The Daredevil of Seattle: A Near-Fatal Balloon Plunge

Professor P. A. Van Tassell successfully made his balloon ascension and parachute jump yesterday afternoon in sight of thousands. The balloon had been filled with 27,000 cubic feet of gas at the gas works near the river front. At one o'clock, Van Tassell cast off the ropes and ascended to a height of about 7,000 feet. As the balloon approached the harbor, it began to veer toward the north and descend toward North Seattle. Van Tassell fastened his wrist to the ring of the parachute with a strap, grasped the ring, pulled the valve, and leaped.

The parachute failed to open for the first few seconds, and he shot toward the earth with frightful velocity. The umbrella finally spread, checking his descent so suddenly that he lost his hold on the ring and was saved only by the strap around his wrist. He struggled to regain his grasp as the parachute swung wildly, sweeping 100 feet from side to side. He finally succeeded and finished his journey in comparative security, though nearly exhausted. He landed in water about waist-deep near a barrel factory and was picked up by two fishermen. The balloon, lightened of his weight, shot upward and eventually came down near Smith's Cove with only minor damage.