Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-09-16
Love And Ballooning.

~ ~
No said the scientist, rehcctiNely
tC Il bevy of girls who were watching
the initiation of Il monster balloon, in
watch IA daring "Champion OF Aerial
Navigation" was to ascend to Il great
altitude, and descend by means Of n
parachute. mo, neither are of molern
iIvention.'
who first thought of them que
ried Belle Chalmers, Il saucy, back
eyed lass. who delighted in 'poking
fun" at the gray-haircd old student,
THE Montgoltier brothers, Of Lyons
France are entitled to the honor of a
first success, though, with IA merry
twinkle in his eyes, lit is recorded
that one Irarus, son of Daedalus--"
What horrid names!'
"lncurrcd the anger of Minos King
of Crete, and to escape his vengeance,
fastened n pair Of wings upon his
shoulders with-hum, perhaps ices
wax, and flew away"
Then he is entitled to the honor
and not the Mont something brothers. >
Scarcely, for he came to grief.
Nenturing too near the sun, the ad-
hesive preparation melted, and lcarus
came tumbling down through space.
And was killed." sympathetically.
unquestionably, sarcastically,
Il never heard of il before, Pro
lessor.
Very likely, as it happened about
1415 b. G." replied the old man with
a dry cough. Then he continued
I'm 1897 one Andrew jacques Gane-
rim in Paris descended some 5000 feet
by means of a parachute.
Alive. Professor"
Yes, but upon trying it again was
manned for life. The next attempt
was by one Robert Croker at VauXhall
Garden, London, in 1887"
Did he succeed
In being dashed to pieces. BY the
way, Miss Curiosity, the verdict of the
coroner's jury in the case was curious,
and he read from a book filled with
memoranda
we find that the deceased. Robert
Crocker, came to his death casually,
and by misfortune, in consequence of
receiving divers severe injuries upon
the earth in falling from a parachute
of his own invention and contrivance,
appended to balloon, and we further
add that the parachute was moving
toward the death of the deceased and
is therefore dead and forfeit to the
Queen"
"A very lucid explanation, ! have
no doubt, professor though | haven't
the slightest idea what II means, !"
laughed Belle; but who next tempted
fate and broke his neck?'
For about fifty years :he matter
appears to have rested. Then PRO
fessor" Baldwin demonstrated the
probability of such descents, and
astonshed the world. For the infa-
tion he uses either coal gas or hydro
gen generated from water by the Wit
rolc process, and"
Please don't indulge in any sclen-
tific jargon," exclaimed Belle, holding
up her dainty hands as to ward OFF
an avalanche of big words. 1.-THE YER
dict came very near killing me, and
learned explanation would complete
the murder"
Well, then. Miss Ignorance, he goes
up--I think he has been considerably
over a mile-detaches his parachute
and comes down"
with a rush,"
Probably. but you wouldn't fall 80
fast. Young lady"
Why" with questioning eyes as
we'll as voice.
Because vanity is proverbially
light" and having had his revenge.
the old man passed on TO another
group to air his erudition.
Meanwhile the balloon was expand
ing its huge folds and straining at the
restraining ropes. with gaping crowd
watching the fastening Of trapeze bar
and parachute.
The arrangements were superintend
ed by a somewhat fine and determined
looking young man, who soon became