BALLOON ASCENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9056, 3 April 1908, Page 5

BALLOON ASCENT.

CAPTAIN JONASSEN AT ■MASTERTON. The first successful balloon ascent witnessed in Masterton took place at the Masterton Showgrounds, yesterday afternoon, when Captain Jonassen successfully navigated more than half a mile of aerial space at a height of about 1,000 feet, descending by parachute. It is about fifteen years since a much-advertised American lady aeronaut proposed to accomplish what Captain Jonassen did yesterday, but nil that the general public saw of the ascent was the bulk of the balloon go up in flames. Yesterday was a very suitable day for the purpose, and Captain Jonassen believed he would ascend between 5,000 feet and 6,000 feet, but the wood used for generating the heat (the balloon being inflated with hot air) proved too smoky, and the consequence was that when the altitude of 1,000 feet was reached the balloon reached the limit of its rise, and it then floated quickly in the direction of Homebush. When about three-quarters of a mile from the point of inflation the aeronaut made his leap, alighting gracefully in a paddock to the east of Colombo road. Released of its burden the balloon canted over until the mouth pointed skywards, and as it gradually deflated volumes of black smoke were discharged, the huge silken bag appearing like an aerial volcano silhouetted against the sky. The ascent and descent only occupied the space of about four minutes, but it was a thrilling and beautiful spectacle. The intrepidity of Captain Jonassen was generally admitted, the aeronaut performing gymnastic feats on the trapeze he was seated upon both during the ascent and after the lea}) with the parachute. Captain Jonassen proposes to give another ascent shortly, when he will procure special fuel, which will enable: the balloon to rise to an altitude of over a mile.