The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-11
TO THE SKY ON A BICYCLE.
STEVENS TELLS HOW HE WILL AT
TACH HIS .'07' TO 4 BALLOON.

With Him on "A Tandem-Hns an
Irish Linen Parachute in Case of
Accident.
New York, April al am going to the
sky on a bicycle. This sounds startling,
but it is literally true On Easter morn
ing I shall mount my wheel. fasten it to
a balloon. and. shouting to my men to
loose the ropes, shall soar heavenward
with only the little bicycle saddle between
me and the earth-up to the clouds
I have made 1.100 ascensions, and am
called the most daring aeronaut in the
world But in all that number of trips
I have been hurt less than dozen times,
and 1 call that very good average,
better one than you could make in the
same number Of trips on land over the
same distance that went in the sky.
a year ago fell, dashed down 1900 feet
because my parachute failed to open, and
1 hurt myself so badly that 1 was given
up for dead, and my Sensations" were de-
scribed by me for paper that wanted to
know about the feelings of man who
knows he is falling to his death.
Less than a year ago. while walking a
tight-rope over Portage Falls, l turned a
somersault and the wire parted, landing
me $50 feet below in the water. That was
the worse shaking up l ever had. But
was rescued and live to tell the story.
Both falls taught me to be more care
full. But the first one learned me the les
son of better accommodations for an aerial
trip, and therefore when I go up on my
bicycle voyage, l will be equipped for any
possible happening.
The wheel l shall ride is 80 of very
fine make. 1 shall mount it and begin to
ride while on the earth. Two big ropes
will hold the wheel front and back to
the balloon. and the minute 1 say Let
| loose the balloon will rise and up I shall
go.
In riding a bicycle in the air you must
be prepared for the swaying motion. The
balloon dashes hither and thither, and
you are dashing after it, a prey to the
winds You must keep your balance, and
that is the only reason why bicycling in
the clouds will never be popular as it
deserves to be, because of the difficulty in
keeping your seat. 1t is harder than
side saddle upon the back of a bucking
bronco.
/ have invented a new parachute, which
/ shall take up with me and have handy
while riding the wheel in the air. The
parachute is made of Irish linen and silk,
twenty-eight segments, cut eighteen feet
| long and when open, twenty feet in dame
| ter In every segment there is a bamboo
rib. The inside supports are also made
| of bamboo, and the gore lines consist of
cotton rope. My bicycle can be attached
or detached from the parachute. 1t may
| be remembered that in the past FIVE years
| there have been many so-called balloon
fefe Irfll md mn fGl
| injured But those accidents all came
| through using poorly constructed para
| chutes.
BY touching a secret spring my para
chute opens automatically and spreads
over me- Then the descent can be made
in perfect safety.
The trouble with all parachutes has
been that they do not open. When l had
the fall that laid me up year the para
chute opened half way and broke my fall,
or 1 should not be here now, but it did not
| do its work perfectly. The new one is an
| invention of my own and can't help OPEN
| ing
| If you ride a bicycle to the clouds YOU
| will find it is very pleasant to cut the
| rope that holds you to the balloon ana
| come down by the parachute, instead of
waiting for the balloon to collapse ana
float to earth, which might take long
time.
The proper way to enjoy yourself is 10
| sit your wheel and rise about five min
utes in the air, then to float along with
| the wind for a few minutes, cut your
rope and come down with the parachute.
A great many women are anxious TO
| make balloon ascensionS. They make the
nerviest aeronauts, and where you can
get one man to go up hundred women
| will volunteer When / take my Easter
| trip l shall come down and Immediately
afterwards go up with young lady IN
| a tandem. She will sit behind and work
| the pedals and | shall sit in front and
steer The working Of the pedals is very
| important because of the balance and the
| greater rapidity with which you seem to
| go up. The steering is not much use.
| only that 1t takes you little in the direc-
ton you want to go, out actually you
| can't steer a balloon very much.
/ am the only man who has had the
| honor. / think, of going to the clouds on
a bicycle. ! tried it expermentally and
| am now going to make a trip in earnest.
| The lady is very much in earnest, as you
will see from the letter she wrote me
| in answer TO an advertisement:
| Franklin Avenue, Brooklyn.
''Mr. Leo Stevens: Dear Sir-I am feet
| and weigh los pounds. Am IS years old.
! Am natural blonde of Titan tinted type,
with a wealth of natural curly hair.
| Would be willing to dress as neatly as
required Hoping to receive favorable
| " L
| Priscilla Hodges"
The trouble was to get the consent Of
her family. but she partly succeeded, as
! you viii read
Mr. Stevens: Dear Friend-You will
/ probably think the same of me as
| thought of you-never going to answer.
Last night / told my grandfather my
intentions. and, instead of scolding me, as
L expected, he likes the idea as well as I
do He says he is glad some one in the
family has a little nerve. He was the
only one | was afraid of. so all objections
are removed. do not care a snap what
mamma says. She Is going away soon,
anyway so / am not going to say any
more about it 20 her In your letter did
you mean that you wanted me TO make
the ascension Easter? II so, ! will have
my will drawn up. Remember what told
you bout mamma. II she should happen
to pay you a visit, pay no attention to
her
Thanking you very much for the pho
tograph of the balloon am yours. ever.
Priscilla Hodges"