Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-07-27
Parachute and Church steeple

In Allegheny, Saturday, the parachute
of the fellow who did the drop from a
ballon act for the carnival caught on a
high church steeple The ballonists g
name is Cassel, and he struck the steeple
with his feet in hopes of throwing the
parachute out from the projections of
the steeple, but this had the opposite
effect, for instead of drawing the para
chute out it drew 1t in and the SILK
caught on the knobs which form part
of the decoration on the great pinnacle.
The wind had shifted to northeast in
the lower stratum of air, and the silked
folds of the parachute were soon wrap
ped taut around the steeple and Cassell
was bobbing up and down like jack in
the box. Without the least hope of
reaching the top of the gothic window,
one of six in the highest portion of the
steeple, Cassel gathered all his strength
and sw ung for it. Luck was with him
and he reached it in safety. Then he
sat down upon the projection and laugh
ingly kissed his hands to the anxious
crowd which had assembled beneath
the steeple.
For over one hour he sat and the hot
rays of the sun almost blistered his face
and hands. 1t seemed as if no aid could
reach him there, for not ladder was
long enough in the city. Even the i'm
mense ladders of the FIRE department
were too short by almost 100 feet. Mrs.
Cassel wife of the aeronaut, however,
was equal to the occasion, aud as soon
as she heard of her husbands accident
rushed to the scene, rs did William
HYDE, Cassells assistant. For some
time they were puzzled. Finally hap
py thought struck Cassell. He took his
knife and cut number of slender ropes
from the parachute. tied them together,
and found they would reach the ground.
Mrs. Cassell meanwhile cent Hyde to
headquarters in the fair grounds and a
strong hempen rope was brought. This
she attached to the improvised life line
of her husband and he pulled it up,
made it tight about the projection on
which he sat, and while the crowd trem-
bled and gazed with awe upon the scene
he slid to the ground without the slight
est injury, not even a scratch. Then
the crowd cheered, but Cassell hurried
to his headquarters. He was interested
in the question of releasing the para
chute and bringing it to the ground, fol
he was anxious to make another ascen-
sion that night, and the parachute was
absolutely necessary for the feat. He
had Director John A. Fairman send
for Chief John X. Hunter, and when
the latter arrived he laid his case before
him. Hunter sent for No Z ladder
truck and the ladders were sent up be
side the church steeple to their full ex.
tent. But that was still 100 feet from
the parachute. Cassel climbed up the
ladder and caught the rope he had de
scended on and then hand over hand ht
climbed the distance until he reached
the dizzy height, WHARF he spent one
hour before. Then with great calmness
he straddled the projection and theI
stood up. For over twenty minutes ht
tugged with the impaled parachute and
finally succeeded in tossing it to the
ground.
It required considerable nerve and an
even balance for him to maintain his
position. When the parachute fell Cas-
sell dropped on his knees, put slip knot
in the rope on the pinnicale and slide t.
the ground amid the greatest cheers and
and applause heard in Allegheny fol
years. Then giving the rope a quick
jerk he released it from the projection
and it fell, to the ground. 1t was the
cleverest feat of the sort ever witnessed
In Allegheny.
Il have been in the business for'years
but never before have I landed on {
church steeple. have fallen on roofs
in trees, rivers and orchards, but the ex
perience of this evening was the great
est in my career. / did not lose pres
ence of mind for moment. If had
would have been killed. When / struck
the steeple tried to make the best of il
and did / admit it was exciting, bu
l was equal to the emergency and think
did the proper thing. If | could FL
the parachute now l would make an
other ascension Scared2 Not the
least bit l would go up in minute if
had aparachute.
II was certain Jack would not be in
jured in the least" said Mrs. Cassel
when heard he was on the steeple
naturally ran. but was not the leas
afraid. He has been in 50 many Close
predicaments before that | am alwayi
certain he will get out safely"