Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-09-21
THE STATE FAIR,

ginians do not get a speech out of him it
will be extraordinary bad luck. Gov.
HAMPTON, of South Carolina, will also be
there and have something to say and DO.
The military from several Virginia cities
and from Washington City have signiied
their intention to be present and take part
in the competitive drill for the elegant
| prizes offered by Gen. BRADLEY 7. JOHN
| SON to the first and second best drilled
companies. This will be a very interest
ing part of the programme and attract the
military men from all sections of the State.
The number and amount of premiums Of
fered for trotting and running will draw
together some of the fastest horses in the
country. In fact the whole arrangement
contemplates one Of the best fairs and
largest crowds Richmond has ever had.
HARPER'S MAGAZINE FOR OCTOBER,
1S77.-Harper's Magazine for October con-
| tains one hundred and five beautiful illus
| trations, and is a very attractive number.
! Mr.. Benjamin's article, 'From Brusa to
| Constantinople, "with twenty-one engrav-
| ings, gives considerable information of an
| historical character, but is in the main a
| lively description of scenes connected with
| the Eastern war. William H. Rideing
| contributes a very entertaining paper, pro-
| fusely illustrated, entitled "The Life of a
| New York Fireman." In his vivacious de-
scription of Walrus Hunting, illustrated
| Mr.. W. l.. Alden writes in his most hu-
morous vein. But the most charming of
the illustrated papers is that which opens
the number-"Mytown," under which
title Rose Terry Cooke describes a charac-
teristic New England town. All but the
| title is real, and the illustrations, beau
tiful as they are, are from bona-fide
sketches; if we except Mr.. Abbey's pictures
of Ethan Allen and the "Disgusted Dea-
con-" Blackmore's ''Erema' approaches
! it's conclusion. Constance F. Woolson on
tributes one of her best stories, ''Rasp-
berry Island" Mr.. Phillips short story
s'On a Melon Schooner - is novel and en-
tertaining. The editorial departments
| cover their respective fields as comprehen-
sively and satisfactorily as usual, the
Drawer for this month being especially
good.
Hon. VIM. A. Anderson, of Rockbridge,
| who Was a member of the Senate when tie
| Funding Bill was passed, made an address
to the people of his county a few days ago
which should be read by every man in the
State. 1t is the utterance of an able, bold
and far-seeing public man, who has the
| official record to back his statements, and
| public events since to indicate the wis
| dom of his course. We deeply regret the
| absence of such men from our councils at
such a time as this, but we are glad to
know that their influence can be welded
by public addresses such as this. Senator
Anderson shows the record of the Anti
Funders up, and he has our thanks for a
document to which we shall often refer
for the benefit of the people of Augusta.
CHAT HUSBAND OF NINE" is the I'll
tie of a new book. which we have just re-
ceived from the publishers, Lee Il Shep-
herd, Boston. We copy the criticism of
the Boston "Post:'
"Too pleasant to be criticised. In a doz-
en- ways it sets at naught the whole gospel
of literary art; but it will be read and
laughed over, and enjoyed by thousands of
persons"
Shocking Accidental Balloon
EXplOdes in the Air.
IEMany of our readers recollect a small
travelling company giving exhibitions in
Augusta, the last of which was given near
Waynesboro. The leading performer, the
balloonist, met his death at Glade Spring,
in Washington co., Va, last week by the
explosion of his balloon. The Abingdon
"Standard'' gives the following account
of the accident:
Glade Spring, in this county, was, on
Monday thronged with sOvereigps from all
parts of the surrounding county to witness
the balloon ascension, as advertised for
that place on that day. According to an
nouncement, the travelling show of Prof.
II. Hoffman made its appearance and at
once prepared for exhibition. The per-
Torrance was usually accompanied by a
balloon ascension. Their large iron fur
mace was put to work, and the balloon
hoisted over it by means of two poles on
either side 40 feet high. The balloon was
inflated by means of wood and kerosene |
oil, with a small quantity of gasoline add
ed. When the balloon was filled as usual,
M. Hainur, the aronaut, was informed,
but he said II want more gas this time"
Two pints more of oil was put in and when
exhausted the damper to the furnace was
shut down, then he jumped in his position
and like an arrow, the great air ship shot
upward, carrying its human freight dang
ling at it's end. 1t had assembled some
three hundred feet, and while the actor
was performing on a horizontal bar, hang
ing by his feet with head down, waving a
handkerchief to the trembling, nervous
audience below, the patched and dilapida-
ted canvass split from bottom to top with
a report that was heard for miles away.
The effect was terrible. No sooner had
the gas escaped than the balloon collapsed
had darted up. The 8ronaut saw his sit
uation and quick as lightning turned him
self mp and regained his hand hold, and
commenced a to dodge a tele-
graph wire and post toward which he was
falling. This he succeeded in doing, Strik-
ing the. ground with terrible force, which
bounced him up a Somersault, to be caught
and pressed down by the balloon. All of
this was the work of Il moment. The crowd
was literally paral, zed, women sickened
faintlng; and men unable in their horror
to move. The companions of the unfortu
nate man stood riveted to the ground, and
not until some citizens undertook to move
the canvas, did they stir. The man was
found to be alive and perfectly conscious,
but %dreadfully bruised and mangled. He was
through it all calm and cool, and described
his feelings, as defending he saw and felt
death staring him in the face. He was
taken to the Hotel, where both Mr.. and
Mrs. Thompson did all in their dover to
relieve the suffering man. With all the
III III o'clocKs D. .I a., he paid the penalty It, Of
death for his fearful recklesness. His name
is Frank Halnur, FROM Warren, Ohio. His
we learn, has been for years a book
keeper for Packard Il Barnum, hardware