Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-09-22

NovEl. BlLooNING-A WOMAN AND A
LION AsCEND-AND GLAND IN THE WA
TER. Miss llcleue Augusta narrates,
in The Cincinnati Star, novel balloon
voyage. In using gas made from hard
coal wc Get q lifting power forty to
forty-tour pounds to each one thousand
feet, while with soft coal, such as is
used in Cincinnati, the lifting capacity
is ever twenty five to thirty pounds-a
vast difference in small balloon; and
so, owing to this fact, | made the ascen-
sion Instead of Professor Gilbert, at
few minutes after the time advertised
$50 p. accompanied by one of the
Young lions Of the geological Garden.
This young fellow was brother, as
| owe my dip in the Ohio river to his
frantic efforts to get out of the basket,
lie taking all my time to keep him
ouiet. On entering the basket it was
found necessary TO leave the drag rope
"A very valuable adjunct to balloon
in landing-also pail of water | wish
ed to carry, and could only take my
anchor and its rope attached, with one
bar Of sand as ballast. Ere rising fifty
feet the balloon began to settle, com
pelling the throwing out of even this.
then started very rapidly amid the
shouts and waving of handkerchiets
OF the vast numbers present. At first |
held the young lion in my arms, but
not very long, as my attention was
necessarily to be given to the balloon.
He growled at starting, evidently not
wishing to 90: so | put him in the bot
tom of the basket, where he amused
himself by snarling, growing aud
crawling up the outside of my dress.
Putting him down, he then would work
himself halfway to the top of the bas-
ket, thus taking up nearly all my atten-
ton.
must have risen over a mile by the
time was nearing Eden Park, and |
intended to land there, but I found it
impossible. Then l discovered / was
bearing toward Kentucky, and not
desiring to land there pulled the
valve-cord, hoping to land on this side.
In an instant l saw that it was impossi-
bic, so | shut the valve; but the balloon
had lost so much power that if passed
over the river would do well.
She was not able to cross, however,
and rapidly descended in the Ohio
river, opposite place called Bellevue
l think, Just above Newport. l struck
about the middle Of the river, and was
rapidly being carried down stream the
basket sinking waist deep, while the
balloon bag maintained its upright
position. The lion had to be saved,
and my attention was given to him, as
the managers fthe Zoo had informed
me that he was very valuable, and | did
not wish to sacrifice him. So taking
him in nv arms, l awaited events, grad
ually sinking.
a number of boats put out from each
side of the river, but a noble young
gentleman, Mr.. John S. Littletord, see,
ing my predcament plunged in and
swan out far enough to catch the rope,
which was floating. He was joined
very soon by gentleman named Arud
hatehhorn, and their united efforts soon
Drought US ashore, myself rather watery
rs wei Is Mr.. Lion, whom | wrapped
up III coat, seemingly well pleased at
this ana now remarkably docile.
The following strange freak of light
ming is told by the Kiugwood Journal:
During the storm last week win /,
Boughner, of Rowlesburg, member Of
the firm of NJ. E. Howe j. Co., lumber
manufacturers, was walking along the
railroad track while the thunder was
rumbling and the lightning flashing,
when he felt slight, strange sensation
about his head. Removing his hat at
once, he discovered that the band of his
new blue hat was gone, the binding
neatly removed, and piece from the
edge OF the brim of the hat, about
quarter of an inch wide and three inch
Is long, had been neatly torn away.