Connecticut western news., 1910-11-10
AVIATION IN CANAAN
When the Graphic Trans-AtIantic Bal-
 loon Game Over the Mountain

tOOn Safne over tne mOunTdln.
 In all the thrilling experiences reported from the aviation fields of Belmont Park and other sporty resorts of the sky-sailors, nothing is yet recorded in terms graphic enough to stir the probabilities of the average Canaanite to the pitch to which they were stirred by the startling spectacle of the big Graphic Trans Atlantic" balloon that came bounding and whirling over Canaan Mountain. on the 9th of October, 1873, thirty-seven years ago. This ill-fated Graphic balloon expedition was notable event in the history of aeronautics, and for thrill. risk and exciting features has not been eclipsed by any of the more recent spec tacular performances of the up-to-date "aviators."
 The older residents remember, with vivid distinctness, the appearance of the great aircraft as it ioomed over the brow ot the mountain during 8 terrific storm, and came swaying and plunging down into the valley. with it's 24.foot life-boat dangling below, and three aeronauts on its deck frantically trying to either make landing or find a safe place to jump out their hazardous leap for life; their miraculous escape from destruction; their memorable experience with tho people in the neighborhood, who helped to rescue and guard the balloon and rem dered aid and comfort to the heavenly visitors and had to resort to litigation for their reward-all this the older resi- dent will readily recall
 The expedition was promoted by the Brooklyn Daily Graphic; and it was de. signed that the balloon was to cross the Atlantic under the direction of Profess sor Donaldson, famous balloonist who Hnally was drowned in Lake Michigan while trying to sail over that body of water in balloon. His companions in the Graphic airship were Professor Geo. A. Lunt and Alfred Ford, reporter for The Graphic. They left Brooklyn for Europe at 9:15 that morning, ard two hours later landed in Canaan, the balloon a wreck, and the aeronauts a bedraggled, bumped, bruised and sorry-looking trio.
 Adverse winds had taken them from their course, and the drenching rain storEa had weighted the gas-bag contain ing 300,000 cubic feet of Brooklyn gas to such an extent that it could not go above the storm, and when it reached Canaan Mountain and settled into the valley it was buffeted back and forth up and down the mountain-side for an hour and half in the violent rain and wind storm be- fore the occupants dared to jump for their lives. a.
 Finally it drifted over spot on the Charles Lewis place, which looked safe enough for leap, and Donaldson and Ford jumped to the earth, 3ofeet below, fortunately escaping serious injury. Be- fore Lunt could jump, however, the balloon, frightened of the weight of the others, bounded upward and carried him a considerable distance away, yanking the boat through the branches of the trees and travelling at race-horse speed across the valley and back. Lunt watched his opportunity and finally sprang out into a treetop and fell down through the branches to the ground, while the balloon travelled on at a low . altitude and was finally captured by the crowd of men and boys who had followed it's course since it first came in sight. ] Lunt, who had struck the earth not far from the Barnum- Richardson Go. s furnaces, was conveyed to Canaan depot, where he was surprised and overjoyed to find Donaldson and Ford had arrived ahead of him, and in the telegraph office theyall kissed one another like a lot of school girls.
 In the meantime the balloon, which had collapsed on Charles Lewis land, was visited by hundreds of sight seers and relic hunters, and as the balloonists subsequently, alleged, everything that could be lifted and carried away was purloined by the souvenir-fends. Bills aggregating $900 were presented by the residents for services in rescuing, guard Ing, dSslSGduCeJ 0JC'J ehllu JuS DallOOA dud its equipment attached for security by Deputy Sheriff Richmond. Later the property was released by replevin and loaded on cars and shipped for Brooklyn, but got only as far as Winsted, when another attachment was served, and the bills finally settled for $200.
 One noteworthy sequel to the Graphic event was reported from Litchfeld, where an inmate of Buell's sanitarium, named Hemingway, from Boston, who had not spoken word in twelve years, exclaimed when he heard of the passing of the balloon over that town:
 "A balloon? I'll go out and see it. " And from that time he never had any more difficulty with his power of speech.