Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-29
By BALLOON TO MALAY LAND.
The Disastrous Outcome of an Old
Mans Scheme to Get Home From

The Disastrous Outcome of an Old
Mans Scheme to Get Home From
California.
From the Oroville Mercury
resident of Oroville saw a balloon rise
near that town on Christmas Cay. When
1t reached an altitude of several hundred
feet it suddenly burst into flames and the
burning pieces dropped back to the earth
The affair was reported to the Mercury,
and an investigation was begun by q re-
porter. The following is the result of his
labors. as published in that journal:
In ravine about three miles east of
Oroville, In an old tumble-down cabin, for
| many years lived a peculiar character. He
was a Malay, and was born on the shores
! of the Indian ocean. In his youth he was
a sailor, and became an expert sailmaker.
None Of his companions could handle the
needle and canvas more expertly than he.
But when the news Of the discovery of
gold went around the globe this humble
Malay sailor heard Of it, and he boarded a
vessel bound for the Golden Gate. 1t was
in 1851 that the ship anchored at San
Francisco. and the Malay, with several
other sailors, deserted the craft and went
inland to the gold fields.
From this time on he was known, not by
the name he had borne on his native penin-
sula, but simply as Pete being called
that by the white miners, and as Pete
we shall know him.
For many years he mined in the vicinity
of Oroville, with varying success, but
never accumulated the fortune he so much
desired. 1t was his hope. through all these
years, that he might return to his native
shores to die. On this subject his mind
finally became weakened, and the more he
thought of 1T the nearer seemed to come
his native land. until finally he believed
hot haD ,Ixre Of
hills to the east he would be at home.
One day Pete came to Oroville and saw
balloon ascension. He studied its details.
and then great idea took possession of
his poor, weakened mind. He would make
balloon and in 1t cross the range of hills
and be at home again. That was three
years ago, and ever since Pete has worked
necessarily On his airship. What little gold
dust he scratched out of the ravine he in
vested in canvas and thread. His old trade
OF sailmaking came in play, and this fall
the great balloon was finished and lay
big shapeleSS bag at PeteS cabin. Then
he made furnace, and, unaided by any
one, SO far as known, arranged for filling
1t with hot air, as he had seen the aeronaut
in Oroville. Instead of a parachute he
rugged to the balloon a swinging chair, in
which he proposed to ride across the range
of hills-such a short distance he supposed
to the shores of the Indian ocean.
On Christmas day all was ready. Pete
knew nothing of Christmas. but it just
happened that way. Early in the morning
he started the fire in the furnace, and at
noon the balloon was filled, and pulled and
tugged at the single rope that held it, Poor
Pete was jubilant. He carefully locked his
cabin and took his seat in the chair. He
never noticed that the wind was blowing
in a direction that would carry him away
from instead of across the range of hills.
The poor fellow did not know either that
when the air in the balloon began to cool
he would be precipitated to certain death.
So, when all was ready, he cut the rope,
and with bound the huge balloon arose
to a great height A current of air from
the south struck 1t, and 1t f1oated rapidly
hung over the Feather river. 1t was at
known to poor Pete a spark from the fur
mace had caught the side of the canvas,
and the flame was slowly consuming the
cloth. Suddenly the whole top burst into
fire. the sides fell down. enveloping the
Malay in their folds, and, like shot, the
man and the burning fragments went
down.
This is the story of the mysterious bal
loon, learned by the reporter. AS no
traces have been found, it is presumed that
the remnants of the balloon and the body
of the poor Malay, who longed through
n any years to see his native land. are in
the rocky gorges of the Feather river.
At any rate. the old cabin Is deserted and
lonely, the rude furnace stands as Pete left
ii, while strips of canvas and ropes tell the
story of the years of toll by the poor de-
mented sailor, whose longing for home
caused his death.