The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-31

Particulars of the Killing of Victoria
Leroy.

st. Louis. Aug. 31.-The mangled, bro
ken body Of Victoria LIE Roy was buried
this morning in the Wesleyan cemetery,
far away from all her people, with only
a frenzied, frantic husband to weep by
her grave.
The unfortunate woman was killed
Saturday afternoon in a balloon ascen-
sion at the st. Louis county fair at
DWyer station She fell a half mile
to a most terrible death, after hovering
four minutes in the f1eecy clouds of
heaven, above q, hOrrOr-stricken crowd.
That dreadful picture Of a comely wo-
man, young and full of life, hurting
from the cruel heights to her awful fate
made brave men moan in anguish and
women faint with fear. Her husband
saw it, and for the time his brain was
turned He tried to kill himself in his
anguish and was only prevented by
force.
How the accident happened, exactly
no one Will ever know. 1t was one of
those mishaps liable to occur in all
feats of daring-part OF the price these
professional danger-seekers pay for the
fame and fortune that come to them.
Victoria lie Roy's real name was Mrs
George w Hibbard- She was 26 years
old. One year before her marriage
six years ago, she became an aerOnaut
and has steadily followed her danger
Gus profession ever since. Her hus-
band is an aeronaut and assisted her
in all her ascensiOns. Mrs Hibbard
had a young sister, but Is years of age,
who was also a balloonist
The couple We're under a contract
with the st. Louis County Fair assO-
citation to give four exhibitions. Three
of them had been successfully per
formed on the three previous days. Fri
day ascension was to be the last. The
couple were then to start for Iowa to
continue their hazardous work at the
county fairs in that state.
Victoria lie Roy was a brave woman.
nj a a HTeaa f1ea1-
she was superstitious. Friday was a
gruesOme day, she thought, to make
such an ascension.
She was nervous about it. The pre-
mOnitiOn OF a catastrophe was uDOn
her.
Still, it was in the contract, and shak-
ing off her gloomy fears, she prepared
for the work
These ascensions at country fairs al
ways come at the close of the day.
Hubbard and his assistants began in
Hating the hot air balloon about 4
O'Clock. The crowd stood about curl
Ously watching him. Every moment
the number grew, as word spread
through the grounds that the event
of the day was about to take place.
By and by Victoria lie Roy appeared,
clad in tights. She was good to look
upon, with her fine black eyes flashing
her plump cheeks tinged with the
Hush of excitement, and her well round
ed limbs carrying her gracefully from
point to point.
Hibbard gazed at her admiringly and
the patter of applause ran around the
encircling throng.
The woman glanced up into the clear
bIue SKY. 1t was beautiful up there,
and she drew a long breath of nervous
eagerness at the thought of her com
ing plunge into space. She was anx-
1ous 70 nave it over with, that she and
her husband might surely catch their
train for the north. Despite her pre-
monitions she little knew of the fate
which awaited her.
At last all was ready The balloon
was bellying out and ffercely Iuggine
at the ropes to free itself for its Ilp-
ward flight. The parachute. with
which the descent was to be made. was
dancing on the fat round side Of the