The San Francisco call., 1897-07-06
DROPPED
FROM THE
CLOUDS
Hurled Down a Thousand
Feet Through the
Air.
BERTHE HILLS TERRIBLE DEATH.
He Was Carried Upward on
One of the Sandbags of
a Balloon.
NOT AFRAID AT THE START.
Crowds Stood Waiting, Breathless,
While the Child Tumbled to
the Earth.
NOT AFRAID AT THE START.
Crowds Stood Waiting, Breathless
While the Child Tumbled to
the Earth.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL,

SUo broadway, July D. }
BERTHE Hill, bright little fellow, six
and half years OLD, fell 1000 feet from
balloon this evening and was undoubtedly
dead long before he reached the ground.
For long time the little boy has heen
anxious to go up in 4 balloon. He was
taken to B air Park this afternoon by the
people with whom ne is stopping to see
the ascension by Conlan, the aeronaut.
Jlst as the ropes were leaving the earth,
Berthe, who was holding on to rope with
other boys, did not let go, but hung on to
round bag that was dangling at the end.
He placed his little legs around 1t and be-
fore the horri fed crowd could move foot
toward him, he was away over their heads
and rapidly going higher.
AS the lad became 4 mere speck in the
sky, women tainted, thousands stood
breathless and Superintendent Tiffany OF
the Park was so overcome with emotion
that he burst into tears. The balloon
rose 10 great height and passed over
Inspiration Point toward the Pacific
Ocean. Just as it had passed the point
the little speck left the balloon, it became
bigger as it neared the earth, and when it
disappeared the spense was over.
The accident was witnessed by an enoT
nous crowd that had been attracted to
Blair Park by the special programme that
had been preferred for the Fourth. Many
OF them stood around the balloon while it
was being inflated. Among them was
Mrs. Olney, her daughter and little BERTHE
Hill, who is staying with her and whose
father lives at Los Angeles.
Superintendent Tiffany was personally
looking after the work, and when the
balloon was nearly full the space around
it was cleared and the men who held the
guide ropes which are passed through
rings, stood ready to let go.
Charles Conlan, the aeronaut was sit
ting on the bar ready for the ascent. He
had tied the sandbags securely to the
loose ropes and was waiting for the balloon
10 fill.
Are you ready Pr asked Tiffany.
Conlan smiled, but only for few Sec
onds.
Tiffany blew the whistle; the men let
60 the guard ropes and away went the
balloon, trapeze, aeronaut, parachute
and little boy.
Several seconds elapsed before the crowd
could realize that it was really child
grasping one of the sand bags.
As soon as Tiffany realized what lad
happened he seized speaking-trum pet
and shouted to Conlan: Don't leave the
balloon. Stay till it comes down. Save
liz
His shouts added 10 the excitement of
the crowd. and as Conlan was fast rising
he was observed TO raise his hand to sig
nifv that he realized the situation.
The crowd could do nothing but watch.
The balloon continued 10 rise, and as it
went pp a current OF air carried it toward
Inspiration Point.
UP and up il went till it met streak of
mist floating high in the air. For brief
moment everything was lost 10 sight but
a second later 1t again appeared to view,
the little speck still hanging beneath the
balloon.
When the balloon was over the ranch OF
E. j. Hasch the crowd gasped aloud
in agony. Superintendent Tiffany gave
vent to tears. Mrs. Olney tainted dead
away. The little specK had left the balloon.
1t rapidly disa ppeared behind the point
and the crowd knew that the little fellow
must have been breathless long before he
reached the earth. The child fell into a
newly plowed field. The body was found,
fiat on its back, with arms and legs ex-
tended and sunk several inches into the
soft soil.
"Bertie has been talking about going up
in a balloon for long time, ," said Miss
Oiney, and we know Mr.. Conlan, so to-
day we went to Blair Park to see the
ascension. BERTHE was standing around
with several other lads and, l believe,
n6lu one OF tHe IODeS. w neH lue super
intendent blew the whistle for the men to
let go Bertie must have held on or else
been caught by the rope, for a second
later he was flying upward, clasping
rope with sandbag on it. He often said
he would go up in the balloon, but [ do
not know whether he knew what he was
doing or whether it was an accident.
The little fellows father is now in Los
Angeles and he is staying with u. He
was a bright child iust 6M wears old :"
Charlie Conlan, the aeronaut. tells
thrilling story OF his fearful ride through
the air with the boy that ended so tragic
ally:
~ did not see Hill" said Conlan, "tiIl
we were a long way up. When l caught
sight of him dangling behind me l at