The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-08-17
Mile. Adele's Peril.
Adventures in Lake Ontario by the Syracuse Fe-
male Aeronaut

Adventures in Lake Ontario by the Syracuse Fe-
|, male Aeronsut.
| The following account of the expert
ence of Mile. Adele, the Syracuse aero
| naut, who made balloon ascension
from Oswego on the Fourth and drop
ped into the lake, is given by the Oswe-
go Times: After the balloon rose it
tended northwest and began to ap-
proach the lake. threw out winter
| cloak, thinking it might rise into diff
fereilt current which would take the bal
loon away from the lake, but it still
conMued to work northward, and when
over the west breakwater l cut off the
anchor-rope, and it presented a curious
sight as it fell. The water below looked
nearly black, and knew l had attain
ed great elevation and was still rising.
Shortly after the balloon was cnveloped
in heavy snow-storm, and for a few
moments / could see nothing but the
white snowfakes beneath me. The snow
melted on the balloon and filed the
cordage with water and the additional
weight caused it to settle somewhat, so
that in few moments / came in sight
of the lake. hung out the red signal
flag. and fastened on my cork jacket
and saw the sail boats, but could not
tell which was the life boat. saw
steam-tug and thought it was coming to
my aid. l kept swaying the balloon to-
ward the shore, thinking l could keep
it near enough to the beach to strike on
land which l saw (probably Nine Mile
Point) for dreaded to plunge into the
lake. l watched the tug and saw was
receding and gradually working off the
shore. At this time the tug was mere
valve and braced myself in the basket
and prepared for the plunge. When
the balloon struck the water the basket
turned over on its side, throwing me
ever on my face, and immersing me up
TO my shoulders. The globe was also
partially on its side. knew that my
only safety was in keeping inside the
basket. My weight kept it nearly un-
der water, and all the while was in the
water up to my arm pits. The wind
acted on the balloon as it would on a
sail, and it seemed to me that it went
plowing through the water at a fearful
rate l was on my knees in the basket
and reached it and clung to the concen-
trating hoop. / didn't hear the whistle
of the tug. realized my condition
and began to calculate the chances for
rescue. l looked back and could not
see tug, boat, or sail. Off in one direc-
ton saw land, but it seemed to be far
distant, and l was going from it. 1 re-
solved to make the best of my situation
and keep cool. My better Judgment
said: Don't be frightened, In cases
Of extreme danger have the most self
possession and at such times feel cheer
ful. As was dragged along / sang:
"All my hopes in Thee are stayed" and
kept looking over my shoulder for the
ting. l must have dragged twenty min
utes when | spied the steam of the tug
in the distance. / gave utterance to an
exclamation of Joy. Then came the
chorus of the verse: '.He saves me-
saves me now" How | watched that
-sng can better he imarified than de-
scriDed. l saw they were gradually
gaining on me, but slowly 1 must have
dragged an hour before they overlook
me. 1t occurred to me that if | could
get the globe near 10 the water it would
not drag SO fast, and reached out and
seized a group of the attachments and
pressed them down into the water, and
that drew the balloon nearer to the sur
face. heard the tug whistle, and near
er and nearer they came, and l could
distinguish forms and hear the yelling.
1t was the sweetest music l ever heard.