Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-06-08
rne Balloon ascension.


Yesterday afternoon In this city at
quarter past 3 o'clock, Prof. Van Tassell
made successfully his twenty fourth as.
cension 10 his gas balloon Georgia. The
balloon is . large one, standing sixty.
eight feet wheu inflated. and presented
an imposing and beautiful appearance
as she rose rather slowly into the air
from the enclosed ground on Also
street, aud foated eastwarily towards
the clouds which had filled the sky all
day, until about the moment the Georgia
took her flight stream Of sunshine
broke through the cloud riffs in the
west. II was expected that lady and
another gentleman would accompany the
Professor, but owing to the poor and
heavy quality Of the gas, which was pro-
cured from the city gas works. the Pro.
fessor decided the buoyancy Of the bal
loon Inadequate to any weight beyond
his own and the necessary ballast, and
consequently made the ascension alone.
When the frail wicker basket con
tanning its human freight was lot go by
the many hands holding the ropes. and
the Professor cut the anchor rope. there
were shouts OF "good bye" ''safe voy-
age" ETC., and as he assembled, the bal.
sbon floating like huge bird in majes.
tic flight. the Professor waved his cap In
sdieus, and scattered broadcast cards in
red, white and blue which fell scat.
tered by the breeze everywhere. Tho
banner Of our Union. which draped the
basket, soon became, or was detached,
aud slowly Aoated to the earth; mean.
while the band. which had been playing
at intervals during the period Of inaa.
tion. struck up the familiar strains Of
goodbye. 1t was the intention of the
Professor to land somewhere in the
vicinity Of Cotton or San Bernardino,
the reporter was informed, aud from ap-
pearances the balloon headed straight
for that point, aud when last seen ap-
pea ed to have attained an elevation Of
about 5000 feet.
There were not less than 5000 persons
present to witness the beautiful specta-
Gle, but not more than 300. it is judged.
paid admittance to the enclosure. The
Professor seemed justly disappointed
and chagrined that such large numbers
Of Angelefios were willing to appropriate
the pleasure Of such an entertainment
without compensation. It does net
speak well for either the generosity or
sentiment Of justice Of SO many who, be-
ing abundantly sble, proclaimed them
selves in SO public manner as too mig
gardly to. pay for their amusements.
Another dis ogrseabls feature of the oc-
casion was the large number of the
hoodlum element who made themselves
prominent. climbing the fence enclosing
the ground, tearing off the boards and
making derisive cries at the short delay
in filling the balloon with gas. The po.
lice ON the ground did not seem to
think it their business to prevent these
aggles,ions, which the Professor was Of
course powerless to prevent.
But while the venture has been los.
ing one financially to Prof. Van Tsssell.
the ascension was 8 complete and beau
tiful success; and it is to be hoped. il
the citizens are favored with another
similar entertainment, they will prove
themselves more jast and generous to
the bold aeronaut. After soaring in
cloud-land for an hour or more, he
landed near the Nve-Mile House. He
describes the view at his elevation Of q
few thousand feet y beautiful In the ex-
trems. Could series of ascensions be
arranged. to be carried to height of
10, 900 feet, much valuable knowledge
might be gained abou. the Temperature
of the atmosphere and the direction of
wind currents.