The Washington herald., 1911-06-18
UD in a Balloon
COPYRIGHT BY JAMES BLVBRSoN

them as part OF the show. Of late
years, however, people did not seem to be con-
tented with one or two persons making an
ascent in q basket or car attached to bal
loon, and some novelty had to be devised.
A trapese was attached to the balloon, and
men were found daring enough to allow them
selves to be carried up hanging to the bar,
and to do tricks in mid-air such as gymnasts
do from the roof of circus tent.
A descent from a balloon in a parachute
too, proves very strong attraction. A para
chute is a large umbrella-shaped contrivance
attached 20 balloon. When the balloon is
at a great height, the aeronaut lowers himself
from 1t, grasps the handle of the parachute,
opens out the machine, cuts the cord which
holds it tu the balloon and drops earthward.
The principle OF the parachute is the re-
sistance o! air to the force of gravtation.
The machine is generally made of stout gum
med duck, and is from eight to twenty feet
broad. 1t thus presents a very large surface
to the air. and the speed of the fall is natur-
ally slackened.
1t must, however, require a great amount
OF nerve to make such descent. At first
Che fall Is very rapid, the machine dropping
like stone until the resistance is developed
Then, too, the speed of the descent varies ac-
cording to the pressure of the air.
Sometimes there is a rapid downward
plunge, then what seems to be standstill,
and then another dive-all of which must be
calculated to keep the nerves at a high ten
sion. Accidents, in fact, are likely to hap
pen at any time.
The aeronaut. of course, tries to select the
safest place for coming down, and would not
make the descent when over large body of
water or forest. But, outside Of this, there
Is always a danger that you may come down
IN some untoward way; and, in fact, there
ls not a summer passes in which we do not
a N IN boz h. =
most skillful.
A small hole in the apex of the parachute,
through which the compressed air forces its
way, steades the machine. Sometimes a
whistle is fixed in this hole and the para
chute descends to the accompaniment of
Bhrll piercing shrieks.
Last summer l happened to be at fair in
a Western State on day on which a man
well. -.
II seemed to me that the balloon was a
mile up in the air before the aeronaut drop
ped. The descent was almost uniform, and,
when he came to earth, his feet seemed to
touch the ground as lightly as feather
entered into conversation with him after
ward, AMI learned from him what have tried
parachute works.
He had made many descents, and met with
number Of accidents Some of his experi-
ences were thrilling; but one story which he
laugh over it..
He was engaged to make a balloon ascen-
SION at county fair in Ohio, aud to come
down IN parachute.
The ascent was made all right but the
wind current which he struck was 80 strong
fhat he did not consider it wise to cast off
the parachute until he had gone more than
two miles north of the fair grounds. When
he did cut loose he came down gently, and
soon saw that he was almost over the garden
OF a farmhouse.
There was a woman standing on a board .
fence, apparently saving branch off tree
that grew beside the fence, and another wom- :
an was standing on the ground, holding up
q box. His whistle was shriekng loudly, and I
the women were looking all around, trying to Q
lind out where the sound came from. At last 6
wild scream. One of them jumped off the a
Ience, the other dropped the box, and both n
ran for the house. {
"JuGt then" said the aeronaut, 81 landed :
On m beehive. too: The bees came out, but :
they were not frightened, as the women
we're; they were angry, and | was glad to
get out OF the garden. / had time to see
however that a hive of bees had swarmed
IN limb OF tree. and that the women had
been trying to hive them.
Il decided to go to the house and apologize .
o the two women, not for dropping in, but
or dropping down upon them so unexpect-
'dly The door was closed, so knocked, and
{, Go way, go way! We can't have sich =
ollB as you here!'
" You needn't be alarmed I said. I'm a
,nly the man that went up in balloon from n
he fair grounds a
" For the lands sakel" exclaimed the o
anne voice, and the door was opened Come al
light in and take a chair. My goodness but q
ou scared us! We amt used to men comm b
own from the sky like as you did Molly b,
o the OTHER woman, bring him pitcher Of Al
milk ii
"Molly, who still looked askance at me- q
rought the milk, but / could see that she
7as doubtful as to the wisdom of having me
q the house, II
"Then i suggested that | should 20 out and W
elp hive the bees. This we did The women It
i return helped me to fold up my parachute, ra
nd MaS nhnnt 10 start off and ,rnllr 10 u,