The Sun.
London, England, 1834-09-30 00:00:00

MR. GREEN'S ASCENT.

On Thursday last Mr. Green, the aeronaut, made a
very successful and interesting ascent with his balloon,
from Mr. Thompson's raft-yard, foot of Russell-street,
in this town. About three o'clock, the balloon being
completely inflated, Mr. • Green, accompanied by a
friend, entered the car ; the pullies were disengaged
from the ground, and the balloon rose slowly, veering
to the north, across the river Wear. In a short time
it came in contact with the brig Trio, which caused a
small rent in the lower part of the balloon ; on clearing
that vessel, it came in contact with the rigging of the
)rig Zealous; here the gentleman who was with Mr.
Green became alarmed, and seized hold of one of the
ropes of the vessel, and got safe on her round-to.
After losing his weight, the balloon rose majestically
for about two miles, when it seemed to rest stationary
for the space of about fifteen minutes, between two
currents of air, in contrary directions, the highest of
which was from the N.W. It afterwards ascended a
little higher, and was propelled seaward to the N.E.
When a little east of the harbour, it began to lower,
when Mr. Green, in order to prevent a violent shock
1)y suddenly coming to the surface, used a precaution
to prevent concussion by making a sand bag fast to a
line, which he lowered from the car, and allowed to
remain suspended ; considering that when the weight
of that body was taken off, the balloon, on coming to
the surface, while it was in the act of descending, it
would produce an effect similar to what is called break-
ing a fall from a great height, by, the interruption of
an intervening obstacle. Unfortunately, the neck of
the bag rent by the weight of its contents, (about 701 b.
of sand) and on looking downwards, Mr. Green saw
the bag fall into the water, and observed the ring made
on its surface. About two seconds afterwards, he
heard the report which, to use his own words, given
to us in description, resembled the sound of a piece of
artillery ; after the report, such was the effect of the 'vi-
bration, that it turned the balloon completely round
like the spinning of a top ; the report was also dis-
tinctly heard by several persons from the shore. After
the sand bag had fallen, the balloon again rose, and
while in this situation thousands of spectators thronged
to the edge of the moor, the piers, and every place ad-
jacent, which commanded a view of the open sea,
where, in fearful admiration, they beheld a scene unu-
sually interesting, being beautifully picturesque, and
awfully grand. The sky was generally clear, but in-
terspersed with a few variegated clouds, and the air
mild and serene, in which the balloon was bouyant at
a great altitude.; the sea was calm, whereon floated a
number of vessels within view, amongst which were
several steamers and small boats, manned with persons
who had left the shore to afford Mr. Green their as-
sistance. After being in the air for about an hour, the
balloon gradually descended till the car touched the
surface of the water, when it rose about 30 feet, according
to Mr. Green's calculation. It again descended, and on
the car touching the surface, it rose about 20 feet. It
again descended, and the car (which is basket work,
cased round the sides with oil cloth) floated on the surface,
the balloon preserving an erect position. The descent
was about three miles from the land. The current of
the lower atmosphere being from the S.E., the balloon
drifted towards the land. After being in this situation
for about twenty minutes, the crew of a Shields pilot
coble pulled up, took Mr. Green on board, and made
the grappling iron of the balloon fast to their boat.
After being disengaged of this weight, the balloon rose
about thirty yards, and being carried to the shore by a
fair wind, the pilot boat was literally towed about three
miles by it without the use of oars or sails, and Mr.
Green was landed in safety near Fresh Water Hole, a
little to the southward of Shields. By the time that
the gas had evaporated, and the balloon was folded
~i 0
dnpl,
the steam-boat Friend of this port, Captain Boys,
had gone to afford assistance, arrived at the place,
and
took Mr. Green on board, who in a short time
safely landed at Sunderland.—Sunderland Herald.

A serious accident had nearly occurred to the Earl
of Nelson, in this city, on Wednesday last. His Lordship was
passing through the place in his travelling carriage, and, upon
arriving at the White Hart, alighted for some purpose, and in
proceeding across the road (being afflicted with deafness) he
Earl muchvcas
n barbuliesde d.
to
After did not hear the approach of a post chaise, the
,pole .of which
knocked his Lordship down before the postillion could check
proeeed a
to
short
residence. The Countess was in the car
the speed of his horses, and one of the wheels of the chaise
his
.
*
di) ea ls as ye d,
hoov%ev re
v hei rs , ti ehge Nwhich
was
carriage at the time of
the accident, and rushed out on .* •
witnessing it, being the first
that reached his Lordship. A female a
s.omestic, seated in the
d:okey of the post chaise, was so much alarmed at the occur-
rence tbat she went into a strong convulsive fit, which lasted
some time. We are happy
to hear that the Noble Earl does
not experience
much inconvenience from the accident.—Solis.
bur 9 Herald..