PERILOUS BALOON ASCENT.

Lake County Press, Issue 31, 5 January 1872, Page 3

PERILOUS BALOON ASCENT.

Professor Willbur was engaged by the Orange County, Indiana, Fair to make an ascension in his hot air balloon each day of the fair. On each ascension, but the last, he had check ropes attached to allow the balloon to go no higher than he desired; but on Saturday evening, 30th September, the closing day of the fair, he detached the lines to allow the aerial ship to take him wheresoever it would. Mr Knapp, the editor of the Orange County Union had arranged to make the ascent with Professor Willbur, After inflating the balloon to its utmost capacity, Mr Knapp stepped into the car. The Professor had hold of the rope which attached the car to the balloon, and gave the word to “ let go.” From some cause he failed to reach the car in time. As the car began to rise Professor W. kept hold of the rope, and attempted to get in. He succeeded in getting his elbow over the inside the edge of the basket, his body outside and feet dangling in the air, and in this perilous position started up. When about fifteen or twenty feet from the ground, the car came“iu contact with one of the ropes that held the balloon while being inflated, and threw Mr Knapp out, who fell to the ground, sustaining considerable injury. The balloon, being, lightened of part of the weight, shot upward almost with the speed of an arrow. Professor Willbur still clinging to the basket endeavouring to gain the car, ascending to about the height of one mile, as near as could be guessed, and when at that altitude the spectators were horror-slriken to see him loose his hold and fall to the earth. It was truly a heartrending spectacle, and one which we hope to never see again. Men and women shouting, shrieking, screaming, and falling upon their knees, and in the anguish of their hearts imploring heaven to protect him. But prayers and sympathy were unavailing. The Professor was seen high up in the air with lace down, arms and legs ex tended,his body in a circular motion, descending at a fearful speed. He was about one minute in falling, and struck the earth with his head first, bursting it open. The sound of the fall was heard by the citizens of Paoli, a halfmile from the place. His hat, which came off a few seconds before he started, fell within a few feet of him shortly after he reached the ground, he having passed it about midway down. The balloon rose to an immense height, and taking a north westerly direction, lauded some three miles from the scene of the disaster. His body was taken to the Albert House in Paoli, and cared for by his wife, who witnessed the terrible tragedy. —Cincinnati Gazette Ist Oct.