Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1909-12-02
A PIONEER AERONAUT
The Brave and Daring French
man PiIatre de Rozier.
TRAGIC END OF HIS CAREER.

He Was the First Aeronsut to Lose
His Life From Balloon, and He
Was Dashed to Death With a Com
panion From a Height of 100 Feet.
Jean Francois Pilatre de Rozier. who
was born at Metz In 1856 and who was
killed, a martyr to his zeal. by fall
from his balloon at Boulogne. France,
June Is, 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 Montgalfier balloon, de-
termined to solve the question OF bal
looms as 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, a 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 II
seemed inevitable that the tissues
would be torn by the branches and
Ptlatre 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 it 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
a man. Pilatre was in despair. and at
length the king said that he would
give him 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
ND in it. provided Pilatre did not him
self CO.
The scientist was very angry. He
said: what. Shall vile criminals. foul
murderers, men rejected from the bos
ON of society. have the glory Of being
the first to navigate the air? Never
while Pilatre de Rozier draws breath!'
After repeated prayers for permits
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 d'Ariandes added his and asked
to be allowed 10 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 de la 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
| enthusiasm.
| The marquis rode back. but Pilatre
| had to go first to his house and get a
coat. for some one had stolen his In
the mixup Of their coming down. when
| the balloon. of course. collapsed.
| Pilatre now announced that be would
| cross the channel from Boulogne TO
England A wealthy Frenchman adj
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 bal
loon filed with hydrogen gas. Under
it was a cylinder by which he expected
to rarely the air contained In it so that
be could either ascend or descend cas-
| lily and so reach currents of air that
would take him In any desired direc-
ton.
II was FIVE months before there came
a day suitable for making the aerial
trip. A physician who loved adventure
and believed in the success of the ex-
pertinent went with him from Bou-
logne.
They cut the cords that held the bal
loon at Z O'clock In the morning. The
height of 200 feet the balloon swept
into current Of air that took 1t to-
ward the channel. Suddenly cross
current swept 1t back.
Pilatre fastened to let some cold ali
into the cylinder and in some way
made rent in the balloon. They were
LOO feet high. and instantly they
were dashed to the earth. mangled ant
crushed frightfully.
France still remembers his enthusi
astic faith In his scientific efforts. and
in many places are memorials and in
scriptions that perpetuate his fame
Boston Globe.