The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-12-04
A NERVY BALL00NISl'
SHE WILLINGLY RlsN-o HGR OWN
LIFE TO SAVE OTHERS.

Ave Thousand SIghtsccrs.
Writing OF the adventurous career OF
the halloonlst. Cleveland Moflctt tells in
{ 81. Nichoas of daring deed performed
/ by Nine. Carlotta Myers, wife Of the
noted halloonist. Professor Carl Myers of
/ Frankfort, y. Y
some years age at Ottawa She made
I ~ ascension never forgotten by the pcO-
/ pie of that city, Ii was gala occasion
/ in honor Of Queen NictoriaS gift OF the
Crystal palace 10 her loyal subjects, and
Canada had rarely seen such gather
Ing Twenty-Five thousand people. as
was estimated. were packed inside the
exposition grounds 10 see the famous
acrmaut rise 70 the clouds
Aud there at the appointed time stood
/ Carlotta on raised platform, with the
multitude about her waiting for the
/ balloon. She wore short skirt over a
gymnasium suit and made an attractive
picture with her fine figure and golden
/ bronze hair. SO thought various city
/ dignitaricS who chattcd with her 0d-
| mirinsly while the crowd Surgcd about
/ them.
Meantime Professor Myers was anx-
/ iouSly watching the manouverS " some
I Indians hired ny a committee 10 tow the
/ balloon from the gas works. two miles
| distant. where it had been tillcd This
/ was r,,hc, against the professors iudg
mont, for the Ridcau river, flowing by
/ the grounds, offered an obstacle that
I cou'd hc overcome only by the help Of
I canoes and towlincs. aud TO paddle bis
I balloon across a rivera fresh filed.
hard tUeg'ug balloon-is not thing to
/ bc undertaken lightly.
And in spite of all her skin these In
/ dianS found themselves presently lifted
| into the air. canoes and all ,oh. they were
/ badly frightened lndianSl, not quite clear
/ of the water hut high enough To make il
| douhtful II they would ever reach shore,
[ AMI highly interesting 20 the crowd which
] pressed down 10 the river. even into the
river in well meant efforts To help, and
/ dragged the balloon up the hank and
I along toward the platform with such
cagcrness that they tore great rents in il
/ that let ont the gas in volc-cs.
In an instant, as happens in crowds.
l The balloon became the cra,cr OF a strug-
| sling mass 90 people, who slowly pressed
/ IN from all sides Co see what the matter
was. Now, when 21.CoD proplc are all
| pressing slowly toward ogT point, it Is
| apt % fare in with those at that point,
and then had not Carlotta acted on
| fash of inspiration there would surely
/ have been disaster in that mcrCileSs
/ crush.
She looked over the shouting. swaying
/ multitude AMI in second saw the dan
ger-saw women he'll helpless and faint
ing in that jam Of bodies; saw one way,
and only one. 10 save the situation. and
| took that way Stepping OF the platfo.n,
She ran lightly and swiftly over heads
| and shoulders packed solid and came 20
l the balloon. Such was the peoples fright
that they scarcely felt her pass.
"You can't go up" cried her husband.
The balloon is a wreck"
Il must 90 up" she answered If
don't. these people win be crushed 10
death"
There's d hole in her Zig enough to
drive team through" he protested; but
already she was in the basket and cheer
arose.
Its better to risk one life than many"
she answered with decision and, turning
| to the crowd. motioncd them 90 loose the
car. In their wonder the r,al multitude
forgot their fear. and the struggling
quiCtcd. All eyes were now on the hal
loon. One womans courage had qucled
the panic. The danger To The crowd was
past, 10 the woman just beginning.
Wait a moment" shouted Professor
! Myers. You must have more ballast
But in the din OF voices She miSuudcr-
stood him and east out Lag Of ballast.
And with n great hcavc and a Tapping Of
its torn sides the balloon wrenchcd itself
free and shot upward. cripple soaring
with its last strength.
Up and up il went, higher anl higher
as the small store Of gas expanded That
tattered balloon, with its seams gaping
open. raised itself somehow two miles
over the city Of Ottawa, ana then almost
Immediately began to fall The gas
staid in just long enough to lift the broken
bag. and then LETT il 10 dash down
ward Professor Myers. hCartsick on
the ground. turned his eyes away. sure
that he had seen his wife for the last time
alive.
But Carlotta was Of no such mind. She
had saved the crowd. now she would
save herself; and oven as the balloon
dropped with frightful speed she put her
plan in action. Swinging herself mp on
the netting, she caught the tapping silk
above long tear. and drew it down with
all her weight until it reached the car
Instantly the air rushed in underneath.
and bcllied ont the fabric into n great
umbrella. parachute improvisod from a
ripped balloon Now they were slowing
up: they had put the brakes on AMI now
they were soaring easily drifting with
the wind.
Carlotta drew long breath of relief
and looked down. They were still mile
above ground. She had tho runaway IN
hand. but where should she land him?
Most aeronauts would have been thank
ful enough 10 get down alive anywhere;
she proposed to do feat Of steering as
well
No doubt there was some gas in the
upper paIt Of the bag to help her. hut in
the main she was guiding a parachute,
md she guided it so skillfully by tipping
the footboard forward or back, to LEFT or
right, that she landed finally in clump
Of evergreen trees some Il miles from
Ottawa that she had selected as the very
place she proposed to land. And great
were the rejoicings when it was known
that she had come to no harm.
Wanted n Tidbit.
The second course Of the table d'hote
was being served.
What is this leathery STUFF" demand