Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-07-15
Death of an Areonaut,
a falz.efsa Mae from. a Balzoos- Rsartaz
1seeaeita Michigan.

A letter to the New York Norz, dated
Ionia, Michigan, July 5, says:
Theigreat excitement of the Fourth of July
in this town was to be the ascent of Professor
La Mountain, the famous sareonaut. in his
balloon, or Mammoth air>ship" The peo-
pie had Rocked from all the neiehboring coun-
try to seerso unusual an exhibition, and there
were at least 10000 people in and about the
public square, laughing and talking, eating
nuts and fruit, and firing off their. crackers,
and enjoying themselves after'the fashion of
country people who are waiting for an exhi-
bition. The balloon-not one of the ordinary
siiken sort, but of that fooihardy pattern
which. originating with NIongoifier, should
have ceased with hitn-was paper globe,
the leyatory power Of which was simply heated
air. Yet the Professor, with his wonted cool
ness, was 'bustling about attending to prepara-
tions for the initiation, occasionally chatting
with one Or two Of his acquaintances about
the prospects Of the voyage, Of the favorable
termination Of which he apparently had not
the slightest doubt. He had sailed in the air
often enough to have no fears, and remember
ed not the proverb about the pitcher which
went once too often to the WE'LL For some
time the boisterous wind delayed the ascent,
but half an hour before starting the balloon
swelied bigger and bigger, and tusged at the
ropes which bold it to the earth. There we're
eight Of these, badly arranged, and there was
no network over the canvas bulge. The Pro.
fessor was here, there, and everywhere. at
tending to and guidingaTl details of the man
asement while all the people were looking at
him with wonder and admiration. At half,
past three in the afternoon he stepped into
the car, leaning over to shake hands with
AZ Ns.1.
Again he examined all the apparatus within.
his reach, and FIVE minutes later gave the word
to let go the fastenings, and the balloon shot
up bravely. The spectators shouted, and
waved handkerchiefs and caps, and the Pro-
fessor answered the salutes, waving his hat in
return. Hardly, however, had the swelling
paper globe assembled to the distance of
Hundred feet from the position which it first
held when the spectators saw: by its action
and the agitation of the aeronaut that some.
thing serious was the matter. t. did not rise
symmetrically, but bunglingly, and there
seemed to be some breakage in the substance
of which the bag was composed. Yet still
it rose, and people at some distance could see
that the Professor was greatly agitated, rush.
ing about in his car, Juggling at the ropes,
which he was evidently attempting to arrange.
The mouth Of the canvas Tapped violently
1t was moment of The most intense anxiety,
and the crowd stood breathless while the bal
loon went higher and higher, until it attained
an altitude of at least half mile, when it
paused for an instant; there was a struggle,
and the body slipped from between the ropes
that bound it to the car, which instantly began
to fall, while the balloon, loosened from its
BURDEN bounded up higher. The car upset,
and the Professor fell, at first head foremost,
and then turning, with legs and arms OUT
stretched, wheeling like lightning towards
the earth. Then his body assumed position
directly the reverse of it's first, aud he struck
the ground feet first. His struggles in the
air when the Car began to fall wore fearful to
see. He tried to Chamber into the basket,
and then, seeing that this was futile, tried to
use the car parachute by turning it ups
side down. But he finally let go, and, as has
been said, struck The ground with his feet,
and was mashed to pulp of CORY flesh
Blood spurted from his mouth and ears, and
in falling he made hole in the earth 1--WE OF
six inches deep. The dreadful accident put
a stop to the celebration Of the day The
corpse was placed in the square. where it was
home in Brooklyn Michigan, to>day.
Professor La Mountain, although we'll
known for his balloon ascensions previous to
this event, first came prominently into public
notice in famous ascent at ST. Louis on July
l.. 1859, in company with Professor John
Wise and two others, upon journey to the
town of Henderson, Jefferson county, in this
State, distance of l, $50 miles. The object
of the aerial voyage was to verify Professor
Wise's theory that upper eastwardly current
of wind existed, whereby balloon could be
impelled upon long journey from west to
east. The trip was made in nineteen hours
and fifty minutes, nearly mile minute
Letter from President Grant.