The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-11-25
Adyenturers Of An Eronaut.

Ine Ol. HeterSDurg HeTUtU contains
the particulars of the adventure of the
Russian eronaut Rudolph, who ascended
in balloon, and had been several days
reported missing. "The day selected
for the flight ,Easnot good one, the wind
being strong and boisterous. Ny com-
panion was Professor Baranovsky, of the
Meteorological Observatory. On enter
ing the car, I sang out to the twelve
sailors holding it, to let go. As the
men dropped the ropes sudden gust OF
wind struck the balloon and dashed it
against some neighboring trees, the
branches of which tore a hole in the silk
before it had time to rise. / threw out
ballast, but to no purpose. The car
drifted along the ground till it ap-
preached a lake, when I begged the Pro-
fessor to leave it, with his instruments.
The sailors, running up just then seized
hold of the ropes and enabled Baranov-
sky to get out. They begged me earnest
ly to do the same, on account OF the
dangerous condition of the balloon, but
I refused. The Professor being clear of
the car, shouted to them to let go. ,
ALL obeyed the summons except one
man, who was carried several feet into
the air and dropped amid general roar
of laughter. After this the balloon sailed
along tolerably well, and flew for fifty miles
through the air. when, the gas being ex-
hausted, it fell near the village Of
Rootchi. In very few minutes it was
surrounded by men and women, who
proceeded to tear it to pieces, and ap-
propriate all the articles in the car, in
cluding fifteen guinea binocular glass,
forgotten by Professor Baranovsky. In
all probability I should also have. ex-
perienced rough usage but for the op-
perfume arrival of a Colonel of the I'm
perial Guards and two soldiers from a
neighboring chateau. For a few min
utes the peasants refused to release me,
and defed the Colonel, but his deter
mined attitude and threats to send for
more soldiers, coupled with the presents
of few roubles to buy them drink,
induced them to relinquish me, though
not my property. The Colonel very
kindly took me home, and afterward put
me in his carriage, with the balloon, and
giving me two soldiers to protect me,
sent me off to the railroad station"
The trOng Leg.
The Portland Advertiser tells the fol
lowing story: There was an eminen
sergeant-at-law some years ago who hat
cork leg that was triumph of artist,
deception. None but his intimates knev
for certain which was the real and which
was the sham limb. A wild young was
of the Guitar bar," who knew the ser
geant pretty well, once thought to util
lze this knowledge of the sergeant
secret to take in a newly-hedged youns
barrister. The sergeant was addressing
Especial jury at Westminster in his usua
earnest and vehement style, and the wa.
whispered to his neighbor, "You Sc,
how hot old buzfuz is over his case
now, I'll bet you sovereign I'll rul
this pin into his leg up to the head, ant
he'll never notice it, he's SO absorbed il
his case. He's most extraordinar,
man In that way, This was more thai
the greenhorn could swallow, so he tool
the bet. The wag took large pin from
his waistcoat, and leaning forward drov
it up to the head into the sergeant's leg
A yell that froze the blood of all VIII,
heard it, that made the hair of the jur,
stand on end and caused the Judges vii
almost to fall off, ran through the court
"By Jove, it's the wrong leg, and Tv
lost my money" exclaimed the dismayet
and conscience-stricken wag, quite re
gardless of the pain he had infiiete,
upon the learned sergeant.