The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-10-14

Grounds-The Balloon Carried out Over
the Lake, and Aeronant King and
Miss Morris MfraculousIy Res
cued by Revenue Cutter.
For the second time this summer
the Worlds Fair festivities came near
being marred by dreadful calamity.
Friday balloon ascension had almost
a fatal termination. 1t being State
Commissioners Day, special prepara-
tions were made by the Worlds Fair
directors to attact crowds to that part
of the grounds. One OF the amuse-
ments arranged was balloon ascen-
sion by an old and experienced
aeronant, Professor King of Phlladel-
phia.
A large balloon was inflated in the
space between the New York State
Building and the Fine Arts Building.
1t was equipped for short ascension,
Prof. King believing that with the
easterly winds which prevailed during
the afternoon he would be driven back
of the city and could land on open
prairie within short time after he had
risen from the earth. The time set
for the ascension was three O'Clock.
1t was three quarters OF an hour later
before the start was made.
While active preparations were 60
ing on great crowd assembled around
the balloon. Among the number was
Miss Joie Morris, whose home is at
Ames. Iowa, but who cane here this
summer to see the Worlds Fair, and
who had secured a position in the Fine
Arts Building, where she sold cata-
logues. Miss Morris watched the
aeronant as he made ready fer his trip,
and became possessed with an insane
desire to make the journey into the
clouds with him. She sought an in
PRODUCTION to him, and, preferred her
request to be allowed to be his com
panion In his aerial flight.
Prof King objected very strongly al
first to taking the young girl with him
but her pretty and persuasive manner
finally won him over, and he agreed
to let her 20. The weather was SC
fine that the ascension seemed like
child's play to the veteran aeronant
When all was ready, he and Mis-:
Morris stepped into the frail basket,
and the word was hiven let the big
gas bag loose. 1t rGAe 'kly and
impressively straight toward the DiHs
sky, and the thousands and thousand:
of people who were packed in blaci
mass on the wide street and plaza be
fore the New York Building gave {
mighty cheer and mighty cry o
"Bon voyage !" as the travellers wen
upward.
For a short time everything wen
well with the voyagers. A strong bu
gentle wind blew the balocn toware
the southwest. As it continued to rist
the occupants of the car could be seer
waving their hands to the people or
the fair grounds far below them Wher
the balloon had reached an altitude o
about one mile it struck counter cur
rent of air, which changed Its COURSE
to the northeast. 1t was stiff breeze
and the balloon quickly forged TOWARD
Lake Michigan.
1t was only a few minutes whel
those below were horrlfied to see tina
the balloon was rapidly being carried
out over the lake and that 1t would b.
useless for the aeronant to try to de
scend on land, because before HI
could get the balloon down it, woulc
be far out to sea. 1t is possible tina
Prot. King did not at first appreciat
the peril. No so with those on teri
firma.
Captain Fowler, who commands on
of the steam launches which make trip
out into the lake from the main lagoon
was one of the first to see that tn
balloonist were in danger. He ran t
his craft, the Aloha, which lay wit
steam up at the wharf near the Agri
cultra Building, east off the moorlngs
and steered out into the lake. H
lost sight of the balloon as he passe
under the peristyle. When he got OF
in clear water, he looked east an
southeast, but could not locate the fly
ing air-ship. He ran the Aloha wa
out beyond the long pier and as h
could not then see the balloon, h
started back.
lust after he had turned the Aloha
nose toward the shore, he discovere
the balloon to the northeast, sailir
, along like cloud toward the 9th
, side OF the lake. Again he turned Il
Aloha seaward, and started after Il
: air ship. The race was an unequ
one, but it was full OF excitement f
t the thousands of people who lined II
= embankment along the lake within t
Worli's Fair Grounds.
S Prof King must have begun to re
, lie that he must take despers
! chances if he wished to save his @,
, life and that of the companion, for |
lore the Aloha had steamed mile t