Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-23

1rcount of his daring deeds. He was
.nown among his companions as hav-
ing unusual GOODNESS and nerve. and
many were the stunts which ne
performed as a boy and young man.
Mr.. Stevens was born in Auburn
and for a good part of his life lived in
that city, and worked at his trade as
a shoemaker. Some nine years ago
he determined to become an aeronaut
and, with that end in view. he pur-
chased an old balloon. He offered his
services to the trustees of the Maine
State Fair, telling them that if ne
might be allowed to make an ascen-
sion during the exhibition he would do
so without making any charge. This
he did and he was so successful and
received so much applause from the
crowd that he was paid for his
services and engaged for the rest of
the week.
From that time Mr.. Stevens career
as a balloonist was a notahel one. II
was fraught with danger and many
were his narrow escapes. At one time
he travelled with Madame Sawye,.
They made ascensions together each
OcluS ItltAStu anu ucSCtIlulllS III
parachutes. He made many ascen-
sions In the evening, and, on these oc-
casions. gave a display of fire works
from platform attached TO the lower
part of the parachute.
On one occasion he made an ascen-
sion at Sabin Rocks. near New Haven.
Conn. and was carried by the wind
over the water a half mile before the
parachute landed. His skill as a
swimmer was all that saved him. az
1t was long while before boats could
reach him.
Ferd probably holds the record for
making the quickest ascension and
descent At Mcrrymeeting Park in
Brunswick. where he was making as
tensions. from the time his balloon was
cut loose until he returned again TO
the starting point it was only lively"
minutes. The balloon went 50 high
that II was scarcely disccrnable with
the naked eye. OF course he was
favored with perfect atmospheric
conditions.
A peculiar incident happened to Mr.
stevens when he was making as
tensions with another aeronaut
They went up into very heavy fog.
and, on account of the fog they did
not dare to cut loose too soon The
man who was with Stevens cut away
first. Stevens was unable to see what
was going on below. and. after he had
feed himself from the balloon, the first
thing he knew he landed exactly on
top Of the other parachute With per-
feet GOODNESS he took q knife, which he
always carried with him, and freed
himself from the entanglement. and.
luckily, the damage to the other
parachute was SO slight that both men
descended In safety
AT Lake Auburn, one Fourth of JULY
Ferd was employed TO make an ascen-
sion. and Just as the balloon was about
to be released II caught fire. Rather
than to dtsappoint the crowd Mr..
Stevens swung himself free of the
earth and fortunately the balloon be-
fore II collapsed reached height
sufficiently high so that he dro2ped IN
safety with his parachute A number
OF women were so overcome. thinking
mat the areonaut was to drop to death
uhat they tainted. An amateur photo
grapher secured quite a good pictur.
Of this thrilling scene.
His narrowest and most miraculou
escape from disaster was at Concord, \
h, where he was to be fired from
cannon. and then come to earth in hi
parachute. When the critical momer
came and the fuse was touched off NJ,
stevens to his dismay. discovered tina
the fuse had been loaded into the can
non back side to: il burst. and i, doin
SO. did not entirely shatter the canno
and release him. but only rartiali
made thespassn sc. AT the same till,
mo fuse burned him severely on Ii