The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-05-14
A Balloon Adventure.


cension with his silk balloon, lie
Secours," yesterday afternoon, from
Woodward's Gardens. The entire after
noon was occupied in initiating the
monster, and when it left on its sail in
the air contained about sixty thousand
feet of gas. At half.past three o'clock
everything was in readiness and the pas
sengers took their seats in the car. They
were Miss Marie Gaugain, Miss Alice
Burlington, sixteen years of age. daugh-
ter of A. G. Burlington; August Buislay,
VIM. Marriott, Joseph Erwin, 81. Guisou-
laphe, and the aeronaut, G. Barber. One
false start was made, and at forty-six
minutes past three o'clock Barber gave
his command, "All hands let CO." and the
balloon shot up like q rocket, and con-
tinued quickly on its course across the
city to Hunters Point, rising to height
OF 1900 feet, going in southerly direc-
ton, and then turning round skinned
across the bay, being at . point opposite
San Leandro in twenty-one minutes after
starting from the gardens. A carrier
pigeon was here let out of the basket
with dispatch stating that q pleasant
trip had been enjoyed, and closing, "Tell
our friends we died happy" The pigeon
swung round, and then dropped into the
water. Thirty minutes after leaving the
gardens the excursionists were inland
about ten miles west of Alameda. Some
cuss in Alameda tried his aim, and fired
a shot at the balloon; the sound was dis
tinctly heard by all in the car. In Ala
media, Barber, against the protests of
Buislay, opened the valve when the Car
was within two hundred and fifty feet of
the ground.
A strong wind was blowing at the
time, and the balloon was going at the
rate of mile minute. Buislay said it
would not be safe to land, and protested
so strongly against it that four bags of
ballast were thrown out, and the balloon
rose seven hundred feet, skimming along,
and passed over Alameda. Thirty eight
minutes from the time of starting the an.
Choir was dropped, with one hundred feet
of rope, being ct the time about two miles
directly west from San Leandro. The an
Choir dragged for about an eighth of a
mile, caught on fence, which was bro
ken to pieces, and then caught on a
shanty occupied by Murillo, on the Estu-
dillo rancho, the windows and sash of the
house being torn out.
The rope, one and quarter inches
thick, broke next and the balloon bounded
up suddeply distance of four hundred
feet. Mr.. Irwin heard quick snap and
: tear, and, on looking up, discovered a
large opening in the balloon, and the
verdict was promptly announced that
1.-THE balloon was burst" Orders
were then given for all hands to
get to the bottom of the has.
ket, as close as possible. The car came
down slanting, with terrible velocity,
struck the ground heavily and capsized.
The wind again sent the balloon up, and
the seven occupants, huddled together un'
derneath the basket with ropes and sand.
bags, were dragged for three hundred
yards, rolling on top of each other, and
being squeezed and jammed as though
they were sardines, and utterly helpless
The balloon at this time was in the
grounds of the county hospital at San
Leandro. The lives Of the seven excur
sionists were saved by the timely arrival
Of parties In the hospital, who ran to theiz
rescue, caught the car, turned it over, cut
it from the balloon, and extricated the
occupants. Mr.. Irwin was the first to be
helped out, and he in turn helped Buis
lay, whose arm was caught In one Of the
rings attached to the car. Miss Gaugain
was the last out, being the undermost. -
San Francisco Alta, AprH IA.