The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-10-18

World furnishes an accouu. of theterri.
Bile accident which recently befel the
eroDaut, Professor WILBUR, at Paoli,
Orange County, Indiana, of which ,ele-
graphic mention has been made in our
columns. Saturday, September 80, was
the las. day of the Agricultural Fair Of
the county, and large crowd had COL
lected from the country around, By the
announcement that Professor WILBUR
would there make one of his balloon as
tensions. The correspondent writes:
At about o'clock in the afternoon
the ibaation of the balloon was COM
meuced, and as the bag sWelled out al
most to bursting and struggled to be free
everybody was on the 9 uiDe, those re
mote from the spot straiu,ng their necks,
climbing into carriages, and even upon
the fences, to see the car. It had been
announced that the editor ofthe Orange
County Union would accompany Pro-
fessor Wilbur in his sscept, and great
things were expected from the report
which his we'll known ability IS des-
criptive writer gave every reason to be-
lieye woald be forthcoming in the next
issue of his newspaper. l was standing
beside the Professor, laughing, and
holding necessarily disjointed conver-
satioD with him, for he was busy with
preparations for his fight. He had just
nodded his head, and said, laughingly,
swell, good bye, old fellow; I'll see
you again soon" Then Mr.. Knapp
stepped into the car, and the Professor,
who had hold Of the rope fastening the
car to the body of the balloon, shouted
"Let go!"
But be had spoken zoo soon and was
roable to reach the car, bat still uu-
wisely kept the rope in his hand and
endeagored to climb to his place, suc-
cceding only so far as to get enc arm
over the rim of the basket, where be
hung dragling and struggling. His
notious and the fact that the. basket
came iu contact with rope which had
fastened the ballon to the earth while it
was beng inflated, spset The sar when
it was about twenty Eve feet from the
ground, and Mr.. Knapp fell stunned to
the ground. Bu' there was no time
for caring for him, for terror held every
body spell bound. A shout ofadmiration
went up from those who were too far
distant from the scene to know that an
accident had befalleB the adventurers,
and Who supposed tina: the ascent vas
being made san contretemps. But TO
those in The immediate vicinity Of the
car the sight was 30 awful oae, and for
moment everybody seemed parslized
with terror, aud stood rooted to the spo:
without utteriDg cry or word.
The balloon, lightened BY the fall of
Mr. Knapp, shot upwards with dread
fully increased velocity, and a scream
of terror, which chilled the blood of the
hearers, came down from the upper air,
where the doosled arouaut hung utterly,
hopeless ofescaping death. At my side
stood woman, who, as l afterwards
heard, was the professors wife. Her
eyes vers bursting from their sockets,
aud her face pallid and ghastiy With
lss.. She cln,ched the air as if for.
saypost. sad With one hand grasped my
aria. stia looking upwards stthe balloon,
which, swiiter than any arrow, shot
through the air. Up, up, snd then
growing smaller and -lualler in i,s fight
and then, With increased velocity, it
gave xuddeu start and shst yet faster
to9ards, the eloads.
faeu speek was seep far up 10 the
air, growing larger aud larger as it fell.
~ ny Sod" cried the vonan, who
ciuug to me With iron grasp, s"he will,
die he will be Kiliod!..' Yet her eyes
.emeiaed sxed upon thai failing body
al first Il seemed Ike the s,ick of q
rockes coming dSWa With she speed of
light ;sheR l. vas doubled up like q
bail, then seemed tssxafShl, sud Hhhl- j
Sbs sbeat With . gsretOry n.a'iou. with
hands aae lega spread ous. I essaed
an aga While the man Was falliag, @os|
bsfore he loosene3 his grasp he balloon
must have been atlasst stasae tzoas the
esllh--aad what 40 ne to thai Reoe]]
wife Who Ws,ohed ber husband ruAAIItlt..
.esssas hes spd death, e9sth the spxed
of 8ast., When atas, haR . aiis sless