SLIDING FROM A BALLOON.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 47, 23 August 1902, Page 5 (Supplement)

SLIDING FROM A BALLOON.

By a startling and harrowing exhibition of nerve and agility, Simeon Nicks, a one-time sailor, has made himself the champion long-distance slider of the world From a balloon that sailed in the heavens, fifteen hundred feet above the ground, he slid down to where thousands stood in breathless anxiety. The feat which so transfixed the spectators was accomplished with ease by the former Jack Tar, and when he landed on the earth from his perilous descent he was as unruffled as if he bad merely "shinned" down from the crow's nest of a ship. It was the longest slide on record, mid it is not believed that a similar performance was ever before attempted.

Nicks frankly announced that he was "out for the stuff," and had calculated that by sliding down from the clouds on a Btring he could attain a notoriety that would mean "ready money." The thrilling performance took place at Charles Park, Los Angeles, California. At least 15,000 persons passed into the park, and the house-tops, trees, sheds, fences, and other points of vantage for blocks around were crowded with the curious.

It was 6 p.m. before all the arrangements were perfected, and the balloon rose in the air. The huge gas-bag wim mndo captive by the rope t>y which Nicks proposed to regain the earth. He was dressed in an ordinary suit of clothes, and carried' in his hands a lOin section of garden hose, slit up the side, that fitted snugly over the lfin Italian hemp rope that keeps his balloon from straying into the empyrean. Accompanying him were Aerouuat Hudson and the little son of Professor Baldwin. At a height of about 200tt Nicks clambered out of tile basket, and, with a sailor's twist of his legs round the pliable hemp, he began to slide downwards. Then he checked himself, and, remaining stationary, he x'ose with the balloon until it had reached a height of 1500 ft. Then lie began to slide, slowly at first, and gradually increasing his speed until the rope spun by him at a terrific rate. Regulating his speed at will, he sometimes came- to a full stop, when he would release his hand **old and lean back, as thoijh he were in an arm chair.

The friction of the rope on the calves of his lags created a burning sensation, but was not sufficient to scorch his trous* ers, and his hands, being protected by the hose, were not affected in the least by the long descent. Once the tar stopped himself with a sudden jerk, and threw out his hands as though he had lost his hold. A Cry of horror went up from the great crowd, but in a twinkling it was seen that the slider bad merely created a diversion by which to add interest to his feat. Then he grasped the rope with his hands, released it from his nimble legs, and made a giant swing through the air. Then he would slide swiftly for a great, distance, catch himself, with one leg, and turn himself upside down. He continued to cut up sfcch dangerous antics until he touched the ground, and every moment was filled with sensation* for those who watched. When he. finally reached the earth there was one tremendous sigh of relief, and many declared that no monoy would tempt them to witness another such foolhardy attempt. As a matter of fact, the feat was about as easy a thing as Nicks could have been asked to do, for while he was a sailor he became known to the tars of all nations as the most daring rope-performer afloat. He was in the American navy, and \ras also in th* merchant service, and is no doubt the best-known man that ever went aloft.— Globe.