, 1853-10-08
Tho Great Balloon Ascension.


On Sunday, the 2Sth instant, according
20 previous announcement by Mr.. Kelly,
the eronaut, he attempted an ascension in
hls large balloon, from the village Of Oak
land, on the Contra Costa shore of the Bay
% San Francisco. From some difficulty
which occurred in initiating the balloon, il
was not until 3 O'Clock, P NJ, that MIR.
Kelly attempted 10 ascend, when be found
the buoyancy insufficient for his purpose,
notwithstanding he had detached his car, in
which he had placed ballast and provisions
to meet an exigency, if he should be forced
v make descent in the mountains at dis.
lance from human habitation. Several per
sons tried their weight and were all loo
heavy, when lad named Joseph Gates,
aged sixteen years, but Of small stature, vol.
unteered and was permitted to take his po
sition astride a piece of rough board winch
was adjusted in the net work attached 10
the balloon He had scarcely adjusted him.
self when without proper instruction, the
balloon was cast loose and Instantly and
gracefully commenced its flight The now
alarmed spectators called upon him TO pull
upon the valve rope, and thus admonished
only, this bold lad commenced an aerial voy-
age which casts into dim shade all previous
flights, from the time of Monigolfer TO this
evcr-tO-b be renowned feat.
The balloon Immediately afer commcn-
cling its ascent,was waited some tive miles or
more to the southwark, during which time
il continued gradually 10 rise, when il was
caught by a counter current and carried 10
the north east, rising until lost 10 sight
The CONSERVATION of the immediate specta-
tors Of this scene can be better imagined
than described and when the facts became
known ~ the city, by almost every denizen
Of which the flight OF the balloon had been
anticipated, although so distant, il sent
thrill Of horror and compassion through
every fibre and nerve Of the human frame.
Universal and loud was the denuncialion
poured forth at the reckessness which per-
mitted this act of temerity, while not a few
were savage in their expression Of the ne
cessity which existed Of some condign pun
ishment for the principal actors in the al
fair.
During the whole of Monday the utmost
anxiety was manifested by all, and rumor
upon rumor was circulated, but without
foundation nor was it until sfter the arri-
val Of the Sacramento boat on Monday eve
ming, that the public mind become quiet,
WHEN the news few from mouth 10 mouth
that the " Boy @ronaut" had safely re-
turned upon the steamer Antelope. In
tense 'ears had been entertained, that the
boy, being entirely ignorant of the proper
mode Of working the balloon, must neces-
sarily leave il to take its course, and that it
would attain such on altitude as to carry
him into the region Of extreme cold, and
that becoming bcnumbed and unconscious,
he would loose his hold or, that the rare
faction Of the atmosphere would cause such
an expansion Of the gas as 10 burst the bal
loon, and unprepared with parachute he
would thus be dashed to atoms in his de-
scent or that if he possibly could escape
these dangers, that he would probably land
in some wild mountain region, where hun
ger, exhaustion and death would end his
days, or that he might more tragieally fall
a victim to the beasts Of prey. But hsppi-
ly these well grounded Tears gave way to
rejoicing in his safety.
We quote from the Herald, which says
He stated that for two or three minutes
after he shot up, his head grew dizzy, and
he had to cling convulsvely 10 the cords
and shut his eyes 10 avoid falling. This soon
wore Off and he proceeded to look around
him perfectly selEpossessed. He enjoyed
his ride wonderfully somewhat cramped
from straddling the narrow board. The
scene presented from his lofty perch, he
represents as magnificent The mountains,
bay, ocean and plains, all extended in one
grand panorama before him. Several times
the plank, which was but loosely resting up
on the hoop, seemed disposed to tilt, while
at others, the balloon, propelled by gust
Of wind, would swing TO and fro, rendering
it somewhat difficult 10 keep his seat. He
preserved his presence of mind, however,
and managed to keep things in POSITION
He sailed lvisurely along for some miles be-
fore gentle breeze, until he struck the
counter current Of air, when the course OF
the balloon was changed to the no;th east,
and he was swept along at n much more
rapid pace. AS he moved with the wind,
he was only conscious of his progress by
the rapidily with which he passed over OBJ
jecls upon the earth below. As he contin-
ued 10 ascend, he began 10 experience a
chilly sensation, although at no time did ho
suffer severely from the cold. 10 use his
own expression, The enjoyed himself frst
rate,'' and his only fear was that he might
land in some remote place in the mountains
away from the settlements, and bS exposed
to the attacks of tho "grizzlies." When
he had gone as far as he thought agreeable,
he took hold of the valve rope 10 lot off the
ga, in order to descend He pulled it with
all his force, but it would not work it ap-
Peared 10 have got enanglcd in the cords
extending from the globe of the balloon TO
tho hoop uron which his seat WIS r,sting.-
This somewhat alarmed him. He iuggsd