The Van Buren press., 1859-08-03
IN Balloon with a Madman

a French paper tells the following rela-
tive to the last balloon ascension of NJ.
GODDARD
Monsieur GODDARD took with him on this
day, as his compagnon du poyage. a wealthy
private gentleman who paid I,0OO francs
for the privilege of sharing in the periis of
the expedition. The weather could not
have been more propitious, and the balloon
shot mp rapidly to-a considerable altitude
What effect does that produce upon
you 80 asked Mr.. GODDARD of his companion.
" Nothing" said the latter, laconically.
"My compliments to YOU" said Mr..
GODDARD. You are the first whom l have
ever seen arrive at such an altitude without
betraying some emotion
Keep on mounting" said the traveller,
with gravity supreme.
NJ. GODDARD threw over some ballast, and
the balloon assembled some 500 feet higher
And now," added NJ GODDARD, does
your heart beat 20
% Nothing, yet, replied his companion,
with an air which approached closely to
impatience.
!" The devil " exclaimed NJ. GODDARD
you have really, my dear sir, the most
perfect qualih alton to be an eronaut.
The balloon still assembled when 1000
feet higher, NJ. GODDARD intcrrogated third
time his companion.
And now -
Nothing, nothing not the .shadow of
fear, whatever - answered the traveller,
with tone positively discontented, and
like a man who had experienced a profound
deception.
Goodness me so much the worse,
then," said the eronaut, smiling " but l
must renounce all hopes of making you
afraid The balloon is high enough. We
are going to descend"
"To descend ~
Certainly there would be danger in
mounting higher"
"That does not make the slightest diff
ference to me /; do not choose to descend"
You what 2" asked NJ. GODDARD.
81 say l wish to ascend higher I; keep
on mounting. have given 1000 francs to
experience some emotion must do SO,
and will not descend before have felt
some emotion"
NJ GODDARD commenced to laugh he be-
lievcd at once it was all joke.
"Will you ascend once more ?" de-
manded the traveller, seizing him by the
throat and shaking him with violence
:" When shall feel emotion 90
NJ. GODDARD relates that at this moment
he felt himself lost. A sudden and dread
full revelation broke upon him in regarding
the strangely dilatcd eyes of his con,pay-
non du voyaye he had to do with mad
man
If even the unfortunate @ronaut had lad
any defensive weapon, he would, after all,
been incapable of defending himself but
it is not usual for persons to furnish them
selves with pistols for voyage in a bal
loon, and certainly one would not dream OF
meeting with warlikc encounter in the
) stars The earth was five thousand feet be-
neath-most horrible depth and the least
movements of the now furious mailman
might cause the car to capsize.
"Ah, all you are mocking me, my fine
fellow" continued the madman, withou,
loosening his grip. All, you think tc
rob me of 1000 francs, as we'll as emotion
Very well, be quiet. It's my turn to hugh
It's you, now, who are going to cut (
caper."
| The madman was possessed Of prodig
GUS muscular force.
! NJ GODDARD did not even attempt to de
fend himself.
"What do you wish from me?'' h
! asked, with calm tone and submissiv
r air.
!, Simply to amuse myself in seeing yol
turn summerscult," answered the mad