The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-07-03


''Let me hear about that first trip, for
I've a notion that there is a good story
attached to it,"
My seatmate was "Prof" Raymond,
the aeronaut. He had made a Fourth
of July ascension that afternoon from
W., and / had gone up with him in
my capacity as reporter on the W
Daily Tribune.
We had landed uneventfully in tnr-
nip field, about 30 miles away, and
had packed up the balloon and its Elk
fngs" just In season to catch the even
eng train for the city.
"Well," said Mr.. Raymond, there
was a story attached to that first bal
doom ride of mine, thirty-odd years ago;
but / don't tell IL very often, for the
reason that, even after all these years,
1t brings back some of the sensations
that 1 experienced at that timex
periences that you will soon see were
not particularly agreeable while was
undergoing them.
my father and mother both died be-
fore / was 12 years old, so that was
thrown entirely upon my own re-
sources. Even at that early age be-
gan TO hire out for various kinds OF
service in my native town In New
Hampshire, where worked in this way
until was is years OF age.
81 had been working in sawmil
the year that / was Is, and my time
expired the third day of July, and,
though / expected to hire out again
at the same place, IL pleased my fancy
to take well-earned holiday on the
Fourth, when / could feel myself en-
tirely my own master. IL would be
time enough, / thought, to hire out
again when the holiday was over.
"There was 70 be celebration in
neighboring town, with balloon as
cension, races and all the other attrac-
lions that are usual on such occasions,
with grand display of fireworks in
the evening"
"The balloon ascension had special
attractions for me, as had never seen
ANYTHING of the kind, and i was up
early on the morning OF the Fourth,
and, setting out for town before six
o'clock. resolved to take in the whole
affnir. from the early parade OF An
sioues and Horribles to the last rocket
that should be fired i'm the evening. 1
had earned holiday by hard work, and
tad good right TO feel light-hearted.
"I don't think that anything In the
xxav of entertainment escaped me that
day. / was unused TO the sights and
nounds of Fourth of July celebrations,
and drank in everything with the
keen enjoyment Of boyhood. with an
especially keen enjoyment. probably.
because of the plodding, uneventful life
had been leading SO long.
'The Antiques and Horribles were
properly appreciated. The efforts of
chose who tried 10 reach the five-dol-
lnr gold piece, said TO be reposing on
the top of very greasy pole, were
greatly enjoyed. ns were also the efforts
of certain men and boys TO possess
themselves of fat young porker.
whose entire surface was In the same
slippery condition as the pole with the
five dollars atop.
There was a contest Of fire engines,
or tubs as they were called, manned
by red-shirted young fellows from sev-
eral neighboring towns. There were
foot races, sack races, and n ball game
upon the common; n boat race upon the
river, and then the great balloon asccn-
zion.
1T WINS about two o'clock in the after
noon that the crowd began To gather
around the big balloon that was slowly
being filled with hot air. Such balloons
stay up only half-hour or SO, and
land not far away from the point where
they 60 up, unless the wind In blowing
hard. This was one or the largest Of
the hot-sir balloons then In use. and II