The Washington herald., 1910-08-13

circle. in the center Of which Mack was
experimenting the imitation Of the balloon.
Running out along the ground from the
lower edge Of the bag were two parts Of
ropes attached 10 the parachutes. and
from these on the turn were more cords
like cords that ran to a trapeze bar. Prince
and Flemming. dressed in white trousers
aud blue and white striped sleeveless jer-
seys. were squatting on their launches
fifty feet from the balloon, the cross-bar
perched under their knees and their arms
pulling back at the ropes running on
either side OF them to the hot-air bag
Assured of His safety.
Just for moment Prince stood straight
and examined the second parachute lying
on the ground in front of him. He
Strengthened out some of its folds and then
crouched again beside Flemming with the
remark that the parachute had Deen a
bit tangled. but now was all right.
One pistol shot for you, Jimmy" Mack
said to Fleming. by which ne meant
that Flemming was TO drop from the bal
loon when Johnny fired his revolver the
first tine
And one for you. Benny. instead of
two. added Mack turning 20 Prince.
Yea bo," answered Prince. Tipping
away his cigarette. He looked up to talk
TO some friends standing a few feet away
from him, and while he was carrying on
a conversation with them Fleming
busted himself with fastening the big
buckles on either side of his heavy ieath-
er belt 10 the trapese bar that was 70
carry him aloft. Prince did not bother to
secure himself 10 his trapese. but was
satisfied 10 go aloft with only hand
grasp on the ropes supporting his trapess
TO keep him secure.
Wave GOOd-by 10 Crowd.
Were going away from here" one OF
Che jumpers called out just as the camp
followers who had been INITIATING the big
bag Jumped away. and the bag started
toward the sky Easily it lifted the two
youths from the grass. and they went
up in the stIl air. waving their arms
good-by 10 the crowd Al a height OF
about 5000 feet the black balloon was al
most directly over the center OF the avia-
ton field. the jumpers swinging easily
side by side. The bag climbed swiftly
LOCO feet higher, and the bark Of Mack's
revolver reached the ears Of Fleming.
He let so and made the shoot, as the.
parachute men call the quick drop that
opens the parachute: and then he sailed
easily 10 the roadway just outside the
fence. Flemming. as well as everybody
else, craned their necks TO watch for
Princes drop as soon as Fleming had
alighted safely. The balloon looked like
muddy baseball, and Prince was but
a vague dot beneath it.
He's all right" said Fleming 20
group of timid women who had halted
their automobiles by the roadside. I
says to him before I cut away. Are you
all right. Benny and he yelled that he
was. He's all right. ladies'"
The second crack OF gaack's signal pis-
tol interrupted Flemming's reassuring re-
marks 10 the nervous women There was
pause while the sound OF the pistol
shot was climbing up to Benny Then he
let so. To one who has never seen a
double parachute drop the second jump
after the first has opened always causes
a cash, because 1t looks to the specta-
tors who do not know that a second para
chute is supposed to open as though the
jumper were tumbling headlong TO earth
The knowing ones just smiled when they
heard the gasp. Huh; he's only waiting
for his other parachute To-"
Watchers Stand TranSaxed.
There was instant silence then. The
second parachute was faping and cutting
like snake against the saffron sky
From below its folds a black speck fell
that showed no head or limbs at first so
high was it above the gray faces that
watched its fall Down and down IL fell.
and as it came nearer the boys legs.
swinging wildly. could be distinguished.
and in another instant Benny had
dropped so far that his arms could be
made out as he seemed to grasp at the
air
He shot across the red disc of The set
ting sun headiong. and carried the limb
OF the apple tree with him as he crashed
into the farmyard roses.
Frank Reed. a farm hand. pulled
sheet from a cIothesline IN the yard and
covered Benny.
Woman Falls in Faint.
Near by Mrs. Elk Pierce, who ran wild
across the rosebeds to escape. fell in
faint. Frank Reed kept the crowd away
until CITY ambulance arrived.
Jimmy Flemmlng fought to get through
the crowo, bit they held him back and
then led him away. over at Johnny
Maek'9 camp a little knot Of camp fol-
lowers wers bending over Johnny and
flaming him as he lay on the ground IN
a faint
MY boy, my boy,' was all that Johnny
could say as consciousness returned 10
him. Then he tainted again and they
carried Johnny to the hospital tenderly
across the field and revived him. When
he was able to sit up in a chair he told
Dot Mack. his wife, to call I'D DR. Kline
in Newark. in whose household Benny
once had lived, to ask the doctor 10 tell
Benny's mother and say that Johnny
Mack would do all he could for her.
Johnny tainted again after that.
Buck up, Johnny" said Fred Owens.
who has been flying his dlrigible here
and whose face was quite as ashen as
those Of the crowd around him. Let
me help you. Johnny. Let me lend YOU
money"
Johnny was able TO walk back to his
,ent as darkness was falling. weird
Of Benny's companions fol- /
owed across the field to the camp. Sob
ping aloud as they trailed behind their |
Doss