Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-20
Am Aeronaut.s FriyhfuI FaII.

HIS BALLOON TAKES FIRE AND CoLLAPsEs IN
MID AIR-HE DROPS THREE HUNDRED FEET.
Special to the Baltimore American.
CHARLESTON, w. VA, June 19-A great
crowd of people, composed not only of the
citizens ofthis place. but from all around the
country within a radius of twenty miles, gath
cred at the opening performance at Richards
& Icons circus this afternoon. Before the
circus perfOl nance began there was number
of other side show to attr lct the curiosity and
the quarters of the country folk. The big bal
loon was the center of attraction, and William
Patterson, the handsome young aeronaut, in
his fancy dress, was watched attentively by
the crowd as he Superntened the arrange
ments, for his first ascension. He was a strong
looking, plucky young fellow, and only smiled
at the Spectators when they expressed their fear
ofgoing up in a balloon, and looked with awe
upon one SO daring. Finally, all was ready.
The balloon was swelled out to its full capac-
ity. The aeronaut, with a flag in his hand
leaped lightly into the little basket, aud with a
wave wave Of the flag gave the signal let 60 Just
as the ropes were cut, one of the workmen ac-
cidently overturned a hot-air stove used in
Initiating the balloon. Instantly a tiny flame
and a puff of smoke appeared at the bottom of
the balloon as it shot upwards. A cry of horror
burst from the crowd. The aeronaut had not
at first noticed the accident. He heard the
attention to the fame rapidly spreading towards
the inflated portion OF the. balloon. He was
then about one hundred feet in the air. He
looked down and dropped his flag The crowd
saw the look of terror that Overspread his face
The men who had been Initiating the balloon,
and others, soon as they the balloon had
caught fire, shouted to Patterson to jumb But
he had not at first recognized the cry of alarm
In the shouts that attended the ascension
The people below saw him hurriedly turn
around In the basket, and then reach out with a
knife, as though he would try and cut away the
burnt portion of the balloon, but that was inn
possible. Then he appeared as though he
would jump. He hesifated, looked down and
wildly gesticulated. He raised himself up and
chung to the ropes that held the basket just
then u cloud of smoke almost envelOped the
balloon, 1t gave lurch, and the next instant
collapsed at a height of over three hundred feet,
Down shot the body of the aeronaut, swifter
than the upward flight of the balloon had BEEN
over and over 1t turned, and struck the ground
and rebounded. The body was picked up.
Several of the muscles twitched slightly, but
life was extinct. 1t was but a few minutes from
the time of the balloons flight to when the
lifeless body of the young aerOnaut was tend
erly carried into one of the tents. Men turned
their faces away in horror at the terrible spec
tacie, and many women nearly tainted. The
balloon was totally consumed by the fire.
PATTERSON was twenty-five years old, and
resided at Wellsville, Ohio. He had been
married about year and a-half, and leaves
2 ?, wife and infant child. The frightful accident
threw gloom over the crowd. The majority
or the people started homeward without enter
Ing the circus tent. The remains of the young
man were removed to his home this evening