The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-04-19
amdersn,t gntettigeHesa,
Dropped Two Miles.

JACKSON, MICHIGAN, April At is
claimed by the balloonist Baldwin that
he has dropped five thousand feet from
his balloon with 9 parachute. I shall
drop at least ten thousand feet, and shall
attempt what no other balloonist ever
did shall drop with the parachute
closed, leaving it entirely to the fall to
open it."
So said Edward D. Hogan to group
of newspaper men who had assembled
this morning on vacant lot northwest of
of the town to see him make his foolhardy
venture.
Hogan lives with his ,amily at No. 421
Van Buren, street. He was for fourteen
years employed in a planning mill here,
and only during the last four years has
devoted himself to ballooning as pro.
fession. He has studied the subject
thoroughly, however, for many years,
having from childhood taken the keenist
interest in it. He rugged up workshop
at his home and there he spent every
spare moment experimenting in the con.
struction of balloons, and during the past
twenty years has made frequent short
ascensions. During the last few months
he has given his attention toparachutes,
and on February 9 last announced that
he would ascend to an altitude OF lO,O0O
feet and drop from the car.
s.There is no use" be said, unless
I can beat all previous records and fall
further than any living man. A few
hundred feet more will count nothing tor
me. / must at least double the distance"
He repeated this talk this morning
when getting his Car ready, and at twen.
ty.five minutes to ten the balloon ascend
ed. As it left the earth one of the guy
ropes holding the parachute broke. As
soon as possible Hogan descended.
"I'll 20 up again in an hour" ne sald.
The second trial was success. The
balloon at FIVE minutes past eleven shot
up to q distance of fully ten thousand
feet. 1t then settled about three hum
dred feet and hung like ball in space.
The crowd watched the balloon with
bated breath. Observers provided with
powerful glasses saw Hogan make ready
10 lump. aHe'll wesken," said some
one. ..No," cried another watcher, "he is
getting out" Hogan drew up the para
chute till he reached the guy ropes, to
which be lashed himself. He did not
expect the parachute to open tor the
| first' two or three hundred feet and he was
afraid he might be shaken loose by the
rapidity of the drop unless he took the
precaution to fasten himself.
When Hogan stepped on the edge OF
the car to spring into space the watchers
grew pale end sick. Surely this daring
man was going to certain death a
shouts of horror went up. Hogan had
dropped.
Down like a cannon ball he fell for
five hundred feet. The parachute had
not yet opened. Down 1t came, like a
gigantic, elongated bird. Suddenly q
Shout went up. The parachute had
caught the air. 1t opened like the wings
of a monster eagle. Hogan's flight
downward was almost stopped with q
Jerk. Then the parachute settled down
to a steady journey earthward with ita
passenger. and in three minutes from
the time the reckless man left the balloon
car he landed safely in an open field
some little distance from where the ascent
was made.
The Herald correspondent was almos!
the frat to grasp the hand Of the aero
naut. "I lost my BREATH" Hogan said
"when I shot down 30 fast, but caught
| it again after time. 1t was great
jump, wasn't it7
He had never seen man jump with q
parachute, and his was home made, con-
tanning hundred yards of stout CLOTH
He was much disappointed at the slow
time made, expecting to come down in
ninety seconds. :.
The parachute was twenty feet in
diameter. Oscillation was guarded against
| by means of four inch hole id the
| apeX,