The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1889-03-12
AN AERIAL FLIGHT.
Banoonist Melville Makes a PIucky
Attempt to Rise!


Notwithstanding that not one in a
thousand could be found on Saturday
who would confess to belief that the
balloon would go up, several thousands
OF every race, condition, class and age
gathered in and about Hon. j. l. Dow
sets paddock at Iwilei on Saturday
afternoon to see Prof. Melville initiate
his sky-exploring 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 better
day." was the universal remark, sug-
guested by the very slight stir in the air
and such motion as there was being off
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 caloric
and smoke. But the wind was gaining
on the furnace, and, at this juncture,
the hoppings of the fabric became pain
| fully suggestive of tizzle 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 TIE aeronaut thunders out,
"All let GOT" 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
suspended by hands and heels to the
bar. Then away on the breeze the
equipage sped, clearing the roof OF a cot
tage and moving in the direction of the
big fish pond beyond.
Now the balloon is fast sinking with
the mans weight It disappears behind
the bush and almost Immediately scars
majestically aloft, but there is no man
dangling from the trapeze. Some stand
still to watch the flight OF the balloon,
but q 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 breath o. air,
but he stood upright and smilingthrOugh
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 q somer-
sault like a 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 spEang 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 aloit 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. 1t barely |
passed the stove pipe on the kitchen on
Mr.. David Dayton's residence, below Ii |
liha street and between Judd and 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 to. Mr.. Dayton's little daughter !
ran away from the approach OF the aerial
visitor, in terror OF its smoking mouth
and eyes. His boy of ten or twelve
years, however, pursued the monster
across lots and was the first in " at the
death"
1t has been suggested that the PROBES
sor might be induced to attempt an as
eension as one OF the attractions at the
Park next Saturday.
Mr.. F. Godfrey had fresh set OF his
advertising flyers provided for Saturday,
n order to keep faith with the patrons of
hat enterprising scheme, memento OF
he highest advertising ever attempted
n the Hawaiian Islands" The souven-
rs flew round lively if they were not
dropped from the clouds