Spanish Aeronaut Thrilled the Little Town of Pelham in the Summer of 1888
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Given Pelham's proximity to New York City, nineteenth century aeronauts often visited the region and performed exhibitions of balloon ascensions and descents for large crowds of spectators. Indeed, I have written before of such exhibitions that led to balloon flights in the skies above Pelham in 1866. See Wed., Jan. 04, 2017: Famed Aeronaut Landed His Awe-Inspiring Balloon in Pelham Waters on July 7, 1866.
During the summer of 1888, Pelhamites witnessed a number of such balloon exhibitions performed by "Captain" Esteban Martinez, a famed Spanish "aeronaut." Martinez reportedly was in the United States on an exhibition tour in a bid to convince famed inventor Thomas Alva Edison to create an electric motor for a hot air balloon propulsion system Martinez had developed.
The 27-year-old Martinez was internationally-famous and then was known as the "Air King" and "Cloud King." His hot air balloon ascensions lofted him and his equipment 3,000 to 4,000 feet into the sky where he would drift with the wind for up to two hours before landing almost randomly. During his flights he apparently performed, occasionally, on a trapeze attached to the balloon and frequently promised to leap from his balloon using what he called a "Patent Parasol" (i.e., a parachute).
Born in Spain in 1860, Martinez became a military and sports balloonist. He served as a Captain in the Spanish Army and, by 1888, he had made 128 balloon ascents. By 1909, Martinez had made 246 ascents, flying his balloons in Spain, North America, South America, and Cuba.
On September 14, 1909, Martinez made his most famous -- and last -- balloon ascent. He took off from Valencia, Spain in his balloon named "Mariposa." He ran into headwinds blowing toward the Balearic Isles. He an his balloon were last seen about thirty miles offshore over the Atlantic Ocean. Martinez was never seen again, presumably drowned.
During the summer of 1888, however, the 27-year-old Captain Martinez performed a number of balloon ascension exhibitions from Starin's Glen Island amusement park off the shores of New Rochelle and Pelham. Today's Historic Pelham Blog article details these exhibitions.
There seem to have been three successful balloon ascensions in August, 1888. At least two others were scheduled but did not take place.
It seems that the first scheduled exhibition was to take place on Tuesday, July 31 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is quite clear that the scheduled ascension that was advertised a number of times in New York City newspapers did not take place, perhaps due to weather issues, though there is no indication in the record as to why the exhibition did not go forward.
On Saturday, August 4, 1888, Martinez appeared with his balloon for an ascension from Starin's Glen Island, a popular summer resort off the shores of New Rochelle and Pelham. At 1:30 p.m. that day, Martinez, forty laborers needed to control the balloon, about twenty newspaper reporters, and the publicity agent for Starin's Glen Island resort boarded a Glen Island steam launch at Pier 18 on the Hudson River. With them was a huge box containing the balloon. They departed for Glen Island where the exhibition would take place.
The exhibition was a truly grand spectacle. The massive crowd of about nine thousand spectators were milling about on Glen Island awaiting the ascent. There even were a dozen or so famed balloonists present for the ghoulish reason that "they expected to witness a balloon ascension that might possibly terminate fatally."
The massive balloon was gold. It was more than 108 feet high, 150 feet in circumference, and could hold 370,000 square feet of hot air. Made of satin, the balloon at first lay on the ground with guy ropes attached and about 25 laborers ready to hold it once filled with hot air. Some of the ropes were attached to two masts on either side of the gas bag. Given the amount of hot air needed, a brick furnace had been built near the waters edge. Alcohol and wood was used to create the roaring fire necessary to fill the balloon with hot air.
At about 5:00 p.m., the fire in the furnace was begun and hot air began to pour into the balloon which began to swell and dance. Two brass bands played festively as all eyes focused on the aeronaut, Captain Esteban Martinez.
Martinez was dressed in blue worsted tights. He wore gold socks to match his gold balloon. There does not appear to have been a gondola on the balloon. Rather, Martinez planned to hold onto a rope as the balloon carried him into the heavens.
To make the exhibition even more exciting, John H. Starin -- owner of the Glen Island resort -- promised to hand Martinez a check for $1,000 if he could get the balloon to soar to 4,000 feet and then successfully parachute to the earth below. As Starin put it, he wanted Martinez to "drop, with nothing to break his fall but a parachute." Martinez, who had done it before, was prepared to do it again. A gentle breeze blew from the southeast as the laborers struggled to hold the ropes and control the balloon.
A little before 6:00 p.m., the wind changed. It veered around to the northwest. A massive thunderstorm loomed. The wind grew violent. According to one account, the wind "swooped down upon the balloon like a terrier on a rat." The balloon was blown violently onto its side, snapping one of the tall masts to which it was tethered. Then, the heavens opened as the violent storm swept over the crowd. Plans for the ascension were scuttled. Various news accounts reported the ascent would be tried again within a few days.
Finally, on Wednesday, August 8, 1888, Martinez made his first successful balloon ascension from Glen Island "in the presence of an immense crowd." It took a half cord of wood and four gallons of alcohol burned in the brick furnace to fill the gold balloon with hot air as a "small army" of laborers held the balloon in place with guy ropes.
Martinez was attired in his signature blue tights and gold socks with russet shoes. Once again, winds in the area were brisk. Once the balloon was filled, Martinez grasped a single rope dangling from the balloon with only one hand and shouted "Let her go!." The laborers let go and the massive balloon "darted upwards with the velocity of a cannon ball. Within moments, the strong winds began to blow the balloon almost perpendicular to the ground out over the mainland.
At first the balloon took off in a northwesterly direction. As it drifted over the mainland, it only made it to an altitude of about 2,000 feet where the winds shifted to a southwesterly direction. Soon the balloon was drifting toward the little settlement of Pelhamville in the Town of Pelham.
John H. Starin of Glen Island started a horse and wagon in pursuit on local roadways to follow the balloon. Although newspaper advertisements had promised a two-hour balloon flight, the flight actually lasted only about twelve minutes. Moreover, because the balloon only reached an altitude of 2,000 feet and was carried away from Glen Island so swiftly by the winds, Martinez reportedly chose not to descend by parachute.
After about twelve minutes, the balloon began to descend toward Pelhamville where the horse and wagon found Martinez and his balloon, slightly damaged from the landing, in "a field near Pelhamville." News accounts of the exploit reported the following day that Martinez would try another ascension the following Saturday.
Indeed, on Saturday, August 11, Captain Martinez tried again. This time the wind was not a problem. Only a gentle breeze was blowing.
This time Martinez knew it would be a good ride. According to one account:
"The agile Captain, attired in blue tights and wearing russet shoes and a pair of old-gold socks, matching the color of the balloon, pranced in a lively manner around the airy monster excitedly shouting directions in a jargon of Spanish and Italian to a score or so of the sleepy-looking descendants of the Imperial Caesars who were manipulating the various guy ropes."
Once the balloon was filled and "stretched to its utmost capacity," the aeronaut shouted "Let her go!" As the laborers let go, the balloon darted upward, again, "with the velocity of a cannon ball." Once again, Martinez "clung by one hand to a single line suspended" from his balloon.
This time the balloon ascended about 3,000 feet and, once again, took a southwesterly course. The balloon drifted toward the border between Pelham and New Rochelle where it descended, again, after about twelve minutes. This time, according to one account, the balloon came down onto the roof of the Roosevelt home in Pelham Manor. (The report erroneously stated the home stood in New Rochelle, but it actually was located on Long Island Sound along Shore Road in today's Pelham Bay Park not far from New Rochelle's border with Pelham.) The report stated:
"He landed on the top of Mr. Roosevelt's house in New Rochelle, nearly frightening the family to death, as they did not see him descending."
Esteban Martinez was not finished. He tried one more balloon flight, hoping to stage a more exciting exhibition.
On Tuesday, August 14, 1888, a crowd of about 8,000 spectators gathered again on Glen Island for another balloon flight by Martinez. Shortly after 5:00 p.m., the balloon lifted off but took a southeasterly flight over Long Island Sound toward City Island in the Town of Pelham.
The balloon only reached an altitude of about 2,000 feet before it began to descend slowly. After a twenty minute flight, it touched down in the waters of the Long Island Sound about two miles southeast of Glen Island beyond City island.
John H. Starin sent a Glen Island steam launch to follow the balloon during its flight over the Long Island Sound. When the steamship reached Martinez and his balloon, they found Martinez floating "with the aid of life-preservers under his arms." The launch picked up Martinez and his collapsed balloon and carried them back to Glen Island where everyone wanted to know why he had not descended by parachute from any of his flights! Captain Martinez's "manager" offered an interesting explanation. He said "the reason why he had not carried out his intention to descend from the balloon with a parachute was because the management of Glen Island [had] refused to expend $75 for a parachute."
Whether disappointment, schedule, or other reasons played a role, Martinez apparently performed no further balloon flights from Glen Island. But, on three occasions during August, 1888, Pelhamites thrilled to the sight of a giant balloon flying high above their heads in the beautiful skies of the little Town of Pelham.
Personal Calling Card of Captain Esteban Martinez.
1888 Advertisement for Captain Esteban Martinez Balloon
Ascension from Glen Island Scheduled for July 31, 1888.
"FROM THE CLOUDS TO THE EARTH. Tuesday, July 31,
4 to 6 P.M., at GLEN ISLAND. Two Hours in Mid Air. Capt.
MARTINEZ WILL DESCEND FROM A BALLOON. 4,000
feet through the air." Source: FROM THE CLOUDS TO THE
EARTH [Advertisement], The Evening Post [NY, NY], Jul. 28,
1888, Vol. 87, p. 10, col. 5. NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.
1888 Advertisement for Captain Esteban Martinez Balloon
Ascension from Glen Island Scheduled for August 4, 1888.
"TWO HOURS IN MID-AIR. CAPT. MARTINEZ, renowned
throughout Europe, with the aid of his Patent Parasol, will
descend from a Balloon 4,000 FEET TO THE EARTH, SATURDAY,
AUG. 4, 4 TO 6 P.M., AT GLEN ISLAND." Source: TWO HOURS
IN MID-AIR [Advertisement], The World [NY, NY], Aug. 1, 1888,
Evening Edition, p. 4, col. 5. NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.
Images of 19th Century Balloon Aeronauts Performing on Balloon
Trapeze, Parachuting, and Hanging from Balloons.
NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.
* * * * *
"Capt. Martinez at Glen Island.
On the afternoon of to-morrow, Aug. 4, between the hours of 1 and 6 P.M., Capt. Martinez, the aeronaut, will give performance of two hours' duration on Glen Island, and in that time will demonstrate how easy it is to sail up and fall down through the atmosphere. The exhibitions of Capt. Martinez are among the most interesting and uniformly successful of any air-ship and parachute performances."
Source: Capt. Martinez at Glen Island, The Evening World [NY, NY], Aug. 3, 1888, p. 4, col. 4 (NOTE: Paid subscription required to access via this link).
"LOCAL NEWS. . . .
-- Captain Martinez will descend from a balloon 4,000 feet from the earth, with the aid of a parachute, at Glen Island this afternoon, between four and six o'clock. He will be two hours in mid air. The spectacle will be worth witnessing, and all who wish to see a novel adventure should go to the island. . . ."
Source: LOCAL NEWS, The New Rochelle Pioneer, Aug. 4, 1888, Vol. XXIX, No. 19, p. 3, cols. 1-2.
"BALLOON ASCENSION. -- Captain Martinez, the cloud king, will ascend 4,000 feet in a hot air balloon, at Glen Island, this afternoon, and descend by the aid of his patent parasol."
Source: BALLOON ASCENSION, The Yonkers Statesman, Aug. 4, 1888, Vol. V, No. 1,452, p. 4, col. 3.
"TOO MUCH COLD AIR.
------
THE BALLOON DID NOT SAIL UPWARD, BUT MAY YET DO SO.
There were probably a dozen well-known aeronauts at Glen Island yesterday. They had not been engaged by Mr. John H. Starin to perform any peculiarly perilous feat. They went to Glen Island of their own accord and because they expected to witness a balloon ascension that might possibly terminate fatally. But these aeronauts secured no attention from the thousands of other people who went to Glen Island yesterday.
The crowd had eyes only for Capt. Stephen Martinez and a big gold-colored balloon. The balloon occupied one of the few level spots on the island, the lawn on the northeastern waterfront. Capt. Martinez, clad in blue worsted tights, capered about it giving directions to about 25 Italians, whom he had employed to fill it with hot air and help to hold it down after its appetite had been appeased.
The balloon is 108 feet high and 150 feet in circumference. It will hold 370,000 feet of air without bursting, and is made of satteen. Martinez told Mr. Starin that it gave him an appetite to ascend 4,000 feet in a balloon and then drop, with nothing to break his fall but a parachute. Mr. Starin told him to accomplish the feat and $1,000 was his.
Martinez was to have made the ascension at 6 o'clock last evening. A brick furnace was built for the purpose of generating hot air. Alcohol was burned in the furnace. The latter was fired at 5 o'clock, and the balloon began to swell and dance after the usual fashion of balloons. The Italians hung to the ropes as if well aware their wages depended upon their grip. A gentle zephyr blew from the southeast and gave the Italians just enough to do to keep them in a boiling perspiration. The surrounding eminences were crowded with people, and both the island bands did their whole duty.
The scene changed with the wind. The latter veered round to the northwest and then swooped down upon the balloon like a terrier on a rat. The balloon went to grass like a flash, and one of the long poles to which some of the ropes were attached was snapped in the middle and fell with a crash, narrowly missing one of the Italians in its descent. Nobody was hurt except Martinez, who complained in a mixture of Spanish, French, and Italian that his feelings were greatly bruised. The ascension was not made on account of the storm that followed on the heels of the nor'wester. Martinez will make a second attempt to-morrow."
Source: TOO MUCH COLD AIR -- THE BALLOON DID NOT SAIL UPWARD, BUT MAY YET DO SO, N. Y. Times, Aug. 5, 1888, Vol. XXXVII, No. 11,523, p. 5, col. 3 (NOTE: Paid subscription required to access via this link).
"THE WIND WOULDN'T HAVE IT.
-----
GLEN ISLAND'S BALLOON ASCENSION STOPPED BY AN ACCIDENT -- A PICKPOCKET NABBED.
About nine thousand persons went to Glen Island yesterday with the expectation of seeing a balloon ascension that was advertised to be made by Professor Steven Martinez. But they were all doomed to disappointment. The high wind and an accident to one of the masts to which the balloon was secured having frustrated the Professor's intentions.
At a quarter to five o'clock the inflation of the balloon was commenced. It required thirty-seven thousand cubic feet of hot air to swell the air ship to the desired proportions. In half an hour it began to rise simultaneously with the hopes of the Professor and the anxious assemblage. Then the wind started in to have some fun with it, and tossed it about to its heart's content, after which it struck one of the masts and simultaneously swept all doubts from the Professor's mind and the mast from its altitudinous height, breaking it in two as it fell. Then the aeronaut gave it up for the day, and so did the crowd, who assuaged their disappointment by meandering through the many winding lanes and in drinking lager.
Just as Mr. John P. Peet, of No. 1,501 Broadway was getting on the New Rochelle ferryboat in the afternoon he felt some one tugging at his watch chain. Looking around he saw a thief moving away with his watch. He gave chase and caught him by the arm. The thief resisted and dropped the watch, but a Glen Island policeman grabbed hi, and after clubbing him into submission, turned him over to a deputy sheriff of New Rochelle. The thief was at once taken across the ferry and arraigned before Justice Stevens, who opened court immediately and put him under $1,000 bail, in default of which he was locked up.
He gave his name as George Hawley, of No. 129 Eldridge street, New York, but Police Captain Forbeli, of New Rochelle, identified him as 'Buck' Hurley, a notorious Sixth ward pickpocket, who was arrested in Philadelphia with 'Kid' Maginnisss, one of his pals, last September, for picking pockets, and shortly afterward in Danbury, Conn., for the same offence. There 'Buck's' photograph was taken, and it now adorns the Rogues' Gallery at Police Headquarters in this city."
Source: THE WIND WOULDN'T HAVE IT -- GLEN ISLAND'S BALLOON ASCENSION STOPPED BY AN ACCIDENT -- A PICKPOCKET NABBED, N.Y. Herald, Aug. 5, 1888, No. 18,976, p. 8, col. 5.
"WILL TRY HIS BALLOON TO-MORROW.
Captain Stephen Martinez, 'an aeronaut of European celebrity,' arranged with John H. Starin to go up 4,000 feet in a big balloon yesterday and then to drop down by means of a parachute. The ascent was to be made from Glen Island, and if he succeeded a check for $1,000 was to be put into his hand by the enterprising owner of the famous day summer resort on the Sound. At 1:30 p.m. the Captain, a lithe, small-sized Spaniard, twenty-seven years old and unmarried, stepped aboard one of the Glen Island boats at Pier 18, North River. He had with him a gang of forty Italian laborers, a huge box containing the balloon material, a score of reporters and the obliging agent of the Starin line, Mr. Starling. Martinez stated that he had already performed the feat scores of times in different European countries as well as in South America. The average throng of visitors to the island was increased by thousands who went to see the ascent and descent. A furnace was built on a green spot close to the water's edge. There were fifteen gallons of alcohol, and from this enough hot air was to be obtained to inflate the balloon to a height of 108 feet and a circumference of about 150 feet. Ropes were attached to two upright poles to keep down the balloon while it was filling. When half filled the wind veered suddenly from southeast to southwest, one of the poles snapped and down came the whole fabric, the material of which was sateen and cost $200. Several disgruntled balloonists who had been hovering around with jealous mien, suddenly came together and exclaimed 'I told you so.' Captain Martinez himself, nothing daunted, laid all the blame on the wind, said he would try again to-morrow and asserted that he would be successful this time, weather permitting."
Source: WILL TRY HIS BALLOON TO-MORROW, New-York Tribune, Aug. 5, 1888, p. 8, col. 2 (NOTE: Paid subscription required to access via this link).
"Balloon Ascension at Glen Island.
The balloon ascension which was to have taken place at Glen Island on Saturday under the direction of Capt. Martinez had to be postponed because before the balloon could be filled the wind developed such force and the arrangements were so incomplete that it toppled over and the attempt was given up. It will go up to-morrow, however, and the Captain will show his daring by giving performance on the trapeze in mid-air."
Source: Balloon Ascension at Glen Island, The Daily Standard-Union [Brooklyn, NY], Aug. 6, 1888, Vol. XXV, No. 155, p. 4, col. 1.
"TO ASCEND TO-DAY. -- Captain Martinez did not succeed on Saturday afternoon in making his ascension in a balloon and descending in a parachute at Glen Island, because the elements conspired to postpone it. Just as everything was about ready to start, a strong wind, which preceded the thunder storm, struck the balloon and collapsed it. It was then decided to make another attempt this afternoon, at 4 o'clock, when the Air King, as he is called, hopes to make one of the most daring ascensions and descents ever attempted."
Source: TO ASCEND TO-DAY, The Yonkers Statesman, Aug. 6, 1888, Vol. V, No. 1,453, p. 4, col. 3.
"The Ascension Made at Last.
Captain Martinez made his balloon ascension at Glen Island, yesterday, in the presence of an immense crowd. The balloon was inflated with the hot air from half a cord of wood and four gallons of alcohol. The mammoth globe was held in place by a small army of Italians and by guy ropes.
At the signal, the balloon darted off, carried in a northwesterly direction by a strong breeze. It was intended that the Captain should descend in a parachute, but, as he and his balloon were carried away swiftly, that part of the programme was not carried out. Mr. Starin started a horse and wagon after it.
It was found that the Captain had descended safely in a field near Pelhamville. The balloon, uninjured, was put into the wagon, and brought back to the island.
Martinez will make another ascent on Saturday, when it is hoped there will not be so much wind."
Source: The Ascension Made at Last, The Yonkers Statesman, Aug. 9, 1888, Vol. V, No. 1,456, p. 4, col. 3.
"LOCAL NEWS. . . .
-- The balloon ascension by Capt. Martinez which was to have taken place from Glen Island, last Saturday afternoon, occurred on Wednesday afternoon of this week. When all the preparations had been completed, the Captain ascended about 1,000 feet in the air, and then moved along steadily in a westerly direction, over the Island and over the main land, when he soon caused the balloon to descend slowly, and finally landed in a swamp in the Iselin property on Weyman avenue, back of the Abramson place."
Source: LOCAL NEWS, The New Rochelle Pioneer, Aug. 11, 1888, Vol. XIX, No. 20, p. 3, cols. 1-2.
"Balloon Ascent at Glen Island.
Capt. Martinez, the South American aeronaut, will make his second balloon ascent at Glen Island this afternoon, and another on Tuesday afternoon.
A great crowd attended his exhibition of skill and daring last Wednesday, though the weather was very adverse."
Source: Balloon Ascent at Glen Island, The Evening World [NY, NY], Aug. 11, 1888, Evening Edition, p. 2, col. 5.
"CAPT. MARTINEZ GOES UP.
HE HANGS ON TO THE BALLOON AND VALIANTLY COMES DOWN AGAIN.
The Spanish aeronaut, Capt. Estebon Martinez, made another balloon ascension at Glen Island yesterday afternoon, drawing a large crowd of spectators. The wind, which on previous occasions had caused considerable difficulty by driving the heated air out of the balloon as soon as the latter showed any disposition to become inflated, was most accommodating, and at 5 o'clock, the hour set for the ascension, only the gentlest of zephyrs was blowing. The agile Captain, attired in blue tights and wearing russet shoes and a pair of old-gold socks, matching the color of the balloon, pranced in a lively manner around the airy monster excitedly shouting directions in a jargon of Spanish and Italian to a score or so of the sleepy-looking descendants of the Imperial Caesars who were manipulating the various guy ropes.
Everything at last ready, and the big balloon, now puffed out and stretched to its utmost capacity, was struggling to free itself. 'Let her go,' shouted the aeronaut. Somebody supplemented 'Gallagher.' The ropes were quickly loosened and the big balloon darted upward with the velocity of a cannon ball, carrying it its flight the daring Captain, who gracefully clung by one hand to a single line suspended from it.
After ascending about 3,000 feet in an almost perpendicular direction the balloon took a southwesterly course, and in 12 minutes' time began to come down, landing in the grounds of a private residence, about two miles from the town of New-Rochelle. Capt. Martinez escaped without injury, but the balloon ws slightly damaged."
Source: CAPT. MARTINEZ GOES UP -- HE HANGS ON TO THE BALLOON AND VALIANTLY COMES DOWN AGAIN, N.Y. Times, Aug. 12, 1888.
"Capt. Martinez Up in His Balloon Again.
Capt. Martinez made another ascension in his balloon at Glen Island yesterday afternoon in the presence of 8,000 persons. He started shortly after 5 o'clock, the balloon taking a southerasterly direction up the sound. When the balloon had reached a height of about two thousand feet it began to descend slowly and in the space of twenty minutes from the time of its leaving Glen Island it touched the waters of the Sound about two miles away.
Capt. Martinez on striking the water floated around with the aid of life-preservers under his arms until he was picked up by one of Starin's steam launches, which brought him and his collapsed balloon ashore. Capt. Martinez's manager said that the reason why he had not carried out his intention to descend from the balloon with a parachute was because the management of Glen Island [had] refused to expend $75 for a parachute."
Source: Capt. Martinez Up in His Balloon Again, The Evening World [NY, NY], Aug. 15, 1888, Evening Edition, p. 3, col. 4 (NOTE: Paid subscription required to access via this link).
"Balloon Ascension at Glen Island.
In the presence of a large number of persons at Glen Island last evening Capt. Martinez made another ascension in his balloon. The balloon reached a height of 2,000 feet and descended in the Sound, two miles distant from the Island. The Captain was picked up by a steam launch."
Source: Balloon Ascension at Glen Island, The Daily Standard-Union [Brooklyn, NY], Aug. 15, 1888, Vol. XXV, No. 163, p. 3, col. 1.
"Captain Martinez made a successful balloon ascension recently at Glen Island, in the presence of a large number of spectators. He went up about 3,000 feet and came down in his air ship, not using the parachute. He landed on the top of Mr. Roosevelt's house in New Rochelle, nearly frightening the family to death, as they did not see him descending."
Source: [Untitled], The Recorder [Mount Kisco, NY], Aug. 24, 1888, Vol. 15, No. 20, p. 1, col. 6.
"DARING FEAT BY AN AERONAUT. -- The Catalonia, which arrived at Queenstown on Monday night from Boston, brought particulars of the Spanish aeronaut's (Estebon Martinez) daring balloon ascension at Glen Island on the 11th inst., which drew a large crowd of spectators. The agile captain was attired in blue tights, and wearing russet shoes and gold socks matching the colour of the balloon. Everything ws at last ready. 'Let her go,' shouted the aeronaut. The ropes were quickly loosened, and the big balloon darted upwards with the velocity of a cannon ball, carrying in its flight the daring captain, who gracefully clung by one hand to a single line suspended from it. After ascending about 2000 feet in an almost perpendicular direction the balloon took a south-western course and in twelve minutes' time began to come down, landing in the grounds of a private residence about two miles from the town of New Rochelle. Captain Martinez escaped without injury, but the balloon was slightly damaged."
Source: DARING FEAT BY AN AERONAUT, Aberdeen Weekly Journal and General Advertiser for the North of Scotland [Aberdeen, Scotland], Sep. 1, 1888, Vol. CXI, No. 77,377, p. 3, col. 5 (NOTE: Paid subscription required to access via this link).
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Labels: 1888, aviation, Balloon, Balloonis, Esteban Martinez, Glen Island, Hot Air Balloon, John H. Starin
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