Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-05-13

ne loiIo"ihS story L had from the ilps OF a
wel-known Eronaut, and nearly in the same
words
it was one Of my ascents from Vauxhall,
and gentleman Of the ma me Of Mavor, had en-
ga. ed himself as companion in my erial ex.
Gu sion. But when the time came his nerves
failed him. and looked vainly around for the
person " no was 10 occupy the vacant seat in
ahe car. Having waited for him till the last
possible moment, and the crowd in the gar.
ders becoming impatient, prepared to ascend
alone; and the last cord that attached me to
the earth was about 10 be cast off, when snd-
delly strange gentleman pushed forw ard, and
volunteered 10 go up with me into the clouds
lie pressed the request with so much earnest.
ness. that, having satisfied myself by few
questions of his respectabiitv. aud received his
promise to submit in every point to nv direc.
s'ons. consented to receive him in lieu of the
absentee; whereupon he stepped into the ma
chine nth evident alacrlty and esgerness-
IN another minute we were rising above the
trees; and in justice to my companion, | must
say that in all my experience no person at
first ascent had ever shown such perfect cool
liess and selfpossession. The sudden rise o.
the machine. novelty Of The situation the real
and exaggerated dangers of the voyage. and
the cheering Of the spectators are apt TO cause
some o~cpidalion, or at any rate excitement in
1he boliest individual whereas the stranger
was as composed and comfortable as ifhe had
been exiting quiet at home in his own library
chHlr. A bird could not have seemed more at
ease or more in its element, and vet he solemn
~ assared me upon his honor, that he had new
ar bes,l up before in his life Instead of exhib-
1ung any alarm at our great height from the
darth!le evlnced the lIveliest pleasure " henever
cmFtied one of my bags Of sand, and even
once or twice urged me to part with more OF
The ballast. In the meantime, the wind which
Was very light, carried us along in North-e cas-,
direction. and the day being particularly bright
andsclear. We enjoyed delightful bird s-eye
view Of the great metropolis and the surround
lngeountry. My companion listened with grea
interest, " hile pointed out to him the various
oh1ects over which We passed. till happened
.caseally to observe that the balloon must be di
reo;Sy over Hoxton. My fellow traveller then
ior ahe first time betrayed some uneasness, and
anxeously enquired whether though he could
lie recognised by any one at our then distance
from the earth | told him that it was quite
impossible. Nevertheless he continued verv
uneasy, frequently repeating Il hope they don't
see ye,' and entreating me earnestly to dis
char ge more ballast 1t then for the first time
flashed upon me that his offer to ascend with
Gne had been a " him of the moment and that
he feared the being seen at that perilous eleva-
aioN by any member of his own family there.
Sore asked him if he resided at Hoxton, To
winch he replied in the affirmative; urging a.
galS and with great vehemence, the emptying
OF toe Remaining sand bags.
lhIs, however, was out of the question con-
sldeTng the altitude of the balloon, the course
ottde wind, and the proximity of the sea-coas
But my comrade was deaf TO these reasons
he Insisted on going higher and on my refusal
20 discharge more ballast, deliberately pulled
off and threw his hat, coat, and waistcoat over
board.
'Eurrah, that lightened her!" he shouted;
1'"at 1t S not enough yet" and he began un-
iousrnng his cravat.
''Nonesense." said |, my good fellow, nobo-
dy can recognise you atthis distance, even with
telescope"
Don't be too sure Of that" he retorted rath-
er simply, they have sharp eyes a, Miless. "
.At where?"
"At Miles's Madhonse!''
Gracious Heavens!-the truth flashed upon
me al an instant. | was sitting in the frail car
OF balloon at least a mile above the earth,
with Lnnatc. The horror of the situation,
Tor minute. seemed to deprive me Of my
owa senses. A sudden freak of distemper.
ed fancy; a transient fury-the slightest strug-
gle. might send US both, at moments notice
into eternity! In the meantime, the Maniac,
sail repeating his insane cry of 'higher, high
er, high her." divested himself successively, of
every remaining article of clothing, throwing
each portion, as soon as taken off, to the winds.
The inutiiity Of remonstrance. or rather the
probability of its producing fatal irritation
kept me silent during these operations; but
Judg ge Of my terror, when having thrown his
stockings overheard, hard him say, I'VE
are not yet high enough by ten thousand
miles one of us must throw out the other"
To describe my feelings at this speech is
impossible Not only the awfulness of nv
position. but its novelty. conspired to beuilder
me---ior certainly no flight of ina maginaton-no.
not the widest nightmare dream had ever
placed me in so desperate and forlorn situa.
ton. 1t was horrible !-horrible! Words
peadlngs, remonstrances were useless, and re-
sistance would tie certain destruction had
better have been uharmed, in an American will
derness. at the mercy Of a savage Indian!-
And now. without daring to stir a hand in op-
position. saw the Lunatc deliberately heave
first one, and then the other bag of ballast from
the car, the balloon of course rising with pro-
Portlonate rapidity. Up, up. up it soared-to
an altitude | had never even dared TO con-
temPate-the earth was lostto my eyes, and
nothing but the huge cloud rolled beneath MS!
The world was gone | felt forever The
Maniac, however, was stia dissatisfied with
oar assent, and again began to mutfcr
Have You wife and cllldrenP ne asked
abruptly
Prompted iYy natural instinct, anj with
pardorable dc, iation from truth replied that
| was married, and had fourteen young ones
who depended on me for their bread.
"Iial ha! hal" laughed The Maniac. with
sparkling Of his eyes that chilled my very mar
row. II have three hundred wives. and i've
thousand children; and # the balloon had not
beer SO heavy BY carrying double. should
have been home to them by this time"
"AnI where do they liveii asked, anxious
70 gain time BY any question that first occurred
10 me.
In the moon" replied the maniac; "aud
" when have lighted the car, shall be there
in no time"
heard no more for suddenly approaching