The sun., 1895-05-26
HER PERILOUS FLIGHT.
More OF the story OF n Girps Thrilling Ex-
pcricnce in Burning Balloon.


From the San Frdncisco Examiner
VICTORIA, B. c., May 13.-in the little town
of olympic, New South Wales. just n month ago
to-day, according to papers brought by tho
Australian steamer Miowera, n crowd Of curl
Gus sghtsccrs were treated to an exhibition
which for the time held them spelibound with
hearts that seemed no longer to beat, and which
when the terrible tension was relaxed and they
knew they were not to be the witnesses of an
awful though fascinating fatality. left the
strongest men as weak Us children and as hys-
terical as women.
The town and country roads had been billed
with flaming posters for weeks before nnnounc-
ing that on the 18th OF April Mile. Essie Viola,
the queen of American acronauts would givo
u balloon ascension and parachute descent.
The day came and the expertant little folk of
olympic gathered with their elders to see the
show. Tho hat duly passed around not
ouce, but half dozen times, as the balloon.an
old. wcll-uscd, hnt-air monster,-was swclic!;
Then Mile. Viola kissed her hands to the crowd
and seized hold of the bar of her trapezc as the
balloon tugged and strained ut its ropes.
All was ready and the balloon would the next
moment be released in the accustomed way,
when the accident occurred. Swinging side
ways the fringe OF the air bag caught the flame
and in startled surprise those who were holding
the balloon prisoner until they RECEIVED the re-
ment the great gray bag shot upward crowned
with vicious sheet of flame.
hands mechanically holding tight to the slender
trapcze bar upon which her midar feats were to
be performed. There was cry OF horror as tho
crowd realized the tragic situation, and 800 pairs
of hands were outstretchcd to grasp the unfor-
loon rose straight in the air. mounting rapidly.
then listed to west and swept with the breeze in
that direction an "titude Of, Of fully dyytd mile sod be
of onlookers could realize what they were un-
willingly witnessing. The young aeronnut re-
tained all her presence of mind, for she real
lied that she required II.
The upward flight of the balloon a series
of jumps. and the balloonist til extreme ditii.
Guilty. maintained her seat and cast occasional
furtive glances upward. The fire she rs well
iy. and her mind and hands were busy. Wind
ing one leg about the side rope of the trapeZc
she coolly proceeded to unfasten the parachute
Its ropes had become tangled in the escape OF
the balloon and 1t seemed that it would be i'm.
possible to detach it. before the trS compistrSh
lly losing its buoyancy and threatened to- col
lapse. Standing with one, foot on the trapeze
the the lit, 1.-THE figure. MiIe Viola lent hands and
teeth to the nndoing OF the knot that dciied her
1t was not before the balloon had actually
hcHn To fail that success crowned her efforts;
the parachute with both hands the crowd be-
low saw that she had risked everything on the
life In silence they watched the parachute
drop; at first refusing to open, and Apparently
certain and horrible DEATH
Then it began to open. and even as it did so
second gasp Of horror escaped the spectators.
1t, too. was fire. Slowly ii descended at first,
then more slowly. 4s 1t caught the air and was
brought nearer and nearer the ground.
The breeze had died away and the debris OF
the balloon was following the parachute and
its passenger straight down. When it neared
the earth the girl was seen to draw her limbs
together ms though preparing for the last act;
Then. watching her opportunity. she dropped
clear of the burning mass and allghted ON the
ground absolutely unhurt.
The balloon and the parachute struck the
when the crowd reached her, but there was no
sign OF hysterical reaction, and her nerves were
stronger than those of her manager.
II told you il would 90 that way some timo
II you didn't look out for it she said to him
rs he came up, and there was no reply.
Later in the evening a correspondent Of the
Australian Star talked to her. She was very
nervous then and realized fully tho extent Of
the peril in which she had been.
NO, never had quite so close n call she
said. "and ! never want to again. If don't get
better soon guess III quit the business and 20
back to variety work. II not 50 thrilling, but
it's not 50 hard on the nerves.
"Who am | Wei. was born In San Fran
cisco and lived there till ! was 10, SO guess
I'm san Franciscan. ! travelled with half n
dozen c;rcuses. though. and am best known as
one Of the Livingstoncs.'