Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

13 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

\I Y P Y RD O D A R Y M A…

EPITAPH.

PRANTERS' DEnLS,

SONNET TO HEALTH.

COMPARISONS,

THE FUTURE.!

.',ODE TO WISDOM.

BISHOP FERRAR.

[No title]

LORD BYRON'S AUTO-BIOGRAPHY.

AEROSTATIC EXCURSION.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

AEROSTATIC EXCURSION. Mr. Harris, the gentleman who was the com- panion of Mr. Graham in his aerial voyage from Berwick-street, Soho, to the neighbourhood of Rochester, Kent, ascended Tuesday in a balloon, of his own property, and constructed under his own immediate direction, from the gardens of the Eagle Tavern in the City-road. The balloon is composed entirely of silk, and is a stupendous and magnificient vehicle. It is called The Royal George," this title being inscribed upon it in targe gold letters. The balloon and apparatus were removed to the Eagle on Monday morning, and Tuesday morning, so early as five o'clock, the preparations com- menced for inflating it. A large gas pipe was laid on from the main, belonging to the Brick- lane Company, and the stage fJomwhich it was to ascend having been completed, the balloon was lashed on, and at 11 o'clock the process of tilling began. The aeronaut had given so short a notice ofhis intention to attempt a voyage, that it was by no means generally known to the public, and con- sequently the number of persons collected was comparatively small. The time for ascent origi- nally fixed upon was half-past two in the after- noon, at which hour there were not more than 250 persons in the garden, and Mr. Harris determined on waiting another hour. By half-past three the gardens were nearly filled with well-dressed persons, amounting in number lo at least a thousand, and the City-road and other avenues were pretty well crowded.— About an hour before the ascent took place a strong degree of interest was excited, by an an- nouncement from Mr. Harris's Committee to the company who were assembled in the gardens, that a young lady would ascend with Mr. Harris." The young adverturess soon after made her ap- pearance in the grounds, accompanied by Mrs. Harris and two other ladies, and several of the Committee of Gentlemen, and she became imme- diately an object of the most intense curiosity.— The universal inquiry was, Who is she ? What is her name?" and the crowd pressed around her encouraging her by compliments upon her courage, and assurances of their confidence that she would return safe. She was dressed in a white muslin gown, straw bonnet with a wreath of roses, and a small green shawl, and wore her hair turned back upon the temples, and braided. She appeared to be about eighteen years of age, of rather delicate frame and complexion. and her appearance alto- gether was extremely interesting. Her name is Stocks, but the rank or situation in life of her or her family was studiously concealed. She had only determined upon the adventurous flight about two hours before it took place. At four o'clock the ear was placed upon the stage for the purpose of being lashed to the bal- loon. The ear is of an oval shape, very elegant ly constructed. The covering of the body is of crimson velvet, with an intermixture of deep green and yellow silk, prettily festooned, and fringed with the same material. This was suspended by cords from a circular frame above, similarly orna- mented,, and which was fastened to the balloon itself. Mr. Harris, dressed in a jacket, waistcoat, and trowsers of deep blue, ornamented with gold lace in profusion, and buttons with the anchor and crown upon them, and wearing a white hat, superintended a I the arrangements in person, and directed them with the greatest possible coolness and judgment. Every thing being ready, Mr. Harris went to the Tavern to escort this fair companies to her seat, and returned in a 'few moments with her leaning upon his arm, and preceded by a band playing a slow air. The'Committee, with several ladies, brought, up the rear. The intrepid girl mounted the stage with but a slight appearance I of fear in her manner, and was instantly gieeted with the warmest cheers from the spectators. She curtsied in return, and Mr. Harris having entered the car, the word was given for the I,ady. Having received an affectionate farewell from several around her, she stepped into the ear with firmness and unmoved countenance, and took her seat amid the most enthusiastic cries of" Bravo and loud clapping of hands. Mr. Harris gave the word. and the cords being slipped, the immense vehicle ascended swiftly for a snort distance, but suddenly stopped, and if. was then discovered by the spectators that one of the cords by which it was fastened to the earth had not been loosened from the pole, and that of course the balloon could ascend no further until the rope was unfastened. A general feeling of alarm prevailed for a few moments, which was increased by the apparently perilous situation of the aeronauts at that moment for the violent cheek which the adhering cord gave to the balioon drew it into a positionalrnosthori- zontal, and the young iady, whose em! of the car was downwards, was seen clinging to the sides, and seemed with difficulty to keep her seat. There was a general cry of Cut the rope, for God's sake cut the rope!" but this was prevented by those who had previously received their oi-Sers, until a signal was given by Mr. Harris by the waving of his Hag, and the rope was then severed i.) a moment, and the baiioon, freed from all restraint", ascended most majestically, the people below rending the air with their checrings, and Mr. Harris and his fair and courageous companion waving each a flag from the car. The balloon took a South-westerly direction, and pursued its course skadily for about seven or eight minutes, when it entered a thick cloud and was lost to the view of earthly gazers. The stoppage of the balloon, when at a certain height, was preconcerted, nn i is an invention of Mr. Harris's, we believe entirely new. It was done, as he says, in order to afford an additional and prolonged gratification to those who might attend to witness his attempt. The fourth tope was so contrive 1 as to reach an enormous length, and then to arrest the baiioon in ts progress, so long as Mr. Harris chose, when, by a signal, it could he in a moment severed without the least danger. Du KADI'FT. A rcii)K.NT. — The balloon, WE are sorry to stak, was t'ouiid L. Lady U<r«'s lurk, at Beddington, two mites from Croydon, by her gamekeeper, who observed it it a inostrap; i manner. It seems that on his arriving at the spot, he discovered that it had struck the top of a very large tree. Mr. Harris and his companion, Miss Stock, were still in the car, from which he with difficulty extricated: them. INI I-. Harris was killed, and the young lady dread- fully bruised. Having obtained assistance, they were conveyed to the Plough, Carshalton and the only infonnation they could obtain from Miss Stock was, that the moment before the un- fortunate circumstance occurred, Mr. Harris said to her, 1* Now, my dear. we must descend, as I promised to be with my friends in two hours, She has no recollection of any thing. How the accident occurred we have not been able to learn. At three o'clock on Wednesday morning Miss Stock was still lingering in a dangerous state. Mr. Harris has left a wife and one child. The baiioon still remains suspended in the tree.

-41R. BATTIER.

MISCELLANEOUS.