Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1855-02-17
Extraordinary Balloon Ascension by
LADY and Mira cui0uS Escape.

relation To the balloon ascension OF Miss
Bradley, which we noticed by telegraph a
few days ago:
see that YOU have in your ,eligraphic
column brief account Of the balloon as
eension 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. filled her balloon entirely with
gas from one of the street mains, and at
IL O'Clock stepped fearlessly into the
car. She is small, deh"ale looking
woman, and was dressed IN Bloomer
costume of scarlet aud blue. The bal
loon, held by a rope, was then permitted
TO rise about twenty feet from the ground,
when she made a short address TO lie
crowd of people. Ii then rose gently,
still held by the rope, until she was one
hundred feet from the ground, wien she
Gu, the cord, and the balloon rose perpen-
dicu!arly with great velocity, until she
had reached a mile, or mile and quar-
ter, as il was estimated by those present
who were best able TO Judge.
II would appear, from her own account
that she knew very little about the busi-
ness she had undertaken, or Of the effects
likely to be produced upon The baffeoa
when il reached the rarified atmosphere.
The balloon was an old one, and the silk
had become so rotten lha, j, is wonderful
that il would bear initiation at ALL When
she reached this height she states that
the balloon, which was not entirely 6iled
when it left the earth, expended, unlf
the gas began 10 escape a, the seams, and
beearae very offensive TO her. She had
been so absorbed by the enchanting pros
pect spread out beneath her, which she
SAYS was magnificent beyond the power
OF language to describe, that she had nor
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 TALL with frigb,(ul ra-
pidity Tor lhe distance of six hundred or
seven hundred feet, her progress then be-
ing checked, from what cause we below
could not see although we then observed
that she was descending quite slowly.
II seems that when The balloon burst
it was torn into rlbands, except The lower
part or neck of the balloon. So complete
ly was the upper part torn 10 pieces, that
large pieces Of silk blew awav, and the
remainder hung down even below the car.
When she had fallen the distance, the
neck of the balloon suddenly blew up,
turning inside out, and catching against
the net work, formed parachute, which
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 extraordinary. After this
fearful fall, and when the balloon was
still descending with fearful velocity, sho
threw out her sand bags and snchor, and
then with tie u:s.ssi calmness commen-
ced singing hymn. She alighied about
four miles from this place. The Tip
must 90 considered quick one, rs at a.
quarter past IL she rode into town safe
and in fine spirits.
TERRIBLE PUNIsnnEsT OF SOLDIER
az WHlPPISG,-At Newcastle, Canada,
on the % OF January, Peter Easion, aged
1S a nriyate In tho OG,b roa;,n.n, Gam.