Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-07-16
A RELATIONSHIPS PERIL.
Daring Rescue from a Church
Steeple.

Square. Ihe Professor regarded the
situation AS particularly dangerous in
high wind, as the square is fanked on
each side by lofty buildings, including
the Courthouse, Bank of Montreal and
Wesleyan Methodist church. During the
afternoon the balloon, which was inha-
ting with hydrogen gas, was the center
of attraction, and at the time of starting
fully ten thousand people bad assembled
to witness the voyage in mid-air. The
Atlantic was constructed of peculiar
quality of muslin, very thin and soft in
texture, but when oiled capable OF hold.
ing gas. The netting which enveloped
the balloon was double and twisted silk,
and the ropes by which the netting was
attached to the basket were about three
eighths of an inch in diameter.
The basket was strong wicker work,
about three feet in diameter and two feet
in depth. The ropes by which it was
attached to the balloon were woven in so
as to pass completely under. During
the day several small balloons were sent
up to show the direction of the wind;
from experiments thus made it was
shown that the principal danger was the
Bank of Montreal and the Wesleyan
Methodist church. Previous to starting
it was determined to remove the balloon
from the place where it was inflated to q
point nearer the courthouse, with the
expectation that it would pass to the
north of the spire. The cargo consisted
of three bags of sand, weighing each
fifty pounds, a graphing iron, to which
was attached strong rope, and Protes-
sor Squires, who was to start on his one
hundred and eighty seventh voyage amid
the clouds.
All being in readiness, orders were
given to cast off. There was hush, and
the multitude grew silent as the unwieldy
Atlantic, being freed, swayed backward
and forward and slowly rose from its
resting place to make another voyage.
A steady gale had been blowing all
day, but its strength was not apparent
until the balloon struck the current of
air above the house tops; this reached,
it swayed with the breeze, and swept on
at the rate of at least fifteen miles an
hour. Its course was directly for the
steeple of the church. The Professor
at once perceived the danger, and could
have avoided it by throwing out bag
of ballast, which would have given him
sufficient buoyancy to have passed over
the steeple, but unfortunately the square
below was crowded with thousands Of
spectators, and bag of sand thrown
out would have crushed some one. The
sand was thrown out in small quantities,
and the balloon swept upward and on
ward, but unfortunately not swerviEg
from its dangerous direction. 1t be-
came apparent that it would strike the
spire, and the anxious multitude awaited
the shock with blanched cheeks. With
a tremendous rush the Atlantic struck
the apex of the spire, and in another
instant parted in twain. At the same
time the basket containing the daring
aeronaut crashed against the spire some
twenty feet below.
Seeing, as it we're, instant death be-
fore him, Professor Squires threw one
hand forward to avert as far as possible
the shock, at the same time allowing
his body to sway in an opposite dlrec-
ton. As the balloon collapsed and the
gas escaped it was seen that the netting
had caught on the point of the spire.
Squires was not seen to move muscle;
a whisper ran round 4" The collision has
killed him." Then a slight movement,
and the basket began to slip. 1t was
evident that the netting was giving
away. Women grew white with terror,
men trembled There, at a hight of
eighty feet above the earth, was fellow
being hanging by few slender threads;
above and around him the glittering
steeple sheeted with tin; below the
stohe battlements Of the tower, on which
to fall was instant death. A pause, and
the basket had evidently been arrested
| in its downward course. Squires was
seen to grasp the netting.
The moment he struck the spire there
was a rush for ladders and ropes. With
out number were the plans suggested to
save him from death. But at this mo.
ment brave men we're clambering up the
inside of the church.tower. A small
window below the caves opens directly
beneath were the basket was suspended,
but unfortunately it was very contracted,
and it did not seem possible to squeeze
through the aperture. But in few Sec
onds a man thrust his head through the
window, and board was pushed out of
the lower portion Of the opening, the end
on the inside being held by men within.
Then began a struggles it was apparent
that a man was endeavoring to crawl
through the narrow hole out upon the
board. The clothes we're torn from his
person in the attempt, but inch by inch
he gained, and at last was seated on the
board directly below the basket. The
situation was one of great danger.
Should the netting give way the basket
in its descent would catch the daring
man and hurl him, together with Squires
into eternity. At his appearance there
was cheer that made the welkin ring
again. The heroic man who thus risked
his life to save fellow being in distress
was Arthur 0smeat. II was seen when
he stood up that he could only reach to
the bottom Of the basket, and that he
could not assist Squires from his peril
GUS position.
The main body Of the net work had
caught on the northern end of the spire,
only two or three small cords having
passed around the other side, and these,
when the basket slipped, became slack.
The least motion on the part OF Squires
would have preciPitated him on the
stone steps below 0sment spoke to