Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-08-02

Premature Ascension of n Balloon in Pitts
burglar AeranOut in "a PerilOus Posi-
tiOn-Uncertainty of his Fate.
Mondays Pittsburg Post has the following
information
nSaturday morning Prof Wilson, having
made arrangements with the Allegheny Gas
Light Company to supply the gas necessary to
initiate his air ship, it was conveyed to the
Diamond, in Allegheny City, and partially
filed from pipes placed there by the Com
pany for the purpose, receiving 10000 feet of
gas, which, il was thought, would be suf-
ficient. The balloon was secured by one
stout rope and several smaller ones, and it
was the intention to float it, at n slight ell
ovation, to Iron City Park. The Professor,
not wishing to cucumber himself with the
car or basket in which he was to sit, had il,
with his ballast, provisions overcoat, and
other articles necessary to his proposed vow
age, conveyed TO the Park, where he intended
to attach the car before taking his flight.
The balloon being inflated and every thing
in readiness, hundred or more men and boys
seized the ropes, the @ronaut took his seat
among the netting surrounding and depend
ing from the balloon and started. Before
starting, to prevent the leakage of gas he had
secured the neck of the balloon by tying it,
and the valve rope was far beyond his reach
The balloon was to be guided along Ohio
street TO Chestnut, and across the Mechanic
street Bridge to the park. But alas for the
exceptations of pecuniary speculation by
the aerial navigator, and the anticipations of
a novel sight by the "dear public" who had
made their preparations to see the ascent the
balloon went up prematurely, disappointing
both.
About ten o'clock, when the balloon, by
the aid of the volunteers who had no special
interest in the matter, had arrived at the cor
ner of Ohio-street and East-lane, il became
unwieldy and began to dodge about striking
against the houses on the other side Cknock-
ing down chimneys and parts of wa!ls,)
which strained and broke one of the ropes
that held it, first cut by striking against a
spear projecting from sign. Those who
held the rest, novices in the management OF
air craft, became frightened and loosened
their hold, and the small ropes gave way one
after another, leaving but the larger rope to
hold the balloon. The ascending power of
the strange structure was too strong for those
who still retained their grasp, and the rope
was drawn rapidly through their hands. One
courageous individual, a police officer, held
on until he was drawn up some twenty feet
and was then obliged to slide down to the
ground and let go, with his hands severely
blistered. PIT
IA. The freed balloon rose up majestically, tn,
np and was soon above the highest spires. Ii
IL short time the news spread like wild-fr(
through both cities, and at every street
corRer might be seen crowds gazing at tn,
fugitive balloon. The netting had become
disarranged in some manner, so as TO cause
the balloon to lean to one side, and, wthou
any control of his vessel, fifteen feet below it
and no car or basket the fearless navigator
seemed indeed to be in a perilous position
subject to be driven wherever the waywart
winds might choose to blow. The fact of BIZ
being without overcoat or provisions anC
pertaking of only a light breakfast, added t.
the hardships of his situation. Many wer,
the speculations INDUCED in as to where ht
would CO. how and where he would com,
down, whether he would not starve o.
freeze, &c. ,... ..
The balloon soon attained such hight a
to appear like mere speck on the horizon
and at eleven o'clock had apparently reached
| an elevation Of three. miles. Spy-gasses ant
| telescopes were now brought into requisi
| ton, and with one of these the eronaut wa
| discovered climbing up TO the netting of th
balloon, with an evident intention of rightinI
the vessel, ifpossible, or of making an orifct
for the escape of the gas, which woult
enable him to descend. He then descended
to his former position, seated himself com
Tortably in the netting below, and in thi
manner passed out of sight
Late in the afternoon intelligence reached
the city that Prof, Wilson had made saf
descentupon the hill near Sharpsburg, abou
seven miles from the city. 1t was subse
quently stated that the balloon again as
cended from that, and on Sunday it was ri
mored that it had come down at McKeesport
This was manifestly Incorrect, unless tn
course of the balloon materially change
which is scarcely probable. On Sunda
evening no reliable intelligence of the aero
naut had been received, and it is difficult t
divine his situation or whereabouts. TIL
heavy rains of yesterday would probably sat
urate his balloon sufficiently to bring
down. 1t is to be hoped that the Professo
has made safe descent some where, thoug
on Saturday his prospects for so doing wer
anything but flattering.