Year: 1869

Explosion of the Balloon Nearly


Three Miles Above the Earth Won.


derful Escape from Death.


From the Saginaw (Mich.) Enterprise.l


On the occasion of Professor La Noun
tain's recent balloon ascension from Bay
City-he met with q terrible adventure,
and very narrowly escaped death. The
balloon was filled before starting to Its
utmost tension, but, owing to recent re-
/ pairs, leaked badly, so that after one or
two unsuccessful attempts Mr.. Headley,
who was to have accompanied Professor
| La Mountain, was obliged to get out OF
the car. Mr.. H. had the eatables, instru-
ments of observation, and tissue-paper
used to ascertain the ascending and de-
scending force of the balloon, and as be
stepped out of the car, before he could
transfer the articles named, those who
had hold of the car let 90, and the balloon
shot up with rspidity that carried it to
an altitude of two miles within few
minutes. A perfect gale of wind was
blowing at the time, and a moment after
rain and sleet commenced falling. The
balloon was still ascending when lost tc'
sight in cloud. Professor La Mountain,
in relating his experience, says that it
became all at once intensely cold. The
cloud he entered was one swim ming mass
of snow fakes, interspersed with rain,
which formed a frost-work on the netting.
| The cloud, with the snow q axes forming
and flying hither and thither, had, as
he expressed it, the appearance of cloud
of steam through which the sight could
not penetrate. The earth was lost to
view. By tearing up bis handkerchief
and throwing out shreds he became con-
scious that he was passing upward with
wonderful rapidity, and along with the
current of the air eastward toward the
lake. Nothing was di,cernible but the
thickening mist, and overhead his bal
loon, which, as the air became lighter,
bad expanded the thin cloth covering to
it's utmost length. Fearful that he might
be carried into the lake, and without
pound of ballast to regulate his descent,
be reached for the valve rope with the in
tention of lowering himself gradually.
To his surprise the valve would not open.
The rain and sleet accumulating on the
top of the balloon had frozen the valve so
tight as to resist the pressure from below.
Putting his whole strength to the task,
he gave strong pull on the rope, pull
ing out the iron staple attaching the rope
to the valve, the rope falling down into
the car. The balloon was mounting up
faster than ever. II had passed the
storm cloud, which was mile below, and
the heavens above were as clear, and the
sun shining as bright, as at midday in
June. But the ar was very cold,
and La Mountain was benumbed with
cold. But little time was lost
in speculation. He had attained
height of over three miles. The'balloon
could not burst, for when the expansion
became too great the gas could escape
from the aue or valve below, which was
open; but he was fearful of being carried
into or over the lake without having made
preparations for such an event. Mount
lug the hoop overhead be reached for his
knife, only to find that be had left it on
the ground. ChngiDg TO the, rope with
one hand, with the other and his teeth,
after some exertion, he succecd ded in tear
ing a rent in the balloon from the bottom
Ten or fifteen feet upwards. Then serv-
ing the opposite side the same way, he
descended to the car to watch the progress.
During this operation the ends OF the
fingers of both hands had become frozen.
For a few minutes the balloon kept as
ceuding, and then, as the gas escaped, it
reached an eauiRose, 9ud q moment after
commenced gradually to descend 10 the
earth. Every instant ineressed ito down.
ward speed. The Professor says that he
heard tie cloth tearing, the rents enlarg-
ing, until, with crash that sounded like
deSih-kneil, tho cloth gave way to the
pressure, opening seam on beth AIDES
from the bottom to the top. The gas es-
capped instantly, leaving not thousand
cubic feet, while the air rushed in, filling
I'D the vacuum, the balloon acting as
parachsts. The Professor is of opinion
that at the height Of two lsilss there was
not foot of gas in the balloon. The
cloth, bellyirg out, formed strong re-
sstance to the atmosphere, and retarded
tpc seScent, He remembers distinctly
passing through closd, end the. sensa-
ton on regaiDlug sight Of the garth: he
has an almost indistiuct RECOLLECTION oi
approaching the earth's surface A dull
moaning like the spFaing of the waves
greeting bis ears, the tapping of the cloth
became louder and a moment after be
became unconscious. 0u reeaining his
ssnses Le fopud himself lying in the
woods, and his balloon las some yards
distant. Several psFsons who had seen
the balloon descend had come to the
scene and were standing near. They at
terwards assisted him. His arms and
legs were badly bruised, and himself
stunned, but no bones were brokes or in
terpal injury sustained. The spot where
be fell ia segen e,les from Bay City. de
stopped oyer night at a farB hoHse near
BIZ, and yesterday morning returned TO
Bay City. The time that be vas IN the
air was less than thirty minutes, and the
reason that be was not carried further
was on account of passing through diff
fa,or4 n.rranfa .f air