Los Angeles Herald, Volume 32, Number 226, 15 May 1905 — AERONAUT MAKES PERILOUS TRIP [ARTICLE]

AERONAUT MAKES PERILOUS TRIP

LOCAL VOYAGER HAS NARROW ESCAPE

FLIES 5000 FEET ABOVE EARTH

Grant Morton Dangles In Space for an Hour In Seml-Consclous Condition, Clinging to Trapeze

Dangling in a semi-conscious condition nearly five thousand feet above the heads of a breathless multitude, Grant Morton, aeronaut, clung tenaciously to the trapeze of his balloon, and finally alighted In the back yard of a residence at 535 East Twelfth street, yesterday afternoon. Despite the fact that he was bleedIng profusely from several wounds In his head and arms, Morton braced his foot in the crossbar in such a way that even if he had bled to death during his journey, his body would have been found still fast to the balloon. For some time Mr. Morton has performed aerial feats of exceptional daring before admiring crowds at Chutea park. Until yesterday he has always been fortunate enough to escape serious Injuries, and even then the mishap was not due to any fault of his. The accident occurred at about 5 o'clock, when hundreds of people, all eager to see the daring navigator start on his perilous fly through space, crowded about the inflated balloon. J The word was passed that all was in I readiness, and at a given signal the attendants cut the cords that held the huge balloon to the ground. Deep Gashes in Head Morton grasped the bar of his trapeze and like a shot was hurled aloft. Unfortunately, however, the guide pole, which is used to hold the balloon In place, struck Morton as he passed, inf fllctlng deep gashes in his head and "arms. The crowd that had witnessed that accident, stood in breathless silence, expecting to see Morton fall from his perilous position and dashed to pieces at their feet. Silently they watched the limp figure of the man, as It grew smaller and smaller, until he seemed . a mere speck \in the sky,'•Upon being struck by the guide pole, Morton realized that he was seriously injured, and finding his senses graduallly leaving him, he wrapped one foot about the rope of his trapeze. "'. In this position he sailed on and on, drifting .with the wind until the hot air of the balloon, finally exhausted, caused it to sink gradually until It lit in the yard on" Twelfth street. Morton was taken to the general emergency hospital, where he was treated for his injuries. It was found that, though unconscious, Morton was not suffering from fatal wounds, and will recover in a few days.