Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1909-11-09
A PIONEER AERONAUT'
The Brave and Daring French
man PiIatre de Rozier.
TRAGIC END OF HIS CAREER

His Life From a Balloon, and Hs
Was Dashed 70 Death With "a Com
psnion From a Height Of 100 Feet
jean Francois Pilatre de Rozier, who
was born at Metz in 1866 and who was
killed, martyr to his zeal, by faN
from his balloon ut BonlOgne, France.
June 10, 1905, was the FIRST aeronaut
to lose his life in the dangerous work
Of mastering the air.
Pilatre DC Rozier, who had made
asceuts in the Montgal6er balloon, 6e-
termined 20 solve the question of bal-
looms RS mediums for carrying pasges-
gers aud could think and dream OF
nothing but how be could fashion
machine that would carry him on az
aerial voyage. When his balloon was
finished he made some twenty-thrcc
ascents, nearly always alone, but oeca-
sionally accompanied by the Marquis
d'Arlaudcs, % brave soldier and OHc
who had faith in Pilatre's ideas. TIC
balloon was always held captive W
strong cords
Whenever he went up there was "a
crowd to watch him. One day thu 81
was a thrilling moment. The ballo 4
drifted toward some high trees, and 4
seemed inevitable that the tissn, 4
would be torn by the branches andl
Pilatre dashed to the ground. The 1
saw the young man calmly throw \
bunch of straw on his FIRE aud qtIicklyl
pour over it two small bottles OF Oh
Instantly the fierce heat sent the J.
loon up safely, and it swept be- q
the danger line Of the trees. a mig
shout went up from the crowd, a. q
when he came down Pnatre had
ovation.
He now felt ready 90 make hia
graud experimental trial trip, but ti;'H
king would not allow him 70 go, as
feared t. lose so brave and seieati
man. puatrc was IN despair. ana
length the king said that ke would
give him the opportunity TO test thf'
safety Of his balloon in the foilowfRa
way: He would give fun pardon to Gn3s
two criminals who were willing 10 81
up in it, provided Pilatre did not himIf
self go.
The scientist was very angry. ZIG
said: What. Shah vile criminals, f0UA
murdcrcrs, ucu rejected from the bOs3
on OF society. have the glory Of being
the first 10 navigate the air? Neve9l
while Pilatrc De ROzier draws bTeath!K
After repeated prayers for peTmid
sion to make his experiment he an.
Dealed 20 the influence Of the DuchesN
de Poliguac, the goverbess Or the royt
children To her petitions the Mag
Quis d'Arlandcs added his and askef
TO he allowed 20 accompany Pi4stTk
At lenctl, consent was obtained
On Nov. -. 1883, PRatFe and tit
marquis made an ascent from the g2S
dcnS OF the Chateau de Ia muette, rs
the Bots They sailed safety across El
Seine. over the Hospital For Otd S9s3
diers. over the Military school, az
landed about i've miles FROM EaKFts
Their return was greeted wiyh witEA
enthusiasm ~
The marquis rode back, bat pil0tk
had io ~ FIRST TO his house and getkH
coat. for snu4c one had stolen has IN
the miXUp II their coming down.. wbt@l
the balloon, OF course, collapsed. Ml
Pilatre now announced that he wOus
cross the channel from BOutOgne
England. A wealthy Frenchman. s
yanced the money to construct an i40
proved machine that he was ceFts8e
could stay in the air as long as need
sary. This new invention was q bR
loon filed with hydrogen gas UB@k
il was a cylinder by which he expects
to rarely the air contained in it so Nak
he could either ascend or Gcsreud e&&l
i!y and SO reach currents OF air tI#l
would take him in any desired dir W
ton. ,.t- k
It was five months before there ca S
day suitable for making the aeIs
"trip. \ physician who loved adventy
and believed in the success OF the
pertinent went with him FROM ByR
lOgne.
They cut the cords that held tue U.s.
loon at : o'clock ia the morning. 5Nf3
ascent was majestic, and when aF4
height OF zoo feet the balloon sw lf
ipto a current Of mir that took. IT, 4.
ward the channel. Suddenly a cEkAt
current swept it back.
Pilatrc fastened to let some COLD
into the cylinder and I'm some Ikf
rDade a rent in the balloon. They VI \
LOO feet high. and Instantly 41fH
were dashed to the earth, mangled S
crushed friGhtfully.
France still remembers his eathIFe3
asic faith in his scientific Efforts, AN
ia many places are memorials sBdssSs ~
seriptiOns that perpetuate his fang