Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1866-08-01
From the Ncw York Times, July Q.
CYH!EAsGEES ~ TIE CLOUDS.


=
Thrilling IcroJaHc 4drcafprs Of al
-lcroHuut-1 faX into tie Hudson.
On the afternoon of the Fourth. Nom
sieur Augusta Huislay, of the gymnastio
troupe, whose elegant and graceful exccu-
ton of the most difficult gymnastic feats
at the New Fowery Theatre have been
attracting large and enthusiastic audi.
cnces for the past two weeks, was adver>
tised to make a balloon ascension from
Elm Park Not only was ho to ascend
skyward, but during his rise and progress
he was to execute IN mid air, upon tra-
pcze pendent from the balloon, some Ce
tho most difficult fcats peculiar to his pro-
fc5sion. The ascent wes made and the
foats performed IN accordance with tho
programme. but deH0ucDlent was pro-
Yided not set down in the bills, which very
nearly cc5t the daring actcGaut his life
His balloon, Which i5 OF the genus Mont
golfer, differs from those ETe are aceustom-
od 20 seeing somewhat in its construction,
but especially IN the manner In which IL
IS sllct
1t Is CONSTRUCTED of water proof mates
rial, cheI-ican9 Prepared, and is arranged
with parachutcs at the point of its great,
est bulge, which are closed during tho
ascent, but expand whom the gas Is allowed
to escape, and so retard the machine in its
descent, bringing 1t 10 the ground with G.
light and easy motion. The balloon j.
eighty feet in circumference, and is filed
with rarihed air, made by burning straw
and other light, iH!Iammahlo substances
beneath it. When filled and loosed from
It's bonds it springs 'rt0 the air ike a shot
from Il gun, and, IL the wiukinL Of an eve,
Is hundreds of feet in the air, carrying
with it whatever IL brave or foolhardy
enough 10 accompany it IN ite heavcnwart
highC. Below this ball Of rarificd air
hangs the traPeze, on which the Gymnast
performs his wonderful fcats. This is
simply the ordinary two pieces Of pendent
rope, supporting a wooden bar, similar TO
tue apparatus to be found in every circus
ana cry gymnasium
On the afternoon Of the Fourth tho
MoutcoIfcr was duly filed in the pres snco
Of q large crowd at Elm Park, and, not
withstaud;ng the threatened storm ard
the counscling of his friends, the intrepid
Frcuchman resolved To carry out to tho
letter his announcements. Accordingly,
at few minutes past ) 0 clock, ho mount
Cd the irapcac, and, Giving the word to cut
tho balloon loose, was speedily flying up
ward with great velocity From the mo-
meus Of leaving terra nrma the gymnast
could be seen cEecutirg his pcrilous fcats
upon tho slender bar-Geats of agility,
strength and dcxtcrity which usually
make an audience shiver with fright
when performed within few feet of tho
ground.
As lotig as the eye could SEQ him, he
ccnunucd gyratIng and posing up his dan
gerous perch, and it was almost a relief
when he disappeared from view, and his
perIlous situation no longer made itself
felt to those who Witnessed the start
The balloon asccndcd to height of about
seven thousand feet, drifting gradually
toward the Jersey shore A this height
only about two thirds Of the altitude US
uaiIy obtained the balloon became sta.
tionary for few moments, and then be-
gan to descend This was owing to tho
dampncs5 Of the atmosphere, q severe raiI,
storm tAou prevailing, which served to
render dense the not air with which tho
balloon was inflated and finalle to render
imperative It's sustaining qualities
Tho machine began to descend ctad,
ualiy, acquiring Increased velocity with
zach foot of space it traversGi, :,ntil it
finally began to descend az q lump Of lead,
only in IFS downward course by
the uarachutcs attached - II 1t soon
became apparent 20 Monsieur Buislay
that hc had lost all control Cf his arpara-
tg@, and that EC must loci. to his indiyid-
nal safety when nearing tho earth again.
Most fortunately for him, the storm was
1rfriur him over the surface Of the ilud~
son river H. 81 aocJucrlg direction. Fears
ing the balloon would strike the water
and cntaugIo him in its lacshcs, he, when
sixty feet in the air, spraHg from the tr,t-
pczc, glcayiUg the air like rocket in tho
descent, and, striking the water feet fore-
most, disappeared beneath the surface.
This involuntary bath was taken near
the Jersey shore, and was witnessed by
several persons who wero ealing near tho
spot ~omo Of these ha5tcned toward
the place, but others less human pfoS
ccedcd on their way, apparently not car.
ing for the life of "a human being. Young
Buisiay, on coming T. the surface after his
first plunge, being a Gne swimmer "a well
as gymuast, struck ou5 manGuily for the
New York shore The wind and the lido
proved almost too much for him, however,
and had not Mr.. Kai5or, Of tic Claromonv
Garden, reached him as soon as he did,
he muzl haeo drowned Mr.. kaitor, on
first scginE the difficulty in which tho
balIoonist was placed, had hastcpe1 To
launch his boat and be ready to render
such assistance as might be rcquIred.-
r. hon hc reached young Buisiay, that
gcn.leran was nearly exhausted by his
efforts at both flying and swimming. He
was taken 10 the shore and few drops Of
stimulating beverage served to restore him
to his acr0batic self Efforts we're at once
made to secure the unruly balloon, which
had meantime quietly descended into ths
river, and the monster was finally landed,
vet and obstinate hut uainiuTed.