Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-17


prehensions exist that the aerenout's have
sion, however, is that the parties have landed
at some point remote from telegraph or rail
road facilities, and that a day or two may ye1
elapse before they can be heard from.
[Chicago Times, Oct. IL.
| The gods of the winds seemed to be on
a tantrum, and no reliance could be put
on their moods Prof. King, early in the
day arrived at the conclusion-that the
elements would settle down to compare
tive regularity by the middle of the after
noon, and either blow good reliable
gale or subside to q comfortable quiet.
He accordingly delayed his preparations
for the ascension until the last moment,
to the great worriment of the crowd
which had gathered in the expectation
| of seeing the monster mount skyward at
| l O'Clock, as advertised. The aeronautical
commander ln-chief pottered along until
after 3 o'clock, but as there seemed to be
10 immediate prospect OF 3olltlon subsl-
dence he set to work getting ready for his
voyage in dead earnest, and by 4:3O
O'Clock everything was ripe for start.
The balloon which was about nine-tenths
full of gas, was dragged to the northern
end of the grounds in order that it might
be lifted clear of the grond stand; the
basket was attached to the netting, and
every rope made sure. The wind was
lowing briskly, and had it not been for
the assistance of the crowd, which Will
ling ly held the bar to the ground,
it would have pounded about at lively
rate. 1t tugged for freedom like
thing of life, lifting Sand-bags,
boys, and men, and throwing them
about like toys. The aeronaut was i'll at
case, and moved around with delibera-
ton that was exceedingly exasperating
to the spectators He was simply killing
time, but he did not see fit to take the
crowd into his confidence. He admitted
that it would be risky to start in such
strong wind, for the simple fact that if
gentle zephyr, going at q forty-mile gait,
Should catch the balloon on top as it was
leaving the earth, a contingency not at
all unlikely, the car might be dashed
against the ground or some of the neigh
boring blocks, and with fatal violence.
1t was with that possibility in his mind
that Prof. King took the precaution to
Tighten. the car as much as he could be-
fore attempting to start. Quick action
after cutting loose was
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO SAFETY.
Bag after bag of ballast was cast out OF
the basket until the load was diminished
to his satisfaction. Then the aronaut
made the crowd speech, begging the
men to keep tight hold on the balloon
until he gave the word to let go. 'I will
not conceal from you," he said, "the
fact that we are running q serious risk
in starting in such high wind, and our
safety depends on our getting away just
right. Therefore, 1 ask your co-opera-
ton" The people who were clinging to
the netting and sides of the basket
shouted an assent, and King announced
that he would give the signal and
90 at the first lull. At that moment
there came along q gust of unusual vio-
Icnce. the basket was lifted into the air;
everybody instinctively let go, and the
inch rope that alone was left to hold the
balloon to post parted like strand OF
packthrcad, and it was gone. 1t was
OFF LIKE A SHOT
and plunged directed toward q tall, jag
ged flagstaff near the entrance to the
park. King saw the obstacle and chung
to the ropes on the outside of the car,
crouching forward, with every nerve
tense, ready for any emergency. 1t
seemed as though collision was newt
able, but the enormous bag OF gas
lifted the car out OF dam
ger, and it flew past the top of
The pole, escaping 1t by
not more than half dozen feet. Then
the professor clambered inside Of the
basket. When the balloon escaped, he
was apparently in the act of getting
down from the car for some purpose, but
when he heard the parting OF the strands
of the ropes he changed his mind and
concluded to postpone the move. The
only passengea taken up was j. G. Hash
agan, of the signal service bureau, who
sat coolly on the concentrating ring
above the car while preparations were
going on for the departure. When the
start was made, and before the balloon
was fairly under way, he had whipped
out red bandana and was waving it
franticallv at the multitude. He did not
mind that flagstaff in the least, but per-
haps that was because he did not see it.
A Republican Paper Contrasts the TrO