Morning journal and courier., 1892-07-05
FAMOUS AERoNAUr DROWNED.

| FAMOUS AERONAUT DROWNED
| Crowd OF Bostonians Witness tho
Shocking Accident - Professor
Rogers and His Assistant Ktllcd-Ii
was the Formers One Hundred and
Thirteenth Ascension-The Valve
Did Not Work, and Being Driven
Out to Sea, He Burst the Sides
Sketch of His Career.
BosroN, July 4.-The balloon ascension
from the common this afternoon, one of
the features in the Fourth of July celebra-
ton prepared by the city government. had
a sad ending, the aeronaut, Professor
Augustus Rogers of Maiden, meeting his
death almost instantaneously, his assistant,
Thomas Fenton, dying later and the third
occupant of the balloon being now in the
hospital suffering from the shock and in
halation of gas. An immense crowd
gathered on the common this afternoon to
witness the ascension and soon after
O'Clock Professor Rogers, his assistant and
Delois E. Goldsmith, a representative of
the City Press association, stepped
in the huge airship Governor
Russell" and began the ascent amid the
cheers of the vast crowd. The balloon
rose but few hundred feet, then sailed
away to the south, and when over South
Boston rose to a considerably higher alti-
tude, continuing it's journey directly out
sea. When about five miles down the har-
Dor and off Thompson's Island Professor
Rogers, who did not relish the thought of
an ocean voyage, attempted to open the
valve and attempt landing on the island,
but in his efforts to do so he made a rent
m the oiAa M ha balloon he
bag began to descend at terrible rate, and
as it struck the water seemed to en-
tirely collapse. Rogers sank at once,
and his body has not yet been re-
covered. Fenton and Goldsmith strue-
gled manfully and succeeded in catching
hold of the basket and held on for
their lives. Their predicament was seen
by some laborers on Thompson Island,
who Immediately put out to the spot in a
rowboat and managed to drag the men into
their boat. Both were in greatly ex-
hausted condition, Fenton's condition be-
ing the most precsrious, having inhaled
quantities of gas and water. By this time
the tug Nathaniel P. Doane, which had
been in use by the judges of the city sail
ing regatta and was on her way up the har-
Dor, cav the trouble and went to the rescue,
the two men being transferred thereto to
be brought to this city. Fenton slowly
sank and died before the tug reached the
city. Goldsmith was brought to the city
hospital, where it is stated that he will re-
cover. although he is a sufferer tonight from
the shock and from the quantities of gas
that he inhaled.
PROFESSOR ROGERS CAREER
Professor Augustus Rogers was born in
Wolfboro, N. H, in 1880, came to Boston
in 1862, and has resided in Maiden for thir-
teen years at 80 Granville avenue. He
was private detective in Boston for ten |
years, from 1866 to 1876, and was employed |
by the Eastern railroad in the capacity of |
private detective during the same time. |
He has been an aeronaut since 1870 and |
to-day's ascension was his 18th. The |
principal accident that ever occurred to |
him before to-dsy's was at the Point Of |
Pines eleven years ago to-day when, in |
making the journey from there to Nahant, |
his balloon burst over Nshsnt and he fell |
upon some telephone wires, receiving in
juries from which he never fully re-
covered. His last ascension was made /
from Boston common three years ago to- /
day. He had made fifteen ascensions for
the city of Boston, and had been precipi- /
tated into the harbor two or three times. /
He first was engaged in the balloon bust /
ness with the famous Sam King of Phila-
delphia, one of the best known aeronauts /
in the world. He was three years ago with /
Forepaugh's circus, giving exhibitions of /
his skill, but only remained with it /
a short time. For the past six or
eight years he has been engaged in send /
women jump from them with a parachute.
Three ascensions were made to-day under
his management-one at Augusta, Me-, one
at Waltham, Mass, and the other here
The balloon used by him to-day was a new
one and on leaving home to-day he ex-
pressed pleasure with it to his wife and
said he thought to-dsy's would be the best
trip he ever made. He leaves widow, but
no family.
REPORTER GoLDsMTTH's STORY.
Reporter Goldsmith's condition tonight
WAS much more comfortable and it is ex-
pected that he will leave the hospital to-
He tells the following story:
''We had a very good ascension and l
enjoyed it first rate. We sailed from the
common out toward Dorchester and then
the wind took us and we began to run
Of being blown out to see. We had only
been in the air about fifteen minutes when
he said we must descend and he gave a
hard yank on the rope which opens the
valve. But the valve would not
work and he yanked the rope
again. Again the valve refused to open.
Then Rogers pulled the cord which is ar
ranged to burst the balloon at the bottom,
Just below the bulb. He accomplished
this, and a rent was made in the side.
The gas escaped and we began to go down.
Thompson Island, and he would have Just
accomplished it if it had not been that all
Of q sudden the valve at the top opened.
The air rushed in at the bottom, and the
whole volume of gas, having two out
let's, went out with a rush, collapsing
the balloon. Rogers said to us: Now,
look out; we are going to strike
had an idea that the basket would float.
had kicked off my shoes preparatory to
8 vim for it, but had my coat on Instead
Of floating the basket sank right down and
the water began to come in over the top,
while the balloon itself shut down on top
Of us. Then We all scrambled out. l
think went down about ten feet. When
| rose to the surface Professor Rogers came
up, too, close by me. and We struck out
together. had learned to divest myself |
Of my clothes in the water and 1
got rid of my coat and got my
shirt open. I found myself getting
tired and raised my arm to signify that 1
was growing weaker. Rogers disappeared /
and 1 was saved. The other man got en-
tangled in the balloon netting / did not
know his name. He was Professor Rogers
We were not up fifteen min
utes."
Tho mas P. Fenton, Professor Rogers as
sistant, was thirty four years old and lived
in Lynn, where he leaves a wife and six
children. He had followed several trades
and to-day WAS his first experience in aro-
nautics.
HANLAN DEFEATS HOSMER
In n Three.MIle Shell Race on the /