A feature of the Biddeford Merchants' Carnival of October, 1909, was the thrill of a balloon ascension, and the balloonist drop to earth in a parachute, doing tricks on the way down. These balloons were expanded by hot air, could carry a man and his parachute a thousand feet or so in the air, and the whole ascension and drop was over in a few minutes. In this picture the balloonist is ready to cut his parachute loose.