The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-09-29
A BaliOOnist's Fall.

The balloon ascension at the Point of
Pines was delayed by the slow process
of filling the capacious bag. Prof. G.
A. Rogers, of Maiden, and another
man entered the car, but after rising
some forty or fifty feet il began to de-
scend. As it neared the ground the
professor companion jumped out.
The former threw out sand, and the
balloon rose again, barely clearing the
wall. 1t was $40 when Prof. Rogers
started on his dangerous trip. He
assembled quickly until he attained a
height of thousand feet. The current
took the balloon in the direction of Ma
liant, and when over Long Beach the
Professor began preparations for de-
scent. The grapple was thrown out
and the balloon descended, the basket
oscillating violently as the grapple
caught from point to point, causing the
professor to sit braced in the bottom of
the car, with his feet firmly planted
against the side. When at an altitude
of 600 or 700 feet the huge bag sudden
ly began to rip from the top, the rent
rapidly extending down the side, emit
ting the gas in large volumes. The
speed of the descent was in consequence
greatly accelerated, and when at a
height of about $50 feet the balloon,
emptied of its gas, shot down like lead,
striking on the edge of the beach with
terrible force. just previous to its fall
the grapple caught upon one of the
posts of the Telephone Company, and.
winding around it, held on. This
caused the basket to strike upon its
side. When landed, Mr.. Rogers body
was. as it were, shut close together,
being jam ned against his legs. Mr..
Frank w. Breed was driving upon the
beach at the time, and was quick
ly ut hand. Prof. Rogers was
found to be conscious when reached,
though apparently seriously hurt. He
was placed in MIR. Breeds carriage and
driven rapidly to the Lynn City Hall.
where he was laid upon stretcher and
mattress. and made as comfortable as
possible. DR.. Pinkham made an ex-
animation, and could find no evidence
of serious fracture or serious internal
injuries. The back was apparently not
materially injured, as the Professor
moved all of his limbs with apparent
ease, though at times he suffered in
tense pain. He conversed fiuently and
gave a clear account of his trip and the
causes of the accident. His body was
carefully swsthed by the surgeon, and
everything possible done to alleviate
his pain. At ten o'clock the Professor
was taken to the depot, and was sent
to his home in Maiden, where he was
taken in charge by DR.. Sullivan. The
balloon was the Oak Hall. and had q
capacity of twenty-four thousand cubic
feet. The bag is six or seven years
old, and has been used in several as
tensions by the Professor. The gas
was manufactured on the ground. and
the process was necessarily slow. Coal
tar entered largely into the composition
of the gas, which was not as carefully
cleansed as that used in the cities. The
Professor last evening ascribed the &C
cident to the age of the balloon, to the
effect which the weather had upon it.,
and to the quality of the gas. This was
his forty-sixth ascension, and the first
accident which has ever happened to
him. The Professor was cheerful, al
though sore and bruised, and he had an
excellent pulse. Unless unfortunate
symptoms develop this morning. DR..
Pinkham thinks he may recover. While
there may be some slight fracture in
the bone of the back, it is very evident
that the spinal column is not affected.
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