Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-05
FATAL BALLOON ASCENSION.
An Aeronaut Drowned and His Assistant
Fatally Injured.

AN AefOn0ut Drowned ana HIS Assistant
Fatally Injured.
The balloon ascension from the common in
Boston yesterday afternoon, one of the features
In the celebration Of the Fourth prepared by
the city government, had q sad ending, the
aeronaut, Prof. Augustus Rogers Of Maiden,
Mass, meeting his death almost instantly. his
assistant, Thomas Fenton, dying later, and the
third occupant of the balloon being now in the
hospital suffering from the shock aud the inha-
lstion Of gas.
An immense crowd gathered on the common
to witness the ascension. and soon after O'Clock
Prof. Rogers, his assistant and Delos E. Gold
smith a reporter stepped into the huge airship
Gov. Russell and began the ascent amid cheers
Of the vast crowd. The balloon arose but a
few hundred feet, then sailed away TO the south,
and when over South Boston rose to consider
ably higher altitude, continuing its journey
directly out to sea.
When about five miles down the harbor, and
of ThOmpsons Island, Prof Rogers, who did
not relish the thought Of an ocean voyage. at
tempted to open the valve to make landing on
the island, but in his efforts to do SO he made q
rent in the side of the balloon. The immense
bag began to descend at a terrible rate, and as
it-ssrucks.the water seemed to collapse. Rogers
sank at once and his body has not yet been re-
covered. Fenton and Goldsmith struggled
manfully and succeeded in catching hold Of the
basket and held on for their lives.
Their predicament was seen by some laborers
on Thompson's Island, who Immediately put
out to the spot in q rowboat and managed to
drag the two men into their boat Both were
in a greatly exhausted condition. Fenton's con-
dition being the most precarious, he 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 sailing regatta,
and was on her way up the harbor, saw the
trouble and went to the rescue, the two men
being transferred thereto to be brought to the
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
recover, although he is a sufferer from the
shock and from the quantities Of gas he inhaled.
THE STORY OF THE TRIP.
Delos E. Goldsmith, the only survivor, told
the story Of the trip as he lay on a cot in the
hospital last night. He said: "When the bal
loon rose in the air the sun was declining and
the scene from the car was beautiful. We all
anticipated enjoyable trip. At first it
seemed us if the balloon would take u westerly
course, but q strong wind from the west sud-
denly arose and swept 1t toward South Boston,
1t was soon evident that We were
heading for the harbor. 1t was then
that Professor Rogers said we would land
all knew meant to be carried to sea- The pro-
fess0r seemed to realize this, as he became
triHe nervous. He pulled the escape valve cord,
but the cord refused to work.
1T was then a question Of life or death.
Again and again he pulled. For moment the
huge mass shook and Quivered. Soon our Do
sition became uncomfortable because Of the
Odor Of the gas. To mitigate this the hold on
the cord was relaxed. To our amazement the
valve refused to close. Prof. Rogers kept his
hold on the rope. Suddenly noise overhead
in the balloon, which, as the gas escaped in
creased to yard. At first slowly and then like
an arrow the balloon descended. In this awful
descent it occurred to me that two carrier
pigeons were in the bottom of the car. With
one wrench l pulled the cover from the
cage and they were free. moment
later We struck the water. 1t seemed rs
If / went ten feet below the surface.
1 knew we would have to swim, and before We
struck the water had thrown my coat away
l had not time to remove my shoes, but while
in the water I lay on my back and removed
them. Then became tangled up in the net
ting. When We came up 1 wiggled FREQ and
Jumped out of the basket. The land seemed far
away, though l am told it was only 500 yards
All this time l heard Prof. Rogers behind me
and supposed he WAS swimming for the shore
felt sick at the stomach as l swan from tho
effects of breathing the gas and il had not
been picked up quickly would have soon given
out. Whether Prof. Rogers died from the CT
fects OF the gas or from his fall don't know,
He was near me all the time until he sank in my
wake
Goldsmith is twcnty-three years Of age. He
is fond OF athletics and Is an expert yachtsruan
and swimmer. He will be able probably to
leave the hospital TODAY