Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-10-29
4 P!ONEER AER0NAgT
The Brave and Daring French
man Pilatre de ROzisr.
TRAGIC END OF HIS CAREER

fiis Life From . Balloon, ard Hs
Was Dashed to Death With Com
panion From, . Height Of LOO Feet
Jean Francois PIIatre de Rozier. who
was born at Metz 10 1856 and who was
killed, martyr 10 his zeal. BY a fall
from hls balloon az BonIogDe. France,
june 10, 1895. was The 6rst aeronaut
to lose bis life IN the dangerous work
Of mastering the air.
Pilatre de Rozler. who had made
accents In the 2lontgalier balloon. de
termlDed to solve the question Of bal
looms as mediums Tor carrying passen-
gers and could think aud dream Of
nothing but how be could fashion q
machine that would carry him on an
aerial voyage. When his balloon was
finished he made some twenty-three
ascents, nearly always alone, but ocea-
alonally accompanied by the Marquis
dArIandes. a brave soldier and one
who had faith 10 Pilatre's IDEAS. The
balloon was always beld captive BY
strong cords,
whenever be went UP there was a
crowd 10 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 10y the branches aud
Pilafre dashed 20 the ground. They
saw the young man calmly throw
bunch OF straw on his lire aud quickly
pour oyer It two small bottles Of OIL.
Instantly the fierce heat sent the bal
loon upl safely. and Il swept beyond
the danger line Of the trees A mighty
shout went 40 from the crowd, aud
when he came down Pllatre had an
ovation.
He now felt ready 70 make his
grand experimental trial trip, but the
King would not allow him TO 80. as be
feared to lose 70 brave and scientific
a man. Pilatre was In despair, aud at
length the king said that be would
give him the opportunity to test the
safety OF ATS balloon Ia the following
way: Tie would give full pardon to any
two criminals. who were willing to 50
up III Il, provided PLATTE did not him
self 20.
The scientist was very angry he
said. ~whai. Shall vile criminals, foul
murderers. men rejected from tl,e hos
ON II society. have The glory q hclng
the iirst 20 navigate the airy Nsfef
while Pllaire dc Rozier DRAWS hrca'h"
After repeated prayers for permits
sion 70 make his experiment he ap
pealed TO the Influence Of the duchess
de polignac. the Goyerness Of the royal
children. TO her petitions lhc Mar
quis d'Aflaudcs added his and asked
10 be- allowed 20 accompany Fllaire,
AZ length consent was obtained
on Nov q, iTS3 Pilairc aud the
marquis made an ascent from the gar
dcns of the Chaielu Dc n Muette. IN
che Bots. They sailed safely across The
Seine. over pc lfospltal For ola Sol.
dlers, Oyv ihe Military school and
landed about ove miles. from Paris
Their return was greeted With Wild
enthusiasm.
Thc marquis rode tacS, bat pllatFe
bsd 10 So 6rst 10 his hchse anl get
toat. fof some one had stolen his IN
the mlxnn Of thclr coming down. when
the balloon, Ok course. collapsed.
pr0trOnoW anpeunced that be would
cross tnt tlarpci frum Bouloeuc 20
ENGLAND A vcalily Frenchman ad
vanccd the mQney 20 construed aH ln-
proved machlne That be was certain
cohld stay. n 80 ~ % bong as neccs
sary, This ntN lnscntIon MAS q M.
loon Oiled Nlh hgdoreR es Jndef
Il was a eylirJcr hy which tst a ~, e,l
60 rarefy The air coalaihe,l In i,sttiiai
he could other ascend or dcsccnh cas-.
ily ana s. rsach ,urrents of aIr that
would take him in any desired dlrce,
ton.
II was eve months before there came
a day suitable Tor making The aerial
olp A physician who loved adventure
aNf believed IN the Success IL TIE eS.
epl went with him from Bou.
Qi the ccris That held The bal.
o'clock IN the morning. Te
majestic. ana when az a
ht of 900 fcel che balloon swept
1 a current az air that took 4 to-
'd the channei Se,l1cniy q cross
cufrcni swept Il back
pilsuc haslcncd 90 lee some eo'd ar
into the cyilader ana n eomr way
made rept IN the lallooa Tbey were
l.foo fsel hlgh. and lnstanlly they
WeFe tashed IL the earth. lnansled aud
crushed fglghsfally-