Wichita eagle., 1888-05-31
DROPPING 10000 FEET.
A eALLOONisr'S DARING LEAP WITH
A BIG PARACHUTE.

~ 6I6 FAftNSnOt6s
A Michix.n Man Beats tho Record
'in the Interests Of science"-Fall-
ing Like . Meteor-sate ON Terra
sat is claimed by the baIloouist, Baldwin,
that be has dropped 5000 feet from balloon
with a parachute. shall drop at least
10, 900 feet, and shall attempt what no other
balloonist ever did shall drop with the
chute closed, leaving il entirely to the air to
open the chute.'
So said Edward D. Hogan to group OF
newspaper men, who assembled one morning
not long ago on large vacant lot northwest
of town to SEQ him make his foolhardy
venture. Hogan Is q local aeronaut. He
was Tor fourteen years employed in plan
ing mill here, and only during the last four
wears has devoted himself to balloonfng as a
profession. He has studied the subject thor
oughly, however, for many years, having
from childhood taken the keenest interest
and delight in the science Of sailing air ships.
He rugged up q workshop at his home, and
there he spent every spare moment expert
menting in the constructing of balloons, and
on every possible occasion had made an
ascension, frequently going up to consider
able heights.
THE PARACHUTE.
"There is no use, !" he said, ''of my attempt
ing to do anything unless can beat all pre-
vious records and fall further than any living
man. A few hundred feet less or few hum
dred feet more win count nothing for me. l
must at least double the distance"
He repeated this talk when getting his
car ready, and at 9:35 the balloon ascended.
AS the balloon left the earth one of the guy
ropes holding the chute broke.
To describe this particular "chute" it is
only necessary to imagine white globe
twenty fest in diameter, cut through the
center; in this way you have two parachutes,
the professor only having one 1t contained
100 yards of stout cloth. 1t is not unlike
mammoth umbrella without stick, tho
braces being flexible cords running down
twenty-five feet, and fastening to an iron
ring two feet in diameter. The other cords
all run clear up to the seams of the "chute,
30 they cannot give way. This parachute
was fastened to the outside Of the hot air bal
loon in a perpendicular form by cord.
When the balloon was at the proper height
the professor intended to take hold OF the
iron ring. swing clear from the balloon, de
pend on the air to initiate the "chute," and
take his chances Of reaching terra firma IN
safety. The balloon was inflated by 90, 600
feet Of hot air, balloon, parachute and ap-
paratus for initiating the balloon all being OF
Mr.. Hogan's own manufacture. AS he
stepped in the car and gave orders for the
ropes holding the balloon to the ground to
be cast of, the professor said to the CORE
spondent, who took what the latter believed
to be final leave of a daring and reckless
man:
"My balloon ought to take me up two
miles at least. The parachute won't initiate
inside of 300 feet from the time leave the
balloon. This distance will occupy three
seconds, after that expect to come down all
right inside of one minute and thirty seconds
Let her CO."
At the word the ropes were cut and the
monster went sailing upward
"The chute's guy has broken" cried Hogan
instantly. "I1l have to come down and
start over" AS soon as possible Hogan de-
scended. ''ru 60 up again in an hour" he
said.
THE SECOND TRIAL.
The second trial was a success. The bal
loon shot ND almost straight to a distance Of
fully 10000 feet It then settled about 400
feet and hung like ball In the heavens. The
anxious and excited crowd of people on the
| ground watched the balloon with bated
breath. The reporters were provided with
powerful glasses, and saw Hogan make ready
to jump.
HELL weaken said some one.
| az % :oA &tho 10 oof<{r,U oY1S y
| The chute was closed. Hogan drew it up
till he reached the ropes to which he dashed
| himself. He did not expect the chute to open
| for the first 200 or 900 feet and be was afraid
| he might be shaken of the bar by the rapidity
Of the fall unless he took the precaution to
fasten himself. When be stepped on the edge
Of the car to spring of into space some of the
spectators grew pale and sick. Surely this
daring man was going to certain death.
| A shout Of terror goes up. Hogan has
| jumped Down like a cannon ball he fell for
| 500 feet. The chute has not yet opened.
Down it came hike a gigantic elongated bird.
! He was falling like meteor, and the specta-
tors shut their eyes while still keeping their
glasses elevated Suddenly shout goes up.
| The chute has caught the air. It opens like
the wings Of monster eagle. Hogan's flight
downward was almost stopped with jerk.
! Then the chute settles down to a steady
journey earthward with its passenger, and
/ In three minutes from the time the reckless
man left the balloon he landed safely in an
open field some little distance from where
the ascent was made.
/ Correspondent was almost the first to grasp
the hand Of the aeronaut.
81 lost my breath" said he, "when I shot
down so fast, but caught it again after q
time 1t was great jump, wasn't isf'
| Professor Hogan was smeared with smut
he had never seen a man jump with a chute.
| He was much disappointed at the slow time
made, expecting to come down in ninety sec
onds The chute was twenty feet in diameter.
| Oscillation was guarded against by means Of
a four inch hole in the apex. He was over
/ wheimed with congratulations, and was quite
| the hero Of the hour.-Jackson lMich.l Cor.
Globe Democrat.
: Advice 70 the Gay Fellow
A man, then, had better make up his mind
IN a very early period Of his career, that hs
/ will not eat too much, and, according to my
strict notions, he should never use intoxi-
/ eating liquors or tobacco, particularly the
/ former. A man should keep good hours.
The gay fellows who sit up till 2 and O'Clock
in the morning, drinking wine and lager
/ haer ~ nrobahly think they are having lots