The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-08-06

eighty-foot hot air balloon was over
CHARGED When II was released II shot
up as II discharged from huge mortar.
Almos: In rwink,lng 1t was up l'zOO
feet
Then the multitude below saw a pun
OF smoke rise from the apex OF the DIG
bag. The balloon had burst.
Miss Newrs told the story as she lay
on her back on a cot in the dressing
room Of the Electric Park pavilion.
We were sailing toward the sky |
had Just looked down at the great crowd
OF people In the park and waved my
hard at them ard had turned my mead
for a look across the American bottom
toward St. Louis when fest severe
Jar, occasIoned by the sudden stacking
OF the balloons flight. ] knew some
thing had happened, but did not know
what II was. l turned 10 Cowan. He
had been performing on his trapeze
when the shock came. He climbed
quickly up on his bar and looked above.
what has happened. TONI cried
to him. He looked above ] looked, too.
saw q little cloud Of smoke above us
and more OF II pouring from the top OF
the balloon.
Already could feel that We were de-
scendlng. There was a rush OF air up
ward as We began TO shoot downward,
She has exploded, . shouted the pro-
lessor. CUT
Il looked for my 'cut-away' rope.
which had been hanging within easy
reach OF my hand. Il had been borne
out beyond my reach by the spreading
Of the parachute. caused by the descent
Of the balloon.
Il stretched my hand toward 1t, but
might as wel have reached Tor a tree
on the distant hiil-tUps.
We're failing. Cut, Mildred, cut!
Aouted Cowan, again.
The canvas was Tapping hldeously.
- hot air was rushing with Kisses
from the balloon. The wind was roaring
and wh!rrinS past my ears.
Il Just heard Cowan's shouted words.
He was only a few feet from me, but his
voice came TO me through the unearth-
~ noises as It might have sounded COM
Ing from the ground below.
Il made another frantic effort to reach
the rope. but II swung mOckinS.y FUR
Their from me.
Il felt the balloon tighten. ard looked
over where Professor COwan had been.
He was gone. saw MIN fitting his par
achute and working Ou; from under the
balloon. which row was nothing but u
great expanse OF Mapping caHTaE
II was alone. / knew 1 was better of
alone becaus.. there was that much less
weight On the balloon. and It's descent
would not be so rapid, but an awful feel
ing OF loneliness took possession OF me.
Il looked down FOR an Instant On the
crowd aud my thoughts took fantastic
turn. II seemed 10 me I was doomed TO
remain always suspended there. 20 see
people go and come and not I've abe 10
speak 10 them or they 10 me, TO hunger
and thirst ard not be able to reach the
food and drink which 1 could see down
below.
Then my mind came back to the ter
rlbis reality The eGcess Of danger
seemed to bring an unnatural calm to
mo. c.utched the handles Ot my para
chute and closed my eyes. I thought ]
was going to be Killed, But the thought
I'D not terroriZc me. II made no dis
NRct Impression on ne. - do not seem
70 be anything In which / wag parlicu-
larry Interested or concerned. St.il !
found myself wondering II would feel
NE shock III the contact OF the ground
and whether would be dlshgured.
AT times ] fea, the canvas about me.
Again could fec that / swung clear
and knew that but for my hold on the
parachute bar would drop straight to
the earth Ike thing OF lead
"The canvas swept around me once