The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-19 00:00:00

ANOTHER BALLOON VOYAGE,

A aeronaut's profession is no sinecure, as is proved by
the narrative of the passage of the balloon Washington
'rom Paris to Cambray. The Washington, under the
care of the aeronaut, Bertant, left Paris early on the
morning of the 12th. The other passengers were M.
Lefaivre, an envoy for Vienna, with dispatches, and a
Belgian named Von Roosebiche, who trains carrier
pigeons. At the very outset of their adventurous
journey the travellers encountered a serious dan-
ger. The balloon, when it rose, stopped at
500 metres, which was within range of the Prussian
rifles. Very soon the bullets came whistling past, and
some of them lodged in the balloon. The ballast was
thrown out, and the balloon rose rapidly, reaching an
altitude of 1,500 metres. The wind rose, and for a time
all seemed well, but it sank again, and the aerial carriage
hung over a town which the enemy occupied, for motethan
three quarters of an hour. Luckily it escaped injury, and
after a time a high wind from the south carried it far out
of reach. When near the railway station at Cambray it
sank again. The aeronaut thought the moment favour-
able to throw out his grappling iron with its 400 metres
of cable. The wind was high, and there was not a moment
to spare. While a high gale was blowing he unwound
rapidly the rope. The grappling-iron was about to catch
the ground, and had it done so the journey would have
ended. But the aeronaut was caught in the folds of the
rope, which had got tangled, and he was dragged out of the
car. He fell, and his death seemed certain, but by an in-
credible piece of good fortune he was entangled in the cable.
A fall of nearly twenty metres only gave him a few slight
bruises, but of course his services in the balloon were at
an end, and away it whirled with the diplomatic envoy
and the pigeon trainer for'-guides. After a rough and
dangerous passage, during which they struck against
trees, which they broke with the shock, M. Lefaivre, the
envoy, was thrown out of the car, which
remained occupied by the pigeon trainer only,
who exhibited, however, the greatest coolness.
Making use of the ropes which connected the car with
the balloon, he climbed up to the latter and opened it with
a knife. He pulled away large shreds from it, and at
last it shrank and fell. Country people to the number of
200 then came up, and it was stopped, The Belgian had
not, however, got to the end of his troubles. The peasants
mistood him for a Prussian, and threatened him with
summary punishment. "Do with me whatever you like,"
he said, but help, in the first instance, to save
the despatches which I bring from Paris. Cut,
destroy the balloon, but hold on by the car, which con-
tains important papers." These words were spoken in a
tone which put an end to all alarm. At the same time,
11.30 a.m., M. Bricourt, a gentleman of the neighbourhood,
made his appearance. He aided the traveller, and helped
him to secure his valuable cargo. Soon after M. Lefaivre
came up, he jiaving followed at no very great distance. It
was not known as yet how Bertant had fared, but in
a short time a peasant came running up, who brought
the news that he had peen saved, and that at that very
time his injuries were being attended to at a farmhouse at
some distance. Three-quarters of an hour afterwards all
the three travellers were dining with M. Bricourt, and
they were able to reach Cambray three hours later and
convey to the post office the five enormous bags of
despatches which they brought from Paris, weighing
about 400 kilogrammes.