The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-10-16
A PIONEER AERONAUT
The Brave and Daring French
man Pilatre de Rozier.
TRAGIC END OF HIS CAREER.
He Was the First Aeronsut TO Lose
His Life From a Balloon, and He
Was Dashed to Death With q Com
psnion From a Height Of t,70o Feet.

Jean Francois Pilatre de Rozier, who
was born at Metz In 1866 and who was
killed, a martyr to his zeal, by fall
from his balloon at Boulogne, France,
June 10, 1895, was the first aeronaut
to lose his life in the dangerous work
Of mastering the air.
Pilatre de Rozier, who had made
ascents In the Montgalfer balloon, de-
termined to solve the question of bal
looms Is mediums for carrying passen.
gers and could think and dream of
nothing but how he could fashion a
machine that would carry him on an
aerial voyage. When his balloon was
finished he made some twenty-three
ascents. nearly always alone, but occa'
sionally accompanied by the Marquis
d'Arlandes, brave soldier and one
who had faith in Pilatre's ideas. The
balloon was always held captive by
strong cords.
Whenever he went up there was a
crowd to watch him. One day there
was thrilling moment The balloon
drifted toward some high trees, and 1t
seemed inevitable that the tissues
would be torn by the branches and
Pilatre dashed to the ground. They
saw the young man calmly throw a
bunch of straw on his fire aud quickly
pour over It two small bottles Of oil.
Instantly the fierce heat sent the bal
loon up safely, and 1t swept beyond
the danger line Of the trees. A mighty
shout went up from the crowd, and
when he came down Pilatre had an
ovation.
He now felt ready to make his
grand experimental trial trip, but the
/ king would not allow him to go, as he
feared to lose so brave and scientific
man. Pilatrc was In despair, and at
length the king said that he would
give MIN the opportunity to test the
| safety Of his balloon in the following
way: He would give full pardon to any
| two criminals who were willing TO go
up In il, provided Pilatrc did not him
self go.
The scientist was very angry. He
said: "What, Shall vile criminals, foul
murderers, men rejected from the hos
ON of society, have the glory of being
the first to navigate the air? Never
| while Pilatre de RoZicr draws breath!'
After repeated prayers for permis.
sion to make his experiment he ap-
| pealed to the influence of the Duchess
de Polignac. the governess of the royal
children. To her petitions the Mar
quis dArlandes added his and asked
to be allowed to accompany Pilatre
At length consent was obtained.
On Nov. 81, 1888, pilatre and the
marquis made an ascent from the gar.
dens of the Chateau dc Ia Muette. In
the Bois. They sailed safely across the
Seine, over the Hospital For Old Sol
diers. over the Military school and
landed about five miles from Paris
Their return was greeted with wild
c@;Lusiasm
The marquis rode back. but PilatrG
had 10 go first to his house and get a
coat, for some one had stolen his ir
the miXup OF their coming down, wher
the balloon. of course. collapsed.
Pllatrc now announced that he would
cross the channel from Boulogne tC
England. A wealthy Frenchman ad
vanced the money to construct an I'm
proved machine that he was certain
could stay In the air as long as neces
sary. This new invention was a bal
loon filed with hydrogen gas. Under
1t was cylinder by which he expected
TO rarely the air contained In 1t so tha
he could either ascend or descend cas-
lily and so reach currents of mir tina
would take him In any desired direc
ition.