The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-07-27
ERIAL PERILS.
Mile. Adele's Account OF Her Fright
full Balloon Voyage.


full Balloon Voyage.
Mile. Adele, the Syracuse balloonist,
who made perious ascension from Os-
wego, on Tuesday, gives the following &C
count Of her voyage: "After the balloon
rose it tended northwest, and began to
approach the lake. threw out win
'cr cloak, thinking it might rise into
iitferen: current which would take the
balloon away from the lake, but it still
continued to work northward, and
when over the west breakwater, l cut
off the anchor rope. and it presented Il
curious sight as it fell The water below
looked nearly black, and ] knew l had
attained great elevation and was still
rising. Shortly after the balloon was
euvelope1 in heavy snow Storm, and,
for Il few moments, could see nothing,
hut the white SHOW flakes beneath me.
The SHOW melteu ON the balloon and
filled the cordage with water, and
the additional wei light caused it to settle
Somewhat, So that, in a few moments, !
came in sight of the lake. | hung out
the red signal flag and fastened on my
cork Jacket, and SAW the sailboutS, but
could not tell which was the lifeboat. l
saw a steam tug, and though it was COM
ing to my aid, kept Sw;,ying the balloon
toward the shore, thinking | could keep
it hear enough to tl,t- beach to strike a
point Of land which saw (prUbubly
Nine Mile Point, for dreaded to plunge
into the lake. | watched the tug, and
saw that | was rectuing and gradually
working of shore. At this time the ting
Was Il mere speck in the distance. I
opened the valve and placed myself in
the basket and prepared for the plunge.
When the balloon struck the water the
basket turned over OH its side, throwing
NE over on my face and
llnInerSlng 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 under water, and
all the while was in the water up to
my arm-pits. The wind acted on the
seemed to me that it went plo,1ghing
through the wafer at Il fearful rate. I
was Oh my knees in the basket, and
reached it and clung to the concentra-
ting hoop. | didn't hear the whistle of
the tug. I realized my condition and
began to calculate the chances for res
cue. l looked back and could not see
tug, boat or sail. Off in one direction l
saw land, but it seemed to be far dis
tant, and was going fromit. resolved
to make the best Of my situation and
keey COOL NV better Judgment said:
"Don't he frightened" In cases Of ex-
treme danger L have the most self:pos-
session, and at such times feel cheer
full. AS | was dragged along | sang:
All my hopes in Thee are stayed and
kept looking over my shoulder for the
tug. 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 that verse: He saves me,
saves me now How I had watched
that tug can better be imagined than de-
scribed. saw they were gradually
gaining on me, but slowly. l must have
dragged an hour before they overlook
me. 1t occurred to me that if I could
get the globe near to the water it would
not drag so fast, and / searched out and
seized 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 rt ar
er and nearer they came, and could dis
tinguish forms and hear the putting 1t
was the sweetest music / ever heard"