Year: 1869

On the 5th instant the balloon


Hyperion ascended at Buffalo, car


rying up Prof. King and four gen.


tlemen of the press: one Of whom,


a writer in the Buffalo Commercial
Advertiser, has published a long
and exciting account of the trip,


from which we condense the fol-


lowing narrative. The ascent was


made at 4:15 P. NJ. Attwelve min
utes to five the drag-rope fell into
Lake Erie, causinga serious loss,


as there were but twelve bags of
ballast on board. The narrator
continues.


A DESCENT INTO THE LAKE.


At twenty-five minutes past FIVE
o'clock, being then pretty nearly
three quarters of mile high, and
about opposite Point Abino, the
balloon commenced descending, the
momentum constantly Increasing,
as Prof King notified US. He also
gave US to understand that we
should 60 into the water, but as
sured US that there would be no
danger, as we would quickly rise
again. He instructed all to grasp
the ropes firmly, to step upon the
edges of the basket when we struck,
and to be careful not to be thrown
out by the shock. All this was ut
tered in an instant, and in less than
two minutes, as it seemed, the
balloon struck the water. The
shock was quite violent, but we
maintained our positions, and moth
ing serious followed. The bottom
of the basket sank but a few inches
beneath the water, on which it |
skinned for something like hun
dred feet. A portion of the proyis-
ions were soaked, and our over
coats and feet got wet. A small |
quantity of ballast was discharged,
and we again rose. .f


The voyagers made another de-
scent, fifteen minutes later, but i'm
mediately arose to an altitude of
two miles, travelling at the rate of
thirty miles an hour. At twenty
minutes to six they passed over the
village of Eden, and shouts were
heard asking them to come down,
and agreeing to furnish them with
a conveyance back to Buffalo.


DOWN WE GOMEZ


Having determined, says the
writer, to accept the kind invita-
ton extended by the people of |
Eden, Prof King suffered the ba-
loon to descend gradually, and at
twenty-five minutes to seven we
came to the earth in an oat field |
belonging to Mr.. Michael Hutchin-
son, one mile and a quarter east of
Eden village. The anchor was let
90, but dragged upon the ground
until we had passed into an adjoin-
ing corn field, when one of the men
who had come after Us threw him
self upon it, and the Hyperion was
brought to a stand still.


After a sufficient number of men
had taken hold of the basket to
prevent the balloon from ascend
ing, Prof. King gave permission to
those Of his passengers who wished
to get out and stretch their legs to
do so, which we did. After
pleasant chat of fifteen minutes
duration, the command was given
to re-embark. We bade our friends
good bye, and scared away amid
expressions of good will and hearty
cheers, which we duly reciprocated


AWAY wEGol


Ascending with speed, we soon
reached an altitude Of a mile, and
while drifting about ate our suppers
and chatted pleasantly. At Z: II
we struck a current OF colder air,
and travelled southerly at distance
of dozen miles from the lake
shore, as we were told by Prof.
King, although to the untraveled
balloonist it appeared but across a
couple of fields or so.


The voyagers now wished to de-
scend, but dared not On account of
the prevalence of forests in the
country over which they were sail
ing. At last all their ballast gave
out, and the bottom boards of the
car were taken out and split and
thrown over as occasion required.
At last they came to a part of the
country where they thought land
ing might be attempted, and they
prepared to:. descend accordingly.
CRASHING THROUGH THETREE TOPS.


We could now distinctly see the
trees, apparently in front and on
either side of us, and here again
Prof King counseled us:


"Hold fast to the ropes of the
basket, but be careful to hold your
hands out Of the way of the anchor
rope, or you may get them torn
off. Look out also for the branches
Of the trees lest they hurl you from
the basket !"


The warning came in time, and |
every man grasped the ropes and
braced himself for the shock. On
drove the balloon like an enraged
fha 4roo ho OF