The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-11-04
MY BALLOON ADVENTURE.
BY JOHN BERWICK HARDWOOD.

You, and you only, Ned, can save
me. It's my bread, the balloon is, and
not mine only, but that Of little Polly, at
school far away in England there. And
they'll make no more of ripping the De-
tiance' to ribbons than would OF chipping
the shell Of an egg at breakfast, those pep
exceedingly awkward. 1t was the evsning
weather-such as may be looked for in the
south of France-and the Ducasse, or local
festival of St. Mature, village lying on
the coast some two leagues eastward OF Mar
settles, had drawn thither swarm of the
population of the old Phgcean city.
There was dancing in progress-the merry
twang of the tiddles, floating upward
through the vine-tendrils that hung across
the open window, reached my ears as l
stood beside the bed-but the great at
traction of the evening was to be balloon
ascent, in the midst of fireworks, on the
part of an English aeronaut who, in the
glowing lansuage Of the handbills and
posters that had for ten days past adver-
tised the trip, was described as 1.-The
famous, the intrepid Oliver Killick, le
Roi DIES airs"
As for myself, was simply young
English artist, Edward Holmes by name,
not long since returned from a protracted
course Of art-study in Rome, and who
found it hard enough, by touching up
photographs, " finishing the sketches of
amateurs and taking, at the lowest rate of
remun Grafton, the portrait OF whoever IA
vored me with sitting, to procure the
wherewithal to live. l had been acct
dentally thrown good deal in the compa-
ny of Mr. Killick, who had for some time
been exhibiting his balloon in various
towns OF the South, and who had shown
me some kindness as fellow-country.
man; while l, on my part, had regard
for the old man, whose quaint anecdotes
of his experiences as travelling balloon
list were often amusing, and halt OF whose
earnings, as l knew, were sent home tor
the benefit of his little grandchild.
And now serious difficulty had, at the
last moment, arisen. There, in the gar
den of the village inn, fenced off by ropes
and stakes from the pressure OF the crowd
that surged around, was the Defiance,
fully inflated, straining at the cords that
fastened it to the earth and ready for use,
while on his bed lay the unlucky King
of the AR" groanlng and disabled. He
had sent for me to visit him in his rooms
shortly after the occurrence of the acct
dent-it was mere stumble over loose
plank and fall down-stairs-and though
/ svmpathized with him most sincerely
/ had been quite at a loss for an expedi-
ent. Mr.. Killick was heavy, elderly
man, and in the fall had severely sprained
his right wrist and injured his thumb, be-
sides receiving cut on the left temple
from which the blood slowly trickled.
That's nothing" he said, half queru-
lousy, as examined the hurt; "pve had
worse in touching ground many's the day.
It's the thumb that does signify, the
thumb and the wrist. l can't handle the
valve-ropes with this crippled arm any
more than school girl could do it. And
what's to happen now?"
NV first idea was that the accident and
the consequent inability OF the balloonist
to give the promised exhibition should be
notified ana an apology made to the pub
lie; but the veteran decidedly negatived
this apparently obvious proceeding. He
reminded me of the irascible character Of
Southern French mob, and assured me Of
what could readily believe, that no ex-
cuse would be accepted by the fiery Mar
seillais, baked Of the long looked for
treat of an ascent. They would certainly
destroy the balloon, and not improbably
execute Lynch law in some form on the
aeronaut, while the very loss of the De-
fiance would be q serious disaster to its
owner. Then, too, q rich landed pro-
prietor of the neighborhood-a vain
young man, with taste for notoriety-
had offered fifteen Louis dor to be taken
up as a passenger; and to disappoint NJ.
Victor de Villeneuve and lose 800 francs
was also an unwelcome contingency.
To my great surprise Mr.. Killick pro-
posed that should 60 upin his stead and
undertake for the occasion the Office Of
aeronaut. I had indeed accompanied
HIM while we were both at Nice in two
short ascents and had learned from him
to manage the valves and ballast, the rudi
ments of the art of bailooning. I was
young, active and had q steady mead, and
the owner of the Defiance was quite will
ing to intrust her to me if l would but sc
far oblige him. l have never been quite
able satisfactorily to explain to myself
how it was that 1 was startled or cajoleG
into asserting. Perhaps the novelty o.
the notion acting on q somewhat advent
urous fancy made me yield more readily
to the old mans entreaty than would 9th
erwise have been the case. said Yes,
and was held TO my word. ... j..
Hist! walls have ears and certainly
arbors have" whispered the landlord o
the inn as he led me cautiously round BY
the back door into the partially -illumi
mated space without. "Wrap your over
coat well about you and hide your fac
with this red handkerchief. We mustn'
Let the people see as yet it's q raw hant
that's to 60 aloft. Iron de Fair! once up
we can laugh it off," This was all yer,
we'll for the innkeeper, whose only wisl
was to keep the rabble in good hume
and avoid riot, which might lead to tn
pillsge of his cellar and the demolition Q
his furniture, but began inwardly t
question the wisdom of my own choice.
However, it was too late to withdraw
One glance at the sea of keen, olive.com
plexioned faces, the flashing eyes AM
impassioned gestures of the spectators wa