Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-07-09
WAS NEARLY a TRAGEDY.
Balloon Ascension at Devils Lake
Nearly Costs the Life of a Female
BalIoonist

BalIoonist.
Devils Lake July S.-What was one
of the most successful as well as en- |
tertaining balloon ascensions ever held
but which very nearly resulted in a
tragedy, was held here on Saturday.
The daring lady who made the ascen-
sion and who very nearly lost her life
in the attempt is Miss LeCash The
balloon with the parachute attached
went up in the park and it had been
planned that the lady land in mea-
dow which lies about a quarter of a
mile to the south The wind in the
afternoon had been blowing too hard
to attempt the ascension. so it was left
until evening. 1t seems. however, that
the wind was somewhat stronger in
the evening than was thought and af
ter the lady was once in the air it
was too late to remedy the matter. To
complicate matters. it seems that the
lady became entangled in some man.
ner in the parachute. 1t was not dis
covered for some time that there was
anything wrong. After the balloon
! had risen to the distance where the
! lady was supposed to drop she did not
drop, but kept on going up. . 1t was
then inferred that there must be some
thing wrong. The parachute finally
let go, but it had been carried over
so far that the lady was forced to land
in the lake nearly two miles from the
Chautauqua grounds. AS soon as 1t
was discovered that something was
wrong Secretary LaRue became alarm
ed and drove down to that part of the
lake He had great difficulty in locat-
ing the lady. but he saw a black spot
and what appeared to be foam, about
mile and half out in the lake He
shouted and received faint reply. The
nearest boat was over mile away at
the bridge. Mr.. LaRue fastened there
but could only find one car and an old
ice bed. The ice bed was so badly
soaked with water that when Mr.. La
) Rue stepped on it it sank about SIX
inches in the water. He padded out
in the direction of the black spot, but
!. II was very slow work and it began tC
, pet dark so that the only way he could
keen track of Miss LeCash was to
shout at her and go in the dlrectlon
from which the reply came. When
within a short distance away. MISS
/ LeCash shouted to him, "You will have
to hurry, because ! am almost gone.
: Mr. LaRue finally reached her ano
: found hel. in the water up to her chin
= After getting her on the raft he founc
: that she was badly tangled up IN 'he
S narachute and that almost all OF the
e wind had leaked out Of the life pre-
: cerver. The shore was finally reached
and the young lady was well take'
S care of. The next morning she va
S walking around the grounds as II noun
ing at all had happened to her Thf
4 Young lady is certainly very darlhs
r and it is doubtful if more pluck ah'
n grit were ever displayed than that dls
n,aved by Miss LeCash. She was II
@ the water for nearly two hours am
@ when found had a cramp in one sid'
and was forced to hold the life preser
=. ver on with one hand. The presenc
II of Mr. LaRue is the only thihg 'ha
" saved the life of the young lady
t. required nc little nerve on the par
~ of Mr. LaRue to paddle out distahc
v of a mile and a half in the poorest KIN
D. of a raft.
To-. r.a,, Jypch WAS drowned in tn