Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-15
BALLOON ASCENSION.
A Thrilling aud PerII0us FOnrGh a
July Adventure. .H

July Adventure. ...
From the Mexico CRio.) Ledger. July 10.
Ga Saturday evening last the fair grounds
ia this city we're the scene Of one Of the
most fearful and thrilling spectacles ever
Witnessed IN this community. Messrs Red
mond aud Y lard has advertised extensively
that on that day one Of them would make
an ascension in their mammoth balloon from
the amphitheater of the fair grounds, and
some six or seven hundred persons inside,
and perhaps twice a. many on the outside,
had assembled 10 witness the ascent. To
understand the CatastTOphe that ensned, il
ia necessary TO state, that Messrs. Redmond
aud Yard inflated their balloon by means
Of heated air, instead Of gas, an is more
usual 10 such cases TO accomplish this
they had cOnstFUcted a furnace, the beat Of
which WaH conducted into The balloon by
means Of barrel, which served a. a chin.
ney 10 the furnace, and over which the open
end Of the balloon Was placed. IL was 90
arranged that when the balloon should be
fully inflated, board. top was to be placed
over the barrel 10 shut off the beat. Ala
O'Clock P. N. the balloon was fully inflated,
and Mr.. Yard stepped into the car, or bas-
ket, suspended by means Of ropes from the
balloon, and gave the order TO shut of the
heat, aud cut the rope by which the balloon
was held down. Unfortunately, Mr.. Red
mond gave order almost at the same in.
stRnt 10 FIRE Hp, and quart or more Of coal
oil Was thrown into tina furnace, which blew
of the top Of the barrel, and the fame
burned hercely out through the barrel, aud
coming in contact with the balloon il was
ignited on one side on the lower end, and
the balloou shot upward with the speed Of
a kite.
Some Of the audience perceived the fire
and gave the alarm instantly, but the bal
loon had attained an altitude of hundred
yards before Mr.. Yard became fully aware
of his perilOus coalition. At this time the
intense excitement, eOmmOtiOn and horror
of the audience beggars description, Wo-
men and children screamed in an agony Of
fear for the safety OF Mr. Yard, and men
looked on in speeches. helplessness, in
momentary expectation of seeing him
hurled 10 certain death and destruction.
Mr.. Yard seems 90 have preserved has pres
ence of mind ia a remarkable degree. lie
suppOses he attained an altitude of near
three.iourths Of a mile before the balloon
began 10 descend. To test the rapidity Of
his desceut, he threw out first bis pocket
handkerchief, aud afierwArd his hat by
which he found that his descent was quite
gradual, aud he began TO hope that if the
air did not 40 far escape, as 10 collapse the
balloon, he might effect a safe landing. As
he feared, however, the balloon partially
collapsed aud fell over, but by swaying the
basket aud pulhng his ropes, he managed
10 right her up again, but Ire found he was
now descending with fearful rapidly.
Fortunately he landed in a thicket of small
oaks, east Of NJ. Y. Duncan's and his basket
lodged on the Yielding branches Of those
little lrees, audlhus his life was saved, and
that too without the slightest injury to his
person. We eau imagine but family the
grateful emotions Of Mr. Yard at 10 happy
a deliyerance from 40 great peril. Below
we append a statement Of Mr.. Yards eEpe-
rienoe, written by himself