Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Thayer, Willard 1899
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Pat Blood pat.blood@gmail.com January 25, 2013, 6:47 pm

Belding Banner – Thursday, 3 August 1899
Willard Thayer The Balloonist Has Made His Last Ascension

Willard Thayer, a former resident of this city and well known here as a daring 
aeronaut, lost his life by falling from his balloon at Streetor, Ill., last 
Thursday.  Thayer will be remembered here in connection with the robbery at 
Dorr’s store in Chadwick, as well as his daring ascensions made on several 
occasions.  He served his time for larceny and only a few weeks ago was in 
this city trying to arrange for giving an ascension here on the Fourth of 
July.  While in prison his wife, who resided here secured a divorce from him.

He was killed while making a balloon ascent at a Woodmen’s picnic at Streeter, 
Ill.  The ascent was successful until a height of 200 feet was reached, when 
Thayer attempted to descent by his parachute.  When he dropped from the 
balloon the fastenings holding the parachute to the top of the balloon became 
fouled in some way and failed to come loose.  Thayer’s weight caused the 
balloon to turn upside down.  The gas, of course, then escaped, and the 
balloon came down with a rush, the unfortunate aeronaut clinging to the 
parachute.  He was dashed on the railroad tracks and his neck, back; both legs 
and both arms were broken. Thayer went to Streeter from Collins, Mich. On July 
4, and was to have made an ascension with Mms. Carmon.  She narrowly escaped 
death by the balloon taking fire and was carried away by one foot, which got 
caught in the ropes.  On the Saturday following Thayer made an ascension and 
narrowly escaped being killed then,  his parachute failing to be loosened from 
the balloon.

His remains were brought to Collins, where his parents reside, for burial.



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