The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-03-11
AN AERIAL FLIGHT.
BalIoonist Melville Makes a PIueky
Attempt to Risel

| Bal1OOnist Melville Makes a Pluck,
Attempt to Rise!
Notwithstanding that not one in
thousand could be found on Saturday
who would confess to belief that the
balloon would go up, several thousand;
OF every race, condition, class and age
gathered in and about Hon. j. L Dow.
sett's paddock at Iwilei on Saturday
afternoon to see Prof Melville initiate
his sky-expIorirg craft and do the cloud
jumping act. Hundreds Of people also
gathered at points Of vantage on ship
ping, house and hill tops for the like
qualification Of curiosity or possible re-
solving OF doubts.
There could not have been 9 better
day" was the universal remark, sag
guested by the very slighs stir in the ar
and such motion as there was being of
the sea. The balloon filled up beauti-
fully-was in fact every moment looking
more like an article of that name-until
it had about three-fourths of its capa-
city charged with concentrated caiOric
and smoke. But the wind was gaining
on the furnace, and, at this juncture,
the floppings of the fabric became lain
fully suggestive of a fizzle like to that of
the previous Saturday. Prof. Melville
was everywhere within and without the
balloon at the same moment, appar-
emily, and now on the outside he shouts:
Harry, look out what you're doing in
there when she's working. But give it
to her every time she's steady"
The furnace roars once and again, and
next thing the aeronaut thunders out,
"All let go!" The guys are loosed all
round, holding posts have been let down,
and away the monster creeps laterally
from the furnace. Not, however, before
a huge scorched patch is seen on the
windward side, while smoke streams in
two blue-black currents from vents at
the summit.
Still off she goes and then up, only the
spectators in the inner rings observing
the gallant Professor Melville dragging
headfOremost to the trapeze-he had no
time to fasten on the parachute. Up
through the wicked spikes of the young
algeroba thicket the aeronaut was
dragged, emerging in clear space above
by hands and heels to the
bar. Then away on the breeze the
\
tage and moving in the direction OF the
big fish pond beyond.
Now the balloon is fast sinking with
the mans weight. 1t disappears behind
the bush and almost Immediately scars
aloft, but there is no man
dangling from the trapeZe. Some stand
still to watch the flight of the balloon,
but great rush is made to find what has
happened the balloonist. Others watch
and run at once.
The runners are seen to concentrate in
thick ranks on the bank of a four-foot
ditch in the great taro patches seward
from King street. Our reporter found
Prof Melville wedged by the crowd as if
to prevent him getting a breath OF air,
but he stood upright and smiling through
begrimed features stained with blood.
His clothes, head and face had suffered
in many places from contact with the
thorns. Eyewitnesses said he had jumped
thirty feet to the earth, turning a somer-
sault like cat to land on his feet. He
could not say himself how high had been
the leap, but to show how lightly he felt
the result he sprang across the ditch and
walked nimbly to the starting point.
There he was cheered heartily by the
crowd His left wrist was sprained in
the leap from aloft. The firm turf was
pierced several inches by his feet, and it
is wonderful he was so little hurt. 1t
was about three hundred yards along
the ground from start to finish by the
aerOnaut.
The balloon travelled grandly about
200 feet above the ground, until away up
Nuuanu valley it tumbled oyer on its
side and sank behind the trees. It barely
passed the stove pipe on the kitchen on
Mr. David DaytOn's residence, below Ii
liha street and between Judd aud School
streets, and landed on the premises Of
Chinaman just beyond. All the dam
age the balloon sustained was in the
slight scOrching and the rents above re-
ferred 70. Mr.. DaytOn's Little daughter
ran away from the approach Of the aerial
visitor, il terror oI its smoking mouth
and eyes. His boy Of ten or twelve
years, however, pursued the monster
across lots and was the first II At the
death"
It mas been sugges5el that the Pro-es-
scr might be induced TO attempt al as
cersion IS one Of the attractions q tie
Park next Saturday
Mr.. 4. Godfrey had q fresh set Of ms
advertising flyers provided for Saturday,
in order TO keep faith with the patrons Of
that enteTpris;Eg scheme, "meUento OF
the highest advertising ever attempted
in the Hawaiian Islands" The souven-
irs flew round lively if they were not
L. 4 - Ill. Il