Year: 1873

CALLY DESCRIBED.


From George Ashton Lunt in New York Graphic.


While consulting as to the best method o.


evading the mountain region and its change


able currents, we were suddenly enyelopeC


in thick cloud, and an instant later ter


rife squall Of wind and rain caught the bal


loon, twisting and shaking it 50 violently


that l own that deemed its almost instant
destruction certain, and in another moment


we were whirled of we knew not whittier


The great bag above US tapped and doomed
IKE the sails Of ship, when too close haul
cd, and every conyulsion was echoed from
the interior and prolonged into dull and
omnous roar. That the moment was one OF
extreme danger could not for a moment
doubt, but the horrible noise above and the
kissing below of the wind over the tops OF
the still invisible trees rendered conversation
almost impossible.


was standing in the bow Of the boat at
this time Mr.. Ford was in the centre, and
Mr.. Donaldson in the cockpit suddenly
| the latter shouted, "Look out Be ready to
/ jump when | ted YOU. and the next instant
| the green tree-tOps swept past the boat on
either side. At this moment we descended
out Of the cloud, and saw that We were
ialllns-literally falling-iutoa small open
space between two pieces Of woodland
In an instant had dropped over the side OF
the boat and was holding ON to the gun
vale, and a glance showed my companion to
/ be also in readiness behind me Down we
came, the balloon driven furiouslv Garth
ward by the seemingly perpendicular gale,
and the boat spinning about like q mere
chip. Suddenly Donaldson shouted, "Jump
out, quick, and suited the action to the
word, followed in another second by Ford.
| heard the doablc thul with which they
struck the earth with horror, and all that
Donaldson had told me Of the difficulty Of
Judging distance after an ascent flashed
through my mind, and turned my head to
see the effect Of their fall


They were both rising iIom the grass, but
my readers may judge my sensations when
| saw that they were hundred feet below me
and the balloon was shooting into the air
again One second of inlecision, and |
swung myself upon the boat and shouted to
Mr.. Donaldson, WI bat shall | do?' The
fury of the storm. however, drowned my
voice and his. and in another moment | was
again in the clouds which were 50 thick
that even the great bag above me was IN
visible The time from Mr. Donaldson
first warning until now could not have ex-
cccded thirty seconds yet there was alone,
in the largest balloon ever successfully IN
hated. and perfectly ignorant practically of
its management. For a short time | stood
ahscntly clutching the ropes and wondering
what was 20 become of me, but soon felt
that my safety depended upon prompt action,
and began 10 think what had better be done.
Should | cut off the great drag-rope, ascend
above the storm. and trust TO luck 10 make
another landing in a smoother country? |
drew my knife and for the purpose, bat re-
membered that ] had asked several aero
nauts what would be the effect of such
sudden tightening of q balloon, and they
had each said it would probably burst. A.
had no desire 10 include this performance
in mvsimpromptu programme the knife was
returned 10 his sheath and the valve rcSortci
TO- The cord was tangled by tie neck Of
the balloon, and for some time my entire
weight was apparently inadequate to open
IL.


It appears, however, that this was an er-
Tor of Judgment on NY part, and that did
really open the valve. Thi, must have been
the ease. for in a short time the extension Of
the dme-rope at an acute angle showed me
that the balloon had again descended, and
! began u auxiouslv peer through the mist
for signs of the earth. They came with
vengeance. The roar of the storm over the
trees became audible again. and % moment
later the balloon emerged from the cloud,
and | saw myself nearing the forest with
alarming rapilitv. ! had let ont too much
gas from the valve. and the balloon was des-
cendinr even faster than before. had barely
time % climb into the concentrating ring
when the boat was dashed against tall
tree the balloon Strengthened out in line
with the wind, and away went the whole
machine, humping and crashing over the
tree tops your artist-correSp Spondent studying
the torogm1 hv Of the surrounding country
with great energy, and feeling newly
awakened but deep interest in the hereto
fore neglected subjects ot timber. meadow
and plowed ground. Watching my oppur-
tunitv. / swung myself into tree AT mo-
mcnt when the boat and rigging were so en-
tangled as to deadcn the way of the balloon,
but before | could make myself secure it
again broke loose. and. some Of gear coming
in contract with my hands, scraped me Off


Under ordinary circumstances, q gentle
man in thin boots and minus hat and cont
would consider two-uiie walk in pouring
rain. over ~Wampy ground. with incidental
fence climbing. ditch-walin-, &C., just cause
for nyectiye against the thousand ills that
flesh Is heir To. Whether the statement that
| never enjoyed a walk so much before ny
life will be received simply as evidence that
am one Of those rare beings who accept
without grumbling the di-pensations of Pro-
vidence. know not. The circumstance may
be attributed to mcekness or eccentricity, as
my readers please. 1t i fact, however,
which will maintain till my dying day that,
Of all the pede~trianism in which l have
heretofore engaged for purposes Of pleasure
not even those well-remcmbered evenings
..by moonlight alone" with her by my side
none ever gave me more unalloyed JOY, nor
did Fever labor more cheerfully for the emo
lument Of Crispins than in those two wet,
sloppy, b3ggy miles to the nearest station,
where found my companions busy writing
tclcgrams of my probable death.