The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-27


W. At least II no In not UP in the air
he ID down In tho woods dang
ling among the trees. or lying IN
. watery grave at the bottom or 5ome
lake. He II Z daring and spectacular fei-
low. Some persons would call him fool
hardy. But he has his living 10 make,
and this IL his harvest time. 1t 10 the time
when he goes up ana down the country.
In more senses that one. giving cxhIb.-
tons OF wonderful intrepidify In midair.
for the especial delectation Of pleasure
seeking crowds at country fairs. summer
assemblies. mass meetings. fratsrnal pic
nice and popular gatherings OF various
kinds. II he goes through the season and
escapes with his life he may consider aim
SELF lucky.
OFTEN the parachute jumper 10 billed a.
. marvellous and thrilling free feature In
che s3ss % stellar attractions to draw GU
rious people and their dimes 20 the aoisy
little circuses and tent shows that 70
strolling through the rural regions or me-
andering about the outskirts 81 big cities
on . circuit OF eEs-day ss&ndss Having
seen him pictured On the handa4!is hang
ing or floating In midair with his balloon
and parachute, people Acck 10 see hia
asrial gymnastics. fearing that he may be
killed and that they will be 30 unfortunate
~ to miss the grewsome sight.
He II In the same class with the slack
wire performer in tights. who walks TO
the top Of tho center-pclc, outside the
tent. before tho performance begins inside.
He IL = greater drawing card than tho free
street parade, with the funny clowns In
the pony cart and the musical oaiisope At
the end Of the PROCESSION. Hts hrllliancy
entirely eelipses that OF the strong man.
described either ~ Samson or a San
dow. who rides In q Kilds.i ehas.et all by
himself. with barred arms and chest, to
show his enormous muscles and Atlas-itke
proportions. His salary IL gagged accord
inGly. He takes great risks and demands
big pay Sometimes he receives 3iu0 or
more for = single performance or aerial
night.
IL - . perilous business he follows. Some
times the parachute jumper is engaged
for an entire season by the hig excursion
steamers plying on the Great lakes. His
spectacular srats 20 TO swell the na.rsp-
age derived from that class OF pleasure
neekers who are seauatic In their preillec-
lions He makes his aseents from the up-
per deck amid saIso- ot applause, and is
watched with the kreness interest ana *.
element until he comes down kerp,unk
In the water. II Is perhaps more agree
able 10 drop into the water than 20 fali
on a housetor or ge, tangled up in tree
but even IN the aquatic work there .s
great danger. for X the performer .s rot
an expert swimmer. drowning IL almost
certain TO be his fate before his engage
m~nt ends. II n the rule 10 send q crew
Of rescuers In q boat sn follow his aerial
fight as closely as possible and pick him
UP as soon as he can Ae reached
One A~rcnsut nrawms.
The other osy, at Carry. Pa. Frank Rey-
nolds amateur aercnaat ana parachute
jumper. whose ambition WAS 10 win
money and fame az his r~r!icus business.
lost his life because he could not swim
He had never dropped from aix.y a~ssass
with n parachute. hut III. opportunity for
thrilling exhibition came when Ne was
engaged as an attraction Cor a salms,ssr as
seggeiy at Finalay's lake. fifteen miles
from Cory,
On the afternoon ~ Jpiy 81. IN the rres-
escr Of q isrse crowd tie yossar man
made his aseensisn, He scared sky~a-!
10 the height Of sea feet. He struck a ear.
rent o. air which carried hss hasloosa cut
over The lake. In the great crowd which
watched Reynolds - no s~unx iooss trovn
the trapese bar 10 drop wHs ass Young wife.
who realizes. Ire peril to wh.oh he vas At
that moment exposed. and who suddenly
startled everybody ~ crying GA, la =
viii trawnss pusH down came ire yoang
husband unconscious. rressaAsy II tire
dxexer 70 sseA sare afxsssa hfns svern hs.os
Beats wsfv aale My manned sat gss oat
In response Ia the alarm. sas Reynusts
strask tao water where there Il depth %
alnetv ~ the4RA - ~ AnAhA ~ sAa3