The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1907-06-21
DEATH PLUNGE.
Balloon Struck by Lightning While
High in the Air.
TO THE EARTH

From Il Distance of Thirteen Hun.
drcd Fcct.-It Occurred ut tho
Festival Of the Italian Constitution
at Rome, and 10O,O o People Cav
cd in Horror rs the Basket Fell to
The Ground.
While King Emmanuel. Queen Hell
ona and 100000 spectators looked
on i'll horror. an Italian military bal
loon, manned by Capt. Olivclli. was
struck by a lightning bolt during the
lcstlVal OF the Italian constitution at
Rome, early last week, and the col
lapsing airship, carrying with it it's
ioad OF human freight, plunged to
the parade ground, almost at the feet
OF the royal pair, mortally wounding
inc occupant, and causing the big
c~e!eDratlon to come to n sudden
close. What promised to be one OF
INC most glorious pageantS ever at
tempted IN connection with this pop
ular FESTIVAL, was thus halted, King
Emmanuel issuing the decree him
7 self.
The accident happened about noon.
fhc royal couple had spent the morn
ing reviewing the troops of all arms
OF the garrison of Rome, numbering
2o,00o men, inauguarating the inter
national rifle match, which takes
place every five years, mo were en-
gagged in reviewing a parade by cy-
clists when the accident happened.
| Tho cEy wnc tIo nn1,. 81 ,l,1I 49,,
threatening a sever tempest over the
shooting ground. In the air, at the
height of 1900 feet, was a balloon
OF the military engineer corps, man
ncd by Olivclli. n we'll known and
highly esteemed captain Of engineers
Unexpectedly a bolt of lightning
dartcd from the clouds and struck
me balloon, setting fire to it. A cry
at once arose from the crowd on the
shooting ground. which numbered
fully 100000 persons. The gazing
| spectators saw the silk bag burn, and
The framework and the basket fall
toward the earth with a whirling
motion unit! it struck tho ground,
nc volunteer cyclists ran in all
haste TO the spot and found Olivolle
unconscious, with his. legs cntanglod
in the ropes of the basket. a physi-
elan, who ran TO the spot, examined
tlc unconscious man and said that
his spinal column had been broken.
King Victor Emmanuel and Queen
Helena Witnessed the accident, and
the king at one scnt his own auto-
mobile in which the dying man was
placed and taken to the hospital. The
king followed him in another auto
mobile and went to the bedside OF
OliYclli, who had rcgained consciou-
ness, and the fast sinking man rccog-
nizcd his sovereign.
The king spoke to him affection
atcly. TWO hours after the accident,
OliVclli died and the King Immediate
ly announced that he would attend
10 moro OF the exercises Of the day.
The festival was at once suspended
and the Illumination Of the girandola
was countormandcd.
Oliyclli's sister Witnessed the acct
dent, but she tainted before the bas-
kct struck the ground. Tho sister
later attempted to see her brother,
but this was not allowed.
The victim of the accident was 33
years old and leaves a widow whose
grief is Understandable. The king lat
er sent an aidc-de-camp to her house
TO express his coincidence. The re-
mains Of the unfortunate man were
later laid to rest with an impressive
military funeral, OF which King en-
manuel and Queen Helena were spec
tators.