Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 June 1876 — A Balloon in Flames—The Aeronaut Killed. [ARTICLE]

A Balloon in Flames—The Aeronaut Killed.

We have just witnessed a terrible scene—a balloon ascension, with tragical results. The grand “Aerial ascension—Jimnastico” was advertised to take place at seven o’clock on the morning of the Bth of May. Cards of invitation were sent out to all the leading citizens, and in this little town, of few diversions, a great excitement was created. Sunday afternoon an oven was built in the center of the plaza for the purpose of heating the air by which the balloon was to ascend, and all the preparations were watched by the people with a great deal of curiosity. There were perhaps 2,000 persons in the plaza. The balloon, a very large one, was inflated rapidly and successfully, and soon the aeronaut appeared, brilliant in scarlet and gold and silver spangles, carrying in his hands the Colombian flag. The ropes were loosened, and the balloon shot up like an arrow, amid the shouts of the enthusiastic multitude, the blowing of horns, and the beating of drums, the aeronaut meanwhile turning on the trapeze, and performing various gymnastic feats. It was a beauts ful ascension. In less than a minute he must have been at the height «f 2,000 feet, whefi the balloon apparently became stationary. He then threw out the flag. We could scarcely distinguish whetherlt was the flag or the man lumself; but the next second a smoke was seen issuing from the side of the balloon, and the hnfortunate aeronaut had lowered a rope and was clinging to the end below. “ Beta quamonth) —it is burning,” some one shouted, and the people suddenly became as madmen, running and screaming, weeping and tearing their hair. The gentleman standing next to me tried to quiet them by shouting: “It is not burning; it is false, brute, animal, it is only the gas escaping,” but soon the flames burst from the top, and pieces of the cloth began to float downward, the balloon descending slowly at first, then rapidly, until all hope was over, unless he should touch the top of the mountain, which Is flout 1,000 feet above the town. The spectators rushed in the direction in which the balloon was supposed to be coming. In five minutes the plaza was entirely deserted, with the single exception of one poor lunatic, who besran round and round the oven that had furnished

the fatal spark, chanting a requiem mass,q at intervals kneeling, and crossing himself, smiling all the while. It, waanitiftiL. to see him. ’ In about an hour the crowd cafhe slowly back with tne poor aeronaut, MtF breathing but insensible, with a broken leg and internal injuries. He was seen.' by a man in a field to pass directly oyeri; the cross of the chapel in the cemetery* al; most within reach of it, across the Valley of the Quebrada Bec», finally touemng the ground half way up the mountain dn 1 the opposite side, perhaps a mile half from point of starting. He mWt have retained his senses to the very. last. As he came to the ground he ctfed w<Po*< Dios” and struck on his feet, aMli efinging to the rope. The ignorant man who saw him, having heard nolbiqe p&ftoo balloon ascension, thought he had come directly from heaven and wap frightened, and ran away as fast as possible, but meeting those in search of ltim turned and conducted them to the spot. 'The unfortunate man lived but a few hours, and was buried at five p. m. the same day.’*Honda {Colombia) Cor. N. T. Timet.