The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-04
Former Topeka Man to Make
Balloon Ascension.
w. Ill. Laptad and His Expert
ence i'm Aerial Storm.
PARACHUTE BLOWN q MILES
Lands Safe on Ground Without
Serious Injury.
Other Items of Interest on the
North Side.

One of the features of the program
at Garfield park today will be a bal
loon ascension at 5 o'clock this after
noon, to be made by a former Tope-
ka man, w. H. Laptad, son of Henry
Laptad, once janitor OF the court
house.
The balloonist went to Battle Creek,
Mich, from Topeka, when he was a
boy For a while he worked for
merry go-round at a park. Then a
man who was to make a balloon as
cension met with an accident and was
unable to go up. Young Laptad, just
16, took his place. Since then he has
been making ascensions over the coun-
try. He was never seriously hurt, but
was in a bad storm at Taylorvtlle, ILL.,.
last August, and thought he would not
reach earth alive.
"At the fair at Taylorvi1le, ILL.,, just
year ago August 4, I was in mid
air Storm" said Mr.. Laptad this af-
ternoon. 81 was under contract to
fair, and as the weather was good on
the ground the amusement commit
tee couldn't see that conditions above
were dangerous. / knew this, but as
the committee insisted that l make
the ascent, I got mad and started.
"Just before I cut loose the para
chute I found myself above storm
clouds, with rain, thunder and lightning
underneath me. When I dropped, the
storm caught the parachute and half
parachute bullying like an umbrella
in a high wind, at terrific speed, about
four miles. I thought I was goner,
but in half half an hour after ] start
ed to drop I reached the ground in
safety and without injury except for
a few bumps and bruises.
1.-THE parachute was wringing wet
When the cloth is. dry man can guide
his descent to some extent by pulling
the rores and warping the side of the
cloth. Sut when wet the ropes simply
stretch and you have to light wher-
ever the wind blows you.
''In ordinary weather the most excit-
ing part is the drop. You fall like a
bullet about 100 feet. It is an ex-
perience you don't crave for. but af-
ter about 100 feet the rest is pleasant.
The first so feet drop you think the
parachute is going to open. The
next SO feet you fear it will not. and
the tug of the ropes, showing that the
parachute is opening is most well
come
Without noise or danger from fire
crackers a sane Fourth is being cele-
brated at Garfield park today. The
big pavilion is filled with dancers this
afternoon and every street car which
stops at the entrance is unloading
throngs of people to swell the already
large crowd.
The North side team is playing
horseshoes with other local players.
The carousel, figure eight, boating
and other attractions are well patron
ized The balloon ascension, which
will take place at o'clock, is being
looked forward to with considerable
interest.
over five hundred small paper bal
looms were distributed to children by
the park management. Free moving
pictures will be shown at 8:45, to be
followed by a grand fireworks dis
play at $50 O'Clock.
Notes and Personals.
Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Waldman will
leave July for the Pacific coast.
They will make an extended visit.
They are among the most popular of
North side people and will be greatly
missed.
The Central Avenue Christian
church people are holding their an
nual picnic at the reform school to-
day.