The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-07-11
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PROFESSOR IA MouarA1S's rKAnrul DssctNf
AMI HoRRIBLE DkarE,
The particulars of tho frightsai fall and
death of Professor La Mountain while
making a balloon ascension at lonis, Mich,
on the 4th instant, are thus described By q
correspondent of the Detroit Post: -:
q Among the many advertised attractions
OF the celebration OF the Fourth by our dti-
zers was that Of the ascension of Professor,
La Mountain, OF Brooklyn, Mich, In his
matt,moth air-ship. Several thousand spec
tators thronged the public square for hours
before the appointed TIME. a heavy sqnaii
Of wind necessarily delayed the ascension for
two or three hotirs, bit ut the end of that
time the air became calm. Under direction Of
the Professor the balloon was got into position
and It's imitation with hot air was commenced.
The canvas soon filled, and doomed up nearly
seventy-ive feet high. The basket was a
willow one, of a size sufficient to hold one
person comfortably. Il was attached to The
balloon by sin or eight Tong ropes, which,
were fastetet at the top to found piece Of
wood some two or three feet In diameter
The ropes were In no manner fastened to-
gether between the top and theFbasket. As
each piece was 100 feet long, it seemed, even
to the inexperienced eye, that there should
have been some webbing or network at
least over the bag or bulge OF the
canvas. The fear was generally eX.
pressed that sonic accident might occttr
by the canvas slipping through between the
ropes. 1t was also noticed that the ropes
were unevenly distributed-th or four
being in a comparative cluster, leaving the
other strands far apart. Nothing was said
of the matter, as the Professor, who gave the
whole structure thorough look before
taking his seat In the car, made no comment
on the fact. and it was thought that his en-
pericnce was sufficient for the occasion.
Everything being In readiness, the words
"let her go" were given, and the air-ship
darted up with great rapidity, while the
aeronaut waved his hat to the uneasy multi
tude who almost breathlessly watched his
| flight. Immediately upon leaving the ground
the mouth of the canvas began to flap around
with great violence. When fully half-mile
from the earth, and when the whole structure
looked no larger than hogsbead, the balloon
slipped between the ropes and was instantly
Inverted. The car and It's occupant dropped
like shot, and when the ropes were pulled
taut the round piece Of wood was torn
from the canvas. With the most terrific We
locity the unfortunate man descended, cling.
ing to the basket. That he was conscious
WAS evident from bis struggles. With ali
the intensity of a life with but one chance
he strove to raise the basket above him, evil
IDENTITY hoping to Use it as parachute. He
succeeded in his object, but when about one
hundred feet high he loosed his hold, folded
his hands and arms before his face. and his feet
first struck the ground with a dull, heavy
thud. Then ensued panic and uproar in
the crowd which Is indescribable. Women
tainted and men wept, and to add to the
confusion the canvas came flying over the
crowd like huge bird. Some one cried out
to get out of it's way, as it would fail with
crushing force. The cry was taken up, and
general rush was made for safety, in which
many were more or less injured.
La Mountain was crushed into literal
pulp. Not sign of motion or life was wish
BILE when he was reached. Medical examina-
ton disclosed the fact that hardly whole
bone was left. Many were ground and
splintered to powder. His jaws fell upon
his arms, and were pulverized. The blood
spurted from his mouth and ears. Where
he struck there was an indenture made in
hard gravel ground five or six inches deep.
The corpse was laid out and placed on the
public square, where it was viewed by thou.
sands during the afternoon. His remains
are properly cared for, and will be sent to
his home to-day.