The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-07-24
A BALLOON ADVENTURE.

A BALLOON ADVENTURE.
Experiences Of Boston Party Who
Went to Sea I'm q Balloon.
The Boston Herald gives the follow
ing account of the adventures of q
party who made . balloon ascension on
the afternoon of the Fourth of July:
Leaving the Common the voyagers
quickly passed over Fanueil Hall,
across the harbor, diagonally over East
Boston, and so out over Winthrop to-
ward the sea. At this juncture the sit
uation grew Accordingly interesting to
the party, and preparations for hot
work were instantly made. The drag
rope and grappling-iron were thrown
out, but without any good effect, for
there was no one near enough to catch
the drag, and one of the prongs of the
grapple broke off as soon as it struck
earth. After that the iron slid smoothly
along and offered not the slightest re-
sistance to the balloons hasty seward
course. In q moment Deer Island was
left on the right hand, and just then a
brisk thunder shower was entered. Al
most simultaneously the balloon made q
vicious dive and the whole party got q
thorough ducking. This happened at
1885 o'clock. only twenty-five minutes
after leaving the Common, and at a
point in the bay not far from the
Graves. While all this was going on
the city's steamer, Samuel l.. Little,
and the tug Camilla had come around
Deer Island and were in hot pursuit.
One of the Portland steamers which
was on its way out, and was some dis
lance ahead, also recognized the dam
ger which threatened the balloonists
and stopped and prepared to render
such assistance as the emergency might
suggest. As it happened, however,
help as nearer al hand, and so the
Portland boat resumed her course.
Captain Edward c. Neal, in his we'll
known sloop-yacht Magic, of Lynn.
was on his way home from the Boston
regatta. and well to the windward of
the balloon. Seeing her he instantly
changed his course and ran to inter-
cept her. So nicely did he Judge the
speed of the two crafts that in q very
few minutes he was able to throw line
to the balloonist, which was caught and
made fast. Captain Neal then got his
tender into the water and pulled di-
rectly under the balloon, probably just
in time to save q couple. of lives,
for at this moment occurred q
singular succession of accidents.
While the basket was whirling and
plunging along through the water, by
some mishap Mr.. Baldwin was thrown
out of the basket, and was clinging for
dear life on the outside. Mr.. Kaler
and Mr.. Donohue were in the bottom
of the basket dragging out and throw
ing overheard the bags of ballast;
Professor Rogers was astride the hoop
directing operations and Mr.. Bradley
was in the netting ready to catch any
line which might be passed aboard.
As the Magic's line came aboard it
was caught and made fast, when the
balloon suddenly rose ten or fifteen
feet, and, Juggling vigorously at the
rope, snapped it like piece of Irvine.
This shock was sufficient to detach MIR.
Baldwin's insecure hold of the basket,
and he plunged into the sea. In the
meantime the Little had picked up
the balloons drag rope, which, as
it came taut. entangled Mr.. Brad
ley, and, pulling him from his
perch, landed him squarely and
in somewhat bruised condition aboard
the Magic's tender. He came on board
unceremoniously, but he arrived just
in time to catch MIR. Baldwin as he
came to the surface and pull him into
the boat. Relieved of the weight of
two of its occupants, the balloon shot
into the air so far as the length of its
drag-rope would permit, but, as one
end of that was fast aboard the Little,
and as the Camilla had long before got
possession of the grapple line, the I'M
ruly machine was held captive until
Professor Rogers could open the escape
valve and allow portion of the gas to
blow of. The work of securing the
balloon and transferring her passen-
gels from the basket to the deck of the
Little was soon accomplished, and q
few minutes later the great gas-bag
and all its belongings were safely
slowed on board the steamer. When
the rescue was finally completed
a point five or six miles to
the eastward of the Graves
had been reached, and all of
that distance had the adventurous
party been dragging through the wa
ter. Seeing that he could be of no fur
Their assistance, Captain Neal filed
away for home, and after courteously
Offering such further service as lay in
his power to render the Captain of the
Camilla started for Boston, carrying
with him the grateful thanks of the
rescued party. On board the Little,
Captain Ranlett did all in his power to
make the drenched and exhausted voy-
ayers comfortable, while with all pos
sible speed he steamed up to the city,
and at a comparatively early hour
landed his guests, none of whom are
much the worse off for their startling
Throughout the whole
affair Professor Rogers, who has now
made thirty-eight ascensions, behaved
with the utmost GOODNESS and discre-
ton, and his passengers feel that they
owe their lives to his skill and good
judgment.
Napoleon and Eugenie's First Meeting
and Their Marriage.
A FEW nights before the coup d'etat
President Louis Napoleon gave a grand
ball at the Elysee. The wealth and
- I'D