Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-19


Below. the pilotboaH which had
agreed 10 come after him In case he
went ofFshore. was heading in his d.
rection Ii seemed down there us IL
the world had fiaftened out. making
great level map. Old Point Comfort.
Norfolk. Virginia Beach and Cape
Charles were all in view. and he I'm
sIung his marine glasses AS he ad-
justed them and turned them first on
the cape the red and black double
squares of the United States hurricane
signal flashed back at him through the
lenses 1t had been hoisted since his
ascent. and he glanced skyward anx-
lousy. Overhead there were long
mares tails and in the northeast
rapidly gathering thickness. He had
been stationed on that coast long
enough TO know its signs. and this one
had proved fits truth.
The westerly breeze had died out
Seeing the pilotboat almost beneath
him. Pup grasped the valve rope to be-
gin his descent when a few Isolated
bits of scud came from out OF the
northeast. puff Of air famed his
cheeks. and the balloon swung slowly
around. facing him eastward. At the
sight which met his astonished gaze
his eyes widened. and he exclaimed.
Holy Mike."
Again he unslung his glasses.
vessel lay far ont at sea. miles beyond
the sea level limit of vision from the
coast and even barely visible to his
naked eye But with the magnified
view through the glasses he saw that
great clouds of smoke were rolling not
only from her tunnels. but from fore
and aft, and an occasional bit of flame
leaped through them. At her bows
there was no white foam. indicating
that the steamer was at a standstill.
The few tiny dots TO the east and
north proved to be small boats filed
10 their capacity with humanity.
The parachute was the quickest
means Of descent. and Pup chose it
without hesitation. But in his haste
TO shake 1t out he let go the rope
which held it upright TO the trapeze-
II ran out swiftly. the canvas tOppled
over downward. and before he was
aware of it IL had jerked itself loose
from his hands and. turning complete
ly over. shot downward through space
with the swiftness of an arrow
His brain whirled for a moment;
then. excited and eager to descend. he
grasped the valve rope and gave 1t
violent pull. In an instant. gasplng
and choking. with the air roaring past
his ears and the blood rushing TO his
head he dropped toward the blue sea
There be comes"
The cry came from scores OF lips as
the spectators saw the parachute start
In its descent. But the cheer that
broke forth died away to a tense 81
Ience. They watched with bated breath
while the bit of canvas continued to
fall at the same high rate. Then
something like a groan filed the air.
my God. what's the matter" ex-
claimed ShultZ. turning to the profess
sor. 'Tt doesn't spread out. He'll be
killed.
The professor was already training
a pair OF glasses on the parachute.
He is not in there" he said. HE
must have dropped it."
AS he spoke the big sphere dropped
suddenly and swiftly. watched in
frightened silence, until within about
200 feet of the earth it slackened its
pace and came to a stop. BY this time
1t had drifted farther westward with
the shifting wind and was shaping a
course for the Chesapeake bay. But
they could easily see the red clad fig
ure OF Pup on the trapeze-
"a few more pulls on the valve viii
bring him down." said the professor.
"Can you signal?'
Shultz stripped his big navy necker-
chief from the collar of his blouse and
tied it to a cane.
Hes signaling now" he said, wav-
ing an acknowledgment. Then he re-
peated with q pause between each
word: 'Passenger-liner - about-hun-
dred-miIes- offshore - bearing-east-
-on-fire-disabIed. PasseD-
gers-in-small-boat Send-help."
Shultz darted across the sand hills 10
the signal station. In a few moments
the news was telegraphed TO Norfolk
and flying from the signal masts In
brilliant colors. The pilotboat barely
waited to answer IT, then steamed
swiftly seward.
1t was nearly, an hour before Pup
worked the balloon slowly downward.
Just as he plunged into the water TO
escape the collapsing canvas the cruis-
er Prairie raced out the capes. heading
eastward.
"See that. Pupil" shouted shultz as
they steadied the surfboat in the sea-
way until Pup grasped the gunwales
"Bully for you! What did tell you
this morningT
Pup scrambled over the side. "Cut
IT, he said. noundering weakly into the
bottom Of the boat 81 guess I've lost
my nerve No more balloons for ne.S
John D. Rockefeller would go broke
If he should spend his entire income
frvfTo IN nranaro q hQffor rnadfrf0a