Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-08-03

An Aeronaut's Ride with a Mad
Man.

The correspondent of the Baltimore
Sun writing from Paris says:
Here is the last balloon story: Mon
sieur GODDARD, in his last journey to the
clouds but one, was accompanied by
single fellow traveller, who had paid
one thousand francs for theA privilege of
a place by the side of the celebrated
aeronaut. The weather was splendid,
and the balloon had reached a consider
able height.
what effect has it on you!' inquired
NJ. GODDARD of his companion.
None whatever, was the curt reply.
4 wust compliment you, said Mr..
GODDARD. You are the first amateur L
have ever known to reach this altitude
without experiencing some emotion.
60 higher said the amateur coolly.
Mr.. GODDARD threw out more ballast,
and the balloon flew up some sixty
yards higher.
Now how do you feel?'
Just as usual said the companion in
rather a petulant tone.
BY Jove! exclaimed NJ. GODDARD,
'you are a born aeronaut, sirG
The balloon kept on rising, aud when
a few hundred yards higher, NJ. GODDARD,
for the third time, questioned bis COM
panion as to his emotions.
'Emotionsl not trace of emotions,
replied he, with the tone of man who
feels he has been taken in.
well, so much the worse, said the
aeronaut. Il see | shall not be able TO
alarm You; we have risen high enough
and we shall now descend.
'Descend?'
yes, certainly, it would be danger
ous to go higher.
4 don't care about the danger, and l
don't choose to descend. I'm going
higher, am. l paid thousand francs
in order to experience some emotions,
and emotions I'll have before going
down again.
NJ. GODDARD burst out laughing. He
thought the man was joking.
'Ale you going up higher or not?
said the companion, at this time grasp
ing Mr.. GODDARD by the throat and shak,
ing him violently. Il intend to have
my emotions
N. GODDARD saw at a glance that he
had to do with mailman. The dilated
ewes, the furious grasp, the very tone oi
his voice left no doubt about that.
But what was TO be done? They
were some 5000 feet high among the
clouds; a struggle was ont Of the ques
ton, as one violent motion of the mad
man would be enough to upset the car
All these thoughts passed through Nj
Godard's mind in less than second
His adversary was powerful man, and
without loosening his grasp he called
ont. 'Ah, my fine fellow, you have
been playing the fool with me. Yor
have made me pay one thousand franc:
and not given me single emotion.
well, but what would you have mt
do?' asked M. GODDARD, calmly ant
soothinsly.
I'm going to throw you over, sale
the maGman with wild laugh; 'but
first an idea strikes me; I'll go up to the
top of the balloon, and suiting the ac
ton to the word, he jumped into the
rigging of the car.
But, my poor friend said the aero
naut, you'll kill yourself like that
The madman uttered threat. 'At
least, said Nj. GODDARD, let me put {
rope around your waist to prevent acci
dent.
well, be it SO, said the mailman
who seemed to see the need OF some
precaution, and the rope having been at
tached he recommended climbing the
rigging of the balloon with the agility
of squirrel, and in few moments was
seated OH the apex, clapping his hands
and shouting with joy. All at once be
took out of his pocket large CLASP
knife, and brandishing it above his
head, yelled out: Now, you rascal,
you wanted to descend, did you not1
So you shall, with vengeance? And
before NJ. GODDARD could utter word
four out of the six ropes attaching the
car to the balloon are cut, aud the car
itself swinging helplessly outside. The
madmans knife was now touching the
other two, when the aeronant calls out
to him: Stop; one word.
NO, no; down you 60.
'But let me tell you something, my
friend. We are now three thousand
feet high, it is true, but that is not high
enough for thoroughly good fall.
'What do you mean? asked the mad
man, confusedly.
Il mean this, that a fall of only three
thousand feet might not kill me, and
prefer being killed to be only crippled.
Oblige me, therefore, by waiting until
we raise three or four thousand feet
higher.
agreed said the mailman, who
seemed to enjoy the idea of SO prodigi-
Gus fall.
The aeroDaut keeps to his word; he
throws out nearly the whole of bis
ballast and the balloon shoots up rapid
ly, but while the madnan is attentively
watching this operation NJ. GODDARD OBJ
serves that among the cordage as yet
untouched is the pulley of the gas
escape. He gently draws the cord and
the gas begins to escape Immediately
under the spot where the lunatic is
perched. In few moments the com