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[[image]] DR. JULIAN THOMAS

By Dr. Julian P. Thomas.

If I had known before I left New York city the death defying experience I was destined to go through at Augusta, Ga., in my shattered balloon, I would have declined with thanks the invitation of the Georgia-Carolina Fair Association to make an ascension there.

Not for a million dollars would I again go through the ordeal. Even now it makes me shudder when I think of myself dangling by my legs from the ropes of the balloon while it was ascending with skyrocket rapidity.

Never shall I forget how large the hole appeared in the balloon as I looked up into it from my inverted position, realizing that all the time it was getting larger and larger as the balloon rapidly ascended higher and higher.

I did not need any one to point out to me the many dangers I was passing through; I realized them fully, and yet, even while in the thickest of the dangers, I was glad, and even exalted, in the fact that I had made my ascent in spite of apparently insurmountable obstacles. I believe I would at the time have been entirely satisfied if I had known that I was to be dashed to pieces when I gained the land.

As I now sit quietly in my office and think of the many conditions that brought about this peculiar balloon ascent it looks to me as if the whole thing had been planned; yes, planned by nature to test my nerve to fit me for other emergencies [[?]] enable me to make discoveries in aerial navigation which would be undoubtedly of great use to future generations.

Before leaving New York I had sent my balloon experts ahead of me to prepare for my ascent. After investigation they notified me that conditions looked favorable, but when I reached Augusta I found that the city was fairly enmeshed with overhead electric wires of various kinds, that the gas was nothing but ordinary illuminating gas (not fit for balloon purposes), and that I could get the gas in only limited quantities by tapping one of the street mains there being no gas at the Fair Grounds. Moreover, the main was so small that it was [[?]] for the gas company

reached a bridge, which made it necessary to remove the balloon from the canal boat and carry it to land, so as to pass not only the bridge but an extra thick collection of electric wires overhead.

As we were trying to pass that balloon beneath these wires it was blown so violently by the wind that in spite of the combined efforts of the men we were swept across the marshes knee deep in mud and water until finally the balloon struck a tree, ripping a great hold in its side.

The gas poured out in enormous quantities. I quickly climbed up the side of the netting and drew the sides of the rent together with my hands. I ordered the men to draw the balloon upon its side while at the same time several men attacked the [[page cut off]]

The men looked at me in blank astonishment. No one released the ropes. Again I cried "Let her go!" but the men still [[page cut off]]


a rushing wind. Suddenly I felt that guide rope tighten and a shudder passed through me, for I realized that it had caught and had reached its limit. The jerk was so violent that I was thrown violently through the ropes leading from the netting of the balloon.

God be praised, I had presence of mind sufficient to bend my knees, thus catching the ropes with my legs as I passed through them. This saved me from an awful fall from the balloon to be dashed to pieces on the ground below, but still left me exposed to awful dangers. I was yet going down with fearful speed directly toward a mass of live electric wires.

Dangling by my legs from the balloon, I cut the great guide rope. This freed the balloon just in time to avoid contact with the wires.

The balloon, now free, shot up with wonderful rapidity. Up, up, up it went. I made no attempt to climb into the rigging; there was no time for this. I now realized that I had no basket, no ballast, no guide rope and no scientific instrument and that the neck of the balloon was tied when it should have been open; that the rigging upon which I was sitting in place of being in its proper position was turned upside down and that the slightest move that I made cause it to sway and rock, its weight being suspended by a single rope.

With a calmness and quickness that can only be accounted for by the emergency of the case I cut off my leggings and shoes. For the first time in my life I was sorry that my feet were not larger and my shotes heavier, for I needed ballast and needed it badly. I tied them into the rigging, so that I could use them for ballast later. Taking the knife again between my teeth, I climbed back into the rigging.

Then I looked down. Never will I forget the thought that passed through me as that the world had actually passed [[page cut off]]

rapidly growing plainer and plainer. Forests, fields and river became more distinct; outlines of houses could be discerned, and finally the city of Augusta came into view. It was with no little degree of pride and pleasure that I noticed the marvellous improvement which had taken place in my old home, and I had many fond recollections of wild boyish experiences as I was dropping to the earth like lead.

Where would I land? Would it be on the top of a house? Would I crash through the trees, would I land in the lake which I appeared to be nearing, or would I again encounter the much dreaded electric wires?
How could I stop by my own efforts in that wind the great monster balloon which it had taken one hundred men and fifty bags of sand to hold down a few minutes before. I did not know and I did not care, for I had reached such a pitch of enthusiasm on account of my successful trip that every nerve was at its highest tension and every muscle contracted like steel. I felt that no matter what occurred I would be taken care of.

The earth now appeared to be coming toward me with the speed of a racing automobile. Suddenly I struck the ground, landing squarely on my feet. With a mighty pull at the rip cord I tried to rip open the balloon, but to my horror the cord would not yield. The rip had been tied with cord so strong that no man could break it.

The instant my feet touched the ground the balloon, released of my weight, rebounded into the air five hundred feet, taking me with it. This time I found myself clinging with one hand to the rope that I had formerly clung to with my legs. I knew that I could not remain in this position long, so I wrapped the rip cord around my body to support me until the balloon descended again. This it lost no time in doing, but while in the air the balloon turned on its axis, thus entangling me in its netting like a fish. I could not move hand or foot.

Almost instantly the balloon, stuck the ground again, I landing on my side. My hands and feet being securely tied, I could not let the balloon go and it would not let me go. The open knife, still held in my mouth, was now a source of great danger. I finally got it in my hand, but as my elbow stuck the ground the knife was forced in every direction, many times barely missing my face and neck.

I disliked to part with it, for I remember once when I went to the rescue of a balloonist who had become enmeshed in the netting of his balloon. The balloon had gradually dropped down, crushing him beneath it and poisoning him with its gases. When we reached him he was unconscious and would have died had we been a little later. If he had had his knife he could have cut his way out. But he did not have it.

Transcription Notes:
Many nonreadable sections where page was cut off or folded. [[image: Dr. P. Julian P. Thomas dangling from the balloon while cutting a rope with a knife over power lines]]