The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1901-04-25

anne" Carlotta Myers. wife of the
noted balloonist Prof" Carl Myers,
OF Frankfort, n. Y.
Some dozen years ago, at ottawa
she made an ascension never forgot
ten by the people 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 gathering. Twen-
ty-fve thousand people, as was esti-
mated, were packed inside the EXPOSE
ton grounds to see the famous aeron-
aut rise to the clouds. And there at
the appointed time stood Carlotta on
Il raised platform, with the multitude
about her, waiting for the balloon.
She wore a short skirt over a gymna-
SUM suit and made an attractive pic
ture 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 Prof. Myers was anxious
ly watching the manoeuyers of some
Indians hired bya committee to tow the
distant, wnere it had been filed. This
was rather against the professors
judgment, for the Rideau River, flow
ing by the grounds, offered an obsta
Gle that could be overcome only by
the help OF canoes and tow lines; and
to paddle big balloon across a river,
a fresh-flled, hard-tugging balloon, is
not a thing to be undertaken lightly.
And in spite of all their skill these
Indians found themselves presently
lifted into the air, canoes and all (oh,
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 in
tereSting 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 towards 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 centre of a
struggling mass of people, who slow
ly pressed in from all sides to see
what the matter was. Now when
twenty-five thousand people are all
pressing slowly towards one point, it
is apt to fare i'll with those at that
point; and then, had not Carlotta act
ed 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 danger-saw
women held helpless and fainting in
that jam Of bodies; saw one way, and
only one way. Stepping off the plat
form, 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 90 up" cried her hus-
band, "the balloon is wreck"
Il must go up" she answered; -'if
l don't these people will be crushed
to death"
There's a hole in her big enough
to drive n team through" he pro
tested; but already she was in the
basket, and a cheer arose.
IT'S better to risk one life than
many" she answered with decision,
and turning to the crowd, motioned
them to loose the car. In their Won
der the Wild multitude forgot their
fear, and the struggling quoted. All
eyes were now on the balloon; one
woman's courage had quelled the
panic. The danger to the crowd was
past to the woman just beginning.
Wait a moment" shouted Profess
or Myers; you must have more bal
last" But in the din or voices she
misunderstood him and cast out
bag of ballast And with a great
heave and Tapping of its torn sides,
the balloon wrenched itself f-aG and
shot upward. a cripple soaring with it's
last strength. Up and up it went
higher and higher as the small store
Of gas expanded. That tattered bal
loon, with its seams gaping open,
raised itself somehow two miles over
the city of Ottawa, and then almost
Immediately began to fall. The gas
stayed in just long enough to life the
broken bag, and then left it to dash
downward. Professor Myers, heart
sick 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 SIX above Il long tear,
and drew il down with all her weight
until it reached tie car. Instantly
the air rushed in underneath, and
bellied out the fabric into great UNI
breila, parachute improyised from
a 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
long breath of relief and looked
down. They were still mile above
ground. She had the runaway in