A BALLOON IN FLAMES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XL, Issue 196, 10 August 1876, Page 4

A BALLOON IN FLAMES.

The following is written by a correspondent of a San Francisco paper: — •'Honda, United States of Columbia, South America, May 9, 1876.— We have just witnessed a terrible scene — a balloon ascension with tragical results. The Grand Aerial Ascension — Jimnastice, was advertised »o take place at 7 o'clock on the morning of the Bth of May. Cards of invitation were Bent out to all the leading citizens, and in 4hi« little town of but few diversions .great excitement was created. Sunday afternoon an oven was built in the

centre 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 people in the plaza. T^he 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 hand the Columbian 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 beautiful ascension. In less than a minute he must have been at tbe height of 2,000 feet, when tbe balloon apparently became stationary. He then threw out the flag. We could scarcely distinguish whether it was the flag or the man himself; but the next second smoke was seen issuing from the side of the balloon, and the unfortunate aeronaut had lowered a rope, and was clinging to the end below, ' Eata quemando, ~- (it is burning) someone 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 cloth began to float downward, the balloon descending slowly at first, then rapidly, until all hope was over, unless be should touch the top of the mountain, which is about a thousand feet above the town. The spectators rushed in the direction in which the balloon was supposed to be coming. In Ave minutes the plaza was entirely deserted, with the single exception of one poor lunatic, who began marohing round and round the oven tbat had furnished the fatal spark, chanting a requiem mass, at intervals kneeling and crossing himself, smiling all the while. It was pitiful to see him.

In about an hour the crowd came slowly back with the poor aeronaut, still breathing but insensible, with a broken leg and internal injuries. He was seen by a man in a field to pass directly ovtr the cross of the chapel io tbe cemetery, almost in reach of i', across the Valley of Quebrada Seca, finally touching tbe ground halfway up the mountain on the opposite Bide, perhaps a mile and half from the point of starting. He must have retained his senses to tbe very last. As he came to the ground he cried 'Por Dioe,' and struck on his feet, still clinging to the rope. The ignorant man who saw him, having heard nothing oi the balloon ascension, thought he had come directly from heaven, and was frightened, and ran away as fast sb possible, but meeting thoee in search of _im,£turned, and conducted them to the spot. The uufortunate man lived but a (ew hours, and was buried at 5 p.m. tbe same day.