Washington sentinel., 1854-05-07
4otal anO YsrsonaL.


We have seen the Balloon THE announce
ment of Mr.. George Elliott, that he would mae
an ascension yesterday afternoon drew, as was
reasonable 10 anticipate, an immense concourse
Of people to the vicinity of the City Hail. near
which, in the hippodrome enclosure, was the
great scene of the balloon imitation. From eight
hundred TO thousand persons (men, women, and
children) 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 solictude
10 see the ascent everywhere prevailed. The
Nebraska Indians, in their fancfu 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 n, and large quantity escaped.
Al five O'Clock, all things seemed to be in read
ness. Pioneer balloons had been sent out, and
showed the wind TO be blowing violently from the
northwest, which, il was supposed, would carry the
north aeronaut 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 ont some
of the gas, and thus lessened the ascensive power
It was removed to the northwest corner of the
enclosure, when Mr.. Elliott attached his car and
took his stand therein, and announced himself
ready for the flight. Crowds pressed around him,
and not few persons good naturedly bade him
farewell. Cries Of q 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 Hail. had not some one in Ithe dense crowd
below caught pendent rope and pulled it to the
ground; which, however, required but little eff
fort
Such excitement 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 were 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 ntmated some of the g 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
ba he vi ;eaI
Elliott stepped out of the car, and fastened TO
high seat Of the |" box tier Hear ye " /" hear
ye" was shouted by himself and others, and this
Immediately drew the crowd around him. Taking
off his hat, and giving it wave, he said
Gentlemen of this great metropolis, / certainly
feel indebted for the kindness and Iiberaity which
you have shown towards me. respectfully ap-
peal to you as merl, Americans, TO say whether
have not done everything that was in my power
10 ascend. [Cries of yes yes" you haye.]
II has not been my fault. Here bench broke
and, with the noise thus produced, were a scream
from lady and the barking OF dogl pledge
you my honor as gentleman that | will yet satisfy
you.
aSome 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? [Cres of
Yes syesl But if you wany any security
that in the course of a week / aciH make the as
cension, will give it to you in fifteen minutes.
IA voice: All right; we believe you're honest
about that.1 | promise you Here huzzas
were proposed and given right heartily.l have
one request 10 make that you will not demolsh
my balloon. My word is my bond. | appeal to
any scientific man TO say whether this was fit
time for serostaton. 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.'
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 initiation, which we learn
amounts to $3.50, the balloon was damaged TO
such extend as 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 on yesterday.
The "spiritualists' In Tight Place
At the last conference Of " believers" held in
Temnoranc Hall on Er;Jav p;obf cavaral tbinos