A Woman's Adventures in a Balloon.

Auckland Star, Volume XVI, Issue 3807, 21 October 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

A Woman's Adventures in a Balloon.

At Oswcgo, N.Y., Mdllc. Adcle, the ■•uronaut, raudo an asccucion and dropped finally into Lake Ontario. Sbc thus describes her prril :— "Afier ttie balloon rose it tended north ward and began to iippioach the lake. 1 threw out a winter cloak, thinking it might rite into a dillerent current which would tukc tho balloon away tiom the lake, but it still continued to work nothward, and when OTtr the wost breakwater I cut oil tho an-chor-ropo, and it prcstnttd a curious eight as it fell. The wutcr below looked nearly black, and I'knew 1 had attained a great elevation and was still rising. Shortly aftar the balloon was enveloped in a heavy anow-storm and for a few niomonta I could tee nothing but the white snowflukus beneath mo. The snow melted on tho balloon and filled the cordage with water and the additional weight caused it to settle sunicwhat, so that in a few moments I came in sight of tho lake. I hung out the red signal flag, and fastened on my cork jacket, and saw the boats, but could not tell which was the life-boat, I taw a steam tug and thought it waa comin? to my aid, I kept swinging the balloon towards tho shore, thinking I could keep it near enough to tho beach to strike on land which I saw (probably JNine Mile l'oint), for I dreaded to plung-6 into tho lake. I watched tho ,tug and Baw I was rcocdinp and gradually working [off tho shoro. At this tiras tho tug wns a mere speck iv the diatanoe. I opened the valve and braced myself in the basict and prepared for the plunge. When tho balloon Btruck the water tho basket turned over on its side, throwing mo over ou my face, and immersed' me up to my shoulders, Tho globe was also partially on its sido. I knew that my only safety was in keeping inside tho basket. My wcieht kept it nearly under water, and nil the whilo I was in the water up to my armpits. The wind acted upon the balloon as it would on a sail, and_ it seemed to mo that it went ploughing through the water at a fearful rate, I was on my knees in the basket, and reached it and clung to tho concentrating hoop. I didn't hear tb« whistle of the tug 1 realised my condition, and began to calculato the chances for rescue. 1 looked back, and could see no tug, boat, or sail. Off in one direction I saw land, but it seemed to bo far distant, and I was going from it. I resolved to make tho best of ray situation and keep cool. My better judgment said: "Don't bo frightened." in cases of extreme dnnficr 1 have tho most aelf-poEscs-sion, and at such times feel cheerful. As 1 was dragged along I fang: " All my hopes in Thee are staved !" and kept looking over my shoulder for the tug. I must have dragged twenty miuutes when I spied the steam of tho tug in tho distance. I savo utterance to au exclamation of joy. Tuca came the chorus of tho vaso, "He raves me, saves me now !" flow 1 wa'ched that tug can be better imagined than described. I saw they wore gradually gainin» ou mo, but slowly. I must have dragged an hour btfore they overtook me. It occurred to mo that, if I could j:ct the globe near to tho water it would not drag so fast, and 1 reached out and stized a group o£ tho attachments and prosed them do.vu into the water, and that drew the balloon nearer to tho surface. I heaid the tug whi&tle, and nearer and nearer they came, and 1 could distinguish forms and hoar the yelling. It was tho sweetest music I ever heard.