Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-09-08
THOMAS III. BENTON.
Balloon AsceMtS-Par:lch Dc
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Balloon ASceMtS-Parlcli De-
SCENTS.
a Paris letter of the 4iho August, pub
lishcd in the Washington Republic, thus
describes two aerial flights:
Among the other amusemcnts at which
the strangers now in the city Aocked yes
tcrday in crowds, was the descent in a
parachute by Madame Poitevin. Few de-
scents have ever beenmadc at all ,and none
whatever by lady since 1885. There
are the most curious and interesting spec
tacles at which | have ever been present.
AT five O'Clock yesterday afternoon, Ma
dame Poitcvin rode round the vast cnclo-
sure of the Champ de Mars in the same
little team that makes weekly 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 i'll the parachute.
This was altogether different from any
hitherto constructed The car was formed
of oscr, laticcd or opcn-workcd and exact
ly in the shape Of broad-brimmed straw
hat. In the hollow was built d sort of scat,
and on the brm were twohandles by which
20 maintain firm position. From the edges
reached ten or "a dozen cords to the border
of the parasol, which was made of that pc
cular stuff used in the manufacture of flags.
There was no frame work of any kind
The centre Of the parasol communicated
by a rope passed through the bottom ofthe
car of the balloon, with the aeronauts, who
at the proper time were to cut it loose.
Persons who have never seen para
chute imagine it TO be spread while ascen-
ding ike an open umbrella This is not
the case. 1t thangc like a pocket handker-
chief held by hc.middle, and the ends al
lowed to fall. At the height OF two thou
sand feet or thcrcabouts, Nj. Poitcvin cut
the rope, and the parachute fell at least IF
ty feet, in desperately straight line, be-
fore the parasol spread out its huge folds.
1t then slackcncd its pace and dropt greece
fully away before the wind. 1t was now
evident that it would regain the ground
outside the Champ de Mars, instead Of in
side, as was hoped. The stampede that
succeeded, dcfics subscription. All that
had legs prepared to use them then. Half
the spectators, six thousand at least, broke
loose from all control, overturning police
men and whatever other obstacles stopped
the way, and made for the probable scene
of the descent 1t was like running to a
fire, ii seemed 10 take SO long to get there.
and the distanceappcared toincrcascinstcad
of diminish.
The parachute touched ground ina street
some quarter Of mile from the place OF
cmbarkation. The parasol catching in an
elm tree, broke the fall, and let the car
gently to the earth. The crowd was now
arriving, and the scene getting animated
Hurrahs, bravos. clapping Of hands, and
other congratulations, were showered upon
the aeronautess Many shook hands with
her, and really expected that some en-
thusast would go SO far as TO kiss her, par
ticularly as she is very pretty woman,
with red checks, black eys and white teeth
A troop of lanccrs were soon on the spot,
and the carriage Of Nine Poitevn whirled
her off from the eyes of her excited attcn-
danis. She drove to the Presidents box,
as he had requested her to do, where he
personally felicitated her on the successful
issue of her hazardous undertaking. In re-
turn, she gave him the bouquet which she
had held during the ascent and descent
The balloon was now almost invisible, the
sudden loss of SO great weight having
rendered much stranger the asccnsional
power of the gas.
But the parachute experiences of the
day were not yet over The spectators
returning from the Champ dc Mars were
gratiied with another descent which was
not down in the bill The balloon Of the
Hippodrome, which wasrapidly advancing
cut loose the parachute Of Louis GODDARD
who was making his third attempt this sea
SON There We're evidently too currents
at different elevations, for, while the bal
loon continued an easterly course, the para
chute fell off towards the west. This Sc,
the parachutist's calculations at defiance
He had expected to fall in the Champ dc
Mars, whereas it was now evident to every
| one, and probable TO himself, that he would
descend plump into the Seine. The crowd,
that are always promenading in that vicim
~ feared fatal accident, entanglcd as he
must be in the ropes and paraphernalia o
his parachute. The good swimmers pre-
pared to undertake rescue. But the aero
naut needed no assistance. Just as the ca
was upon the point of touching the watel
he sprang out, cleared the ropes, sunk fo
several seconds, and then came to the sur
face. With the proverbial GOODNESS ofthi
astonishing profession, he tucked his prra
chute under his arm, and quietly swan
ashore with it. You may suppose the tw,
banks Of the river set up hearty shout a
the daring adventurer touched the quay.