Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-10-20

Extraordinary Balloon Asoen-
sion.
The announcement that balloon u.s.
cension would take place yesterday At
Oakland, caused q grci, number of cIti
zons 10 go u,ross The Bay to witness it,
The process OF Initiation proceeded
slowly 1.-The operator, Dir, Kelly, seeming
10 labor under some disadvantage from
me want Of proper materials nd appa-
ratus. Al O'Clock Mr.. Kelly entered
1.-The Iar. and The cords were let 90, when
il was found tina, the balloon was not
sufficiently inflated to carry it up with
It's load. The car was then detached,
md another gentleman entered, sitting
on a board placed crossWIse on the hoop
that is usually attached 10 a balloon.
still it would not rise. A young lad
namod Joseph Gales, about tourleoa
years o(aee then volunteered TO ascend.
Ire was Permitted TO take his place
upon the aoari, aud rose win the bal-
ioon-saling last towards Stockton then
IN tie direction of Benicia. He was
instructed 10 pull The cord attached TO
the cscapc-yal,e, and Immediately after
rising was seen to do so but the cord
broke. leaving bin entirely at the mercy
OF lho baloou. Ills presumed that, bis
cloiae. beug ihia he must have frozen
10 death, oe have iaIlen through exhaus-
lion.
The Young AcrOnaut Safe.
Our readers vill be grajded to learn
thai the daring young acronaut, Joseph
Gaics has returned to town in safely
after being carried across Susun Bay
and landing upon the flats on the Beaic-
"a side vs. give his own statement OF
bis Journey, as furnished US 10y himself
q" started ftom Oakiaad about 3 2
O'Clock, Sunday, in soulheasterIy di-
rcciion over San Antonio creek pas the
redWoods about a mile anda hall above
them, aud then took an easlerly course,
rising 10 the height Of Two miles, as
should Judge. Atthla time, the balloon
lad expanded TWO thousand cubic feet
moJo thau when left. then follow
ed Mr. kelly's directions, and attempt
cd 90 pull open the valve, in order %
come down but found that the rope
had parted The cause of valve rope
parting must hale been that a portion Of
lie carbunic acid gas bad formed ia the
neck Of the balloon After the rope be-
came of no use, ! gave up all hope of
getting down for tie present. | then
made myself as contenled as possible,
and took long view OF the regions be-
MEATH san Francisco, Oakland, and
all the valley beneath looked beautifully.
could see hundreds Ia the streets, on
steamers and housetops, waving their
hats and handkcrchiels then cast my
eyes over San Francisco, which must
have been twenty miles Off yelI could
see very plain. The SIGHT beneath me
was the most magnificent that ever NOR
tai eye beheld. continued my upward
hahl toward the northeast, and found
myself above hlgh peak, and some one
/ there haloocd to me, Elo, Balloon l''
To me, and ! sent MIN down a few CT
earilos, had with me, But ! DlDN'r
WAIT TO SEE IT he GUT I'm. Ntcu as
! ceudcd to The height Of about three and
quarter miles, aud passed behind a
cloud which shut everything from my
view, for few moments The next place
y saw was Martinez | was then at
: "a reat height. commenced TO pull the
e network of the balloon down in hopes Of
s cutting hole m her, but The net slip
ped through my hands, cutting them
, very much | then gave up all hopes
of getting down before night. took Il
good look at Mount Dlablo and the val
d lev beneath. would like to have stop
= ped at Martinez Tor the night, BUT IT
:, WAS 80 CO. passed lille to the left
Z Of Benicia, over the bay, and could see
: our State house very plain but don't
think anybody saw me.
i, saw the Sacramento steamers as
passed over the Bay. was constantly
r ascending, and could see the ocean very
o plain, and the sun rejecting on 1t gave