Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-10-17
Falling from The Clouds.
TIE TERRIBLE DEATH OF An -tEoNAuT IN
IOWA.

TIE TERRIBLE DEATH OF An -tEoNAuT IN
IOWA.
\ correspondent of the New York Sun,
writing from Wapello, Iowa, on the Goth
ult.. gives the following details Of the tragic
death Of an 1ronaut named J. Il. Boley,
who made an ascension in a fire balloon
from the agricultural fair grounds at that
place
The balloon used was not filled with gas,
but was a large MOngolter, consisting OF a
BAG for holding hot air, to which was at
tached by robesa light trapeze. These bal
looms are regarded by 1rOnauts as extreme
" dangerous, because of their aptitude Tor
catching fire or making too rapid descentS
when the air in the bag cools too suddenly.
None but reckless operators use them. HE
folds of the balloon were dlstended over a
brisk fire. and As the air in it became rari-
fad it began to tug at the ropes which held
il to the ground. Then these ropes were
tied to the trapeze, and all was ready at
$40. Prof. B0ley grasped the bar oi the
trapcze. the last guy was cut, and he was
carried up like rocket. lie sat coolly on
his frail perch, bowling in response to the
plaudits of the crowd, until those plaudlts
suddenly changed to cries of CONSERVATION.
The balloon was on fire. 1t had caught from
the flame used 10 initiate it. and the rush up
ward through the air had the effect OF
tremendous draft. sending the Jets OF Ire
down the ropes which held the trapezc.
The doomed man instantly saw his peril,
but could DO nothing. Hot air balloons are
not furnished with valves, or with any ap-
paratus for regulating their fight. They
rise until the air within them eools, and
then drop more or less rapidly, the speed
depending upon the state of the outside at
muSphcre Bu.cy was not more than 300
feet from the ground when the flames were
discovered. and the breeze was carrying him
to the northeast. The heat of the flames
seemed to send the balloon higher with in
creasing rapidity, until an altitude OF not
less than 200 feet was reached. To avoid
falling when performing his usual gymnas
tic fcatS on the trapeze. he had attached
strap from his belt to the bar. Upon first
discovering his terrible plight he had appa-
reutly tried to diSengage himself from this,
intending, probably, TO drop to the ground;
but before he got himself loose from the
strap. the balloon had reached such height
that fall would have been more certain
death than 20 cling 70 the balloon.
Meantime. the balloon was being rapidly
consumed. One of the ropes from which
the trapeze was suspended burned off, but
Bo,ey still held on Then the other gave
way ana be fell lie struggled impotently
at first in his frightlul descent, but kept
nearly erect position. Then he turned on
his side. but a piece Of the burning canvas
still hanging to the piece of rope, and pre-
Senting a sort Of resistance to the atmos-
phere. he was Strengthened up again as he
chung to it. Although he struck more than
half a mile away from the starting place,
the spectators, now breathleSsly silent, dis
tinctly heard the thud as his body struck
the ground \ stampede to the spot en-
sued. which was Joined in by the eronaut's
wife. who had been a mortified witness Of
the ascension and its end. The body was
found driven to the knees in the ground,
having slrnck squarely onlthe feet, then fall
ing forward on his face. The leg bones
we're broken of and driven into the body,
and scarcely a bone Of any kind remained
unfractured. The body was like a mass OF
Jelly, 50 terrible had been the conclusion.
Several men who reached the spot immedi-
ately after the fall, having followed the
course of the balloon on horseback, say that
no signs of it were then visible. Mrs. Bo-
ley started for home, this morning, with
the body.