The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-09-20

Ayerted PantC Among twenty.
Ave Thousand Sightseers.
Writing of the adventurous career Of
the balloonist, Cleveland Moffett tells In
St. Nicholas of a daring deed performed
by Nine. Carlotta Myers, wife Of the
noted balloonist, Professor Carl Myers Of
Frankfort, n. Y.
Some years ago at Ottawa she made
an ascension never forgotten by the peo-
pie of that city. 1t was a gala occasion
in honor of Queen Victoria's gift Of the
Crystal palace to her loyal subjects, and
Canada had rarely seen such a gather
| ing. Twenty-Five thousand people, as
was estimated. were packed inside the
exposition grounds to see the famous
| aeronaut rise to the 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
gymnasium suit and made an attractive
picture with her fine figure and golden
bronze hair. So thought various city
dignitaries who chatted with her ad-
miringly while the crowd surged about
| them.
Meantime Professor Myers was anx-
iously watching the maneuvers Of some
Indians hired by a committee to tow the
balloon from the gas works, two miles
distant, where it had been filed. This
| was rather against the professors judg-
ment. for the Rideau river, flowing by
the grounds. offered an obstacle that
could be overcome only by the help Of
canoes and towlines, and to paddle a big
balloon across a rivera fresh filled,
hard Juggling balloons not q thing to
| be undertaken lightly.
And in spite of all her skill these In
dians found themselves presently lifted
into the air, canoes and all loh, they were
badly frightened IndiansD, not quite clear
of the water. but high enough to make it
doubtful if they would ever reach shore,
and highly interesting to the crowd which
pressed down to the river, even into the
river. in well meant efforts to help, and
dragged the balloon up the bank and
along toward the platform with such
eagerness that they tore great rents in it
that let out the gas in volumes.
In an instant. as happens in crowds,
the balloon became the center of a strHg-
Cling mass of people, who slowly pressed
in from all sides to see what the matter
was. Now, when $4,000 people are all
pressing slowly toward one point, 1t Is
apt to fare i'll with those at that point,
and then had not Carlotta acted on q
flash of inspiration there would surely
have been disaster in that merciless
crush.
She looked over the shouting. swaying
multitude and in a second saw the dan
ger-saw women held helpless and faint
ing in that jam of bodies; saw one way.
and only one, to save the situation, and
took that way. Stepping off the platform,
she ran lightly and swiftly over heads
and shoulders packed solid and came to
the balloon. Such was the peoples fright
that they scarcely felt her pass.
You can't go up" cried her husband.
''The balloon is wreck"
IA must go up" she answered. "1f I
don't. these people will be crushed to
death"
There's a hole in her big enough to
drive team through" he protested: but
already!she was in the basket and a cheer
arose.
Its better to risk one life than many"
she answered with decision and, turning
to the crowd, motioned them to loose the
car. In their wonder the mad multitude
forgot their fear, and the struggling
quieted. All eyes were now on the bal
loon. One woman's courage had Quelled
past, to the woman just beginning.
Wait a momentr' shouted Professor
Myers. "You must have more ballast"
But in the din of voices she misunder-
stood him and cast out a bag of ballast.
And with great heave and tapping Of
its torn sides the balloon wrenched itself
free and shot upward. a cripple soaring
with its last strength.
Up and up it went. higher and 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, and then almost
Immediately began to fall. The gas
staid in just long enough to lift the broken
| bag, and then left it to dash down
ward. Professor Myers. heartsick 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 even as the balloon
dropped with frightful speed she put her
| plan in action. Swinging herself up on
the netting. she caught the Tapping silk
above a long tear. and drew it down with
all her weight until it reached the car.
| Instantly the air rushed in underneath,
and bellied out the fabric into a great
umbrella. parachute improvised from q
ripped balloon. Now they were slowing
up: they had put the brakes on, and now
they were soaring easily, drifting with
| the wind.
Carlotta drew a long breath of relief
and looked down. They were still mile
above ground. She had the runaway in
hand, but where should she land him?
Most aeronauts would have been thank
full enough to get down alive anywhere;
! she proposed to do a feat of steering as
| well.
No doubt there was some gas in the
upper part of the bag to help her. but in
the main she was guiding a parachute,
and 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 Is miles from
Ottawa that she had selected as the very
place she proposed to land. And great
were the rejoicings when 1t was known
that she had come to no harm