A STARTLING BALLOON ADVENTURE.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1226, 7 February 1878, Page 3

A STARTLING BALLOON ADVENTURE.

[From tho “Sydney Morning Herald,” January 14.] After Professor Wells had failed to make a proper balloon osoent from the Albert Ground, ho directed his efforts towards tho manipulation of a Montgolfier, or what is better known as a fire balloon, in the pavilion of the Domain. The professor, either from a want of skill or of proper appliances, and notwithstanding a favorable reputation as an aeronaut, has been remarkably unsuccessful with his balloons. On the Albert ground he was much injured and narrowly escaped being killed for want of proper attention while attempting a balloon ascent, and on Saturday night last, in consequence of one of his balloon experiments, one young man has been badly hurt (he has since died), and another had an involuntry trip amongst the clouds that created a vast amount of consternation to those who saw him “off.” After the usual entertainment, consisting of dancing and rope walking, had been fairly got through in the presence of a fairly-sized audience, the inilation of tho Montgolfier was proceeded with under the direction of Mr Wells, and with such good results that it was considered a capital ascent would be made. There was certainly a remarkably successful ascent as far as the balloon was concerned. About 10 o’clock, or a little after, the balloon was declared ready, and any one who wished to ascend for a thousand feet or so, or in fact as far as its tether would allow, was invited to do so. One end of the tether was fastened to a winch to pull the balloon down after each ascent, and everything looked remarkably inviting for an aerial flight. The professor this time dispensed with’ his usual flowery oration regarding tire number of times he had been up in a balloon himself, and eventually a young man named James M. Stewart, who has had some experience with Irish balloons, which apparently have different characters and dispositions to those in Australia, volunteered to take the car. Could he have foreseen the results of his desire, he perhaps would have remained in a comfortable scat in the pavilion. Ho had, however, sufficient courage to take his seat, and in doing so was accompanied by another would-be aeronaut named Francis, who, it is said, lost courage and jumped out of the car when it had risen a few feet from the ground. After the word had been given to “ let go,” some individuals who apparently knew nothing of tho risks of ballooning, were observed hanging on to tiie car, and the result of their temerity was that they had a fail they did not expect. One of their'number, named Charles Harden, of the Government printing office, who, ,t appears, had no business so near the balloon, was injured by tho fall so seriously that he had to'be conveyed to the Infirmary at oncci This was the 'first disaster. _ The balloon then wont up with great rapidity, and the rope was spun off the windlass with an unexpected velocity that resulted in its snapping when it had nearly run out. Tho professor is not likely to forget this incident in a hurry. One of tho pieces of the rope, it seems, struck him across tho face, knocked him down senseless, and blackened both his eyes. Some friends, including Mr G. L, Carter, the lessee of the place, picked him up, attended to him, and took him home. TJia[ was the second disaster of the evening. Mr Stewart did not wait to inquire into these matters, for, on tho snapping of (he rope, the balloon, freed front captivity, was “ off,” and away with a tad of rope some hundreds of feet hi length. +“ 18 was an unrehearsed portion of the programme that 'caused a good' deal oscitemph fc

amongst those in and around the pavilion, and a general rush was made after the balloon, which, luckily for the occupant of its car, was in splendid sailing condition. It hung derisively a few moments oyer the pavilion, and‘then went in the direction of Governor Burke’s statue, where Mr Stewart says he saw a startling yet beautiful view of the city and its surroundings, the lines of gas lamps in the streets being strikingly effective. Ho *ms permitted only a few seconds to gaze on them, and to listen to the hum of voices arising from a Saturday night crowd, for the wind veered and took him over the harbor by way of Fort Denison quicker than over he went across that way before. Just as he got over the North Shore the wind, which had been gusty all day, changed again and brought him over towards Government house grounds. There the ratified air commenced to lose its buoyant properties and the car to descend. In doing so it struck one large tree, caught in another, and finally' the balloon careened on to a shrub. Although this turned the car almost upside down, Mr Stewart clung on to tho concentrated ropes, and, like Miss Wise at St. Louis the other day, managed to slip down by one of the guys a distance of about 20ft. There happened to be a garden party there that night, who must have been somewhat astonished at Mr Stewart’s visit, but who, nevertheless, paid him all the necessary attention. Ho said he had some agreeable and some unpleasant experiences during his (light. In tho first case his passage was pleasant, and he had no sensation of fear when he found himself alone in the car, beyond a slight apprehension that he might descend into the water; and in the second case, when tho rope snapped, he lost his hat and a valuable gold watch—incidents which he affirms, however, will not deter him from making another balloon ascent. The balloon was secured with the assistance of some man-of-war sailors and some of the attendants at Government House, and yesterday was placed in a condition for removal. [By telegram we have had intelligence of the death of Harden, tho finding of a verdict of manslaughter against Wells by a coroner’s jury, the entering of a nolle prose pd against Wells, and his discharge.]