Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-09-22
NOT welded In MIDAIR.
The Romantic Scheme OF Loving
Iowa Couple Fooled by a Little
Mishap.
The Balloon Went Up, but the Pair Had
TO lie Content with Commonplace
Ceremony.

MONMOUTH, HI, Sept. 1s.--Thc good
people OF this place were greatly surprised
yesterday afternoon TO see great bal
loon come tearing along over the village
from the west, humping against church
spires and then against chlmncys, and
finally coming TO earth in a helpless heap.
crowd began to gather and ran after
IL as II scrapcd its way along over
the roofs, and by the time 10 had alighted
goodly portion Of the population Of the
town seemed 10 be present 1t fell call
In heap" and was hastily pulled over
by strong arms, in the expectation that a
mangled aerouaut might be found beneath
It, but nothing Of the kind was found. 4
bit Of torn shirt-sleevc was found hang
Ing 70 ''the rigging" and for u time sug-
gestcd that somebody had met horrible
fate, but news from Davenport received
last night dlspelled this suspicion. The
balloon was sent up from the Des Moincs
county fairgrounds yesterday afternoon by
Prof. Williams, who had expected to
have Mr.. b. i. Thomas, editor of the Sun
Herald, and Miss May Finch, Of Columbus
Junction, bridal couple, and the minister
who was TO make them one flesh In md
air, as his travelling companions, but an
accident to the balloon made IL Impossible
to carry so large a party. An immense
crowd gathered ut the fair grounds to
witness the romantic wedding, or so
much OF it AZ could ne seen from the fair
grounds, and was greatly disappointed
over the mishap. They were partially
consoled, however, by seeing the balloon
sail away with Il man named
Fleming who had made ascensions be-
FORE and who volunteered TO take the
chances OF ride in the rlckety affair
which the accident had left. He got in
and the balloon slowly assembled, attain
ing an altitude of perhaps mile, and
then sailed In Il northcasterly direction.
In about an hour the escape of gas was
so great chat IL came down on the farm
of William Fordney, about twelve miles
north OF Davenport, landing In tree
top. Fleming alighted, and the balloon,
being thus relieved, shot up into the air
again, the anchor catching into his shirt
and tearing away sleeve. 1t then con
tinued on its way home.
DAVENPORT, Iowa, Sept. ls.--Mr. b.
f. Thomas and Miss Finch, who were to
have been married in the balloon ycster-
day, were greatly disappointed at the
failure of their plans, but have consolcd
themselves and each other by quiet
wedding on terra trma. Mr.. Thomas
became acquainted with Miss May Finch |
about u year ago, while She was visiting |
friends at Columbus Junction, his !
former home. They became engaged |
last spring '"rhc idea of Il balloon yoy-
nge Is not Il new one TO me-" he said this
'as | have been DESTROYS of
taking a journey through the air
But the balloon wedding was the sue,
tostiOn of my intended wife. | men
Toned to her that had applied to Secrc-
AIRY Fowler for Ito privilege of accom-
)anying Prof Williams In the balloon as
,en3lon at the Des Moincs county fair |
She said she would never consent to my
going unless she could go with me, and !
that we should get married and |
20 ON our bridal tour In the air ship We
are no more afraid to take ride In bal
loon than in a railway carr
Their numerous friends hope they will
live as happily as though they had been
married ga mile high