Woodville Republican., 1853-12-20


Of the valve-rope, he was entirely ignorant oi
the manner Of managing balloon. Having
ascended some thirty or forty feet, the balloon
was carried along by gentle breeze, in a
southeast course across an arm of the bay
south Of Oakland, and rising as it proceeded to
a greater height, until it was concealed from
view by some light clouds. 1t was then met
by counter-current Of air, and moved along
gradually ascending, in northeasterlv direct
ion, to appearances Immediately over the crest
of the mountains. In the course of an hour
it had attained greater altitude, and still its
course was onward and upward, until a few
minutes past O'Clock it was lost TO the view
in the distance. 1t was about fifteen minutes
qefore o'clock when the boy took his seat on
the board.
Although the result of this aerial voyage
must remain in doubt for some time, scarcely
hope Of the safety Of the daring youth can
control the balloon he would unquestionably
have opened the safety-valve, after proceeding
mile or two, and have effected descent. 1t
is to be presumed he was either ignorant OF
the manner in which the valve is used, or that
the rope by which it is opened, and the gas
permitted to escape; had broken or become
entanged. Be this as it may, his course was
onward and upward to what would seem to
be inevitable destruction. When last seen
the balloon was at such a height as to pre-
clude the hope that he could be alive.
The danger of his falling off the board was
Of course imminent, and as he ascended in
the higher regions he must necessarily have
become benumbed by cold, and may have
fallen to the ground and crushed to atoms. In
the eveut of his escaping this death however,
another equally terrific awaited him-that
produced by the rarefaction Of the air The
youth has, we understand a father and broth
or living in this city. We await with some
anxiety, the result of this most extraordinary
affair
A few moments after the balloon had parted
company with the earth, and when at the dis
tance Of half mile, one Of young Gates com
panions shouted to him to know if he would
not have an overcoat ~ The crowd around
enjoyed the joke heartily, little thinking that
the brave boy would, in less than half an
hour be shivering with intense cold. We may
remark that he was very lightly clad. As he
ascended, and before the outlines of his figure
was lost to view in the distance, his back was
turned to the crowd, and we did not observe
him to make any attempt to look back on the
world he was leaving, we trust but temporari-
ly. His department was, however, entirely
composed, although his seat was a most un-
comfortable one. Two or three ropes against
which he leaned his back, and frail board
which he straddled as a child does hobby
horse, were all that separated him from de-
struction when last seen. Upon this fragile
support he swung to and fro without falling,
although we were prepared at any moment to
see him drop to the ground. When the bal
loon had attsined considerable elevation its
movements became very regular. There we're
no CUFFS or puffs Of wind, and the movement
was so gentle that the progress of the aeronaut
conld only be marked by observing its relative
position with other objects. The direction
first taken was little to the eastward of San
Antonio. At this point ii was that it encoun-
tered the counter-current OF air, and made the
curve which carried it to the northeast Af-
ter having struck the counter current the dis
tance was so great that the figure of the boy
could no longer be distinguished. The 10Y and
the balloon presented single dark object to
the view and from this time until it entirely
disappeared the diminution in its size was
very gradual. 1t was, however, throughout
the whole time seen with the greatest distinct
ness. The atmosphere was unusually pure,
and after the balloon had fioated past the low
clouds behind which it was concealed within
the first ten Minutes, it was not again hid
from view until it had passed beyond the
range Of unaided human vision. Even when
It disappeared it did not seem to have been
concealed by the light heecy clouds in the
background, but gradually dwindled to a
speck so small that it could no. longer be dis
covered.
Al first the spectators seemed to have been
Of the danger attendant upon the
voyage They regarded it as merely good
Joke and pretty spectacle-so beautiful did
Lhe balloon rise, and SO gracefully did it float
along high above the tops Of the mountains
Il was only when it became, scarcely percepti-
BE, rising higher and higher above successive
belts Of clouds, thew began to inquire into the
of the daring boy, as well as
TO who might be to blame for permitting or
the rash act Much anxiety
was entertained to know whether he had fall
IN from the board. a glass was obtained
and it was ascertained that heavy substance
was still attached TO the balloon. This must
nave been either the boy or the board-scsrcely
he latter Kelley started on horsebackin the
direction the balloon had taken, but there Is
no probability he could have kept it in sight,
or when lass seen il must have been beyond
he mountains, and this was but a short time
before sundown.
When the balloon first attained position
above the line Of the mountain it seemed %
be about Eve times the height Of the mountain.
when last seen about eight times. 1t then
appeared to be at an angle Of about eight de-
rrees with the base line nf the earth. The