The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-09-11
THE lEDRANANT DUCKED.

Miss LaEue Descends in tho River aud
Narrowly Escapes Drowninr-An Acct.
don't to the Balloon
All interest centred in the balloon
ascension and parachute jump until it
WAS over. 1t was announced for o'c!ock,
but owing to an accident did not occur
until nearly 3, and then, as another re-
suit OF the same accident, the balloon
could not be properly inflated and the
ascension was not as successful as it
ought to have been.
The balloon was suspended from
heavy rope stretched from pole twenty
feet high to another, and by numerous
guy ROPES besides. The furnace opened
midway between, tlA' hot air thus find.
its way into the imAense rounded can.
vas bag. When the balloon was ready
to be drawn up, an awkward pull drew
it the wrong way, and one OF the poles
fell with crash, narrowly escaping the
crowd that had gathered. In falling
tho top OF the pole broke off about
six feet from the end. This made it
too short, and when the balloon filled
and began to rise, the cross rope pressed
on It's top, forcing the air back out OF it
through the furnace and causing tho
draft 70 blow out of the furnace door in
stead Of into the balloon.
This made itimpossible to fully initiate
the balloon. II was filled us well as
possible, and then the big rope was
pulled of.
Miss LaRue, who had been superin-
tending the filling Of the bag, ran into a
neat little tent put up nearby for her
accommodation, and soon re-appeared
divested OF her street clothing and at
tired in neat dark tights and bright
Jacket. Her husband, who accompanies
her, embraced and kiased her tenderly,
which for the first time impressed some
Of the spectators with the idea that her
experiment was rather dangerous.
The young lady sat in the ring sus.
pended from the parachute, and the guy
roves were let 20, while the large crowd
that had gathered just about the place
fell back and watched the big balloon
risc msjestically and soar slowly south
ward.
| IL nho hPpuiGAt liOLu luc hlUW Ilbe
that the weight WAS too heavy for tho
bouyancy Of the balloon. 1t went up
possibly l25 feet, the woman's feet float.
ing by the old oak south OF the race
course oven with it's topmost branches.
It hoated on southwark, and Just as it
passed over the fair ground fence, began
to descend, very slowly. 1t came down,
down, till only the main part OF the
balloon was visible from the fair ground,
There it hung moment, and thon rose
just little, sinking again, then swaying
up and down, to and fro, and floating on
down the river till 1t reached the South
Wheeling ferry. where it was pulled out,
in good condition, except that the lower
part OF it and the parachute were soaked.
When the balloon first fell, Miss La.
Rue was under the half open parachute.
It bore her down into the river, and
entangled as che was in the ring, her ait.
uation was dangerous. Itwas some time
before the canvas lifted of her and let
her get to the surface. She was in the
middle Of the river where 1t is particular.
ly wide, aud exhausted from her stay
under water. She struck out bravely for
shore, and swan well while, but was
about gone when a skif that had pulled
out from shore picked her up. Il
She was rowed up to the residence on
the upper end of the fair ground, and
taken care Of there. She was pretty ill
for some length OF time, and last even.
ing was still weak aud a'littlo pale, but
shs said shs would be all right by this
afternoon apd would 90 up again. The
balloon will be 80 arranged that it can
be Glled with hot air, and her husband
promises with good luck to send hel
tout Of sight."
Even as 1t went of yesterday the as
cension and leap we're thrilling, ant
showed plainly what areally high aigh
would be. s. -,