The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1894-08-24
TIE reRaoas OF sAlLooN,No-
4 Womas's Exciting FALL Throazh spac.
and Escape From Death.

49,
and Escape From Death.
Mrs. Carl E. Myers. the parachute
Jumper, told of an exciting experience
of hers at the fair grounds at Ottawa
that, as she said, began like a con
edy and nearly ended in a tragedy:
1T was the narrowest escape I've
ever had, and incidentally and acct
dentally the first parachute desccrr
over made in America. 1t wasn't e
regular parachute either, but I'll te,t
you about that when l come TO II
The occasion was a big fair, and the
grounds were packed with people,
the biggest and most uncomfortable
crowd / have ever seen. We had a
funny time getting the balloon to thu
place. 1t was brought up OF the
other side of the river in tow of a |"
connective and was to be towed across
by a line OF canoe padded by In
hians. We got it fastened to the ca
noes, and it lifted the first three into
the air, spilling their occupants
That was too much, even for aborig
inal stolidity. The other Indians de
oamped in haste.
They afterward said that if theS
had to go upward t. the Great Spirit
they preferred to de first and have
the benefl of decent burial. Their.
move waste fasten the balloons guy
rope to the stern Of a small stea-
tug. The tug started up, a pun %
wind lifted the balloon a little. auG
up came the stern of the boat out g..
the water. The tug kept on putting
the screw revolved wildly. and thu
crowd howled with laughter. 1t was
TOO ridiculous, 1t reminded me of a
Kitten held up in the air by the tai
and wildly scratching TO get a foot
hold on the hoor beneath.
Finally, a bigger boat got the big
gas bag over safely, but so denSely
packed was the crowd that l had te
walk on the shoulders of the people
to the balloon. In their eagernesS 10
get up close The people broke tht
concentrating RS, which gathers H.,
balloon ropes before they are taste
ed TO the basket. and also tore Il ID.
hole in the bag. In view Of this. ,ir
Myers wanted me TO give upthe trIf..
but ! insisted on going. and tinai,y
fastened the ropes 10 the basket. the
rapidity with which | shot ur was
alarming. and !, was three mikes nigh
before | stopped. Then | began ia
drop pretty fast. bur | knew | could
stop that when ! wanted to. and !
felt better. Suddenly heard a tire.
mendous ripping aud tearing sound
The air pressing up as | fell had start
ed the hole made by the crowd ana
had torn tLree great clear Z.
the TOP of the bag.
4 began to drop with frightf"I
rapidIty, and for a minute | gaven
self up for lost and sank down in the
basket. Then it flashed into my min
that | still had a chance if | could GO
turn the balloon as TO bring the tor
parts underneath, and thus keep some
Of the gas in the bag. 1t was a case
OF working against time. for every
second was bringing me nearer to a
O6FTlDlt utdIu- LII Tie Out Sldutc
that ] took downward | could see the
earth leaping up, as it seemed, to
meet me. quickly shifted all my
End bags, and to my joy the ballook
turned so as TO form a sort Of para
chute, and the speed was greatly de-
creased. | was still dropping at q
dangerous rate, however.
Looking down. below, l saw not
far distant a patch of spruce trees.
Toward this l directed my fall and
managed to land there. Right
through tie trees l went, breaking
every branch that / touched, but the
trees saved me, for l landed on the
ground badly shaken, but unhurt. I
had Travelled an actual distance Of Is
miles horizontally and three miles
downward in five minutes. My faS
had been slanting. That was the
only time that l ever gave up hope
even for a moment. New Yorb