Year: 1873

Frfghtful Death of Prof. La Mountain.


The particulars of the frightful fall
and death of Prof. La Mountain, while
making balloon ascension at Ionia,
Mich, are thus described by CORE
spondent of the Detroit Post.


"Among the many advertised at
fractions of the celebration of the
Fourth of July by our citizens, was
that of the ascension of Prof. La Noun
tain, of Brooklyn, Mich, in his man.
moth air ship. Several thousand spec
tators thronged the public-square for
hours before the. appointed time. "A
heavy squall of wind necessarily de-
laying the ascension for two or three
hours, but at the end of that time the
air became calm Under direction of
the Professor the balloon was got into
position, and its initiation with hot air
was commenced. The canvas soon
filed, and loomed up nearly rs feet
high. The basket was willow one of
size sufficient to hold one person COM
fortably. 1t was attached to the bal
loon by six or eight long ropes, which
were fastened at the top to a round
piece of wood some two or three feet
in diameter. The ropes were in no
manner fastened together between the
top and the basket. AS each piece was
100 feet long it seemed, even to the in
experienced eye, that there should have
been some webbing or network, at
least over the bag or bulge of the can
vas. The fear was generally expressed
that some accident might occur by the
canvas slipping through between the
ropes. 1t was also noticed that the
ropes were unevenly Observation-Disclosures
or four being in comparative cluster,
leaving the other strands far apart.
Nothing was said of the matter, as the
Professor, who gave the whole struc-
ture thorough look before taking his
scat in the car, made no comment on
the fact, and it was thought that his
experience was sufficient for the occa-
sion.


Everything being in readiness, the
words '1et her go" were given, and the
air-ship darted up with great rapidity,
while the aeronaut waved his hat to the
uneasy multitude, who, almost breath
lessly watched his fight. Immediately
upon leaving the ground the mouth of
the canvas began to flap around with
great violence. When fully half mile
from the earth, and when the whole
structure looked no larger than hogs
head, the balloon slipped between the
ropes and was instantly inverted The
car and its occupant dropped like a
shot, and when the ropes were pulled
taut the round piece of wood was torn
from the canvas. With the most terrific
velocity the unfortunate man descended
clinging to the basket. That he was
conscious was evident from his strug-
giles. With all the intensity of a life,
with but one chance, he strove to raise
the basket above him, evidentlyhoping
to use it as parachute. He succeeded
in his object, but when about 100 feet
high he loosed his hold, folded his
! hands and arms, before his face, and
feet first struck the ground, with dull,
heavy thud. Then ensued B. panic and
uproar in the crowd, which is indescrib-
able. Women tainted, men wept, and
to add to the confusion the canvas came
flying over the crowd like a large bird.
Some one cried out to get out of it's way,
as it would fall with crushing force.
The cry was taken up, and general
rush was made for safety, in which
many were more or less injured. sss
La Mountain was crushed into literal
pulp. Not sign of motion of life was
visible when he was reached. Medical
examination disclosed the fact that
hardly whole bone was left. Many
were ground and splintered to powder.
His jaws fell upon his arms, and were
pulverized. The blood squrted from
his mouth and ears. Where he struck
there was an indenture, made in hard
gravel ground five or six inches deep.
The corpse was laid out and placed on
the public square, where it was viewed
by thousands during the afternoon.
His remains were properly cared for
and sent to his home the following day.
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