The morning news., 1897-03-14

finally made up his mind that the reason
these crude parachutes tipped over was
not because the air failed to support them,
but because too solid a column of air was
formed beneath them, causing them to
come TO a stand-still and dodge sidewise
In the effort to obey the law of gravlta-
tIon. With this theory In mind young
Baldwin invented a parachute made OF
canvas like an ordinary sail, but umbrel-
la-shaped, and with a hole at the apex,
permitting the column Of air TO escape and
the parachute TO descend gently but
steadily with this new-fangled para
chute Baldwin went 10 San Francisco,
made an ascent in a balloon at Golden
Gate and dropped from this parachute and
landed safely In the bay.
Since that day parachute leaping has
become a recognized vocation There Is
hardly . country fair at which there ism
a balloon ascension and parachute leap
er. A pupil OF Baldwin's. named Fors-
man, has this to say about the dangers
of parachuting:
brightly conducted and with proper
precautions there is much less risk in n
parachute leap than the observer would
suppose. The accidents that occur are
almost without exception due to careless
ness or absolute recklessness on the part
OF the aeronaut and his assistants. For
instance, through utter neglect the par
achute is permitted to get into an un-
safe condition. Again, the jumper Is sont
IN in close proximity to a large body OF
water, without wearing life preserver.
The consequence is that cross current
OF wind in the upper atmosphere carries
him out over the water and when he
drops he Is drowned before assistance can
reach him. The greatest danger, how
ever. that confronts the parachute leaper,
ne daily meets In order to save little
trouble. II Is this way: An inflated bal
loon OF normal construction VIII, after
the aeronaut has cut his parachute loose,
travel miles out into the country before
II finally turns over and falls 10 the
ground. This would necessitate long
trip In a wagon out into the country 10
fnd the balloon and haul II back. That
means time trouble and money To
avoid this, the top Of the balloon is
weighted so that q moment or two after
the parachute is cut loose and drops, the
balloon turns over and comes falling
down after II. A balloon weighs a good
many pounda II II misses the para
chute. all right: IL It hits the parachute,
that's the end OF the parachute leaper.
This Is the greatest danger In parachute
leap.ng, and II Is one that parachute leap
ors daily court with an Icy nerve that Is
astounding"
II isn't alone IN parachute leaping that
men. IN order to save a little time, money
ana trouble, deliberately set traps for their
own lives. A man doesn't have TO embark
I'm the foolhardy enterprise OF dropping
from above the clouds Ia order 10 hazard
his life. Thousands and tens OF thousands
OF men daily court death with all the
nonchalance Of the parachute leaper. They
neglect the little Ills OF life until they
grow into big. death-dealing diseases.
When they recognize that a dangerous
disease confronts them they do not pro-
tect themselves with a life preserver In the
shape OF a safe and sure remedy. The
parachute leaper over-weights the balloon
and Il crushes him. The average man