The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-06-08
Tke Bulletin.
columbia cor. OF n. Y. Time 5. |

columbia cor. OF n. y. Times
In Honda, u. $. of Columbia, on Tues
day, May 9th, there has just be EN- witnessed
terrible scene, balloon ascension. with
tragical results. grand aerial ascension
was advertised to take place at Z o'clock
on the morning of the sth of May. Cards
oil Invitation were sent out TO oil the lead
ing citizens, and In this little town OF few
diversions great excitement was created.
Sunday afternoon an oven was built In the
center Of the plaza for the purpose Of heat
ing the air by which the balloon was TO as
cend, and all the preparations were watched
by the people with great curiosity. There
were, perhaps, 1900 persons in the plazs.
The balloon, large one, was inflated rap
idly and successfully, and soon the aeronaut
appeared, 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 GYM
nastic feats. 1t was beautiful ascension.
In loss than minute be must have been at
the height of 1000 feet, when the balloon
apparently became stationary. lie then
threw out the flag. We could scarcely dis
tinguish whether it was the flag or the man
himself: but the next second a smoke was
seen issuing from the side OF the balloon,
and the unfortunate man had lowered q
rope and was clnging to the end below.
Som, one shouted it was burning, and the
people suddenly became a. mad men, rum
ming and screaming, weeping and tearing
their hair. A gentleman tried to quiet
them by shouting, at is not burning, it is
false, brute, animal, it is only the gas es-
caping.' 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 no "
rushed in the direction in which the bal
loon was supposed to be coming. In five
minutes the plaza was entirely deserted
with the exception Of one poor lunatic who
began marching round and round the oven
which had furnished the fatal spark, chant
ing a requiem mass, at intervals stopping and
crossing himself. 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 in
ternal injuries. He WAS seen by IA man Ia a
field to pass directly over the cross of the
chapel in the cemetery, almost within reach
of it, aero's the valley of the Quebrada
SEGA, touching the ground half way up the
mountain on the opposite side, about a
mile and half from the point of starting.
He must have retained his senses to the
very last. As he came to tie ground he
cried, "Por Dios," and struck on his feet,
still cllnging to the rope. The ignorant
man who saw him, having heard nothing of
the balloon ascension, thought he had come
directly from heaven, and was frightened
and ran away a. fast as possible, but meet.
ing those in search OF him turned and con-
Quoted the N to the spot. The unfortunate
man lived but few hours, and was buried
the same evening.