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24 The New York Illustrated News.
[Image of a large balloon with a basket flying away from a rooftop and two men trying to catch it.]]
Roof of the stable where Mr. Augustus M. Connor was found insensible.

[[Image - Half picture of a man standing on the roof of a building and a crown of people standing in the road.  A huge balloon bigger than the building is next to it and the crowd.]]
Connor shaking ][? Cut off]]

THE LAST INFERNAL MACHINE.
There has been another victim this week to gratify our insatiable love of excitement.  "Mr. Augustus M. Connor,pupil of Professor Wise," as he is rather pompously styled in the City papers, has been killed by the smashing up of his balloon in the neighborhood of the Palace Garden.  This young gentleman who has paid so dearly for his inexperience and rashness, resolved, it seems, in spite of the bad weather, and the remonstrances and even the entreaties of his friends--to make his first aerial voyage in his new balloon "Venus," on the 10th, inst. Some five or six thousand persons were assembled in the gardens and their vicinity to witness the ascent.  It was blowing heavy fitful gales at the time--the balloon was out of order--nay there was a great rent in her canvas, which, on being pointed out to Mr. Connor, he was coolly tied up, as one would tie the mouth of a sack.  And when one of his friends asked him if the flaw would hinder his ascent, he as coolly replied: "It might cause the balloon to burst and spill me out!"  He little thought how speedily and terribly his jocose words would be realized Variou spreliminary behaved badly, swaying sidewise, and to and fro, like a sulky, wild beast, chafing at its chains, savage, and unwilling to obey its master.  The public grew alarmed and called upon him loudly not to go up.  But he heeded them not; and at the appointed time, he mounted his death-car; the ropes were cut, the huge monster of a balloon shook itself sullenly, and with a mad fury; refused to ascend upwards, but lunged off in a westerly direction--demolishing a large transparency with which it came into contact--and striking the metal roof of the concert building, bent it, to use the reporter's words, like so much thing lead.  For one moment it rose above the high ornaments of the building, referred to--then it suddenly, and instantaneously collapsed, and down, down, this once and forever, it disappeared.  The roar of the vast multitude--a roar of mingled horror, pity, and compassion--went after it--and in a short time, the roof of the Concert Hall was gained, and there lay poor Connor--but a moment before so full of pride, and health, and strength--bruised and insensible amidst the ruins of his infernal machine.

James Drennan, a coachman, was on the roof at the time, and tells us that the monster passed within four feet of him, and that he was strangely affected by the fierce wind into which it dashed the air as it rushed by.  It was done.  he says, in a moment, in the twinkle of an eye.  The vast bulk sailed by him, then crashed down into utter ruins, as we said, at his feet.

All this is very sad, and the pay is dear for the whistle.  Is there no way, good Author ties of New York city, to put a stop to similar exhibitions for the future?  This is a practical question--the only practical questions arising, unfortunately, out of this present calamity.  Why not prohibit the ascent in balloons of any but known and thoroughly accredited aeronauts?  We don't want to have our feelings shocked and wounded in this way any more.  Connor, poor fellow, has paid his penalty--but we are not quite free of his death.


NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBE
[[??Handwritten date.  The ink has bled.]]
FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT.
PERILS OF AERONAUTISM--COLLAPSE OF A BALLOON.
THE YOUNG AERONAUT CONNOR KILLED--FRANTIC SCENE AT PALACE GARDEN.

In consequence of the advertisement that has appeared for several days past in the daily papers, setting forth that "Mr. Augustus M. Connor, pupil of Professor Wise," would make his first aerial voyage in his new balloon "Venus," on the 19th instant, at 4 o'clock, p.m., from Palace Garden, several thousand people were drawn thither yesterday afternoon, to witness the ascension.

About two hundred and fifty persons, among whom were many women and children, paid the price of admission to the Garden, in order to witness the process of inflation and other preliminary arrangements, and to obtain a good look at the daring aeronautic adventurer, preparatory to his bidding adieu to his friends on terra firma. Fourteenth street and the Sixth avenue, in the vicinity of the Garden, were thronged with men, women, and children, and it is estimated that there were between five thousand and six thousand people on the ground.

The portentous state of the sky seemed to forbid that the promised ascension should take place, and the fitful gusts of wind that every now and then swept over the Garden and through the streets, created a doubt in the minds of those present as to whether Mr. Connor would risk his life in so frail a fabric as a balloon.  Mr. Connor did not make his appearance in the Garden until a quarter before 4 o'clock, having been detained in the lower part of the city by a suit which he had in one of the Courts.  Upon entering the inclosure he was received with rapturous applause.  He was accompanied by his wife and several other relatives and friends.

Mr. Connor's assistants had already commenced the process of inflation which the aereonant now in person superintended, and the balloon soon contained gas enough to carry it above the garden walls, at the sight of which the people outside loudly cheered.  Though detained to the earth by heavy bags of sand, the bulky globe swayed backward and forward with every gust of wind, and during a momentary gale that sprung up it was dashed against a large lamp which it completely demolished.

The fears of the spectators now began to be fully aroused, and there were loud cried from every side, of "Don't go up," "Don't go up."  Several of Mr. Connor's personal friends at this time came forward and advised him not to make the ascension, as the weather was too stormy, but the young man replied that he would go as soon as the squall passed over.  His wife, who was to make an ascension with him next week, expressed a great desire to go up on the present occasion, but he said to her very calmly, "My dear, you must wait until the next time."

A gentleman near the inclosure noticing a hole in the silk, pointed it out to Mr. Connor,  who in the coolest manner, proceeded to tie it up with a piece of twine.  The same person asked if the rent would make.

Transcription Notes:
It looks like two articles are taped together. The second starts at the title NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBE and seems to be cut off on the bottom.