Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-11-03
THOMASCARRIED OFF
New York Aeronaut Takes
Sudden Trip Skyward.
DOCTOR Bee lME E5T ASGLEDIN ROPES
Augusta Fntr scene Of Terror When
Afrship sailed away with sky
Pilot Unable 10 Manage
the Craft.


pilot Unable 10 Manage
the Craft.
AUGUSTA, Ga. NOV /. Caught
without warning by a rope in which
he had become entangled. Or. Julian
Z. Thomas, the New York aeronaut
was carried off by a runaway balloon
here.
Mrs. Thomas, who was to make an
ascension, witnessed the accident to
her husband
High up over the city the balloon
shot like an arrow. Without basket
or ballast, suspending by thirty foot
rope from the gas bag, DR. Thomas
was carried up among the clouds and
disappeared from view of the crowd
which stood dumb with terror, unable
to aid the unfortunate aeronaut
The accident. happened at the fair
grounds at this city. DR. Thomas had
been engaged to make an exhibition
ascension.
He was preparing his apparatus to
go up when the bag became entangled
In some telegraph wires. 1t was while
trying to disengage his balloon that
DR.. Thomas was forced to cut the
ropes which held the car
Suddenly the balloon freed itself. AS
rocket up shot the wildcat bag. Be.
meath it hung maze of tangled ropes,
and in these DR.. Thomas became
caught.
In itNcf IO ro1 frfv
the ground and, helpless, carried on
high. Several assistants tried TO hold
the car, but without success. 1t broke
from them and rose, leaving the thou
sands Of spectators helpless. Not a
word was spoken. Then with a cry
Mrs. Thomas swooned She was car
rIed to an exhibition booth, when on
recovering consciousness she became
hysterical.
The last seen of the balloon and DR..
Thomas at Augusta was at 8 80 o clock,
about twenty minutes after it rose. At
that time it was a mere speck in the
sky, travelling rapidly toward the south
east.
DR.. Thomas landed in the open coun-
try without being seriously hurt last
night.
The first aerial voyage made by DR..
Thomas was early this year, when bal
looming in this country received an i'm
petus from trips made around New
York by Count de la yaulx and Charles
Levee, the French aeronauts.
He owns the balloon Nirvana, the
largest in this country.
DIR. Thomas and Roy Knabenshue
made flight from New York to Brant
Rock, in Massachusetts, 240 miles.
This Is the record for balloon trips in
the United States.
DR.. Thomas has made many expert
ments in midair with devices intended
to make ballooning less perilous.
Mrs. Thomas, his wife, accompanied
him on a few of his flights. Once.
when the Nirvana was crossing the
Hudson river, the balloon dipped into
the water while Mrs. Thomas was in
the car. 1890
DIR. Thomas was able to mount into
the network and seat himself on the
concentrating ring The balloon rose
like q shot and travelled in a southwest
erly direction to an estimated height of
5000 feet.
When about seven miles from Au-
gusta the valve which had been dam
aged Monday and had been patched
with surgeons adhesive plaster began
leaking rapidly, and the aeronaut shot
downward too rapidly for comfort.
Not having any ballast, he endeavored
to tighten ship by cutting off his shoes
and heavy leather leggins and also
threw away his coat and the contents
of his pockets.
The descent was but little checked,
and he pumped down in the middle of
cotton field. Owing to his location in
the rigging DIR. Thomas was unable to
get from under and was caught in the
folds of the balloon when it struck. 1t
then started across the field, dragging
DIR. Thomas nearly a quarter of mile
before he could extricate himself. He
was badly scratched and lacerated, but
not seriously injured
DR.. Thomas described ii as the most
trying ascent he has yet made. He said
the local difficulties were insurmounta-
bic for making a regular ascension, and
in order to not miss the opportunity he
dared to go up without any care or APP
paratuS, not even having ballast. He
presented a sorry appearance after the
rough experience, but says he will be
all right in day or two.
Locked Up as Train Wrecker.
ITHACA, n. Y, Nov. /. Samuel
Roberts, aged seventeen years, was