The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-08-30
A DROP FROM THE SKY.
TWO LADIES WILL DROP FIVE
THOUSAND FEET FROM A
BALLOON DURING THE STATE


THOUSAND FEET FROM A
BALLOON DURING THE STATE.
FAIR.
The management of the State Fair
have secured at great expense the
most novel and exciting features
ever introduced in the State, which
are no less than two balloon ascen-
siUns, one of which will be made by
a lady, the aeronauts to drop from a
balloon from the height of five thou
sand feet and descend to sthe earth
by means of parachute. The aero
nauts engaged for these ascensions
are Prof. Oscar Hunt, Prof. j. w.
Price, Mrs. Hunt and Mrs. Price.
The exact dates for these ascensions
have not yet been fixed, Prof. Price
has made 2o5 ascensions and he has
had some thrilling experiences. Mrs
LATHE Hunt recently made an ascen-
sion at Chicago of nearly 5000 feet
and dropped with her parachute into
Lake Michigan, and was rescued I'M
hurt. The parachute used in these
ascensions is unlike any used here
tofore and is Prof. Prices invention.
1t has no framework and ribs, and Is
held in shape solely by ropes and a
hoop six feet in diameter. When
expanded the balloon has spread of
about Is feet and a length Of 20 feet.
1t hangs from the neck of the balloon
and the separation is effected by
pulling rope attached to Il spring
snap block. The two ascensions viii
be made from the State Fair grounds
sometime between September 10Th
and 18th. One ascension and probab-
ly both will be made by one of the
ladies mentioned above.
The following is an account Of an
ascension recently made by Prof.
Price in Illinois:
At half past o'clock yes! erday
evening Prof. Price shouted s'Let go
everybody" and the big balloon
arose in the air like sky rocket, with
the darling young aeronaut dangling
from the trapeze. A strong wind
from the west prevailed and the
balloon was rapidly carried eastward
and upward. until it had gained an
altitude over 5000 feet. The ascent
was beautiful sight.
From the many buildings groups
OF spectators could be seen watch
ing the air ship, as it lowered in the
sky. The general knowledge Of the
| fact that Prof. Price had never before
| attempted a parachute descent created
an Unsurpassed feeling of anxiety
among the people. "Will he come
down alright! was the universal
question, and many were silent pray
ers for his success.
In few minutes from the begin
ming of the ascent, the balloon at
tanned its highest elevation. an6 hung
apparently motionless. It was at
this moment the watching crowd for
au instant held their breath as the
balloon and parachute was seen to
separate. For fully $50 feet the
parachute fell like dead weight, and
then filled with air. it's speed was
suddenly arrested. and like big
bird it sailed in broad sweeps toward
the earth. For few moments the
swinging of the parachute was very
dangerous, on account of the high
wind but this fortunately ceased as it
came closer to the ground, and Prof.
Price aligbted safe and sound. The
balloon came down about three miles
east of town.
This was Prof. Prices 28Oth ascen.
sion, and first parachute descent. lie
is young man, % years of age, but
has had seven years experience as a
professional acronaut. His home is
at Springfield, III.