New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-09-24
CHILDREN ALONE IN A BALLOON.
F,em IN. s. Los,. Rsras.ica-, Sert p

F-o-n ne 81 Losis Rsrnoied- sep 81
Our correspondent, al the Illinois Fair at Centrais
soouainis ns of the following thrilling occurrence:
NJ. e. W. Brooks Of thi. city, aeronsut of con-
siderable distinction, advertised 10 make an AS
cension from spot contiguous TO the Fan grouhis'
on Friday evening, after the closing exercises oi tn-
Fair. Instead, however, Of gong up him- u ne
yeded,o the solicitations of young who has been
travelling round with him, Earning the theory anu
practice of baloonipg, and WAC begged mat a me
evening was So 6ne, he might be allowed Ia Test lae
value of his knovIed by little experience The
Young man whose name has escaped the recollection OF
informant made the ascension in beautiful style 10
the presence Of thousands OF admiring aud wonder
ing people. The atmosphere was so quiet that Ne
almost vertically 10 great hight, and then, when
il supposed he would descend, the balloon passed
into current Of air which bor il away Ia the south
east and finally carried i out OF sight. IL wa. sai
that Mr.. Brooks much annoyed at ms pnpii Tor
refusing 10 descend before striking the current OF AIR
which bore him away from the scene OF the ascension
He did not return until Saturday morning, sbout day
break and then communicated account OF his most
thrilling experiences. The current Of air which bore
him III 10 the south-eas, carried him distance OF
about twenty miles before he thought of descending.
BY of his grapphng-iron the descent Was made
with safety and ease, and he found himself alighted
near farmhouse. the imaes of which regarded him
with the greatest wonder and qualification.
The balloon made fast 10 fence and after
short conversation with the farmer and his wife they
were persuaded 10 make ascension OF a few hun
bred feet al time. The balloon, relieved Of al
extra weight, readily and was easily pulled down
again by means of the anchor rope. The farmer and
his wife were highly pleased with their trips and
while expressing their qualification two of their small
children five and the other three years oil age;
who had been looking on with sstonishment, scrambled
into the and cried out, 4" Let ME 60 up =" Let
me coup! 49,. =,
The aeronaut proceeded at once 10 crafty them, but
from careessness accident ~ he WAS letting
them up. the rope slipped from his hands, and the
balloon mounted upward with the velocity OF a rocket
The frantic agony Of the parents and the CONSERVATION
Of the aeronaut may be imagined. In minute or two
the balloon had passed entirely out of sight, and
lost in the blue depths of the sky. Nothing could be
done but to hasten back to Mr.. Brooks at Ceutrals
and ask his advice.
Orr informant learns that Mr. Brooks expressed bis
opinion that the balloon would remain in the air about
al hour before commencing To descend, and while at
its greatest altitude the children would probably freeze
to death, unless in their fright they had preeipated
themselves from the car
Mr. Brooks early on Saturday morning act out in
the direct the balloon had taken, IN hopes to re-
cover IT, and find trace of the lost children. We
have up to the present ne heard nothing OF his sue
Our reporter called on Mr.. Brooks, the bro Their of
the aoronaut last night and learned some further par
ticulars He says he had conversation with gentle
man who came from Centraha yesterday, who states
that the balloon had been found about eight miles
from that place. and the children discovered in
car fast asleep. This is a most unlikely dsHouemeat
and cannot b. received without some corroborating
information. Mr.. Brooks rays the young aeronauts
name is Wilson.
Another account says:
But on Saturday morning the balloon was dis
GOV cred in top, about ten miles from the start
ing point. The children were fonnd safe. The glri
said that her brother complained Of being cold and
she laid him down in the ear and covered him with
her apron and he went to sleep but She did not sleep
al all. 49,
"The anchor Of the balloon was out aud caught in
tree top, and she found by pulling ON the anchor
rope that she could pull the balloon down; but the
tree was dead and Il soon broke loose. The anchor
then caught in green tree and she pulled the bal
loon down and fastened it 10 the branches where il
held until morning. which was then not far oil"
Buffalo Rspltlc