Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-09-17
THE FIRST PARACHUTE
Was Invented by a Frenohman Nearly
Two Hundred Years Ago.

The invention Of the aeroplane Is
accepted to-day as the most signifi-
cant achievement in the conquest Of
the air. The same attitude was held
in 1888, when the Montgolfers in
vented the balloon, and again in 1897,
when Garnerin demonstrated the
practically of the parachute. The
latter invention in particular reused
popular interest to a degree that
amounted almost to awe. G. Lenotre,
writing in Les Annales, describes in
an interesting manner the scenes Of
that memorable event.
On a beautiful day Of the year
1888, a citizen Of Montpelier, France,
out for his early morning walk, be-
held a strange spectacle. Happening
to pass by the house Of Sebastien
Lenormand, a distinguished scientist,
he saw that eminent and respected
man balancing himself on the sill
of his first story window. In each
hand he clasped an open umbrella,
the points Of which were tied firmly
to the handles.
The passer-by was thunderstruck
by the strange sight. In another
moment he was even more astounded,
for Lenormand suddenly jumped into
space. The man in the street shrieked
and rushed forward; but instead of
beholding a body hurting through
the air, he saw the scientist float
gently down, and land, smiling and
unhurt, on the pavement. The para
chute had been invented.
The news Of L~enormand's invention
spread rapidly, and it was not long
before several scientifi bodies had
attempted experiments. Cats and dogs
and other animals were tied to para
chutes and dropped from balloons
and in every cas- they reached the
ground unhurt. Interest in aero
nautics waned somewhat during the
troubled days of the Revolution, so
that it was not until 1897 that a mar
could be found who would dare to de-
cend in a parachute from a great
height. The occasion when Jacques
Garnerin did make the attempt was
a memorable one.
The experiment took place on Oc-
tober %, 1897, at the Pare Monceau.
The parachute, looking like an i'm
mense umbrella, was attached be-
naofh fhn ho1lann Tnuyor ri ot,noaf
Garnerin, standing in a tiny wicker
basket suspended from the para
chute, gave the word to let go.
The enormous crowd that covered
the park, the roads, the neighboring
plains, maintained, a hushed silence
as the balloon slowly rose. There was
not a murmur from the awed spec
tators, who followed with a sort Of
fascinated gaze the figure of tht dis
appearing Garnerin. Would this brave
nan really dare the unknown? Would
he dare to jump from the great height
to which he was rapidly carried?
The balloon undisturbed by any wind
rose straight in the air. 1t seemed
like q mere speck against the sky to
the crowds below. Women were be-
coming hysterical under the suspense.
Suddenly a great cry Of horror rose
from the plains. The single speck
had become two, one Of which was
dropping like a bullet toward the
earth. Garnerin had cut loose, and
the parachute had failed to open.
The throngs in the Pare Monceou
were mad with excitement. Women
tainted, men shouted, shrieked, pray
ed. But always the unturned eyes
were fastened on the falling para
chute. Suddenly a shout of JOY and
wonder burst from every spectator.
Like a great bird unfolding its wings,
the parachute had opened.
With the sudden check in its
tremendous speed, the parachute
and the tiny basket beneath it were
set swinging in great oscillations.
Then, against the d%arkening sky a
speck appeared that every moment
grew larger, passed the parachute
and fell to earth. 1t was the balloon
from which Garnerin had cut loose,
and which had finally burst and fallen
to the ground before the parachute.
Soon the parachute, slowly descend
ing and still swinging violently, was
near enough so that the crowd could
distinguish the figure Of Garnerin
waving from the basket. At last, amid
frenzied cheers, the parachute drop
ped to earth. Garnerin stood in great
err danger Of losing his life through
the demonstrations of the enthusiastic
mob than he had from the possible
failure of the parachute. Finally
however, he escaped on horseback,
while the excited crowd wandered
back to Paris to spread the news Of
wonderful event over the city
Youths Companion.