Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-06-23


Pup hurried across to the station.
When he returned he was clad in a
brilliant red bathing suit, and he took
his place on the double bars Of the
trapeze, eager and confident.
O'Keane grasped his hand. II ap-
preciate this, Pup he said warmly.
Keep your nerve and be careful. All
readyf"
Pup nodded. The ropes were releas-
ed, and he sailed rapidly skyward.
Below, the pilotboat. which had
agreed to come after him in case he
went offshore, was heading In his di
rection. 1t seemed down there as If
the world had flattened out. making a
great level map. Old Point Comfort,
| Norfolk. Virginia Beach and Cape
Charles were all in view, and he un-
slung 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-
iously 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 It's truth.
| The westerly breeze had died out.
| Seeing the pilotboat almost beneath
him, Pup gTdsped 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
checks, and the balloon swung slowly
around. facing him eastward At the
sight which met his astonished gaze
his eyes widcned, and he exclaimed,
Holy Mike!"
Again he unslung his glasses. A
vessel lay far out 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 filled
to their capacity with humanity.
The parachute was the quickest
means of descent. and Pup chose 1t
without hesitation. But in his haste
to shake it out he let go the rope
which held 1t upright to the trapeze
1t ran out swiftly, the canvas toppled
over downward, and before he was
aware Of It it had jerked itself loose
from his haEds 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 it
violent pull. In go instant, gasping
and choking with the air roaring past
his ears and the blood rushing to his
head, he dropped toward the blue sea.
There he comesp'
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
lence. They watched with bated breath
while the bit of canvas continued to
fall at the same high rate. Then
something like groan filed the air.
"My God, what's the natter ex-
claimed Shultz, turning to the profes-
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 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 will
bring him down" said the professor.
Can you signal?"
Shultz stripped his big navy necker-
chief from the collar of his blouse and
tied 1t to a cane.
Hes signaling now," he said, wav-
ing an acknowledgment. Then he re-
peated with pause between each
word: "Passenger-liner - about hun
dred-miles- offshore -bearing-east-
y-south-on-fire-di PaSsen-
gers-in-small-boats Send-help."
Shultz darted across the sand hills to
the signal station. In n few moments
the news was telegraphed to Norfolk
and flying from the signal masts in
brilliant colors. The pilotboat barely
waited to answer 1t, 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, Pup" shouted Shultz as
they steadiei the surfboat in the sea-
way until Pup grasped the gunwale.
Bully for you! What did tell you
this morning?"
Pup scrambled ovE the side Cut
it, he said, flounderihg weakly into the
bottom of the boat. II guess I've lost