River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-08-15
A French Story.

A French story.
A correspondent of the Baltimore Sun
writing from Paris Gays:
Here is the last balloon story: Mon
sieu G ID lr |, ia his last j)lrleF to the
clouds but one, was accompanied by
single fellow traveller, who had paid enc
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 t has it on you?' inquired
NJ GODDARD of his companion
'None whatever was the curt reply.
II must compliment you,n said M.
GODDARD "You are the first amateur |
have ever known TO reach this altitude
without experiencing some emotion
600 higher" said the amateur cody.
NJ GODDARD threw out some ballast, and
the balloon flew up some sixty yards
higher.
''Now, how do you teel2"
aJust as usual, said the companion in
a rather petulant tone.
by Jove." exclaimed M. GODDARD, "you
are a born aeronaut, sir"
The balloon kept On rising, and when a
few hundred yards higher M. 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.
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"
"Descendl"
Eyes certainly, it would be dangerous
to go higher"
II don't care about the ianger, and
don't choose to descend. ! am going
higher, ] am. / paid thousand francs
70 experience some emotions I'll have be-
fore gong down again.
M. GODDARD burst out laughing. lie
thought the man was Joking.
.'Are you gong mp higher or notf" said
the companion. at the same time grasping
NJ. GODDARD by the throat and shaking
him violently. II intend to have my
emotions"
NJ GODDARD saw at glance that he had
to do with a madm IN. The dilated eyes,
the furious grasp, the very tone If his
voice left no doubt about that.
But what was to be done2 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 mind in less
than second. His adversary was pow
erful man, and without loosening mis-
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 a single emo
ton"
"Well but what would you have me
dG?n 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 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
maui, you'll kill yourself like that
The mailman 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 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
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 out
"Now, you rascal you wanted to descend,
did your So you shall, with a venge-
ancer And, before NJ Goddard can ut
ter word, four of the six ropes attaching
the cur 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 !"
mo, no; down YOU GO"
"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"
"tVhat do you mean9' asked this |
mailman, confusedly
II mean this, that fall or 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
il 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 few mo
ments the combined effects Of the gas and
the now intensely rarefed air are APP
parent, and the mailman sinks into
state of lethergy. The aeronaut eau
tiously brings down his balloon, and the
terrible crisis is ended.