The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-21
A LADY BALLooNIsT's WOE.
The Terrible Trip of the "Gcneral
Grant" Balloon Described by Lady
Passenger.
from the San Francisco Chronicle.l

called at the Park Hotel, Alameda, Hpon
Miss Emma Allison, the lady reporter OF
he New York Graphic, who accompanied
Professor Colgrove in the balloon which
left Woodward's Gardens on the Fourth.
Her injuries are far more serious than were
at first supposed, aud will confne her to
her room for some time to come. She was
found with her head covered with bandagcs,
her eyes blackened, and ner face Scared.
Her appearance told the story OF her dis.
astrous Journey. "Sit down." said she,
"and 1 will tell you all about it. You
see, l am Just going to try to get over
to my home in the city, though the
doctor wants me to remain here FOR few
days. think Twill feel better at home than
in strange place." A look OF pain crept
over her face, and the long, low sigh which
she uttered told its own story. PPM black
and blue all over my left side from head to
foot, and every time / move feel sharp
twinges Of pain. / can't talk fast at all, for
the physician says il do shall tear my lip
open again; you know it was cut when we
had the accident. This is the second suit
Pve borrowed since last night. Mine was
wet and tern, and the one had first be-
longed TO 2 Danish girl. who was very kind
to me at the farmhouse. But you want
to know about the accident. When we
started from the gardens I felt no
alarm or uneasinesS, though 1 confess ]
thought should. We went up like shot
from the ground, and in few minutes Mr..
Colgrove said: I'VE. are 5000 feet high
The sensation was something indescriba-
BILE; you could not convey the exact idea
in any words, for it was one OF those sensa-
tions that must be experienced by person
in order to be truly realized. There was no
motion whatever. We were simply there
with the great panorama OF land and sea,
mountsin and valley; in fact, all the world
below us. 1t was when the balloon was sta
tionary over Hunters Point that the sub
Unity OF the view came TO me with its full
est force. When we were away up there
Co!grovc said he thought he'd go sup
stairs as he called it; and I asked him
wbys He said he did not like,th way the
balloon was acting, and he showed me the
little rent through which the
GAS WAS ESCAPING.
We then went down and up again, and
then down toward the water. | saw the
little shadow, and called Mr.. ColgroYe's at.
tention to il. he acted very coolly. and
felt great confidence in him. The shadow
on the water grew larger. We thought we
were going to strike the water, and every
thing was thrown out to tighten the car.
1t was of no use, and we went down.
could see by the shadow that we were ira.
yelling very fast, though we could feel no
motion whatever. He told me to turn my
back to the water, but before I could do so
we struck and went under. I was fright
}ened, and thought my time had come to
die. We went right under the water. II lost
my bat, and my hair came down and be-
gan to blow about my face. After dragging
through the water little the balloon lifted
and we had time TO breathe. Colgrove told
me to catch the ropes and hang on. did so.
The balloon then came down, but we were
more prepared for the shock, and knew
what it meant. 1t would strike the water,
drench US, and fly up to come down again.
My mouth and ears got full OF the water,
and could hardly hang on. Then he put
his arm around my neck and told me to
lean against him and keep my senses. He
seemed to be sensible OF the danger, but
was cool and firm and not Bit frightened
| did not mind the dipping so much after
the first shock; that was the severest
one. We came down into the water
four times with great force, going under
each time. and the car struck, should
think, about thirty times. We were going
very swiftly. climbed up the ropes so as
to be out OF the water when the car struck
but it was so dangerous up there, swinging
out OF and into The car. Icame down again
lest I should be thrown out and drowned
We saw the pier ahead and knew we woulG
strike it. Colgroye said to me, III we
strike that pier it will be sure DEATH
was so tired and worn out with the knock
ing about that / had got SO that / did moi
care much. l thought there would be one
crash and then all would be over. It was
A TERRIBLE POSITION,
]. can tell you, with almost certain death be
fore YOU. He said had better get out in
the water, but I had on q pul-baek dres:
and il was soaked through and through. ]
triedto get up and he tried to help me, but
nv ole thes were like SO much lead. had
hurt my leg and could not get out OF the
car. E.e was trying to help me out, for
thought il we struck should be killed.
The ME. was struck beforeNe hardly knew
ii, and:I then received all my injuries
cannot remember much more about the
striking. knew Colgrove bad left the bal-
loon, ,iorshe had his arm about me trying to
srotect ma when we struck. Then he went
out, and I think fell in a sWGon. cannot
reaoIlect how left the balloon, for the next
thing I knsw found myself ia the mud OF
the swamp. ! struck in a real nice, soft,
taaady place, an d it was good thing for me,
as should have been dashed to pieces il
had struck: anything hard. I suppose that
the sGeperal' just threw ns out when the
ropes broke, and Pm glad he threw ne into
such 4 nice, soft place. I did not see the
balloon after,that, though | beard Golgrove
saw. sThere gees the General Grant, and
Pm oil broke up / said, Pm broke up,
.oo.' You see, I was bleeding and covered
with mud. It WAS so ludicrous could not
help laughing. Colgroye came and helped
ne I'D. for was SO stuck in the mud G,at
could no. get UP. When he saw all the
,lood he looked frightened, and asked me
where I was hurt. put up my hand ana
cit the big cash ia any head, from which
be blood was flowing, and then noticed
hat my lip was cut. I Iremember saying
Oh, Pm disfgured for life = woman.llke;
mt ii1e doctor says / will not be. it was q
arrisle moment, and hardly know how l
Ell, tor i. Il,
THE BLOOD WAS STREAMING
ut OF my head. and my side psined me very
luch. When / got on my feet be bound up
" head with handkerchief and did all ne
ouid for me. Then we commenced TO wan,
or out of fteswamp. The water and mud
ere ankle deep, Welconld not 60 back to /
,e pier, for it was too deep that way, 80 We