Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-11-19


raising into the air amid the applause of the crowd
they cried TO u from below "BohUoyage" Alas
AT zine o'clock al ni.h. we were at Erque ines w
lassyd over Nalines, and towards midnight We were
in Holland.
We very high but it vas necessary to come
down 10 ~lere we were Ignorant of that our 20
si'lon was cri'ica! one. Below, far We could
see, we're marshes, and in the distance could bear
the rear o. the We th,.w out ballast, and mount
lug again, soon lost sight of the earth. What night
Noo'dy slept as You may suppose for the idea OF fall
Ing Int" the sea had hing pleasant about it, and it
was necessary to KEEP look out in order to effect il
Ut cessary, descent. Ny compass showed that we
wee going towards the east-that is tc say, towards
Ge ny
In tie morning, after frugal breakfast made in the
cioui, We rc-d sGrnd;d An immense plain was be.
meath Us The villages appeared to US like children g
toys !lvers Ike little rivuets it magical.
he sun sh0ne sperdidy over sill. Towards eight
O'Clock We arrived n-ar great lake there found cut
Our bearings, and announced that were at the esd
OF Holland near the We were compelled to think
OF laLdng, in oder to take in little ballast. Unhap-
PLY the heavens bad made forget the earth, over
which blew a wind so violent that in few minutes our
anchors-enormOus fulcruns Of iron-were BROKEN
The valve was Shut, ard the balloon which would car
ry us no longer, began giddy career. We from
twenty to thirty etre and fell with incredible force.
Little by little the balloon ceased to rise, and the car
Tell upon lis side. Then began furious, dsordered
ali disappeared before us-trees, Tickets, walls
ell broken ourst through by the shock it was
rightuI. Sometimes 1t Was lake in which We plung
ed; bog, the thick mud OF which entered our mouths
and eyes 1t nna:iieuirg. Stop, stop y. we
shouted enreee! wI}h the monster who dragging
alO1g
A railway vas before us-a train passing it stop
ped at cries, but crrred away the Geographic
posts and wire. & instant afterwards perceived In
the distance red house. SIC it nowthe wiud bore
straight for this house. II death for ALL for We
should he dashed to pieces. No spoke. Strange
to say, OF those nine persons, one OF whom lady
who cnginS to d slender Of OsGr for whom
every second seemed counted, not had any feat.
All toGgues mute, all faces were calm. Nadal
held his wife, covering her with his body. 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 were so terrible that three times
he fell my head At length he reached the cord Of
the valve opened it, and the gas having way of e.
cape the monster ceased to rise but it still shot along
in horizontal ne with prodiyiOus rapidity. There
squattnx down upon the fraif cser car "rake
care - We cried, when tree was in the way. We
turned from it. AID the tree was broken, but the balloon
was dlschargirg it's gas, and it the immense plain
crossing had yet few leagues, we were
saved. But suddenly icrtst appeared in the horizon
must leap out at whatever risk, for the would
be dashed to pieces ut the first collision with those trees
got down into the car, and raising myself know not
how, for | suffered from wound in my knees, my
trousers were tern.
[ jumped, and made, know not how, many revou.
tions, and fell upon my head. After minutes dzzi.
ness rose. The then far eff. BY the aid oil
stick dragged myself 10 the tores', and having gone
few steps heard some groans.
st. Felix stretched the soil, frightfuly dis
figured bis body was one wound he bad az arm bro.
ken, the chest torn, and ankle dislocated The
had disappeared. After crossing river heard a
cry.
Nadar Was stretched on tie groand with a dsocated
thigh his wife had fallen into the river. Another
companion was shattered We occupied ourselves with
ST. Felix and Nadar and bis wife. In trying to assist
the latter nearly drowned, for l fell into the
ter and sank. They picked me up again, and | found
the bath had done me good By the assistance of the
inhabitants the salvage was got together. Vehicles
were brought. They placed US upon straw. My knees
bled my lons and head seemed to be like mincemeat
but did not lose my presence OF mind Instant end
for second felt myself humiliated at looking from
the truss of straw those clouds which in the night
had had under my feet II was in this way reached
Ruthem, in Hanover.
In seventeen hours we had made nearly two hundred
and fifty leagues. Our anfernaie had covered
space Of three leagues. Now that it is oger have
shudderings. 1t does not signify have made
good journey, and marvel to see with what indfer-
ence may regard the most rightful death for be-
sides the prospect OF being dashed about on way
we had that of gaining the sea and how long should
we have lived then l am glad to have seen this-hao
pier yet at having to narrate it to you. These Ger
who surround US are brave people, and we have
been we'll cared for the of the little spot
will allow.
+. 81 have just reached Hanover with my COM
panions, and reopen my letter to tell you The King
has sent an ada-de-camp to Are we at the end o.
revers7s? At any rate, consoed to think they
no longer laugh al in Paris. We have kept ou
promises and more.