The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-07-12
Gymnastics In the Cleuds-ThrtIiins
Acrobatic Advcntures Of an Aero
unuf-A Fall Into tho Hudson.

Gymnastics In the Clouds-Thrilling
Acrobatic Adventures Of an Aero
naut-A Fall Into tho Hudson
from tho New York Times, JulysI :.
On the afternoon of the Fourth Mons.
Aupuste Buislay, of the gymnastic
tronpe. whose elegant and graceful exc
eution of the most difficnlt gymnastic
feats at the new Bowery theatre have
been attracting large and enthusiastic
audiences for the past two weeks, was ao'
yertised to make o balloon ascension
| from Elm park. Not only was 70 TO
ascend skyward, but during his rise ana
progress he was to execute in mid all
upen q trapeze pendent from the balloon,
some of the most difficult feats peculiar
| to his profession The ascent was maue
and tho feats performed In accoraano1
| with the programme, but aeasoAS I;s,s
was provided not set down IN sno Dn oils
which very nearly cost the daring aero.
nont his life. His balloon, which is OF
the genus Montgolfer, differs from those
we are accustomed to seeing somewhat
| in it's construction, but especially In the
| manner in which it is filled. 1t is con-
structed of waterproof material, chem
icalIy prepared, and is arranged with
parachutes at the point of its greatest
bulge, which are closed during the
ascent. but expand ed when the gas is
allowed to escape, and 80 retard the ma
chine in its descent, bringing it to the
ground with light and easy motion.
The balloon is 80 feet circumference, and
is filed with rarifed air, made by burn
| ing straw and other light, infiamable
substances beneath it. When filed and
loosened from its bonds it springs into
the air like shot from gun, and, In
the winking of an eye, is hundreds OF
feet in the air, carrying with it what
ever is brave or foolhardy enough to ac-
company it in it's heavenward flight.
BELOW this ball of rariied air hangs the
trapese on which the gyunast performs
his wonderful feats. This is simply the
ordinary two pieces of pendant rope,
supporting wooden bar, similar to the
apparatus to be found in every circus and
every gymnasium. -,
Montpelier was duly filed in the pres
ence Of a large crowd at Elm park, and,
Notwithstanding the Threatened storm
aud the coupselliug OF his friends, the
intrepid Frenchman resolved to carry
out TO the letter his announcements.
Accordingly, alta few minutes past i've
o'clock, he mounted the traPese, and
Giving the word to cut the balloon loose
was speedily flying upward with great
!, velocity. FROM the moment OF leaving
terra frma the gymnast could be seen OK
eculing his perllous feats upon the slen
der bar-feats of agility, strength and
dexteIity, which usually make an audi.
ence shlver with fright when performed
within few feet of the ground. As
long as the eye could see Nun, he CON.
tin.ed gyratiug and posing upon his
dangerous perch, and it was almost re-
lief whom he disappeared from view,
aud his perilous situation no longer
made itself felt to those who witnessed
The start. The balloon assembled TO q
height of about 1000 feet, drifting grad.
ually toward the Jersey shore. At this
height only about two-thirds of the al
titude usually obtained, the balloon be-.
came stationary for few moments, and
then began to descend. This was owing
TO the dampuess Of the atmosphere-a
severe rain storm then prevailing, which
served to render deuse the bot air with
which the balloon VAS inflated. and
finally to render imperative its sus
taining qualities. The machine began
70 descend gradually, acquiring increas.
cd velocity with each loot of II space it
ira versed, until iJ finally began to de.
sc-nd as a LUMP of lead, retarded only
in It's downward course by the particles
attached to it. IL soon became apparent
to Monsieur Buislay that he had lost
con rol of his apparatus, and that he must
look to his individual Safety when near.
ing the earth again. Most fortunately
for him, the storm was driving him over
the surface of the Hudson river in a
northerly direction. Fearing the bal
loon would strike the water and entaug-
10 him in its meshes. he, when so feet in
the air, sprang from the trapese, cleaving
the air like rocket in his descent, and,
striking the water feet foremost, disap-
peared beneath the surface. This invol
untary bath was taken near the Jersey
shore, and was witnessed by several per-
sons who Were sailing near the spot
Son. of these fastened towards the
plac :, but others. less humane, proceeded
on their way, apparently not caring for
the life of human being. Young Buis-
lay, on coming to the surface after his
first plunge, being fine swimmer as
well as a gymnast, struck out manfully
for the New York shore. The wind and
the tide pr, we'd almost too much
for him, how ever, and had not Mr..
Kaitor, of tho Clairemont Garden, reach.
ed him as soon as he did, he must have
been drowned Mr.. Kaitor, on first see.
ing the dificu ty in which the balloonist
was placed, had hasten to launch his
boat and be ready to render such assist.
once as might be required. When he
reached young Buislay that gentleman
was nearly ex hausted, by his efforts at
both flying and swimming. He was
taken to the shore and few drops of
stimulating beverage served to restore
him to his acrobatic self. Efforts were
at once made to secure the unruly bal
loon, which lad meantime quietly de-
scended into the river, and the monster
was finally landed, wet and obstinate,
but uninjured