Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-10-14

rigrrd up snckher grApoei and thrxw y
out We were JUS 0Ter fArra Dear Ikss
river. and. as the wind was hiSh- TIE
grspnel tore through tao fences snd oruke
them %. sn3rched the rusf oE che barn,
ran against sheep and ripped u ID Bali
and tiIen. as nothing would hold her. We
swnored into the woods, where we ran
plump against q tree. The branches
skinned ssonegnan's fsce, nearly put out
mT LEFT eye. and knocked four teeth out OF
Ee,b,s mouth. II was the mosi exciting
voyage ever took In nay life life ard szss
/ Inst beginning % take an interest IN it,
just getting warmed up and preparing 70
take meteorological observations Be-,
he was 80 very anxious 10 quit that dion
like 10 refuse, although l hated 70 give y
and abandon my scientific investigation
50 threw out my coat and boots and
made the other fellows do the same, and
we rose above the trees and sailed along
spIendidly until we struck he river, when
she suddenly lodged down and the edge
Of The car caught In the water, and TIE
wind took her. and We vent scndding
along like lightning, nearly drowned.
Stonenan was washed overheard, how.
ever, and that lightened her 40 she went
np again, and ] was for staying up; but
Bob said he'd die II he didn't get out soon,
and, besides, he thought we ought 10 look
alter stoneman. But ! said Stoneman
was probably drowned anyhow, so there
was no use of sacrificing our experiments
for him; and told Bob man Of his in
teIligence ought TO be willing 10 put up
with something for the sake VI science.
And Bob said, as for him, science be
hanged; If ! didn't let him out he'd
Jump out. He was sick, you know. The
man was not himself, or he'd never
q talked that way about a voyage that was
90 full 0f interest, and that was likely 10
reveal 80 many Of the secrets Of nature.
But, To obiige him, at last got her down
ON the other side Of the river and the
farmer he came out and held on 10 the
rope.
awhile we were talking 70 bin was
Just telling him that, ~ the gas was com
ing out of the neck Of the balloon, maybe
he'd better put out his cigar, when all Of q
sudden there was a terrific bang; fle gas
exploded and wrapped as in a sheet OF
flame, and the next minute some Of the
neighbors picked up me and Bob, burned
the worst kind. Bob was roasted nearly
10 crisp. Exciting, wasn't IT, And they
took him over 10 the house, where we
found that they had fished out Stoneman
and were rolling his body on q barrel TO
get the water out Of him. When he got
over II they sent the invalid corps back 10
town In buggy, and Bob groasing all The
way and me arguing with him % show
that science reauireseher yotaries 10 give
up little Of their personal comfort for the
benefit IL docs the race, and StoDcman say
ing he wished he was well enough % 90
out and bang the inventor Of balloons with
a shotgun.
but enjoyed the trip more than ] ex.
pccted. 30 many novelties, you know.
And AZ soon as we got home constable
came and arrested me for chucking that
ignorant opponent Of scientific inquiry up
against the fence and wrccking him And
when | was Let off on bail began 10 build
a new balloon. She's done now, and I'm
going 10 make an ascension on Thursday,
Won't you 20 up with mes The days
going 70 come when everybody will travel
that way, It's the most exhilarating mo-
ton IL ~; ET;s;:::!!a Come MP and help
me make scientific observations In the up.
pr eastcrly current"
! didn't accept the professors invita-.
ton. Mar 1deier, IN N. y. Weskty.