The record-union., 1891-11-27
At The PARK.
A High Old" Horse Race Amuses
the Public.
HasaI Makes a Fine Balloon Ascension.
But Somewhat Sensational
Parachute Landing.

1here was fair attendance at Agricult-
ural Park yesterday TO witness the races
gwen under the auspices of the Capital
Iurf and Driving Club. The day was
delightful and the track in fine condition.
The judges and timers were J. w. Will
son and Daniel Flint.
The first race was between w. Ober's
Actor, S. c. Tryon's Prince Dan and f.
A. jones' Walter J., the latter a PAGER.
The former was the favorie at S., against
y 80 for Prince Dan. and 81 for Walter j.
In the first heat Actor led all the way,
notwithstanding a couple of breaks, and
won in 2:4O.
In the second heat Actor broke on the
back stretch, and Walter passed him. On
the turn, however, Actor again took the
Iead. He broke again at the drawgate
and fell back. He was coming up fast
again near the wire, but left his feet and
galIoped over the score Walter was
given the heat in 2:3Sl.
IhethIrd heat was very pretty one, Act
or and Walter going nose and nose to the
half. On the turn Actor broke and came
10 standstil, but soon caught up and
peat Walter out by length. Time, 2:36
The fourth heat was almost repetition
OF the preceding one, Actor beating Wal
Ter j. out in 2:35.
BURLEsQUE on TROTTING RACE.
The second race was for an entrance
stake Of S25 a side, the starters being C..
]. Iaylor's Riverside, w. Gardner's Gold
lIagle, Robert Numberger's Nellie w
Ladue's Great Scott and AIiddleton's
Cleveland Bay. Riverside brought s. in
lne pools against s. for the field There
were three or four pools sold
he race was very amusing one.
Iiyerside went to the front and led to the
wire, the others strung out all the way
pack 10 the half-mile pole. If the
distance flag had been at the
three-quarter pole Riverside could
have shut them all out, but there
was apparently no desire TO do it, and all
were allowed to get home Gold Eagle
was given second place. No time was
announced.
The second heat was of the same char
acter and equally Sensational" River
SIDE won in 200, closely pressed by Gold
Eagle on run.
Nobody waited to see the third heat.
THE BALLOON ASCENSION.
After the second heat of the above-men-
toned race" Professor Hagal made his
promised balloon ascension. There was
not breath Of air stirring, and the bal
loon. with its double parachute attach
lnent and the balloonist swinging in the
air below them, shot upward TO hight Of
5000 feet, when Hagal cut loose his para
chutes
He descended rapidly for several hun
Ored feet, when the lower one opened.
but the upper one tapped about in the
sun atmosphere and did not seem in
Clined to spread. 1t did open out, how
ever, when the aeronaut had about half
completed his descent, but even then it
swayed about, and-as it looked to those
DeIow-came near capsizing the other
parachute.
AS Hagal neared the ground il became
apparent that he wonld land on the roof
of the grand stand, and there was rush
IN that direction, as it was supposed he
would be precipitated from the roof to
the ground, distance of some fifty feet
He did strike on the roof, on the Twen-
tieth-street side, but had the presence of
mind TO throw himself flat upon the
shingles, and thus managed to save him
selffrom falling to the ground. The lower
parachute caught upon short flagstaff
above the roof, while the balloon itself
followed in few seconds and fell about
ten yards away and right in front Of the
main entrance.
Like most men engaged in ballooning,
hagal does not seem to think much of
these narrow escapes from injury or
death. He said he knew as he came
down he would strike on the roof OF the
stand, but he did not anticipate any dan
ger theretrom. But, had he landed on
the slant of u sharper-roofed building,
he certainly would have fallen to the
ground.
Hagal does not use any hoop at the
mouth of his parachutes in order to let in
the air to initiate it, as do other aeronauts.
lie trusts to luck in having them open
out, his first experiment Of the kind hav-
ing been made last Sunday. He saws the
hoop had caused him a great deal of
trouble, generally being mislaid, and he
concluded to do without it. He thinks
there is no doubt that the air will find its
way into the parachute on all occasions
even though its mouth be closed, pro-
yided the descent be not too short.
Hagal intends making one more ascen-
sion here.