Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1828-10-08
THE BALLOON-PERILOUS ES-
CAPE OF Mr.. ROBERTSON.

Ner York SEPT. ia large con
course ofpeopIe assembled yesterday af-
terno0n iu Castle Garden, to witness the
ascent of Mr.. Bobertson-and many thou
sandswere of course upon the battery. The
day was uncommonly beautiful, the wind
blowing moderately from the north. The
process ofinAatng the balloon was not com
pIcted until about 6 O'Clock, when Mr. r.
entered the car, which was handsomely de-
c0rated for the occasion. His attendants
having Ter goof the cords, the balloon rose
gracefully 70 the height ofupwards of an
hundred feet before the wind had A0atcd it
beyond the circumference of the castle.
llr. Robertson stood erect IN the car, flour
ishIug the banners no his hand, and facing
and bowling TO the spectators Untortu-
ua,eIy tine balloon had been let off directly
10 tbe wndward ofthe flagstaff, with which
/ tcme violently m contact; IN consequence
of which the netting not only became en-
tangled with the staff, but the canvas near
~ upside down. Mr.. Robertson having
his back to the flagstaff had not time to
prevent this collision, which he might o.
thcrwise done with a pole. He had eX-
pressed a wish beforehand that the staff
might betaken down. I'm this perilous sit-
uation, with his head hanging down, with
his feet uppermostin the car, clinging by
the fral netting which attached it to the
balloon, he remained suspended at the
height of near am hundred feet from the
ground, vibrating in every direction, while
a general shudder ran through the crowd.
At this instant, a large rent was made in
the balloon, and he gradually descended a
bout II feet. The spectators cried out to
him iu English, to take hold otthe ballard
0fthe flagstaff Though black in the face,
from his position, Mr.. Robertson was per
iecdy collected. AT this moment a man
clmed the rope for his relief, amid the
cheers of the spectators, but was unable
toascend nearer than within some ID feet
of Mr. r.. when his strength failed, and he
was obliged TO descend. The anxiety Of
the spectators was now increased to Inten-
sity, and bat little hope was entertained OF
his rescue, and a shudder ran through the
whole body of the spectators. We heard
not O shrek, but many of the ladies were
in tears fslent agony Il was hardly
supposed possible that his physical powers
could longer sustain him. Still he held
ON, sometimes, apparently, by his feet, and
sometimes by one hand, grasping at any
and every thing with the other, At length
he caught the rope, and by a powerful eff
fort. and one Of the most deXterous move
ments that we ever beheld, he cleared HIM
self from the car and from the entangle-
.ment oftbe cords, and was seen suspended
by one hand. A burst of applause cheer
ed him for am instant, and until he caught
ther0De with his other hand, when he de-
seconded forty or fifty feet with great yoloel-
a., and fell the remainder Of the distance,
5utwas caught by the people below. He
was soon upon his feet, and appeared
uDon the terrace of the Garden, where he
wasreceived byrepeated and hearty cheers.
After receiving the congratulations of his
friends. the intrepid aerOnaUt retired to
private apartment, whore his hands, which
had been blistered and somewhat eXcoria-
ted bv the cords, Sc the rope in his descent
were dressed. He also lost one ofhls front
teeth, by having seized cord in his mouth
as he threw himself from the car. He was
mo- otherwise injured, and We left him last
evening In "a cheerful mood. During the
whole ofthis fearful and trying scene, his
presence of mind did not forsake hlm for a
moment. The lag-stahneyer should have
been r'aced with0Gf the walls, and Ne are