The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-08-09
0ttana frtt GRADER.
Amuscments.


most overrun with amusements. Carpen
ter's Varieties Theatre" at metropolitan
hall, maintained segc of two weeks, VIII
respectable audiences and fair performances
The season ended with hop on Ihursda
evening.
On Saturday evening, the Baker vocaiists
favored us with one of their pleasant con-
certs They had, as they always have in
Ottawa, good house.
On wednesday evening, the Druid Ok.
horn Band" had posted bills for a concert
But as both the court house and Metropo!i,
tan hall were pre-occupied, the entertain,
ment was not given for want of room
We are informed they will return on Mon
day, and give one of their recherche enter
taiuments in the evening. We are assured
by those who have heard them, that. be-
sides giving a musical entertainment of
high order, they are worth the admission
fee as a curiosity.
But the great day in our city was Thurs
day, when Prof. Brooks made his balloon
ascension. In Ottawa this was an event,
being the first ascension ever attempted
here Great crowds of people gathered in
from all parts cf the county, and between
three and four o'clock, there must have been
four thousand men, women, and children in
and around Washington square, from which
the ascension was made. \ stiff breeze
prevailed from the north during the after
h. I'LL in,
Hair,i AMI III readiness at 3 O'Clock, the hour
appointed, IL was not considered safe to ven
ture, and the ascension was postponed until
the brceZcs should be more favorable At
SIX o'clock, however, tie professor
nounced that lie would 20 up in - minutes,
be the wind what it might. The iistcsa,
waiting crowd was all astr, and inside
a. vel as outside the canvass, everybody
vas ia com,notion. The huge balloon, some
~ feet III diameter, moved from It's p.ar, in
one corner ct the enclosure to the Centre
Gradually the cords were looScned, the pro
fcssOr took his seat in the car, the band
struck up Jordan is hard road to trab
bic" the word good bye was given. the
fOfGS dt.! dllsu GlItGGS ana SHOUTS.
the monster globe leaped from the earth, and
gracefully rose to the upper regions The
balloon took course directly south, bearing
in that direction for half an hour, and then
veercd to the eastward. until, in an hour, it
sank out Of sight. Everybody agreed it was
glorious sight, and, that the professor had
made splendid ascension.
Yesterday morning the professor returned
to town, and to the thousand anxious in
9nircrs as to how he flrcd, stated that he
had landed some 10 miles southeast Of Otta-
wa exactly on the Inc dividing La Sale and
Livingston COMMISSIONING down as gently
and gracefully as duck upon the water
1hs natives were somewhat astouished, I
at first, to see so huge 4 monster alight
amonst them, but learning that lie was
mostly made up of gas, were not seriously .
alarmed, but kindly aided the professor in .
getting the critter down TO reasonable pro- /
portions. and after keeping him Hospitality
over night, brought him back to Ottawa in
ttie morning.
In the evening of THURSDAY, according to .
programme, e. W. Brooks gave, in the .
balloon enclosure, his exhibition Of fire
works, which are SAID 70 have been exceed .
ingly fine.
To lenGthcn out the ADJUSTMENTS TO the
end of the week. Professor AacEvey, of La
Sale, arrived on Thursday with his huge
pavilion ard theatric>d corps from La Sale. .
Ills tent was also erected in Washington
square on Thursday, and while the crowd
awaited the balloon ascension, Ec beguilcd
their patience with one OF his agreeable the .
atricsl entertainments. We understand the
professor had good house and made some
dimes. In the evening, shortly after the as
censiOn, he gave another enter tainmcnt,
equally successful. Last evening his troupe ,
a;ii that of Mr. Carpenter combined. ard !
this evening we learn they give positively .
the last" performance in our city.