FALLING THROUGH SPACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19454, 9 October 1926, Page 2 (Supplement)

FALLING THROUGH SPACE.

A PARACHUTIST'S THRILLS. WOMAN'S ADVENTURES. TERRIFYING EXPERIENCES. NUMEROUS NARROW ESCAPES. Some thrilling stories of her experiences in falling through space aro related in tho Sunday News by Miss Elsa Spencer, the world's foremost woman parachutist. Miss Spencer's experiences compriso 25 years of tumbling through space, hairraising thrills and repeated breathless escapes from what seemed certain death. She writes as follows: Most people seem surprised when thoy aro told that I have been doing parachute descents for 25 years. They seem to regard the parachute as quite a modern invention, but it is not so by any means. The first parachute descent on record was made from Vauxhall on July 24, 1837; tho balloon itself had been invented almost 50 years before that. The firm of Spencer was founded, in the year 1835, so it will be seen that we have been long enough in the business to have gained experience in every branch, and to have made each department approach as near perfection as possible. People speak of the dangers of parachuting and the valuable lives which have been lost, but comparatively speaking, the balloon is safer than the motor-car. The parachute, if it has been properly prepared, is bound to open, and the only danger lies in judging the landing-place. The parachute that I generally use is made of silk, weighs 281b., and, when open, has a spread of nearly 40ft. First Ascent at Thirteen Years. The parachute is attached to the net of tho balloon and the parachutist holds a wooden hoop to which the 24 parachute ropes aro made fast. A sling made of webbing is attached to the hoop as a means of support for one leg. This relieves to some extent tho heavy strain on the arms. My earliest memory of balloons goes back to the time .when I was quite a tiny tot and insisted on being taken up for a trip. And all through my lifo nothing has given me greater pleasure than riding on tho backs of the clouds. To those who aro fond of admiring the pictures in the sky, I would say that to be actually above the clouds is an experience which gives one the greatest pleasure. On the August bank holiday in 1901, 1 made my first parachute descent. I was then 13 years of age. The descent was made in company with my sister, Viola Spencer. We were billed as " The Sisters Spencer, the world's bravest girls." Poor Viola was killed while parachuting somo .time later. She fell heavily on the roof of a high building. Tho balloon from which I made my first descent was prepared by tho late Captain Stanley Spencer. He did not accompany us in tho air, but went up in another right-away balloon. So Viola and I were quite on our own. Viola, being more experienced, selected a safe landing-place for us both, but, unfortunately, a high wind blew the balloon right over the town, and danger loomed ahead —or, at least, below. The instant Viola gave the word of command I leaped into space. My heart seemed to stop and I felt myself dropping at a terrific pace, dragging my parachute with me. After what seemed a very long time, but was in reality only a few seconds, something seemed to pull me upward again and, looking up, I found my parachute had opened. Nearly Electrocuted. The remainder of the descent was most enjoyable, until it suddenly dawned on me that I was dropping right on the town. I discovered I was falling oil the wires of the electric cars and only avoided electrocution by swinging my legs clear just in the nick of time. My parachute became entangled in the chimney pot of an hotel and I was dashed violently against the side of the house. I received prompt attention and was very soon on my way back to the gala field, trying hard to forget my sore experience. The following day the balloon refused to rise with the two of us in it, so it was decided that I should go up alone. Though I was more fortunate in my landing-place on this occasion, I had the unlucky experience of coming down to earth with one leg bent under me and was lame for some weeks afterwards in consequence. By now I had quite decided that parachuting was tho careor for me. Each leap into space filled me with a desire for the next. It is a life of continual surprises and thrills; one never kriews what the next instant may hold in store and now that I have made over 300 descents I sometimes wonder why I have been so fortunato on the whole. During my career I have, of course, had many narrow escapes. Often with certain death confronting me, I have been able, in an amazing way, to extricate myself and survive for my next fall from the clouds. Balloon Struck by Lightning. On one occasion I went up alone in a balloon in Lincolnshire to make a parachute descent for the late Professor Gaudron. I had no sooner leaped into space than the balloon was struck by lightning and burnt out. Tho balloon, which had only just been made, had cost £IOOO. On another occasion, during the ascent with the late Captain E. T. Willows at Cardiff, we found ourselves being carried out toward tho sea. Captain Willows strongly advised me not to jump, because of the dangerous landing; but I resolved to make the descent, no matter what the consequences might be. I am proud of tho fact, that I have never yet failed to make any descent that had been planned. 1 leaped ikto space and shouted "Goodbye " cheerily to Captain Willows. But while tumbling down through the air I realised that I was in for a rough time on account of the landing. I could not swim--and Cardiff Docks did not look particularly inviting that evening. To make matters worse, I drifted steadily in the direction of a huge stack fire belonging to an ironworks. The fiery furnace held my eyes—with the fascination of terror—and I began to wonder whether I should be roasted alive or drowned. Fate in one. or other of these guises seemed absolutely certain. Had I been less experienced, I should probably have fallen into tho furnace, but by swinging I managed to change the direction of my parachute and narrowly missing tho huge electric cranes I dropped right into ther clock. A crowd soon gathered round, while I lay quite still oil my bark, waiting until I was rescued and taken on board a Spanish vessel. Fall in Front of Express Train. A few years have elapsed since the stirring incident I am now going to relate, yet. it seem 3 but yesterday. Every timo I hear tho whistle of an engine, every time I travel by rail, my thoughts turn to that event, so deep is the impression it left on my mind. The ascent was made near to a busy junction in the Midlands, on what, in tho weather sense, might bo described as a perfect day. I lingered some time aloft, admiring tho scenery, and had reached a height of almost 3000 ft., when I decided to descend. My parachute opened quickly. There was scarcely any breezo, but what little ""there was took me in the direction of the railway. I had not travelled far from the starting-point; in fact, I seemed to be almost over the same ground all the time. When I had descended to about 500 ft. from the ground I heard the shrill blast of a railway engine whistle, and in tho distance I could see a train covering tho gj'outid at break-neck speed. A hastv glance below led me to conclude that I uia 1:ul( l somewhere near the railway

track. Calculating the speed at which the train was dashing in my direction, and the pace at which I was descending, I realised that wo should reach the same point about the same time. I pulled desperately at the ropes in what was now clearly a race for my life. I wondered whether any signalman had seen mo, and whether any attempt would be made to stop the train. Then, as in a (lash, by whole past life seemed to pass through my whirling brain, and I wondered if tho next few moments would be my last. I crashed to earth, my parachute almost on top of me, and I seemed lost for a brief spell; then a shrill blast again brought the train to my mind, and I realised that I was lying across the main lines. A hurried glance over my shoulder and I could see tho engine tearing along in my direction. The smoke belched forth as tho iron monster rounded the bend, seemingly with but one object in view—that of crushing the life out of me. With an almost superhuman effort I rolled over to the side of the lino and out of the engine's way. The sound seemed terrible as the express rushed by, but at tho same moment I realised that my life had been spared. To land in tree-tops has been my experience a number of times, and once the end was rather amusing. I was appearing in Wiltshire at a fete organised by a group of prominent Liberals, and I descended into the branches of a high tree in the grounds_ of the residence of a Conservative Cabinet Minister. My rescuers soon saw the humorous side of the situation; sevoral of them agreed that the Cabinet Minister was a very nice gentleman, but in tones somewhat savour-

ing of pity they assured me "he is on tho wrong side." The chief danger when landing in treetops lies in the fact that sometimes the parachute ropes , become so entangled in the branches that tlftty have to be cut. This occurred to me in Yorkshire, where, in order to rescue me from a rather perilous position, the fire brigade found there was no alternative but to cut the ropes. My most amusing experience, I think, occurred in the North of England, when I found myself descending toward a potato field. In the field, busy with his hoe, was an old labourer, whose long white beard immediately brought visions of Father Christmas." Frightening " Father Christmas." I shouted "Ahoy, there!" and the old rustic looked ronnd the field in every direction. Another "Ahoy, there!" and he glanced up and saw me. I had been hoping my " Father Christhas" would help me to roll up my parachute, bat I was mistaken, for tho moment he saw me he dropped his hoe, and disappeared as fast as his poor old legs would carry him. By the time I actually landed on the ground a small crowd of country folk had come toward me. In the rear I spotted " Father Christmas." " Did 1 frighten you ?" I asked. ■ " Tha did that, lass," was the reply, " ah thowt mo last day had coom."

One other adventure I must relate. The cheers of the warm-hearted Yorkshire crowd at the end of it, when they realised I was safe and sound, still ring in my ears. I was engaged for a couple of days in this beautiful Yordshire city, and during one of my descents I appeared at first to be coming down in the direction of some fields, when the wind suddenly changed and I was carried toward a large factory. I tried by evory means I knew to avoid crashing into the huge building, 'and as 1 got nearer I saw that it really consisted of two largo buildings connected by a very narrow bridge. I seemed to be almost on the vergo of crashing when, bringing all my strength to bear on my parachute, I gave one huge swing which miraculously landed me on the footbridge itself. The bridge was so narrow that there was scarcely room to turn round. My parachute collapsed into the space below, and amidst tho deafening cheers of the crowd I began to retrace my steps to the enclosure as soon as my usual band of autograph seekers would permit. I have nowcompleted a quarter of century in the profession I love so well. Perhaps when I have appeared before you for another 25 years you will allow me to recall a few more adventures.