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.slel-le;dR.Dlln.in-r.01.ir-thllf:ur)ckD lilt* y ent LheLouis I). Earl’s Thrilling Aerial Voy» age and Parachute Descent—It Will be a Feature ot the State Fair.There will be three balloon ascensions during the State Fair, the tirst one to occur on Tuesday, October 14th, at four o'clock p. m.The aerial feat will be performed by Prof. Louis I. Earl. Following is a description of one of hi? {lights by the Fort Wayne, (lud.,) Journal.It was the crowning feature of the day.Words fail utterly iu expressing the beauty of the terrible drop, which could only hi appreciated by being seen. At two o'clock the furnace was started and the huge canvas was steadily inflated until it began to fill out into its monstrous si'?. Tnc crowd pressed eagerly forward, increasing as the balloon grew larger. At four o'clock the pulleys wore made ready for quick release. All eyes were expectantly waiting for the c mrageous young aeronaut. After u few more seconds Lonis Earl made his appearance, took his position on the bar and at the words “let 'er go,” the monster of the air shot upward hke a rocket amid the cheers of 10,000 spectators. Louis, by way of answer, waved his hand and was heard tosay, “good-bye, everybody.” Higher and higher rose the air ship* bearing far below it the intrepid aeronaut, who performed rapid and graceful evolutions upon the bar as he ascended. At a height of what must have been 2,200 feet, ttie balloon seemed to vibrate like a thing of life, then suddenly dart into a new current. The young aeronaut appeared no larger than a man’s band. The balloon was now in the cold air current. Knowing that the upper enrrent would soon cause the balloon to descend, Manager Ryder signalled to those below that the boy was about to make the parachute leap. A pistol shot was the signal for the boy to prepare, and the multitude held its breath in suspense.A second shot rang through the air, the signal for the drop, and as the limp parachute separated from the balloon, trembling men and women watched, with strained eyes and bated breath, its downward flight. Down it shot with lightning speed, taxing the swiftness of the eye to follow it. Will it never open? Has someone blundered: No, it opens partially, closes again and then opens, this time to its full extent and the terrific descent|is checked. After a drop of 200 fe tor more, the parachute caught the breeze and sailed its gracefully as a bird upon the wiug and limited toward the earth. But look at the released balloon! When the weight of the paracu.uto and aeronaut leaves it, it suduenly springs upward, then slowly turns upside down, while thick, black smoke pours from its mouth like, that from some huge furnance. Soon it is empty and the beautiful thing of life which it seemed, is transformed into a limp, black rag, and comes swiftly toward the earth. Again all eyes returned to the daring young aeronaut, now rapidly descending. But a few feet more and he came down on a housetop, and losing his hold, he fell to the ground, about twenty feet, but was not injured. He landed one quarter of a mile from the starting point and the balloon fell a mile and a quarter from the grounds of the celebration.The first successful ascension in a hallo n was made in 17T3, in France, by IV i at re De Rosier, a young naturalist, and the Marquis D’Arlundo, who ascended ■ o the height of 3,000 feet. Subsequent ly lo.R uiser was killed in an attempt tc cross the English channel in a ballooi inflated with hot air. The parachute was firs’ used in descent in 1803 and tin second attempt to use it resulted in tin death of the hazardous aeronaut. Thi danger of ballooning has scarcely beei lessened during the past hundred years and not a season passes but what sorn aerial voyager meets death in his at tempts to navigate the air.
Newspaper Details
The Daily State Chronicle
Raleigh, North Carolina, US
Sun, Oct 12, 1890
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 19 Dec 2021
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