ON MAY 13, 1890, newspapers in Geelong, Victoria, advertised that the Van Tassell Troupe would finally be coming to their town. However, these same advertisements also noted a conspicuous change: the troupe was “formally Van Tassell, but now [operated under] original names.”1 A rift between James and Park about the antics in Sandhurst and Adelaide, including Park’s arrest and settlement with Madame Cora, left Price to exhibit in Geelong while Park continued on with Valerie and Gladys Freitas to Brisbane. At the same time, Price’s former colleague Ruby Hawker (performing as Millie Viola) joined up with Price and was featured as the one to jump in Geelong. Interestingly enough, Millie had traveled to Australia to make a jump with James Price on April 25, 1890, before Price met with the Van Tassell Troupe in Adelaide. It seems that Price’s growing frustration with Park built over a period of time, as it would have taken Millie weeks to make the voyage from the United States to Australia. Frank Frost also departed from the Van Tassell Troupe, choosing to continue on with Price and Viola instead.
This division was largely lost on the public. The Geelong Advertiser noted incorrectly that Viola “is perhaps more generally known in these colonies as Miss Van Tassell” and mentioned “her brother J. W. Price.”2 While Price wished to distance himself from Van Tassel, having just spent months following the progress of the Van Tassell Troupe, it was hard for the public to understand Millie’s stage name. Similarly, Park Van Tassel wanted to distance himself from Price, as it seemed for a time that more than one Van Tassell was jumping simultaneously at different locations in Australia.
On May 13, 1890, at Geelong, it took more than an hour to inflate the balloon with hot air at the Agricultural Society’s grounds in front of thousands of spectators. Millie Viola’s launch was made in haste due to winds, and there was no record of any trapeze work on the way up in the style of the Van Tassell Sisters. However, the descent that resulted was considered amazing: “Suddenly, to the relief of every one, the parachute expanded and the sight was pretty beyond expression. The descent was so slow, so graceful, that the feeling was one of regret that the sight could not be prolonged, and that the graceful Viola was only a beautiful meteor to flash across the sky at the interval beyond our calculation.”3
Illustration of Millie Viola in the San Francisco Call, January 20, 1896. Library of Congress.
The entire performance, from launch to landing, lasted roughly seven minutes. The balloon continued on its way in the direction of Breakwater, landing on the opposite side of the river, where it was later recovered. Viola was brought back to the starting location to the many accolades that were now common at these events. The local paper elaborated on her considerable experience in the United States—that she had made “37 different flights in balloons,” even parachuting in 1888 near the shores of Lake Michigan, with her brother Price making sure she wore a life preserver.4 Viola was just the third woman to parachute in Australia.
Price and Viola arranged for a double ascent at Geelong for Saturday, May 17. Viola was supposed to descend by parachute while Price remained with the balloon to bring it back down in a controlled fashion.5 If this was the plan, it must have been with a gas balloon in mind rather than an uncontrolled smoke balloon. However, for unknown reasons, Price and Viola traveled to Maryborough, Victoria, instead, providing a parachute exhibition there on Wednesday, May 22. The balloon ascension was made from Princess Park with one thousand spectators, who each paid a shilling. A flight to 6,000 feet was made, with a perfect release and descent with a landing near Maryborough and Talbot Roads. The balloon was recovered about 1 mile south of that location. Very quickly, they returned to Geelong, with the hope of making their dual balloon flight as previously promised.6 While no record of the dual ascension can be found, Millie did make another jump on Saturday, May 24, from the show grounds at Geelong in front of one thousand spectators. She landed with her parachute near Carlo Street while the balloon floated out to sea. It was recovered near Hutton’s Wharf at North Geelong.7
Meanwhile, at Brisbane on May 14, announcements heralded that the now nationally famous “sisters Van Tassel” would be performing at the exhibition grounds on May 17.8 However, inclement weather forced a cancellation. Those who had paid the entrance fee were provided with a card for return entrance for the next event, scheduled for Thursday, May 22.9 During their time at Brisbane, the troupe stayed at the Shakespeare Hotel.10 As promised, on May 22 they set up the balloon at the exhibition grounds. And as with many of their previous flights, the number of paying spectators and those who attempted to view from the surrounding area for free was roughly an equal. At 6:00 p.m., Valerie appeared, “in the ordinary attire of female athletes.”11 As she ascended, she performed her usual trapeze work. At a lower-than-usual altitude of about 1,600 to 1,700 feet above the Acclimatisation Society Gardens, she jumped and returned to Earth via parachute. She landed on the hospital grounds uninjured, on the lawn opposite the residence of the hospital’s doctor.12 Meanwhile, the balloon eventually landed in an old manure paddock at Kelvin Grove. Valerie once again returned by cab to the awaiting crowds. Capitalizing on the success, the troupe announced another balloon ascension for Monday, May 26.13
Back in Victoria, the May 24 issue of the Bendigo Advertiser noted that James Price “intends to fulfill a half promise he made at the time of the last Easter Fair. It is to give in conjunction with Mdlle [Millie] Viola, a double balloon ascent and parachute drop, and this sensational event will take place from the Agricultural Show Grounds on Saturday next. Mr. Price informs us that he is not the balloonist who was in trouble recently in Adelaide.”14 The Bendigo City Council approved Price’s launch for the show grounds, to be held on Saturday, May 31, on “usual terms” of 10 percent of gate receipts and a preliminary deposit of £10. Price made his parachute jump at Bendigo.15 However, it seems that on another attempt, the balloon was released skyward with both Millie Viola and James Price still on the ground, leading to complaints and groans from the crowd.16
Meanwhile, back in Queensland, preparations were made for the last appearance of the Van Tassell Troupe in Brisbane with an ascension by Gladys on Monday, May 26, from the Breakfast Creek Grounds.17 However, tragedy was about to unfold. During preparation of the balloon, and while the balloon still lay on the ground prior to inflation, the crowd rushed in to the enclosure near the balloon as inflation began at 4:15 p.m. Park Van Tassel shouted loudly to the crowd to move back, but they paid no attention. Just as Van Tassel was about to light the furnace, one of the large wooden poles that retained the ropes for the balloon gave way and fell inward towards the balloon. It came down directly on a twelve-year-old boy named Thomas Reid, striking him in the back of his head. Two doctors who happened to be in attendance rushed into service, but it was for naught. Reid was pronounced dead at the scene, and there was nothing more that could be done. Gladys fainted and, upon regaining consciousness in a rather unnerved state, declined to make her ascension.18 In light of the tragedy, J. A. Grant, manager of the Breakfast Creek Grounds, officially canceled the performance. He told onlookers that another balloon attempt would be made on the following Saturday.19
Some spectators who had witnessed the event placed blame directly on Van Tassel for not properly securing the pole to the ground in the first place. However, Van Tassel was positive that everything would have been safe had the crowds not rushed into the enclosure and put additional pressure on the guy ropes. It was clear to all that an insufficient number of policemen were on-site to control the crowd adequately. News of the tragedy spread quickly across Australia.20 It is likely that even James Price and Millie Viola were made aware of the accident back in Victoria.
On Wednesday, May 28, a formal inquiry commenced at City Police Court in Brisbane to determine the cause of young Thomas Reid’s death. Testimony was heard before P. Pinnock, with a Subinspector White conducting the inquiry. Providing a description of the events was “Mark [Park] Albert Van Tassel”21 While Van Tassel complained that the crowd had put pressure on the guy ropes, the police claimed that insufficient caution had been taken to block spectators from the area in the first place. Assistant Under-Colonial Secretary William H. Ryder had been standing a mere 5 or 6 feet from the pole that fell. He testified that the pole fell simply by the weight of the balloon, with stakes holding the ropes in place being driven an insufficient depth to secure the pole properly.22 The inquiry continued on Friday, but given that there is no record of Van Tassel’s arrest, it is believed that in the end, Pinnock considered the matter to be an accident. For the exhibition scheduled for May 31, he required that the Van Tassell Troupe adhere to stricter safety procedures and required the police to cordon off the portion of grounds nearest the balloon, with all guys and stakes properly examined.23
At the exhibition on May 31, three thousand people entered the Breakfast Creek Grounds to witness the balloon ascension and parachute jump. An almost equivalent number watched from outside the gate without paying. A prearranged fencing match took place, with the balloon ascension following. Inflation began at about 5:00 p.m. Despite all efforts and a large staff that Van Tassel had arranged to help secure the area near the balloon, the public would not stay out of the balloon enclosure. Without sufficient police support, several citizens literally laughed at any effort to remove them from the enclosure. When Van Tassel made it clear that there would be no ascension if they remained, people finally began to clear the area. While the balloon could have been filled in thirty minutes, these delays pushed things back to 5:45 p.m. Both Gladys and Valerie appeared on the scene at 5:30 p.m. and were greeted with warm cheers. Both showed the clear nervousness that comes with making an attempt after a tragedy, and Valerie consoled Gladys as she prepared for the trip. Park also felt a certain unease. He made it clear to Gladys that no unnecessary risks should be taken—there would be no trapeze work on the way up with the balloon. He mentioned later to the press that he would have moved the exhibition to coincide with a more auspicious occasion, but both sisters had urged him to go on with the act as planned.24
Prior to launch, there was some debate as to whether or not Gladys should wear a life preserver, as the launch was near the ocean and Gladys was unable to swim. She consented to use one on this flight, as safety was preeminent. At 5:45 p.m. she called out a meager “Let go,” which was restated by Van Tassel in a louder voice, more audible to the team holding the balloon in place. She rose rapidly to 300 or 400 feet, with the crowd cheering below. Either forgetting or ignoring Van Tassel’s instruction, she rather quickly commenced with trapeze work, dangling by the backs of her knees. The balloon rose and crossed a river and then was caught in a strong easterly breeze toward Lutwyche. In the moonlit dusk, only the river and the city behind her were visible from her altitude of 4,800 feet. The balloon began to slowly descend, opening her parachute—her cue to jump. On the descent over Lutwyche, she avoided a large house by swinging the trapeze bar, landing instead, on her knees, just to the left of the house on “lumpy ground,” opposite a home belonging to a Mrs. Collings. The parachute continued on slightly, coming to rest near another house. Once again, a return was made to the starting location in a cab, to an enthusiastic ovation. The balloon was eventually recovered 6 miles away from the grounds.25
Having succeeded in getting past the tragedy, the troupe announced that they would head west to Maryborough, Queensland, for an ascent there and then perhaps come back to Brisbane in three weeks.26 Meanwhile, depositions on the part of the defense and prosecution continued in the inquiry into Thomas Reid’s death.27 Most testified that they heard Van Tassel urge the crowd to get back from the area where the balloon was being prepared on that fateful day and that some in the crowd obeyed but then rather quickly came back and pulled on the guy wires associated with the poles.28
The Van Tassell Troupe prepared for an exhibition at the Maryborough Show Grounds on June 5, with the Van Tassell Sisters first giving an exhibition on the double trapeze at the Albert Rink. At the balloon ascension, “Miss Gladdy” was to provide the jump.29 However, on the day of the event, the winds were quite strong and no launch was made, despite the large audience that had assembled. The event was postponed to Saturday, June 7, and management refused to take any admission fees.30 On Saturday, Gladys did not disappoint the citizens of Maryborough. Despite some puffy rain clouds in the area, only a slight southerly breeze was found, and it was a fine day for a launch. The silk balloon came to life and by 5:00 p.m. all was ready.31 When Gladys and Valerie appeared, they received a round of applause. Val helped Gladys remove her overcoat, “and she stood revealed in her charming athletic costume.”32 She performed her trapeze act during the ascension as the balloon drifted to the north. The balloon rose and entered into a cumulus cloud. For twenty to thirty seconds, Gladys and the balloon completely disappeared from view, climbing to an estimated 7,500 feet. Then, in amazement to the spectators, Gladys appeared, descending with the parachute as if falling like rain from the cloud. Val rode in a cab to help fetch Gladys at her landing near a hospital near Walker Street. They returned together, escorted by twenty horsemen, and were hailed with a hero’s welcome at the grounds. They were taken into the exhibition hall, and the crowd followed with another great ovation. Inside the exhibition hall, the show grounds manager, N. Tooth, made a few remarks on Gladys’s courage and skill. Gladys noted:
The trees looked like vegetables, and I could not tell at first whether they were large or small. Then I saw someone on horseback waving a handkerchief to me near an open spot. I steered for that, and as I came down I caught on the top of a tree, breaking off two branches and alighted in a swamp, splashing myself with mud. The man who had waved to me was Constable Amies, who had arranged to be on the lookout for me. I was not hurt, and after waiting a little while my sister came up in a cab, and we drove back to the grounds.33
The Van Tassell Sisters noted to the press that they “proposed to make a tour through the oriental countries before returning to America.”34 The troupe left for Rockhampton by the steamer SS Eurimbla on Sunday, June 8.35 They were scheduled to perform on Saturday, June 14, at the Cremorne Gardens in North Rockhampton36 and were likely accompanied by Edwin Thorne, who by then had left the Bland Holt Company to assist the troupe with their travels.37
The town of Rockhampton was especially pleased to have the Van Tassell Troupe, as it was the first time any aeronaut had performed there. A large crowd arrived at the gardens and an even larger crowd watched from all parts of town, especially from the roof of the new Criterion Hotel. Valerie was launched at around 5:00 p.m. and made a perfect ascension in nice weather, followed by a rapid but good descent to a landing in a prickly pear plantation, a few yards outside the gardens. She was scratched but otherwise uninjured. The balloon came to rest only about 200 yards from the gardens in a paddock owned by a Mr. Hadgraft.38 That same evening the Van Tassell Sisters performed their double trapeze work at the Theatre Royal on the southwest corner of East and Williams Streets and were received with considerable enthusiasm by the crowd. The Van Tassell Troupe left Rockhampton on Sunday, June 15, on a tender to connect with a steamer for Townsville.39
Despite the success, there was always a percentage of the community who voiced their concern that ascensions such as these were merely “foolhardy exhibitions.”40 A local reporter wrote:
Plucky indeed must be that girl be who could fearlessly place herself upon a crossbar attached to a balloon, permit herself to be borne hundreds of feet in air, and while this was being done, execute some most intricate and difficult acrobatic feats, with the certain assurance that one slip and she would be dashed into a thousand pieces below; and finally cut herself loose so as to descend to earth, with again the chance of being killed should the parachute fail to open, or of being drowned should it perchance be blown to sea. . . . Does the ascent on Saturday afternoon assist us in any one particular either of moral principle or ethical rules of conduct, to be one whit better men and women than before? The answer, we fear, must be in the negative . . . to the performance on Saturday, however much we may admire the young lady’s pluck, yet the conclusion cannot be avoided that only the “almighty dollar” was the inspiring element, and that no other principle, save to excite wonder in order to pilot up the profits, was behind the fact of the ascent.41
At 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 22, in Townsville, members of the Australian Defence Force turned out for a routine march, headed by staff. They marched along Eyre Street, into the center of Townsville by Denham Street, and then along Flinders and Charters Towers Road to Acacia Vale Gardens, where the Van Tassel ascension was to take place.42 With two thousand spectators at Acacia Vale Gardens, Gladys prepared for her ascension. However, given the event was occurring on a Sunday, a group of ministers, including the Reverend James Stewart, made their way into the enclosure where the balloon was being prepared. Attempting to delay the proceedings, Stewart began reciting a speech by Sir Henry Norman, but groans and jeers soon cut short his address. An Inspector Isley asked Stewart to remove himself from the enclosure and the reverend complied, but not without continuing with his admonishment of the crowd as “wrongdoers” who were “breaking a law, which gave him pain.” He said that “in the name of his Maker, and in the name of all that was good and pure, he would protest against such a desecration of the day of rest.”43 But before the reverend could conclude his remarks, a Colonel French entered the enclosure, with his six hundred cadets nearby. The reverend then admonished French: “On behalf of Christians I protest against the Defence Force, which costs the colony £40,000 per annum, assisting to desecrate the Sabbath.” The groans from the audience now became a chorus. Finally, the ministers retreated from the scene. Cadets were ordered into the enclosure to hold the balloon in position while others took to the task of setting the fire that would heat the balloon. The headquarters band played at intervals to keep the public amused.
Gladys prepared for the flight, and just when the command to let go was given, a Major Des Vǽux presented her with a bouquet of flowers, reportedly from his knees. At an altitude of 200 feet, Gladys dropped the flowers back to the major. The balloon drifted, and about a quarter of a mile from the gardens, she released and descended to a perfect landing in a Mr. West’s garden, carefully avoiding a bed of pineapples.44 Once again, she was retrieved by cab and lauded with cheers. The band played “See the Conquering Hero Comes,”45 and the troops did not return to their camp until after 7:00 p.m.46
Despite the very successful ascension and parachute jump, the press wondered how it could be that taxpayer dollars were spent to march troops to a parachute jump, to have the cadets pay one shilling to witness the event, and to do so on a Sunday while ignoring the complaints of a reverend, and on top of that, to have an officer go to his knees in front of thousands of spectators to present flowers to a scantily clad female acrobat. To the media, this was the “true story” of the event. The Brisbane Courier commented, “If the private adventure which seeks the people’s money by balloon and parachute is to be permitted on Sunday as well as week day, what form of profit-seeking by amusement can be arrested? On what ground can we shut out theatres on Sunday, prohibit the fixing of sporting events—from horse-racing to pugilism—for that day, and generally prevent the people’s heritage of a seventh-day rest descending to the degraded place it holds in Europe?”47
The Reverend Stewart complained to the press that “he never was so insulted, even in the slums of Brisbane, as he was on Sunday by the Government officials at Acacia Vale Gardens.”48 After it became absolutely clear that Major Des Væux had actually been standing at the time he handed the bouquet to Gladys, newspapers were forced to print retractions, with one reporter writing, “We trust that he will accept this expression of our regret.”49 But the damage was done, as the division in the community was now obvious and obviously not going away any time soon. Some questioned whether the cadets were soldiers or showmen’s assistants. Some expressed concern for the major’s wife and what she must be feeling given that the bouquet had an obvious “sweetly romantic” effect.50 Later reports noted that Colonel French was simply acting on the request of his local officers and men to witness the ascension and because of this chose the destination of Acacia Vale for the march, giving them a rest at that position so they could see the flight.51 After an inquiry, the chief secretary of the Australian Defence Force flatly denied that the commandant had marched along with the men to Acacia Vale, that the men had no choice in the matter, that Colonel French had forced cadets to assist in the exhibition, and that Major Des Væux had gone to his knees when presenting the bouquet to Gladys.52 The public discord continued to July 11, when a meeting was held at Protestant Hall so that members of the Lord’s Day Observance Society, led by Richard Edwards, could discuss the matter with the public. The Reverend Stewart provided his rationale for the importance of the day of rest, with several motions carried in favor of the reverend’s actions at the balloon ascension. The matter had become far more a debate about the importance of the Sabbath than anything having to do with balloons, parachutes, or scantily clad women aviators. Despite the debate, Van-tassel Street in Townsville was later dedicated in honor of Gladys’s flight of June 22, 1890.53
Inflation for the first balloon ascension ever held at Charters Towers, Queensland, on July 3, 1890. It was also the last balloon ascension and parachute jump in Australia by the Van Tassell Troupe. Local History Collection, CityLibraries Townsville.
On Sunday, June 29, the Van Tassell Troupe was scheduled to make an ascension at Charters Towers. However, in light of all the controversy, an order from the colonial secretary canceled the ascension.54 One does wonder, after so much fuss in Townsville, why the Van Tassell Troupe would dare arrange for another Sunday ascension so quickly in Queensland. Acrobatic feats were no match for the public discord. The Republican Association in Charters Towers protested the cancellation, but it was impossible to change the order from the colonial secretary.55 A “farewell exhibition” was arranged at the Charters Towers Racetrack for Thursday, July 3, 1890. Some storekeepers in town gave their employees a half-day holiday so they could attend. A large force of police stood guard around the enclosure near the base of the balloon. At 5:30 p.m., the balloon sailed aloft, drifting slowly to the east, carrying Valerie into the sky. As was typical, she worked the trapeze on the way up. The balloon came to its stationary period and began to descend. With the parachute already slightly inflated, Val jumped, making her descent in roughly half the time it took for the balloon to also come to rest. According to reports, within about 5 feet of landing, she leaped from the trapeze bar, making a perfect landing on her feet. This caused cheers from the crowd that had gathered near where she was expected to land. Escorted back to the racetrack, a distance of 1 mile, she was again hailed as a hero.56 Perhaps as a retort to the article suggesting that nothing good came of such exhibitions, one reporter wrote, “The exhibition is only an example of how men, after studying nature and natural sciences, can apply those sciences for the benefit of mankind, and after witnessing such a scientific exhibition as yesterday’s, one’s mind will more readily revert to the Power who rules the Universe and marks the sparrow’s fall, than if he sat listening to a sky-pilot hashing up the Queen’s English, and keeping one’s mind morbid and melancholy by the everlasting parading in our eyes the fact that we shall some day be returned to (h)ashes and dust.”57 The Van Tassell Troupe was scheduled to make a series of balloon ascensions from the Cooktown Turf Club. However, when the club refused to reduce the costs for renting the racecourse for the exhibition, the troupe canceled their stop in Cooktown.58
Meanwhile, during this same period, James Price continued to make sporadic parachute jumps in Australia. These were made without Millie Viola, as she had by that time departed Victoria aboard the Albany I for West Australia. On July 15, Price attempted an ascension at Broken Hill, New South Wales, but was forced to postpone.59 On July 17, he succeeded in launching in “red woolen tights” at about 4:00 p.m. from an area opposite the Theatre Royal.60 He rose for a good five minutes, drifting roughly a quarter of a mile over about four thousand spectators below. He jumped, at a high rate of speed, and the parachute finally opened. On the way down he was observed waving his hand to the crowd. He descended to the southwest and landed three-quarters of a mile from his launch location.61
Having toured the major cities on the east coast of Australia, the Van Tassell Troupe departed, heading for Java. Edwin Thorne, who had traveled with the Van Tassell Troupe throughout Queensland as their new promoter, returned to Sydney via the SS Jumna in October 1890, having reportedly “had his fill of ballooning.”62 In October 1890, there were reports of “Prof. P. A. Van Tassell” making parachute jumps yet again in New South Wales. This mysterious professor supposedly made an ascent from the Wagga Wagga Show Grounds at roughly 4:00 p.m. on October 17, making a graceful descent by parachute to a landing near Agricultural Hall, about 150 yards from his starting point.63 He arrived in Bathurst, New South Wales, on October 20, 1890, escorted from the train station with his balloon in a four-in-hand horse-drawn carriage.64 On October 22, high winds prevented this Van Tassell’s ascension at Bathurst. Instead. he provided free tickets for another attempt on Thursday, October 23.65 On that day the winds were still strong, yet he continued to inflate his balloon at the Bathurst Show Ground. A strong east wind put a rent in the canvas and that was the end of the day’s performance. The one thousand spectators were disappointed, but the aeronaut “announced his determination to make an ascent before he left Bathurst.”66 Even the public began to suspect something sneaky was going on. One anonymous author wrote on October 25:
I will make a few suggestions as to Van Tassell and his balloon, and they are these:—(1) That Van Tassell (is he here) never meant an ascent on Wednesday last. (2) That a majority of the public on Van Tassell’s own asking decided that he was able to carry out his contract on the day mentioned, but Van decided otherwise. (3) That the balloonist was not in costume according to his bandstand speech, to fight the clouds. (4) That he said he could fill his balloon with hot air in 17 minutes, and it wasn’t filled! (5) That on Thursday evening the balloon was ripped by some person or persons unknown, just as the monster was going half-mast high. (6) That the 10’s to 1 and 3’s to 1 wagers that it went up would have been lost. (7) That we all hope to see the original Van Tassell “up in a balloon” this afternoon, and if he goes 8000ft. in ascent and then descends in his parachute, we will forgive him and bless him!67
It seems that by Friday, October 31, this particular Van Tassell had departed Bathurst without making an exhibition. Local papers noted that “Bathurst witnessed recently one of the most representative ‘sells’ that it was ever given to a people to behold.”68 It is possible that upon arriving back in Australia, Edwin Thorne figured he could make some extra money posing as Van Tassel, as it is unlikely that the very proud James Price would ever stoop to leaving a location in such a way or staging himself as if he were Van Tassel. However, between late September and late October 1890, Millie Viola and James Price continued to make parachute jumps largely at Bondi in Sydney.69 While the folks in Bathurst were puzzled, and while the folks in Sydney remained in awe, the real Van Tassell Troupe set sail from Queensland for Java.