St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-09-24
AERONAUT ALIENS TRIP.
A Thrilling Experience.-Swept Through Spa
at a Terrific Speed


at a Terrific Speed.
Prof. Allen, the balloonist at the fair
last week, had one of the most exciting
and thrilling trips of his long career in
the balloon business after he left here on
his final ascension Thursday afternoon.
He landed in West Minot, Me-, near
Lewiston at 1890 that evening. The
Boston Sunday papers contained inter.
esting accounts oil his trip and the follow
ing is taken from the Herald
II was engaged to make an ascension
at the St. Johnsbury fair. Thursday
made several captive ascensions-that is,
ascensions made with the balloon fas-
tened to the earth, allowing it to rise
only to certain heght-and took differ
ent parties up with me. At 3.15 that
day, with my daughter Jennie, 20 years
old, and who has made number OF as
tensions viii me, the balloon was cut
loose, and we sailed away. There were
IlOuuS Oll lilS HOllZOll, anu IL lOOktu Ike
showers. After we had been up a very
short time we heard thunder, and my
daughter remarked upon the black clouds
and the Lightning.
THE balloon arose to the height of a
mile, and drifted about three miles to the
eastward. Here made descent and
let my daughter alieht. fastened the
balloon, the CALIFORNIAN, and hired man
to carry Jennie back to town.
"The clouds were growing heavier, but
thought it would soon clear up. and
told my daughter would cruise around
for time and would get back to town
in time for supper. stepped into the
car and cast off.
81 expected to land within radius OF
25 miles from the starting point, so as to
get back in time for the next DAYS as
cension. AS soon as was a short dis
tance in the air, found things had
changed for the worse. The clouds were
coming in thicker, thunder was booming
and the lightning was extremely vivid.
AS | struck the upper current of air
found myself moving very rapidly; the
balloon ceased to ascend, but was borne
along like racehorse on the wings of
the storm. When the clouds finally parted,
So that | was enabled to catch glimpse
of earth, the fields and telegraph poles
seemed to sweep by as they appear to
when riding on fast express
I'm a short time the clouds again shut
out my view, and the huge balloon was
tossed about like a boat on anangry sea
knew by the position OF the sun that
was sailing due east; and suddenly,
through rift in the clouds, | saw the
White Mountains not far away.
"The storm had abated somewhat, and
made arrangements TO aight. Ilet ont
gas enough to bring the CALIFORNIAN
down near the surface, and in this wav
skinned over Fabyan's, cleared the
peaks of what suppose were Jefferson
and Adams, with not much space to
spare, and then was whirled back and
made Il landing at the base OF Mt. Wash.
ingtou. You will understand that was
beng swung back and forth as the air
currents changed.
"The anchor now had caught on a tree
top, as thought sufficiently strong to
hold, and | began to prepare to make
some coffee, and eat a luncheon. | ate
leisurelv, and smiled to myself to think
that l was in the White Mountains in
stead of in St. Johnsburv. expected to
Il 1nI
and then catch a train and get back to
st. Johnsbury in time to make my as
cension the next day.
My lanced security, however, was
rudely interrupted, tor the storm began
again, more furious than before. The
balloon tugged at her anchorage, but for
while seemed strong enough to hold.
Suddenly, however, the cable parted, and
| was again wanderer through the
troubled regions OF air. was surrounded
by darkness, my wet clothing chung
about me like shroud was chilled to
the marrow by the fierce winds, and al
though the balloon frequently dashed
against the treetops, dared not make a
landing unassisted
IA iercer blast than the preceding one
| SWN lJt iiitO NiNdl SpdNN uEoiiit anu
flew along, ignorant of where | was to
find myself next, till again CLEAN of
light greeted me, and saw below me a
beautiful lake, village on its shores,
and beyond, the lights Of large city.
did not then know, but now think, it
must have been near Mt. Gle, just out of
Auburn, Me. dropped so close to the
earth here that a man at farmhouse
heard my cries and came out with lam
tern to seek their cause But he could
not understand what was going on, and
| drilted farther and farther away.
Assistance, however, was not far dis
tant, for not many miles farther on
saw below me another little village, and
the wind having subsidized, though a
dreary rain was falling l saw relief close
at hand. Lusty cries drew the attention
of several people within sound of my