Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1874 — A Perilous Balloon Voyage. [ARTICLE]

A Perilous Balloon Voyage.

The, .Reading (Pa.) Eagle gives the following account of a recent perilous balloon trip in that vicinity: With 22,000 cubic feet of gas and 100 pounds of ballast our young aeronaut, Shearer, sailed away from Pottstown in his balloon, “The Globe,” yesterday afternoon at 4 :10 o’clock. After being in the air nearly an hour, and encountering a fearful rain and snow storm, and after being hurled through forests and trees, and nearly killed by being dashed against the limbs and boughs, he sailed nearly forty miles and landed, after a desperate escape with his life, about two milesfrom Coopersburg, near the North Pennsylvania Railroad. He was assisted and placed on a train, and returned to Reading last night by the 10:15 train. The balloon arrived from Allentown this morning. A reporter this morning called on the aeronaut to get his account of the frightful voyage. Mr. Shearer was stiff and used up. The right side of his neck and shoulders is cut and bruised. His body is also marked in various places. He says it was the most desperate escape he ever experienced A half hour away from Pottstown he was caught in a storm, the wind having increased to a gale. The balloon was blown at a fearful speed. He says the position at that time was the most dangerous of his life. Hethrew out his grappling hook to catch a fence, which was torn down in the effort, and the rail of an ordinary fence was also torn down. On the third attempt the hook caught a stump and the rope snapped. Next he was dragged over a wood and came to a field, ana the balloon struck the ground, made a rebound, and he was again dragged over another wood. Finally he managed to catch hold ofthe branches of some trees, ind in this manner held the balloon until several persons who witnessed his peril came to his assistance. The valve was opened and some of the gas permitted to escape. Before Mr. Shearer and the balloon could be got to the ground two of the trees had to be cut down. In his efforts to effect a landing Mr. Shearer lost his grapplinghook, anchor-rope and clothing, all of which were subsequently found. He was bruised about the neck and other portions of the body. Being lighfly clad, he suffered intensely from the cold, and when he finally got upon terra firma the people who came to his rescue thought at first that he was dead. Astonishing.— Few persons are aware of the time, talent and expense necessary to develop and perfect an invention. The new Wheeler & Wilson No. 6 Sewing Macnine, advertised in our columns, has already cost that Company over $300,000, and to bring it Well before the public will require $200,000 more. It costs as much to design, construct and introduce a perfect sewing, machine as to launch a firstclass ocean steamship. ' . n ii A rather singular present received by a bride lately was a life insurance policy for SIO,OOO on her husband’s life. The poor little thing, all tulle and orangeblossoms, wept when she saw it, and continued to do so until her mamma whispered something in her ear. Then she raised her eyebrows, sweetly smiled, and tripped up stairs to put the policy carefully away!— Neu> York Mail: