Hide Article Text (OCR)
UP IN A BALLOON.HOBRIBLB ACCIDENT TO A HOT AIR BALLOONATIC IN MEMPHIS—A FALL OF FIFTY FEKT INTO A CIL AH.Prom the A valance, .Tune 1.The balloon ascension connected with Noyes’ circus is one of that show's great cards. Evt-rj afternoon immense crowds congregate on the bluffs to witness it. Yesterday the usual multitude assembled to witness Prof. F.sher, the aeronaut, perform his feats on the trapeze attached to the balloon, the latter fastened to the balloon with four strong ha.f inch cords.In making the ascension the b dloon—a common yellow canvass affair—is filled with fact air by means of an alcoholic fire which is burned immediately beneath the lower and opened cud of the canvass; when filled Prof. Fisher leaps on his slender trapeze, the fastening ropes ure east loose, and the large yellow mouster goes off like a rocket in an upward direction for about 500 feet, wben it yields to the current of the wind and eoes with it. Both Thursday and yesterday the balloon, after attaining the usual elevation, moved rapidly on to a southeasterly direction, the first day alighting ou Beal street, and yesterday striking th Jackson block, on the southwest corner of Main and Bavoso streets.A large number of persons yesterday went on the roof of the Oiyoso House, just to rear of the JacksOD block, for the purpose of witnessing the ascension, and from one of them, who was an eye witness, an Avolanche reporter ob tained the following particulars concerning ti c tern..le accident, which in all probability will cost Prof. Fisher his life.The balloon, after being cast loose, shot directly upward, and then moved directly toward the Oayoso House. So certain were many of the spectators on the roof that it wa; comh indirectly over the house that they ran down stairs. Just before it reached the house, how ever, it commenced to descend lapidly, and in doing so swerved to the north and left of the Gayoscvand in a direct line for the Jackson Block, which it struck a moment later. In striking the block the balloon proper was above the level of the roof, while Prof. Fisher and the trapeze struck the wall some eight feet beneath the guttering of the roof. The aeronaut’s head stnnk the orick wall first, but recovering hims. If he p seed his feet agaiDst the wall and pushed violently outwards, with a hope doubthss of clearing the roof. All this time the huge inflated canvas wss tugging away at the enn 11 ropes, which alone intervened between Pri.f. Fisher and death. The'guttering of the roof being of iron, with a sharp, almost knife like outer edge, it in a few seconds severed the ropes, which, by the combined weight of the Professor and the balloon, w«-re strained to their utmost tension, and he man of the air with a loud cry fell down, down, down, a distance of at least fifty feet, and alighting on an iron grating, which li s weight cracked as if of glass In falling the unfortunate man turned several summers ults-but, with the exception of the first short passionate cry, not a sound escaped him. A large cellar extends under the b'oek, and through an open grating he fell headlong. But for an iron railing upon which he struck wiih his right arm in going through the grating, which changed his position, he would have alighted on bis head and death would have been Instantaneous. The railing, however, broke the force of the fall aDd crushed the bones |of his right shoulder and arm, and in so doing saved his life temporarily.The grating through which he fell is directly in the rear of R. G. Craig Co.’s se d store, and juBt as he shot by the window like a meteor, one of the salesmen, who was in the r ar of the store, saw him. Running out and seeing that the white flying object was a man, thin insensible and seemingly dead, the clerk called for assistance and carefully removed the wounded and almost pulverized man up stabs and into the store. Surgeons and physician?, were summoned in a few moments ar.d every thing possible was done to a deviate the intense suffering of the poor man. Dr. Had, after a careful examination, stated that the right shoulder arm bone was literally pulverized, and that he was also suffering trom con enssion of the brain. A gasb on the right forehead, another an the right cheek, and still another under the rigbt chin were tue wounds visible on the face. In the pit of the left arm was a horrid gash, fully three inches in length, and extending into the socket. The latter wound was caused by one of the small ropes tearing from under his arm, where he had it fastened for safety, and it is only surprising that the rope did not wrench the arm from the socket.All the wounds mentioned were stitched by the skillfnl surgeon, while another physician administered first stimulants and tben opiates, the latter (or allaying the Intense suffering of Prof. Fisher, who lay with hts white ghastly face upturned, while from bis pale, tight y pressed lips low moans issued expressive of the great agony he a as endur ng.In a few minutes an immense crowd collected near the spot where he fell, among .Whom were a large number of circus me.,. The latter evinced the greatest sympathy, and did everything in their power for their suffering companion, who only a few short minutes before had sailed away from tbem in all his pride of strength and health Wben Mr. Noyes arrived he orde ed everything possible to be done for the Professor and about a half horn later procured an ambulance, in which he was conveyed, still in an insensible condition, to the hospital, where spe ial surgeons have been order© i to attmd him.From members of the circus the following history of Professor Fish r was obtained: His right name is George F Clarke, and he is twenty-three years of age. He is of a most reapectab e family new residing in Columtius, Ohio. About two years since be joined Grady’s clrsns, then traveling in the North, as a general utility man, afterwards becoming known as a “candy butcher.’’ Wnile with Grady he made one or two ascensions under the superintendence of Prof. Fi her, whose name he afterward he assumed. In November last he perfected an engagement with Mr. t,. W. No es, and since then has regularly made ascensions.While in Texas he was injured by being drawn through a hone rack, aud again in Loul lana be was considerably bruised by being thrown against tbe center pole of the circus. Neither accident was serious in its results, however, Si.d he continued his ascensions until yesterday, when he made his final oneBefore starting yesterday on his flight to death, he remarked toa friend: “Jim, this will be my last ascension in a balioon,” an.i as he soared away he repeatedly halloed: “Good bve, boy»!| good bye,’’ and continued waving bia bands until far above the crowd of spectators. The fatal result of yesterdy’s ascen Ion, with tbe other death flight at Decatur last week, where a young man was drowned in the Tennessee river, should convince ev.-ry one that this species of daring la simply foolhardy.After loosed trom the aeronaut yesterday, the huge yellow messenger of death moved about fifty feet further on and then collapsed. Some of the “canvass” men of the circus came after and earried it back during tbe afternoon. There will be no ascension to-day.Mr. Clark, while being removed to the hoe-piUI, never rooovered hie coueciousuase, and last night, abeut 11 o’clock, he breathed Ida laat. From the time the ropes severed, he never spoke an InteUglMe wort. Toward the last hts - - • -t ceased, and when his spirit wW its flight. the transit from Ilf# to death waa hardly aotlced, to peaceful Wee it. His re-sasUn* wtij be taken charged! by Mr. Noyes.
Newspaper Details
Indianapolis Evening Journal
Indianapolis, Indiana, US
Mon, Jun 03, 1872
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
DE 29 Jan 2024
Other Publications Near Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis Daily Sentinel
Indianapolis Republican Convention
Indianapolis Daily State Sentinel
Indianapolis Indiana Democrat
Indianapolis Press
