AERONAUT'S MISHAPS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7302, 5 December 1910, Page 6

AERONAUT'S MISHAPS

ONE OF BEEBE'S BALLOONS COLLAPSES. TOR SECOND FAILS TO RISE. Considerably over two thousand people journeyed to Day's Bay on Satniday by tho steamers Duchess, Cobar and An* miral to witness the balloon ascent under the direction of the Beebe Balloon Company'. The weather was bright and sunny, but a brisk south-easterly breeze did not augur well for, a successful aeronautical display. The position of the Day's Bay recreation reserve is somewhat sheltered and there were only occasional gusts of wind, but they proved embarrassing. ,It was intended that two aeronauts, Albert E. Eastwood and Christopher James Sebpho, should-go aloft together and race to Mother Earth by means of parachutes. About 4.10 p.m. the inflation of the hotair balloon “President Roosevelt" was' commenced, and although the wind sometimes threatened to take charge of the huge envelope nothing serious occurred till about 4.43 p.m.—a few moments before the balloon was to be released. About thirty persons were holding on to the lower extremity of the envelope when a squall struck the balloon, which ripped like paper. Three-fourths of tho material was blown, a distance of sixty yards, and several people found it convenient to make a hurried change of quarters as it dropped in a heap like a wet sack. An eccentric individual who was tampering with the parachute at the moment of the mishap received a well-deserved punch on the jaw, but no one else was any the worse for the incident. The management were not to be deterred, however, and in a few minutes another balloon was being placed in position for inflation. One of the supporting poleswas broken by a fall, but was quickly repaired. Mr Beebe was undaunted by further accidents in tho shape of the collapse, on three occasions, of the enclosed trench in which the kerosene flames generate the hot air. The trench was dug in sandy soil, and it was unable to withstand tho weight of the people who clustered over it when the first balloon met with its mishap. During the second inflation some, mischievous individuals wantonly tore strips off the remains of the “President Roosevelt." Crowds: left by the G o’clock boat, and owing to the insufficiency of police control an ugly scramble took place on the wharf. Those who remained worefinaliv rewarded at seven minutes past 7 o’clock bv seeing the second balloon ready to go| skywards. Amid cheering Mr Beebe gave the word that ho was about to fire the starting pistol. Albert E. Eastwood took his seat on the trapeze. went the gun and wearily the balloon lifted itself about 100 ft clear of the ground. Eastwood rcso slowly till; he was about 'n u ; n the air, and after covering a hundred yards the balloon dropried. Lastwood got to the ground and: when : his weight wag off the DalJoon it turned turtle and fell to earth. This was due to the accident to the furnace and the lateness of hour necessitating hurry, causing the management to endeavour to get the baßoon up with less buovancy than is usual. Loud cheers wwo V—-r for Mr Beebe for Ire indefatigable efforts against overwhelming odds. The Crb r loft for town at 7.15 with the final batch of spectators.

The torn balloon-caught, fire at Perth some time a-go, and, Mr Beebe explains, was weakened by patching with unsuitable material. It is not damaged. beyond repair. The failure on Saturday was the first of its land yet experienced by Mr Beebo. ;