The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-10-31
Up in a Balloon.

The coveted distinction of being the
first to cross the channel from the
French side in a balloon has been gained
by the well-known young aeronaut, NJ.
L'Hoste. This result has only been
obtained by perseverance after several
unsuccessful efforts. The first time he
went up from Boulogne in company
with NJ. Eloy, and the balloon fell at
Desvres, q little town about twelve
miles inland. On the second occasion
he went up alone at midnight, and,
after descending at Dunkirk in the
morning, started afresh and was picked
up in the North Sea by a fishing boat.
Nothing daunted by perils from which
he had narrowly escaped. he made two
subsequent ascents, and each time came
down at Dixmude, little town in
Belgium. In recognition of his energy
subscription was started at Boulogne
to provide him with q new balloon, to
be called the Vile de Boulogne-sur-
Mer, and it was with this that he effect
ed his ascent from the Tuileries gardens
at Boulogne at five o'clock one Sunday
afternoon, in the presence of a great
crowd of spectators. The wind at start
ing was exceedingly light. and in order
not to overweight the balloon the aero
hstul Dhl W ACdNC OCuluu
who had arranged to accompany him
The wind carried the balloon in north
easterly direction, but half an hour
afterward it was caught by southeast
current, and after floating awhile above
the pier it took its course over the
straits at a height of one thousand
yards.
Wishing to be informed as to the
land current, NJ. L'Hoste dropped down
to about one hundred and fifty yards to
question some fishermen whose smacks
were beneath him, and also the tug
Faidherbe, which had followed him out
of the harbor. Having obtained the
necessary Information he threw out
ballast, and ascending to thirteen hun
dred yards, continued his course, with
southwest wind, which took him toward
Cape Grisnez. At 6:30 the balloon
dropped into the lower current and
kept on a favorable course, with q
breeze that varied from east to SOUTH
west At 7:30 both sides of the chan
mel were hidden by a thick fog, but at
eight o'clock the moon rose and the
aeronaut could make out steamers on
their way north. He could also dis
tinguish lights at Cape Grisnez and at
Dover. At nine o'clock, believing him.
self to be near the English coast, in
order to test the correctness of his sup
position he hailed land loudly and
heard the echo of his own voice, which
proved him right The wind con-
tinued to carry him landward, and
his attention was attracted to the
lights off Folkestone. He was then at a
height of three hundred meters. At
about ten o'clock NJ. L'Hoste saw the
English coast beneath him. He left be-
hind him a little town which he sup
posed to be Sandgate, where he was
hailed by several persons. Later on he
arranged for his descent and fell into
large field, so that he had to discharge
the gas alone. 1t was then about eleven
o'clock. and, tsking a rapid glance
around him and finding that the spot
was entirely deserted, he decided that
he would sleep beside his balloon and
made the best arrangements he could
for passing the night. Early on Mon
day morning he went to the nearest
farmhouse, at a village about twelve
miles from Folkestone. The farmer
very obligingly offered him the use of a
vehicle to convey the balloon to the
town, and travelling with 1t he returned
to Folkestone and then proceeded by
tidal boat to Boulogne, where a warm
reception was accorded him.--London
Times.