The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-09
DANGEROUS AIR VOYAGE.
The Lntest Paris BnIIoou Fent,

The Latest Paris Balloon Feut.
The Echo du Nord publishes the following in
''The balloon L'Egalite fell on the Gath ultmo
near Louyain.
"The Egalite is the largest balloon which has
left Paris since the investment of the city. 1t
was inflated with 5000 cubic metres of air. and
contained five passengers, Captain Wilfrid de
Fonvielle, his lieutenant, cavalry officer
charged with a special mission, q merchant
from Dieppe, and M: j. Rouze, the two latter
having paid for their journey $500 francs. The
balloon also contained nine hundred pounds of
ballast. A sixth passenger was to have come
but arrived too late.
''1he Egalite left the works at Vaugiraud on
Thursday morning at IL o'clock, and shortly
after passed over the Prussian lines at st. Denis
Pierreftte, Compiegne, and st. Quentin at an
altitude of $500 metres. Over five thousand
rifle shots were fired at the balloon, to which
the inmates replied by letting fall large num-
Der of copies of the Journal Oticiel de la Re
publique. The weather was magnificent, and
the panorama included vast extent of country.
At Compiegne Paris was still in view, and be-
tween Douai and Valenciennes Brussels was
sighted. The atmosphere was as balmy on a
fine August day. The balloon made straight
line over the Northern Railway as far
as Quevrain, at which poiut a current
of air drove ii to the eastward, when it was
resolved to make the descent. Nearly all the
way from Compiegne the balloon maintained an
altitude OF $500 metres, and its rapid descent
caused the travellers q tngling sensation in the
rapid change of atmosphere. The landing of
the balloon was accomplished at terrible risks
the Egalite for twenty minutes dragging the
anchor, which would not take hold In soft
ground. The car of the balloon struck the
trees violently several times, and on one occa-
sion came in violent collision against some
slopiDg ground; the travellers at one time,
although they never lost their sang JrOid, as q
certificate delivered by the captain attests, be-
lieyed it was all over with them; their position
was critical, and, had not the inhabitants
rushed to their assistance very promptly, they
would have incurred great danger. Finally,
they were enabled on the order of the
captain to alight. 1t was then half
past two o'clock, the trip having been
made in three hours and half Lieutenant
PruVille and Captain de Fonviele received
severe sprains, compelling them TO remain at
Louvain. The cavalry officer received cut
in the head and several eontusions of the legs
and arms. The Dieppe merchant was unable TO
walk on arriving at Monscron from a confusion
of the leg. M. RouZe suffered nothing beyond a
slight faintness on alghting, and at one time,
from the fatigues of the descent, he nearly fell
from the car. AS for the news from Paris, it
NAV be summarized in one word, 'eXcellent:"
subsistence for two months and half at least,
bread for eight months, and wine and cognac
for a year. Perfect calmness prevails, and abso-
Lutte confidence in General Trochu and Jules
FavTe is general. The enormous works of de-
fense have been carried out assuming prspor-
tions of works of attack to such an extent that
the Prussians are compelled to construct II
second line of investment In the rear of the
| first, the latter being threatened.
There are nearly six hundred thousand
| armed and determined men in Paris, one half of
| whom there is no doubt will go out. The French
| admirals who are in Paris have been enabled to
correspond by means of marine signals with the
| Army of the Loire. Messages sent from the
| provinces arrive safely The travellers give the
! following as the tariff and present bill of fare
! for a breakfast at the Cafe de Rouen, Palais
| Royal:-Sardines, horse steak, omeette, cheese,
a bottle of wine, coffee, cognac, aud cigars-the
whole for four francs. Breakfast consisting OF
plate of meat, with potatoes cheese, aud hall
a bottle of 'petit-bleu wine, may be had at the
\ eabarels at the barriers for sixteen sous"