The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22
Balloon Ascent..Exiraor
Accident to the AerOuau nj.

Balloon Ascent--Exiraord
Accident to the AerOnaut.
Yesterday Captain Hall, the aeronaut, as
cendcd in his balloon from an enclosure in
Newcastle. The wind was northwest Cap-
tain Hall, attired in full acrobatic costume.
took his place in the car, and having arranged
the ropes ofhis trapez, &C., he gave the sig
MI for all hands to relinquish their hold Of
the balloon simultaneously. The balloon as
cendod with great rapidity Immediately on be
ing released from restraint, and as it glided
higher and higher the crowd repeatedly
cheered the aeronaut, who decended from
the car--a kind Of basket covered with
red cloth, containing seats for two PERSONS
and performed his trapez exploits to the half
averted gaze of the assemblage in the dis
lance. His adventurous achievements were
pretty freely COMBINED BY those whom
he had left few mo nents previously, and
we can say that it was great relief after
seeing him, suspend Il by the foot from his
trail machinery at a height of about 1000
feet, to perceive that he had retaken his seat
inside the car.
After the balloon had been I'D about q
quarter o!an hour she was seen decending
rapidly. At length she disappeared entirely
behind the houses, and the spectators began
to look out for amusement in the music and
the pleasures Of the promenade Ina few
minutes, however, the balloon was seen to
shoot up with great rapidity, and before the
majority of those present were aware of the
act, she had diminished in appearance to
the size ofa hat. It was supposed at first that
the aeronaut had again ascended, but away
the airy vessel continued to sail in south
easteriy direction, until some alarm began to
be felt for the safety of the conductor. Opera
glasses were in great requisition but the
balloon got SO far away that the car was rot
disernable Shortly after ten o'clock, the
cabman, who had been sent out to follow the
balloon, returned to the town, confirming
our suspicion that an accident of serious
character had happened to the aeronaut. It
appears that Captain Hall, having proceeded,
for about twenty minutes, descended in the
Heworh district, not far from Pelaw. The
balloon was seen to descend in clover field !,
by farmer and son, who were employed in
the adjoining enclosure.
The hedge prevented them seeing exactly
what occurred, but there is no doubt that the
car reached the ground in safety. There was
very little wind at the time, and the descent
took place in most favorable situation.
There can be little doubt, however, that
the graphing iron failed to keep its hold, and
that the balloon dragged few yards along
the ground, causing some of the ballast to be
upset, thus lessening the weight to be sus.
tanned. Atthat moment the daring voya-
geur seems to have been getting out of the
car, when the balloon, rising with sudden ve-
locity caught his foot in theropes, and whirl.
ed him unexpectedly into the air.
For moment he was seen hanging with
his head downwards, in the next the rope
was disentangled and he fell into the clover
field beneath, distance certainly not less
than 120 feet. The persons near him imme.
diately ran to his assistance. To their sur
prise he was not dead, but spoke in an inco-
herent manner, complaining that he was
nearly suffocated with gass. Upon close ex-
animation it was discovered that no bones
We're broken, nor were any wounds Of any
kind. The medical gentleman in attendance
regarded the case favorably, and the general
impression was Of unbounded astonishment
that so little injury followed the catastrophe.
The dress of the aeronaut was only slightly
soied, and watch, which was suspended
from his neck at the time ofthe fall was lying
on the table by his bedside, and continued
faithfully to record the time.-F From tie
Nercastk England Chronicle.