The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-03-11

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grasp the ropes on the ends of the
bar to be kept from being pulled off
backward.
The parachute bar was just being
lifted off the ground, and Scanion
had no way to fight back except by
kicking.
"Let loose, let loose" he yelled
|frantically, but the man only tight
ened his grip and buried his face in
scanion's spangles, afraid to look
down.
For a moment the crowd stood too
Mortified to move, then several of the
men coming to themselves rushed out
and sprang wildly at the drunken
mans dangling feet. But they missed
and in a second more the balloon had
risen above the tops of the trees and
the two men over the heads of the
people.
"Let go or you will be killed,
cried Scanion, squirming In the mans
grasp and kicking as best he could.
But the mar, held on grimly without
answering word.
The horror of it all flashed through
Scanion's mind and made him fight
now resolutely. Here he was sitting
on a brass rod twenty feet under
the balloon, riding balloon built for
jonly $50 pounds, plus the weight OF
the parachute, and he himself was
lover weight by ten pounds. The man
Iclinging to his arms must weigh at
least ITO pounds.
To make the ascent this way would
be absolute folly. So he redoubled
his energies toward kicking; of the
unwelcome passenger. Letting go OF
one hand he clung to one swinging,
bending rope and with the free hand
tried to tear apart the mans fingers
kicking him madly on the thighs with
his heels.
drop, drop, you can make it yet,
called out Scanion, almost out OF
breath.
But the man paid no heed, holding
on as grimly as death itself. Catch.
ing hold of one of the mans hands
. Scanion tore it away. The man freed
his hand again and fastened 1t in an
other place. Surging back and forth,
Scanion tried to wriggle out OF the
mans grasp, the combined weight
sending a wave clear up to the bal
loon like quick jerk travelling along
a rope. Breathing with quick in
takes of breath, partly from exhaus-
ton and partly from the effect OF the
Iliquor, the man clung to Scanion
without speaking a word. One idea
was firmly fixed in his mind, and that
was that he must hold on tight, and
with the grip and determination OF a
drowning man he carried out his
idea. 'i ..
Working his hand up the mans
back Scanion got it against the mans
face by quick surge and pushed
(madly and blindly, but the man bur-
led his face in the other side OF
Scanion's back and the short ad-
Vantage was gone.
Rapidly but with stately dignity
the balloon rose into the air each
isecond adding to the distance that
lone of them must fall. Scanion's 6
hands sank deep into the bar ropes
land they came down almost to the
level of the bar, his head was pulled
back until he could see nothing but
1.-THE dropping skirts Of the parachute
and the bulging sides of the balloon
over him. Squirming and kicking
he struggled till his breath was al
most spent, fighting against time
knowing that each moment the bal
loon was getting higher and higher
Finally, twisting his head around
Scanion says that they were fully five
hundred feet high and that drop
meant instant death. He could sel
the crowd standing almost as he had
left it, scarcely making a sound, all
faces tense and set, silent watchers
of the struggle for life In mid-air.
A Single Chance of Escape.
Suddenly y the man gave lunge
and flung one arm over the bar, then
In spite of all Scanion could do he
swung back and hooked knee over
| it, like an acrobat in show.
scanion looked down into the
mans face. It was wrinkled into
lines of fear and determination. His
eyes were wide open and staring, but
afraid to look down. There was not
the slightest sign Of drunkenness
about the face, the terrible struggle
lhad completely cleared his mind
|Scanion could see that the man was
possessed of but one idea and that
was to hold madly to the swinging
bar. His whole strength and his
whole mind were set in carrying this
out.
AS Scanion looked down at the
imam he turned over every possible
chance to escape.
To drop meant destruction. The
parachute was built to carry only ono
man. Possibly one of them might &C
down in the parachute and the other
ride the balloon down by waiting till
the night air chilled the gas. It was
a straw, but worth seizing.
call right-it's too late for you tc
drop off now," said Scanion gruflly
Swing yourself up on this bar.
The man looked ED at him more