The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-03-04
THE BALLOON.


I someone to make a stake against him
/ that there would not be an accident
/ which would prevent the balloon ascen-
/ sion. If there were any takers their dis
/ appointment may be just so much greater
/ than that OF the thousands Of people who
assembled at Kapiolani Park to see the
novel exhibition.
From an early hour in the forenoon
people were setting out for the Park,
and, four or five hours before the time
for beginning the exhibition, the street
cars were crowded to their full capacity
before starting. Several omnibuses
were plying with as many passengers
4each trip as could stick on inside and
outside, scores Of family parties went out
in hacks, hundreds rode out in private
carriages or on horseback, while not a
few people walked. By O'clock there
were probably from l, 800 to 1000 per
sons inside the race track enclosure, and
hundreds were scattered about the Park
outside. The track fence and adjacent
trees were dotted with juvenile heads.
Two or three daring figures were seen on
the dizzy summit ridge OF Diamond
Head, finally reclining beneath the folds
OF a white flag planted on the tarthest
peak Of the prOmOntory. The crowd con-
tinued to surge into the Park until about
the time set for the ascension, when
there were from 5000 to 1000 persons
within the enclosure, and perhaps 1000
more in the surrounding grounds.
Promptly at the advertised hour, 2
o'clock, Prof. Melville arose from a nap
with which he was refreshing himself,
in a room near the grand stand; and
dressed himself in a gay suit of tights.
He was out in a few minutes and i'm
mediately began making preparations for
the ascent The balloon America" was
lying over the funnel of furnace con-
structed in the ground, with its central
fOlds wrapped round pole rising ten or
fifteen feet high. The balloon was made OF
white bOatsail drilling, with tiame-shaped
pieces OF pink let in on the middle CIR
cumference. Alongside lay the para
chute looking like a folded boat sail, and
the aeronaut fastened the top of it to the
balloon cloth, the bottom to the trapeZe
attached to the mouth of the balloon, in
each case with Irvine just strong enough
to carry the parachute but which would
break with the weight Of the man. a
stout iron ring is fastened to the base of
the parachute with radiatlng cords.
Among other preparations was the cree
ton of a right-augled board wall fifteen
feet in height to windward of the infat-
ing furnace, for the purpose of sheltering
the balloon from the wind during the
process OF initiation.
. Preparations We're pushed actively by
Prof. Melville and several assistants until
about 3 40, when the ballOOnist went
under the cloth and started the fire in
the furnace for generating gaseous COM
pound forming the lifting power. What
the process is actually remains PROBES
sional secret, but the product is partly
gas and partly hot air. The canvas in a
few moments began to flutter and fill,
then bulge out into something like
rotund shape. The process seemed to
be working finely, the top Of the balloon
having reached nearly to the height OF
the fence, when, at the lapse OF about
twenty minutes, a word of veXat!On
passed round that the balloon had burst.
True enough, about ten feet from the
ground, on the side facing the grand
stand, a vertical rent OF twelve or fifteen
inches was visible beside seam, and
BLUSH smoke pouring out of the aperture.
The professor at first was going to give
up the attempt for the day when this
accident occurred, but after a few min
utes' consultation with different persons
he went to work and seWed the rent up.
Initiation was resumed at 5 O'Clock and
progressed rapidly until the balloon top
rose above the wind screen. Then the
wind, blowing in strong and fttul
breezes, at each gust would force the gas
back into the furnace, and very little
headway seemed to be making. AS the
cloth waves surged up and down it was
more than the scores OF hands clutching
the rim could do to keep the balloon IN
position, or prevent the action OF the
wind alOft from eXerting tremendous
pumping out pressure on the cloth.
Matters were in this struggling stage
at > 40 o'clock, the furnace gaining very
! slightly on the breezes. The setting sun
| threatened to enforce postpOnement on
account of darkness, only the initiated
hone in a thousand being able even to
! guess whether there was time lett for the
! ascension, provided other things proved
/ satisfactory. Just about the minute la t
| mentioned those standing in view OF tie
I inner corner of the board screen saw, in
/ the midst OF a les erate struggle to hold
/ the now bounding and pulling balloon, a
/ wreath Of smoke curling up from the up
/ per slope OF the cloth i'll that corner.
/ ADOtDeG DUfSi was SCStiCGll uIJtIGu
/ until the smoke was succeeded by a
! tongue Of bright fame and the fabric be-
/ gan collapsing inward to the furnace.
/ Many OF the helpers ran off panic-striCk-
/ en-. and great eXpdnse OF the cloth. with
\ the burning part emitting volume Of
smoke mingled with flame, was flung
] out on the wind toward the grand stand.
: There We're appearances OF q panic and
a STAMPEDE. a. the dense crowd close &c
/ the balloon rushed back upon the densel
crowds behind; while the people on the
/ grand stands. menaced with a storm o
flame. spTang 10 their feet and started
for the stairs, and there was no saying
what terrors the many horses and car
7 riages inside the enclosure might have
! added If the excitement had continued
for few moments longer. 1t was only ;
matter of seconds however, for Prof
Melville, aided by a number OF willing
hands, pulled in on the stuff until they
were able to stamp the fire out of tn,
cloth and get the whole balloon clear 0
the furnace.
The next scene was grand anC
speedy dispersion. Carriages slowl.
forged their way out through the moving
masses. Passengers sought their en-
gagged hacks and hackmen their pro
missed loads. Passengers broken fait}
with by drivers had some difficulty il
Getting others, but drivers whose pas
.engers were missing had no trouble il
r.-TI / !,