The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-08-20
FELL FROM The CLOUDS.
Terrible Experience Of An
AerOnaut and Friends.
They Chung to the Balloon and
Saved Themselves.

DENVER, August 19.-The escape
from instant death OF Professor
Samuel A. King, Of Philadelphia, and
Mr.. and Mrs. Sherman Hunt, who ac-
companied the aeronaut on his balloon
voyage from Manhattan Beach yester-
day is considered almost amiracle. 1t
was nearly six o'clock when Sherman
Hunt and Mrs. Mary Johnston, of
Arvarda, who had determined to make
their wedding trip by balloon, appear
ed in the enclosure near the tossing
gas bags The words that made them
man and wife were pronounced by
Justice Talbotan the couple announc-
ed themselves really for the voyage
Professor King stepped into the
basket, followed by the newly welded
couple and moment later the balloon
shot upward. No ballast nor anchor
was taken, in order to give the ship
greater buoyaney,
The people cheered and shouted as
the airship arose higher and higher
Big black clouds covered the sky, and
the lightning flashed and flickered
The bride waved her handkerchief and
kissed her hand to the multitude be-
low until her form became indistinct.
Suddenly the larger of the two balloons
attached to the basket appeared to
grow small. 1t had in fact burst, and
Immediately afterward the basket,
when at an altitude Of one and a half
miles above the ground, began de-
scending at frightful speed.
A groan of horror went up from the
crowd as the descent of the balloons
became faster each minute. They
soon disappeared from view and the
people returned to their homes inn
pressed with the belief that the voya-
gels had been dashed to pieces. The
balloonists, however, were very much
alive. When the rapid descent began
the professor told them they would get
to the ground without being killed.
but to do everything possible to ease
the shock. He knew it would be a
tremendous one, and directed them to
get astride the basket and cling to the
ropes This they did, and he did
likewise, dropping at a terrific rate oI
speed, faster than the balloonst ever
travelled before.
Down the balloon dropped until il
struck the ground with a tremendou,
crash near Fort logan. Everything
was dark, and the occupants OF the
basket, or rather the three astride 0
its sides, were scattered pell-Inell owe
the ground. The married couple OIL
picking themselves mp found that the!
had escaped injury not even scratcl
being visible. Professor King, how
ever, owing to his age and .heav.
weight, fell on his right shoulder
which is badly bruised, while bis righ
armis helpless
The balloon ascension from Elitche
Gardens was less thrilling, This bal
loon also carried young marrie'
couple. They were Mr.. and Mrs
Richard Calvin, who before this, wer
Richard Calvin and Miss Olive Bal
ton. Professor Baldwin entered tn
basket followed by the couple, and a
hiseommand the ropes were cut, an
the balloon arose. A very pleasan
trip was made After being up nearl
an hour the balloon. landed on tn
foothills, near Golden, safely,
President Harrison Goes to Vermont
7 PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Aug. 18TH
special train bearing President Hal
rison and'party to Bennington, Vt.
take part inthe Centennial left CAY
May at s O'clock this morning an
passed through Camden, N j. short
before II O'clock, The train procee
!, ca from CamdeunvcF the Camden
Amboy Railroad to Trehton, whel
it viii enter upon the New Yol
division Of the Pennsslyania railro;
and win reach Jersy City about
o'clock. b
Private Secretafx Hplford and N
Howard Cole, ,nf Indianapolis accor
panied the Pfesldept
Killed His VIE.