BALLOON ASCENTY

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 69

BALLOON ASCENTY

A very successful balloon ascent was made from tho Caledonian Ground by Captain Jonassen last Wednesday afternoon in ,the presence of a, limited number of spectators. It woult 1 . seem from the ' number in ip 4 grounds that balloon ascents have no special faseina.tion for the' public of Dunedin, which is a .matter for surprise, as t^e greater the danger attaching *o an exhibition, the more attractive it usually becomes, and that ther-3 w risk, if not. actual danger, in making an ascent by balloon, there can be no question. The balloon was fully inflated by' 4.30 p.m., and a few minutes sufficed to lay out and attach the parachute." - Then the ropes were cast off, and the balloon rose steadily, carrying with it the intrepid aeronaut.- The day was magnificently fine for the purpose, and Captain' Jonassen ascended to a great height, alleged by the aeronaut to be 6000 ft, which is much higher than on any previous occasion, and before he severed his connection with the balloon had become a mere speck. The balloon drifted but very little, there being wa almost total absence of wind, and the balloonist dropped when somewhere over the" Southern Oval. He descended steadil/, and reached terra firma in. safety. The balloon itself came down ih the neighbourhood of Manse street.