West Liberty History 1838-1938

Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
WEST LIBERTY BOY TAKES TO THE AIR

"Balloon accidentally carries a boy of twelve years, 1500 feet high and three miles across country in less than twenty minutes." This was the experience of Carlton H. Myers, at West Liberty on the 4th of July, 1901.

Along with other boys of the town Carlton was watching the preparation for a balloon ascension and parachute leap. It was never definitely known whether an enthusiastic bystander or one of the crew called out, "Let go." Anyway, the order was promptly obeyed, with the above results.

Unfortunately for Carlton he was standing in a coil of rope, and was carried into the air feet first. "Climb," someone shouted. This he proceeded to do, reaching above his foot, and grasping the rope to pull himself into an upright position. Slipping his arm through a loop of rope above the parachute he rode this distance. The balloon landed in a corn field near the county line northeast of town. This was Carlton's first and only balloon ride.

Mr. Myers is married and, with Mrs. Myers and son, a lad of twelve, is living on a farm near Anamosa, Iowa.

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