Woodville Republican., 1853-12-20

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the balloon was going when last seen wss
that Of SACRAMENTO The balloon was distinct
| y seen throughout its progress by the citizens
of San Francisco, and the additional distance
added by the bay appears TO have varied the
appearance of the object but slightly.
FROM THE SANE PAPER or Auo. 80.
SAFETY OF THE YoUTHFUL AEEosAUr.---
1t is with great pleasure that we announcc
the safety cf Joseph Gates, the youthful aero
naut, whose fate has excited so much interest
in the community within the last twentyfo
hours. He came down in the steamer Ante
lope last night from Benecia, in excellent con-
dition and fine spirits He states that for
two or three minutes after he shot up, his
head grew dizzy, and he had to cling consul-
sively to the cords and shut bis eyes to avoid
falling. This soon wore of, and he proceed-
ed to look around hEl perfectly self-posse@sed.
He enjoyed his ride wonderfully ly-sonewhst
cramped from straddling the. narrow board
The scene presented from his lofty perch lac
reprecents as magnificent. The mountainA,
bay, ocean, and plains, all extended in one
panorama before him. Several times the
plank, which was but loosely resting upon the
hoop, seemed disposed to tilt, while at othas
the balloon, propelled by gust Of wind. would
swing to and fro, rendering it somewhat dif6-
cult to keep his seat He preserved his pres
ence Of mind, however, and managed to keep
things in position. He SAILED along for some
miles before gentle breeze, until he struck
the counter-current of air, when the course Of
the balloon was changed to the northwest -and
he was swept along at much more rapid
pace. As he moved with the wind, be was
only conscious Of his progress BY the rapid
ity Of which he passed over objects upon the
earth below. As he continued to ascend, he
began to experience chilly sensation, al
though ;at no time did he suffer severely from
the cold. To use his own expression, she en-
joyed himself first-rate,r and his only fear was
that he might land in some remote place in
the mountains, away from hessettlements
and exposed to the attacks Of the (" grizzlies.v
When he had gone as far as he thought A.
greeable, he took hold Of the save-rope to
let out the gas, in order to descend. He pull
ed with all his force, but it would not work;
it appeared to have got entangled in the cords
extending from the globe Of the balloon to the
hoop upon which his seat was resting. This
somewhat alarmed him. He tugged and jerk
ed at the rope, and it broke Imagine now
the condition ofthe gallant boy, floating miles
above the earth upon frail outsteady plank,
in balloon over which he had lost all control.
The fate Of the ship in the vortex Of the mael-
strom could not have seemed more hopeless;
When this last stay parted with the rope, he
clung for few minutes to his seat, and COL
lected his thoughts. Was he to float forever
in the air, wonder to birds and spectacle
to men, or was he to be precipitated from
that fearful height upon the mountains be-
meath Finally the conviction forced itself
upou him that he must puncture the body Of
the balloon in some manner, If he would ever
descend in safety. He therefore determined
to climb up the ropes which extended from
the hoop to the balloon, and cut it--and this
he actually did ! He took his knife out Of his
pocket opened it and held it in his teeth; then
cautiously raised himself in standing posi-
ton upon his unsteady seat firmly elapsed
the ropes, and, to use his own expression,
commenced to @shin it up to the balloon.
His weight thrown on one side caused il to
tilt slightly, but he managed TO make his way
up eight or ten feet unclapsed one hand, took
his knife, and ripped large hole in the silk.
The gas Immediately gushed out and the bal
loon commenced to descend very rapidly. He
succeeded in reaching his seat again in safety.
it was now about six O'Clock in e-eveuinv.
The balloon rapidly approached the earth. 4
lie prepared himself, and just as il was about
to strike he jumped of, and was once more
on terra frmal" In the leap. however, he
sprained his ankle. The place where he land