The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-12-25
Young and Daring Mobile
Aeronaunt Had Thrilling
Experience Seventy Years
Ago.
mobile Item.)

Mobile Item.)
In these days when the scientists
OF TIE world are struggling with the
problem of aerial navigation, and ma
lions are spending millions of dollars
as rewards to those who successfully
build an airship that can be operated
at viii in the currents above the
earth, it is ia order to see just what
Mobile can offer in this direction. 1t
is true that in this city there are at
present no known scientists who are
attempting to solve the problem, hut
in the matter of balloon .ascensions
Mobile can boast of an adventurous
spirit who made a. trip into the abr as
far back as 1897 or 1888, the date not
being certain, and who sailed from
this city to Pensacola, where he sue
cessfully descended, after having q
thrilling experience among the clouds.
The daring aeronaut was a Mr.. Par
ker, a sailmaker, who was employed
in a sail loft On Commerce street. One
day he created a sensation by mildly
asserting that he would ascend in a
balloon from the green now called
Bienville square. He had never at
tempted such a proposition before,
but, confident of his own ability, and
without exhibiting the slightest trepi-
dalton, he set about making mis- own
balloon.
The day of the announced ascension
arrived. Enclosing large space on
the green at the intersection. OF st.
Emanuel street, Mr.. Parker made a
shed of some tarpaulins and proceed
ed to initiate his balloon with coal gas.
The green was crowded with people.
1t was an enclosed space at that time,
and those who came there were chargl
ed an admission fee, which fact suhse-
quently brought about kick that
promised trouble.
When the balloon was nearly inflat-
ed. and while it was Swaying back
and forth in the breeze. it struck one
of the guide poles and large rent
was made through which the gas
quickly escaped. The people, finding
there was no ascension, Immediately
clamored for their money, which they
had paid to gain an entrance to the
enclosure. They believed they had
been tricked and threatened to mob
the sailmaker. However. on his prom
Use to make an ascension in few
days without any further charge, the
crowd was pacifed.
True to his promise, a few days
later he appeared on the green with
his balloon in good order. He had
previously given notice of the time
he would make the ascension, and, as
before, there was a great concourse
OF people present to watch him. This
time he inflated the balloon with n.y.
drogen, claiming that the coal gas
was too heavy. To insure the hold
ing Of the gas, he had taken the bal
loon TO Messrs. Ludlow & Smith.
where it was spread on the Stage of
the theatre and treated to a coat of
varnish.
When the time came the balloon
was quickly inflated and held the gas
welI-too well. as it afterward proved.
For a few minutes it swayed in the
breeze until the daring young aero
naut stepped into the basket and sig
nailed to cast il loose. To those who
had gathered there it was an awe
inspiring sight. Even in these days
when balloon aseeAslonS are OF fire.
quent occurrence. thousands congre-
gate at the spot from which it Is to
start and always there is silence as
still as death when the navigator OF
the air starts upward Imagine, then.
what ii must have been TO those peo-
pie gathered on the green, who. had
never seen such an ascension; in fact,
there We're few who had ever heard
OF anything of the kind being at
tempted.
Once released, the balloon rose rap
idly toward the clouds. Mr. Parker
leaning over the basket and waving a
flag to those below, until he became
invisible from the earth The tiny
speck, for such 1t had now become,
was seen to go up through the clouds.
and fssom that time on was lost to
view
A number OF days passed and moth
ing was heard OF the daring adveRtur-
er. The people of Mobile had about
made up their minds that he had met
with the fate he had courted, and that
he would never more be heard from,
but I'm this they were mistaken. One
day later Mr. Parker hobbled into the
city on pair of crutches. He was
quickly the center of crowd OF peo-
pie an anxious to know about his
trip. In response to questions as 10
how he came to be injured, he said
he had merely sustained sprained
leg while making a landing near PEN
sacola-
His account OF the trip was not as
commonplace, however He frankly
confessed that there was time when
be had almost given UP the thought
of returning TO earth alive II APP
pears from his story that after the
balloon had gone above the clouds
that the zereHzut made up his mind
II was time for him 10 return to earth
again. With this in view he tagged