Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 178, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 August 1918 — FIRST RECORDED AIR FIGHT [ARTICLE]

FIRST RECORDED AIR FIGHT

Frenchmen, Rivals In Love, Had Strange and Fatal Duel More Than One Hundred Years Ago. The first battle in the air and the strangest duel in the long history of the field of honor was fought 110 years ago near Paris. Two Frenchmen were ardent /ivals for the affections of a woman, and SP bitter did their quarrel become that only blood could wipe it out. Ordinary methods were too tame for these fiery spirts, so it was agreed that the duel should be fought from balloons. The cause of the trouble agreed to marry the victor. When the selected day arrived the two fighters and their seconds repaired to the meeting place, only to find a great crowd assembled, for word of the strange encounter had spread broadcast. The principals, however, were undeterred. Two balloons, precisely alike, had been prepared, and into these they stepped. To each was handed a carefully loaded blunderbuss. .. The word was given and the moorings cast off. Slowly the balloons ascended almost side by side. At the height of about half a mile, when the great bags were but 80 yards apart, the signal was given and both men opened fire. Soon one of the balloons collapsed and crashed to the earth. The record says the woman kept her promise and married the victor of the aerial battle.