The Woodville Republican, and Wilkinson advertiser., 1853-12-20

the balloon was gong when last seen YVES,
that of Sacramento, The balloon was distinct
ly seen throughout its progress by the citizens
of San Francisco, and the additional distance
added by the bay appears to have varied the
appeararce of the object but slightly.
FROM THE SANE PAPER or Auo. so.
SAFETY OF THE YdUTHFUL ARRoSkUr.---
1t is with great peashre that we announces
the safety of Joseph Gates, the youthful aero
uaut, whose fate has excited so much interest
in the community within the last twenty-four
hours. He came down in the steamer Ante
lope last night from Benecia, id 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 conyul.
sively to the cords and shit his eyes to avoid
| falling This soon wore off, and he proceed
ell to look around him perfectly selfpossessed.
lie enjoyed his ride wonderfully somewhat
eramped from straddling the narrow board.
The scene presented from his lofty perch he
represents as magnificent. The mountains,
bay, ocean, aud 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 Others
the balloon, propelled by gust Of wind, would
swing to and fro, rendering it somewhat ditii-~
cult to keep his seat, He preserved vas pres
ence of mind, however, and ,ihanaged 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 a much more rapid
pace. As he moved with the wind, he was
only conscious Of his progress by. the rapid
ity Of which ihe 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 ffoin
the cold. To use his own expression, Fhe on
joyed himself frst-rate," and his only fear was
that he might land in some remote place in
the mountains AWAY from 'the settlements
and exposed to the attacks of the "grizzlies."
When he had gone as far as he thought a.
greeabe, he took hold of the valye-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 10 the
hoop upon which his seat was TESTING Tits
somewhat alarmed him. He tugged and Jerk
ed at the rope, and it broke Imagine now
the condition of the gallant boy, floating miles
above the earth upon q tfail 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, a wonder to birds and spectacle
to men, or was he to be pr,cipitated from
that fearful height upon the mountains be-
meath Finally, the conviction forced itself
iipou him that he must puncture the body Of
the balloon in sotiie manner, if he would ever
descend in safety. lie therefore determined
tn 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 theni
cautiously raised himself in a 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 10 make his way
up eight or ten feet unclapsed one hand, took
his knife, and ripped large hole in the silk,
The gas Immediately gtisfied out, and the BAL
loon commenced to descend very rapidly Hs
succeeded in reaching his seat again in safety.
i was now about six o'clock in the evening,
The balloon rapidly approached the earth.
He prepared himself, and jtst as it was about
to strike he JUMPED off, and was once more
on "terra frmai" III the leap, however. ho
spraned his ankle. The place where he land.
ed proved to be in Suisun Plains. about az.
teen miles from Benicia and five miles from
the nearest house. No soouer had lie leapsd
of, than the balloon, ligltened of his weight.
shotup again like rocket, into air. darted
of, and was lost Young Gates walked 70 4
house about five miles ,ff, where he was kind
y received, supplied with good supper, and
a bed, slept soundly, aud awoke next morning
greatly refreshed, He started off and walked
to BeLecia, where lie reInaihod until the Ante
Iope came ts last night; Altogether Il il the
most extraordinary balloon ascension on re-
cord. The escape of the boy ia, under the cir
cumstances, almost miraculous. He is hero:
Ihe above statement enibodies the facts Gath.
cred from several gentlemen who came down
on tile boat last night and eonversed with him.
lie rs now at his fathers honse In the neigh.
bcrhood Of the Hospital and was too indis-
posed las; last night to give any further accouu
Of his adventures.
A GBM.--One of tLe s,xeetast ,ya,,,s ~ Ft}okr