The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-12-03 00:00:00

FROM PARIS IN A BALLOON.

The following interesting narrative of a balloon
journey from Paris, hue been sent to Tite Tionro fir
publication, by Isl. De Fonvielle, Editor of the Liberte,
writing from Provence Hotel, Leicester-square, bun.
don, Nov.
The wind having conducted my balloon to Belgium, wi I
desired for certain purposes of mine, I have to go round the
Prussian lines in order to call at Tours, the end of my ape
ditton. Having sent my balloon by rail, under the care of
my lieutenant, I thought it wu my duty to come to London,
where Prussian emi sane., Bonapartist agents, and Orleenist
pretenders Sr., rr.-., king together against our young and
glorious Repum. . Up to that moment I had not gone really
Into the field, my exertion. being conlined to severe,
aeronautical experiments necessary for obtaining certain
ends of mine. Even now lam not regularly enlisted In the
French service, having conducted in some respects a trade.
balloon, carrying principally private pueengers and not many
official messages hut i have sent telegrams to the Tout
Gove;nment notifying my landing, and offering my bailout.
Ejoirti, the largest in existence, and I trust the best for tht
war service.

The Prussians of late had taken many balloons, owing to
the utter Inexperienca of the serouants, or the bad an,.
*traction of aerial shipping and, taking advantage of these
failures, Prussian spies had ciroulated among our Parisian
papers that na IMOre amenta would be made m the dayttme,
Wit henceforth &111-011&141 would ucend Ulu mutt duo

are so

by our learned men that several balloons were sent in so
ridiculous a manner. I did protest in the Libertt, a paper
with which tam connected, and declared that I cantl pass
tho Pruden lines in open day without fearing anythbig from
their rittienious rho ding. Consovently I eicendei last
fliu:s.lay, at 20 111i,1,1,1 to eleven, before inse, thousands of
pantile, and crossed the whole of Paris at a height of about
I COO yar is, when I sdw that my balloon was on the Prussian
avant wee. I ordered a emote of sandbars to ba thrown
out, and I reached in safety the level of 2 LOS yards, when
Prassian mule was heard In a most impotent manner.
These fools, below bemg deceived by the diameter of my
balloon, believed I was near them, and were using their
powder to no purpose I was very merry Indeed, and quoted
to uiy passengers the famous Bismarck note wherein that
great atateman reports to Trochu the wasting of his ammuni-
tion round Paris forts. The firing continued up to the
vicinity of Soluous, bat showed Intervals of recrudescence,
very likely when we were passing over Prussian encamp.
meats. I carefully noted these places no the maps, for
giving Information to military anthorities, taking a frontage
of Pressman liring range Firing did not prevent the balloon
continuing its way, and ascending to 3,500 yards, when
thing ceased. Railway trains were seen running; social life
was restored ; it was not necessary to go further. Primate.
had not set their feet In these quarters.

But a true aeronaut Is always dlsappcfnterl when obliged
to put an Owl to an ucent ; the spectacle Is so magnificent
over clouds. I retolved to land only In Belgium, and I did,
as was r.,parted by telegram. Wiud weo very strong, as we
travelled 240 kilometres ,180 miles) in aheo.i three h4dirs and
• half. The descent was Lot dangerous, as I had 01011011 a
large plain, but rather long, and almost allot as were slightly
hurt—one of the passengers in the head. and another in the
back, my lieutenant In the foot, and novel( In the hand,
Nothing of the kind would have happened II the balloon
had been completed, but I was to anxious to put in executton
the atrial plan that I ascended without my rope being In
order. I was aware that I wins incurring some ricks, but I
was certain that there was no real danger, and, at all rotate,
I woe resolved not to stay a single day longer.
Lieutenant Panel having been lent wlth de lostructlona
for repairing the balloon, and prepsrliig different apparatus
for warlike purposes, I have stew days to apace it Loudon,
and I shall be moat happy to give any leforreatlon in my
p,wer respecting the state of thlngain Perla lam a friend of
troth and Liberty, as well al a strong Republlcan, and I will
answer coy questions put to me in an explicit and frank
manner I conaider myself as being in • wittiest-box on that
great Republican trial where we have to deal with German
butchers and Imperial traitors.