Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-12-15
The Latest Paris BaIloon-A Dam
gerOus Air Voyage.

The Echo du Nord publishes the fol
lowing interesting narrative: The balloon
LEgalite fell on the 9th ult near Lou
vain. The L'Egalite is the largest bal
loon which has left Paris since the in
yestment of the city. 1t was inflated
with 5000 cubic metres of air, aud con
iained FIVE passengers-Capt. Wilfrid dc
i Fouvielle, his lieutenant, cavalry OH
Ger, charged with special mission, a
merchant from Dieppe, and NJ. j.
l 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.
The Egalite left the works at Waugh
rard on Thursday morning at eleven
clock, and shortly after passed over
the Prussian lines at St. Denis, Pierre
ftte, Oompeigne and st. Quentin, at an
altitude Of 2500 metres. Over 5000 rifle
shots we're fired at the balloon, TO which
the inmates replied by letting fall a large
number of copies of the Journal Officiel
de la Republique The weather was mag
nifcent, and the panorama included a
vast extent of country. AT Compeigne
Paris was still in view, and between
Douai and Valenciennes Brussels was
sighted. The atmosphere was as balmy
as on fine August day. The bal !,
loon made straight line over the
Northern railway as far as Quevrain,
at which point a current Of air drove
it to the eastward, when it was re-
solved to make the descent. Nearly
al the way from Compeigne the bal
loon maintained an altitude of $500
metres, and its rapid descent caused
the travellers tingling sensation in the
ears and bleeding from the nose, caused
by the rapid change of atmosphere The
landing Of the balloon was accomplished
at terrible risks-the Egalite for twenty
minutes dragging the ancker, which
would not take hold in the soft ground,
The car of the balloon struck the trees
violently several times, and on one occa-
sion came in violent collision against
some sloping ground; the travellers at
one time, although they never lost their
sang trOid, as a certificate delivered by
the captain attests, believed il was all
over with them; their position was criti-
cal, and had not the citizens rushed to
their assistance very promptly, they
would have incurred great danger
Finally, after dragging a distance Of
three kilometres, they we're enabled on
the order OF the captain 10 alight. IL
was then half-past two o'clock, the trip
having been made in three hours and a
halt. Lieutenant Pruville and Captain
de konvielle received severe sprains' com
polling them to remain at Louvain. The
cavalry officer received a cut in the head
and several Commissions Of the legs and
arms. The Dieppe merchant was una
bic 10 walk, on arriving at MouscDn
from a confusion Of the leg. n. Rouze
suffered nothing beyond a slight faint
ness on alighting. and at one time. from
the fatigues Of the descent be nearly
| fell from the car As for the news from
! Paris, 1t may be summarized in one
/, word, excellent" subsistence for two
3 months and half at least, bread for
eight months and wine and cognae for
year. Perfect ealmness prevails. and
3 absolute confidence in General Trocbu
. aud Jules PaEre is general. The enor-
nous works Of defense have been carried
z out ASSUMING proportions Of gorks Of
stack 20 snch an extent that the Prus-
: sans are compelled 10 construct a sec
ond line Of investment in the rear Of
the hrsi, the latter being threatened.
oil