THRILLING EVENT AT DAY'S BAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 988, 1 December 1910, Page 4

THRILLING EVENT AT DAY'S BAY.

PARACHUTE DROP OF 6200 FEET. Yesterday Day's Bay was the scene of an aerial sensation —a balloon ascent, and a triple parachute descent. It proved a sufficiently strong novelty to draw something like 4000 peoplo across the harbour, and the Wellington • Ferry Company provided a special steamer service at frequent intervals dvniDg the early part ot the afternoon. Shortly after four o'clock, the spacious recreation ground was thronged with people, and preparations for inflating tho balloon were commenced. Willing hands helped to hoist the huge envelope, and raise it over the mouth of a furnace, specially constructed for the purpose. A wood fire, copiously supplied with kerosene, speedily had the effect of giving the balloon a tendency to leave terra firma, and an additional number of volunteer assistants had to be called for, to add their weight to the ropes. The scene soon became an animated one. The captain the aeronautical company, Mr. Boebe, in a loud voice directed his- men, who in their turn instructed the amateur balloonists as' to the right moment to "let go." "Stick to the balloon until you hear tho pistol shot!" was tho order, to bo strictly obeyed by all. At a quarter to five, exactly twentyminutes from the time that the hot air from the furnace had begun the inflation, Mr. Beebe pronounced- everything ready for tho ascent. Then, Mr. Sabphe, taking his place on the trapeze, the three parachutes fastened above him, the cords of tho automatio severing knives dose at hand, signified his readiness. A sharp report of a pistol, accompanied by a stentorian "Let go!" broke the hush of expectation, and the balloon shot upwards with terrific speed. The gentle southerly breeze did not interfere with the course, which became an almost perpendicular one. Gradually the enormous black bulk, and swinging red figure, faded upwards, until the aeronaut became hardly discernible to tho naked eye. And then, suddenly, the figure dropped with appalling velocity— a flutter of red, and his ascent was checked by the opening of the first parachute.. An apparently delightfully smooth glide downward followed. The red parachute being\cut.-: adrift, another sickening drop, arrested by a white "chute" opening, resulted. When at a height of probably 2000 feet abovrsVa-level, the second parachute was abandoned, the aviator this time falling to what appeared to be perilously low before the blue paraqhuto opened to afford him • support - for ■ the remainder. of the journey earthward. Tho ascent, and subsequent lauding, were effected in complete safety. Mr. Sabphe came to earth on a piece of practically level ground, on top of a low hill at the back of the Tecieation grounds, the only mishap being a plentiful coating of "biddi-biddies," received at the landingspot.

Interviewed afterwards, Mr. Sabphe stated that, according to the aneroid carried with him, he had attained a height of 6200 feet when ho first left the balloon. A much greater height could have been reached had not a westerly air current, encountered in the higher altitudes, threatened to carry, him to the thickly bush-clad 'Waihui Valley. ' The balloon used in yesterday's ascent is the Beebe Company's "President Roosevelt," and is said to be the largest hotair balloon ever manufactured. It has a circumference of 150 feet, and is 85 feet high. On Saturday a still more exciting and interesting descent will take place. Mr. Eastwood, an Australian aeronaut, will accompany Hr. Sabphe, both will make double, descents in separate parachutes, and, consequently, a race downward will follow.