Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-11-12
A PERILOUS BALLOON VOYAGE.
NARROW ESCAPE OF FRENCH AERONAUT
AND HIS PASSENGERS.

NJ NADAR the French aeronaut, has been experiment
ing in France with balloon called the Giant, which he
intended to carry number Of passengers from part
Of Europe to another He made successful ascension
but on Sunday the 18th of October, no made another
ascension from Paris accompanied by his wife and several
other persons, all Of whom narrowly escaped horrible
death The balloon remained in the air nineteen hours
and travelled distance Of six hundred and fifty klome
tres. The following telegram from M. Nadar to his
brother briefly tells the story of his peril:
1--WE came down near Nieubourg, in the kingdom of
Hanover, at about noon on Monday. We were dragged
for severa hours anchors having broken Saint Felix
my wife, and myself seriously hurt; the others
pretty WELL Send me doctor from Paris Pelletan if
possible, or another if he is absent Send news at once
to the Saint Felix, Darnoud, and Yon families &c. Let
little Paul be sent to Paul is NJ Madras son, and
the request that he should be sent to Hanover naturally
our lives the courage and devotedness Of Jules GODDARD
To morrow further details. NADAR"
M: EUGENE ARNoULT, one of the passengers In NJ.
Madras balloon writes as follows to the Paris Nation:
AT nine o'clock on SUNDAY night we were at Erque-
lines passed Malines, and towards midnight we
wers in Holland. We up very high, but 1T was ne
ssssaSy TO down to where we were. Ignorant
of tnat our position was critical one Below as far as
we could see marshes and the distance could
hear the of the We threw out ballast and.
mounting again, lost sight of the earth What sngb
Nobody slept as msy suppose for the idea OF falling
cossary to keep lookout order to effect, II necessary
a descent My compass showed that were going to-
| wards the east that is to say towards Germany.
In the morning, after a frugal breakfast made IN
the clouds, we again descended An immense plan be-
meath the villages appeared to like chidrens toys;
rivers seemed like little rivules-it magical The sun
shone splendidy over all Towards eight O'Clock we
rived near great lake; there found out berring
and announced that at the end Of Holland
the We compelled to think OF landing in order
| to take in little ballast
ily he heav m
over which blew q wind violent that few minutes
anchors, fulcrums of iron, were broken
The valve shut and the balloon which could cary US
longer began giddy We from twerty to
thirty metres and fell with incredible force Little lit
tie the balloon ceased to se and the car fell upon lie side
Then began furious dsordered race all disappeared be-
fore us-rees thckets walls all broken or burst through
by the shock 1t was frghtfu Sometimes it was lake
in which plunged bog, the thick mud OF which en-.
tered mouths and eyes. TWAS maddening Stop
stop shouted, enraged with the mons or who was
dragging us along.
"a railway was before us-a train passing it stopped
at cries. but carried away the telegraph wires and
posts An instant afterwards perceived In the distance
red house; see it now. The wind bore straight for
this house 1t death for ALL for we should be dashed
to pieces No spoke Strange to say, OF those niDe
persons one Of whom lady, who were clnglng to
slender screen Of oser for whom every second seemed
counted not had any fear. All tongues were mute
all faces were calm. Nadar held his wife, Poor woman
Every shock seemed to break her to pieces
Jules GODDARD then tried and accomplished an act OF
sublime heroisn. He cambered up into the netting the
shocks Of which terrible that three times ne Eel
bead at length he reached the cord o. the valve
which he opened and the gas having OF escape the
ceased to but it still shot along in nor zonts
line with prodgious rapidly There were we squaltna
down upon the frail osier car Take care J We CRED
when tree was 10 the way turned from IT, aud the
tree was broken but the balloon was d. charging It's gas
and the immense plain crossing had yet fe"
leagues we were saved.
must leap out at whatever risk the would be dashed
to pieces the first coll sion with those trees got dowG
into the car, and raising myself know not how-tor
suffered from wound In my knees my trousers were torn
| jumped aud made know not how many revolutions
aud fell upon my head. After minutes dizziness rose
The car was then far Fl BY the aid Of stick dragge
myse the forest, and having gone few steps hear
some groans. Saint Felix stretched the soil fright
fully dIs6gued-bis body one wound He had an arm
broken the chest torn and ankle disocated The ca
bad disappeared After crossing river heard cry
Nadar was stretched the ground with dsocated thigh
his wife had fallen into the river Another companion wa
shattered We occupied ourselves with Saint Felix an
Nadar and his wife In trying to assist the latter wa
nearly drowned for fell into the water and sank. The
picked up again aud found the bath had done IN
, good.
got together Vehicles brought they placed upo
straw My knees bled; my lolns and head seemed to
like mincemeat; but did not lose my presence Of min
an instant and for second felt humiated at lookin
from the Of straw at those clouds which in the
had under my feet. IL was in this way reached h
! them, in Hanover II,
lin seventeen hours we had made nearly two bunlre
and fifty leagues Our iHernas had covered spac
OF three leagues Now that it is over have some shu
derpgs 1t does not signify; we have made good j,u
! ney and marvel TO with what ind Inference We ms
regard the most ghtfu death for besides the prospe
Of being dashed about way, had that Of gani
the sea--and how long should have lived then =
glad to have thsbapper yet at having to narrate
: to you"
teegraphc message was received in Paris on the e
suing Thursday from DR. Richard respecting the
He says 1t ia miracle that all of them have not be,
killed. They are all bruised but whole"