The Nevada journal., 1853-09-02
Great Aerial Exploit.

The papers below contain long accounts
of the ascension, in balloon, of boy
named Gates from Oakland till he was
lost sight of, and his final landing in Suisun
Valley. The balloon was owned by
Mr.. Kelly, who was to ascend in it, but
failed, as well as several others, who were
too heavy. The car was detached, and
board put for seat, but yet the balloon
only dragged on the ground. At last Gates,
smart, bright-eyed boy, who vends apples
and peanuts, dropped his basket and jump
ed on the board, and the holders of the
ropes let go. The balloon instantly sailed
off majestically into the air, till the admi-
ration of the crowd changed to alarm for
the gallant little fellow. Kelly called to
him to pull open the valve and let the gas
escape. The rest we will let the aeronaut
detail in his own way. The Union says =
Through the polite attention of the
messenger of Wells. Fargo & Co.'S Ex-
verbatim account of this aerial expedition,
as it fell from the lips of the youthful voy
ager himself.
On nearing the Benicia wharf on Mon
day evening, an unusual number of persons
were seen collected around some object of
great interest, which soon proved to be a
small boy with red head, and intelligent
expression of countenance. Many passen-
gers on board shouted, " the balloon boy
the balloon boy." 1t was now evident
! that this was the young aeronaut. In
moment one half of the passengers of the
W. G.. Hunt were surrounding the boy on
the wharf. Mr.. Kelly arrived about the
same instant from Contra Costa, who, in
connection with the passengers, interroga-
ted the boy respecting everything which
had occurred during his dangerous voyage.
To all inquiries the boy replied, got
into the balloon, not expecting to be car
ried very high, but in less than minute
discovered | was over two hundred yards
from the ground. 1t was then useless to
attempt to get out, so thought I would
try and manage the thing to the best Of
my ability. l heard Mr. Kelly say about
the time 1 was sixty or eighty feet high,
pull the valve cord l therefore seized
it, and at the first pull it broke near the
upper end. looked down and saw / was
about half as high as the big hill east of
me- l could hear the people talking dis
tinctly below me. | began to feel chilly.
1 had on rather thin clothing, the same
that have now. (He wore woolen pants,
vest, and rather heavy drab coat.) l
was not cold, but chilly | buttoned up
my coat and arranged the ropes so that [
would not fall if l was benumbed. When
l looked out again, l was miles above the
highest mountains / saw Benicia, San
Francisco, Contra Consta, and many other
towns that | had never seen before. They
seemed very near together. The bays Of
San Francisco and Suisun looked like lit
tie ponds. / know Mount Diablo, but it
could hardly be distinguished from the
surrounding hills. ! passed over it at
great rate. | was then very high, and
going in the direction of Sacramento.
AT this moment, thought | would prob
ably pass over the snowy mountains before
night. l saw them very plainly towards
the east. | was now travelling very rapid
| ly. l felt for my knife, being determined
to cut hole in the thing, and let out the
air had to climb up to the proper
place, but could not succeed / prayed
for stick could have tied my knife on
the end of it, and punched hole through
Finding no means Of doing it concluded
to go over to the other side of the balloon,
hoping it might cause it to descend. /
found it was not so we'll balanced, and be-
gan to go down.
was then over Suisun Bay, and going
nearly north. The wind had subsided,
and every thing looked beautiful. After
crossing the Bay, met current of wind
coming from the northeast. When the
two currents met they fattened the bal
loon, when it began to descend rapidly.
l then commenced cutting myself loose,
in order to keep from being dragged on
the ground if it should go down. It con-
tinued to fall rapidly, until it struck the
ground with great force, in slanting d.
rection. | was considerably bruised by
the fall, and forced some feet in the direc-
ton of the wind, notwithstanding l had
let all go, on striking the ground. His
legs were both bruised and strained and
| his hand badly cut BIZ the friction of