Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

Richmond, September 8.
Philadelphia, September 9.

LAMENTABLE CATASTROPHE.

Yesterday afternoon, agreeably to public notice, which stated that the Balloon, under the direction of Mr. Michel, would ascend from Vauxhall Garden, between the hours of 3 and 4 o'clock in the afternoon, at least 30,000 of the inhabitants of this city assembled to witness the novel spectacle. They had previously been twice hoaxed with the Camden exhibition, but the general belief was, that Mr. Michel's Balloon would really ascend. Accordingly, they waited with patience the whole afternoon, in a very hot sun, expecting every moment, the desired ascension. But sun-down came, and the Balloon, held by the cords, scarcely reached the tops of the trees, having an undulatory motion. At this moment all was quiet, and many people, regretting the disappointment, began to leave the ground. On a sudden, a violent rush from the crowd near the garden took place, and the people seeing the Balloon sinking, began rapidly to disperse, and take their way home, unconscious of the scene that was then occurring, and believing that the ascension had been then abandoned. For what followed, we have only the reports of the evening. It is stated, that at the time above mentioned, (after sun-setting) a boy about 16 years old climbed to the top of the fence, and probably irritated by disappointment, struck a man inside with a large stick which was handed to him by some person without. After giving the blow, the boy dropped the stick, and jumped down. The man who was struck seized the stick, and in the paroxysm of the moment, there being two small boys who had crawled upon the fence, struck one of them a violent blow, which caused his immediate death. Upon this, the Flag Staff was instantly torn down and converted into a battering Ram, the fence being a double fortified one. A breach being effected, the crowd rushed in, tore the Balloon to atoms, and, in their rage, demolished the whole of the premises, including the Pavilion, the benches, fences, &c. which were set on fire, and Vauxhall Garden is now a heap of ruins. The first intimation we had of this dire after-piece, was the cry of fire, and the light which illuminated the city, from such a mass of combustibles. We are fearful that more than one death has occurred.

We have not learnt whether the proprietor of the balloon escaped the violence of the infuriated mob, but, for the sake of humanity, we hope he did.