New Orleans daily crescent., 1859-11-14
Burn,.,g or a balloon In sidney.

From late Australian paper we take the fol-
lowing account of the destruction by fire of the
9 Australasian Balloon" in Sidney, n. S. W.:
Pursuant to announcement the Australasian Bal |
loon was inflated in the vacant ground attached to
Mr.. Pollocks premises, between Pitt and George
streets, and in due time ascended from this spot.
The occupants Of the car were Mr.. Green, one OF
the proprietors of the balloon, and Mr.. Alfred
WardeI, a son of Mr.. Wardell, OF Nauxhal Car
3dens, London. Owing to the nature OF the wind,
the feronauts were compelled to descend in the
ward Of the Woolpack Inn, at the Haymarket.
One of them (Mr. WardelD having got out. the
other attempted to rise again SO as to descend IN
small paddock somewhat further on; but the pres
sure Of the crowd, which by this time had poured
into the yard prevented him from so doing. There
was no resource, therefore, but to empty the bal
loon of its gas where it then was Out the subtle
| vapor escaped with great rapidity from large
\ rent in the body of the balloon and mpregnated
the whole surrounding atmosphere Still all might
\ have passed off well, but that some reckless fool
took this opportunity to light ucifer, and to cast
the burning match away. For a description OF
4 what followed we take the words OF an eye-Wlt-
Tie effect Of this was horrible in the extreme
4 Streams Of gas which had just issued from the
balloon into the air, gnited Instantly, and vivid
| lines and sheets of flame trayersed the yard in all
directions, like flying fiery serpents During the
time that this awful sight was visible, the terror
4 and confusion that prevailed was such as battle
description 1t must be borne in mind that in spite
Of reiterated and untiring efforts of the police to
clear the yard it had been hardly possible for them
to do more than to keep toerab!e order in the ex-
cited throng; especially as multidues were still en-
deayering to get in, whilst those in the yard tried
4 with desperate efforts to get out again into the
/ Haymarket. When the fire appeared, and several
in the yard and the sheds were singed and burnt
| there was frantic rush to the gateway, already
4 blocked up, and numbers breaking through the
| woodwork escaped into Durands alley on the one
side and over the stables into George street on the
\ other. T
The fire at first did not touch the balloon, which
4 was kept, by the e9ertions of Mr.. Brown and his
men, in the middle Of the yard, at a great risk,
and with a courage and presence of mind which
cannot be too highly praised. The fire engine was
| promptly sent for and brought down by Mr..
| Browns ORDERS but very happily was not re-
quired as the old buildings would doubtless have
| burned like paper. All this passed rapidly, per-
haps in less time than it takes to tell it, The fire
darting about in the air, caught the car; and then
seeing an attempt to preserve the balloon utterly
| fruitless and taught with extreme danger to life
| and property, the balloon was purposely cut, and
| the enormous body Of gas yet remaining in it
| several thousand cubic feet-ignited, and the bal
4 loon was consumed in mass of flame, which ap-
| peared for moment and then vanished.
From the first sight of the eXplosion-by which
| from the cool skill by which it was managed, nc
harm was done--the scene was indeed terrible
/ The screams of the women and chiidren--seyera
| Of whom were thrown down and trampled upon
| the shouts of the men, and the rush Of the panic
4 stricken mob, were something appalling. by tht
untiring and vigorous exertions Of the ponce, tn,
rush was partially stopped in the gateway. a
4 young woman was knocked down and passed owe
by several as they fled. She was rescued at las
by the police, carried out, and at length restore.
| to consciousness. She appeared however, to hay
4 had her face crushed under some mans foot
An infant of six months old was picked up, hay
/ ing been thrown on one side as the parties il
charge of it broke through the fence into Alake'
buildings. Another very young child was pickle
1 up and rescued from imminent peril, and seyera
persons Of maturer years owe their safety, perhap
their lives to the active courage and care OF tn
police. About dozen persons sustained more Q
less injury ON this occasion, but none OF these IL
juries have been such MS to occasion death.