The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-12-17
FIRST PARACHUTE JUMP
START or A SPORT WHICH HAS
BECOME COMMON.

Ing.
The Grst parachute jumper was sam
Baldwin. now successful manufac-
turer Of balloons He. his brother and
Professor Van Tassel. all three gus
balloon men. happened to meet in II
Los Angeles hotel I'm the summer or
1887. Each had hard luck story to
tell and it was unanimously agreed
that the business had gone to the
dogs. As a means OF resuscitating H.,
Baldwin suggested the parachute leap.
The others did not believe It possible
for man TO make the jump and live.
None Of them was willing to make
the experiment, so u bag of sand was
used. The balloon was sent up with
long string attached to the para
chute rope. When the bag had risen
threc-Quarters OF nile the cord was
pulled and the chute cut loose. 1t
dropped like a log for 100 feet. then
opened and came slowly down TO
earth.
Repeated experiments convinced the
trio that it was n safe trick with u
man in place OF the bag OF sand. Van
Tassel then went to San Francisco to
interview the newspapers and get
them TO send reporters to Los Angeles,
but while he was away the impatient
Baldwns experimental themselves.
and Sam made the first jump in his
tory safely and easily.
The Baldwins were quick 60 realize
the money value of being first in the
field, and they started East to intro
duce the sport there. Greatly incensed
Van Tassel broke with them and get
ting an outfit began making ascents
himself.
The new act leapcd into popular
favor at once. The daring fact that #
was more than an equal chance that
the aeronaut would be dashed to pieces
drew crowds wherever the leap was
advertised to take place. The man
who rode the bag" could command
almost any price he asked. For some
time the three balloonists had the field
to themselves. Most of the other
aeronauts were afraid Of 1t. With
four assistants and a pushing mana
ger the Baldwins made tour around
the world. In a year and Il half they
netted 100000 in cash
With the advent OF other "riders
OF the bag" prices began TO drop.
From $1,000 that was once paid for
Fourth OF July performances at the
big resorts prices went steadily down
ward, until $3.50 was reached. Sun
more recruits came, and nowadays the
ruling price Is from so to $40. No
one has ever compiled an accurate list
OF the number OF men who depend
dpon the parchaute jumping as a
means OF livelihood, but estimates
range from 500 to 500.
The public craze for novelty, com.
bined with the desire to excel, caused
a number OF innovations. First came
The man and n woman. then later the
dog was added. First the man and
woman rode on the same bar. Later
they had separate parachutes. tied to
the same bar Then came the man
riding bicycle in midair. When he
left the ground he was pedalling at n
great rate. This he kept uD as long
as he was in sight 1t looked very
risky. but il wasn't.
Later came the man who fired him
self out OF cannon in mldair This
was spectacular and taking, but a
great deal OF a fake The folded chute
was first placed inside n big tube OF
tin mounted on stanchions and car
riage Of the same dimsy material
painted black to resemble iron. Then
the performer crawled In. He had
concealed in the breast OF his leo.
tard,' the half coat used by all tumb.
lers and trapeze artists. q pistol. pro
vided with blank cartridges. The bal
lool was released I'm the ordinary man
ner. and when # reached a proper
height the aeronaut exploded his cart
ridge, and the human cannon bali"
dropped into view.
After a mere half dozen short swings
to and fro the ascent Is almost direct.
~ upward The man who is quitting
the earth is, curiously enough. the
only one who doesn't feel that he is
doing anything OF the Kind. AS he
sits in his tr9pCzc and gazcs down
ward there Is no sensation OF motion
or OF giddiucss The earth is dropoipt-
away from him. lie is sitting stIl
suspended from nothing II is lust
as though he had sat himself in a HIGH
swing ana dropped u broad object
downward
To the novice it is wonderful
sight The earth seems 10 Doe saucrr
shaped. the valleys and hills ana riy.
crs mere miniatures .n wax that tbo
sun has melted and caused 90 run. Just
beneath You seems the lowest point.
while the horizons appear 100 Doe com.
ing up ~ meet you. You arc loosine
at the Garth through Che small oud of
your opera glass and some ono IS
rapidly turning The focusing barr
The FIRST two or three seconds after
cutting loose Us The time when frc
only real terror Us felt SO mntter
now many times the parachute jump.
or repeats zinc cxprrieuc. h. cannot
escape the sensation. tle comp,o..
goncncss at the pit OF th. stomach
When he is ready 20 ict 20 ha tqtos
a long full breath several OF them
in fact and sets bis muscles bard
After Doe does cue loose he Glras no,
breathe. 20 do TO would cause am
location, a fantiug srll II the chute
did not open at aU ir Womb rarsr
feel the paugs OF death no yould
have lost an sonsibHlty long before
the earth was reached SJurtrpr.
when the chute is slow In uDroldiua
al u.