The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-10-28

The recent unfortunate and probably fatal
balloon ascension Of Mr.. Thurston, which
has created such painful interest through
out the country has also brough, out,
through the columns Of the newspaper press,
many scraps Of history connected with bal
loon travelling. The Providence Journal
has compiled quite i,t Of fatalities, ADD
adds that II does not know Of 0ne distin-
guished uronaut that has not met with
violeu, death by means Of n balloon {;
Among the first who commenced these
voyages were N. Pllatre and NJ. ltomain OF
France. They made an ascent from Bou
logne, June Is, 1885, with Montgoliicr
balloon, tie fire being kindled un lerneath,
and the balloon ascending Ivy means OF rar-
fled mir. At an amazing height the balloon
took fire, burned tbe.cords by which the car
was suspended. and the unhappy occupants
were prccipitsted TO the earth, dashlng
them 10 pieces in manner too shocking to
mention.
NJ. Iambcccarri, accompanied by friend
made an ascent from the same place sep
tember "a, 1912. Ga his descent, the bal.
loon became entangled 10 the branches OF u
high tree and ere II could be discngaged,
caught fire. The Grooaats lcapcd out
I,mbeccari was killed on tho spot, and NJ.
Bonoga survived but short time.
About the same time mechanician, named
Bittorf, assembled from Mannheim. At con.
siderable height, be perceived, too late,
that his vehicle was damaged. lie opened
the valve, Descended with great velocity. aud
was dashed 10 pieces against house.
MADAME Blanchard assembled from Tivoli,
July 9Th, 1919, during the progrcs. OF ictc
there. At the height Of four hundred feet
the balloon caught fire. She was precipi-
ta,ed upon the pavement and instantly
killed.
Mr.. Harris. u very experienced mronaut,
was killed May cath, 1924. lie went up
from the City road, London. At the height
OF two miles, h. commenced to descend very
rapidly. was prccipitatcd to the earth and
dashed TO pieces.
A Mr.. Green assembled from Cardiff, July
II, lsi0. Ills body was found some time
after, on the Flat l louise shoals, in the centre
of Bristol Channel
NJ. Arban, u celebrated French Ir0nant
assembled from barcelona, in Sept 1874.
Nothing WIS heard from him until the mid.
die Of November, when bis body was found
near Roses.
Lieut.. Gale asccndcd from the Hippo
drome Of Vinocnnes. on Sunday, Sept. 9Th.
1850 Some time after his body was
found in clump Of ferns, his limbs broken
and mutilated, the face completely eaten
away by dogs apd other wild animals. lie
had previously met with several narrow
ESCAPES.
James Gouston made nh ascent in the
evening from tho Bellevue Gardens. June
I'd, 1889. The balloon was u new one, for
ty feet high, thirty.thr@ ieet in diameter,
holding twcnty.three thousand cable feet Of
gas. II being cloudy nj the time the car
was lost TO view 10 two minutes, lie fell
from his vehicle in attempting to descend, ut
tho town Of locs. A considerable quantity
Of blood and brains, spattered over ~ wall,
marked the spot where he struck the earth.
Mr.. knight assembled from Bombay,
December cath. 1888 In the presence Of u
large concourw Of natives, among whom
was the Rajsh Of bah. who promised the
mronaut two hundred rupees Il he wen, up
and came down again, Of which the Rajah
seemed to entertain some doubts. The bal
loon Travelled straight out to soa, AMI Mr..
knight has not since been heard from.
Ia September. 1881, NJ, Merle and u
companion were carried oil by balloon
that broke from its moorings. They ns
ccudcl To such fearful hc,gh, that Merle
was frozen to death, and the other descend,
al IN the greatest peril,
MIR. Timothy Winchester made an ascent
from Norwalk. Ohio. in August, ls55,start
ing in good spirits and amid the cheers OF
large ooncourse OF people, since which time
he has no, been heard IRON. lie may have
gone on al excursion to the North Star. US
when las, seen he was passing rapidly over
Lake Erie.
HI, Ju,y System.