Origin of Parchutes.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4736, 2 June 1894, Page 2

Origin of Parchutes.

As the famous aeronaut, Miss Leila Adair, renowned alike for her courage aud beauty, is coming to this (own to perform her unparalleled feat, naturally ono of the topics of the day is about balloons and aeronautics iugcucral. For tho benefit of our readers wo append a fow particulars concerning the origin of parachutes. As gas was uot invented in the last century, the Moutgolicr brothers, who wore the first to uso balloons, used the hot air process of inflation, a most interesting one, which the citizens of tho Wairarapa, will have an opportunity of witnessing on Thursday next. Gas was first used by Mr Green, nboultlicycarlß2o",andcxceptiugbyMiss Adair and three or four more parachutists, is now in general use. About 1700 Mons.Planiinart dosconded safoly about 30ft at Pnrjs, from a balcony by means of an umbrella-shaped parachute about' two feet in diameter and calculated that one about Lift hi diameter would enable a person to drop from tho clouds without injury. After this several parachutes were tried, live animals of different sizes, beiug taken up in a balloon, fastened to tho machine aud then cast off to make the best of their way to the earth. Having manufactured ope as near perfection as be could gel it, Mons; Garncrin attempted audmndo a successful •descent from a balloon with a parachute from/ a great Light in 1797. Parachrtingltlien became tlio/ragb until \it received a severe sho/k by a fatal accident which occurred on July 24th, 1837, AMr Cooking niado an ascent from VauxhalL Gardens, near London, iwy/fjjtM ft now conitruetiQUijjHJ^^^H

Green's" Great Nassau "jballoon. This „ parachuto was formed as an inverted cone of ■'small'' height and its i framowork consisted of three rings, | 'connected by light stays, and covered | with strong canvas, tho bucket car being | slungfrom the lowestand smallest ring. A Tho parachutowns detached when about ' 1 1£ miles above the earth, and descended perfectly steady for about a minute, during wliicli it approached to about a 1 utile of tho ground. The upper ring and then the middle|ona,cgJhipsed, and Mr ' v v Cocking' fell toTnv ground at Leo in, Kent, about.a mile, from where ho ascended. In ten minutes he was dead, nearly every bono of any size in Ids body being broken,"and his skull frac s, hired. Of late a good many parachuto <fc descents have been made in Europe and ,X America, biit Miss Adair is tho first lady who has attempted suclu feat, or even a balloon ascent in New Zealand.