New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-08-21
A French Story.

writing from Paris says:
Here is the last balloon story: Mon
sieu GODDARD, in his last j,lcney to the
clouds but oae, was accom- panied by a
single fellow traveller, who had paid one
thousand francs for the privilege OF a
place by the side of the celebrated aero
naut The weather was splendid and the
balloon reached considerable height.
"What effe It has it on you2' inquired
M. GODDARD Of his companion
s.None whatever" was thu curt rep.7. 4
II must compliment you," said M.
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 s..ss5.
sNow, how do you teel?"
"Just as usual, said the companion in
a rather petulant tone.
'By Jove!'' exclaimed NJ. GODDARD, "you
are born aeronaut, STRIP
The balloon kept on rising, and when a
few hundred yards higher NJ. GODDARD, for
the third time, questioned his com pan
lou as to his emotions.
.sEmetions! Not trace of emotion, y
replied he, with the tone Of a man who
feels that he has been taken in.
swell, SO much the worse" said the
aeronaut. 81 see shall not be able to
alarm you; we have risen high enough,
and we shall now descend
"Descend2"
eyes certainly, it would be dangerous
to go higher"
II don't care about the danger, and
don't choose to descend. l am going
higher, am. I paid thousand srancs
to experience some emotions I'll have be.
fore going down again.
NJ. GODDARD burst out laughing. He
thought the man was joking.
"Are you gong up higher or not2n said
the companion. at the same time grasping
NJ. GODDARD by the throat and shaking
him violently 81 intend to have my
emotions"
NJ. GODDARD saw at a glance that he had
to do with madman. The dilated eyes,
the furious grasp, the very tone Of 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 NJ. GODDARD S mind in less
than a second. His adversary was pow
erful man, and without loosening his
grasp, he called out, ssAh, 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
do?" asked NJ. GODDARD, calmly and sooth-
ingly.
Pm going to throw you over,'' said
the maniac, with wild laugh; .But first,
an idea strikes me; I'll go up to the top
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 threat. >sAt
least" said Mr.. GODDARD, "!et me put a
rope around your waist to prevent an ac-
cident"
swell, be it so," said the mailman,
who seemed to see the necessity of some
precaution, and the rope having been at
Tackled, he recommended climbing the
rigging of the balloon with the agility OF
a squirrel, and in a few moments was
seated on the apex, clapping his hands
and shouting with JOY. At once he takes
out of bis pocket a large clasp knife, and
brandishing it above his head, yells out
''Now, you rascal you wanted to descend
did you? So you shall, with a venge-
ance!'' 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 co.
ssBut 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?o asked the
mailman, confusedly.
Il 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, "
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