The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-08-14
A French Story.


Here is the last balloon story: Mon
sieur GODDARD. in his last journey to the
clouds but one, was accompanied by a
single fellow traveller, who had paid enc
thousand francs for the privilege of q
place by the side of the celebrated aero
naut. The weather was splendid and the
balloon reached a considerable height.
"What effe It has it on you2' inquired
M. GODDARD of his companion.
"None whatever" was tho curt reply.
Il must compliment you," said N.
GODDARD. "You are the first amateur
have ever known to reach this altitude
without experiencing some emotion"
"Go higher" said the amateur cody.
M. GODDARD threw out some ballast, and
the balloon few up some sixty yards
higher.
SHOW, how do you teel?" -
"Just as usual said the companion in
a rather petulant tone.
"By Jove!' exclaimed M. GODDARD, svou
are born aeronaut, STRIP
The balloon kept on rising, and when a
few hundred yards higher NJ. GODDARD, for
the third time, questioned his compan-
lou as to his emotions.
''Emetions! Not trace of emotion"
replied he, with the tone of a man who
feels that he has been taken in.
"Well, 80 much the worse" said the
aeronaut. II see I shall not be able to
alarm you; we have risen high enough,
and we shall now descend"
"Descend?"
eyes certain ly, it would be dangerous
to go higher"
II don't care about the danger, and
don't choose to descend. 1 am going
higher, / am. paid thousand .rancs
to experience some emotions I'll have be.
fore going down again."
NJ. GODDARD burst out laughing. lie
thought the man was joking.
"Are you gong up higher or nots" said
the companion. at the same time grasping
NJ. GODDARD by the throat and shaking
him violently. II intend to have nv
emotions"
M. GODDARD saw at a glance that he had
to do with a madman. The dilated eyes.
the furious grasp, the very tone If 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 out of the question, as one
violent motion Of the mailman would
be enough to upset the car. All these
thoughts passed N. GODDARD mind in less
than second. His adversary was pow
erful man, and without loosening his
grasp, he called out, "Ah, my fine fellow,
you have been playing the fool with me.
You have made me pay one thousand
francs and not given me single emo
tion''
"Wen but what would you have me
de?" asked NJ. GODDARD, calmly and sooth-
ingly.
I'm going to throw you over" said
! the maniac, with wild laugh; "But first,
an idea strikes me; I'll go up to the ton
of the balloon" and suiting the action 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 mailman uttered a threat. AT
least" said Mr.. GODDARD, 'let me put a
rope around your waist to prevent an &C
cident."
swell, be it So" said the madman.
who seemed to see the necessity 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 a few moments was
seated on the apex, clapping his hands
and shouting with joy. At once he takes
out Of his pocket a large clasp knife, and,
brandishing it above his head, yells ont
"Now, you rascal! you wanted to descend,
did you? So you shall, with a venge-
ancew And, before NJ. Goddard can ut
ter word, four of the six ropes attaching
the car to the balloon are cut, and the
car itself swinging helplessly outside. The
madman's knife was now touching the
other two, when the areonaut calls out to
to him: ''Stop, one word!'
"No, no; down YOU go,'
But let me tell you something, nv
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
mailman, confusedly.
II mean this, that fall of only three
thousand feet might not kill me, and
prefer being killed to being only Grip
pied. Oblige me. therefore, by waiting
until we aise three or four thousand feet
higher"
"Agreed!'' said the mailman, who
seemed to enjoy the idea of so prodigious
| a fall.
The aeronaut keeps to his word; ne
throws out nearly the whole Of his bal
last, and the balloon shoots up rapidly.
But while the mailman is attentive, watch
ing this operation, NJ. GODDARD observes
that among the cordage as yet untouched
is the pully 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 a few mo-
ments the combined effects of the gas and
the now intensely raretied air are ap-
| parent, and the mailman sinks into a
state of lethergy. The aeronaut eau
tiously brings down his balloon, and the
terrible crisis is ended.
Six Per Cents Called in and Four Per
Cents Going Out.