Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-07-08

had a more ideal day for their Fourth
of July celebration than they had
on Monday. The advertised pro
gram was more than carried out and
everything was free to the large
crowd that was present to witness
the event. The weather was neither
too hot, nor too cold, but just a nice
uniform temperature that was pleas
ing to all. Had it not been for the
sad accident that occurred at $50
o'clock in the evening when Prof.
Ehrhart lost his life in his second
ascension of the day. At five o'clock
in the afternoon Prof. Ehrhart made
his first ascension going up into the
air about 1000 feet when he descend
ed in his parachute just as prettily
as one could ask for and alighted
on the west side of the Wisconsin
river about midway between the
Grand Rapids Foundry building and
the Oberbeck Furniture factory, the
parachute landing on the top of
telegraph pole. He alighted un-
injured and delighted and pleased
with the ascension. On his return
to the Witter hotel where he was
stopping he was showered with com
pliments over the successful outcome
of his first ascension.
In the evening his balloon was in
flated at the same place in front of
the opera house, to the balloon was
attached the parachute and from the
parachute a string of roman candles
were fastened. At about 920 o'clock
in the evening everything was in
readiness and the balloon was cut
loose. 1t arose almost perpendicular
for about 1000 feet when it began to
move west and nOrthward When
over the Consolidated Water Power
Co.'S mill pond, he cut loose from
the balloon and descended with the
parachute and whether it opened
fully or not is a question in the
minds of many The balloon landed
above the paper mill near the west
shore Of the river, and those who
We're nearest the point of landing
say that he and the parachute low
cred about 20 rods above the point
where the balloon landed in the deep
water of the pond. Before drowning
it is reported that they heard him
cry for help three times. Thus he
lost his life and closed his career
of eight years as a balloonist. This
was a sad ending of a delightful
days program and celebration of
national holiday.
Prof. Ehrhart was married man
residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He
was 27 years of age and leaves a
wife and baby to mourn his death.
This was his first accident in a
period of eight years in this busi-
ness. He was assisted in his work
by his brother-in-law, A. J. Studer,
of the same place. Naturally his
brother-in-law is greatly grieved and
saddened over his death. His wife
and friends have been notified ana
diligent search is now being made
for the body.
The manner and particulars Of
just how the Professors death oc-
CURED is not known at this writing,
but it will be revealed probably when
they find the parachute and the
body. The parachute's construction
was such that even with a canvass
attached to it, it would readily sink
in water It is believed by some
that possibly the parachute striking
the water injured or crippled Mr..
Ehrhart for it is reported that he
was a good swimmer and could prob
ably have made the shore had it
not been for some injury ne re
ceived in falling.