The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-10-14
THE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY,
Tuesday, October Ia. 1873.
BALLOON ACCIDENT.
The Terrible Casualty at Wa
peflO, Iowa,

Oue Ol Tue inOSt lflSnttui SceHeS lllat
men and women are ever called upon to
witness occurred at this place, Thurs
day, September 20, at about half past
five o'clock p. M.-the spectacle of a
man descending from great height
with a great raoidity, with the certainty
that in q moment he will be dashed to
pieces.
Prof. John II. Boley has been making
ascenslons in Illinois and in this State
recently, in hot-air balloon. The
manner of imitation is as follows: He
digs trench some twenty. five feet long,
and two or three feet deep and wide.
This is filed with dry wood and other
combustibIe matter, and covered over.
At the mouth the fire is set, and large
barrel, with sieve in each end to keep
out cinders, and covered with cement
to prevent burning, constitutes the
chimney at the other end. Over the
chimney the mouth of the balloon is
placed, to catch the heat as it rises
The mouth of the balloon is secured to
strong wooden hoop six or eight feet
in diameter, and to this hoop are fasten-
ed the ropes that descend to the bar
upon which the aeronaat stands in his
giddy flight he did not use basket,
as is usual. During the process of in
fation the fames come up into the bar
rel and frequently ten or twelve feet
into the body of the balloon When
the balloon is full, and just before star
ting, it is customary to have some
trusty man to enter the mouth of the
balloon and place cover sover the top
of the barrel, so as to prevent danger
from fire. His cousin, j. R, Spence,
who travels with him, usually performs
tbs duty. Occasionally Mr.. Boley has
started without this precaution, but it
is hazardous, and once before his bal
loon caught fire, burning slowly with
out blazing, and he got down in safety.
Thursday Mr.. Spence was unwell, and
could not bear the intense heat of the
balloon, and the ascent was attempted
without the precaution of covering the
barrel. The sickening scene that fol
lowed was the unfortunate result.
The wind was blowing brisklv from
the south, and it was not prudent to
make the attempt, but the Professor
was to receive some pecuniary aid from
the Agricultural Society. and one or
two of the Board of Managers had
given their assent to the appropriation
only on the ground that one of the as
tensions should be made that day
Hence the inducement, in part at least,
to brave the peril. Besides, Mr. Boley
was brave, conscientious man, and he
felt that he must redeem his promise to
make the ascension.
No sooner had the balloon been let
go than to the horror and dismay OF
every one it was discovered. to be on
fire near lis mouth, and the Professor,
instead of standing on his bar, was
holding to it with his hands and dang
ling below. 1t was fearful sight, and
sent an indescribable shudder through
the crowd. There was no outcry, but a
sort of smothered groan that was more
appalling. Women sank to the ground
or hid their eyes, or burst into tears,
and men held their breath in awful sus-
pense. Mr. Boley did not appear to
notice the fire until he had gained an
altitude of hundred feet or more, and
then it was too late to let 60. Besides,
his assistants say that the balloon was
not fully inflated, and no one Of them
thought that it would rise so high. But
up it shot, and he held on to his frai
2 support, the flames every moment cut
ting away the canvass above the hoop
and thus hurrying the instant that woule
launch him into eternity. There were
long ropes attached to the top of III,
balloon that had been used during in
fation to control it, and one of these
swinging cut over the sphere, cam,
near him several times. and he attempt
ed to grasp it. Could he have done 81
he would have had other means of sup
port, besides his weight on this woult
have inverted the balloon, turning th
burning end up, and though be Nigh
have descended with uncomfortable ra
pidity, it is probable that the volum
of canvass would have saved him. Bu
he missed his grasp and lost his bat i
theseffort, which came whirling dow
in advance. A moment more and til
canvas parted, and he came dartin
Through space, feet. foremost, like a
arrow. Who can ever forget the sigl
that witnessed it9 The fall occupie
hut few seconds, but they seemed a
too long.
He tell in a stubble-feld Of lo
ground nearly q half mile from th
starting point, coming down on his fet
with such force as to drive them in th
ground foot, and breaking the bone
of his legs in many places, and thrus
ing their ragged ends through the fesl
The body, head and arms were not Wis
bly, injured. The upper end of th
balloon, shortly after he left it, turne
inside out. and fell, burning mass,
quarter of mile away.
John H. Bo,ey was born in Alleghen
County, Penn. He moved to Allenvill
Vinton County, Ohio, leaving that plac
last June (25th), for Aledo, Ill. Hi
age is about thirty-one. He had mad
twenty.eight ascensions before comm
West, and has made twelve since. II
leaves a wife and four children in dest
tute circumstances. His wife has bee
staying in Ohio, ard the three olde'
children are now there. Recently 81
became so uneasy about him that 81
felt she must come soon or never st
him again. She was here and entrea
ed him several times during inflatiu
not to make the ascension, as she fe
be would never come down alive; az
at last, when every thing was ready. 81
bade him adieu and told him to kiss Il
baby for the last time. Her present
ment seems to have been too true. H
remains have been taken to Aledo, III
nois, for interment.
An arrangement has jus, been concl
ded between the United States and Ne
Eoundland providing tLat on and aft
the first day of October, 1873, Unite
States postal cards mailed at any Posto
fee in the United States and addressed
New Foundland, and New Foundlar