Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-09-03

BALLOON ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS DEscENTs-A Paris
letter Of the 4h August, published in the Washington
Republic, thus describes two aerialfights:
Among the other amusements at which the stran.
gers now IN the city Hooked yesterday in crowds was
the descent in parachute by Madame Poiteyin. Few
descents have ever been made at all land none what
ever by lady since 1885. They are the most curious
and interesting spectacles at which have ever been
present At five o'clock yesterday afternoon Madame
Poitevm rode round the vast enclosure OF the Champ
de Mars in the same little team that makes week lv
visits to the upper regions. She threw flowers to the
spectators as she went who eagerly seized and divided
them.
She then took her seat in the parachute This was
altogether different from any hitherto constructed-
The car was formed OF oser, atced or open worked
and exactly in the shape of -brimmed straw
hat. In the hollow was built sort of seat and on
the brlm were two handles by which to maintain a
firm position, From the edges reached ten Or a dozen
cords to the border OF the paraso which was made OF
that peculiar stuft used in the manufacture of flags
There was no frame work OF any kind The centre OF
the parasol communicated by rope passed through
the bottom OF the car OF the balloon with the aero
auts, who at the proper time TO cut il loose.
Persons who have never parachute imagine il
to be spread while ascending like an open UMBRELLA
Inlsls not the case 1t hangs like pocket handker-
chief held by the middle, and the ends allowed to fall
At the height OF two thousand feet or thereabouts
polteyn cut the rope, and the parachute fell at least
nifty eet IN peraely straight line before the para.
sol spread out Its huge folds 1t then sackened its
pace and dropt gracefully away before the wisd. Il
was now evident that would regain the ground out
side the Champ de Mars, instead of inside as was
hoped. The stampede that succeeded defes sut,scrn
ton: All that had legs prepared to use them then
Halt the spectators, SIX thousand at least, broke loose
from all control, oVerturning policemen and whateve
DINER obstacles stopped the way, and made for the pro
babe scene the descent. 1t was like running to
fire, it seemed 10 take long get there and the dis
tanGe appeared TO ncreace instead Of diminish.
The parachute touched ground in street some quar-
ter OF mile from the place of embarkaon. The pa
raso catching In an elm tree, broke the fall, and LEI
the car gently to the earth The crowd was now ar.
irving, and the scene getting animated. Hurrahs bra
yos, cappng ofhands, and other congratulations were
showered upon the eronauess. Many shook hands
with her, and really expected that some enthusiasts
would 60 so lar as to kiss her, particularly she
very pretty woman with red cheeks, black eyes ano
white teeth troop OF ancers soon on the spot
and the carriage OF Mme Potevn whirled her off from
the eyes OF her excited attendants. She drove to the
PRESIDENTS box, as he had requested her to do where
ne personally felcltaed her the successful issue Of
her hazardous undertaking. In return, she gave
him the bouquet which she had held during the ascen,
and descent; The balloon was now almost invisible
the sudden loss of great weight having rendered
much stronger the ascensional power of the gas.
But the parachute experiences OF the day were no,
yet over. The spectators returning from the Champ
was not down in The BILL The balloon of the Hippo.
drome, which was rapidly advancing, cut loose the
parachute of Louis GODDARD, who was making his third
attempt this season; There were evidently too cur
tents at different elevations, for, while the balloon
continued an easter y course, the parachute fell off
wards the west. This set the parachutsts cacua.
tons at defiance. He had expected to fall in the
Champ de Mars, whereas it was now evident to eve
ny one, and probably TO himself that he would de.
scend plump into the Seine. The crowds that are al
ways promenading in that vicinity feared fatal acct
dent, entanged as he must be in the ropes and para
phernala of his parachute. The good swimmers pre-.
pared to undertake But the aeronaut needed
assistance. Just the car was upon the point OF
touching the water ne sprang out, cleared the ropes
sank for several seconds. and then came to the sur
face. With the provebial GOODNESS of this astonishing
profession he tucked his parachute under his arm and
quietly swan ashore with it. You may suppose the
two banks of the river set up hearty shout as the
daring adventurer touched the quay.