Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1900-11-08
AYEDs FROM DEATH by HIS PLUCKY WIFE

N,shau, N. H, CoIresponao,nca
~. & 0oO horfiaed spectators gazed
,u,..sIv LIZ on, Professor f. u. Stafford
Ms Stafford, aeronauts, were
IA in imminent peril three thou
a feet above the earth and were
= saved from fearful death by
I.sScidental chance little short OF
,srulous. The incident occurred on
|. second day,of the Nashua fair. No
r. england. fair would .bs complete
I.hout a balloon ascension, and Pro-
L.or and Mrs. Stafford had been
I,ea 10 give the rural visitors an en-
I,aiument consisting of ascending
4 parachute jumping calculated 70
Icasce d surfeit OF thrills, There is
doubt that all who witnessed the
eue got their moneys worth, al
Ecpgh the program was not carried
,s originally arranged by the aero
Suts. - Il
In the first day of the fair Mr.. and
Stafford were prevented from
lying the ascension by an accident
the balloon, but on the second day
Ierything was found to be all right.
yyeat crowd had assembled to wit
ss the ascension. Probably 5000
ople crowded around the balloon
n watched the preparations. When
big balloon was inflated and the
rachutes attached the aerial voyag-
took their places and in an instant
Ire soaring through the air high
er the heads OF their audience.
hen 5000 feet In the air the aero
uts prepared to cut loose in order to
bke the parachute leap. Mrs Stat
I'd started first, but just as she did
A strong gust of wind caught the
Srachute, and threw 1t with terrific
Ice straight at Professor Stafford.
be shock Of the contact caused him
lose his hold and he fell from the
Slloon straight toward the ground
th frightful velocity.
The first thing the spectators knew
the fearful drama being enacted
oye the clouds was when they saw
afford shooting through the air to-
BIRD centain death and turning SOM
Bault after somersault in his fall. A
n Of horror arose, women screamed
ID tainted, and a rush was made to
out Of the way. Apparently moth
could save Stafford from being
shed to pieces either on the ground
on the roof of some of the buildings
d. frozen with horror, the crowd
pited to see the bloody finish of this
d-air tragedy.
Suddenly, however, by what seemed
be miracle, Mrs. Stafford's para
ute, which had not yet filled out and
pich was falling rapidly, came di-
etly into the path Of the descending
hford. He landed almost exactly on
top Of it. Bounding of from the |
zee OF the fall, he clutched at the
pes with the strength of desperation
p the frail parachute had to bear
weight Of two bodies instead Of
Se.
FOR an instant it looked as IL both
soand and wife were doomed, for
raened with this new weight, the
raenute shot straight to the ground
lump of lead. When within 1000
ol The ground it opened bravely
the force of the descent was ar
1ed and the aeronauts landed safely
iolty tree about two feet outside
tne park. Barring few slight
stches. neither was injured.
or the next hour the fair grounds
'e practically deserted, the crowd
urea out OF the gates and hurried to
spot where Stafford and his wife
landed. When they found them
anu sound cheer after cheer rent
ar An impromptu reception was
y anu the plucky aeronauts shook
us win several hundred people.
Wy were then carried in triumnb to
: no.ei, and during all the remain
" taeir stay were kept busy ack-
,.s,, susins congratulations on their
raculous escape.
msa s representative was among the
vsr ass. VINO witnessed the miraculous
eA' oi these aerial explorers. and