Evening star., 1909-05-25
NO BONES ARE BROKEN
Aeronaut PIunges to Ground
and Escapes Death.
TREE BREAKS HIS FALL
Parachute Fails to Open in the
Usual Manner.
MAN HURRIED TO HOSPITAL
Suffering From. Shock and Bruises.
Not Known Whether He Has
Internal Injuries.
MAN HURRIED TO HOSPITAL

Plunsng downward with a parachute.
which after being cut off from his balloon
failed to open properly, Alonzo Wilson,
twenty-seven years old, of Cincinnati. an
aeronaut making ascensions at Luna
Park, fell 125 feet or more through the
branches of a high tree to the ground last
night and lies today at the Emergency
Hospital in a precarious condition.
The physicians in attendance at the
hospital said this morning that in so far
as they have been able to ascertain Will
son had a marvellous escape from death
and injury. Not single fracture mas
been discovered. The man is suffering
principally from the great shock and
from painful bruises sustained In the fall
through the tree. When the pain has be-
come somewhat lessened the physicians
will probably make more thorough ex-
amina ton to ascertain whether lnternai
injuries were sustained.
"Understudy" Makes Ascent.
1t was at about $50 o'clock last even
ing. when the park was crowded with
hundreds of merrymakers down for the
opening night. that the accident occur
red. king Kelley, the stellar aeronaut.
who is billed to ascend twice daily
through this opening week. was not well
yesterday and asked Wilson. his under
study, to take his place. Wilson con-
sented. Kelley made two good ascen-
sions Sunday and landed safely in the
park each time.
Last night at the appointed time. after
the big bag had been filled in the pres
ence of large crowd, Wilson grasped
the trapeZe bar and shouted the signal
to let go. The balloon rose but slowly,
probably because of the density Of the
stop at a height of about 300 feet. Sud
denly Wilson cut loose the double para
chute arrangement and was seen to start
his downward plunge. The top parachute
of the pair opened properly, but the
aeronaut descended very rapidly.
Parachute Fails to Open.
When about half the distance to the
earth had been traversed he was seen
to cut loose the second parachute. but.
to the horror of the spectators, 1T did
not open properly. and with accelerated
speed the man shot earthward. A tall
tree was directly in his downward path,
and it was fortunate fact, Tor other
wise Wilson would probably have been
dashed to the ground and instantly killed.
His momentum and the weight of his
body. however, prevented his lodging In
the branches. and he fell on through,
humping from limb to limb, to the
ground.
Rushing to his assistance. the balloon
crew and Manager Goodfellow of the
park picked up the unconscious man.
who was carried to the hospital Of the
park. BY that time he had regained con-
sciousness and moaned that his back
was broken" Fearing that the injuries
might be of fatal nature. Manager
Goodfellow had the unfortunate man hur-
ried to the city and to the Emergency
Hospital on special car. which was
met at the 18th street station by the
hospital ambulance.
Realized the Danger.
During intervals of consciousness at
the hospital Wilson told his physicians
that when at the highest point of his
ascension he had mentally calculated
the distance to the ground and realized
that he would have but very short time
in which to release the second parachute.
1t was close chance, he said, but one
which he had taken time and time be-
fore successfully. Last night, however.
he failed.
The management of the park said last
night that the accident would not inter-
fere with the regular ascensions daily
during the week