Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-10-23
BALLOON AsCENs1oNs IN FRANCE.
A Paris Correspondent of the 18Th ult, says

Paris Correspondent OF the 18Th ult, says:
Balloon ascensions still continue to be the favor
lie popular amusement here, at the rate OF two pei
week. One of the most daring of modern aronauts
Mr. Gale said to have been lieutenant in the British
navy, has just met his death in of his perilous
ascents. This gentleman had been amusing the Pa
rslans for the last two months by his novel and daring
exploits. He attached to his balloon two cars, one
suspended some twenty feet below the other, con-
nected by slight rope ladder TO the lower car
were affixed exploding fireworks. The aronaut, on
leaving the earlh seated in The upper car. After
reaching The desired elevation he might be seen 10
descend through hole in the centre, and make his
way with sailors agility along his impercep.ible
ladder 10 the lower car there he attracted the aten-
tion Of the millions below by the discharge Of his a.
erial artillery. After a while his diminished form
was seen reascending to the upper car, and he and
his balloon were soon lost in the distance. From
Paris lie proceeded 10 Bordeaux. There he under
took to initiate Poitevin, of Paris, by ascending on
horseback and it was in this experiment he lost his
life The exploit was successfully accomplished; he
had reganed the earh and his horse was oosed from
the grths by which he had been held in the ascent
The baoon,reeved of the weight oflhe horse slrove
to mount again. Mr.. Gales orders were misunder-
stood by his French assistants, as he spoke French
but imperlecy The cords were loosed, and up
went the balloon, carrying Gale, who was entan-
ged among the Cords up with it. He succeeded by
violent effort in gaining The cars, and there i'm
medlaely sufocaled by the escaping gas. They who
witnessed this involuntary ascent soon lost sight Of
him. Not seeing him return soon as was expected,
search was Instituted. That night the balloon was
found but all search for the unfortunate Gale was
vain. Next morning laborer, proceeding 10 his
work, discovered the body in wood. His face had
already been devoured by wild animals and near
ly every bone in his body broken. He had evident
ly fallen from great height II is supposed that
the anchor, dangling by long rope, had caught in
tree, upset the lal car upon which Gale lying,
su1ocaied and senseless, and caused him to roll off
The balloon descended of itself, and without the
slightest injury, within mile or two from the spot
where The body was afterwards found Poilevn, in
Paris still continues from the hippodrome his origin
al exhibitions. was present. four days ago, at his
last ascension. He himself mounted, not upon his
white pony, but in the character of Sancho Panza up
on an ass. The poor animal was allowed nothing
to stand upon, but was suspended by girhs passing
below his belly. Above the ass and his rider was
suspended wicker car in which was seated f.
male of the hippodrome representing Dulcinea del
Toboso and man accoutred as The Knight of La
Alancha. The poor ass most unwilling aclor in
this ridiculous scene. His reminiscence ola former
ascension not agreeabe,and it required at least
dozen men pushing and hauling 10 bring him up To
his post beneath the balloon. For a moment or two
after leaving the he beat the air with his legs,
but they soon became fixed and stiff as death. The
immense amphilhealre Of the hppodrome was crowd
ed with spectators of both sexes and every degree
These, with those who were collected outside drawn
to the spot by this novel sight, are estimated and the
| 10 To- afoIi
one hundred thousand.
The following is the account given by nj. Poite-
vim himself of his balloon ascension on Sunday,
from The Champ de Mars "The agitaed state of The
atmosphere not allowing me TO verify the ascension.
al lorce did SO by supposiion, and thought it
such, that sure 10 rise without any obstacle
from the squalls which often blow in downward
direction. My precaullon abundantly served me. |
ha! great difficulty in moderang the too great as
censonal power, which, IN few minutes, carried
me to height TOO considerable for the horse
There was copious flow of blood from his mouth,
the result of the rupture Of the equilibrium, and The
external and internal pressure which ANIMALS bear
less easily than men. passed through several
counter currents, which produced an almost constant
rotary movement ! found the cold almost nsup-
portable. was, it is true, very lightly clolhed.-
When we'll clear OF the clouds, saw some splendid
rainbows, and other phenomena of the solar rays
About O'Clock lmade preparations for descend
ing, and in three quarters Of an hour after my grap
piles were the ground, but they did not take hold
proceeded in this way for more than league, when
in spite Of myself arrived at the wood of Villemaln
near the forest of La Lachelie, commune Of Gris,
canton of Brie- Comle-Rober, (Seineet. Marne) Du-
ring this time my horse close 10 the fields, and
bit off The tops of corn as he passed over IT. and when
passing the high trees he cropped ofheir leaves.
At length was fortunate enough TO put an end TO
this dangerous state of things. Seeing myself near
the edge of dry pond, vigorously laid hold Of a
branch of tree which grew near ii, and for an IN
slant checked the of the balloon, and assist
being at hand, forty men laid hold of the ropes
and il was safely secured. The balloon was emp
tied, and the only thing 10 be regretted is slight
injury to il, from coming in contact with the trees
The inhabitants of The place all FASTENED towards me,
and The welcome ! received was most satisfactory.
NJ Hubert, the proprietor Of the Chateau of lagrange
Leroy, was among the foremost 10 assist me. On
arriving at Grsi, my horse and myself were paid the
most distinguished honors. All the population Of the
place were assembled. There was grand ball, to
which was invited, and went into The sale on my
horse. At eleven O'Clock ] left my entertainers, and
took the road to the capital"
DELIcAcY-Some writer has said of American
women "that they possess at once more real delica-
cy and more false delcacy than the females of any
other counlry;'' and, although the dictum seems to
imply that the two kinds may exist in the same per-
son, we incline to think he Isl ght. The genuine ar
ticle is happily abundant, while of the false there
certainly something more than enough. This spuri-
Gus delcacy is for the most part, merely deicacy
OF acords. 1t abhors plain woven substantives, and
would hide its improper imagiaings in careful cir
cumlocutions. If words have two meanings it is
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the worst and is always
shocked al lis uerance as if the better Specification
could never be intended. When this mock delicacy
exists in excess Dean Sw;l's abhorsm becomes true
that "a person of nice words person Of nasty i
deas," since to be perpeually wachlul against indie
cency is TO make it subject of perpetual thought
The lady who complmened DR.. Johnson on having