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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
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Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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 EAST SHORE NEWS
 PENTWATER, OCEANA Co., MICH.
 VOL. I, NO. 38
 Friday, 6 October 1871
 
                 THE BALLOON CATASTROPHE
                 ------------------------
              
           A More Detailed Account of the Horrible
               Disaster at Paoli, Ill. (sic)
               
           Last Saturday evening, near Paoli,
        Orange county, Ind., Prof WILBUR
        made arrangements for a balloon as-
        cension.  He was to be accompanied
        by GEORGE H. KNAPP, editor of the
        Orange County Union.  Just as they
        were about getting into the balloon,
        the cords gave way, and they made
        a spring for the car, but only suc-
        ceeded in grasping the ropes.  As the
        balloon rose, KNAPP let go, and fell
        at a height of about 30 feet, without
        serious injury.  Prof. WILBUR held
        on and attempted to climb into the
        basket, but was unable to do so, and
        the balloon shot up rapidly, with
        the Professor hanging below.  The
        spectators were thrilled with horror
        at the terrible scene, which ended in
        a dreadful manner.  At a height of
        about one mile the doomed man
        loosed his hold and came whirling to
        earth.  At the height he had ob-
        tained he looked like a stick about a
        foot long.  As he approached the 
        earth he was coming down feet fore-
        most, then spread out horizontally,
        then doubled up and turned over,
        then straightened out head down-
        ward.  As he struck the earth he
        fell upon his head.  The back of his
        head was mashed into an undistin-
        guishable mass, and the body bruised
        and crushed horribly.  The concus-
        sion was so great that half a gallon
        of clotted blood was thrown from
        the mouth.  His body made an in-
        denture in the ground eight inches
        deep, and rebounded about four feet
        from where it struck.  To add to the
        awful character of the accident, the
        Professor's young wife and little
        daughter were on the ground, and
        witnessed the terrible affair.  The
        remains of the unfortunate man were
        properly cared for, and buried at
        Paoli Monday afternoon.
        
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