ALARMING BALLOON ACCIDENT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3821, 15 October 1883, Page 4

ALARMING BALLOON ACCIDENT.

A balloon accident, which avus very nearly attended Avith fatal consequences, occurred near A r ienna recently. An rcronaat named Silberer, accompanied by two gentleman, (Messrs Leituer and Schittonholm), neither of Avhom had the slightest knowledge of teronautics, ascended from the Prater. A change of Avind drove them towards the lower valley of the Danube, and a regular hurricane broke out. The car AA'as at this time Avithin a few feet of the ground, but was hurled along with such velocity that the peasants avlio had gathered from all directions Avere unable to render assistance. Meanwhile tho three voyagers, avlioso position Avas becoming overy moment more critical, Avere jolted about-n the Avicker en ire, throAvn oil their legs, and unable to handle the anchor, or gas-valve—their only bopc of rescue. They got so unfortunately entangled that M. Silberer, Avho alone knoAV how to regulate the escape of gas, had only his left arm free, and Avas entirely helpless. On drifted tho balloon, until its headlong course Avas for a moment arrested by tho protuding branches of a huge oak. One of the balloonists AA'as thrown out, and had a most miraculous escape, receiving only a few slight injuries. Tho Aveight being thus reduced, the machine hurried on with the same fearful rapidity, till it ■jiimo in contact with a substantial brick Avail, in Avhich it made a large breach. It then crossed a graA-c yard, knocking oA-er tombstones and iron crosses. One shock more violent than the rest precipitated M. Leitner to the ground, Avhere he lay .stunned by the fall, having sustained severcinternal and external injuries. A minute later the balloon slackened its speed, and M. Silberer had retained just sufficient strength to secure the anchor and to alight. It is hoped that M. Leitner's injuries may not prove fatal, but his condition is serious.