Bellows Falls Times

Thrilling Balloon Adventure.

A very exciting balloon ascension was made at Dayton, Ohio, a few days since, the aeronaut being one Professor Torrey. The balloon was inflated with hot air by means of a furnace set in the ground the chimney or tube for insertion in the mouth of the balloon being a section of steam boiler. Just as the balloon cleared the tube, the flame flashed fiercely and set fire to it. The ropes were let go, when the immense canvas globe inflated with the heating air, rose rapidly upward the daring aeronaut clinging to the trapeze suspended from beneath with ropes, and performing a number of graceful feats as the air-ship soared aloft, and was borne along by the wind, which was blowing almost a gale at the time. Meanwhile the fire, which had been communicated to the lower portion of the balloon at starting, continued to blaze around the edges, but the professor, apparently oblivious to the dangerous position in which he was placed, kept up his daring feats on the trapeze, hanging alternately by one foot or one hand, and performing sundry graceful evolutions while carried at an elevation of about one thousand feet from the earth.

The balloon was borne eastward for some distance by the current, when the heated air having cooled commenced a rapid descent, landing about half a mile from the starting point. While approaching the earth with considerable force the balloon came in contact with a willow tree, when the professor, releasing his hold of the trapeze, took refuge in the branches, and broke his fall by seizing hold of a limb, which gave way, and he came to the ground, ending his perilous journey without serious injury, though his ankle was slightly sprained by the concussion. The ascension was witnessed by hundreds of people, who were thrilled with the spectacle of the daring aeronaut dangling in the air, and performing astonishing acrobatic feats, while the flames threatened to consume the frail bark which bore him along.