Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-05

A TALE OF TERRoR.-The following story had
from the lips of well-known Kronaut, and near
ly in the same words.
1t was one of my ascents from Vauxhall, and
gentleman of the name of Mavor, had engaged
himself as a companion in my aerial excursion
But when the time came his nerves failed him. and%
looked vainly around for the person who was to
occupy the vacant seat in the car. Having waited
for him till the last possible moment, and the crowd
in the gardens becoming impatient, l prepared to
ascend alone; and the last cord that attached me to
the earth was about to be cast Oft, when suddenly
strange gentleman pushed forward, and volunteer
ed to go up with me into the clouds. He pressed
the request with so much earnestness, that, having
satisfied myself by few questions of his respect
ability, and received his promise to submit in every
point to my directions, consented to receive him
in lieu of the absentee; whereupon he stepped into
the machine with evident alacrity and eagerness.
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 GOODNESS and self-posses-
session. The sudden rise of 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 trepidation, or at any rate
excitement in the boldest individual; whereas the
stranger was as composed and comfortable as if he
had been sitting quiet at home in his own library
chair. bird could not have seemed more at ease,
or more in its element, and yet he solemnly assu-
red me upon his honor, that he had never been up
before in his life. Instead OF exhibiting any alarm
at our great height from the earth, he evinced the
liveest pleasure whenever l emptied 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
Northeast direction, and the day being particu-
larly bright and clear, we enjoyed delightful
bird's-eye view of the great metropolis and the
surrounding country My companion listened with
great interest, while pointed out to him the vari-
GUS objects over which we passed, till l happened
casually to observe that the balloon must be direct-
ly over Hoxton. My fellow traveller then for the
first time betrayed some uneasness, and anxiously
enquired whetherl thought he could be recognised
by any one at our then distance from the earth. /
told him that it quite impossible Neverthe-
less he continued very uneasy, frequently repeat
ing 81 hope they don't me- and entreating me
earnestly to discharge more ballast 1t then for
the first time flashed upon that his offer to as
cend with me had been whim of the moment and
that he feared the being at that perilous ee-
walton by any member of his own family. there
fore asked him if he resided at Hoxton, to which
he replied in the affirmative; urging again and with
great vehemence, tho emptying of the remaining
sand-bags.
This, however, was ont of the question: consde-
ring the altitude of the balloon, the course of the
wind, and the proximity Of the sea-coast. But
my comrade was deaf to these reasons-he insisted
on going higher, and on my refusal to discharge