, 1873-08-11
A BALLOON SENSATION,
Almost AaptHicr cr t4nnn nontnfne.
ErQM Tic Pbfldf4{uhfd Hfe6A Ain. 4.


A most. thrilling scone was Witnessed last
ovcning about dusk on tho Delaware, In front OF
tho CITY, aud ono Which camo noar boing attcnd-
81 etl with fatal results. A balloon asconslon Ind
aoathern extremity of Windmill (or Bmith's)
island, aud ns tho hour appointed [g1l o'clocl]
drow nonr, hundreds OF spectators gnthored OH
tho city wlervos and upon the street cornors in
tho noighhorhood adjacent TO the Point Airy and
Smiths island ferriea to witnoas tho novel sight.
It waa currently rumorel among tho motley
througs TINT tho baltoollist on this OCCASION was
tho Same who Lad during tho present summer
Smiths Island, OH which occasions, k1foro as-
condinR Into tho lmtlogH oxpanBo abovo, ho had
invariably adopsod the very sensible procaution
Of fastening his aerial ahip, BY means Of stout
In tllis way tho voyages Of the balloon wore con-
fined within prescribed circle, and title mil-nir
gymnastics Of the intrepid aoronant, those being
tho moro attractive fenturca Of tho ascousionp,
tho hour appointed, from Front street and Dola-
wnre avenue tho .upper portion Of tho balloon
could 10 aoon slowly expanding nbovo the luns-
bor-pllcB on tho island which intercepted tho
.tant multitude was TINT, llko previous oxI'ib'-
tionB, tho nscent would not cxcood
cortnin altitude by. roaaon of -, tho
procuution above alluded, to. Thoro
WAS no 1ttlc constornntlon, therefore, when,
shortly, before o'clock, tho balloon suddenly
hunlrou foot abovo tho tree.tois without any
visible moans Of holding It IN position,
A atea1y br9ozo was blowing from ss tie south
northward it's progrose waH watched with broatl,-
loss expectancy By gaping crowds OH both sides
Of tho river. Meanwhile. the balloonist, clnd in
tho bosranglod costume Of circus actor, went
through a vanety Of evolutions upon tho AUS
pou1ed bar which eeo1nod to tloat along in tho
Swako Of tho balloon. Now with lis head to tho
Garth, now twisting, and turning. the daring
man men continued to an0st ha with reaud tho
such o great height. that. tho .gyn1nasto
operations woro hardly visib1o but in
short time the gassy tlontor was OBJ
served to slowly dcscond ovor tho channel at
Smiths Island, tho purpose Of ita controller hnv-
northern extremity Of tho island. Either owing
to tho future Of tho gas to eBcapo with suiclent
rapi0ity, bccauso Of tho stiffness Of tho breeze
then blowing, tho attompt was unsuccessful, and
along ovor tho riyor beyond. somo distance
abovo tho leland tho man struck tho river; but
still retained lis hold Of the ropos, which, pro-
dragged. through tho wnter at fearful
rate. Grinding hlmsoli growing woakor from
tho constant strain upon tho muscles, and
being ,momonterily IN danger Of becoming
dragged beneath the surface, tho man finally lot
70 Ills hold, aud in his exhausted condition
struck out with tired, ovoretrained arms for tho
nearest refuge. Several small sni1-boa.H shot
out from tho shore and from their courses on
tho river, aud headed for tho now apparently
drowned mnn; but before they could reach tho
sinking ballooniHt, tho forry-boat America,
which had loft the Markct street slip to cross
tho bar, roachod him just ns he was about giving
Up, and took him on board. Tho credit Of his
roscue is due to tho night force Of tho America,
who lost no time IL running ladder into tho
water, upon wl1icl, tho man waa holpod on tho
boat in q thoroughly exhausted condition.
Tho balloon, WHOM lightened o. it's loud, wont
careening wildly along npon the waves, now
white.cappod by tho stiiI evening broeze il tho
direction Of Cooper'B Point, whore it finally
brought up, III q totally dilapilated condition.
upon tho outer piers Of the wharf at Tint point.
Luckily thoro wore no frail craft In the way Of
tho unwioldy monster to dispute tB right Of pas
eago, but, on tho contrary, tho sltifrH and hat
tean1 above tho iB1a,ll wore glad to givo tho un-
usual yintor all the aea-room to Which lts noy-
elly entitled 1t.
Tho roacuo and Its startling Incidents wore
Witnessed by thousands Of people upon Smiths
island aud along tho wllarvos, and nlay Hcrve
Of ballooniug or upon tho recklessnaaa Of intli-
yidual ba1loonBtB. Tho rescued alr-gymhust.
after being carried to Canllon, started, In COM
pany with 6o1uo friends, to regain posBcasion OF
lis runaway property.