The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-05-05
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ton. Very well be quiet. It's my turn to
laugh. It's you, now, who are going to cut
a caper."
The madman was possessed of prodigious
muscular strength. GODDARD did not attempt
to defend himself. "What do you wish of
me?n he asked with calm tone and submis-
sive air.
'Simply to amuse myself in seeing you
turn summersault," answered the man,
with ferocious smile. "But first, (the man
appeared to bethnk himself) I have my
ideas. wish to see if can't find some
emotion up there. must put myself astride
the semicircle"
TIE madman indicated with his finger the
uperpart of the balloon. Just in speaking
he commenced to climb along the cords which
held the car attached to The balloon God
ard, who had not before trembled for himself,
was forced to do so now for the madman.
But miserable man," he exclaimed, s'you
are going to kill yourself; will be seized with
vertigo
"No remarks" hissed the madman, seiz.
ing him by the collar, cor win pitch you in
to the abyss.'
"At least" said GODDARD, "allow me to put
this cord around you, so you may remain at.
tached to the balloon"
''Be it so,' replied the man, who seemed
to comprehend the utility of the precaution
This done, the mailman commence dto climb
along the ropes with the agility of squirrel
He reached the balloon and placed himself
astride the semi-circe. Once there, he rent
the air with shout of triumph, and drew
knife from his pocket.
"W hat are you going to do?" asked God.
ard who feared that he might have the idea
dripping open the balloon. f "
ITO make myself comfortable forthwith"
Utterlng these words, the madman cut slow
ly the cords of his safety which GODDARD had
attached to his body. With single puff of
wind to shake the balloon, the miserable
creature must roll over into the abyss! Mr..
| GODDARD shut his eyes, in order not to see
him. The nladman claps his hands; he can
not contain himself with delight He spurs
the balloon with his heel, as if on horseback,
to guide its flight.
| "And now," yelled forth the madman,
brandishing his knife, 1--WE are going to
laugh. All, robber, you thought to make
me descend! Very well. 1T you who are
going to tumble down in moment, and
quicker than that"
Mr. GODDARD had not time to make move
ment, or put in a single word Before he
was able to divine the Internal intention of
the mailman, the latter, still astride of the
semicircle, had cut-oh! horror.-four of the
cordages which suspended the car to the bal
loon. The car inclines horribly; it only holds
by two-it was but one cord, so slight do
they appear. 1t would have been all over
with Mr.. GODDARD if he had not grasped des-
perately at the two remaining. The knife of
the madman approaches the last cord, yet a
moment, and all will be over.
81 do not ask for pardon; on the con-
rary-"
"What is your wish, them" asked the
madman
"At this moment, now," continued the
eronaut, hurriedly; 1--WE are at the height
of five thousand feet"
Stop exclaimed the madman, "that will
be charming to tumble down such great
height"
YES" replied GODDARD, ''but my expert
ence as an eronaut has taught me that death
is not certain to ensue from fall from that
elevation. Tumble for tumble much prefer
TO fall from such height as to be killed out
right, rather than risk being only lamed;
have the charity to precipitate me from a
height Of nine thousand feet"
"-Ah, that will do" said the madman,
whom the mention of more horrible fall
charmed amazingly
| Mons. GODDARD follows herocally his pur-
| purpose, and throws over an enormous guam
tity of ballast. The balloon makes power
| full bound, and mounts 500 feet in few sec
onds. And while the madman surveys this
operation with menacing air--the eronaut
| thinks to accomplish another quite contrary.
The quick eye of Mr. GODDARD had marked
amongst the cords spared by the mailman,
was the. one leading to the valve. His plan
is taken. He draws the cord, it opens the
valve placed in the upper part of the balloon
for the purpose of allowing any excess of the
| hydrogen gas to escape, and the result which
he hoped Cor was not long in making itself
manifest. Little by little the madman be-
came drowsy, asphyxiated, and insensible by
| the vapors of the gas that surrounded him.
| The madman being sufficiently asphyxia-
| ted for his purpose, GODDARD allows the bal
loon to descend slowly to the earth. The
| drama is finished!
Arriving on terra firma, Monsieur God.
ard, not bearing any hatred to the author Of
his perilous voyage, FASTENED to restore him
| to animation, and had him conveyed, hands
and feet bound, to the neighboring station.
An Irishman dropped aletter into the post
4