Daily globe., 1878-08-11
A French Story.
A correspondent of the Baltimore Sun
d..

writing from 1arlS says:
Here is the last balloon story: Mon
sieur GODDARD. III his last journey to the
clouds but Que, was accompanied 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 a considerable height.
"What effe It has it on youN inquired
NJ. GODDARD of his companion.
"None whatever" was the curt reply.
II must compliment you," said M.
GODDARD. 'sYou are the first amateur l
have ever known to reach this altitude
without experiencing some emotion"
SEQ higher" said the amateur cody.
M. GODDARD threw out some ballast, and
the balloon flew up SOME sixty yards
higher.
s1Now, how do you teel?'
.Just as usual, said the companion in
rather petulant tone.
'.By Jove !" exclaimed NJ GODDARD, "you
are born aeronaut, sir!"
The balloon kept on rising, and when q
few hundred yards higher M. GODDARD, for
the third time, questioned his compan-
lou as to his emotions.
emotions! Not a trace of emotion,
replied he, with the tone of man who
feels that he has been taken in.
'Well, so much the worse" said the
aeronaut II see [ 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"
Il don't care about the ianger, and
don't choose to descend. I am going
higher, am. paid a thousand .rancs
to experience some emotions III have be-
fore going down again
NJ GODDARD burst out laughing. tic
thought the man was joking.
'Are you gong up higher or not?" said
the companion, at the same time grasplng
NJ GODDARD by the throat and shaking
him violently 81 intend to have my
emotions"
M. GODDARD saw at 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 madman would
be enough to upset the car. All these
thoughts passed M. 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
ton"
"Wen but what would you have me
dG?" asked NJ GODDARD, calmly and sooth-
ingly.
lin going to throw you over,' said
the maniac, with wild laugh; "But first,
an idea strikes me; III 60 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 madman uttered threat ''At
least" said Mr.. GODDARD, "let me put a
rope around your waist to prevent an &C
cident"
"Well, be it So" said the madman
who seemed to see the necessity of some
precauti0n, and the rope having been at
tached, he recommended climbing the
rigging of the balloon with the agility ol
a squirrel, and in few moments was
seated on the apex, clapping his hands
and shouting with joy. At once he takes
out Of his pocket large clasp knife, and
brandishing it above his head, yells Gu
"Now, you rascal! you wanted to descend
did you? So you shall, with a venge
ance" And, before M. Goddard can ut
ter word, four of the six ropes attaching
the car to the balloon are cut, and the
caratselt swinging helplessly outside. The
madman's knife was now touching the
other two, when the areonaut calls out te
to him: ''Stop, one word!''
r "No, no; down YOU CO."
''But let me tell you something, my
friend; We are now three thousand fee
high it is true, but that is not higl
enough for thoroughly good fall
"What do you mean?" asked tn,
madman, confusedly.
II mean this, that a fall OF only thre
thousand feet might not kill me, and
prefer being killed to being only Grip
Pied Oblige me, therefore, by waitin
until we aise three or four thousand fec
higher
"Agreed' said the madman, VIII
seemed to enjoy the idea of so prodigiou
a fall.
The aeronaut keeps to his word; n
throws out nearly the whole Of his ba
last, and the balloon shoots up rapid,
But while the mailman is attentive, watct
ing this operation, NJ. GODDARD observe
that among the cordage as yet ,lntouche
is the pully Of the gas escape. He gentl
draws the cord, and the gas begins
escape Immediately under the spot whe1
the lunatic is perched. In a few me-
ments the combined effects of the gas an
the now intensely rarefed air are ar
parent, and the madman sinks into
state Of lethergy. The aeronaut ca,
tiously brings down his balloon, and th
terrible crisis is ended.