The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-07-12
DEATH FROM A BALLOON.
An AerOnant Falls Half a Mile
ThHORKh the Air.

Through Ihe}AIT.
The following details Of the death Of the
aeronaut, La Mountalne,. at Ionis, Michi.
gan, arc printed in the Chicago IEHtes Of
Monday: E "
A heavy squat of wind delayed the as:
censiOn for three houTs, but at the end Of
that time the air become perfectly calm.
Under the direction Of the professor the
balloon was got into position, and Its In
hStion with hot air commenced. The
canvas was soon filed, and doomed up
nearly ssventy-fVe feet high. The basket
was willow one, Of size Sufficient TO
hold one perBon comfortably. It was at
tached TO the balloon by six or eight long
ropes, which were fastened ct the top TO
a round piece olWood some two or three
feet in diameter. The ropes were In no
manner fastened together between the
top and the basket As each piece was
one hundred feet long, il seemed, even 70
the inexperienced eye, that there should
have been some webbing or network at
least over the bag or bulge Of the canvas.
1t was also noticed that the ropes were
unevenly distributed, three or four being
in comparative cluster, leaving the other
strands far apart. Everything being in
readiness, the words LET her 60" were
given, and the air.ship darted up with
great rapidity, while the daring aeronaut
waved his hat TO the uneasy, uncertain
multitude who almost breathlessly and in
silence watched bis flight. Immediately
upon leaving the ground the mouth Of the
canvas began TO flap around with great
violence. When fully a hall mile from the
earth, and when the whole structure
looked no larger than q hogshead, the
balloon slipped between the ropes and
was Instantly inverted. The car and the
occupants dropped like q shot, and when
the ropes were pulled tAut, the round
piece OF wood before alluded to was torn
from the canvass. With the most terrific
velocity the unfortunate man descended,
clinging 10 the basket. That he was con.
sCious was evident from his struggles.
With all the intensity Of life with but
once chance, he stroVe to raise the basket
above him, evidently hoping to use Il as a
parachute. He succeeded In his object,
but when about one hundred feet high,
be loosed his hold, folded his hands and
arms before his face, and his feet first
struck the ground with Q dull, heavy
thud. Then ensued q panic and uproar
in the crowded multitude which Is indie
scribsble. Women tainted, strong men
wept, and, to add TO the confusion, the
canvas came flying over the crowd like
huge bird. Some cried out to get from
tho way, as It would fall with crushing
force. Then the cry was taken, and 3
general rush was made for safety, in
which many were more or less injured.
La Mountaine was cruahed TO q literal
pulp. Not q sign or motion Of lie was
visible when he was reached. Amedical
examination disclosed the fact that hard
ly whole bone was leit. Many were
ground and splintered 10 powder, His
jaws fell upon his arms, and were pulVer.
lied. The blood spurted from his mouth
and ears. The corpse was laid out, and
placed on the public square, where II was
viewed by thousands during the after
noon, and was sent 10 his home at Brook. |
Ign, Michigan, on the following day.