Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-06-10
A BALLOON IN FLAMES,
II Takes Fire Two Thousand Feet In the
Air.-Tho Aer0naut DescendB Violently
and Ii KilIed..An Excited Multitude.

II Takes Fire Two Thousand Feet In the
Air..Thc Aeronaut Descends Violently
and Is Killed--An Excited Multitude,
A correspondent writing from Honda,
Colombia, tells the following story:
We have just Witnessed terrible scene
"a balloon ascension, with tragical re-
suits. The grand "Aerial ascension
Jimnastico," were advertised to take
place at seven o'clock in the morning.
Cards of invitation was sent out to all the
leading citizens, and in the little town,
Of few diversions, great excitement
was created. The afternoon previous
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 were watched by the
people with great deal of curiosity.
There were perhaps 1000 persons in the
plaza. The balloon, a very large one,
was inflated rapidly and successfully,
and soon the aeronaut appeared, bril-
liant in scarlet, and gold and silver
spangles. carrying in his hand the Col
ombian flag. The ropes were loosened,
and the balloon shot up like an arrow,
amid the shouts of the enthusiastic null
titude, the blowing of horns and the
beating of drums, the aeronaut mean
while turning on the trapeze and per-
forming various gymnastic feats. 1t
was II beautiful ascension.
In less than a minute he must have
been at height of 1000 feet, when the
balloon apparently became stationary.
He then threw out the flag. We could
scarcely distinguish whether it was the
flag or the man himself but the next
second smoke was seen issuing from
the side of the balloon, and the unfortu-
nate aeronaut had lowered rope and
was clinging to the end below. I" Esta
quemando-it is burning" some one
shouted, and the people suddenly be-
came as madmen, rushing and scream
ing, and tearing their hair. The gentle
man standing next TO mo tried to quiet
them by shouting 1t 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 be-
gun to float downward, the balloon de-
scending 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 plaza was
entirely deserted, with the single excep-
ton Of one poor lunatic, who begun
marching round and round the oven that
had furnished the fatal spark, chanting
a 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 internal injuries. He was seen
by man in a 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 up the
on the opposite side. perhaps
a mile and one-half from point Of start
ing. 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 the balloon as
,ension, thought he had come directly
rom heaven and was frightened, and ran
AWAY as fast as possible, but meeting
hose in search of him burned and con-
lucted them to the spot. The unfor-
innate man lived but few hours, and
was buried the same day.