Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-07-06
ROGERS Is ALIVE.

The Professor,s Wife Thinks He IL
Ashore Somewhere-Balloo Ascen-
sions Will Not be a Feature OF
Future Fourth OF July Celebration ms
In BostOn-The Fatal Mistake Was
Made In Exploding tho Balloon.
BOSTON, July 5.-The fearful balloon &C.
cident yesterday has brought the real dan
ger so foroibly to the minds of the thou
sands who witnessed the ascension that
any attempt to include a similar display in
the program during the next decade will
meet with vigorous opposition. President
David J. Barry of the common council
and other members of the city government
have already expressed themselves as
against any further ascensions. In the
meantime people are anxious to know the
real cause of the present disaster. Many
believe that the balloon was imperfectly
made, and that much of the blame can be
laid to this circumstance. Water Com
missioner Leighton, who had known Prof.
Rogers for years, and who has served on
the balloon committee of the city govern
'ment several times, is quoted as saying
that Rogers had always said that he would
rip his balloon wide open rather than go
into the water. Mr.. Leighton believed
that Rogers failed to test the valve while
the balloon was being filled, as should
have been done, and that when it became
necessary to open it in the emergency it
failed to work. Said he: whatever was
at the bottom of this accident, carelessness
is likely to be found somewhere. Rogers
was undoubtedly scared of the sea,
and he ripped that balloon, as
he always said he would, pretty well
up. He thought he could strike Thomp-
cons island, but miscalculeted and
dropped faster than he had any idea Of"
Professor ]. H. Hall, who had charge of
the Waltham ascension, is quoted as say
ing that both himself and Mrs. Rogers be-
lieve that the professor is alive. Said he:
eve have talked over the catastrophe to-
gether and both think he is alive and
somewhere on shore, although he may be
hurt or disabled. What strengthens US in
with the other two men, nor has it been
found since"
To those who saw the descent of the
balloon into the water, the rescue of Gold
smith, the sinking of the man behind him,
and the recovery of Fenton, this view
seems utterly impossible. The men were
all out of the basket when it was raised.
Fenton was entangled in the netting and
raised with it. Goldsmith says Rogers was
with him and he heard him swimming be-
hind him. This being 80 he must have
been the man seen from the Doane to
throw up his hands and sink out of sight,
unless there were four men in the balloon,
and this it is known was not 30.
Professor Hall describes the making of
the balloon and is reported as saying that
he helped Rogers cut it himself. Mrs. Rogers
sewed it up. He declares the balloon was
made for use year ago and WAS varnish-
ed for the last time this spring. 1t was
never used till yesterday and was in per-
feet order. Professor Hall says that cause |
of the accident was simply this, that Pro- |
lessor Rogers invariably exploded his bal |
loon whenever he wished to land. There |
is on every balloon what we call the ex-
plosive cord for use only in emergency. In |
my opinion, as an old aeronaut, he should |
not have pulled that cord, as when the car |
fell into the water with the balloon unex |
ploded the latter would have acted exactly |
IS a bladder and would have held the car
On top of the water. 1t would be impossi- |
BILE, the professor continued, to breathe in |
gas enough to make them unconscious. |
Gas, of course, always rises, and while |
they may have smelled it strongly they
could not possibly have drawn a particle
IF IL into the lunps