The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-04
REVIVED BY AIRSHIPa
Double Balloon Ascension Checked tho
Decline of knnhna CITY.

Bdllooning Tor business after the nrst CHECK
to boom was one OF the resorts OF a Kansas
City merchant In the seventies. Jay Gould
had completed the Missouri Pacific to the Net
ropolis Of the Kaw.ns some had dubbed the new
city and then pushed the line on to Leaven-
worth. Kansas City viewed this movement
with alarm II had expected to be the terminus
OF the one long line OF railway in the state.
II Mr.. Gould had walked In any street In
Kansas City about this time he would have
been hooted. Prices in real estate fell like a
plummet. A few timid business men hoisted
the red flag. The town struck dead calm.
The Mayor. Mit Magec. combination OF the
elder Carter Harrison and Paddy Gleason. the
largest realty holder in the place. became des-
perate. and ito iven up things" mounted his
spirited Kentucky thoroughbred and rode In
Main street. followed by q crowd. When the
Mayor wanted drink he rode into saloon
and ordered for the crowd. While he imbibed
from the saddle he ordered q bucket Of lemon
ade for his horse. He preached Kansas City
wherever he had drink and In the street as
well. The crusade continued whenever
the Mayor thought tho town was becoming
somnolent.
There we're no telephones then. The Mavor
lived out In the west end OF town In "Magee 8
addition" and when he started a crusade out
there the news soon reached the business CEN
X,
especially Of lemons for Mayor Magees horse
had shown great capacity for lemonade.
Unauestionably tho town would have come
out Of the blind staggers 1t received from Mr..
Gould. for Kansas City always had grit. But
the breaking Of the "spell'' was fastened by n
jeweler OF the name OF Holman and an aero
naut known In his business as Prof. Stiner.
The latter was a gadabout Snowman. He
was as tall and angular az Lincoln. nervous
and aggressive. Holman was a dandy in dress.
quick as n cat. and one OF the first business
men In Kansas City to wear a silk hat every
day. When he passed the Square" on which
the farmers congregated with their products.
he created as much fun and comment as a cir
Gus procession. When business was dull as it
was most Of the time with Holman then. he
sailed forth to start breeze and generally
succeeded
1t was inevitable that Holman and Stiner
should meet. Just as the commercial depres-
sion was becoming heavier ripple struck tho
town in the announcement that Prof. Stiner
and Fl. r. Holman would make two balloon
ascensons from the public square on July T.
1t was advertised as a free show. That Stiner
would make an ascension caused little COM
ment. If he had said he would fly no one would
have questioned his intention to make the
effort. But what did Holman know about a
or fix a watch. or wear fine clothes but at that
time q balloonist was a scientist.
Holman's friends tried to dissuade him. and
asked what he expected to make by the fool
hardy act. He answered that something must
be done to bring people into town. to counter
act Jay Gould's blow to the metropolis. That
Holman had his own boom in view was not de-
MED. but the waiting Kansas City merchants
decided that the Holman boom was good for
the town. no matter whether he came back
dead or alive. Before a week the Western
country was talking about Kansas CITY and its
double balloon ascension on the Fourth
PROF. Stner is to go up. followed by crazy
leweller who never saw a balloon" was
about the drift Of the comment. The balloons
were to be built in Kansas City. That was
heralded and worked although, few rival
towns mnanly insinuated that the "Metrop-
oils was right at home in building windbags.
IN from NE cntv t @ M todio Sae
arships. and of course they went to see Hol-
man. and Holman was smart enough to mark
catch tho farmers eyes.
BUSINESS had starter The hat was passed
",euarantee."- Hol man got the glory, Two
& po Sny and Sos Df ns
lot near the business centre was camp. Sur
rounding towns turned out big representa-
tons and the hotels turned away guests.
Prairie schooners. OK teams buck boards carts
and old coaches blockaded the streets In
dians MeSicnns and hullwhackers mingled in
BARRIERS stood in the doorways, directing
in hcie." And there it was in full view. every y
game known to sports in full blast.
The ferry between Kansas CITY and the op,
posite shore was unable to handle the crowd
from Clay eounty-thc home Of the James boys
and and skifrs and natboats we're ,nayigated 70
the town was hot and wide open Many went
to, the hillt"ps to escape the commotlon and
o her things iii Eio and to have high place from
built about the place IN which the airships
ging like living things to break away from their
chains 2 roar OF voices went up and was echoed
~ Il was afternoon before the ropes wero cut.
Iha balloons w were new, ,, and whter objects
Holman in enormous Hack letters was pc pa n
on one balloon Stiner on the other Every
artitice Of the Snowman to work up the people
Isayf Il, The earth hrst The public did not know
and circled in its flight.
Holman stood IN the basket alone, in full
multitude. while the multitudo shouted i and and
returned his salutation until his ship Of air"
looked Ike an open far and went out OF sight
east.
.Thcn the, ship of Stiner went M. He was in
hiS shirt sleeves But there was no car to his
balloon, He sat on bar lust below the meek
of tho big bag. This intrapdity struck the
crowd dumb until the balloon was far away
and then the shout won't up.
Night fell upon the town and its strange
population. Again 1t was wide open and be-
yond control. but no crime followed. such as
had been predicted Early next day news OF
The Il safe landing Of the aeronauts was received.
in flcld in Clay county. Stiner a few miles
away. They returned in the afternoon. and OF
course they were heroes.
Then the scramble for home hogan. and the
retreat ~ an army was peaceful compared to
that break OF humanity to get away from tho
city. Business revived in the Metropolis" 1t
seemed to defy com petition. Jay Gould and even
St, Louis, It may not have been caused by the
balIoons. but the old settlers always date the
beginning of the towns substantial success
from that Fourth of July when the dandy
two balloons" 49, "
Holman had his share OF the prosperity and
long since quit and passed away. Stiner kent
on in his limo until he made his last ascension,
Our Disappearing Copper Money.
To THE EDITOR OF THR SUNNI. Noting a recent
article In your paper regarding the number of largo
copper cents outstanding. and apparently out Of cir.
culAtion ia Iv liud