The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-26
HIS FIRST PARACHUTE DROP.
A Point of View Different From That q
Terrestriri Observer.

| a Point of View Diuerent i rum '""f ~ t'@N
Terrestriri Observer.
| The great balloon which was 70 pear
me on my first journey up INTO the azure
heights. and from which ] was 10 make
my maiden leap with a parachute. was
| Juggling at its moorings upon lne ploaN
| lawn / confess that u was with some
nervousness / took my seat IN the little
car beside Joseph NOrcrOss, a skilled aer-
| onaut who had from dizzy heights made
many and many a flight earthWard
| through the air. with this same balloon
he had during the past year saieiy mace
| elxtv-seven ascengione, and had each
time successfully descended with the par
| achute So why should 1 Iehrf
Norcross smllingly welcomed me, ana as
| he gave the order 70 cast loose the line
| ana the men on the ground released the
| great aerial traveller, I felt myself anoat
| Ina a little boat upon an ether sea There
was no sudden Jolt or jar about To- so
cleverly was the release effected. Put
| ting my head over the side OF the car
I looked below and was surprised iof'
apparently. we were not ascending but
| the great world, with all her glory OF
green and gold. was dropping from us
/ away down into space. ! looked In pleas
| cd amazcmont upon the wonderful piano.
/ rama presented as the cartn kept ieccd-
| inr Norcross smiled.
| Then l eazed upward az the great bird
| like balloon soaring triumpianuy on.
| Again l looked down, and the houses and
| barns seemed TO crouch closer 10 the
| ground and the villages To cluster togeth-
cr Streams and lakes az last looked like
mere threads or blots OF silver. Away in
! The north the range of mountains looked
| like an emerald wall. while that dark
blur on the earth below was the thirty
| ing and pOpulOus county seat. We were
FAR from the world. Suddenly we were
In "a cold. drizzly rain, and the earth was
| shut from view. i inquiriuely looked at
| NOrcross.
1--WE have entered the clou3s,' was his
| smiling explanation, "and We are not yet
a. mile high
In five minutes wc emerged into beau
| tml sunshine. Beneath us lay heavy
bank of fox FURNISHED by the ardent af-
| tcrnOon sunlight. but the earth for time
| was not within sight. Suddenly through
/ rift in the clouds I caught "a glimpse Of
| it far far below. So distant was D. that
only here and there could am object on
it's surface Doe discerned. Truly. we We're
getting well mp in the world. The thought
at once attracted my serious attention 20
! the balloon suppose n should spring a
leak or collapse. what what would be the
fate OF the daring sky travellers? or. on
the other hand, II the valve line failed 10
operate. would we 80 on upward forever?
| The thought disturbed me not a little.
The aer0naut surmiscd what was passing
IN my mind smiled genially, and said:
IL have made thousand asccnsi0ns un-
harmed. From what height would you
like TO loapI'
Make it about 1000 feet" I replied.
detorminedly.
"All right" N0rcross responded. as he
scanned the aer0meter and promptly
pulled open the valve, preparatory to de-
sccnding
Placing my hand out over the side Of
the car the rush of cold air against my
down-turucl palm indicated that we wer.
again swiftly j0urneying carthWarl. Soon
We were cnvcopei in the fox of the cloud
bank for a minute or two. and then
emerged with the distant earth ina view.
The glance at % from my perch there
away up near the clouds only increased
my nervousness.
Look up Look upw exclaimed the
aeronaut. cor youll lose your nerve"
4 glance downward when descending
with the parachute might. / knew turn
my hair white or bring on iroke Of para.
lysis as 10 had done ia the case Of som,
other men.
Twenty-Five hundred feet from here 10
the ground" exclaimed the smiling Nor
cross. Get ready"
lie then bound round my body under
the arms stout rope the other end OF
which was Secured % the trapeze bar ina
my hand, which bar III turn was attach
ed 10 the parachute that hung al the bot
tom OF the car.
IL was now rapidly approaching the
time when I should make the leap OF my
life, and grasping The guy ropes OF tic
car, ! stood upon the seat i'm readiness.
NnFTFINl % ma q Ia Al fs...
tions.
Leap az far out into the air as pos
sihle and the tightening OF the trapoze
line Will release the parachute. which
will open its ffteen-foot spread in a sec
ond or two De said; then. all you've got
10 DO Is 10 look up ana hang on"
Twelve hundred feet" shouted Nor
cross. 1 frightened my grasp on the ira
| peze bar, looked steadfastly upward. and
awaited the word TO leap II was the
most trying time Of my life but 1 was de-
termined 10 make the jump.
60" suddenly exclaimed the aeronaut.
! Closing my eyes, | made great leap out
into space. and could feel myself rapidlv
shooting downward. Then the trapeze
| line tainted with a slight jerk that indi-
Gated the release OF the closed parachute.
| and l looked up Just IN time 20 catch a
| fleeing glimpse OF NorcrOsss smiling face
| IfNlAiI oFtI TIC sue oi the CIT lar above
| me. But the parachute did not open. The
seconds passed into minute. and then
| into three four. FIVE minutes. Would the
| parachute never open2 Must / be dashed
| 10 death OH the ground 900 feet below?
] Suddenly there came a sharp click from
| above, and my speed percepuhy slacken-
ed. An. the parachute had opened Ny
! life was saved, With an Intense feeling
| Of satisfaction / felt myself deliberately
. descending. and looking about though
| not directly beneath me. took in the sceh-
&c beauties Of my journey on every hand.
| But there came over me grave fear
| Suppose in my descent | should strike the
top OF a church stecple, or one OF the
| many chimneys with which that section
| OF the country abo~1ded Common sense,
| however. came TO my rescue.
| Norcross, | felt convinced. knew his
| business. and had the balloon directly
| over a clear space when ! made the leap
| so where was the sense OF such foolish
fears and baseless approximations?
| Finally ! mustered courage and looked
| directly below. The earth was approach