Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-01-31
Ur In A BALLOON.
EXCITING ACCOUNTS OF ADVENT
URES IN cLoUDLAND.

Bay from a Storm Tossed BaisOon-A
Battle with Bousetops.
George Elliott was born on the Frautlin
road, about three miles fTcrn th>-c:.T limits
OF Baltimore, 10 which city he ispassinR his
Old age. De is now "a years old Professor
Elliott was at an early age apprenticed to the
shoe trafie. After the completion OF his ap-
prenticeship he began business on Baltimore
street. Ia the spring of 1884 the town was
Hooded with posters, stating that Professce-
Milk, famous ballooniss, wouki give tx
hiFitions of his skill and daring frsn1
nedeinl Hill lot Elliott, becUming great
~ irSrested in these asceEsions, made
the acquaintance of Professor Mills and
secu.sss from him the promise of IN as
cersoa as soon as he should return from
I'D llaaelphia. Professor Mrs ascension at
Philadelphia, however, was Unsuccessful
His'Salloon became unmanas cable, and, find
ngnimself drifting seawaTd, with 10th night
aud storm coming on, made perilous
1usnpinto the toy OF a grove Of pine trees,
afsaIldoning his balloon and severely injuring
himself.
Young Elliott had by this time become
thoroughly enthnsed upon the subject, and
iGothing but trial would satisfy him.
4 Everybody laughed at the idea Of plain
II George Elliott, whom they all knew so well,
going up in a balloon Nothing daunted,
however, he succeeded ia saving sufficient
money to buy the materials and made a hand
some balloon
THEY WE'RE PICKLED
Professor Elliott, Ia speaking Of his adven
lures, said: u nnde my FIRST ascension on
Aug. 2, 1864, the twenty -Ilinth anniversary Of
my birth / took with me as companion a
little son Of Mr.. Redman, proprietor Of q sa-
loon on Pratt street After being in the air
for about a half hour We were overtaken by
a terrible storm, and came near losing our
lives ! was afterwId told by the spectators
mat it was an awful sight 20 see tho balloon
tossed hither and thither among the black
clouds, with the lightning playing aaout it as
though it offered some terrible fascination
for that destructive fluid The mother Of the
boy who was with me tainted at the sight,
and was thought To be dead The storm quiet
ing, we sailed toward the BAY
when OF Hawkins point the valve be
came disarranged, and we were precipitated
| into the water The steamer MARYLAND was
| coming Up the river with am excursion party
from Annapolis. Those on board sighted Us
| while we were still in midair, and when they
sew as falling panic prevailed on board
/ The steamer was so near us that could see
| the commOtion on her, and to quiet il told the
boy, who maintained wonderful presence Of
mind, TO wave his hat, which he did amid
great cheering. We were taken on board the
steamer and congratulated One old lady.
putting her arms around my neck. said: The
Lord has preserved your Referring to our
oriny bath, l replied; No, maam; he has
picked U.s.
Nothing Of interest happened on my sec
md -.
coincidence that l should light in the same
cherry tree in. Hartford county that Durand.
the first man to make an ascension from Bal
timore, landed the year previous. On my
third ascension l landed at North Point By |
this time was fascinated with the profession
which had adopted. 1t had raised me from
comparatively obscure shoemaker TO the |
height of local fame. Everybody was talk
ing OF my exploits. Determining TO seek
new fields, left Baltimore for Charleston,
S. c.
LANDING IN THE BAY
MY first ascension from Charleston was
made from Meeting street | was carried
seward over John and James islands, and
landed on Wadmelo island. DR.. Angel, an
immensely wealthy planter, resided on Wad-
melo island amid almost oriental Injuries.
He was highly pleased with my unexpected
visit After spending the night at his house,
was taken back to Charleston by his race
boat, manned by twelve sturdy black men.
My second ascension was uneventful On |
my third, reached the height of three and a
half or four miles, and was in the air about |
one or three-quarters Of an hour. having |
been unable to descend earlier on account Of /
some difficulty in opening the valve of the /
balloon When descended it was perfectly /
dark, and alighted in the bay about ten OF
twelve miles outside the bar where | re-
manned FOR several hours supported by the
balloon, when a sziff from pilot boat Cora.
capt. ALBERT came to my relief / was
transferred from the Cora, in the vicinity of
SullIvan's Island, 70 the steamboat Eti1van.
Capt Sassard, which boat had been dispatched
to my assistance at a late hour Of the night
After tho events / continued my tour to
Now Orleans, where made ascensiops from
n part Of town called Lafayette. Nv first
trip occupied three hours, and landed on the
battle-ground where Gen. jackson, with his
Kentucky and Mississippi riaemen, defeated
Gen. Rakenhem, with his English regulars,
in 1916.
DANGEROUS RIDE.
MY second ascension, which was the most
unfortunate have ever had, was made from
the state house yard. The ascension, accord
ing 70 advertisement, was 10 be made at d.
m. but at midday the wind began TO blow
from tho east, and as it appeared to be on the
increase, / determined to start as soon as Dos
sible. DR.. Stillwell, q wealthy merchant.
had engaged passage; but, the weather look
ing SO bad, | refused to take him, much 70
that gentlcman'3 disgust. Making all ready,
jumped into the car and, watching my chance.
when the bgllon reached its perpendicular.
gave tho word to let 60. A slight delay oc-
CURED before executing the order, and a
heavy flaw Of wind struck the balloon Just as
she bounded from the earth. Before l had
time to think the car Of the balloon collided
with the tall chimney on the state house.
knocking about ten feetof il down and bruis-
ing me considerably. Fifteen bricks fell in
the ear, the weight Of which was not suffl-
Gent TO bring the balloon TO the ground vet
was too great 70 permit it 10 rise higher in
the air. Consequently, under the influence
Of the wind which was on the increase, the
balloon went careening just a few feet above
the Lousetops
With frantic energy I began throwing
bricks sand bags and everything / could out
of the car. While thus engaged / kept
sharp lookout Presently saw that col
lsion with the dormer window Of the Bank
of Louisiana was unavoidable, and prepared
myself for it by crouching down in the car
Tie balloon escaped it, but the car, from the
momentum It had gained was thrown clear
through the window, smashing the sash, and
then as violently ierked out again. The
shock of the collision broke my thigh, and
rendered me senseless. The balloon continued