The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-05-17
The nallaon Asc.ns,an

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Of sport Gsnerally-opened with a cold.
drizzling rain that bid fair to not only
keep the country people all at home but
10 knock the days program completely
in tie head as well. By noon, hewsvsr,
the rain had ceased. and as old Sol rose
higher in the heavens his warm rays nit.
igsted the chilling atmosphere to such an
extent that the chances for the foot race
and balloon ascension grew correspond.
ingly brighter. Then the crowd began
to pour in. Where the people came
from it would be difficult to say, but come
they did by twos and threes, sinsly and
in loads, until as II by magic Main street
was crowded with teams and pedestrians
Everybody was surprised at the crowd
present. Had the day been plsasan,
ono probably the largest gathering Kim
ball ever saw would have been on hand.
Shortly after dinner A. d. Ward, Of
E.irkwood (this county, began prepara-
tions for his balloon ascension. A spot
was selected near the artesian well. and
a heating furnace constructed. Tho bal.
Icon used was . hot air balloon. with no
valve of any kind-all reports to the con
trary Notwithstanding. $50 yards of
heavy, rnblsacAsd cotton were ussd in
the manufacture Of the balloon, which
was so feet high and 1903 feet In circum-
~feSanoe. The atmosphere was heavy
the worst he ovsr experienced. Mr.. Ward
sald-and much difficulty was cneoun-
tered in Initiating the balloon. II caught
fire several times from sparks and each
time had to be lowered, emptied and the
hole closed. Then the wind would blow
in gusts at times, SO that at 4 o'clock but
little Roadway had been made.
The crowd at this time sarged down
Main street in the direction of tho rae.
ing track on the North side to see the
foot race, only to be Informed that the
balloon was going up in afew minutes,
and back they started pell-mell, but on
being assured that the balloon couldn't
possibly be inflated for sor1s time, turned
back and saw a pretty race between
Frank Craft, William Richards. George
Wilson and Walter Klingaman, which
resulted In the runners crossing the
finish In the order named.
Then the crowd broke for the balloon
again to find upon reaching there, the
balloon only half inflated and people
pretty nearly divided in their opinion
about q success being made of the under
taking, with the odds sgains. Il. De-
spite the fact that everything seemed to
work wreng-wind, atmoshere, the fire
aud goodness knows what-Mr. Ward
worked away with an indsfatigable en-
orgy which in a measure kept the big
crowd hopeful.
Meanwhile Frank Morgan and a young
mar from White Lake, Henry Eide, kept
a large number of the sports good nat
ured by q spirited wrestling match, Ia
which Morgan laid the White Lake young
man on his back twice out Of three
timcs-no fall for either on the seeond.
II wa 8 "eateh as catch can match,
and made lots Of fun for the boys.
Gradually the balloon grew bigger and
bigger, and when about three fourths
full Mr.. Ward began adding quart after
quart Of kerosene until the furnace fair
iy roared. A gusty breeze was prevail
Ing and i, took dozens of strong hands to
hr1I - In ~NeSttpn no $ho o;r hot
ter inside. Suddenly one of the holes
which had been sewsd up burst open
anew and the smoke and hot air began to
pour out like steam from an exhaust
pipe. But Ward emily added tho oil to
the fire more often In hopes of making
heat faster than it could escape. While
getting ready for last grand effort to
properly initiate the huge sir vessel, some
one stepped through the covering 10 the
fire trench, the flames shot out. and for
a moment II looked as though the de-
struetion of the balloon was certain.
Seeing that it was now or never, Mr..
Ward give the word TO let 60. and as the
big thing rapidly arese and Strengthened
out t~he'twenty feet of 1t that lay on the
ground not inflated, the plueky aeronaut
stood ready, and as the trapeze jumped
from the ground be sprang and caught
itwith the q~uickuess efa thought and in
the wink OF an eye he was sailing hsav-
onward. hanging 70 the trapeze with one
hand and waving his hat to the cheering
spectators with the other, 1t was truly
a pretty as we'll as q novel sight, and
there were none who Witnessed it but
felt amply rewarded for their long wait.
Owing TO tho heavy atmosphere, the
hole In thetop through which the nil
was constantly escaping in a big stream.
and the partial imitation OF the balloon
only, 1t arose but to tho height of abou,
5000 feet, as near as Mr.. Ward could
estimate, and after remaining In the all
just four minutes, gently sank to the
ground shout half mile distant in ths
direction or r. r. Highs.
There was but oae opinion expressed
BY all-that 1t was b grand sight and ar
exhibition OF daring rarely equalled
The neryy balloonist perfernsd upon mt
swinging trapezs with q recklessnesi
truly marvellous. Should he make an.
other ascension in Kimball-whieh a
this writing is extremely probable-it j.
safe to say that the town, would hardly
hold the peopls who would gather from
miles around. to sseit.
c. a, r, COMMITTEES.