The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-04
An Aeronaut's Feat.

The most dangerous feat l ever attempted
was to descend with a parachute from a
tight rope stretched across a canyon. had
been engaged by a hotel keeper to perform
in order to draw a crowd. l felt a little
nervous when 1 saw such an audience.
When the parachute was in readiness a
deathlike hush fell over every one present
a hush that could but affect the most insen-
sible.
. While examined the machine to see that
every thing was in perfect order, sang a
comic song to keep myself from thinking.
Then crossed one leg over the perch and
plunged into the air.
Shall ever forget the seusation2 Pm
used to sensation of this kind, too If | had
been a novice, the way in which l shot
through the air would have frightened me
80 much that 1 should have lost my hold on
the machine at once; but, as it was, chung
all the tighter.
The parachute did not seem to offer a par
ticle of resistance to gravitation. l went
down. down, down like stone. My head
seemed to fly off my shoulders The air
whiZzed and fiuttered terribly, the horn
sent forth the shrieks of maniac. | be-
Geve was never more confused in my life
1t seemed as though I should never stop.
If | continued on at this rate / should GER
rainly 90 down into the earth at least ten
feet.
felt that my time had come. Then,
when had given up all hope of change,
the parachute commenced to dive and dart,
and knew that it had commenced to feel
the power of resistance.
With every dive the speed slackened, and
finally | came to stop that almost jerked
me from my perch.
The machine righted and commenced to
float on the current | had noted the day
before felt myself slowly descending,
and had time to take breath and look below
me.
was surely and slowly drifted over to
clump of tree that would prove anything
but a safe place on which to alight.
kicked my legs loose in the hope of direct
ing the parachute northward to a slope of
green grass
But the current had it at its mercy If l
should come down gently. among the
branches of a tree / might escape with q
few scratches, but If struck it heavily
was sure of death.
Suddenly l became aware Of collision.
and q number of shrieks that came from a
woman. The air seemed full of pins and
needles, which penetrated even my eyes. /
caught glimpse Of a dainty foot, and have
an indistinct memory of hearing somebody
calling John and Maria. Then l felt a
warm arm about my neck and the firm
grasp of q mans hand. Then think fell
asleep.
When my mind became alive to what was
going ON about me looked around but could
see nothing.
care you awaken asked a fine. sweet
voice that was very welcome to my thirsty
ears
Eyes. Why is it SO dark here?"
You can't see me?"
Mot bit of you: and my eyes feel as
large as a couple of oranges. Where's my
parachutes How did | come here"
You FELL she said, with pretty little
laugh.
did II l thought I rode here on the
points of 10000 needless"
Worse than needles. You fell into
hornets nest.n
20, did,
felt my hands, which were as large as
any two hands ought to be.
How long must lie in bed?"
Until you are able to get up, | suppose"
with another little laugh.
~, you think it funny, suppose"
Indeed do not! Don't you know you
nearly lost your life?'
The owner of the sweet voice told me
that all her people had gone out to look at
my parachute descent, and that after had
fallen into the tree and the hornets nest she
and her father carried me to their house in
an lnsensible condition. Hundreds of peo-
pie had come down to the valley to learn
my late, the hotel man among the number.
de said he would pay all my bills, and sent
down the best physician in the city. My
feat was considered something wonderful
and my escape marvellous.
In five days my eyes were open, and saw
the owner of the soft hand-the hand that
had nursed me through my days of blind
ness and so gently applied lotions to my
lace. was very much in love with that
soft baud, and when / saw the sweet face
that accompanied it was lost bachelor
have given up rope walking and all such
dangerous feats. My wife won't allow me
to risk my valuable life. Yes. she calls it
valuable, so you see must have turned over
anew leaf.