Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-07-06


Augusta people viii be glad to hear
that. They have feis considerable anxiety,
asd will be- pIeasef To learn through the
Jonn<sL that you are on the way 10 recoy-
cry
If am sure thank them very much.
Everybody hss been exceedingly kind 10
me here
How long viii you remain 10 the eityf~
II expeet 10 leave tonight on the eleven
O'Clock train II / am able to travel
Did you feel that the balloon vas safe
when you star,sds@
# thought it was not sufficiently inflated
though il ~oaJ have been safe enough II IL
had contained nothing bat hot air. The
trench where the FIRE vas built was very
damp. and the result vas that the balloon
was flied largely With steam and smoke. 1t
had very little hfsing force, IS | quickly
found out after vas lst 90. 10 not be
lieve was up at any time more than
hundred feet began TO sink almost
Immediately. II I had been at sufficient
altitude | should have cut loose 10 the par
aehute, but knew that it would be- certain
stances # requires a deacon, Of between
two and three hundred feet To secure
good spread for parachute, was
obliged to stay viii, the balloon ."
The people were getting impatient when
! started, and sas very anxious not 10
di.appoint them. had planned to
make the leap ia the parachute between the
river AMI the builiings Of the Insane Asy-
lum. That would have given everybody
chance. 10 have seen IL. We alsays plan
la give folks a good view Of these Jumps
though sometimes the conditions uf the lay
or the country are such ~ To prevent.
Everything appeared favorable yesterday
AMI If the balloon had been properly in
Hated I am confident that everything would
have passed of beautifully
There was no trotihle with the balloon
itself was there?"
None whatever It Is very good one.
I made an ascent in it last fall at txbridge,
Massachusetts, reaching An attitude OF be
tween four and five thousand feet. came
down in the parachute slighting just outside
the fair grounds not more than 1--WE hundred
feet from y here started.
You saw that Won were likely to go into
the river almost at the start lid you mott"
Yes. 1t did not seem more than minute
10 me from the time | started until was in
the water The balloon dragged along the
surface Of the water pulling me under a
number of times I had succeeded in I'M
fastening the belt that attached me to the
bar, but had become so entangled in the
ropes of the parachute that | was unable
to get loose from them. | kept my
head above water as well as I could
by climbing up the balloon rope. When
struck the boom | threw one arm over il
and endeayored 10 free myself from the
parachute The balloon was moving down
river and dragged me off and under water
several times Fortunately it moved along
beside the boom and when was finally free
from the parachute ropes | was able To
reach II and cling onto it. The last ropes
that held me had canght about my neck
and had quite struggle 10 free myself
from them
Can YOU swim"
Not stroke. know nothing about il 80
Did you have on a life preserver;"
No, have never carried one
Were you conscious when the boat
reached YOU
.-iDimly so. suppose was experiencing
many Of the sensations of drowning per
.on conh hear in an indistinct way
the people on the shore calling to me
Ia hold on. That was all that saved me
| have faint remembrance of some one
shouting. 1--WE are coming to you then 1t
seemed to me a. if some one had hold of
mo. | remembered nothing more till
came to myself in the old house by the riv-
or. If the boat had not reached mr just
when IL did, should certainly have been
drowned don't believe could have held
on a inmate longer
II suppose, after this experience you will
give mp the business;
No indeed shall go up again. am
booked for several engagements of
them the 10Th of this month. don't
know though but what the death of Prof
Rogers may cancel themt"
"Yon have heard of that them
Yes this morning. It was very sad.
How long have YOU been with him."
About two years
Did yoa begin the work with him.
NO started in with Prof King a Western
man. Prof. Rogers sent after me soon after
and came East. have been with him
ever since"
How many ascensions have YOU made2'
Yesterday was my thirty second"
Have YOU ever met with any accidents
hsfore7"
Yes. about two years ago my parachute
went To pieces giving me a bad fall. |
broke my beg in three places and also two
ribs. was laid up for some time; but
when was able TO get about on one crutch
wen, up again. That time, though. met
with good success.
Did you ever come down ON buildings
or trses2~
Yes. once came down on huiidine
and once in tree, but no damage was done
either time.
1T isa very dangerous calling"
"Yes, when we 20 up, We never know
hut what il may be our last trip,
"poesn', 1t ever brighten your
NO. it never has from the very first.
How old was Prof Rogers
About sixty eight years"
Did he leave any family"
No only his wife"
If you are determined to remain IN the
business WHY don't You buy his balloons and
conduct il on YOUR own hook"
II may but the difficulty would be to find
the right Kind of manager. Prof.
Rogers was an Old man. Tie had
been in the business great many
wears and understood it thoroughly. | had
perfect confidence in him. | think
Ill l. .