Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1874 — Hanging in Mid-Air. [ARTICLE]

Hanging in Mid-Air.

Tin-: Brockville (Canada) Recorder gives the following account of the perilous position in which Squires, the aeronaut, was placed on Dominion day. At five o’clock p. m. the aeronaut attempted to ascend with liis balloon, the Atlantic. The starting point was Court House Square. The cargo in the basket consisted of three bags of sand weighing each about fifty pounds, a grappling-iron, to which was attached a strong rope, and Squires. All being in readiness orders were given to cast off. There was a hush, and tlie multitude grew silent as the unwieldy Atlantic, being freed, swayed backward and forward, and slowly rose from its resting-place to make another voyiige in the ethereal blue. A steady gale had been blow ing all day, but its strength was not apparent until the balloon struck the current of air above the liouse-tops; this reached, it swayed with the breeze and swept on at a rate of at least fifteen miles an hour. Its course was directly for the steeple of the W. M. Church. Tlie professor at once perceived the danger, and could have avoided it by throwing out a bag of ballast, -which -would hove given him snflftoient buoyancy to have passed over tlie steeple, but unfortunately -the square below was crowded with thousands,of spectators, and a bag.of sand thrown out would have crushed some person below. The sand was thrown out iu small quantities and the balloon swept upward anil onward, but unfortunately not swerving from its dangerous direction. It became apparent that the balloon would strike the spire, the watching, anxious, breathless multitude awaiting the shock with compressed lips and blanched cheeks. With a tremendous rush the Atlantic struck the apex of tin* spire anil in another instant parted in twain. At the same moment the basket containing the aeronaut crashed against the spire some twenty feet below. Seeing, as it were, instant death before him, Prof. Squires threw one hand forward to avert as far as possible the shock, at the same time allowing liis body to sway in the opposite direetjon. The crash of tlie collision sounded over tlie square, now silent as the grave. As the balloon collapsed anil tlie gas escaped it was seen thatihe netting had caught on the point of the spire. A moment of breathless suspense. Squires was not seen to move a muscle. A whisper ran round-dhe collision lias killed him! Then a slight movement, and the basket began to slip. It was evident that the netting was giving way. Women'grew wlijte with terror; brave men trembled. There, at a height of eighty feet above the earth, was a fellowbeing hanging by a few slender threads, above and around him tlie glittering steeple sheeted With tin, below the cold storm battlements of the-tower, on which to fall was instant death. A (muse, and the basket bail evidently been attested in its downward course. Squires was seen to grasp the netting; hope rose—lie might be saved. The moment hi* struck the spire there was a rush for ladders and ropes. Without number were the plans suggested to save liim from death. But at this moment brave men Were clambering up the inside of the grim church tower, determined to save a human life. A small window directly below the eaves of the tower opens directly beneath where tlie basket was suspended, hut unfortunately it was very contracted, and it did not seem possible for a man by any means to squeeze through the aperture. -But in a few seconds a man thrust his head through the window, and a board wqrs pushed out of tlie lower,portion of the opening, the end on the inside being held by men within. Then began a struggle; it was apparent that a man was endeavoring to crawl through the narrow hole out upon the board. The clothes were torn from liis person in the attempt, but inch by inch he gained, and at last was seated on tlie board directly below the bucket. The situation was one of great danger. Should the netting give way the basket in its descent would catch the daring man and hurl fiim, together with Squires, into eternity. At his appearance s there was a cheer that made the welkin ring again. The main rbody of the network had “caught on the northern side of the spire, only two or three small cords having passed around the other side, and these, when the basket slipped, became slack. The least motion on the part of Squires would have precipitated him upon the stone steps below. He spoke to Squires, who requested him to place his shoulder under the basket; this done Squires caught hold of a slight oval projection of the spire which offered a slight hold, and thus helped to support the basket. At this instant Mr. Stevenson appeared at an opening in the spire above Squires. The opening consists of a small trapdoor, and was not ‘ discovered for'S’some time. Stevenson came out u)ion the spire, reached down a hand, and firmly grasped the aeronaut and slowly drew him to a place of safety*. The suspense was over and Squires was saved.