Except for major disasters, Yesterday’s News generally focuses on Minnesota events. But this Tribune story on what might have been the world’s first — perhaps only — balloon-jacking was too rich to pass up. Plus, it’s a chance to post a photo from a balloon race that took place in St. Paul a few years earlier.

Chased Pickpocket Leaps
Into Balloon and Escapes

Ignores Sayre, Okla., Marshal’s
Cry of “Stop Thief,” and
Sails Off in Air

Covers Surprised Aeronaut With
Revolver and Lands Safely
50 Miles Away

By the Associated Press

Sayre, Okla., July 2. – A pickpocket, closely pursued by a town marshal, leaped into the basket of a balloon near here yesterday just as the air craft was leaving the ground and sailed away to safety.

The balloon had been filled with gas and the aeronaut, George Harvey, was in the basket ready to start when the marshal discovered the pickpocket taking a purse from the pocket of a man whose attention was centered on the balloon.

The marshal attempted to catch the thief and the pursued man leaped into the basket as it cleared the earth. He refused to heed the marshal’s warning cry of “stop thief.”

At the height of several hundred feet the thief drew a revolver and warned the balloonist not to release the rip cord on his balloon until he was ordered to do so. After the pair had traveled 50 miles the unwelcome passenger gave the word and the balloon was lowered. Ten feet from the ground the thief leaped from the basket and ran.

Relieved of a part of its burden, the balloon again shot upward. When Harvey finally effected a landing, several hundred yards from where the thief had alighted, the latter had disappeared. With such crowds, it’s entirely possible that pickpockets targeted balloon races of the era.

Hundreds of spectators gathered for an “international balloon race” that started at St. Paul’s Lexington Park in July 1908. The big crowd no doubt attracted a pickpocket or two. (Photo courtesy of mnhs.org)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006 at 10:15 pm and is filed under Gadgets, Main, Mayhem. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.