PERILOUS VOYAGE IN A BALLOON.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 590, 28 October 1869, Page 4

PERILOUS VOYAGE IN A BALLOON.

M. Youens had a balloon ascent on Saturday evening, July 24, leaving the Bellevue Gardens, near Huddersfield, in the Aerial, which is capable of containing 20,000 cubic feet of gas. It rises to a height of 50 feet, and expands to 100 feet in circumference. Away floated the balloon in a westerly direction, oscillating for a considerable distance in a most extraordinary aud unusual manner. Mr Youens experienced a stronger breeze than he had anticipated, and, the current changing rapidly, his energy and knowledge as an aeronaut were very closely taxed in managing the balloon. A fresh current drove the Aerial to the east for a time, but presently another gust, unexpectedly, in the direction of Halifax, thence towards Bradford, in a northerly course, and, after the lapse of 20 minutes, the Aerial and its occupants pierced the clouds. Mr Youens then began to make observations, for the purpose of selecting a suitable site on which to descend ; and in a few minutes concentrated his attention upon a field in which a, fete was being held. The breeze, however, carried the Aerial some three miles further, and a second time Mr Youens attempted to lower himself in a field adjoining some farmhouses at Denholme. Cautiously opening the escape valve, Mr Youens continued the journey downwards and threw out the grapnels. Impetuous blasts of wind increased the difficulty of bringing the Aerial to anchor. A strong wind prevailing, the balloon became unmanageable, and drifted over fields and stone walls, with amazing velocity. The flukes of the grapnels penetrated the ground and uprooted the earth as they followed in the wake of the balloon, while the aerial chariot dashed onwards, making, in its career, wide gaps in several stone walls. Mr Yonens, preparing to encounter the worst fate, wrapped the end of the cord which opens tho valve round one of his wrists, and, burying himself in the car, permitted the balloon to proceed until the breeze subsided ; when after the car had been thrice capsized, and every article which it contained thrown out, Mr Youens, who received no injuries, anchored, and completed a voyage of many miles, occupying half an hour iv its accomplishment.