Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1908-09-01

and attained the roof where Jones
was hundreds of persons crowded on
the lawn. Finally, when he got his
ropes out and all was made ready he
called out from his position in the
framework, Everybody stand back
now and let Mr.. Bennett manage this
thing" He had quickly singled Ben
nett out of the crowd, and without
having previously spoken word Sc
lected him as an aide in a perilous
position
IS
Always Cool in a Moment of Danger.
Somehow, Jones always seemed cool
est at the moment of greatest danger
He was several times in great peril
while in Palisade. The first ascen-
sion he made in the park found every
thing going wrong. First his drag rope
parted Then his motor went wrong,
his rudder broke and he was adrift over
Edgewater with nothing but the bal
loon He personally told me he never
had the slightest fear on that trip
When he had had his sail out he mere
ly stepped back on the frame, tilted the
bag, opened the manhole, let out gas
until he began to fall, then threw out
a cord about an eighth of an inch thlck,
which a gardener caught and pulled
him down unhurt.
Made Many Ascensions in Pa1isade This
Summer.
Imagine, then, the contrast between
the many harmless decenSions Jones
made around Palisade and the last one
at the WaterVille fair What a terrlfy-
ing spectacle it must have been to the
rs 600 people in the Maine State Fair
grounds! Had the bag merely ripped,
he would have had some kind OF
chance, for it would have acted as a
parachute, and the fall would have
been more gradual But with that nght
silk bag afire, and the gas as lnfam-
mable as any known agent, picture poor
Jones's thought when he realized the
peril of his position. The framework
parted from the bag, then began TO
fall heels over head, Jones clinging 10
the frame, and all striking the ground
with smashing thud! The horror OF
the scene must have been indescribable.
Poor Jones knew instantly, it is as
sumed, that it was all up with him, and
the two or three seconds he lived were
his eternity 1t was perhaps the most
thrilling and awful spectacle ever VII
messed as a balloon catastrophe. Ihefe
was much sorrow in the Palisades sec
ton at the terrible news, and especially
so in the park, where Mr.. Jones was
very popular. He was generally re-
garded as a hero and everybody was
glad to shake his hand. He was Will
ing to talk to any one, but his mind
was always on the subject of the flying
machine He couldn't get away from
it, His struggle for the mastery OF
forces under his control and without 1t
was great and untiring. He used the
dirigibe as a means to an end. and
claimed always the impossibleness of
that style of flying machine. He was
a brave, sensible, brainy fellow, as full
to the brim of grit and determination
as Sir Isaac Newton, Calico or Edison.
The difference was that they achieved
after long struggles, while he gave up
his life in the act of achieving, and he
had done much to prove theorem.
Deaf and Dumb" Asylum in Scotland.
An American traveller was touring
Scotland this summer, when he turned
to the driver on the stage in which they
were riding, and asked:
What is that over yonder| point
ing to a beautiful looking hillside in
the distance.
"That, sir, is a deaf and dumb asy-
'um.' returned the driver.
"Why, l don't see any buildings
there" rejoined the traveller.
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