The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-03-15

mOltG OF me 0aIlOo2 over tHe open
Ing The gas bag began 20 expand.
putting up in little Jerks almost Ike
began 20 life It's head of the ground
the beating Of a great heart. AS It
the people packed in closer and shout
ed out in excitement. Around the
balloon IKE fringe were rows O.:
OF bags Of sand 20 weight Il down.
and in addition. Ne9 from. the crowd
were pressed in to cling to the guy
ropes that the last possible m:tre OF
gas might be got in before il should
be released for its shoot Up into the
air.
The Balloon is Inflated
Slowly the balloon rose until It's
tail brushed the ground bearing IL
self for fight like some great c-ea-
ture OF the air Scanion in his tict;>
and Spansles had 70 keer running
from one side OF the balloon 20 the
other and then out TO the furnace TO
give orders TO his assistants. II was
hard work and the delay OF second
meant that something might 30
wrong and that the ascension nigh;
be a failure. Little by little he or
dered the men standing around the
ballon. their arms I7stretched hold
Ing the guy liaes.to slack their ropes.
As the great bag tuged the men would
be lifted OF their feet. the balloon
rolling from side TO side as though
drunk.
Stretched out on the ground was
the parachute fastened to the bag OF
the balloon so that when the balloon
shot up it would be swinging d!rect:?
under It. fastened oaly by one rope.
A cord led up TO knife SO that when
the aeronaur wanted 10 descend he
would but have to jerk tie cord. cut
ting the rope and aoat down 70 earth
and safety. Under the parachute the
trapeze bar was hanging. bright
brass rod on which Scan:oa was to
hang and So through his gymnastics
while being waited to the clouds.
AS the bag straIshtened up il be-
gan to ting so that the farmers and
towns2eop!e swinging on it FOR al
last began 70 grow afraid and enS:ous
to release their hold.
Hey. Mac" he called to a:s as
sistant, throw N another chunk"
Mac knew what that meant. aac
on the FIRE tossed small bucket OF
coal OIL A blaze OF Gre leaped
through the tunnel and the bacon
tore itself out Of the hands o: tie
ballast men. The balloon xobl:eo
up.
A mutterins shout ran around the
crowd for the tension was a. its
height. and man from their midst
was about 70 be wh!sked into th=
heavens Women threw up their
hands and shouted out words OF
warning.
"Eold on tight" called out an ole
man leaning on saarled cane for
support.
"Oh. know be will be killed. ;
sohbed a woman, turning away her
eyes.
'-Let Go, or You VIII be Killed.
But I'll this was met with ct every
performance and served in no way to
uastring Scanioa's nerves. All his
mind and energies were bent on
clearing the buildings and tree,ops.
Let her go. boys" he called o1:
over the eSclama:icns Of the people
and the cracking OF the FIRE. Cut
loose
Running back Scanion picked Up
the brass trapeze rod and seated
himself on it. one hand on each rope.
Then as the balloon slipped up into
the air he ran forward under Il. ;ha
long-fol2ed parachute tuSgi2S him
gently. thus saving hi,ase!: from be-
ing dragged over the ground. Ther>
hac not been a hitch. the weather
was perfect. he was getting soou
enc from dozen others he had
made
But there is where the risk o. !
balloon jumper comes in. He Eever
knows what moment something will
happen.
Suddenly 2 drunken man burs:
through the crowd and threw his
arms around Scanioa.
He WAS big muscular man. and
in his dazed eyes was the look OF a.
intoxicated man who cares not the
least wha; happens. Scan;on had 70
grasp the ropes on the ends OF the
bar 20 be KEEP, from being pulled of
backward
The parachute bar was just being
lifted OF the ground. and ScaD!on
had no way 20 fgh, back exccp; ay
kicking.
let loose. let loose" he yelled
fran;ically. but the man only ,isht-
ened his grip and buried his face in
Scaaioa's spaasles. afraid 10 look
down
For moment The crowd stood too
Mortified to move. then several OF the
men coming TO themselves rushed out
and sprans wildly a. the drunken
mans dangling feet. But they missed
and N a second more the balloon had
risen above the tops OF the trees ana
the two men ove- the heads OF tie
people.
Let 90 or vop will be killed.
cried Scanioa. sQu:rmiaS in the mans
grasp and Kicking as best he couid
But the man hcid on s-imly wi;hout
answering word
The horror OF Il all flashed through