The Latest Ærial Sensation.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 250, 2 September 1902, Page 4

The Latest Ærial Sensation.

Thu lit h « nßational I hit has been «rrmged o ,41* ttify the u*tea of the unlit althy mind is a rope slide. Simeon Nicks, a one time sailor, from a balloon 1 hat sailed in the heavens, 1500 feet above the ground, at Los Angeles, California, sliu down to where thousands stood in breathless anxiety. The balloon was made captive by the rope by which Nicks regained the earth. He was dressed in an ordinary suit of clothes, and carried in his hand a 10-inch section of garden hose, si it up the fide, that Ifitted snugly over the 1£ inch Italian hemp rope that anchored his balloon. At 'a height of about 200 feet Nicks clambered out of the basket, and with a twist of his legs around the hem]), he begin to slide downward. Then he cheeked himself, and, remaining station .ry, he rose with the balloon unltl jit tm 1 reached a height of 1500 feet. ’Then he began to slide, slowly at firs , and gradually inoreas ug his speed u til the 'ope spun by him at a terrific rate. Kegu ating his speed at will, he sometimes came to a full stop, whea he would relea e ids hand hold and b-an hick as though he were in an armch ir. The friction of the rope on Ihe calves of h:s 1 gs created a burning scir.ati 11, hut was not sufficient to scneh his irons, rs, his hands, being protected by the hose, were not alfeeicd in the least by the long descent. Once Nicks slopped hnn.'elf w th a sudden jerk slid 1 brew out his iiands as though ne had lost hold. A cry of horror went up from the grout crowd, but in a twinkling it was .-ee ■ tua the slider had merely created a diversion by which to ■dd inte/cu 10 hb feat Then h’ grasped the rope with his hand-, n leased it from hi, nimble 1-gs, a. d made a gi-nt swing through the air. Then he would slide swiftly for agieat distance, catch himself ” ith one leg and turn him elf upside down He coii’inued to perform such dangerous antics until he touched the ground, and every moment was filled with sensatim s for those who watched. When he finally reached the earth there was one Irene ndous sigh of relief, and many declared that no money would Lead them 10 witness another auc i foolhardy attempt.