Arizona republican., 1901-05-20
STEERING A PARACHUTE.
AeronaW Says Balloons are Less Dan-
 gerous Than They Seem.

Tt may look like guess work" said the retired aeronaut, when a man cuts loose his parachute and heads for the earth, but if he Is up in the business he can pick his own lighting place. A parachute is not entirely at the mercy of the air currents. but can be guided easily.
 By the time the rider and his bag gets within hundred feet of the earth they are going rather slow. barring any wind afloat. As most asoensions are made in cities or suburbs little guid- ing has to be done If you are coming down in the business section a man must try to pick out some tall block or flat roofed structure. and he must watch out for the electric wires. If in the residence section he must avoid trees and ponds. How does he do 1t? Oh. it's simple. Just lean your weight against the side of the trapeze rope and push. This will give a decided swing to the chute. and 1t will move along through the air as though propelled by pair of oars.
 Tt might seem that if there was one business that would compel man to keep clear head it is riding the bag, but just as you hear of oil we'll shoot CTS tossing nitro glycerine around or quarrymen smoking near a pile of powder kegs, so parachute jumping deadens the sense of fear and men will be found every now and then who go up with comfortable jag under their belt. It doesn't often happen, because the man Is certain to get good scare or a ride in a hearse. The feeling of helplesa1ess that comes over fellow shooting up at terrific rate from the earth. the seeming uncertainty of his grasp. although in fact. he is holding on like grim death. combine to give diz- zlness that is bad for the chap.
 "The hardened rider in normal con- ditlon feels no sense of giddiness at all You have seen men on the horizontal bar whirl around and around and light on their feet at the conclusion of their act without any signs of dizziness. It ie the same with riding the bag. Cid diness never attacks a man if he is right. If he isn't it's attack is all the more terrifying. If he has sense enough to reach the cutoff rope and yank 1t he will land all right. If he hesitates long the chances are even for a nasty fall and may be death.
 "Accidents that are accidents pure and simple are very few. Once in a while the big balloon after,it has turned over and let loose It's load of air may take it into its head to chase the man and drop down on him. It takes a little quick maneuvering to get out of the way. but as a usual thing after the bag is released it leaps rapidly up and slowly turns over off to one side. If the cutoff rope does not work and the chute rllngs to the bag. which some times happens. the man is down for a good long ride in a chilly atmosphere. have gone away above the clouds more than once because of failure of the valve to work, but the lower tenn perature soon cools off the hot air. the bag remains stationary for while and then begins a slow drop. It is rather dangerous, but the approach to earth prevents too rapid cooling and permits a slow descent. A man needs only to keep his head and he will come out all right.
 "A man never loses the feeling of in- tense exhlliration that attends the rapid rush through the air. It is comparable to that Of the person who shoots the chutes or tackles a roller coaster. The swift rush of air past the face, the sense of freedom and the swaying mo- tion combine to make it a. very inter- esting experience, and soon deadens a man to the danger, and keys him up to the point where he doesn't feel right if he doesn't get his daily ride."-New York Sun.