New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-12-02
Exciting Balloon Adventure.

s. An exciting balloon adventure was
Witnessed at Dover. The occupants
OF the balloon, who had narrow es-
cape with their lives, were Captain
Dale, A. Crane and F. Carew. The
balloon which started from the neigh
borhood of Folkestone, was first
sighted at Dover at about 4 o'clock.
1t was then sailing at great altitude
ever the neighborhood of Shakes
peare's cliff, and was being driven to-
ward the castle before fresh westerly
wind. The occupants of the car it
was noticed, were diseharging a great
quantity OF ballast, apparently hav-
ing some difficulty in keeping the bal
loon up. Soon after it had passed
over Dover Castle it was seen that
something was wrong, and that the
balloon was descending very rapidly.
At this time the aeronauts were over
the channel, about two miles from the
shore, and the utmost excitement pre-
vailed In the town, the people Assem-
bling IN great numbers on the piers
and sea front. The balloon con-
tinued to descend very rapidly, for
the moment sinking and then being
dragged through the water. Several
boats put off from shore, but they were
unable to get anywhere near the bal
loon, owing to the rapid rate at which
the wind carried it. Mr.. Reader, the
Captain OF the Dover tug Granville,
who went to the rescue, says his at
tentlon was first drawn to balloon.
at about 5 o'clock It was then de-
scending very rapidly off the shore be-
tween the convict barracks and the.
South Foreland. Seeing the danger
Gus situation of the aeronauts he at
once weighed anchor at the Admiralty
pier and proceeded at full speed to.
the spot. One of the London Steam
Navigation Company's steamers, the.
Sir Walter Raleigh, which had just left
the Admiralty pier with passengersf for
Ramsgate, also gave chase, the g5eat-
est excitement prevailing among the.
passengers. The balloon struck the
water little to the westward of the
South Foreland lights and the car.
sank. 1t was feared that the, occu-
pants were lost, as the balloon went
over on her side and rolled about a
good deal on the water, but the men
We're soon seen clinging to the ropes
and signaling for assistance. Al
though the tide was setting in the oppo-
site direction, the balloon was impell~
ed through the water by the wind at a
great rate, and the tug gained on them
| very slowly. The men were seen to be
in very exhausted state when the
tug was within half mile ofthem. A
galley, manned by some travellers who
had sighted the balloon, shot out
from St. Margaret's bay, and just sue
ceeded In getting out to the balloonas
she was drifting by, the tug being with
IN half a mile OF them. Lines were
| thrown to the aeronauts, and they
were hauled into the galley with much
difficulty. They We're very much ex-
hausted by their immersion, and were
at once taken ashore, where restora-
tives were administered. The cause
OF the accident is said to be due to
Captain Dale losing control of the reg
ulator at the top of the balloon. The
balloon had evidently lost large
quantity OF gas, as it partly collapsed
on the tug coming up to it. Prepare
tons were made by the Captain ofthe
| tug to secure the balloon, but it sud
denly rose from the water soon after
it was released from its impediment,
and assembled to a great height, drift
ing away over the cliffs in the direction
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