Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-11-20
The Great Balloon Disaster in France,

The aronaut, M. Nadar, made a voyage
in his great balloon, on the 18th ult., of al
most unprecedented length and duration,
terminating in serious disaster. M. Eu-
gene Arnault, editor of the Paris Nation,
was one of the passengers, and he sends his
paper the following graphic account of the
voyage:
"HANovER, Tuesday, Oct. 20. My
Deer Editor-You saw us leave the Champ
de- Mars on Sunday. You were witness
of the majestic ascent of the Geant rising
/. into the air amid the applause of the crowd
They cried to us from below, Bon royage !"
Alas!
AT nine o'clock at night we we're at Err
quelines; we passed over Malines, and to-
ward midnight we were in Holland. We
rose up very high, but it was necessary to
come down to see where we were. Igno-
rant of that, our position was critical one.
Below, as far as we could see, were niarsh-
es, and in the distance we could hear the
roar of the sea. We threw ont ballast, and,
mounting again. soon lost sight of the EARTH
What night Nobody slept as you may
suppose, for the idea of falling into the sea
had nothing pleasant about it, and it was
necessary TO keep look out in order to eff
feet, if necessary. descent. My compass
showed that we were going toward the east
that is to say, toward Germany. In the
morning, after frugal breakfast made in
the clouds, we re-descended. An immense
plain was beneath us the villages appeared
TO US like children's toys-rivers seemed
Ike little rivulets--it was magical. The
sun shone splendidly over all. Toward
eight O'Clock we arrived near a great lake
there ! found out our bearings, and an
nounced that we We're at the end of Hol-
land, near the sea. We were compelled to
think of landing in order to take in little
ballast. Unhappily, the heavens had made
us forget the EARTH over which blew wind
so violent that in few minutes our anchors,
enormous fulcrums of iron, were broken.
The valve was shut and the balloon, which
could carry US no longer, began gddy ca
reer. We rose from twenty to thirty me-
tres, and fell with incredible force. Little
by little the balloon ceased to rise, and the
car fell upon its side. Then begah furi-
Gus, disordered race ; all disappeared be-
fore us---trees, thickets walls, all broken or
burst through by the shock; it was fright
ful. Sometimes it was lake in which we |
plunged; a bog, the thick mud Of which
entered our mouths and our eyes. 1t was
maddening. Stop! stop!' we shouted,
enraged with the monster who was dragging
US along A railway was before us--a
train passing; it stopped at our cries, but
we carried away the telegraph posts and
wire. An instant alterward we perceived
in the distance a red house, see it now
the wind bore us straight for this house. 1t
was death for all, for we should be dashed
TO pieces. No one spoke. Strange to say. 1
OF those nine persons, one of whom was a
lady, who were cinging 10 slender screen !
OF osier, for whom every second seemed
counted, not one had any fear. All tongues q
were mute. all faces were calm. Nadar a
held his wife, covering her with his body. I
Poor woman! Every shock seemed to >
break her to pieces.
Jules GODDARD then tried and accomplish
cd an act Of sublime heroism. He clam
bered up into the netting, the shocks of b
which were so terrible that three times he n
fell on my head. At length he reached the
cord OF the valve, opened it and the gas t,
having way of escape the monster ceased s
TO rise, but it still shot along in horizontal $
line with prodigious rapidly. There were
we squatting down upon the frail osier car. o
Take care we cried, when a tree was in !
the way. We tuned from il and the tree +
was broken but the balloon was discharg- !
ing its gas, and, if the immense plain we 4
were crossing had yet few leagues, we I
were saved. But suddenly forres; ap- {
peared in the horizon we must leap out at
whatever risk. for the car would be dashed
to pieces at the first collision wi,h those
trees. got down into the car, and raising
myself, / know not how, for l suffered from
wound in my knees, jumped, and made,
1 know not how many revolutions, and fell
upon my head. After minutes dizziness
l rose. The car was then far off. BY the
aid Of a stick dragged myself to the tor.
est, and having gone few steps / heard
some groans. Saint Felix was stretched
on the soil, trightfully disfgured his body
was one wound he had an arm broken,
the chest torn, and an ANGLE dislocaied. The
car had disappeared.
After crossing river, / heard a cry.
Nadar was stretched on the ground with
dislocated thigh; his wife had fallen into
the river. Another companion was shat
tered. We occupied ourselves with ST.
Felix and Nadar and his wife. In tryino
to assist the latter | was nearly drowned.
Tor Tell into the water and sand. They
picked me up again, and found the bath
had done me good. BY the assistance of
the inhabitants the salvage was got togeth-
er. Vehicles were brought. They placed
US upon straw. My knees bled my loins
and head seemed to be like mincemeat but
did not lose my presence of mind an in
slant, and for second felt Inundated at
looking from the truss of straw at those
clouds which in The night had had under