The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-07-09

vorable conditions. Many were lod to believe
from this eircuns tanca that the g Grand Bal
loon Ascension and Parachute Leap would be
declared eff ana nun erous remarks were heard |
expressive OF the great disappointment antici
pated, for Of all sights people like to witness, j
balloon ascension seems to be one Of the most |
attractive But their fears were idle as the |
wind'' and the waiting interval fer the !
aerial ascent was filed in by Witnessing the
wonderful exhibition Of shi oting by DR.. Bogar- i
dus, champion quick shot, who perf}rmc d some |
truly astonishing feats in breaking glass balls,
and in snufing the ashes from lighted cigar
held in the mouth of a gentleman. whose nerve
equally steady wi that of the gentleman
who performed the feat, AS rapid shooter.
the i;oe.o meritedly ars the Insignia Of
:" Champion
At the conclusion Of his shooting, the people
began to rally from their & lal foTeboding'.
for fire had been started the meanwhile
and the folds of the balloon s. ce observed to be
spreading cut at Il very percep.ihle rate
Everything else was now lost sight Of and the
attention of the multitude cont entr ted on the
lair ship" which soon began to sway back
and forth like an imprisoned monster eXertiog
itsef in a supreme efforS for freed IA. 1t in
Hated larger and larger unit the gnal was
given to abandon it to iIs upward flight, and
shortly after O'Clock. mid the cheering of
the people, the huge inf ,tiCn rose with
mighty force. picking up its ham ~ freight as
| easily and gracefully as though bas tea'her
weight. The ascent was rapid and beautiful,
and as the Professor drew himself up on TO the
trapese, from which he hung susp nIed by the
hands until far above every bulldog the peo-
| pie murmured an Involuntary coISrltu!2li. I.
| for it was indeed % fearful sighl to Wi hess
The balloon sailed swiftly to the south, and
every eve was riVeted to The da1iag Professor
| who set com placenely on his mid air ae2t way
| ing his handkerchief 10 his almost terrified be
| holders, as much at home as though on terra
| frma The air ship behaved most handsomely
and was a sight never to be forgotten by the
| thousands who had come to witGess it, but
many were the anxious speculat!ons and fearfaI
| wonderings concerning the parachute which as
yet hung its folds in idle useIessness Just as
| the people were beginning to indulge in faint
| visions of possible disaster, the canvassed ur'
brella was observed to open out in full, roanGe
form, and a moment later was seen gracefully
and easily descending with its precious human
burden The balloon, relieved OF its weight
performed quick sUmmeTsault and trem lis
inverted end there poured forth large. l%Zs
column of smoke. giving il the appearance OF a
volcano floating upside down in the &Ir
Anxiety WSs then felt as to where the parachute
would land, as il was feared by many that the
Professor had detached it over the surface O
the peat pond which, had it proved true. woulc
have been a serious matter The Professor say!
. he himself felt very shaky for few moments
2 on bahoding lake below him. but soon iount
that he was all right and H. landed IN n iielt
/ Just this side of the lake in rather unpleasan
proximity. to say the least The people wer
well satisfied with what they beaeld. and wei
] they might be. for prettier or more thrilling
! sight could not be imagined, and Pref Young
e of " Wapakonetta, O. would be sure 10 be calie'
upon should RavenGa ever again 6esire tn
! services of an experienced and successful aero
naut.
!. But the days fuU was not over SET for thar
e were the foot races. high jumps. foct bali con
Il test sc, &c which aft ,ried much amusemer
i TO the spectators. and resulted IS follows:
High Iump-won by Will Goss. Edinbu Sh
Running Race-won by Willie Poe, Ravenha
1 Foot Ball-won-by Ben. Byers. Ravenna
c Egg 8aea-won by Put. willard, RavenHa
Bicycle Race ass mS%syf&aail 8ssr sssr
Threelesgcd Race s' mSHs}1a eve Jahs S
Walking Match-won by Jack Carroll.
= The day fire works were something novel be
, ing the first ever seen in Portage touaty, an
- were curiosities.
In the early evening TWENTY-FIVE large p2pe
= | balloons of various coiors were sent up. bril-
: Iiantly Illuminated, making a very pre- I
: sight. Att O'Clock, cannon again doomed l
- | an evening salute. Chan Wing, the Chimes
y laundrymau, furnished what was decidedly I'll
most popular taing cf the whole evening in til
=
China an ingeniously constructed string Of fiji
= crackers, large a1d small. that measured oV'
- 20 feet in length. The string was suspended
u front of the Court House and promptly at
= O'Clock he opened the program by lighting Il
y fuse that started the worst pandimonium {
, sounds heard in Ravenaa since the celebrate
- two years ago, when he introduced The novel
~ to our citizens. For full twenty minutes !
- incessant burs Jag aad popping was heard, Il
" air being filled with exploding crackers
that ompletely drowned all other noises. LoI
cheering attested the enjoyment OF the GROVE
1t was g regular 'razzle dazzle"
= The fire works were simply grand Nothif
like them in quantity or quality was ever sa'
in Portage County, aud the assurance from t
- committee that the display has never be'
~ eqnallcd either in extent or novelty. in til
~ city, was abundantly verified
The celebration was e grand success Not
word Of complaint wss heard. and no di
y urbances of any kiad marred the pleasures
the day. But two arrests were made and tn
~ were simply to allow two individuals to sic
d of the effects of an oversuppy CT beer. Z IL
" all it was the best celebration ever given
n Portage County and cannot fail to impress t
people that when a celebration is announced
d. Ravenna, the facts correspond with the bills.