The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-07-05

out into space astride the s.e7Ger ca
BILE. His twentieth trip was made early
one Sunday morning last month.
ST prefer to make my trips very
early In the morning when there are
very few people to watch me coming
down." be explained. Il am doing this
for my health, not for show purposes,
and consequently I have serious OBJ
jections to giving public exhibitions.
Besides it would not be consistent
with tie dignity Ct professor Of 20
ology to make a public specta Gle Of him
self flying through the clouds on q
slack wlre.''
Professor Cbapuis is one OF the most
diligent workers in the University OF
Geneva, where he has occupied the
chair OF zoology, for five years. Close
application to bis labors threatened
to undermine his health, when he
sought for a strenuous form Of recrea
tion to counteract the wear and tear
on his nervous system. Mountain
climbing and other vigorous forms OF
exercise were not strenuous enough.
They did not seem to do him any
good.
One morning while climbing SaleVe
mountain the idea Of sliding down
from the top On a wire occurred to
him. The mountain is vast double.
peaked mass Of limestone, lying to the
southeast Of the city Of Geneva, and
forms q very favorite Summer resort.
The mountain is full OF quaries, es.
pecially at Veyrier, about three and
one-half miles from the city, and at
the foot Of the mountain. Years ago
the big blocks OF stone were blasted
from the quarries close at hand by the
villagers, but in recent years since the
introduction aerial rope~aVs,
local proprietors have attacked the
mountain top itself with success, and
made it yield up it's Valuables at all
levels.
Anyone may see for himself the
huge blocks Of limestone travelling,
apparently Of their own Volution, down
the steel cable hundreds OF feet above
the valley. It was the sight OF these
stone blocks travelling from high up
on the mountain down into the valley
that suggested the idea to Professor
Cnapuis. There seemed no reason why
be should not also slide down from the
mountain to the village. 1t scanned TO
him that it was exactly the form Of re-
creation he had been seeking.
II had not the slightest idea OF at
tanning any notoriety," said the doctor
OF zoology, ''or OF performing any dare
devil trick with that object. said
nothing to my friends when I made
my final decision, but arranged all the
details with the manager Of the ca.
BILE, who most strenuously opposed my
plan.
IS You will certainly fall, he de.
clared and I shall be responsible for
your DEATH" " 1t sas madness--utter
madness, he urged. Even surprising
the cable would stand it, the young
Scientist would surely lose his grip
on the wire and slide with fatal rapid
ity to the bottom. The steel wire ca
ble, by the way. is about three. quar-
ters Of an inch thick, and its total
length is over mile. At one dizzy
coint there is loose swinging strand
Of nearly thousand feet between two
supports, and the height at this point
is about $50 feet above the dreadful
Jagged rocks.
The gradient, too," NJ. Chapuis
continued, is extremely steep, varying
from forty to fifty degrees, so strong
nerves and a firm hold were absolute.
ly necessary to the slider. assured
tbs manager I should take every pre-
caution and that in any event no blame
should attach to him. All the same,
be was in a pitiful state OF apprehen-
sion the day he saw me prepare for 8
first descent.
II threw my legs on either side OF
the thin wire, much as 1 would across
3. horse, my face toward the summit
and my hands firmly gripping the
wire. Just as I swung myself clear Of
the rock the manager turned away,
with terror. / 1as wearing
some extra heavy trousers had pre-
pared, and, Of course, the stoutest
gloves obtainable, but when I reached
The bottom they were not only torn TO
:ibbons but my hands and body had
suffered severely from the friction and
great heat generated by the swiftDess
II my descsnt.
Before making a second trip I had
! kind OF breeches-saddle made, OF
'tout leather and this, with pair OF
oft, plable leather gloves, has proved
very successful outfit. I hardly
NOW what my sensations were during
he first trip. 1t all happened so ouicK-
= that my sole instinct lay in holding
N tight with hands and feet. The air
Il my descent roared and doomed In
ny ears like the noise Of train as I
ore along and lashed my face like a
7hip-cut.
"You see, l had not yet learned
properly to regulate my speed. And al.
hough somewhat better prepared for
he second descent, it was during that
rip had my worst experience. When
reached the most perilous point Of
he aerial ropeway I suddenly lost con-
rol Of myself, and in twinkling had
urned completely upside down still
ascending at high speed, even In that
erious condition. 1t was miracle
hat I ever regained my balance