Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-10-26
From the San Francisco Herald Of .4ag. %.
Extraordinary Ascension In Balloon.

YoUTH.-Yester was delightful day, and
hundreds of persons repaired to Oakland, on the
opposite side of the bay attracted by the announce
ment of grand balloon ascension, as well as by
the desire to enjoy the country air. Three stea-
mers piled between the city and that place, car
rying over full complement of passengers at ev-
cry trip. During the early part of the day the
visters amused themselves in strolling Though
the pleasant groves of Oakland, whilst the process
of initiating the balloon slowly progressed, under
the management of Mr.. Kelley, who was to have
made the ascent. The balloon with the necessa-
nv apparatus was confined in small yard on
Third street. near Broadway land was open to the
inspection of ALL 1t was fine silk one, of large
dimensions, not less than forty feet in circumfe-
renee. The process of initiation was very tedious
and uninteresting, and the spectators, after walt
inu some hours. came to the conclusion the ascen-
sion would be failure. To relieve the monoto-
ny, small pioneer balloons were sent OIL at inter-
walls, and voluntary collection was taken up for
the benefit of Mr.. Kelley.
At halEpast three O'Clock the balloon was lit
tie more than half filled with gas, and it was an
nounced that Mr. Kelley was about to undertake
the VOYAGE. dense crowd collected round the
balloon and the aerial voyager took his seat In the
car, which was released from confinement, and "a
way went the balloon, not into the upper air, but
along the street in southeasterly direction, bang
ing Mr.. Kelley against the ground in any thing
but an Agreeable manner, and knocking up quite
dust until it was captured, Mr.. Kelley retaining
his position in the car. A man of lighter weight
then took his seat, and another attempt was made
but with no better success. In its progress along
the ground the balloon came in contact with the
limbs of tree, but escaped uninjured. In order
to lessen the weight, as is presumed, the car was
taken off the hoop, and small board was placed
across from one side of the hoop to the other and
tied fast Upon this a man of still less weight
took his seat, and was carried, few feet from the
ground "a distance of some fifteen or twenty yards.
| By this time the excursion was looked upon as
good farce, and of course total failure Several
persons, appreciating the fun, asked to be permit
ted to take ride supposng las matter OF course,
it would be only for few yards. Among them
was youth Of sixteen years of age, named Jo-
seph Gates, known by the familiar appellation of
'.Ready." He had gone to Oakland to sell oran-
ges-hs avOcation-and was in for all kinds OF
sport. Without reflection, he was told to jump
in. Turning to his companion he handed his bas-
ket of oranges to him, and, asking him to hold
them, Immediately straddled the board which had
been fastened to the hoop of the balloon. Those
who had hold of it then let go,and IL moved slow
ly upward, the weight Of the boy depressing the
hoop on one side, and throwing his back against
the ropes which attached the hoop to the balloon,
his legs hanging suspended in the air. AS he was
about rising Mr.. Kelley called out to him to pull
the valve-rope when he wanted to come down.
He took hold of it, and appeared to be either ma
king it fast or pulling at il with a view to de-
scend, when some of the boys cried out to him to
Ia Lot . nd frr,duallv
wing rapidly along in southeasterly drecton.-
With the exception Of this information as to the
use of the valve-rope, he was entirely ignorant
of the manner of managing balloon. Having
ascended some thirty or forty feet,he balloon was
carried along by gentle breeze in southeast
course across an arm of the bay south of Oakland
til it was concealed from view by some ligh,
clouds 1t was then met by counter-current ol
air, and moved along, gradually ascending, in a
northeasterly direction, to appearances immediate
ly over the crest of the mountains. In the course
Of half an hour it had attained a greater altitude
and still its course was onward and upward, until
at a few minutes past 5 O'Clock it was lost to the
view in the distance. 1t was about fifteen min
utes before o'clock when the boy took his seat
on the board.
Although the result Of this extraordinary aerial
voyage must remain in doubt for some time, scarce
ly hope of the safety of tho daring youth can be
entertained Had he known how to control the
balloon he would unquestonably have opened the
safety valve, after proceeding mile or two, and
have effected a descent. 1t is to be presumed nc
was either ignorant of the manner in which the
valve is useG or that the rope by which it is open
ed and the gas permitted to escape, had broken OF
become entangled Be this as it may, his course
was onward and upward to what would seem te
be inevitable destruction When last seen the
balloon was at such height as to preclude the
hope that he could be alive. The danger Of his
falling off the board was Of course imminent, ant
as he ascended into the higher regions he must
necessarily have become benumbed by cold, and
may have fallen to the ground and been crushed
to atoms. In the event of his escaping this death
however, another equally terrific awaited him
tina. produced by the rarefacton of the air. The
youth has, we understand, father and brother
living in this city. We await with aome anxiety
the result Of this most extraordinary affair.
A few moments after the balloon had parted
company with the earth ,and when at the distance
of halfa mile, one of young Gates's companions
shouted to him to know if he ''would not have al
overcoat.' The crowd around enjoyed the joke
heartily, little thinking that the brave boy would
in less than half an hour be shiverlng with III
tense cold. We may remark that he was very
lightly clad. AS he assembled ,and before the out
lines of his figure were lost to view in the distance
his back was turned to the crowd, and we did no
observe him make any attempt TO look back or
the world he was leaving, we trust but temporarl
ly. His department was, however, entirely com
posed, although his seat was most uncomforta
Bile one. Two or three ropes against which ht
leaned his back, and frail board which he strad
died, as a child does hobby horse, were all tina
= separated him from destruction when last SEEM
Upon this fragile support he swung to and FRI
without falling, although We were prepared at a
ny moment to see him drop to the ground WheI
the balloon had attained considerable elevation
its movements became very regular. There wer'
no gusts or puffs of wind, and the movement wa
50 gentle that the progress of the aeronaut coult
only be marked by observing its relative position
> with other objects. The direction first taken wa
, little to the eastward of San Antonio. At thi
point it was that it encountered the counter cur
rent of air, ,and made the curve which carried it Il
the northeast. After having struck tho counter
current the distance was so great that the figure
of the boy could no longer be distinguished. Th,
boy and the balloon presented single dark objec
= to the view and from this time until it eniirely
! disappeared the dmnutOn in its size was very
gradual. 1t was. however, throughout the whole
time seen with the greatest distinctness. The at
mosphere was unusually pure, and after the bal
loon had foated past the low clouds behind whcl
it was concealed within the first ten minutes, i
, was not again hid from view until it had passc'
; beyond the range of unaided human vision. Ever
: when it disappeared it did not seem to have beel
concealed by the light fleecy clouds in the back
i ground, but gradually dwinded to speck s.
small that it could no longer be discovered.
At first the spectators seemed to have been in
sensible of the danger attendant upon the voyage