The daily gazette., 1878-07-20
A FRENCH STORY.
An AerOnaut's Ride with q
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 tor the privilege of
place by the side Of the celebrated aero
naat. The weather was splendid and
the balloon had reached a considerable
height.
"What effect has 1t Oh you?" inquired
Mr.. Iodard of his companion.
"None whatever" was the curt reply.
81 must compliment yOu," said M.
GODDARD. "You are the first amateur 1
have ever known to reach this altitude
without experiencing some emotion"
"Go higher" said the amateur coolly.
NJ. GODDARD threw out some ballast,
and the balloon flew up some sixty yards
higher.
'Now, how do you feel?"
"Just as usual" said the companion,
in rather petulant tone.
"By Jove." exclaimed NJ. GODDARD,
''you are boln aeronant, sir !"
The balloon kept on rising, and, when
few hundred yards higher, NJ. GODDARD,
for the third time, questioned his COM
paniOn as TO his emotions.
"Emotions not trace of emotions"
replied he, with the tone of man who
feels that he has been taken ia.
"Well, so much the worse," said the
aeronant. 81 see shall not be able to
slarn you we have risen high enough
and we shall now descend"
"Yes, certainly; it would be danger
GUS to go higher"
81 don't care about the danger, and I
don't choose to descend. Fam going high
er, am. paid one thousand francs in
order to experience some emotions, and
emotions I'll have before going down
again."
M. GODDARD burst out laughing. He
thought the man was joking.
"Are you going higher up or not?'
said the companion, at the same time
grasping M. Stodard by the throat and
shaking him violently. ~ intend to have
my emotions
M. GODDARD saw at a glance that he
had 10 do with madman. The dilstet
eyes, the furious grasp, the very tone o
his voice lest 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
enough to upset The car. All these
thoughts passed through M. GODDARD.
mind in less than second. His adver
sary was powerful man, and, without
loosening his grasp, he called out, Gal
my fine fellow, you have been playing
the focl with me. You have made mt
pay one thousand francs and not gwen |
single emotion"
"Well, but what would you have m
do?" asked M. GODDARD, calmly AM
soothingly.
"pm going to throw you over" sal
the madman, with wild laugh "bu
first an idea strikes me I'll go up t
the top of the balloons and, suitin
the action to the word, he jumped int
the rigging of the car.
"But, my poor friend,' said the ae
ronaut, you'll kill yoursely lik
The madman uttered a threat.
least" said NJ. GODDARD, "let me put
rope around your waist to prevent a
accidei t"
Well, be 1t so," said the madmal
who seemed TO see the need of SON
precaution, and the rope having bee
attached, he recommended climbing th
rigging of the balloon with the agility
squirrel, and in few moments W;
seated on the apex, clapping his hant
and shouting with joy. All at once l
takes out of his pocket large clasl
knife, and, brandishing it above b
head, yells out "Now, you rascal yo
wanted to descend, did you? So yo
shall with vengeance n' And. befo
M. Goddard can utter word, tour out
the six ropes attaching the car to IL
balloon are cut, and the car itself swim
ing helplessIy outside. The madman
knife was now touching the other tw
when the @ronaut calls out to him
"Stop, one word !"
"No, no down you co.,
"But let me tell you something, N
friend we are now three thousand fe'
high, it is true, but that is not hie
enough for thoroughly good fall"
"What do you mean ?" asked IL
mailman, confusedly.
81 mean this, that fall of only thre
thousand feet might not kill me, an
| l prefer being killed to be only crippled
Oblige me, therefore, by waiting unit
we rise three or four thousand fe
higher"
"Agreed said the mailman, WI
seemed to enjoy the idea of so prodigior
a fall.
The aeronaut keeps to his word
throws out nearly the whole OF his ba
last and the balloon shoots up rapidl
but while the madman is attentivel
watching this operation M. GODDARD ol
serves that among the cordage as y
untouched is tho pulley of the gas e
cape. He gently draws the cord an
the gas begins to escape immediate
under the spot where the lunatic is pc
, ched. In few moments the combine
effects of the gas and the now intense
, rariflea air are apparent and the madms
4 sinks into state of lethargy. The aero
q aut cautiously brings down his ballot
! and the terrible crisis is ekded,