Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-07-22


II knew you sailors have the nerve
to do all sorts of stunts, but you're up
against it hard when you tackle Il bal
loom"
THAT'S all right" replied Pup. un.
rolling his clippings. but l Amt green
on balloons. Glance over them"
O'Keane glanced. and when he read
Pups army papers be said: That's a
big temptation. Pup. You'd save the
day for u.s.
1t was agreed that Pup should make
the ascent. then descend to within a
few hundred feet Of the earth with the
open valve before making the para.
chute leap.
Pup hurried across to the station.
When he returned he was clad in q,
brilliant red bathing suit, and he took
his place on the double bars Of the
trapeze, eager and confident.
O'Keane grasped lis hand. Il ap.
preciate this. Pup" he said warmly
keep your nerve and be careful. All
ready?'
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 II
the world had 6attened out, making
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 OH
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 Ion.
mares tails and in the northeast Il
rapidly gathering thickness. He had
been stationed on that coast long
enough to know it's signs, and this one
had proved its truth.
The westerly breeze had died out.
Seeing the pilotboat almost beneath
him. PUP grasped the valve rope to be.
gin his descent when 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
bis eyes widened. 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 magnifietl
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 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 1t out he let go the rope
which held it upright to the trapeZe
It ran out swiftly. the canvas toppled
over downward. and before he was
aware Of it it had jerked itself loose
from his hands and. turning complete
~ 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 q
violent pull. In an instant, gaspine
and choking. with the air roaring past
his ears and the blood rushing to bis
head. he dropped toward the blue sea.
"There he comesv'
The Cry came from scores of lips a!
the spectators saw the parachute star
in its descent. But the cheer tina
broke forth died away to tense 81
lence. They watched with bated breatl
while the bit Of canvas continued t,
fall at the same high rate. Thel
something like groan filed the air.
"My God. what's the matter" ex
claimed Shultz. turning to the profes
sor. lit doesn't spread out. He'll By
killedw
The professor was already training
pair of glasses on the parachute
He is not in there" he said. H
must have dropped it"
As he spoke the big sphere droppe'
suddenly and swiftly, watched Il
frightened silence, until within abou
200 feet Of the earth it slackened it
pace and came to stop. By this tim
it had drifted farther westward wit
the shifting wind and was shaping
course for the Chesapeake bay. Ru
they could easily see the red clad Fl:
ure of Pup on the trapeze.
"A few more pulls on the valve wi
bring him down." said the professor
"Can you sisnal:"
Shultz stripped his big navy neckeI
chief from the collar of his blouse an
tied it to cane.
Hes signaling now" he said. wa,
ing an acknowledgment. Then he r.
peated with pause between eac
word: "Fassenger-liner = about = hui
dred-miles- offshore - bearing-east-