Kentucky Gazette

THE BALLOON: PERILOUS VOYAGE.

Boston, June 18, 1839,

The wind was West North West, with a strong breeze, when Mr. Lauriat ascended in his balloon from Chelsea, yesterday afternoon; and as he rose from the garden of the Chelsea House, where the balloon was inflated, he was driven by the force of the wind against the branches of a tree, and five of the cords by which the car was attached to the acrostat were severed, and Mr. Lauriat was in eminent danger of being thrown out.—

The balloon, however, was wafted on, at a low elevation, toward Shirley Point, where Mr. L., endeavored to effect a landing, and letting off a portion of the gas descended to the ground. The balloon was dragged some distance and came in contact with another tree, by which two more cords were severed, and left it retained, only by a part of the netting.

There were no assistance at hand, and the balloon, after being disengaged from the tree, was dragged in despite of all Mr. L's efforts to stop its progress, into the water, and continued skipping over the surface, sometimes completely immersing the aeronaut in the water and again elevating him a hundred feet in the air. There were several vessels in the bay, which endeavored to assist him, but were unable to reach him.—

The balloon was driven some eight or ten miles from land, and Mr. L., became faint, discouraged at the momentary anticipation of a watery grave.

In this perilous condition he continued until Capt. Paine, of the schr. Fame, which was coming up the bay, discovered his danger, and launched a boat, which was rowed to his assistance, and happily, the progress of the balloon was intercepted, and the aeronaut rescued, just as the balloon rolled from the netting, and soared, "free and unconfined" away, and was soon lost to view.

Mr. Lauriat was kindly received on board the schooner, and carried to Gloucester, where he arrived about 9 o'clock. As he was very anxious to return home immediately, Mr. Mason, of the Stage House generously conveyed him to Lynn, where he arrived at 1 o'clock this morning pretty well satisfied, we hope, that ballooning is not the best mode of making gold leaf.—Transcript.