The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-07-15

Van Tass Il, The aer0naut, who made
a couple OF q tensions in this city sew
eral years ago, is still plying his pro
fessi0n on the coast. To the many
who were acquainted with him in this
city, his whereabouts and dCings viii
not be without interest. The following,
taken from a late issue Of the Los
Angeles Herald, would indicate that he,
like the declor of old, preferred to try
the medicine on his wife before taking
any hin If; "Possibly the hundreds OF
people in town who noted with surprise
the presence of Professor Van Tassell's
balloon in the air fully three hours
ahead of the time advertised for its
ascension will be surprised to learn
that Van Tassell kept his contract to the
letter in all but the time of ascension.
Van Tassen, accompanied by his pretty
wife and D. E. Barclay, deputy county
recorder of this county, did go up IL
the balloon, and Mrs Van TasseIl did
perform the daring feat of descending
to the earth from distance of nearly
1000 feet with the aid OF skeleton-Hke
parachute.
AS advertised, Van Tassell, his con-
sort and male companion, were to seek
a higher altitude in balloon, from the
corner of Los Angeles and Also Streets
at o clock Yesterday afternoon. Some
body. considering death in store for
Mrs. Van Tassell should she leap from
the balloon attached to a parachute,
addressed message to Chief of Police
Cuddy asking that he prohibit Mrs.
Van Tassell from doing so. The Chief
took the writer's view of the matter
and ordered Detective Tom Mccarthy
to be on hand at the time appointed for
the ascension, and unless Mrs. Van
Tassell gave her word of honor not to
make the leap, TO prohibit her going
up in the balloon. The hardy aeronaut
and his wife heard of what the Chief
was going to do, and they decided 10
get heavenward with all possible speed.
Already the huge gas bag was we'll
inflated, the register showing that
close on to 100000 feet of
gas was in the balloon. Bags of sand
served as anchors to stay The balloon
from flying upward, and numerous guy
ropes served as auxiliaries in the same
direction. All but the guy ropes were
cast loose from the balloon and then
Mr.. Barclay was sent for. Mr.. Barclay
is an amateur aeronaut Of considerable
experience. He has made several as
censions-one with Van Tasseu from
this city two years ago. Barclay was
found by the messenger, and told to re-
pair as speedily rs possible to the scene
Of the ascension. He did SO, ard had
Just time TO pull on his oVerooat and
Jump into the cage, in which were seated
Van Tassell and his wife. The balloon
was then held to earth by but one rope.
Van Tassell gave the order to an assist
ant to "cut her loose" In moment
the balloon shot heavenward, attaining
at the initial jump an altitute of nearly
900 feet. 1t was just at 10.47 o'clock
that the huge gas-bag darted heaven
ward from terra firmR.
The voyage in the air is probably best
told by Mr.. Barclay. He was seen af-
ter the ascension by Herald man.
Describing the ascent, voyage in mid
air and return to earth, Mr.. Barclay
said The balloon contained $50 0G0 feet
Of gas when we started up. Incident to
an ascension is an upward jump of the
balloon Immediately it is cut loose from
It's moorings. The jump of our balloon
| was memorable one. 1t carried US to
sor Van Tassell, Mrs. Van Tassell and
myself were ID the cage. When we had
attained that altitude we found no
clearly defred current of air. A calm.
SO to speak, was prevalent. Our height
we all agreed, was not sufficient to sd-
NIT Of the parachute jump being made
with safety. Our ballast consisted of
several bags Iof sand and numerous
bundles Of papers, dodgers, etc. Some
ballast was tossed out, but We finally
decided to release some gas. This We
did and came within about 1000 feet OF
the earth, when a good wind current
was struck. We shut off the gas valve
and rode with the current, taking a
gradually upward course until We were
about over, or little to one side of the
Jefferies place. At that time, l shall
judge,we were about 5, 0C0feet in the air.
Van Tassell all along was extremely
wary. Every moment he would glance
up at the parachute we carried, swung
from the cage. The chute, as he
called it, Looked all right. Finally he
SAT- he guessed the time had come Tor
thel cap. Mrs. Van Tasseu was cool
and collected. Van Tassell pulled the
Chute down into the cage. The para
chute is sha ed much like an umbrella,
and just about twenty feet in diameter
at his mouth. Pendant from it are two
ropes, provided with hand rinPs at
their ends. To these rings Mra. Van
Tasseh's hands were strapped. Also
pendant from the center OF the apex
Of the corner of the now intis,ed
chute is q rope. About Mrs.
Van Tassell's wal twefxed stout Strap
in circiDgle, and the end Of this We
attached to tho rope. All was ready.
Van TasselI bade his vile good-by, and
30 did |. STE was cool q I'll iceberg as
Van Tasse!l cleared the parachute from
it's moorings. She stepped on tine edge
of the cage, looked down once and then
stepped off into space. We shot heaven
ward at once, a distance of about 300
feet. Ivan" was so nervous be
crouched in a corner of the cage.
peeped down and saw the parachute
dashing toward the earth like a rocket.
Ny heart was in my mouth for mo
ment, but when saw the old "chute"
y i