Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1892 — A GREAT PARACHUTE DESCENT. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A GREAT PARACHUTE DESCENT.

Ctpun, of FarU, Falls 3,900 Feet in a Device of His Own. A very bold and successful para-' chute descent was made at Yillette, a suburb of Paris, by M. Capazza. Occurring immediately after a number of fatal adventures of the same kind, it has naturally gained a good deal of credit for the author, says the New York World. The aeronaut arranged his balloon and parachute so that he could ascend with the latter wide open. He accomplished this by making 1 the parachute itself cover the balloon. He was thu3 able to do without netting, car, or any of the usual apparatus. The balloon, after the parachute had been attached, was inflated at the Yillette gas works. The cords of the parachute were Of the unusual length of thirty-two meters. This enabled

the aeronaut to retain all possible freedom of movement on his little seat. The top of the parachute was provided with a conical chimney, through which the gas of the balloon was to be discharged. The inflation was effected without accident, except a little embarrassment caused by a small storm. Then the aeronaut rose in view of a great many people in a state of high excitement. When he had reached a height of 3,900 feet he burst open the top of the balloon. The latter at once fell, while the parachute remained apparently motionless. The aeronaut descended in his parachute at the very modest pace of 1 meter 34) inches a second and alighted safely in a cornfield at Drancy. The experiment was carried out so easily and successfully that it is expected the Capazza method will be generally adopted by parachutists. It will be particularly valuable in war time, as the aeronaut will perhaps be able to descend after the bullets of the enemy have disabled his ballbon.

THE BALLOON AND PARACHUTE.