Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-22
CHASING A BALLOON AT SEA.
A Startling Scene in the English Chan
mel.
From the London Standard.

From tho London Standard.
An exciting balloon adventure was
witnessed at Dover last evening. The
O'clock, sailing at great altitude over
Shakespeare's cliff, and being driven
toward the Castle before a fresh westerly
wind. 1t was noticed that the occupants
of the car were discharging great
quantity of ballast, apparently having
some difficulty in keeping the balloon up.
Soon after it had passed over Dover
Castle it was seen that something was
wrong, and that the balloon was descend
ing very rapidly. 1t was then over the
Channel, about two miles from the shore,
and much excitement prevailed in the
town, the people assembling In great
numbers on the piers and sea front. The
balloon continued to descend rapidly
until 1t reached the water, through which
the car was dragged. Several boats put
off from the shore. but they were unable
| TO get near the balloon, owing to the
rapid rate at which the wind carried it
along. Mr.. Reader, the Captain of the
Dover harbor tug Granville, who went to
the rescue, has made the following state
ment
He says his attention was first drawn to
the balloon about . O'clock. 1t was then
! descending rapidly off the shore, between
the Convict Barracks and the South Fore
! land. Seeing The dangerous situation of the
8r0nauts, be at once weighed anchor at the
Admiralty pier, where he was lying, and
proceeded at full speed TO the spot. One
Of the London Steam Navigation Com
pany's steamers, the Sir Walter Raleigh
which had just left the Admiralty pier
with passengers for Ramsgate, also gave
| chase. The balloon struck the water u
| little To the westward of the South Fore
land lights. AS soon as the balloon
touched the water the car sank, and it
was feared the occupants were lost, as
! the balloon went over on her side and
! rolled about great deal on the water.
But the men were soon seen clinging to
the ropes and signaling for assistance.
Although the tide was setting in the OPP
pOsite direction, the balloon was impelled
through the water by the wind at great
rate, and the tug gained on them very
| slowly. The men were seen to be in u
very exhausted state. When the tug
| reached within half mile of them, a gal
ley, manned by some travellers by whom
the balloon had been sighted shot out
from 81. Margaret's bay, and succeeded in
| getting to the balloon as she was drifting
| by, the tug being then within halt n mile
| OF them. Lines were thrown to the 1ro-
nauts, and they We're hauled into the gal
| ley with great dtmculty. Iney were very
much exhausted, and were taken ashore
at once, where Testoratiyes were admins.
tered. The accident is attributed 10 Capt.
Dale losing control Of the valve at the top
! OF the balloon. The balloon had evidently
| lost "A large quantity OF gas, rs it partly
! collapsed on the tug coming up to 1t.
! Preparations were made by the captain
of the tug TO secure the balloon, but it
suddenly rose from the water soon after
It was released from its impeachment, as
cended to a great height, and drifted away
over the cliffs in the direction OF Rams
| gate.