The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-10
noston Bal,oonliag.
PERIL. OF FOURTH. oF.JuLr PARTY o
5s AERIAL TRAVELLERS. s

nDst0n RRlaOOninE. I
PERIL OF A. FOURTH. oF.JuLr PARTY of
AERIAL TRAVELLERS.
Saturdays Boston Herald gives the
following account OF the adventures OF d
party who made balloon ascension on the /
afternoon Of the Fourth OF July:
Leaving the Common the voyagers quick
~ passed over Faneuil Hall, across the
harbor, diaaonally over East Boston, and |
so out over Winthrope towards the sea. al |
this iunctnre the situation grew absorbing.
" interesting to the party, and preparations |
for hot work were instantly made. The
drag-rope and grappltng-iron were thrown
out, but without any good effect, for there
was no one near enough to cater. the drag.
and one OF the prongs Of the grapple broke
OFF rs soon rs 1t struck the earth. After that
the iron slid smoothly along aud offered
not the slightest resistance to the balloons
hasty seward course. In moment Deer
Island was left on the right hand, and just
then brisk thunder-shower was entered:
Almost simultaneously the balloon made
q vicious dive and the whole party got a
thorough ducking. This happened at 1885
| o'clock. only twenty-five minutes after
leaving the Common, and at point in the
bay not far from the Graves. While all
this was going, on the city 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 distance ahead,
also recognized the danger which threatened
the ballooniSts and stopped and prepared
| TO render such assistance us the emergency
might suggest. AS 1t happened, however,
help was nearer at hand, so the Portland
boat resumed Der course. Captain Edward
G.. Neal, in his wel-known sloop-yacht
| Magic, of Lynn, waS on his way home from
the Boston regatta, and well 10 the wind
ward OF the balloon. Seeing her be instant
" changed his course and. ran to intercept
her. So nicely did lie Judge the speed OF
the two craft that in q very few minutes he
was able TO throw line TO the balloonists,
which was caught and made fast. Captain
Neal then got his tender into the water and
pulled directly under the balloon, probably
Just in time 10 save couple OF lives, for at
this moment occurred singular succession
OF accidents. While the basket was whirl-
ing and planging along through the water,
by some mishap Mr.. Baldwin was thrown
: ont OF the basket, and was clnging for
dear life on the outside. Mr.. kulcr and
Mr.. Donabue were in the bottom OF the
: basket dragging out and throwing over
, board the bad = Of ballast; Professor Rogers
was asiride 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 OF fifteen feet, and tug
gins vigorously at the rope snapped it like
L piece OF twine. This shock was sufficient
to detach Mr.. Badwin's insecure hold Of
the basket. and he plunged into the sea.
In the mean time the Little had picked up
the balloons drag-rOpc, which, rs 1t became
taut, cEtan9lcd Mr.. Bradley, and pulling
him from his perch landed him squareiy and
in somewhat bruised condition aboard the
Maglc'S teuder. He came on board Un-
tremendously, but he arrived Just in time
to catch Mr.. Baldwin as lie came to the
surface and pull him into The boat Relieved
OF the weight Of two OF its occupants. tue
balloon shot into the air SC far as the length
OF its drag-ropc would permit, but as one
end OF that was fast aboard The Little, and
rs the Camilla had long before cot possess
sion OF the grapple-lne, the unrulv NIL
chine was held captive until Professor
, Rogers could open the escapc-vavc aud al
low portion Of the gas TO blow off. The
work OF securin. the balloon and trans
ferring her passengers from the basket
, TO the deck Of the Little WAS soon ac.
compilshed, and few minutes later
the great ga>-0ag AID all its belong
irgs were safely slowed on hoard the
steamer. When the rescue was finally COM
pletcd point five or six miles to the east
ward Of the Graves had been reached, and
all Of that distance had the adventurous
, party been dragged through the water.
, Seeing that he could be OF nc further assist
. ance, Captain Neal filled away for home,
and. after courteously Offering such further
service as lay in his power to render
, the captain of the Camilla, started for Bos-
ton, carrying with him the grateful thanks
!, Of the rescued party. On board the Little,
Captain Ranlett did all in bis power to make
the drenched and exhausted yoyagers COM
Portable, while with all possible speed he
steamed UP TO the city, and at compara-
lively early hour landed bis guests, none Of
whom are much the worse off for their
startling experience. Throughout the
whole affair Professor Rogers, who has
made thirty-ejght ascensions, behaved with
the utmost GOODNESS and discretion, and his
passcn gers feel that they owe their lives to
his skill and good judgment.