The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-18
TERROR In MIDAIR
Dan Rice Describes tho Sensations OF = FIRST
Lenp from n Balloon.

"Clrcus lifc has its incidental dangers, as 1
found out In my experience OF moro than n hair
century under tho canvas" Tho speaker was
Dan Rice. tho veteran clown and circus propri-
etor. "One of the dangers I encountered was
recalled by n paragraph in n paper the other day
about an Gronaut being killed in making a jump
from a balloon with a parachute. 1 had a mar
row escape from Il similar death away back be-
fore the war.
II was always willing to act rs general
emergency man. TO do any work and I'll any
place in any circus with which I have boon con
nected, aud, In such cases, have boon in imml-
nent danger many u time. have boon In grave
danger of boing dcvourcd by lions, crushed by
elephants, and skinned alive by candy butchers
and other employees who handled my money,
but the occurrence l nm nbout to relate was as
interesting as anything in my career.
Il believe l was the first circus proprietor In
the world to employ n professional to make a
balloon ascension and a parachute jump prior
to each afternoon performance. picking up an
aeronaut named Ed Billings in an Ohio town.
Now, Ed was Il good ncronaut, entirely de-
void Of fear, and made leaps with the parachute
from greater heights than had ever been made
before. Tho only trouble was that Ed was too
jovial, and ut times drank too much whiskey.
More than onco l had spoken my mind to him
on the subject, and, as he did not heed my re-
marks, ! made every preparation for opportunc-
ly advertising my circus on the day when he
should in the natural course OF events fall from
his balloon OF parachute and be killed. with
the same foresight I made n study of aeronaut-
les and parachute leaping, until l felt competent
to M his position when made vacant; The oc'
casion for my services came at White Water,
Mich, whom. mt ascension time. Billings lay
under n wagon suffering from sick headache
tho ascension and jump. ] did not hesitate. but,
donning a ,inscl suit. entered tho car and began
my first journey ~skyward. amid n chorus Of
haif.supprcsscd EXPLANATIONS OF admiration
from an immense thronE OF spectators. As | saw
i fore Ssf bolo %rG rroWEnr ,r sbort mp and nas smaller nail nu until
they appeared like the tiniest insects. l con-
trivcd TO maintain my nerve. and. leaning, over
the edge of tho basket or car. bravely threw
kisses to the gaping crowd beneath. When
l had assembled nearer heaven than. had
ever been bcforc-say 200 or 800 fect-I pre-
pared to make my maioen leap. being particn::
lnrly careful that my, every movement should
be seen by the crowd OF spectators away down
After q time l pulled, open, tho escape valve
of of,o ere ro oa,,G iMing w sn,laeth io E,owiE Sn pe = hric 70 m noSrena
Then ] clutched the trapeze bar, which was at
tached to. the parachute, kissed my hnnd to tho
cNpansc OF upturned faces below, shut both eyes
ike i an arrow SSl ea2 2dh%P SH' ny NJ feelings shlssi a at i that
nll.goncncss,. but grimly and desperately 1
c~lutchcd the bar in my hand, and, will, my heart
ping sound which would announce the opening
of the parachute. But the sound did not come;
Great God! how the seconds new by. ana still
tho aCcurscd canvas did not open. Though dart
ing earthward~ fatally. hope did not desert me.
MY mind, under the excitement. became un-
usually active. and, as l looked below and saw
the earth rapidly approaching, ! concluded that
my chance of escape from figuring as the chief
object of interest at a funeral was too small to
mention. ! resolved that my death should be
the best advertisement Dan Rice's circus ever
received. but the thought of how well the show
was prepared to herald the sad event far and
near was poor consolation at that moment
Suddenly the sharp. swapping sound rang
upon my ears. Thank God! the parachute had
opened! / was saved. and that, too. at the last
possible moment. My descent was at once
checked. and the earth was not 200 feet away.
1t was with assumed ease that l finally landed
upon the ground. and ! doubt il any, save the
circus people. in that great crowd knew how
near ] had been to death"
WHEN Billings subsequently learned Of my
pcrilous leap with the parachute and narrow
escape from n terrible death he came with tears
in his eyes and, taking my hand, vowed that he
would never again touch an intoXicant. He was
true to his vow, and remained in my employ
until his death from natural causes several
years later. Always i have been II stickler for
temperate habits on the part of my employees
of all kinds. and on settling with them always
made an allowance of money for those who had
rofrained from overindulgencc in strong drink.
AS a result | had better control over my com.
pany than had the average circus proprietor.
II you want sobriety to prevail in a circus, or
anywhere else for that matter, make 1t an object
to the peODlc TO keen sober"