Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-08-02
SINGULAR BALL00NACY.
A Remarkable and PerIlous Balloon
Ascension in PariI-To the Heavens on
Horseback,

lTrAnslAted from "Mosaqui de FrancasAs, " by
7. l.. Ogier, for STATE JORRaAL,l
Balloonlng being the all.absorbing topic
Of the day, and one Of our widely known
aeronauts being about to cross the Atlantic
In an air-shlp, the following account Of
novel excursion through the air may
prove Interesting;
Early'ln July 1850 Mon. Poltevin, a
French aeronaut, made an ascension from
Paris. Instead Of the usual car or basket
ne assembled mounted upon a horse.
Flaming posters were stuck up In various
quarters of Paris with cut of the
aeronat mounted upon his horse.
In spite Of the rain, wind and dust an
immense crowd assembled on Sunday,
July 9th, In the Champs de Mars. The
rain fell in torrents, but II did not deter
the adventurous eronaut nor have the
slightest effect upon the spectators.
Towards 4 p. NJ. charming little pony,
with great vlvaeity, made circuit Of the
enclosure; he had large support of
leather passed under the belly. All at.
tention was directed towards the poor
animal, who seemed devoted to certain
death. No one cared for the man, who
ascended voluntarily, but the horse,
taken against his will on that perllous
Journey, seemed poor victim offered as
a sacrifice TO the pride aud temerlty of
man. The wind was frightful, the bal
loon rolled and twisted In It's convulslons
TO break loose from its stays, and it was
feared that 1t would be torn TO pieces.
One could not believe that u man
would dare 10 make an ascent
In the midst of such frightful disturb
ance of the elements. However, at 6.l0,
1 n DatF 10 ,a.1 Il
as an English jockey, having a scarlet
cap in his hand his coat was of orange
velvet and he wore white velvet breeches.
In the other hand he held riding whip,
and as he vaulted into the saddle the
moet vivid emotion agitated the assem-
blage. Just before he gave the signal to
let loose the balloon, the cord which Sc
cures the valve was blown from his hand
but he succeeded in recovering 1t in a few
moments. He then gave the signal to
release the airship which was carried
upwards with great rapldity the horse
for some moments before the departure
seemed, as If by instinct, to become
aware that he was about to take voyage
in which his beautiful and symmetrical
limbs would be of no avail, and he paved
the grodRd In nervous manner but as
soon as the departure took place the ami
NAL assumed completely immovable
position and his legs hung as If struck
with paralysis. Foi some moments the
balloon, being driven violently by the
wind, took position at right angle with
the horse and rider. All this time the
aeronaut appeared perfectly composed,
and seemed as much at ease as If he was
riding in the Champs Elysees Very soon
he was seen to quit the saddlea and mount
the ladder which lead to platform upon
which was deposited the ballast,
a portion of which he threw over.
The balloon being thus re-
lieved, shot up nearly in vertical di-
rection and entered region which was
calm, thus leaving the aerial equipage for
Il long time visible to the surging mass
below. Amer throwing out the ballast,
the aeronaut returned TO his position.
The only accident was that which hap
pened to the horse, who, after reaching a
certain altitude, elected from his mouth
and nostrils large quantities of blood.
At 7.45 they approached the earth, and
the aerOnaut threw out his graphing
irons but they became reversed and
would not retain their hold and tore the
trees IN the course which was pursued
for three miles. Finally they caught
upon limb of strong tree when the
balloon was arrested in its perilous voy-
age, and man and horse were soon as
sisted to the ground by SOME peasants.
Mon. Poitevin, mounted upon his horse,
returned to Paris, where he was received
by an enthusiastic assemblage with loud
and prolonged applause. The receipts
from spectators of this strange and won.
derful ascension, amounted TO twenty
four hundred dollars in gold.