A BALLOON IN FLAMES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 100, 16 August 1876, Page 2

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 to take place at 7 o'clock on the morning of the Sth of May. Cards of invitation were sent out to all the leading citizens, and in this little town of few diversions great excitement was created. On Sunday afternoon an oven was built in the centre of the plaza for the purpose of heatirr" 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 hand the Colunibian 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 reronaut 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 the height of 2,000 feet, when the 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 nextsecond smoke was seenissuing fromthe'. side of the balloon, and the unfortunate' Eeronaut had lowered a rope and was clinging to the end below. " Esta <p«■mando —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 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 about one thousand feet above the town. The spectators rushed in the direction in which the balloon was supposed to be coming. In five minutes the pb.za was entirely deserted, with the single exception of one poor lunatic, who began marching round and round the oven that 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. v ' '

In about an hour the crowd came slovrlj back with the poor aeronaut, still breathing, but insensible, with a broken leg anil internal injuries. He was seen by a man in a field to pass directly over the cross <j[ the chapel in the cemetery, ahnggfc-i reach of it, across the valley of Quebl|& Seca, finally touching the ground up the mountain on the opposite side, perhaps a mile and a half from the point of starting. He must have retained lis senses to the very last. As he came to the ground, .Jie "cried, "Por Dios,"anl struck on his'feet, clinging to the rope. The ignorant man who saw him, hayini heard nothing of the balloon ascension, thought he had come directly from heaven and was frightened, and ran away as fail as possible, but, meeting those in searcl of him, turned, and conducted them to the spot. The unfortunate man lived bill a few hours, and was buried at five p.n the same day.