A STARTLING BALLOON ADVENTURE.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 21, 23 February 1878, Page 2

A STARTLING BALLOON ADVENTURE.

After Professor Wells had failed to make :i proper balloon ascent from the Albert Ground, ha diroctod his efforts towards the manipulation gf a Montgolfier, or what is better known as a tire balloon in the pavilion in the domain. The Professor, cither from a want of skill or of proper appliances, and notwithstanding a favorable reputation as an aeronaut, has been remarkably unsuccessful with bis balloons. On the Albert. Ground he wrs much ii.ured aid narrowly escaped ueing killed for want of proper attention while attempting a balloon ascent, and on Saturday night last in consequence of ono of his balloon experiments, one young man has been badly hurt, perhaps maimed for life, and another had an involuntary trip amongst the clouds tbatVreated a vast amount of consternation to those who saw him " orb" After the us jr.! entertainment, consisting of dancing and rope walking, had been fairly got through in the presence of a •fairly gazed audience, the iutlationof the llontgoltier 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 tin; 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, voluntered to take the ear. Could be have foreseen the results of his desire, lie perhaps would have remained on a eomfortahle seat in .the, pavilion. He 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 catwhen it had risen a few feet from the ground. After the word bad.been given to " let go " some individuals who apparently knew nothing of the risks of ballooning, were observed hanging on the car, and the result of their temerity was that (hey had a fall they did not expect One of their number, named Charles Harden, of the Government Printingoffice, who, it appears, had no business so near the balloon, was injured by the fall so seriously that ho had to be conveyed to the Infirmary at once. This was the first disaster. The balloon then went up with great rapidity, and the rope was spun oil" the windlass with an unexpected velocity that resulted in its snapping i when it had nearly run out. Tl,?. ptvnwwr ,* nut lisciy to Toilet ttia incident ,n a.hurry. One of the pi.! of the rope ,t seems, struck him acroS tl e face knocked him down senselTai.d blackened both his eves Son.,. ?,- 3 including Mr. GL.(VtorZl. e e n tf be place, picked him upj at) , ,„ J him, and took him home. That X was an unrehearsed portion of n programme that &ft excitement amongst those pirse. t in ' d around the pavilion, and aVe ,-, was made after 11? i n „fc enL ' ral rush MiiXu,:'" tui"';"."• wl,iol '- surroundings, the linen of *Z. i ■ th.. vt,-„ ,i.? • .., 9* KM amps m <n< stnetl being strikingly effective ]{,. permitted only a fewseconds toga . o tin,o, and to list™ » 0 tte £f» ,r " s mWb * f '-""' a Saturday nigh

crowd, for the wind veered nnd took him over the harbor by way of Fori Demon quicker tlian ever he went across that wuy before. Just as he got over the North Shore the wind which bad 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 onto the 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 twenty feet 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. He said he had some agreeable and some unpleasant experiences during his flight. In the first case his passage was pleasant, and he had no sensation of fear when he found himself alone in the air, beyond a slight apprehension that hemight descend into the water; and in the second case when the rope snapped he lost his hat and a valuable gold watch—incidents which he affirms, however, will not deter him from making another ascent. The balloon was secured with the assistance of some men-of-war sailors and some of the attendants at Government House, and yesterday was placed in a condition for removal. It may be mentioned in conclusion that a number- of people, including some police, and Mrs. Wells, the Professor's wife, followed the balloon with the view of rendering assistance to Mr. Stewart. That gentleman, however, Iris fortunately escaped with only a few scratches on his face. It is said that Mr. G. L. Carter, one of the lessees of the pavilion, used great efforts to make the balloon ascent free from danger; but it is to be hoped that Professor Wells will make no more experiments with his aerial contrivances until he can assure a greater success. Ballooning has been rather too productive of accidents here, ami its most enthusiastic admirers should lie satisfied with them, and put aside any influence likely to cause the loss of life. —" Sydney Morning Herald," January 1 (Ith, "1878.