The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-10-19
A BRAVE WOMAN.
By JAMES REYNOLDS.

on any aerial excursion, have woman if
can help it.
Now, you all have doubtless read of
hair breadth escapes in balloons-inci-
dents of tile most extraordinary character,
such, for example, as maniacs insisting
upon cutting your throat if you do not sail
directly to the moon; of men and women
marrying in them when suspended be-
tween heaven and earth; of people quietly
rising in the basket. and upon wondering
how long a person could hold the breath
while pitching headlong to the hard earth,
suddenly decid de upon trying the expert
ton, find that they are out of reach of
progression through space.
Stories of balloon adventures, sir, he
continued, why, there are enough of
them to fill huge quarto, and doubt if
any of them has the essential merit of
truth in them.
The fact is, ballooning is rather
prosv thing when you get accustomed to
ii, and it isn't your light-headed people
who take to it. No, it is the cool, resolpte
man, who places himself in the basket
and waits patiently to have the earth sink
beneath him.
All this was said seasons ago, when the
great balloon "Graphic' was in progress
of initiation at the Capitoline Grounds,
Brooklyn, for the voyage across the At
lantic, in the great eastern current of air,
of which Prof Wise talked SO learnedly.
Fortunately for Wise, he Haunted, as his
enemies declared, "the white feather"
and the giddy-headed gentleman who in
sisted upon taking his place was saved
the trouble of ducking in mid-Atlantic
by the balloon collapsing.
well, said the friend of the Professor,
what reason have you for excluding
women from your balloon?'
They are too daring-too reckless,
replied the balloonist. You don't know
is till she gets started.
Now, my incident is this: You OBJ
serve the netting which encloses the bag?
To he sure you Go. And you. also, if you
take the trouble of standing here, may no.
tice square place where there is trap
board about the size of the palm of your
hand? You see it, Ell? Very we'll. Now
for my story. Were you ever in Oak
land? 1t is on the side Of the Bay of San
Francisco, that is, opposite the city. 1t
is a famous place for fun. There is more
frolicking going on there of Sunday
afternoon than in all the United States
besi3c.
Now, in 1852, l made my first ascent,
and it was at Oakland, in Prof. Wilson's
aerial ship, the California" think it
named The Professor was indisposed
that day, and l being a young friend of
his. he asked if would take his place.
hesitsted.
"You needn't be afraid" he continued.
I'll show you how to manage the ship.
There is a valve to open when you feel
yourself rising too high, or the balloon it.
self becomes too much distended by the
refraction of the atmosphere; and, if
you find yourself approaching the earth
too rapidly, or in an undesirable place for
out bag or two of sand. And when you
decide on landing, throw out the anchor
and let it trail until it fastens itself to
some object; then, if you have still too
much power, dispose gradually of the re-
manning gas, and you will be comfort
able. But don't you land far away from
habitable quarters, if you should be
drifted far from your place of ascent
l can't say was wanting in courage;
but still hesitated felt like boy
who, standing on the shore of a river, is
about to make his first plunge.
"Ihere is young woman going" he
resumed; she is rather pleased with the
idea of sailing through the air. 1t will
be novel to her-a sensation she has not
yet eXperienced.'
WAS she ever up before!" ques-
toned |
"Never, believe" answered the Pro-
fessor.
Then won't be beaten by girl,'
returned.
"Come, then," cried the delighted
Professor. You see the place is crowded
with people, and l don't want to disap-
point them. 1t was my intention to give
them some gymnastic exercises in mid
air, but am not we'll or in the humor of
it; the ascension III satisfy them.''
The great balloon was by this time
ready for the journey. The young woman
was already comfortably seated in the car
"Well," said to myself, you're
cool specimen of your sex, anyhow"
This is my friend Boynton, Miss Sta
pies" Wilson remarked as he bowed.
- He will take care of you"
The young lady looked, nodded, smiled,
and then showed her white teeth, which
were as regular, as shapely and as hand
some as artificial ones-which they were
not.
Now, are you ready? ~ asked the Pro-
fessor, turning to us.
We both bowed assentingly.
"All right, then," he added. "Boyn-
structions.'' Then waving his hands to
the men holding the ropes, he cried
Let go!''
The ship rose swiftly and majestic
ally.
For moment my heart was in my
mouth.
1t, however, returned to its pace with
out further emotion on my part. and felt
as collected and apparently as much at
home in the basket as if I had been an
aerial voyager all my life.
Magnificent! Oh, how sublime! How
grand! How glorious"" I heard the young
lady exclaim, moment later.
l looked up, and l must declare, for !
you see it was my first experience, 1 |
felt like repeating the expressions of the |
lady. -
And then began to speculate upon the |
danger of the voyage.
We were by this time about two miles
high in the atmosphere, and found that |
it was growing quite cold. The barome.
ter and the thermometer informed us lust
where and how cold we were.
AND. as we rose, the bag of the balloon
expanded more and more.
1t was almost at its tension.
The zephyrs, for such the motions of |
the air-currents might be called, were
drifting us toward Mount Diablo. Soon
we would be beyond it, and perhaps in |
ann, an hour or two be floating over the foot
We are getting too high, Miss Sta.
PIES. said. II will open the valve.
This Is the ropc-I will not let any too
l'S, ! pulled. Merciful heavens!
found that / could not get the cord to