Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-11-07
DASHED 70 DEATH.
The Late Balloon Accident at San
Francisco.

San Francisco CALL
Yesterday was a windy day; a strong
vest wind came in oyer the western
hills, driving the dust about the streets
and whistling around cOruera, and
many of the large crowd which con
gregated at Woodward's thought the
aerial tripadyertised by Prof. Colgrove,
a gentleman who has made seven as
tensions from the gardens during the
past summer, would be postponed un-
til a more favorable time, The vicious
wind, however, seemed not to cause
any apprehension on the part Of the
@ronapt, and shortly after noon the
%aeonster balloon, General Grant"
was brought out into the open space
near the animals dens, and in the
presence of the crowd the filling be-
gan. Prof. COlgrove was present, ap.
parently entertaining no intention Of
abandoning the trip, directing the
initiating process, which was in charge
OF Thomas Ahhglt and e~QnYersing
with those inside the Enclosure. It
had been announced that a young man
employed by Wells, Fargo & Co. s
bank would accompany the aeronaut,
but an hour before the ascension he
backed out, and it became necessary
to provide a substitute. Prot. Mar.
TN, the veil -knoYp ~balloonist was
one OF the many present, and at this
stage OF the proceedings, and owing
to the wind, he advised Colgroye, how
ever, to refuse to entertain the idea.
and it was finally arranged that
Charles II. Williams, the manager of
1 the gerdens, who was present. should
60 WIN tin IN lieE IF the passenger
first proposed. All Alr. Willlams'
friends opposed this, as he was a
heavy, stout man, weighing fully 200
pounds, and should not run the risk
When Williams informed Mr.. Abbott
that he was going, the latter told him.
~ g Joking manner that he had better
leave a part o. himself on the ground.
Williams replied jocularly: mo, |
am going to take all Of myself up
Although Mr.. Williams has arranged
for a large number Of qsce9siops from
the gardens, he has never before
contemplated a trip himself, and
while the preparations were being
made, he remarked to a newspaper
man in the crowd, you ought to give
this an extra dash tomorrow on my
account. This was about the last re-
mark 4e made, and in a leY moments
alter Colgroye stepped into the basket
and called for his companion.
At rhis time, about fifteen minutes
to four o'clock, the wind was blowing
a gale, and the balloon, which is the
largest air-ship ever on this coast. was
swaying violently to and fro in the
eiiQFg v yeie2se itself from the ropes
which bound IL 10 the earth. VIII
liams stepped into the basket. An
instant before ColgrOve gave the word
10 cut the air ship loose, he was seen
TO make = mGGgR as though to step
out, but the ropes were sgdqgAiy re-
AcdSSui anu bhc HailOOu INTO
the air. 1t seemed at once to every
one in the crowd that it was too
heavily fFeigbted, and, although it
rapidly shot about $50 feet eboye the
ground, it did not do 50 as quickly as
usual.
From this distance the balloon rose
slowly to perhaps 300 feet, when, be-
ing overloaded, II began slowly "a
sink. At the moment Of reaching the
highest altitude it was struck by a
strGQg southweat current and moved
slowly OF ip ? southeasterly direction,
all the while gradually descending.
From this time until the men weeo
thrown from the basket no one upon
DIS. gyGppd in the garden could see The
balloon. Henry 0hnimus, the pro-
prietor Of the candy stand in the
amphitheater, was standing in the
door Of the pavilion at this time, aud