The herald., 1895-10-28
An Aeronaut's Dangerous Flight
in a Parachute
TO A BALLOON
Was Unable TO Cut the Rope Which
Bound Her
Takes Her First Ascent and Strikes . Tau
Chimney-Not Seriously Injured.
Large Crowd

Everyone who attended the balloon as.
cension at Westlake Park yesterday after
noon got his moneys worth of pleasure
and excitement. Besides the regular as
cension and drop with parachute, there
was a thrilling accident which came near
resulting seriously for Madame Earl
ston. There were two large hot air
balloons with parachutes attached and
it was intended to have a race in
making the descent.
About o'clock the balloon in which
Richard Earlston assembled was cut loose
from its moorings and rose steadily into
the air with the long parachute and ira
peze trailing below. The aeronaut per-
formed a series of feats, hanging by his
feet and changing from one position to
another, until he had reached height OF
about 1900 feet, when he cut the rope
which held his small air Graf: to the ball
loon and came sailing down. A strong
wind blowing from the south had carried
him in the direction of Flag hill. The
descent was made without waver, an
the balloonist alighted safely on the open
hillside near the corner of Union avenue
and Fourth street.
In the meantime the larger balloon in
which Madame Earlston was to ascend
was maze ready and she too rose into the
air. resting in the ring of the parachute
beneath. The great inflated canvas shot
up rapidly in a perpendicular direction
ami then fioated off to the north as the
first one had done. Thousands OF faces
were turned upwards to see which of the
two contestants would 20 the higher and
which would descend the more quickly.
AS a consequence of Mr.. Earlston'S earlier
ascent his balloon had reached its highest
point and he had made the drop while
The other was still going upward.
All interest then conferred on the woman
aerlalist. 1t was evident that she had
reached greater height then her hus-
band, and everyone was ready to cheer
the lady victor, when it became apparent
that something was wrong. why does
she not cut loose?' was the question: in
frighte ned?'' was the next suggestion, as
the crowd watched the great balloon
drift farther and farther away. Its force
had already been spent and it was slowly
sinking as il was carried along by. the
wind.
Now she is directly over the point
where her husband alighted, and he
shouts wildly to her to cut loose. He
is not heard, or il heard not obeyed; and
the balloon and its occupant drive son-
ward toward Il grove OF tall trees. Mean
while it is coming nearer and nearer to
the earth. Over the tops of the trees it
sailed, but fortunately missing them.
Then it passed out of sight behind hill
and the crowd of spectators were left in
| dread for the woman's safety.
! Hundreds had already run to the top
of neigh boring hills and as many as could
followed in carriages and on bicycles.
The awe-struCk husband followed as fast
as he could on foot, and reached the top
of the mill Just in time to see his wife
dragged against the.roof of tall house.
or ,cl on tho chimney SlinpoH
down the incline of the roof to lower
portion of the house, and from there fell
to the roof of the veranda, and was swept
down to the ground in an adjoining lot.
Bystanders quickly rescued the balloon
and Mrs. Earston was rescued from her
perilous position.
A shout went up from the crowd when
it was learned that she had sustained no
serious injuries. Her head was badly
brui sed about the right temple and ono
ankle was slightly sprained. Her nerves
were unstrung, but aside from these no
harm had come to her.
Mrs. Earlston was seen shortly after
her fall in her dressing room in the West
lake restaurant. She said this was the
lst time she had ever gone up III bal
loon, but she continued, Il shall try it
again soon and Tll endeavor TO do better
next time. No, | am not very badly
hurt. hut | was awfully frightened when
1 came down, Santa Claus like, on that
chimney.
The parachute was examined for the
purpose of learning why it was that it
had not come loose when it was intended
it should. 1t was found That the rope
which is attached to the bottom of the
bclloon and which holds the parachute
was only partially cut by the knife
through which it passes. The knife ops-
rates very much like pair OF long prun-
ing shears, the blade being brought
against the rope by the pulling of long
cord running down TO the aeronaut's
wrist. Mrs. EaIston mad been unable to
sever the rope which held her to the bal
loon, partly from lack of strength but
Lrinci pally because the knife was very
dull.
The sheet iron top of the chimney of
the house at 1866 South Union avenue.
where Mrs. Earlston struck, was badly
bent, showing the force with which she
fell. Had 1T not been for the peculiar
construction OF the house affording as it
did gradual fall with It's gradeu roofs
and porch. the results would have IN