The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-01-01

Nashau. y. H., Correspondence
While 5000 Mortified spectators gazed (;
helplessiy on, Professor f. L. Stafford
and Mrs. Stafford, aeronauts, were
placed in imminent peril three thou
sand feet above the earth and were
only saved from a fearful death by |
an accidental chance little short of |
miraculous. The incident occurred on |
The second day of the Nashua fair. No |
New England fair would be complete |
without a balloon ascension, and Pro-
lessor and Mrs. Stafford had been
hired to give the rural visitors an en-
tertainment consisting of ascending
and parachute jumping calculated to
produce a surfeit of thrills. There Is
no doubt that all who witnessed the
scene got their moneys worth, al
though the program was not carried
out as originally arranged by the aero
nauts.
On the first day of the fair Mr.. and
Mrs. Stafford we're prevented from
making the ascension by an accident
TO the balloon, but on the second day
everything was found to be all right.
A great crowd had assembled to wit
ness the ascension. Probably 5000
people crowded around the balloon
and watched the preparations. When
the big balloon was inflated and the
parachutes attached the aerial voyag-
.ers took their places and in an instant
were soaring through the air high
over the heads of their audience.
When 1000 feet in the air the aero
nsrts prepared to cut loose in order to
make the parachute leap. Mrs. Stat
ford started first, but just as she did
SO a strong gust of wind caught the
parachute, ard threw it with terrific
force straight at Professor Stafford.
'1ae shock OF the contact caused him
10 lose his hold and he fell from the
balloon straight toward the ground
gith frightful velocity.
The first thing the spectators knew
u the fearful drama being enacted
above the clouds was when they saw
Stafford shooting through the air to-
yard contain death and turning SOM
ersault after somereault in his fall. A
Try OF horror arose, women screamed
Hld tainted, and rush was made to
set out CT the way. Apparently moth
tag could save Stafford from being
dashed to pieces either on the ground
or on the roof of some of the buildings
and, frozen with horror, the crowd
waited to see the bloody finish of this
mid-sir tragedy.
Suddenly, however, by what seemed
TO he a miracle, Mrs. Stafford's para.
chute. which had not yet filled out and
which was falling rapidly, came di-
rectly into the path of the descending
Stafford. He landed almost exactly or
the top OF It, Bounding off from the
force of the fall, he clutched at the
ropes with the strength of desperation
and the frail parachute had to beal
the weight of two bodies instead o.
one.
For an instant It looked as if boil
husband and wife were doomed, To-
ourdened with this new weight, thu
parachute shot straight to the GROUND
like lump of lead When within 1,00t
feet OF the ground 1t opened bravely
out, the force of the descent was ar
rested and the aeronauts landed safel,
in lofty tree about two feet outs.d,
of the park. Barring a few Sigh
scratches, neither was injured.
For the next hour the fair grounds
we're practically deserted, the Grove
poured out Of the gates and hurried t
the spot where Stafford and his wifi
had landed. When they found then
safe and sound cheer after cheer rem
the air. An impromptu reception wa
held, and the plucky aeronauts SHOOT
hands with several hundred people
They were then carried in triumph T.
their hotel and during all the remain
der of their stay were kept busy ack
nowledging congratulations on thei
miraculous escape.
Your representative was among tn
number who witnessed the miracu'o OH
descent of these aerial explorers. an
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VA IHIn DArG NJ