The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-03-10

AaSh 5So QiSdbohk kAbSA0 bOhbu-
tions you can have. On one occasion
a party went with mo from the Crystal
Palace, and the balloon would have
landed in field near Hemel Hemp
stead. had not thought 1t undesirable
on account of growing crops. I asked
my companions If they were fond OF
high Jumps when hunting. One said,
Yes Very WELL responded, you
ceed to Jump it, which we did hand
somely by the judicious manoeuvring
of the bolloon. landing without any
trouble In the adjoining field, which
was more suitable.
"Eut, after all, jumping haystacks is
! chffu's play compared with the leaps
we sometimes take. have dropped
from an altitude of seven thousand
feet, and have fallen the first three or
four hundred at the speed Of thun-
derbolt before the parachute opened"
Still enioyable?"
well. during the first sheer drop
there Is tremendous rush through the
air, and an intense feeling of anxiety
whilst waiting for the pleasant tug
which informs you that the parachute
has opened. This feeling does not last
long, indeed, not more than few sec
onds, and l do not know that it is much
more than one experiences when div
ing fyom high board into the water"
Not every famous aeronaut has
emel ged so well from tight corners as
Mr.. Spencer; and any one who has
taken an interest in aerial work will
recall some terrible smashes ON COM
paratiVeiy recent occurrence. 1t Is not
SO many years, for instance, since
brave Captain Dale was killed. Not
even the catching fire of a balloon in
midair is more hideously tragic than
its sudden collapse, leaving it's wretch
ed occupants to come crashing down
from great height, very likely under
the horror-stricken gaze of their dear
est friends. That was what happened
to the balloon in which Captain Dale
assembled from the Crystal Palace one
summer day five years ago. Anything
III the way of serious accident was
probably never dreamed of by those
ana L was one of the number-who
watched the ascent. Captain Dales
reputation as an acronaut stood hign.
Ihough not approaching the wonder
tul record OF Eugene GODDARD, who
claims to have made two thousand
ascents, he lad been up times enough
TO gam fuil knowledge and experience
o. balloon management. But he was
lated to die in harness, for the balloon
burst. 1he catastrophe came with hor-
flDle sWlftnesS, and Dale was immu-
lated In 1t, but il my memory serves
me his son, who was with him, recoy-
cred.
Another great aeronaut who perish
cd miserably in an exhibition ascent
was Simmons. The exploits of this
daring aerial navigator are doubtless
fresh in the recollection of most of us.
lie was one of the first to cross the
channel, and it is significant of the
pellls which Andree has faced, and of
the magnitude of the task he has set
Almseir' that feat so comparatively
simple as crossing from France to Eng
land should have brought so many ex-
perieIced aeronauts to grief. Simmons
was one OF them, although by a forttn-
ate chance he escaped to tell the story.
lie was accompanied by General Brine
and both had narrow escape with
their lives, as they fell into the sea and
were picked up none too soon. He was
more successful in another attempt.
Tor, accompanied by Sir Claude de
Crespigny, he crossed from Maldon. in
Essex, to Oudekerk, near Flushing.
covering on that occasion one hundred
and forty miles. To give Simmons's
career in detail would be to give the
history of many strange adventures,
but he was eventually killed after an
ascent from Olympia.
One murky day in November. 1887
the master of steamer called the
Prince Leopold was summoned on deck
abruptly. His mind no doubt, confured
up any one Of the dangers which beset
mariner in the narrow and crowded
channel waters, and probobly centered
Itself in the imminent risn OF collision
with some iron monster already close
upon them. He was relieved on that
score as he sent an anxious glance
around; but when he cast a look up-
ward he saw singular and perturbine
spectacle. Away to leeward a balloon
was visible, evidently in dire distress.
Despite the efforts Of the desperate mea
within it, who were battling fiercely for
their lives, it swooped in weak, uncer-
tain flights towards the water like
some broken-winged bird. It needs no
EFFORT of imagination to depict the eff
feet of so piteous a sight on the heart
Of sailor, but the distance was too
great for help to be given in time.
Long before the Prince Leopold could
send effectual assistance the balloon
had plunged down. Its occupants
proved to be Frenchman who had al
ready distinguished himself in cross
Channel work, M. Lhoste, and a COM
panion.
And such is but feeble fragment of
the dangers run by the devoted man
whose fate is now drawing all eyes to
the dim immensity of Polar desolation.