AN AERIAL VOYAGE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 856, 6 July 1867, Page 4

AN AERIAL VOYAGE.

(From the " Times," April 2(5.) « Mb. Horace the aeronaut, whose aerial voyage has proved one of the most daring and successful, on record, gives the following highly interesting account of his journey : — . " I heg to give you the particulars of my perilous aerial voyage from Dublin to ■Westmoreland. The balloon ascended at 440 p.m. on Tuesday, and took a northerly direction to Clontarf, where it was my intention to descend, but from the velocity at which it was travelling, I saw it would be foolish to make the attempt. In half a minute I was over the muddy strand between Clontarf and Howth, where I made another attempt to land, and before the balloon had descended 100 feet it was driven between Howth and Ireland's Eye. It now became evident to me that landing in Ireland w,as out of the question, and that all arrangements must be made to be driven either to Wales or Lancashire. The first thing that struck me was to drop the grapnel to the full extent, 120 feet. This acted, as a guide to the distance the balloon might be kept above the surface of the water, it being now dark, and by placing one hand on the rope, the effect of the grapnel striking the- water was distinctly felt. With an open bag of ballast on my knee, every time the grapnel struck the water a couple of handfuls of sand were thrown out, and to the adoption of this plan, alone I owe my own preservation and success. The ballast taken out was about twenty-five stone. For three hours this plan was carried out, and then there came on the most blinding and merciless rain I ever saw or felt. I could not see fifteen feet before me, and the noise of the rain on the balloon and the water was such as to entirely unnerve me. My hands became benumbed, and I was drenched to the skin. I now began to feel the danger of my position more acutely ; however, I determined I would not give up until all the ballast and moveables were gone. The rain was making the balloon heavier every moment, and the ballast was thrown out more freely until about ten o'clock, when the fatigue overcame me, and I fell into a stupor for a few moments. By this time the balloon hadj descended within six feet of the water, and"" instantly I threw out 28 lbs. of ballast. The effect of this was that the balloon rose to an altitude of a mile, and got entirely clear of the rain clouds ; and then the moon shone out brilliantly. In this position it remained about a quarter of an hour. The effect of the moon shining pn the clouds beneath was such as would have been welcome to the eye of an artist. The shadow of the balloon was distinctly to be seen travelling over the rough and uneven clouds, giving the idea of a balloon race. Everything now became calm ; no longer the hum of the ocean or the rain. All .was still ; but whether the sea still raged beneath was to me unknown. As the balloon descended, it was evident a change had come over the spirit of the scene. The rain had ceased, and the appearance of everything was of the darkest hue.- Whether it was an understratum of dark clouds I could not tell, but suddenly a glimmer of light was seen for a moment. Then, with anxious eyes cast downwards to perceive any object, at last small squares, with darker margins, 'were clearly visible. These proved to be fields and hedges, and they appeared to vanish as quickly as objects pass when viewed from a mail train. A town, which, afterwards I learned to be Appleby, was at last seen, and the sound of musical instruments was heard. I then called out in an attempt to ascertain where I was, but the reply was unintelligible. The people below, however, had seen the "balloon. About two miles further, the fropnel caught in a large oak tree and eld fast. This proved to be Daglawood, Dufton, near Appleby, Westmoreland. I then called out lustily, and I heard sounds of'persons singing and playing music. These proved to be four young men whom I had heard at Appleby, where they had been to a ball. They were natives of Dufton, and as they advanced nearer their native village my voice was heard. One of them, more bold than the rest, was sent forward to see if it was really a ' bogle,' as they had heard of such, a thing before ; however, their fears were soon dispelled when their questions were answered satisfactorily. They at once set to work to pull the balloon out of the wood, and convey it to afield where it could be folded up. It was then 3 ojclock a.m. Those young musicians played on. to the village, and many heads were thrust out of the windows to inquire the reason of such an unusual proceeding. When it became known that a oaßoon had come from Dublin, hundreds came out as early as 5 o'clock to see this curious machine, and many were the inquiries to know how a man could come from Dublin in ' sic a thing as that.' I shall never forget their kindness. Many were the breakfasts prepared for me, and I was positively Eressed to eat two. All wished me long fe and prosperity at parting, and hoped that if ever 1 came that way again I would give them a call."