The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-09-19
Falling from High in Air.

PITTsBURG, Sept. 13.-Professor
Harry Warner, the aeronaut, who is
under engagement to give balloon
ascensions AT the Exposition grounds,
had a terrible and thrilling expe-
rience in mid-air to-day, part of
which was witnessed by at least ten
thousand people. The Exposition
was attended Dy an unusual crowd,
and the big grand stand was black
with spectators when the hour for
the ascent arrived. Some difficulty
was experienced in getting the gas
bag inflated. The Professors inten-
ton was to take a passenger with
him on his trip, but it became ap-
parent that only one could 60 UP,
and in few minutes the Professor
gave the word, and, dangling from
the trapeze bar suspended below the
basket attached 10 the netting, he
swung off into the air. The crowd
cheered and the band played, while
the athlete went through series of
evolutions on the bar, floating high
er and higher.
Finally Il heavy gray cloud sus-
pended over the city hid him from
view as the air-ship entered it and
disappeared. The crowd filed off
thegrounds and stand. When they
were recalled by cries of He's COM
ing down !" Look, look !" up in the
air, almost over the heads OF the
Mortified thousands, they saw the
balloon careening from side to side,
swaying and apparently turning
over and over. The trapeze bar was
empty and the aeronaut could not
be seen. The gas bag looked like
an umbrella covered with netting
1t fell with terrible rapidity until
when within few hundred feet of
the earth its descent became less
precipitous. It landed on frame
dwelling house on Robinson street
and tumbling into the back yard.
Professor Warner dropped out of
the folds of the balloon, and strlk-
ing against a fence was stunned for
a moment, but springing to his feet
called to man, who rushed to his
assistance to hit him on the back. |
He did so, and then the aeronaut
stumbled into the house and fell |
down. Medical aid was summoned |
and an examination made. Moth
ing but few bruises marked the |
damage an the outside, but he had
inhaled so much gass that he was
insensible for some time. Tonight
he was resting easier, and when a
reporter called on him he was able
to tell the story of his terrible ex-
perience.
Il bad the balloon inflated under.
my personal supervision" he said,
"and considered her all right When
the men let go | shot right up into
the air, hanging to the trapeze bar
and makinS my usual revolutions
went up very rapidly and IN Il
short time the Exposition grounds
were hidden by a heavy cloud. |
to exercise, for it was quite
chilly, until | was about a mile and
a quarter above the earth. lpaused
to rest minute, when | heard Il
faint sound overhead and looking up
saw a white smoke pouring out OF
the gas bag. l knew what was
wrong in an instant and got up into
the basket as quick as | could and
then climed into the netting.
never thought about the safety valve,
but began to throw the sand-bags at
tached to the netting overheard as
as possible to tighten the
fall. | knew what was coming.
There was second of suspense and
then | began to shoot down like a
piece of lead, while the balloon
swayed terribly. l hung on with
feet and hands to the netting, or
should have been thrown off. All
at once the envelop collapsed or
turned over and | was thrown right
into the centre, the envelope form
ing a parachute. | was nearly suf-
located with the gas, while the bal
loon was pitching and rolling terri
bly. | don't know how long | was
in coming down. | remember of
seeing the city below me, and then
felt shock and fell into somebody's
yard. A man rushed up and told
him to pound me on the back to get
the gas out of my lungs. was
stunned by the fall. | guess | am
all right now"