New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-11
FPIGHTFUL ACCIDENT.
PERILs OF AERONAUTISM-C0 OF a
BALLOON.

Tn consequence of the advertisement that has ap-
peared for several days past in the daily papers, setting
forth that "Mr. Augustus NJ. Conner, pupil Of Pro-
fessor WISE" would make his first aerial voyage in
his new balloon Venus on the 10th instant, at 4
o'clock D. M. from Palace Garden, several thousand
people were drawn thither yesterday afternoon, 10
witness the ascension.
About two hundred and fifty persons, among whom
were many women and children, paid the price of
admission to the Garden in order To witness the pro-
cess of initiation and other preliminary arrangements,
and to obtain good look at the daring aeronautic
ADVENTURE. preparatory TO bis bidding adeu to his
friends on terra frma Fourteenth street and the
Sixth avenue, in the vicinity of the Garden, were
thronged with men, women, and children, and it is
estimated that there were between five thousand and
Fix thousand people on the ground.
The portentous state of the sky seemed TO forbid that
the promised ascension should take place and the tfu
gusts Of wind that every and then swept over the
Garden and through the streets, created doubt in the
minds of those present as TO whether Mr.. Conner
would risk his life in 70 frail fabric balloon. Mr.
Conner did not make his appearance in the Garden
until quarter before o'clock, having been detained
in the lower part of the city by suit which he had in
one Of the Courts Upon entering the Enclosure he
was received with rapurous applause. lie was accom-
panied by his wife and several other relatives and
friends.
Mr.. Connor's assistants had already commenced the
nrocess Of initiation which the aereonaut in person
superintended. and the balloon soon contained gas
enough to carry it above the garden walls the sight
of which the people outside loudly cheered Though
detained to the earth by heavy bags of sand the bulky
| globe swayed backward and forward with every gust
Of wind and during momentary gale that sprung mp
il was dashed against large lamp which il completely
| demolished.
The fears of the SPECTATORS now began to be fully
aroused and there were loud cries from every side of
| Don't 60 up" Don't 60 up Several OF Mr..
Connors personal friends at this time came forward
| and advised him not to make the ascension, as the
| weather was too stormy, but the young man replied
| that he would 20 as soon the squa passed over
| His wife who was to make an ascension with hun
next week, expressed great desire 10 go up on the
present OCCASION but he said to her very calmly " My
| dear YOU must wait until the next time.
| A gentleman near the inclosuTe noticing hole IN
tie silk, pointed it out to Mr. Conner, who, IN the
coolest manner proceeded TO tie il up with piece OF
Irvine The same rerson asked if the rent would make
| any difference. when Conner. lauglingly said " Ii
might cause the balloon TO burst and spill him out
Shortly after O'Clock, Mr. Conner deelning that he
had sufficient gas in the balloon, called number OF
gentlemen around him. and giving each one a rope,
directed that the balloon be allowed to gradually rise
until the basket only rested upon the ground. This
| was DONE but the balloon very FESTIVE, being
| rocked about by the wind in frghtful manner The
TOD of it appeared very full, but the throat seemed
| Aabby.
The audience again urged Mr.. c. not 10 make the
ascension but be laughed at their fears Bidding an
aectonate adieu TO his wife and intimate friends Mr.
Conner entered his car and called upon those who held
the roues to close UP and take strong hold upon the
| basket which they did Everything being in readi-
ness nj a preconcered signal every man relaxed his
hold but the balloon, instead of rising perpendcnarly
from the ground, lunged of in westerly direction.
The monster body driven by the squall that just
| then arose demolished large Transparency with
which it came in contact, and, striking the
metal cornich of the ball and concert building bent
| it like so much thin lead The wind subsding, the
balloon rose above the high the building
referred to- and then suddenly collapsed, and with its
basket and occupant instantly disappeared from sight
A scene of the widest confusion ensued, Mrs
Conner, and female relative who accompanied her.
fainting and falling helpless upon the ground.
Loud shrieks rent the air. both inside and outside of
the Garden and the frantic people rushed hther and
thther without knowing why wherefore Many
people, under the impression that the balloon had
fallen into the yards of the houses Fourteenth
street or had risen and landed upon the roofs of the
neighboIing buildings attempted to gain admission to
said premises but were repulsed by some Policemen
Officer Rabneau Of the Sixteenth Ward, and Officer
Westerfeld Of the Ninth succeeded in gaining the roof
of tie Concert Hall, where they found young Con-
nor lying in an sensble condition. covered with the
| wreck of his balloon. With great difficulty he was
| removed TO the hail. and examined by physician,
who pronounced him injured internally and in such
manner as TO preclude the possibility Of his recovery
Mr.. Conner continued to sink very rapidly, and
PRED at II o'clock last night in tie arms Of his wife.
His injuries were of an internal nature, and were
ceived by his striking against the ornaments on the
| building.
The balloon was torn into shreds, and the car
| badly broken. From what we CLEANED from those
present. it appears that Mr. Conner made contract
| with Mr. Wise to furnish him with balloon large
enough 10 carry two persons, and Mr.. w. had sold
him the Venus" which is not much larger than the
Ganymede and will only accommodate one. Mr.. c.
had commenced suit against Mr.. Wise, which we
believe was tried yesterday. Previous TO leaving
Court Mr. Conner remarked jokngly TO the defendant,
"Im going up to-day, and suppose you'll be glad if
] never come back, verifying the old adage - that
tLere s many a true word spoken in jest
"
The CAMDEy Is. c. AccIDEST.-The telegraph
IL. 81 G4ott Sat,,r