Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-07-19
Gymnastics i'm the Clouds.

eGEDeh1SEIc5 En- inc SIOuOSs
On the afternoon of the Fourth Mons.
Anguste Buislay, of the gymastic troupe,
whose elegant and graceful execution of the
most difficult gymnastic feats at the new
Bowery theatre have been attracting large
and enthusiastic audience for the past two
weeks was advertised to make balloon as
cension from Elm park. Not only was he
to ascend skyward, but during his rise and
progress he was to execute upon a tropeze
pendent from the balloon, some of the most
difficult feats pertaining to his profession.
The ascent was made, and the feats per
formed in accordance with the programme,
but deaouement was provided not set down
in the bills, which came near costing the
daring aeronaut his life. His balloon,
which is Of genus Montgolfer differs from
those we are accustomed TO seeing somewhat
in the manner of it's construction, but es-
pecially in the manner in which it is filled
1t is constructed of waterproof material,
chemically prepared, and is arranged with
parachutes at the point Of its greatest bulge,
which are closed during the ascent, but ex-
banded when the gas is allowed to escape,
and so retard the machine in its descent
bringing it to the ground with light and
easy motion. The balloon is 80 feet in cir
conference, and is filled with rarifed air,
made by burning straw, and other light, in
fammaole substances beneath it. When
filed and loosened from its bonds it springs
into the air like q shot from a gun, and, i'll
the winking of An eye, is hundreds Of feet
in the air, carrying with it whatever is
brave or foolhardy enough to accompany it
in its heavenward fight. Below this bail of
rari6ed air hangs the tropeze on which the
gymnast performs his wonderful feats. This
is simply the ordinary two pieces of pend.
ant rope, supporting wooden bar, similar
to the apparatus to be found in every circus
and every gymnasium.
On the afternoon of the Fourth the Mont
golfer was duly filled in the pre-. ence Of a
large crowd at Elm Park, and notwithstand-
ing the threatening storm and the counsel
ing Of his friends, the intrepid renchman
resolved to carry out to the letter his
nouncements. Accordingly a little before 5
o'clock, he mounted the rapeSe, and, giving
the word to cut the balloon loose, was speed
lily flying upward with great velocity. From
the moment of leaving terra tfrm0 the gym
mast could be seen executing his perilous
feats upon the slender bar--feats of agility,
strength and dexterity which usually make
an audience SILVER with fright when per-
formed within few feet of the ground AS
long as the eye could see him, he continued
gyrating and posing upon his dangerous
perch, and it was almost a relief when he
disappeared from view, and his perilous sit
uation no longer made itself felt to those
who witnessed the start
The balloon assembled to height of about
1000, drifting gradually to the Jersey
shore. At this height, only about two
thirds of the altitude usually obtained, the
balloon became stationary for a few mo-
ments, and then began to descend. This
was owing to the dampness in the atmos-
phere-a severe rain storm then prevailing.
which served to render dense the hot air
with which the balloon was inflated, and f.
nally to render imperative its sustaining
qualities. The machine. began to descend
grsdually, acquiring increased velocity with
each foot Of space il trayersed. until it final
ly began to descend as lump of lead, re-
tarded only in its downward course by the
parachutes attached to 1t Ii soon became
apparent to Monsieur Buislsy that he had
lest all coatrol Of hisspparatus, and that he
must look TO his individual safety when
nearing the earth again. Most fortunately
for him, the storm was driving him over the
Hudson river in q northerly direction.
Fearing the balloon would strike the water
and entangle him in its meshes, he, when 60
feet in the air, sprang from the trapeze, cleav-
ing the air like rocket in his descent, and,
striking the water feet foremost, disappeared
beneath the surface.
This involuntary bath was taken near the
Jersey shore, and was witnessed by several
persons who were sailing near the spot.
Some of these fastened towards the place
but others, less human, proceeded on their
way, apparently not caring for the life of a
human being. Young Buisay, on coming to
the surface after his first plunge, being a
line swimmer as wellas gymnast, struck out
manfully for the New York shore. The
wind and the tide proved almost too much
for him, however, and had not Mr.. Kaitor.
of the Claremont garden, reached him as
soon as he did, he must have been drowned
Mr.. kaitor on first seeing the difficulty in
which the balloonist was placed, FASTENED
to launch his boat and be ready to render
such assistance as might be required When
he reached young Buislay that gentleman
was nearly exhausted, by his efforts at both
flying and swimming. He was taken to the
shore where few drops of the stimulating
beverage served to restore him to his aero
batic self. Efforts were at once made to Sc
cure the unruly balloon, which had mean
time quietly descended into river and the
monster was finally landed, wet and obsti
nate, but uninjured. -Neso York Times, july
9fb ="