The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-11-17
A BALLOON VOYAGE.
&kFTIEe OUT OF PARIS OVER THE HEADS
OF THE PRUss1ANs.

OF THE PRUss1ANs.
The Gazette, of Cambray. gives an &C
count of the arrival at that place of the
balloon Washington and the journey OF
the aeronauts from Paris. The Washing
ton left Paris at O'Clock on the morn
ing of the 18th, It was under the care of
the aeronaut Bertant, and also carried NJ
Lefaivre, an envoy, with dispatches to
Vienna.sand NJ Van Roosebitche, a Bel
gfan, whose spccialityis to rear and man.
age carrier pigeons. When the balloon
ascended at Paris it stopped at 500 me
tres. At this elevation there was danger
from the Prussian rifles, and soon, indeed,
bullets were whistliDg past the ears of
the travellers. Some even lodged in the
balloon, which, causing it to sink lower,
by no means diminished the danger. It
was necessary to have recourse to extleme
measures. All the sacks OF ballast were
thrown out, and the car rose rapidly from
1000 to / 500 metres 1t then set at de-
fance the bullets which fell short of it.
But it was not yet out of the reach Of the
bullets sent after it. The wind rose, and
all danger seemed at end. 1t was not so,
however, tor half an hour afterwards the
balloon sank again. 1t hung over town
evidently occupied by the enemy for
1hree-q quarters IF an lNur, and was expos
ed to a continuous fire of musketry Soon,
however, a high wind from the south
gose, and the balloon, whirling about in a
wild manner, was carried farzout of reach
of the enemy, it sank at last to within
reach of the ground This was near the
railway station at Cambray. 1t rose and
lsank again. The acronaut thought the
moment favorable to throw out his Crap
ping iron, with its 400 metres of cable
The wind was high and there was not a
moment to spare. While high gale was
blowing he unwonnd rapidly the rope.
The graphing iron was about to catch
the ground. and had it done so, the journ-
ey would have ended. But no The ae-
ronaut was caught in the folds of the
rope which had got tangled, and he was
dragged out of the car. He fell, and his
death seemed certain, but by an incredi-
BILE piece of good fortune he was entang-
led in the cable. He fell nearly twenty
metres, yet strange to say, he had only a
few slight bruises. Not one limb was
broken. The balloon, left to the direc-
ton of the two other traYelers-the dip
fomatlc envoy and the pigeon trainer, con-
tinued its course. The graphing irons
caught the ground and threw to one side
both car and balloon. They continued on
their course, striking against trees, which
they broke in shock against the ground
Another of the travellers, M. Lefaivre,
was pitched out of the car. It remained
occupied by the pigeou-trainer only, who
exhibited, however, the greatest GOODNESS
Making use of the ropes which connected
the car with the balloon, he climbed up
to the latter and opened it with knife.
He pulled away large shreds from it, and
at last it sank and fell Country people,
to the plumber of two hundred, then came
up, and it was stopped.
The Belgian had not, however, got to
the end of his troubles. The peasants
misstook him for Prussian, and threat
eped HIM with summary punishment
"Do with me whatever you like" he
said, +" buC help, in the first instance, to
save the dispatches which bring from
Paris. Cut, destroy the balloon. but hold
on by the car, which CONTAINS important
papers These words were spoken in a
tone which put an end to all alarm. At
the same time, 1l:30 in the morning, M.
DlACouIG uouC Ills dPPCdIduCc. 11t dlu-
ed the traveller, and helped him to secure
his valuable cargo. Soon after NJ. Lee
faiyre came up, be having followed at no
very great distance 1t was not known as
yet how Bertant had Jared, but in a short
time peasant came running up, who
brought the news hat he had been saved
and at that very time his injuries were
being attended to at farmhouse at
some distance. Three quarters of an hour
afterward all the three travellers were
dining with NJ Bricourt, and they were
to reach Cambray three hours later and
convey to the post Office the five enoi.
nous bags of dispatches which they
brought from Paris, weighing about 400
kilogrammes. The place at which this
balloon came to the ground was Avesnes,
eight Kilometres from Cambray.