The weekly Placer herald., 1853-09-03

Co.-A numerous collection of persons
assembled at Oakland, Contra Costa
county, on Sunday last, to see Mr.. Kelly
ascend in his balloon. From some cause
the balloon would not ascend with him
The Alta says: "The crowd called for a
boy, and a number Of them who were
near, cried "Let me GO" The car had
been taken off so as to make the balloon
as light as possible, and light hoop
about an inch square and three feet in
diameter, with light board, four inches
wide, lashed across the middle, offered
the only position for seat.
Upon one end of this board where it
rested on the hoop, boy named Joseph
Gates, aged Is years, took his seat. Kel-
ly's partner, who was at a little distance,
cried to them to hold on till he had given
the boy the proper directions; but he had
barely time to tell the boy to pull the rope
when he should wish to come down, when
the persons near let 60, and the balloon
arose rapidly. 1t first took a southwark
course until it had gone about two miles
when it struck another current of air and
took northern course, and when last
seen was among the clouds, probably eight
or ten miles north eastwardly of Oakland,
and 500 or 200 feet high"
We copy the following account of the
ascension and safety Of the young Ero-
naut from the times Times :. TRANSCRIPT
of Wednesday last:-
One of the great features of attraction
held ont to the patrons of the San Fran
cisco Theatre last evening, was the APP
pearance in prOpraa persona of the youth
ful aeronaut Gates, upon the boards of
the establishment, with an account of his
adventures while in the air.
The whole scene upon the stage was as
novel as was the remarkable trip of the
lad. Suffice it to say there was little of
erudite research displayed, and very little
to satisfy scientific inquiry. The boy ap-
peared in one of the scenes of the new
local piece, sThe Past, Present and Fu-
ture of San Francisco" ushered in by a
host of actors of high and low degree, all
shouting "the boy from the baloon-the
boy from the balloon!' DR.. Robinson
was there with his Yankee dress, and
Sambo, with his woolly head and ebony
features. Supernumerary, and heavy men
were all present. The boy was Of course
presented to the audience from amidst the
troupe Of actors, and was welcomed with
loud applause. When quiet was restored
DR.. Robinson commenced plying him with
sundry questions, served up in truly Yam
kee style. The whole scene was entirely
extemporaneous, the boy answering with
out the slightest hesitation, questions in
discriminatory put by Sambo and the YAM
kee, and generally giving them as good as
they sent, to the infinite amusement of the
audience, who frequently interrupted the
dialogue with laughter and applause.
The Doctor commenced somewhat in
this style:
"Wall, yer kinder TUX ride on high
boss 'tother day"
Whereupon Gates commenced and gave
the following account as nearly as we
could eliminate it from the running jokes,
questions and answers which followed.
He stated, as is well known, that the
balloon was not sufficiently charged with
gas to bear Mr.. Kelly even after the bas-
ket had been removed, and that he yolun-
teered to ascend himself. He described
to the audience by holding up his cap the
manner in which he sat in the hoop. The
hoop it seems, which was a few inches
broad only, was vertical. 1t was Of suffi-
cient diameter to enable him to sit in it,
leaning his back against one portion and
bracing his feet against the side opposite.
The board which was tied into the hoop
was thus brought between his legs; hold
ing on in this position the daring youth
commenced his ascent.
Gates is lad of about twelve years of
age, and appears by his conversation to
e naturally intelligent. He is news
boy by occupation and has seen consider
able of the world He appeared perfect
ly cool upon the stage, and by means of
his cap, described his position in the hoop
to the crowded audience with the readi-
ness and confidence of an experienced
lecturer, describing the strata of the earth
by means of diagram. OF course his
story was told in homeIy style and bad
therefore n freshness about it which ma
terially heightened its interest. From his
appearance we were prepared TO believe
that Notwithstanding he realized to con-
siderable extent his extreme danger, he
did not lose his presence Of mind, even
when 10000 feet above the surface of the
earth.
He states that when he mounted the
hoop he had an idea the balloon would
rise with him, but thought he could at any
time come down by pulling the valve.
But he remarked to one of his compan-
ions yesterday that he realized his danger
when he had risen, and actually made up
his mind that he had got to die"
After being up more than two hours the
balloon descended to the earth, and when