The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-10-17
The Last Frlghtfl Balloon Accident.

A correspondent II the New York Sum.
writing from MaIallo. Iowa. ~pt. ~.
give the following a,sount II tllc pccnt
terrible catastrophe al that plao,:
The managers ~ thu Agricultural Fair
now being held az th' pla,. extensively
advertised am entrance as attraction Ia two
balloon a~Snsions J. Prof J. III. BOley.
the original date for the first b-ing the
2ith. The Professor wa a practical nero
nant. living al AieriO. H.. but spending
the summer months each year In making
asccnsiOns AZ Western Stale ami county
fairs. On the appointed day a heavy rain
enforced a po>tp0ncment. but Yesterday
was bright and clear. and arrangements for
the event proceeded under the ewes Of a
vast attendance. The balloon n-s-l was
not filled with gls. but was a large Mon
golfer. consisting 81 a hsg Tor holding hot
air. I which wa attached hy rOI--s a light
irapeze. These balloons ar regarded by
aeronautS a. extremely dangerous. lrrsu-e
Of their aptitude for catching fire or max
ing too rapid deScuf~ when the air In the
bag cools too ~susfcAly. None bui neck
less operators Use them. 4 wind sprlng
up in the afternoon. and Threatened % me-
c~es>itate another adjournment. hat AZ I
o'clock il had ~ nearly suh>id.d that. un-
willing a. di-anpoimt the spectators. B0ley
prepared "a make the ASCENSION. The folds
81 the balloon Were disieni-i over a brisk
fire. and n the air in il h---ime nrifieli il tr-
gsn 10 TUG ~ the rops~ which held il % the
ground. Then these nsI--> werv tied Ia
the irapcze. am,lall WI, neadA al ~ minutes
past >.
Prof. Bolcy grasped the tar 81 the ira
pezc. he la>I guy Ma cat and h. was ear
riel up like a rookie. He III csAplly on hi~
T f-4f1 s.r.b l.rfrsrr - ara-rsnr-a ~ f1Aa
plauiiis 81 the crowd. until those plaudits
suddenly changed 10 cri> II CONSERVATION.
The balloon was on fire. IL had caught
from the flame used - initiate il. and the
rush upward through the air had the effect
of a tremendous draft. sending tiic jets II
fire down The roIs> which held the ~traTeze.
The doomed man instantly saw IN peril
bur could 20 nothing. Hot air balloons
are moi furnished with valves. or with
any apparatus for regulating their
flight. They r-' until the air
within them cools. and then drop m0rc or
les rapidly. the sI-s-ideI~nding upon the
state OF the outside a~trno>pher.- B0ley
was not mon than ihrce hundred itsr from
the ground when the flames were di~coy-
erel. and the breeze was carving him -
the northeast. The heat If the flames
SEEMED "a send the balloon higher with im-
crea~ing rapidifv. until an altitude 81 NOT
lc~> than twelve hmndn-i feet wa reached.
Toayuil falling While performing his usual
gymnl-fic fs-itS on the traTSZe. h. had at-
fached a strap from his t4lt Ia the bar.
Upon fir~t discovering hi~ terrible plight
hr had apparently tried 10 disengagr him
self from this. intending probably - drop
% tire ground. but. before he hal got
himself l~o~r from the strap. tire balloon
had reached Siich a height that a tall would
have hscn mort cyrtain death tllan I. cling
10 the balloon.
Meantime the balloon was being RAPIDLY
consumed. one 81 the ropes from which
the ~traI~Ze was suspended burned on. bur
Bolcy ~fill held on. Then the other gave
way and h. fell. II. -trugglcdimpoicntly
al first m hi> fri.hiful descent. but kept 4
nearly cncci position Then h. turned on
his side. huf a piece 81 fhc burning canvas
Till hanging to the pir,- 81 nIe and pr,-
Scmfin- a ~nrf ~ Resistance. "a TIE aimo~-
pherc. b. was Strengthened up again n he
chung Ia IL. Although be- struck NOR
than half a mile away from thu starting
place the spectators. now ~hre-sihlr~-lN
silent. distinctly hcarithc thui A. his body
struck the grpund- \ stampede 70 the
spot cn~ue-l. which was Joined ia by the
acrpnant'> wifi. who had h,--n a Mortified
witness Of the ascension and IT, end. The
body was found driven to the knees IN the
ground. having struck ~gnarely on the
feet. then falling forward on IT, fin,. The
leg bones were broken of and driven into
the BODY. ani scarcely q hnne 81 ans kind
remained unfraciur-l. The h-piy Wa> like
a mass of jelly. - terrible had tscn the
conclusion. Several men who reached the
pot Immediately after the tall. having fol-
lowed the course ~ the balloon on horse
hack. sly that no signs 81 life were then
visible.
Mr.. Boley started for home this norm
inc with the body.