The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-03-15
A MURDER IN The AIR
(New York No-ldA
(NeT York Wo-ld.l

The parachute. and he himself was
over weight y: ten pounds. The man
cli2S;nS 70 his arms mus; weigh ct
least 10 poucGs.
To make the ascent this way would
be abSc,i:ie folly. So he r:dou5!ei
his encreirs toward kicking of the
uawclcone passenger. Letting 90 o!
one hard he cluaS 20 oue swinging
bending rope and with The free hand
tried 10 ,car apart the mans fingers
kicking hin! mad!y' on the thighs with
his heels.
Drop. drop. you can make j, yet :
called ont Sc2&ion. almost out o!
breath.
HG; ;he nan paid no heed. holding
on as Srimly aS death Itself. Catch
ing held OF one OF the mans hands
Scaaioa tore j; away. The man freed
his hand again and fastened il in an
other place Su-S!nS back and fort,
.Scaaion tried TO wr:Gc!e out OF the
mans grasp. the combined weigh;
sending wave clear up 20 the 5al-
loon Ike quick jerk travelling along
= rope. Breathing with quick in
takes ot breath. partly from exhaus'
ton and partly from the effect OF the
liGuo-. the man slung 70 Scanion
without speaking word. One idea
was firmly fixed in his mind. and tina,
WAS that he must hold on tight. and
with tie grip and determination OF j
drowning man he carried out h:s
idea
Working his hand uo the man $
back Scanion got il against the mans
face by quick surge and pushed
maGly aad hlind.y. bu; the man bur.
led lis face IL the other side o!
Scan;oa's back and the short ad.
vantage was gone.
Rapid: bu: with stately dignity
the balloon rose into the air each
second adding 70 the distance that
one OF them must fail. Scanion's
hands sank deep into the bar ropes
and they cane down almost &c the
level OF the bar. his head was pulled
back until he coUId see nothing hu!
the droopin- skirts OF The parachute
and the buisinG sides OF the balloon
over him. Squi-E.:2S and kicking
he struggled till his breath was al
most spent. fighting against ,inc
knowing that each moment the bal
loon was getting higher and higher
Finally. twisting his head around
Scan;on says that they We're fully FIVE
hundred feet high and that a drop
meant instant death. Re could sec
the crowd standing almost as he had
left il. scarcely making sound. al
faces tense and set. silent watchers
Of the struggle fo- life in :nid-air.
i Single Chance Of Escape.
Suddenly the man gave lunee
and flung one arm over the bar. then
in spite OF all Scanioa could do he
swung back and hooked knee ove!
lit. like an acrobat in show.
: Scan!on looked down into the
mans face. Il was wrinkleG into
lines OF fear and determination. His
eyes were wide open and staring. ou>
afraid 20 look down. There was nc,
the slightest sign OF drunkenness
about the face. the terrible struggle
had completely cleared his mind
Scanion could see that the man was
possessed OF but one idea and thai
was TO hold madly to the swinging
bar His whole strength and hi:
whole mind were Set in carrying thi:
out.
| AS Scaniou looked down at the
man he turned over every possible
chance to escape.
To drop meant destruction. The
parachute was built TO carry only one
man. Possibly one OF them might z:
down in the parachute and the other
ride the balloon down by waiting I'll
ithe night air chilled the gas. 1t was
q straw. but worth seizinE.
"All rights too late for you &
drop on now" said Scan!on grutt.y
Swing Yourself u? or this bar.
The man looked Up at him more
like wild animal ;han human be
ing. like dog trying 10 understand
Just what his master means. Sc
| firmly fixed IN his mind was the i6ea
that be mus; cling 20 the ba. that hs
could not comprehend what Scan;ol
meant.
Climb u2. damn you," srowled
Scan!oE We've got TO stick it ouI
together
The light oe understanding broke
into the mans eyes. and with rigid
trembling muscles he drew h!msel.
up on the bar and wound his arm
around the supporting rope. The
two sat crowded shoulder TO shoul.
Ger facing. with scarcely enough
room to move.
Don't hu-. NE. wh:ned the man
speaking for the first time.
Shut up and don't shake the bal.
loon. snapped Scan!oa.
The man kept his eyes on Scanion
afraid 20 look toward the earth. Us
it very--vcry far
You'll think SO going down
ScanioG shot back.
Tho f'ich: eo- Life.
The man whim3ered and ShraHs
Inc rope without looking down.
What are you going TO 60 abou;
it," demanded Scanion. taking this
chance 70 punish the :a;ruter. The
danger now did not seem so immi-
ncn:. and SO Scanion was bound to
impress on the man what he had
done.
The man whismpe-od and shrank
away from The aeronaut. The fSh,
~ y; =