing Green (Ky.) Pdntdgrdph.