Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-23
UP IN A BALLOON.
EXCITING ACCOUNTS OF ADVENT
 URES IN CLOUDLAND.

EXCITING ACCOUNTS OF ADVENT UREs IN cLoUDLAND. The Oldest Living Aeronaut Relates Some
 of His Experiences-Falling Into the
 Bay from Storm Tossed Balloon-A
 Battle with Housetops
 George Elliott was born on the Franklin road, about three miles from the city limits of Baltimore, in which city he is passing his old age. He is now s4 years old. Professor Elliott was at an early age apprenticed to the shoe trade. After the completion of his ap- premiership he began business on Baltimore street In the spring of 1884 the town was Hooded with posters, stating that Professor Mills, famous balloonist, would give ex- hibitions of his skill and daring from Federal Hill lot. Elliott, becoming great ly interested in these ascensions, made the acquaintance of Professor Mills and secured from him the promise of an as- tension as soon as he should return from Philadelphia Professor Mills ascension at Philadelphia, however, was unsuccessful His balloon became unmanageable, and, find ing himself drifting seaward, with both night and storm coming on, made perilous Jump into the top of a grove of pine trees, abandoning his balloon and severely injuring himself,
 Young Elliott had by this time become thoroughly enthused upon the subject, and nothing but trial would satisfy him. Everybody laughed at the idea of plain George Elliott, whom they all knew so well, going up in balloon. Nothing daunted, however, he succeedsd in saving sufficient money to buy the mstsrials and made hand some balloon.
 THEY WE'RE PICKLED.
 Professor Elliott, in speaking of his adven- lures, said: 1T made my first ascension on Aug. 5, 1884, the twenty-ninth anniversary of my birth. l took with me as companion a little son of MT. Redman, proprietor of a sa- loon on Pratt street. After being in the air for about half hour we were overtaken by terrible storm, and came near losing our lives was afterward told by the spectators that it was an awful sight to see the balloon tossed hither and thither among the black clouds, with the lightning playing about it as though 1t 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 off Hawkins point the valve be- came disarranged, and we were precipitated into the water. The steamer Maryland was coming up the river with an excursion party from Annapolis. Those on board sighted us while we were still in midair, and when they saw us falling panic prevailed on board The steamer was so near us that could see the commotion on her, and to quiet it 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 briny bath, I replied: No, maam; he has pickled us
 Nothing of interest happened on my sec ond ascension, except that it was a singular coincidence that 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 landed at North Point. By this time was fascinated with the profession which had adopted It had raised me from comparatively obscure shoemaker to the height of local fame. Everybody was talk ing of my exploits. Determining to seek new felds left Baltimore for Charleston, s. c.
 LANDING IN THE BAY
 My first ascension from Charleston was made from Meeting street. I was carried seaward over John and James islands, and landed on Wadmelo island. Dr. Angel, an immensely wealthy planter, resided on Wad- melo island amid almost oriental luxuries. He was highly pleased with my unexpected visit. After spending the night at his house, l was taken back to Charleston by his race boat, manned by twelve sturdy black men. My second ascension was uneventful On my third, l reached the height of three and 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 or twelve miles outside the bar, where 1 re- mained for several hours supported by the balloon, when a skiff from pilot boat Cora, Capt. Aldert, came to my relief. was transferred from the Cora, in the vicinity of Sulivan's Island, to the steamboat Etiwan, Capt. Sassard, which boat had been dispatched to my assistance at a late hour of the night.
 After the events continued my tour to New Orleans, wherSI made ascensions from a part of town called Lafayette My first trip occupied three hours, and I landed on the battle-ground where Gen. Jackson, with his Kentucky and Mississippi rihemen, defeated Gen. Pakenham, with his English regulars, in 1915.
 A DANGEROUS RIDE.
 My second ascension, which was the most unfortunate have eyer had, was made from the state house yard. The ascension, accord ing to advertisemen.- was to be made at D. m. but at midday she wind began to blow from the east, and as it appeared to be on the increase determined to start as soon as pos sible. Dr. Stillwell, wealthy merchant, had engaged passage; but, the weather look ing so bad, I refused to take him, much to that gentleman's disgust. Making all ready, I jumped into the car and, watching my chance, when the ballon reached its perpendicular, gave the word to let go. A slight delay oc- cured before executing the order, and heavy flaw of wind struck the balloon just as she bounded from the earth. Before had time to think the car of the balloon collided l with the tall chimney on the state house, | knocking about ten feet of it down and bruis- ing me considerably. Fifteen bricks fell in | the car, the weight of which was not suffi- | cient to bring the balloon to the ground, yet | was too great to permit it to rise higher in | the air. Consequently, under the influence of the wind, which was on the increase, the | balloon went careening just few feet above kA.l