The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-04-20

first fthe madman appeared To bethink
himself) 1 have my idea. d / wish to see
IL cannot find some emotion up there.
l must put myself astride on the semi
circle" s@ "
The mailman indicated with his finger
the upper part of the balloon. Just in
speaking, he commenced TO climb, along
the cords which held the car attached TO
the balloon. M. GODDARD, who had not
before trembled for himself, was forced to
do so now for the madman. 1 las .stali
. "But miserable man, sou are going to
XIII yourself; you will be seized with YER
tigo.' ''A -.
8" No remarks" bissed tho madman,
seizing him by the collar sor will at
once pitch you into the abyss"
At least" observed M. GODDARD, /" al
low me TO put this cord around your body,
so that you may remain attached TO the
balloon" Be it So" said the mailman,
who seemed TO comprehend the utility of
the precaution. This done, furnished with
his cord Of safety the mailman commenced
to climb along the ropes with. the agility
Of a squirrel. He reached the balloon
and placed himself astride the semi-circle,
as he had said. Once there he rent the
air with q shout of triumph, and drew
his knife from his pocket.
"What are you going to do!" asked
M. GODDARD, who feared he might have
the idea Of ripping open the balloon.
"To make myself comfortable forth
with" Uttering these words the mad
man cut slowly tho cord Of safety which
M. GODDARD had attached 10 his BODY
With a single putt of wind TO shake the
balloon, the miserable creature must roll
over into the abyss III. GODDARD shut
his eyes in order not 10 see him. The
mailman claps his hands; he cannot con-
tain himself with delight. He spurs the
balloon with his heels, as if on horseback
to guide its flight.
"And now," yelled forth the mailman,
brandishing his knife, "we are going TO
laugh. Ah, robber, YOU thought to make
me descend! Very well. Its you who
are going TO tumble down in moment
and quicker than that"
M. GODDARD had not time TO make
movement or put in a single word. Be.
fore he was able to divine the Internal In
tention Of the madman, the latter, Still
astride Of the semi-circle, had cut-oh!
horror four Of the cordages which susl
pended Che car of the balloon. .Tha car
inclines horribly; it only holds by two
/ was going 10 say by one cord, so slight
do they appear! IL would have been all
over with NJ. GODDARD if he had not grasp
ed desperately at the two remaining.--
The knife OF the madman approaches the
last cords-a moment and all will be
over.
"a word-a single word" cried NJ.
GODDARD. ~ F
"No--no pardon" vociferated the
mailman.
az do not ask for pardon; on the con-
trary-."
"WhaL is it YOU wish thenp said the
mailman, astonished. 80
AT this moment, now," continued the
;eronaut hurridley," we are at height Of
5000 feet" i.ts"- a'sal'I'
"Stop,r said the madman, " that will
be charming TO tumble down from such
height"
at is still too low" added NJ. God
ard. 81 1ra F@
How soY' asked the msdman, stupe-
fed. f...
Yes" said NJ. GODDARD, "my expert
ence as an eronaut has taught me that
death is not certain 10 ensue from fall
from tha, elevation. Tumble for tumble,
l much prefer to fall from such height
as 20 be killed outright, rather than risk
being only lamed; have the charity TO
precipitatc me from a height Of 1000 feet
only @ ~ ~
aAh, that will d." said the madman,
whom the mention of more horrible fall
charmed amazingly. i' tudn s.--
NJ. GODDARD follows heroicalIy his pur-
pose. and throws out an enormous guam
tity Of ballast. The balloon makes a
powerful bound, and mounts 500 feet in
few seconds. Only-and while The mad
man surveys this operation with a n,enac-
ing air-the aeronaut thinks to accom-.
plish another quite contrary. The quick
eye of M. GODDARD had remarked that
amongst the cords spared by the mad
man, figures the one leading to the valve.
His plan is taken. He draws the cord, il
opens the valve placed in the upper part
of the balloon for the purpose of allow
ing any excess of the hydrogen gas to es
cape, and the result which he hoped for,
was not long in making itself apparent.
Little by little the ..madman became
drowsy, asphyxiatsd, and insensible by
the vapors Of the gas which surrounded
him. r 1a9 ir.aa- as,t,s sa fsll
The mailman being sufficiently asphyx-
lated for his purpose, NJ. GODDARD allows
the balloonIto descend slowly 10 the earth.
The drama is finished ,
Arrived ON terra .frma, M. GODDARD,
not bearing any hatred TO the author Of
his perilous voyage, fastened to restore
him 10 animation, and had him conveyed,
handa an1 foat hound 10 tha na,r,hI,or,,no,