Year: 1860

BALLOON ASCENSION AT SAVANNAH, CA
PERIL0US SITUATION OF THE ZERO
NAUTS.


The @ronaut Cevor, with companion named


Dalton made balloon ascension at Savannah


Ca, on Friday last. The following account OF


their adventures we find in the Republican of Mon.
! day, showing that although their aerial trip was
| short yet the end approached rather too near the
! tragica:


After leaving the city few miles behind them,
the ballon entered a current which bore it to the
eastward, and hence directly out to sea. The
greatest altitude attained was between % and 23I
miles, at which point the view of both earth and
water was entirely shut out. Seeing nothing and
borne along on the rapid current of alp, all was
perfectly still, and the aronauts unconscious of
motion though going at the rate of over three
miles to the minute. The roar of the ocean, though
was distinctly heard from beneath and lust then
they entered another current that bore them
rather more nOrthward. 1t was determined to de-
scend nd take the chances rather than be carried
| far out to sea. The valve was opened for the es-
cape of the gas and the grapplng-iron thrown out
to the full length of the cord, 200 feet
The balloon descended rapidly and the anchor
finally attached itself to tree on Daufuskie
Island. So great, however, was the force of the
current that the cable snapped like a thread and
the balloon suddenly mounted up to a great height
and moved off in north-easterly direction,
towards Callaboga Sound, which, though several
miles in width, had the appearance of a very mar





encounter with the water, or be carried out to sea
with all its uncertainties, became the only aterna-
tlves. Mr.. Cevor decided promptly on the former.
but so rapid was the flight of the balloon that he
had to act promptly in order to strike the Sound
The valve was raised and the ar-ship came down,
as Mr.. Cevor informs US, with almost the velocity
of cannon-ba gaining momentum in its passage. h.
1t struck the water with immense force completely
submerging the voyagers. In going down how
ever, Mr.. Cevor had the presence of mind to dip
hI car so as to enter the water edgewise and thus
IN some measure, break the force of the concus-
sion.


On rising to the surface and finding themselves
unhurt, Mr.. Cevor ana his companion became com
posed and set to work deliberately to save Them
selves and the balloon. They had lost their bal


last, provisions, everything in the descent and the
great point was to prevent the balloon from rising
out OF the water. heavy gale was prevailing in
the Sound, and they were between five or six miles
from shore. By keeping one edge of the car under
water IL would a1ord sufficient resistance to an
swer the purpose of ballast. This was done bv Mr.
Cevor, while Mr.. Dalton took his stand on the ring
to which the netting is attached, which kept the
bottom OF the Balloon on the surface. In this con-
dltion, and often submerged to their chins, the
balloon was made to answer the purpose of tow
in taking them to land. Eventually they approach
ed a marsh and discovered persons on the beach
looking with apparent astonishment at the strange
spectacle. Mr. Cevor and his companion cried for
help at the top of their voices, and soon a boat
manned by negroes and their overseer, Mr. George
Savage, was despatched to their aid. The boat
came up just before they reached the marsh and
now the great object was to discharge the gas and
save the balloon. Mr.. Cevor and Mr.. Dalton both
took hold of the cord, and in the confusion pulled
so hard as to break it short off below the valve
whereupon the latter closed and the balloon rushed
into the marsh and got wholly beyond their con-
troll. Mr.. Dalton became entangled in the cords
which became twisted around him, and had to take
out his pocket knife and cut his way out in order
to extricate himself The balloon then commenced
to ascend rapidly, Mr.. Cevor in the car, and he
only saved himself by leaping out when at a dis
tance OF twenty-five or thirty feet from the earth
lie fell into the water and mud and was unnured
The balloon shot off like an arrow towards the sea
and in the space of a minute was out of sight


Thus ended the perilous adventure The bal
loon, worth some S700, is total loss to Mr. Cevor
though under all the circumstances we consider
the party as exceedingly fortunate to have escaped
with their lives


The speed with which this Journey was made is
wonderful. The point where the balloon struck the
water is forty miles from Savannah, and thev
reached it at 5.20 they ascended precisely at O7
so they were just thirteen minutes in traversing the
distance.