The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-09-21 00:00:00

BALLOON ASCENT.

On Tuesday, according to announcement, Mr. Brown, an
mronaut of considerable note, made his thirteenth ascent in
his balloon of huge dimensions, called the "Northern Star."
The ascent took place from the High School-yard, and from
the rarity of the spectacle in this city—none of a similar
nature having been witnessed for the last eight years, when
Mr. Green made an ascent herea strong interest was cre-
ated in the minds of the citizens—a feeling that was
strikingly exemplified by the immense crowds that were seen
flocking towards the surrounding eminences as the hour of
ascension arrived. At four o'clock, every thing being in
apparent readiness fur starting, the buoyancy of the stupen-
dous fabric was tried, and three persons were admitted into
the car for that purpose—one of them ao individual who had
offered £5 for trip through the air; but his wife with a firm
hold of his coat skirts, and a demand fur £2O, the usual
charge, was too much ballast under the most favourable cir-
cumstances. The aeronaut saw that there was scarcely
buoyancy to take himself up, and when the last rope was cut
he threw out all the ballast he had except his safety bag.
The balloon then began gradually to ascend, and in doing
so made a sudden twist, and, as it were, rose in a slow and
sullen mood over the headset' the spectators. These the car
had little more than cleared, when it became too evident that
this portion of the machine would strike against the front of
the Grammar School; this was a moment of intense anxiety
among the spectators. Mr. Brown threw smartly from him
a bagful of ballast—the balloon thereafter rose a little
quicker; but the collision could nut be prevented—the car
struck the upper half of one of the upper windows, and
damaged several panes of glass. Tbis difficulty having been
easily overcome, the roof was surmounted; but here again
an unlucky obstacle presented itself in the shape of the
chimney-top, against which the car struck heavily, loosen-
ing several of the large ledge stones. Fortunately, Mr.
Brown, who kept his seat in the most cool and collected •man-
ner, escaped without the slightest injury; but the, effect of
what we have thus faintly attempted to describe, was any-
thing but agreeable on those below, The balloon now
ascended in inagoificent style, almost perpendicularly for a
second or so—(the aeronaut waving a flag from the car)—
amid the cheers of the spectators; but it instantly took a
north-easterly direction, and in a minute or two was lust
sight of by the crowd stationed in and around the Grammar-
school square. However, to the thousands who had betaken
theniselves to house-tops, B:c., and the rising gounds in the
neighbourhood, the aerial voyager, with his buoyant bearer,
was distinctly- visible for about ten minutes. The aeronaut
was observed struggling apparently- against a dense at-
mosphere, and with inadequate buoyant powers, the balloon
wheeling round as if it were encountering violent gusts o f
wind. With the exception of the slight accident at the com-
mencement—which at one time threatened the fate of the late
Mr. Sadler, who was killed in coming in contact with time
gable of a house—the spectacle was, as a whole, really in-
teresting, and afforded the most lively satisfaction to the in-
habitants, of whom we-have seldom seen such a general or
genteel turn-out. The balloon, which never attained a high
altitude, descended in a standing field of wheat, on the farm
of Mr. Walter Weir, near Provar Mill.—Glasgow Courier.