The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-10-23
TWO BOYS INJURED.
Aeronsut Beam Fails to Make Balloon
Ascension on Account Of the Storm,
Rigging Falls With Disastrous Re-

| SUITS.
Tho swapping of guy rope at the show
grounds Saturday afternoon allowed a
heavy thirty-five foot pole to topple over
on the heads of crowd of 100 people
who had assembled TO witness Prof.
Samuel Ream make a balloon ascension.
A lad named Mangus, from Berlin, was
struck on the head and seriously injured,
but just how badly can not be told, as he
was removed to his home the same even
ing. Harry Sipe's eight-year-old son
was also struck by the pole and had one
of his arms crippled. There was a wild
/ ing timber and the wonder is that none
of the crowd were killed.
! The day was one of the most unpleasant
to be out doors ever witnessed in these
parts. The dust and sand that had accu-
mulated on the streets and roads during
four months drought was gathered up
and driven in binding clouds by the
high wind which prevailed from sunrise
Saturday until Sunday night. Notwith-
standing the unfavorable condition of the
atmosphere 1000 strangers were attracted
to Somerset by the announcement in last
weeks HERALD that Prof. Beam would
make balloon ascension at two o'clock
that afternoon. At the appointed hour
an immense crowd congregated on the
show grounds. Prof Beam and his as
sistants had everything in ship shape ex-
cept elevating the immense canvas bag
into position between two thirtyfive foot
poles and initiating it with hot air. The
crowd surged around the balloon rs
though all were anxious TO make an as
cension with the Professor; and when an
effort was made to draw the balloon into
position the strong wind caused a guy
rope TO break with the result stated
above. The daring young ;eronaut made
three or four attempts to get the balloon
into position and initiate it with hot air,
declaring his intention to venture an as
cent no matter how strong the wind blew,
but was prevented by the storm. The
crowd fingered about the show grounds
until late in the afternoon, hoping that
the wind would subside and that the
Professor would get away, but they were
doomed to disappointment. Prof Beam
says that he will make an ascension here
on Saturday, Nov. End. He is advertised
To make an ascension at Berlin next Sat
urday.
CoRoBoRATEs BEAMS STORY.
The following from the Johnstown
Tribune eoroborates Prof. Beams story
of his having been lost in storm and
being carried 2Go miles from the point
where he made an ascension, published
in these columns last week:
'Our readers will recall a communica-
tion, which appeared in these columns
some months ago, in regard to the sup
posed fate of an aerial artist known in
the profession as prince Leo" who,
while giving balloon ascension at Gel
eron, near Jamestown, y. ", was caught
in storm and was thought to have per-
ished. The writer had seen the aero-
naut's ascent, and. although he said the
balloonists home was near Johnstown,
he could not give his name. The letter
of Mr.. George Orth, who also witnessed
the ascension and recognized the seronaut
as Johnstown man, will also be recall
ed. The man in question has been iden-
titled and located by the Somerset HER
AID. and he proves TO be Prof Samuel
Beam, a son of Joseph Beam, a former
resident of Jenner township.