Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-17
EXCITING BALLOON ASCENSION.


EXCITING BALLOON ASCENSION.
The Ala California gives the following
description Of an affair in the western SUI
burbs Of San Francisco ON the 9TH ult.,
which crested an intense excitement-the
balloon ascension and descension Of Mons.
Auguste Buislay:
The weather was extremely unpromising
during the latter part OF the day, and most
Of the visitors at Hayes Park had given up
all expectation Of the promised ascension
taking place; nevertheless, about 4 O'Clock
the aronamt appeared and the balloon was
let up. II assembled 10 the height usually
attained by this wen known yoyager OF the
air, when il was caught by fine breeze
from the south, which arose at the moment,
and swept rapidly over towards the Golden
Gate. As the balloon passed over the ridge
or divide, between Hayes Valley and the
Golden Gate il became evident that II
would be carried across TO the Marin county
side unless the gas was Immediately liberia
ted. The spectators, who stood on the hill
sides by thousands, watching the progress Of
the affair with unaffected interest, saw that
the performer climed from his bar, some
distance below the car, up TO the latter point
as quickly as possible, and that the balloon
began descending rapidly, showing that he
had opened the valve 80 as TO allow the gas
TO escape The balloon descended to within
few hundred yards Of the earth, but mean
time it was drifting 80 rapidly northward that
il became evident TO the spectators that il
must 90 into the water il there was not suf-
fcient gas remaining TO carry il across the
straits 10 Lime Point, towards which il was
drifting.
The excitement now became intense, and
many people started on the run toward the
beach where il was thought the balloon
would descend, viz: at point about midway
between Black Point and the Preside, some
distance below the new pork-packing house
and cattle landing. The daring gymnast
and aronaut evidently understood the case
better than any body else, for long before
the balloon had reached the beach he had
diyested himself of his garments, the gay
trappings floating from the dizzy height
eastward,
Like feather waited downward
From an eagle in his fight"
A minute more and the balloon was be-
yond the line of the shore and over the wa
tiers Of the straits gliding noiseiesely but
swiftly northward with the current of air
which drove up through Raccoon Straits.
Suddenly the frail bubble swayed from side
10 side, partially collapsed, and commenced
falling like dead weighttowards the water.
When within some thirty TO fifty feet Of
the water, and some five TO seven hundred
yards OFF shore, Buislay let go his hold and
went into the bay with splash, and the
balloon, freed from his weight, made q sud-
den bound upward, then came down some
one hundred yards beyond him. "He is
drownedp said a thousand spectators at
once, with subdued breath and looks Of
horror. "He is not any thing Of the kindp
they cried moment later, as a dark speck
rose 10 the surface of the water and COM
menced moving toward the shore, after the
manner of a man swimming. The balloon
tapped and rolled, baggy and half collapsed
meantime, on the surface Of the water, too
buoyant 10 sink, and not buoyant enough to
1y away. Out from the shore put little
skiif with two men in il 10 the rescue Of the
half drowned but undaunted aronaut, and
half way 10 the balloon he was met and
taken aboard.
lie expressed himself as feeling somewhat
damp, and animated with a desire 10 60
home, though anxiety for the safety of his bal
loon was stronger than any other sentiment,
and the boat kept straight on for the bal
loon, which was soon alonside. The tide
and wind were found too strong to allow the
cumbersome mass being towed back to shore,
and IL was therefore hauled alongside a
small schooner which lay at anchor some
distance out in the stream, and taken on
board, a second boat from the shore assisting
in the work. The eronaut, chilled 10 the
marrow, then hastened ashore, was received
with cheer, got himself into garments
somewhat more suited to the weather than
the severely classic costume in which he
had been clad for the last twenty minutes,
and was hurried away with all speed in a
carriage for the city. The excitement which
culninated with the descent Of the balloon
10 the water, and the somewhat unpleasant
reaction that followed the discovery of the
fact that there was nobody drowned after all,
soon entirely subsidized under the effect of a
ine cold rain, which just then set in and
sent the spectators homeward as fast as they
could come Such is the brief history q
the most exciting event that has occurred in
San Francisco since Cooks great failure
10 astonish. the San Franoiscans at Point