The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-16

S,I,n is the remark attributed to Darius
nr,o IN the classic description Of his ex-
.,e-,sr,res with his flying machine, and the
o,ber dav the Queen of the Clouds spoke
10 the same effect.
You are liable to get an awful bump,
she sad.
rather matronly little woman with bright
smile and the appearance OF being an ex-
ceent housekeeper
We're right at the beginning OF our
busiest season now" she went on. All
the schitzenfests and big picnics want a
parachute leap, and when the country
fairs come on we'll be on the go, or sup
pose il would be moro correct to say on the
lump, all the time. III be working about
every day.
AS general thing there's moro in this
business for woman than for man. The
farmers at the fairs always prefer ono OF
IL TO do the leap. We draw bigger crowds
han the men, and this being so 1t is only
,rghl and proper that we should get bigger
money, which usually we do.
The regular price for the leap is $40
and expenses, but a good woman leaper who
knows her business won't look at that,
especially if she does something out Of tho
way like the bomb leap.
The bomb leap? Why, that's where
ven and the parachute are In big shell
that's attached to the balloon. When
you decide that it's time to cut loose that
feet, you pull the cord that releases and
opens the shell and let's you and the para
chute out. At the same time there is an
explosion Of some powder that is fixed on
the shell and lot Of smoke, and after that
it's just the ordinary leap.
Dangerous? Why, Of course it Is. 1
hope to quit after this season, but while
you're in the profession you've got to take
your chances, just like the doctors that
attend smallpox cases or anybody else
ha, has a living to make the best way they
hnow how.
But the profession amt what 1t used
recollect distinctly when the asronaut who
generally made the contracts with the pic
mic people would get one-fifty for furnish
ing leap, and If he didut make the leap
himself the one that did would get fifty,
anyway.
Vow, as | say, many's thankful for ten
and expenses. Why, there's some in this
business that will actually offer to supply
The balloon, make the jump, pay their
expenses and all for a ten-dollar bill.
How they do it | don't know, but I've
Heard of them riding into town on freight
car If that amt coming it low l don't
know what is; and these ten-dollar men
call themselves professionals, too.
The trouble with the business is that
almost any one with a good grip and steady
nerves can make u leap about as well as the
oid-timers. There's boys that hang around
fair grounds that will 20 up for nothing y
and feel heroic. and it gives them a big
standing in their gang, you see.
This Us usually the way boy gets to be
n parachute leaper. II he lands safe the
first time he's generally just wild to go up
again. That's the fascination OF it.
ments for says to one OF his boys the other
day: Bills cut the price, Henry. He's
willing to go up for three dollars Henry
studies a minute and then answers: Bills
a lobster but If he's going to cut under like
that I'll 60 up for one bone
1T was only joke, ofGourse. The boys
are still getting their ten, but it only shows
you how easy and cheap you can get para
chute people nowadays. You'd be- sur
prised at the number that are willing to go
up. You can find them in any town.
Maybe you'd like to try 1t yourself.
You could tell about 1t SO much better
hen. 1t could be arranged easily What,
to me; but still. looking back, can sort
# imagine how you feel.
Il remember that l wanted TO back out
pretty bad just before my first ascension.
and when | got up into the air 1t seemed
awful Sitting on that little bar, with the
whole country spread out away down
nelow and nothing between you and 1t
nul air and no way of getting down eS-
rept to drop in the parachute, gives you
81 very queer feeling till you get used to il.
But the worst part is the first two or
three hundred feet of the way down, when
Won lust fall. You feel for a couple of
seconds that you're entirely in the hands
OF fate Then there rs stiff Jolt and a
kind Of a bounce, which means that the
chute has opened. After that you drift
along with the wind and float down pretty
easy
But your troubles amt over yet
You've still to make your landing. I've
dropped into the ocean and int" big lakes
pJl | always wear life preserver when
! m doing "A leap near water, and there is
always somebody to come out and pick
me up, | don't mind that as much as
getting tangled up in the top OF a tree or
sing blown against house, where the
'N1te's apt to do all sorts OF queer things
aud let YOU drop very hard.
Il ve had all these experiences. Why.
h" very first time | made a leap lit in
zee top, and the boys had to come up and
gel me down. When my feet were on solid
ground once more said never again for me;
plt The money was so easy, after all, that
week or 30 l went up again, and I'm
at = yet.
ilIt and | say I'm going TO every season
Ike nice things.
The fact is, though, that I'd a stopped
very sudden some time ago IL l wasn't
very careful woman. I've got to see for
myself before the start that everythng's
!nst right, or l don't do the leap. Not mo.
I've disappointed more than one crowd
because il was getting too dark to see
what | was about, or the balloon was Leak
ing, or something OF that kind.
The trouble with good many para
chute people is that when the crowds
waiting they haven't the nerve TO tell the
boss that they won't go up. II means
money out OF pocket for him, you see, and
gneers him in that place So the per-
FORMER takes a chance and likely as not
se- killed.
Late one afternoon over in Jersey. the
balloon wouldn't fill right, but the young
elbow that was to do the leap said he'd
90 up anyway. Well he did, but after he
VAS IN the air he lost his head or some
hing, and cut loose at two hundred feet.
You should never do il under thou
and, and unless your re drifting over woods
"F water two thousand is better The
young mans parachute didn't have time