New-York tribune., 1870-11-03
A BALLOON VOYAGE.
MAX Pol.

The Gazette, of Cambray, gives an account
Of the arrival at that place OF the balloon Washington
and of the journey of the aeronaus from Paris The
Washn gton Paris o'clock the morning Of the
18th 1t was under the Of the aeronaut Bertant
and also carried NJ Lefaivre. an envoy with dispatches
to Vienna, and NJ. Van ROOsebitche, Belgian, whose
speciality IL to and managc carrier pigeons. Nhen
the balloon ascended at Paris il stopped at 900 metres
At this elevation there danger from the Prussian
rifles, and soon, indeed bullets whising past the
ears of the ravecrs Some lodged in the baoon
which, causing II to sink lower by no means diminished
the danger. 1t necessary to haze recourse to eX
treme measures All the sacks of ballast thrown
ont and the rapidly from 1890 to 100 metres
1t then set AT defiance the bullets which fell short OF IT,
But it not yet out Of reach OF the balls sent after
IL. Tho wind rose and 9 dser s'enIe@ a an end 1t
JCas not so howcVer halt hour afterwards tb9
balloon saul again. 1t hung over town evidently occu-
exposed 10 continuous fire OF muskery Soon. however,
high wind from the south rose, ana the balloon, whllng
in wild manner carried far out OF reach 0l
the enemy sank last to within reach Of the ground
This was near the railway station ut Cambray. Ii rose
and sank again The aeronant Thought lle moment ia
vOrabc to throw out h gtappl1SrOn, with its 400 me
tres OF cable. The wind was hig and there was not
moment TO spare While high gale was blowing DE- ul.
wound rapidly the rope. The graphing IRON was aDOut
catch the ground and had 1t done 80 the journey would
have ended. But no! The aCrOnaut was caught IN the
folds Of the rope, which had got tangled and ne was
dragged out Of the car He fell and his dGath seemed
was entan ged in cable. He e nearly 20 metres yet
strange TO say, lie had only few slight bTse Not one
limb was broken balloon left To the direction OF the
two other traveersthe diplomatic envoy and the pigeon
caught the ground and threw to side both car and
balloon. They continued ON their course, striking
ground. Another Of the olers, NJ Lelaiyre, was
pitched of the 1t remained occupied by the
pigeOn-trainer only, who exhibited however, the great
est coolnees. Making use of the ropes which connected
the with the balloon he climbed to the latter and
opened it with knife. lie pulled away large shreds
from it, and at last it shrank and fell Country people,
to the number of 2O0 then came up, and IL was
stopped. The Belgian had not. however, got to
the end of his troubles. The peasants mistook
him for a Prussan, and threatened hlm with
summary punishment. ado with me whatever you
like" he said, "bnt help, in the first instance to
the dispatches which bring from Paris Cut, destroy
he hold
pOrtant paVers." These words spoken In tone
which put end to all alarm All the time, 1870
M, NJ BIicOurt made his appearance. He aided the
traveller, and helped him to his valuable cargo
Soon after NJ Lcfavre up, he having followed at
very great distance 1t not known as yet how
Bcrtant had fared but In short time peasant came
running up, who brought the news that he had been
saved and at that very time his injuries being at
tended TO at farm house at some distance. Three
quarters of hour aftcrward all the three travellers
dining with VI. BricOuTt, and they able TO reach
Cambray three hours later and convey the posoice
the five bags Of dispatches which they brought
from Paris. weighing about 400 klOHammes. The place
at which this balloon came to the ground was AYesnes,
eight kilometres from Cambray