JUMPING FROM A BALLOON A MILE IN THE AIR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1668, 3 December 1887, Page 3

JUMPING FROM A BALLOON A MILE IN THE AIR.

The much-talked-of leap from a balloon waa made by Professor Thomas 8. Baldwin at the Pair Grounds, Quincey, lll,on July 4th. Over 30,000 persons witnessed the performance, which was one of the most daring and ibril- ng ever witnessed by man. His original intention was to send the balloon up to 2000 feet, hold it captive by a rope, and make the jump from that height, and afterwards draw down the balloon and make a regular voyage. Owing to the high wind which prevailed the rope scheme was abandoned. Baldwin ascended to the height of one mile, and then holding his parachute, launched himself into space. The parachute was attached to the netting of the balloon by a small cord, intended to break by the weight of the nronaut When ttie jump was made the parachute was closed, and the first 200 feet the eeronaut dropped like a rock. Then as the parachute exceeded the speed became less rapid, and the aerouaun and his strange apparatus floated down like a bird. The descent wai accomplished in 3 min. 20 see. Mr Baldwin struck the ground with some force but was not even jarred by the shook. The descent varied about a quarter of a mile from the vertical, and Baldwin struck (he ground a (mils and a half from where the

aicent was ipado. He tried to collapse the ballon before jumping from it, but the apparatus failed to work, and the ballon escaped and was soon out of sight, going east at an altitude of a mile and a half.—New X ork Times.