The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-05-01
THE BURST BALLOON.
Captain BARRIERS Last Experiment in
San Francisco with " LIE SeeOurs."
fsan Francisco Alta. Anril

Captain G. Barber made tn
second ascension with his silk bal
loon lie Secours" yesterday al
ternoon, from Woodward's Gar
dens. The entire afternoon wa
occupied in initiating the monster
and when it left on its sail in thu
air it contained about 10000 fee
of gas. The attendance at tn,
gardens was not as large as usua
on the occasion of balloon ascen
sions. Many undoubtedly re
NAMED away on account of the
wind. At $3.50 o'clock everything
was in readiness, and the passen
gers took their seats in the car
They were: Miss Maria Gaugain
Miss Alice burlington (sixteen
years of age, daughter Of A. c.
burlington }, August Buisley, Viii.
liam Marriott, Joseph Irwin, H.
Guisoulaphe, and the eronaut &c.
Barbier). One false start was
made, and at 3 :43 o'clock Barber
gave his command, GAIL hands let
go" and the balloon shot up like
a rocket, and continued quickly
on its course across the city to
Hunters Point, rising to a height
OF 1000 feet, going in q southerly
direction, and then turning round
skinned across the bay, being at
a point opposite San Leandro, in
twenty-one minutes after starting
from the gardens. A carrier pig
con was here let out of the basket
with a dispatch, stating that q
pleasant trip had been enjoyed,
and closing, "Tell our friends we
died happy" The pigeon swung
around and then dropped into the
water. Thirty minutes after leav-
ing the gardens the excursionists
were inland about ten miles west
of Alameda. Some cuss in Ala
media tried his aim, and fired
shot at the balloon; the sound
was distinctly heard by all in the
car. In Alameda, Barber, against
the protests of Buisley, opened the
valve when the car was
WITHIN $50 FEET OF THE GROUND.
A strong wind was blowing at
the time, and the balloon was go
ing at the rapid rate of a mile a
minute. Buisley said it would
not be safe to land, and protested
so strongly against it that four
bags of ballast were thrown out,
AID the balloon rose TOO feet,
skinned along, and passed over
Alameda. Thirty-eight minutes
from the time OF starting the an
Choir was dropped, with 100 feet of
rope, being at the time about two
miles directly east from San Lean
dro. The anchor dragged for
about an eighth of a mile, caught
on fence, which was broken to
pieces, and then caught on a shan
ty occupied by Murillo, on the
Estudillo Ranch the windows
and sashes of the house being
torn out.
THE BALLOON BURSTS.
The rope, one and a quarter
inches thick, broke next, and the
balloon bounded up suddenly a |
distance of 400 feet. Mr.. Irwin
heard a quick snap and a tear, and,
on looking up, discovered q large
opening in the balloon, and the
verdict was promptly announced
that "The balloon has burst"
Orders were then given for all
hands to get to the bottom of the
basket, as close as possible. The
Car came down slanting, with ter
rible velocity, struck the ground
heavily and capsized. The wind
again sent the balloon up, and the
seven occupants, huddled together
underneath the basket with ropes
and sand-bags, were dragged for
300 yards, rolling on top of each
other, and being squeezed and
jammed as though they were sar-
dimes, and utterly helpless. The
balloon at this time was in the
grounds of the County Hospital,
at San Leandro. The lives Of the
seven excursionlsts were saved by
the timely arrival of parties in
the hospital, who ran to their res
cue, caught the car, turned it over,
cut it from the balloon and extri-
Gated the occupants. Mr.. Irwin
was the first to be helped out, and
he, in turn, helped Buisley, whose
arm was caught in one of the
rings attached to the car. Miss
Gaugain was the last out, being
the undermost.
INJURIES TO THE PARTY.
Mr.. Barber could not walk, and
had to be carried into the hospital.
At first it was reported that he
had his left leg broken, but later
reports received state that he has
only sprained his leg; he has also
some bruises about his body. Mr..
Marriott sustained cuts on the
head and on the right ear. Mr..
Buisley received slight bruises on
one of his arms. Miss Burning
ton received scratches on her lett
cheek. Mr.. Irwin has two bad
scratches on his face and some of
his teeth knocked out. Miss eau
gain escaped uninjured.
BUIsLEY's OBJECTION.
Mr.. Bulsley objected twice to
landing. First, on account of the
rapidity with which the balloon
was coming down-3O0 feet in
half q minute; and, secondly, on
account of the strong wind. He
urged Barber to go beyond the
range of the foothills, the other
side of San Leandro, where an
easy and safe landing could be
made. Barber would not listen
to the protestations and was de-
termined to come down, remarking
at the time, that che knew what
he was doing" Barber must
have been somewhat excited be
fore the descent was made; he did
not appear to know that the bal
loon had burst; and when he wa.
removed to the hospital he sale
that che believed that some ont
had struck him on the head"
The highest point reached a
any time was in Alameda, the par
ty being 1900 feet above ground
for q few minutes only. The tril
: was quick, and until the party
reached San Leandro all felt vel
and enjoying the fiy in the air
The ladies behaved braVely undel
|. the circumstances, and all speal
/ well of Mr.. Buislay, who tries
! hard to induce Barber not t,
3 make . descent that would b
: attended with danger, in whicl
= he was correct, a. the facts prove
subsequently. All but Barbie
: and Marriott returned to the cit
: last evening.
"a BRICK."-Many persons
haa;Iaa aohAol ha-a ell oolIar