The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-17
ON FIRE In MID-AIR.
ONE OF PROF. MoRTIMER's MlRAcu.
Lous ESCAPES FROM DEATH.
a Promising Balloon Ascension at the
Rome, Ca. State Fair. Last October.
Turned Into Picture of Horror Most
Appalling by an Unexpected Fire.

There is at present in Memphis man
whose many balloon ascensions and daring
parachute jumps have for years past been
the subjects OF thrilling narratives in the
press columns OF the country.
That gentleman is Prof Mortimer
Prot. Mortimer was met by an APPEAL
reporter last night, and among other remi-
niscenses, related the following thrilling
narrative OF his miraculous escape from
death at the Rome (Ga. State Fair last
OCTOBER
On the afternoon OF October 4, owing
TO the high wind which prevailed, il was
impossible TO initiate the balloon properly,
and the thousands of spectators present
were sorely disappointed. Chagrined and
mortified at his failure, the Professor au-
thorized the press of Rome, Ga, TO state
that on the following day "he would give
the people a balloon ascension or give them
aiuneral."
Nearly 10000 people assembled at the
Fair grounds next day to witness the
ascension. The large monster was rapidly
inflated, and when everything was in
readiness the Professor shouted, "Let her
go" grabbed his trapeze bar, and the
balloon assembled amid the applause of
thousands, while the Professor was per.
forming wonderful gymnastic icats on the
bar. The balloon shot upward like a
rocket about ., 200 feet. Suddenly, the bar
that Mortimer was astride OF, swayed vio-
lently TO one side, and loud swishing
noise was heard overhead. He glanced up.
ward, and, to his horror, discovered that
the air-ship was in flames; a hole being
burned in one side nearly as large ~ a
door, through which the wind rushed,
causing the balloon 10 lean sideways. The
balance can be told in the Professors own
words.
"rhe words had uttered in the news
paper office, Il will give the people an rs.
cension or q funeral, flashed through my
mind, and | said, mentally, Il guess III
give them both this time. realized INV
awful position but, strange TO say, with
nothing but death staring mo in the face.
was rs cool rs at the present moment.
gave myself up for lost, but all / could
think Of were the words, III give them an
ascension or funeral.
"Ihe balloon kept careening. and was
aware ii IL turned over that moment would
be my last. Suddenly / thought that |
would at least make one effort To save my.
self, and, rapidly climbing through my
small hoop, | caught hold OF the large
hoop on the bottom OF the balloon and
each time the wind struck il | exertcd N.Y.
self TO the utmost to jerk the balloon down
the other way. My weight on ono side
helped TO balance it, but all this
time-though good deal shorter
than 1t takes 10 tell 1.-THE hole
was rapidly growing larger. Suddenly the
balloon began TO descend, aud never BE-.
fore during my career rs an acrunaut did
descend with such rupidity. But this
proved my salvation, for the rapid rush OF
air kept il inflated and pretty straight dur.
ing the fearful descent. | rapidly dc.
scended to my bar and felt for my life
lines. To my CONSERVATION ! discovered
that had forgotten them. | graspcd the
bar with both hands and swung down
ward, in order 10 steer the balloon clear OF
trees on nearing the ground. Al lh.stook
place in few moments. | could SEQ poo-
plo hurrying along the railroad tracks in
the direction OF the burning balloon. aud,
looking upward, discovered the balloon to
be one mass OF flame. managed 10 swing
clear oil one tree only TO be dashed against
another, crashing through the limbs, luck.
lily breaking my fall, finally being dashed
into bed Of thorny briars, where | woull
LA been burned alive had 1t not been
for assistance rendered me by two mea. ]
escaped with few severe bruises. but
did not mind II, being thankful for my al
most miraculous escape. On my way
back 10 Rome met hundreds OF people
huHying toward the place where the bal
loon descended, expecting TO behold my
dead body. All expressed the greatest
surprise at my escape from what appeared
certain death.
~ have had many close calls during my
career rs a balloonist, but none TO compare
with the Rome, Ga, expcriencc,h