The Morning herald., 1876-06-02
A BALLOON I'm Flam e..
correspondent of the New York Times

oorresporeent of the New YORK Times,
-.;t;ng from South America, says:
wv, W. have lust witnessed a terrible scene
ha11oon ascension with tragical results.
Tha Grand "Aerial ascension--jimuastico, p"
,ne nne ssdvertieed to take place at O'Clock on
NO. n'e morpug of the Sth sf May. Cards of
rr;tatiop tere seTt out to all the leading
nitzens, and in this little town, of few d.
,nrs;ons. great excitement was created.
Srudoy afternoon, an oven was built IN the
c.n,r! Of the plaza for the purpose OF heat
in'r the air by which the balloon was to as
na,I and ali the preparations were watched
hv the people with a great deal OF curiosity
There were perhap 2OGO persons in the
nlazq. The balloon, very large one, WAS
Inflated rapidly and successfully, and soon
the orropant appeared, brilliant in scarlet.
and 20 d and silver spanglss, carrying in
his hand the Colombian flag. The ropes
were loo3cned. and the balloon Shot up Ike
an arrow. amid the shouts of the enthusiaa-
tr multitude. the blowing of horns and the
hoo,iap of drums, the aerOnaut meanwhile
tnrninr on the trapcze and performing vari-
ans cymnastic feets. 1t was a grand ascen-
sion In less than minute he must have
hpon At the height of 1000 feet, when the
balloon apparently became stationary. He
then threw out the flag. Wecould scarcely
distinguish whether it was the flag or the
man himself: but the next second smoke
was seen issuing from the side of the bal
loon. and the unfortunate 2ronant had low
erad a rome and was clinging to the end be-
low "Esta auemando--it is burning"
some one shouted, and the people suddenly
became as madmen, running and scream
tnn nrSn hair hot a
gentleman standing next to me tried to
1uiet them by shouting, sit is not burning;
it is false, brute, animal, it is only the gas
escaping" but soon the flames burst from
the Top, and pieces OF the cloth began to
float downward, the balloon descending
slowly at first, then rapidly, until all hope
was over, unless he should touch the top Of
the mountain, which is about one thousand
feet above the town. The spectators rushed
in the direction in which the balloon was
supposed to be coming. In five minutes the
yiaza was entirely deserted, with the single
exception of one poor lunatic, who began
marching round and round the oven that
had furnished the fatal spark, chanting
REQUIEM mass, at intervals kneeling, and
crossing himself, smiling all the while. 1t
was pitiful to see him.
In about an hour the crowd came slowly
back with the poor aeronaut, still breathing
but insensible, with broken leg and inter
nal injuries. He was seen by man in
field to pass directly over the cross OF the
chapel in the cemetery, almost within reach
of It, across the Valley of the Quebrada
seca, finally touching the ground half way
ND the mountain on the opposite side, per-
haps mile and half from point of start
in@. He must have retained his senses to
the very last. AS he came to the ground he
cried 'Por Dios," and struck on his feet,
still clinging to the rope. The ignorant
man who saw him, having heard nothing OF
lhe balloon ascension, thought he had come
directly from heaven and was frightened,
and ran away as fast as possible, but meet
iDg those in search Of him turned and con-
durted them to the spot. The unfortunate
man lived but few hours, and was buried
at 5 2. NJ. the same day.