Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-31
Extraordinary Balloon Ascension by a

extraordinary Balloon Ascension by a
Lady, and Miraculous scape.
correspondent of the New York Herald,
writing from Easton, Pa, under date ofJanuary
10th, says:
!" see that you have in your Geographic
column of to-day's Herald brief account Of the
balloon ascension Of Miss Louisa Bradley from
this place yesterday. Her escape from death
was so miraculous, that think you will find a
more detailed account interesting. Miss b.
fllied her balloon entirely with gas from one Of
the street mains, and at IL o'clock stepped
tearlessly into the car. She is small, delicate
looking woman, and was dressed in Bloomer
costume of scarlet and blue. The balloon, held
by a rope, was then permitted to rise about
twenty feet from the ground, when she made a
short address to the crowd of people, 1t then
rose gently, still held by the rope, until she was
one hundred feet from the ground, when she
cut the cord, and the balloon rose perpendicu-
lary with great velocity, until she had reached
mile, or mile and a quarter, as it was esti-
mated by those present who were best able to
Judge.
1t would appear, from her own account, that
she knew very little about the business she had
undertaken, or of the effects likely to be pro-
duced upon the balloon when it reached the
rarifed atmosphere. The balloon was an old
one, and the silk had become so rotten that it
is wonderful that it would bear imitation at ALL
When she reached this height she states that
the balloon, which was not entirely filled when
it left the earth, expanded, until the gas began
to escape at the seams, and became very often
sive to her. She had been so absorbed by the
enchanting prospect spread out beneath her.
which she says was magnificent beyond the
power of language to describe, that she had not
noticed the balloon. The escape of gas alarmed
her, and she pulled the valve rope, but permitted
but little gas to escape, as she was afraid she
would fall into the Delaware, which was directly
beneath her. In few moments after this the
balloon collapsed, and to our horror and alarm,
we saw her fall with frightful rapidity, for the
distance of six hundred or seven hundred feet,
her progress then being checked, from what
cause we below could not see, although we
then observed that she was descending quite
it was torn into ribands, except the lower part
or neck Of the balloon. So completely was the
upper part torn to pieces, that large pieces Of
the silk blew away, and the remainder hung
down even below the car. When she had
fallen This distance The neck Of Tie balloon s,td
denly dleac up, turning inside ont, aud catching
against the mel po,k, formed a parachute, achich
bore her safely 10 the ground. She came down
in an open field, and SO lightly did the car
strike the earth, that she says there was not the
slightest jar. Her presence of mind was extra
ordinary. After this fearful fall and when the
balloon was still descending with terrific velo-
city, she threw out her sand bags and anchor,
and then with utmost calmness commenced
singing hymn. She alighted about four miles
from this place. The trip must be considered
quick one, as at quarter past IL she rode
into town safe and in fine spirits.