Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-09-11
SIX THOUSAND PEOPLE


were either on the grounds or on
their way there. The crowd was a
sight in itself. The high and the
low, the rich and the poor, the mer-
chant and mechanic, were mingled
in one Heterogeneous mass. The gay
colors of the city belle mingled in
strong and striking contrast with the
plain and substantial colors and fresh
beauty of the country lasses. All
this variety of color, size and express
sion, flushed with excitement and
enthusiasm, in group ana single
number, formed pleasing and hand
some picture as it moved about.
changing color and form as quickly
and prettily.as that of Kaleidoscope.
PROF. sHEARER's AERosTAT
was put in place at the gas works at
an early hour, and five or six thous-
and feet of gas let into the great bag.
The weather was delightful for this
purpose. 1t was not too warm, and
scarcely breath of air disturbed the
quiet repose of nature, and the large
yellow bag of the balloon stood MP
straight against the sky, looking as
large as a house. Hundreds of peo-
pie went to look at it as it awaited
the hour of twelve, at which time it
was to get the remainder of it's lift
ing power and be towed to the Fair
Grounds, to be in readiness to carry
its living freight high into the air.
PROF. sHEARER
was about his air-ship looking care
fully to the preparations, and an
swering the thousand questions that
were put at him in quick succession.
He looked smiling and happy,-and
every now and then he would look at
the clear and blue sky, and exclaim.
with emphasis g This is balloon
day-just enough breeze, and not
whit too much for good work."
The scramble for dinner was one
of the features of the day. The Ho-
tells wers full, and the various Fairs
being held by the ladies of the differ
ent Churches were taxed to their ut
most'to supply the hungry strangers.
whose appetites had been sharpened
by travel and associations at the Fair
Ground. But all were supplied, and
none went away hungry who had the
necessary amount of cash left to pay
for their dinner.
The stirring events of the after
noon that all this immense crowd
came to witness began at half-past
one O'Clock, and fully met the expec
tations at every one present.
THE BALLOON ASCENSION
was the first, and OF course impor-
tant event of the day, and by P. M.
the air-ship was taken from the feed
ing pipe at the gas house and placed
in position upon the Fair Grounds.
The trip from the gas-works to the
grounds had by the action of the
wind driven out SO much of the gas
that it would not ut first bear the
weight of the Professor, ind it was
taken back to the works and more
gas forced in, and at five minutes to
two O'Clock he gave the word to let
her go, and the great bag
SHOT INTO THE AIR
with the Professor quietly sitting on
the trapeze bar. When he got up
some distance he made few evolu-
tions upon the trapeze, and then went
hand over hand up into the concen-
trated hoop and took his seat astride
the fragile bar and quietly fioated
away. The crowd watched his yOy-
age with varied interest, comment
ing upon his acts and prognosticating
as to the distance he would or had
Travelled. But every one was pleased
with the entertainment, and we here
LET TIE PROFESSOR
tell his own story.
I,tp lr,rfp HnITst,