Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-06-09
A Balloon in Flames.

1T TAKEs FIRE TWO THOUSAND FEET IN
THE AIR-THE AERoNAUr DESC zND5 YTo-
LENTLY AND Is KILLED-AN EXCITED
MULTITUDE.
An occasional correspondent of the New
1oJk Times, writing from Honda, United
States OF Colombia, South America, Nav g.
1876, says: ave have just witnessed terri
bic scene-a balloon ascension with tragical
results. The grand Aerial ascenSion-Jim-
nastico' was advertised TO take place at
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 great excitement was Gre
ated. Sunday afternoon an oven was built
In the center of the plaza for the purpose of
heating the air by which the balloon was
TO ascend, and all the preparations We're
watched by the people with great deal of
curiosity. There were perhaps 900 persons
in the plaza. The balloon, a very large one,
was inflated rapidly and successfully, and
soon the eronaut appeared, brilliant in scar
let, and gold and silver spangles, carrying in
bis hand the Colombian flag. The ropes were
locsened and the balloon shot up like an
arrow, amid the shouts of the enthusiastic
multitude, the blowing OF horns and the
beating OF drums, the @rcnaut meanwhile
turning on the trapeZe and performing
various gymnastic feats. 1t was beauti-
ful ascension. In less than minute he
must have been at the height Of 1000 feet,
when the balloon apparently became sta.
tionary. He then threw out the flag. We
could scarcely distinguish whether it was
the nag or the man himself; but the next
second smoke was seen issuing from the
side of the balloon, and the unfortunate
@ronaut had lowered a rope and was
clipgtng TO the end below. "Esa queman-
dot Is burning" some one shouted, and
the people suddenly became as madmen,
running and screaming, weeping and tearing
their hair. The gentleman standing next to
me tried 10 quiet them by shouting, at is
not burning; 1T is false, brute, animal, 1t
Is only the gas escaping" but soon the
flames burst from the top, and pieces of
the cloth began to float downward, the bal
loon descending slowly at first, then rap
idly, 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 direc-
tion In which the balloon was supposed to
be coming. In five minutes the plaza was
entirely deserted, with the single exception
OF one poor lunatic, who began marching
round and round the oven that had furn-
1shed the fatal spark, chanting a requiem
mass, kneeliDg, and crossing himself, smil-
Ing all the while. 1t was pitiful to see him
In ABOUT an hour the crowd came SLOWLY
baCk with the poor @ronaut, still breathing
but lnsebsible, with broken leg and inter9
ned to pass directly over the cross OF the
chapel in the cemetery, almost within reach
OF IL, across the Valley of the Quebrada
SEGA, finally touching the ground half
way up the mountain on the opposite
slde, perhaps mile and half from
his senses to the very last. As he
came 10 the ground he cried "Por Dios" ana
struck On his feet, still cltnging to the rome.
The ignorant man who saw MIN, having
heard nothing OF the balloon ascension.
thought he had come dire city from Heaven
and was frightened and ran away as fast as
possible, but meeting those in search of him
turned and conducted them to the SPOT Toe
unfortunate man lived but a few hours and
was buried at 5 p. m. the same day.