Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-09-01
VOLUME XXXIII.
PERILOus FERE-BALbOON AsCEs-
SION or MONSIEUR BUISLAX AT
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From the Boston Post. Aug. l4-l
The announcement that Mons. AUGUsTE
BuIsLAY, one Of the famous troupe Of per-
formers now giving exhibitions at the Bos-
ton Theatre. would make an ascension with
his -Montgolfer, or fire-balloon, from the
Riverside Park Yesterday afternoon, drew a
large crowd Of people to that famous resort
and the number would have been much
larger IL our citizens had had any just con-
ception Of the feat be had announced 10 per-
FORM As il was, the attendance inside the
Park was probably near two thousand
people while outside the inclosnre, the num-
Der was as great, if not greater. Those out
side, doubtless, had az good an opportunity
10 witness the evolutiOns Of the daring
Frenchman, after he had ascended into the
air, but they missed seeing the imitation Of
the balloons novel and interesting pro-
cess
Three o'clock was the hour announced for
the assent; but at thai hour the rush Of the
people 10 the gates was considerable, and It
was decided 70 wait a short time longer.
Meantime, too large poles had been raised
inside the track, short distance from the
Judges stand, and a strong rope stretched
from one pole tOthe other; TO hold the balloon
in place while it was being filled Pulley
ropes were also attached to each pole, and at
four o'clock, by means Of these ropes, the
balloon was raised SO that it barely touched
the ground. The process Of initiation was
then commenced. This wss done by placing
several bundles Of burning straw beneath the
balloon, upon which is thrown two small
tin cans containing chemical preparation
known only to the performers themselves.
Almost Immediately upon lighting the fire
the balloon begins 10 expand, and does so
very rapidly until it Is flled-the process of
filling consuming from fifteen to twenty
minutes.
At twenty-five minutes past four, every
thing being in readiness, Mons. BUIsLAY
seated himself across the trapeze and started
on his voyage. As he left the earth the bal
loon swayed against one Of the poles, and
hole Of considerable size was torn in il near
the mouth. There was no car, and not even
a rope attached to the arial ship-nothing
but the trapeze which depended from the
balloon ten or fifteen feet, As the intrepid
voyager sped into the air, there was scarcely
a sound escaped from the thousands of per-
sons who were watching him; it seemed as
though the multitude had been struck dumb
with awe at the almost reckless daring Of the
young man.
Mons. BUIsI.AY remained seated upon the
trapeze hardly an instant, and he had not
assembled fifty feet before he commenced his
evolutions upon the slender stick which was
all there was between him and eternity.
First hanging with both hands, then with
one, then again turning completely around
and suspending himself with his feet, head
downwards, folding his arms then swinging
them, the ship all the time bearing him
higher and higher into the heavens. 1t was
a sight that required a strong nerve even to
look at. Presently, he took off his shoes
and let them fall to the earth. The balloon
was thought to have attained the altitude OF
nearly half mile, and while at its highest
point he continued his performances on the
franpZp.