Washington sentinel., 1854-05-07
4otaI an6 4srsonaL.
We have seen the balloon the announce

reasonable 10 anticipate, an immense concourst
OF people TO the vicinity Of the City Hall, near
which, in the hippodrome enclosure, was the
great scene of the balloon imitation. From eight
hundredt thousand persons (men, women, and
chidren) were inside, while probably fifteen times
that number surrounded the building. House
tops, windows, trees, and all other high places,
were occupied; and, of course, intense solicituds
TO see the ascent everywhere prevailed. The
Nebraska Indians, in their fanciful costume, con-
stituted prominent feature on the occasion.
The balloon is silk, white, red, and blue stripes
and capable of containing seven thousand cubic
feet of gas; but owing to the violence ofthe wind
rent was M and large quantity escaped.
AT five o'clock, all things seemed to be in readi-
ness. Pioneer balloons had been sent out, and
showed the wind 10 be blowing violently from the
northwest, which, il was supposed, would carry the
north eronaut to the neighborhood of the Long
Old Fields, in Maryland, or TO Port Tobacco.
The wind, however, was too strong, and every
flaw which struck the balloon pressed out some
Of the gas and thus lessened the ascensive power
1t was removed to the northwest corner Of the
enclosure, when Mr.. Elliott attached his car and
took his stand therein, and announced himself
and not few persons good naturedly bade him
farewell Cries of g Here she goes y "There
she goes" and deafening shouts, went up from
the assembled hundreds, while the marine band
played patriotic air.
The balloon was again shifted to the east of
the enclosure, and away it suddenly leaped over
the fencing, and would, have struck against the
City Hall, had not some one in THE dense crowd
below caught pendent rope and pulled il to the
ground; which, however, required but little eff.
fort.
Such excitement as ensued is seldom witnessed,
and the balloon was directly surrounded. Those
inside the enclosure rushed TO the upper seats,
and had fair view of the scene below !; but we
regret to say that half dozen hats We're blown
of Just about this time, and that one the repor
toria corps lost his castor without the least pros
pect of recovering it.
But, as the balloon had failed to go up, the OBJ
ject was to again bring it into the enclosure, and
soon as this was intimated some of the &C SOW
erngs" began to rip planks from the enclosure as
means Of their ingress but, unfortunately for
not few of this number the police officers stop
ped their progress.
The balloon was reconveyed to the hippodrome
building amid the shouts ofthe populace; the wind
meantime, slapping its ribs and knocking out its
breath.
All were now anxious 10 know what would
be the next step, and were soon gratifed Mr.
Elliott stepped ont Of the car, and fastened to
high seat of the box tier" Hear ye Y " hear
ye" was shouted by himself and others, and this
Immediately drew the crowd around him. Taking
of his hat and giving it wave, he said:
"Gentlemen of this great metropolis, certainly
feel indebted for the kindness and liberalty which
you have shown towards me. | respectfully ap
peal 10 you as men, as Americans, to say whether
have not done everything that was in my power
to ascend. [Cries Of yes yes" you haye.'l
II has not been my fault. Here bench broke,
and, with the noise thus produced, were scream
from a lady and the barking OF dog.l Ipledge
you my honor as gentleman that will yet satisfy
you.
"Some five hundred tickets have been disposed
of at twenty-five cents apiece The fence has
been broken down, and many have entered who
did not pay. Under these circumstances, can
not refund the money. Is that rot SO? [Cries of
Yes syes.] But if you wany any security
that in the course Of a week / acM make the as
cension, will give it TO you in fifteen minutes.
IA voice: sAll right we believe you're honest
about that.1 | promise you Here huzzas
were proposed and given right heartily have
my balloon. My word is my bond. appeal to
any scientific man to say whether this was a fit
time for Hrostation have been blown to sea
and met with other accidents in craft not larger
than that. repeat my promise to crafty you
next week, and again thank you for your kind
ness and liberality.n
The crowd, disappointed, dispersed slowly; and
in the course Of fifteen minutes silence again pre-
vailed in and around the hippodrome. We have
seen the balloon!
Besides the cost of the imitation, which we learn
amounts to $3.50, the balloon was damaged TO
such an extend to require at least one week for
repairs. We also learn that Mr.. Ellicott requests
some person to suggest means to designate the
purchasers Of tickets yesterday
The "Spiritualists'' In Tight Place
AT the last conference Of believers" held in
Temperance Hall on Friday night, several things
which are worthy of public mention occurred
The field of discussion is open TO any one who de.
sires to seek after TRUTH and the skep,ic is afforded
an opportunity either TO make a set speech or TO
PROFOUND inquiries. Investigation" is the motto
and Governor Talmadge presides with becoming
dignity over the meeting. So far by way Of intro
duction.
Looking in upon the conference between nine
and ten o'clock on the aforesaid Friday night, we
found DR.. Clayton, of Virginia, the floor, reply
ing to the spiritual vagaries of Dr. Cragin, OF
Georgetown, and in calm, respectful manner
overturning not the tables, but some of the absur
di,es advanced. He said, in substance, among
other things, 81 believe, Mr. Chairman, that you
and others are honest in what you say /; ! have no
to believe that you would wilfully practise
deception but why do not see these mani
festations to which you allu,1ea In the absence
of these, we must take them secondhand. Why
do we not have the iable-tippings, the rafpngs,
the writings, and other developments here, in
py sc? People generally have high apprecia-
n...of their own wisdom, and therefore are re-
luctant to believe such extraordinary feats with
out the ocular or acoustic proofs"
DIR. Cragin, in his reply, said that persons who
want TO have such evidence must form private
circles, with an earnest desire to investigate the