Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-06-30

An Ascension that Ended I'm a Con-
nagratiOn and the Death of an
AeFOnRut.
Columbia cor. of New York Times.l
In Honda, U. S. of Columbia, on
May 9th, there has Just
been witnessed a terrible scene, a
balloon ascension, with tragical re-
suits. A grand aerial ascension was
advertised to take place at Z o'clock
on the morning of the Sth of May.
Cards of invitation were sent out
to all the leading citizens, and in
this little town of few diversions a
great excitement was created. Sun
day afternoon an oven was built in
the center Of the plaza for the pur-
pose of heating the air by which
the balloon was to ascend, and all
the preparations were watched by
the people with great curiosity.
There were, perhaps, 1000 persons
in the plaza The balloon, a large
one, was inflated rapidly and sue
cessfully, and soon the aeronaut ap-
peared, brilliant in scarlet and gold
and silver Spangles, carrying in his
hand the Columbian flag. The
ropes were loosened and the balloon
shot up like an arrow, amid the
shouts of the enthusiastic multi.
tude, the blowing of horns, and the
beating of drums, the aeronaut
meanwhile turning on the trapeze
and performing various gymnastiC
feats. 1t was a beautiful ascension.
In less than minute he must have
been at the height of 1000 feet
when the balloon apparently be,
came stationary. He then threw
out the flag. We could scarcely
distinguish whether it was the flag
or a man himself but the mex
second a smoke was seen issuing
from the side of the balloon, anC
the unfortunate man had lowered {
rope and was clinging to the
end below. Some one shouted
the balloon was burning, and thC
people suddenly became as mac
men, running and screaming, weep
ing and tearing their hair. A gen
tleman tried to quiet them by shout
ing, "It is not burning; it is false
brute, animal, it is only the gas es
Gaping" But soon the flames burs
from the top, and pieces of the
cloth began to float downward, tn,
balloon descending slowly at first
then rapidlypntil all hope was over
unless he should touch the top o
the mountain, which is about on,
thousand feet above the town. TIL
spectators now rushed in the direc
ton in which the balloon was sup
posed to be coming, In five min
utes the plaza was entirely desertet
with the exception of one poor lu
natic who began marching rounC
and round the oven which had ful
nished the fatal spark, chanting
requiem mass, at intervals stoppinI
and crossing himself. 1t was piti
full to see him.
In about an hour the crowd cam
slowly back with the poor aeronau
still breathing but insensible, wit
a broken leg and internal injuries
| He was seen by a man in a field
pass directly over the cross of tn
4 chapel in the cemetery, almos
within reach of it, across the valle
of the Quebrada SEGA, touching th
ground half way up the mountai
on the opposite side, about a mil
land a half from the point of star
i ing He must have retained h.
senses to the very last. AS he cam
to the ground he cried, ''Por Dios,
and struck on his feet, still clingin
to- the rope. The ignorant ma
who saw him, having heard nothin
Of the balloon ascension, though
!. he had come directly from HEAVIER
and was frightened and ran ava
. as fast as possible, but meetin
those in search of him turned an
, conducted them to the spot. III
J unfortunate man lived but fe
hours, and was buried the san
evening.
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