The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1859-04-01
A Dnel In a balloon.

IOuC, OF t16 CeieUThteu huu iuShy
eronaut, Monsieur GODDARD. NJ
GODDARD took with him on that day,
as his compagnon du yoyage, a
wealthy private gentleman, who
paid 1000 francs for the privilege oi
sharing in the perils Of the expedi
ton. The weather could not have
been more propitious, and the BAL
loon shot up rapidly to considera-
bio altitude.
"Wbat effect does that produce
upon youi" asked NJ. GODDARD OF his
companion.
"Nothing," said the latter, lacon.
ically.
my compliments to you," said
NJ. GODDARD. "You are the first
whom have ever seen arrive a,
such an altitude without betraying
some emotion"
keep on mounting" said the
traveller, with gravity supreme.
NJ. GODDARD threw out some ballast,
and the balloon ascended some 500
feet higher. "And now," added NJ
GODDARD, "does your heart beatl"
"Nothirg yet" replied his COM
panion, with an air which approach.
ed closely to impatience.
"The deuce, exclaimed NJ. God
ard; lyon have really, my dear,
sir, the most perfect qualification to
be An @ronaut."
The balloon still ascended; when
1,500 higher, NJ. GODDARD ihterro-
gated third time his companion -
,"And nowl"
"Nothing, nothing; not the shad.
ow OF fear whatever" answered the
traveller, with tone positively dis.
contented, and like a man who had
experienced a profound deception.
Goodness me! so much the worse
them" said the nronaut, smiling;
l"but / must rcnounce all hopes oi
making you afraid. The balloon is
high enough. We arc going to de-
scend.'
ITO deseend?"
Certainly; there would be danger
in mounting higher"
THAT does not make the slightest
difference to me; do not choose to
descend"
"You, whatp" asked VI. Goddard
81 wish to ascend higher, keep on
mounting. | have given you 200
francs in order to experience sCms
emotion; must do 80, and will not
descend before have felt some emo
'tionl"
| NJ. GODDARD commenced to laugh
he believed at once that 1t was all O
joke.
"Will you ascend once more?
/ demanded the traveller, seizing him
by the throat and shaking him with
violence. when shall | feel some
qmotion!"
NJ. GODDARD relates that at this mo
meut he ielt himself lost. A sud
den and dreadful revelation brok,
upon him in regarding the strangely
diated eyes Of his companion; h,
had to do with a madman.
To try To make IL maniac listen 10 reason:
i To ask for help amidst the ciouds
! II even the unfortunate @ronan
had had any defensive weapon, HI
would after all been incapable of de-
lending himself; but il is not usua
for people to furnish themselves will
pistols for a voyage in a balloon
and certainly one would not dream
of meeting with a warlike encounte
the stars. The earth was 500
e, feet beneath-nost horrible 1epth;-
and the least movement of the nov
4. furious madman might cause the ca
to capsize. M. GODDARD with tn
j presence Of mind acquired by him il
so many Of his daring aerial expedi
ItioIs, made all these reflections il
|; the space OF a second.
+ "Ah! ha! you are mocking me
my fine fellow" continued the mad
: man, without loosing his grip
: "Ah! you think to rob me Of 100,
. francs, as well as my emotion
!, Very well, be quiet. lt's my tur
h to laugh. It's You now who are 60
' ing to cut caper."
Il Tho madman was possessed {
q prodigious muscular force. Nj. God
d ard did not even attempt to defen
o himself.
, "What do you wish from mel
y asked he with a calm tono and sui
missive air.
- "Simply to smuse myself in seein
you turn a summersault," answere
the madman, with ferocious smil
"But first (he madman appeared
bethink hilnselt,) have my idea.-
| wish to see il | can't find son
Q. emotion up there. l must put m.
NJ n, self astride on the semicilcle."
to The madmsn indicated with h
% finger the upper part OF the balloo
Just in speaking, he commenced
climb along the cords which he
ut the car attached to the balloon.
or GODDARD, who had not before treT
a bled for himself, was forced to do
Jr. now for the madman.
"But, miserable man, you are 6
Il ing to kill yourself; You will
H. seized with vertigo"
in "No remarks" hissed the ms
his man, seizing him again by the coll
led "or will at once pitch you into
. abyss"
re "At least" observed M. Coda
re "allow me to put this cord arou
his his your body, 80 that you may REM
dis attached to the balloon"
:. "Be it So" said the madman, "
10 ann. Al ,xs.l