The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-19

bank for a minute or two, and then emery
/ ed with the distant earth In view. The
/ glance at II from my perch there away
up near the clouds only increased my
/ nervousness.
Look up! Look up"' exclaimed the
I aeronaut, "or you'll lose your nerve"
A glance downward when descending
with the parachute might | knew. turn
my hair white or bring on a stroke Of
paralysis. as II had done In the case of
twenty-five hundred feet from here
70 the ground" exclaimed the smiling
Norcross. Get ready"
He then bound round my body under
the arms a stout rope, the other end OF
which was secured to the trapcze bar in
my hand, which bar in turn was attached
10 the parachute that hung at the bot
tom of the car.
1t was now rapidly approaching the
time when | should make the leap OF my
life, and, grasping the guy ropes of the
car, / stood upon the seat in readiness,
while Norcross gave me his final nstruc-
lions.
Leap as far out into the air as pos
sible and the tightening Of the trapeze
line VIII release the parachute, Wich VIII
open IT'S hfteen1toot spread IN a second
to do is to look up and hang on"
Twelve hundred feet" shouted Nor
cross. I 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 was de-
termined 10 make the jump.
Got" suddenly exclaimed the aeronaut
Closing my eyes. made a great leap out
into space, and could feel myself rapidly
frightened with a slight jerk that indi-
Gated the release of the closed parachute,
and / looked up just In time 10 obtain
heeting glimpse Of Norcross' smiling face
peering over the side OF the car far above
me. But the parachute did not open.
The seconds passed into minute, and
Would the parachute never open? Must
] be dashed 10 death on the ground 1000
feet believe
Suddenly there came sharp click from
above, and my speed perceptibly slack
ened All the parachute had opened.
NY life was saved With an intense feel
ing Of satisfaction ! felt myself deltber-
though not directly beneath me. took in
the scenic beauties OF my journey on
every hand. But there came over me
grave fear. Suppose IN my descent l
should strike the top of a church steeple.
or one of the many chimnies with which
that section of the country abounded.
Common sense, how~~sr, came to my res
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 apprehensions.
Finally i mustered courage and looked
directly below. The earth was approach
ing rapidly. The fences, trees, houses
and barns became more and more clearly
outlined. and roofs seemed to rise direc;-
lv out OF the ground Horses, cattle ana
men rose rapidly from pigmy proportions
to their normal size. / saw that ! would
land in "A broad pasture field about half
a mile from where we had assembled, and
there was not chimney, roof or tree
within 100 yards. There was nothing 20
fear.
/ saw a crowd Of men and boys hasten
ing toward the field to welcome me. Then
a few seconds afterward to my delight
my feet struck the ground and the most
thrilling journey of my life was ended.
Calmly folded the parachute and then
looked up for the balloon. / saw it grace
fully sinking to the earth in an adjoin.
ing field, and a few minutes later had
the satisfaction OF receiving the hearty
congratulations of the aeronaut, who told
me. to my great surprise, that the para
chute opened within three seconds after 1
leaped.