DESPITE JOSEPH LAWRENCE’s tragic death, Park Van Tassel and Frank Frost decided to continue with their tour. The reasons for this remain unclear, although given that shows were likely already booked, canceling them probably meant a considerable loss of income and possible debt. They departed Honolulu on November 25, 1889, aboard the SS Mariposa headed for Sydney by way of Auckland.1 There is no record of any balloon flights in New Zealand by Van Tassel during their transit.2 And while there is record of only Van Tassel and Frost boarding the Mariposa in Honolulu, arriving with them in Sydney on December 12, 1889, was James William Price, the parachutist Van Tassel had encountered earlier that year in Utah.3
Price was born in Gentry County, Missouri, on May 15, 1871, but for a time called Cleveland his home.4 He took balloon instruction from Q. N. Fisk, making his first balloon ascension at Clinton, Missouri, on July 4, 1883. From there it is believed he traveled to England to tour with balloons, although no hard evidence of this tour can be found. He came back to the United States in 1885 and toured through 1887, when he heard of Baldwin’s parachute jumps from balloons. From that point, parachute jumps became part of his routine.5 Working in Australia as Van Tassel’s parachutist in place of Lawrence, Price adopted the stage name Professor James Van Tassell—yet another of Park’s many famous “brothers.” The fortuitous nature of Price happening to be on the same ship was unlikely to be coincidental; it was likely part of a plan from their time together in Utah. It may also be the case that young Australian Millie Viola encouraged their trip to Australia, although there are no records of a Ruby Hawker or a Millie Viola aboard the Mariposa on this voyage.
Together, Van Tassel and Price began a lengthy series of balloon ascensions and parachute jumps across Australia. The first of these was originally planned for December 21, 1889, with the “brothers” using a “mammoth balloon” at Bondi Aquarium near Sydney. Admission was one shilling; half-price for children.6 The Executive Committee of Sports at Bendigo, Australia, also arranged for the “brothers” to give “a double balloon ascent and double parachute falls on terms, and if their performance was not successful there should be no pay.”7 The ascension was to take place on Boxing Day 1889 from the Agricultural Show Grounds as a part of a sports and gala event.8
Illustration of James W. Price in the Evening Bulletin, Honolulu, February 18, 1896. Library of Congress.
On Saturday, December 21, a large crowd gathered at Bondi Aquarium9 and its surrounding hillsides to witness a balloon ascension and parachute jump by J. P. Van Tassell (James Price). Newspapers described the balloon as being made of gray calico with patches in many places, bearing “the appearance of having done much work.” Inflation of the smoke balloon started at 4:00 p.m., but just as that process was about to get under way, a pole supporting the balloon snapped. The balloon came down with an “immense force” but without damage, narrowly missing several assistants. Another pole was supplied, and the balloon was inflated in roughly thirty-five minutes over an earthen furnace. Once it was inflated, Price sat on the trapeze bar below the balloon and shouted, “Let go!” The balloon rose instantly. It floated briefly toward the west and then along the coast in a slight breeze. At a height of about 3,000 to 4,000 feet, the parachute was observed to open and Price was on his way back to Earth. He landed not far from the aquarium in the scrub near the Ocean View Hotel. A large crowd ran to his location, but Price was already walking back to the point of takeoff. The balloon landed shortly after. Word of this successful feat spread quickly throughout Australia,10 with Frost describing James as “cool as a cucumber.”11 News of the success was also reported back to Hawaii and the States.12 Although this was not the first parachute jump in Australia, parachuting was still so novel that few had ever witnessed such a daring feat.
Given their success, a second launch and jump was scheduled at Bondi Aquarium for December 26 (Boxing Day).13 At 1:00 p.m. that day, thousands again began to gather at Bondi Aquarium, awaiting the balloon flight. It remains unclear why a launch wasn’t made on Boxing Day at Bendigo as previously considered. As the crowd sweltered in the heat, troubles began with the inflation process. A strong breeze made things difficult, and approximately fifty people were enlisted to help keep the balloon steady. Getting the balloon to remain over the hot air coming from the fire was challenging. The strong winds kept shifting the balloon, and at one time it was in danger of being set aflame when a bucket containing flaming gasoline got very close to the fabric. Park, Frank, and James had differences of opinion about how to handle the inflation. A newspaper reported that “on more than one occasion sharp words were passed, which would have been far better left unsaid.” Clearly Van Tassel and Price were still getting to know each other, and having to do so on the job.
At 6:20 p.m. Price and the secretary of the Bondi Aquarium walked to a podium near the aquarium’s seal pond to address the crowd. Price said, “My friends, ladies, and gentlemen, my partners want me to go up, but I know there isn’t sufficient lifting power yet in the balloon. She won’t carry me clear of that ere switchback, and that’s all the trouble, but not to disappoint you I’ll make the attempt, and that’s all about it. If I get clear of the switchback I’m all right. I’ve been ten years at my business, and I think I ought to know it.”14 Price then proceeded back to the balloon to prepare for launch. When it was clear that the balloon lacked sufficient lift to get over the nearby hillside with the weight of the aeronaut, the balloon was released without a passenger. It floated away and was soon lost to sight, landing about 3 miles away at Coogee. Deposited in the home garden of a Mr. Sandbrook, the balloon ruined a flagpole and all its rigging.15
Price once again walked to the rostrum and expressed regret that the inflation had not worked as desired. Sandbrook later sued the Bondi Aquarium for £25 in damages to his house and grounds caused by the balloon’s “landing.”16 A Judge Wilkinson consulted with both parties, and in the end the Bondi Aquarium Company paid a settlement of £10 to end the matter.17
On December 28, the Sydney Morning Herald noted that, weather permitting, another attempt would be made that afternoon.18 That same day, the Leader in Melbourne published the story of “Joseph Van Tassell’s” tragic passing in Honolulu.19 This timing suggests that the Van Tassel troupe had kept the news hidden from view as they began their tour of Australia. As a new balloon was sorely needed, an advertisement was placed in the Daily Telegraph in Sydney: “WANTED, 15 GIRLS, to sew on Balloon by week. Apply immediate, Van Tassell Brothers, Peyton’s George Hotel, Market St.”20
Van Tassel, Price, and Frost settled their differences and set forth on building a new large balloon for an ascension on January 11, 1890, at Bondi Aquarium.21 By January 9, the new balloon was complete and was christened the Australia.22 The balloon had a capacity of 70,000 cubic feet and was designed to be inflated with either gas or hot air. It was billed as the “largest balloon ever inflated in Australia.”23
The Australia was brought to Bondi Aquarium on January 11 as planned, but the weather once again did not cooperate, leaving spectators to be entertained instead by an “electric orchestra,” a strong man, and a set of “midgets.”24 Frost informed the media that the “brothers” would make an ascension at Newcastle on Australia Day, January 26.25 Newspapers billed the “Van Tassell family” as “the leading parachutists in the world.”26
Rather quickly, the “brothers” became an even larger family. Two new mysterious sisters, Gladys Freitas (performing as Gladys Van Tassell) and Valerie Freitas (performing as Valerie Van Tassell), were added to the troupe. Not much is known about their origin. Both sisters had lived in Sydney since at least July 1885, when they had made their debut at the New Masonic Hall as “American sisters” in a theatrical performance.27 Performing as the Fraties Sisters, they continued their trapeze and dance act through the summer of 1885. They took a hiatus for some time before Gladys returned to perform a trapeze act with a Mr. G. St. Clare on June 1, 1889, at Coogee Palace Aquarium in Sydney as a prelude to a balloon launch and parachute jump by a Professor Jackson.28 Soon thereafter, the sisters were performing as a pair again as part of an “American troupe” at locations in Sydney from June 22 to late December 1889.29
Valerie had a dancing act, while Gladys continued her trapeze work, billed as the “Aeolian Wonder”30 After one of the sisters had an unfortunate fall from the trapeze, for a time they changed their act to a “song and dance” routine. However, either by plan or good fortune, on December 24, 1889, the sisters provided a double trapeze act as a part of a show prior to James Price’s jump at Bondi Aquarium. It must have been quite a show, as they became affiliated with the Van Tassell Troupe quickly, at first to repeat their double trapeze act to entertain the crowd during the balloon inflation. Likely in reference to Park, Australian newspapers suggested that “Professor Van Tassell” was from New York State.31 While Park was not from New York, the Van Tassel family did trace its roots back to New Amsterdam (which became New York), and this was likely the source of the confusion.
Balloon ascensions and some parachute jumps had occurred in Australia, but with a large opportunity for fraud: showmen would charge at the gate and then devise excuses to not attempt a launch, only to float away in the balloon with the money. Frank Frost made considerable effort to ensure that the Van Tassell Troupe was considered genuine. For the Newcastle ascension, Walter Sidney of the Centennial Hotel held himself responsible for the return of gate moneys if the ascent did not take place.32 The event was scheduled for Monday, January 27, the official observance of Australia Day, even though it traditionally fell on January 26. Between two thousand and three thousand people arrived at Newcastle Racecourse and paid a shilling for admission, only to find a strong wind from the northeast. In fact, the wind was so strong that the Van Tassell Troupe debated whether it was worth inflating the balloon at all. Before any inflation began, the Van Tassell Sisters entertained the crowd with their double trapeze act. This was followed by music from the Fourth Regiment Band. At 7:00 p.m., the balloon still sat in a less-than-full state. Many in the crowd went to recover their money and leave, only to find that the man with the gate money had already left. Hundreds left in disgust, and shortly thereafter either Park or James made a short speech to explain that the wind had made the launch impossible. But the crowd clamored for an ascent, and Price said he would try. The balloon was eventually released unpiloted, but it turned upside down and came back to Earth after being relieved of its buoyancy. The disappointed crowd left, while the Van Tassell Troupe reassured them that an ascent would be made at 9:00 the following morning (January 28) and that admission would be free of charge.33
As promised, on the morning of January 28, James Price (performing as James Van Tassell) made an ascent in the Australia from Newcastle Racecourse. However, at such an early time, and after the troubles of the previous day, only two hundred to eight hundred spectators were present, with more on Shepherds Hill. The morning was clear and bright, and it took only twenty minutes to get the balloon prepped for launch. After Park made all preparations, James “threw off his coat and said, ‘Now I will show you an ascension.’” At 9:25 a.m. he held onto the trapeze bar and shouted, “Let her go.” The balloon raced to 500 feet with James hanging by his hands, something that amazed the crowd almost as much as his daring parachute jump. At a height of 4,000 to 6,000 feet, Price pulled a rope and dropped “like a meteor” for hundreds of feet before the parachute finally opened. He landed near the A. A. Company’s Hamilton coal pit near the Cronin farm, a short way from the colliery. The balloon landed a quarter of a mile farther downwind in a tree. Its recovery that afternoon required additional effort. As most of the people of Newcastle could see the event from all over town, there was great excitement.34 Ironically, some newspapers noted that “Professor Van Tassell [Price] made a most successful balloon ascent and parachute jump, a la Baldwin, to-day,” without any realization that it was Park Van Tassel who, together with Thomas Baldwin, had first tried jumping with a flexible parachute in San Francisco.35
Another ascent was arranged for Saturday, February 1, 1890, at the Albion Ground in West Maitland. Special trains were arranged to bring people to Maitland at 3:00 p.m.36 Continuing with the tradition of recent ascensions, the Van Tassell Sisters provided a trapeze exhibition prior to the launch. The event also included a cricket match and a band. The launch was scheduled for 5:00 p.m.37 But once again, Mother Nature threw a wrench in the works. While five hundred people assembled at the cricket ground on Saturday afternoon, the weather was windy and showery. The balloon launch was scrubbed, and those who had paid admission were given tickets for Monday. On that day, the sisters performed to much delight,38 but the balloon launch was again postponed due to weather. On Wednesday, one thousand spectators gathered at the cricket ground to watch Van Tassel’s balloon launch and jump. There was difficulty in inflating the balloon, and an error with the detaching hook for the parachute left James Price on the ground while the balloon was launched. Needless to say, the crowd was not amused by the unpiloted balloon sailing aloft.39 The launch was moved yet again, to Saturday, to coincide with the Wallsend Races, an amateur handicap horse race. The troubles that haunted the Van Tassell Troupe needed to be remedied quickly if the remainder of the tour was to be a success.