The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-04-18
TALES or PLUCK
and ADVENTURE.


" " ist Cleveland M0ffett
tells ia the st. Nicholas
OF a daring deed performed by mad
ame' Ca1otta Myers. wife Of the
noted balloonist Prof Carl Myers.
of Frankfort. NY
Some dozen years ago. AZ Ottawa.
she made an ascension never forgot
ten by the people Of that city. 1t was
gala occasion Ia honor of Queen
Nictorias gift Of the Crystal Palace
TO her loyal subjects. and Canada had
rarely seen such q gathering Twen-
ty-hye thousand people. as was esti-
mated, were packed inside the Expos-
tion grounds TO see the famous aeron-
aut rise 10 tie clouds And there at
the appointed time stood Carlotta on
raised platform with the multitude
about her, waiting for the balloon
She wore a short skirt over a gymna-
sium suit and made an attractive pic
ture with her fine figure and golden
bronze hair So thought various city
dignltarlcs who chattcd with her ad-
miringly while the crowd surged
about them
Meantime Prof. Myers was anxious
ly watching the manoeuvers Of some
Indians hired bya committee TO tow the
balloon from the gas-works two miles
distant Mnere Il had been filled. This
was rather against the professors
judgment for the Rideau River. iiow-
ing by the grounds. offered an obsta-
Gle that could be overcome only by
4 the help Of canoes and tory lines: and
70 paddle a big balloon across a river.
fresh-hlled. hard-tugging balloon Is
not a thing to be undertaken lightly.
and IN spite OF all their skin these
Indians found themselves presently
lifted into the air. canoes and an loh.
they were badly frightened IndiausN.
not quite clear Of the water. but high
enough 10 make Il doubtful II they
would ever reach shore. aud highly In
terestlng 70 the crowd which pressed
down 70 the river even into the river.
10 well-meant efforts to help. and
dragged the balloon up the bank and
along towards the platform with such
eagemess that they tore great rents
IN IT that let ont the gas In volumes.
Ia an instant as happens In crowds.
the balloon became the centre OF a
struggling mass or people who slow
iy pressed IN from an sides 90 see
: what the matter was Now when
twenty-five thousand people are all
pressing slowly towards one point. Il
Is apt 70 fare m with those at that
point; aud then. had not Carlotta act
ed on a flash of inspiration. there
would surely have been disaster ia
that mercliess crush. She looked over
the shouting. swaylng multitude. and
IN second saw the danger-saw
women held helpless and falntine in
that jam Of bodies; saw one way. and
only one way. Stepping OF the plat
form. she ran lightly and swiftly over
heads and shoulders packed solid.
and came 20 the balloon Such was
the peoples fright that they scarcely
felt her pass
You can't 70 up." cried her hus-
band ~thc balloon Is q wreck"
"a must go up.H she answered: "if
don't these people viii be- crushed
10 DEATH
There's a hole 10 her big enough
% drive a team through" be pro-
tested but already she was IN the
basket and n cheer arose.
Its better TO risk one life than
many she answered with decision.
and turning 10 the crowd m0iioned
them 20 loose the ear. Ia their won
der the wild multitude forgot their
fear. and the struggling quicted Am
eyes were now ON the balloon: one
woman's courage had quelled the
panic. The danger TO the crowd was
past TO She woman just beginning.
Walt moment shouted Profess
o. Myers. you must have more bal
last" But in the din or voices She
misunderstood him and cast out a
bag Of ballast And with a great
hcare and a Tapping Of is torn sides
the balloon wrenched itself free and
shot upward. cripple soaring with rs
last strength. Up and up Il went.
higher and higher as the small store
or gas expanded That tattered bal
loon, with its seams gaping open.
raised itself somehow two miles over
the city Of Ottawa. and men almost
Immediately began 10 fan. The gas
stayed in just long enough to life the
broken bag. and then left Il 10 dash
downward. Professor Myers. heart
sick on the ground. turned his eyes
away, sure that he had seen bis wife
lor the last time alive
But Carlotia was Of no such mind.
She had saved the crowd. now she
would save herself; and even as the
balloon dropped with frightful speed.
She put her plan IN action. Swinging
herself up on the netting. she caught
the ha9ping SAX above long tear.
and drew 1t down with ail her weight
until it reached e car. Instantly
The ais rushed IN underneath. ana
hcllled ont the fabric into great um-
bfella. q parachute improylsed from
g ripped balloon. Now they were
slowing up. they had put the brakes