The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-11-25
a Terrific Ascension.

TO make their fair successful, inviting
and attractive as possible, the directors
and managers Of the Mclean county fair
last week advertised grand balloon as
cemsion. Ihl services ot Prot. = d. Atche-
son. i daring cronaut of Cincinnati, and
&. {. Gralu as manager. with a large and
handsome balloon. equal to the dimen-
slons Of all ordinary cottage houses, were
procured. Thursday was the day. and
four O'Clock in the afternoon the hour, for
the grand ascension. The bold and daunt-
ie-S ~r2naut stepped gracefully forward
amt gra7pcd the napcle. lie was cool,
calm amd collected and tull OF nerve, as
though enjoying the commences every day
pastlme. Ills appearance was quite at
tractive. lle is comparatively young in
wears ana hIs tie muscular, WilN elastic
iiy oi the triumphant athlete, ana form
and mould that would have done credit to
the antique W.cStierS when the Olympic
games We're III t,ieir palmiest splendor-,
md Whea u laurel wreath Won there was
next IN honor to a victorious battle won
% the tcld AS be graSped the trapezc,
by order DIT Mr. Grady the stays were cut,
ahd ~, up shot, straight rs IN arrow,
TN -,t:ship, swift and graceful in teatherv
I1htiie~- A> he ascemded, the cay ropes
We're dropped. and on he sped amid tu-
multuous and deaiening shouts Of the peo-
pie. TO Whom he waved his hand from 4
distance beyond where the clouds and the
thunder make their home. Higher and
higher went the balloon amid The unre-
tanned enthusiasm ot the people
When she had reached an attitude oI
,,ani I,1lt Il u,iIn ,IaO.:n c,,nI-, >yaS snGu
issuing from the balloon, curling bIuelv
toward the blucr skies, when, horror Of
horrors, the balloon was discovered to be
on fire. as some thought it was before it
aeccndod, tongues Of red llame Wolld
pierce through and dart from her sides
She was soon emyoloped in l1ame and
smoke, aud instantly collapsed. The scene
SOW beggared description. Down, with
the velocity OF the eagItt stretched upon
the plain. down came the rronaut in 4
ban Of fire and smoke. The sight was
sickemng and painful The shout, Of en-
thusiaSlu We're changed into wild walls Of
despair. Every cheek was blanchcd with
terror Women shlicked and screamed
Anl tainted away; children uttered pierre
ing cries and ran to and fro; old men in
groans and Stitlrd sobS turned away their
.;lIc Ouly To look again and find the ter
rjhIc reality all too real; horses champed
their bits, snapped their rcinS, and ran
riderIc>s and tnpurSurd III all directions !;
men on horses gall0Ped with the speed OF
Alamc}ukeS TO the spot where the unlortu-
nate man seemed falling Downward,
stjI downward. with arrowy sWitness
came The intrepid ;rronaut, II sea of lire
IA ,,l ,I,n nd
clouds Of smoke enveloping him. Nearer
and nearer he approaches, his face to the
fire, his feet to the earth. On he comes,
till his lret strike plumb against projects
INC grccn limb ui a tree larger than a
mans leg, which was striped from the
body rs though if bad been . blade OF lodi
der upon 4 tNrnst;uk, So great was the
to%cr Of thr conru-sion 4 second more
aid his feet Struck the ground Wltil such
torce ~ - make M excavation lie in
Stpnlly lrlI Sen.cless and WAS thought BY
all To h;ty Y been killed outright. lie WaS
rescued and borne away from under the
burning balloon. which was destroyed.
Hc~torltyr~ ANA proper medicinal appii-
aacea We're rcSorted tD, and soon The per
iiou- yoNa~rr through tie air and fire was
brought t. consciousness Ills lett thlgh
5rtWrnu the l.ure and Eip-iomt was shat
tered to SpiMters; the other leg was bruiS-
Ell ana hurt; his right hand Was badly
lurprttpd, AMI Il bleeding and painful
abrasion appeared on the left temple. BE-
sides these. his breast MAS smashed in,
ana il Wa Thought he hA:f sustained inter
MI iuinrrs He manifested the utmost
GOODNESS and lortitule and was taken to
the Lucas Hotel of that town, where he