Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-16
A DESPERATE ADVENTURE.
WASTLD-FoUK PERSONS WHO ARE BENT


Blank street sfte- 9 III CO in the inorni =.
Captain Cow gill Inserted the above advertise
mcnt In three of the morning papers. with only
faint expectation that It would be responded
to. But the result was that between o'clock
and noon five men and two women called at his
Office to inquire respecting the nature of the
Srs .ireDture. and to offer thc;: services
In the EVEN At il should Involve nothing of a
criminal character. OF these seven Captain
Cowgirl selected four. three men and one young
F''''>'"- and ~Eea he dismissed the others. he
shut the doc and said to the four applicants:
What wanted you for is this: l have made
up ing IniiI that the North Pole can never be
reached by Al exploring party travelling upon
ships I'd >l"d:,.S The only route that is posi-
bly, practicable * through lie ar. and the only
available vehicle. OF course il the balloon But
an attempt 20 reach the Pole IN a balloon must
expose the explorers 10 desperate risks. and 1t
occurred to- IA that those risks had better be
taken by persons who do not value their lives
than by persons VINO do 1t has always seemed
to M that = part 90 the sin Of suicide hes in the
fact that the life wantonly sacrificed might have
been eNpe2''ed In a cause which would have
conferred benefits. directly Or indirectly, upon
The human race ! have u large and superby
equipped balloon, which viii! be thoroughly
stocked tor a VOYAGE To the Arctic regions and
amoa~ other things. it will contain apparatus
for maxim" fresh supplies of by lro@en gas. Are
you four persons win" to make the required
ATTEMPT in this halioOn2 y"
All four of the visitors answered Yes
Were you going to sacrifice your lives at any
rate -
All affirmative answer was given by the four
Permit me to take your Names" said Capt.
Cowgirl and he wrote them down as follows:
Wn. II. CruttCr. pr. Henry G'iIagan Edmond
Jarnve. Mary DeriHott.
Mr.. Crutier was a man apparently of about 60
years Handsomely dressed. InanifcsIy a gentle
man. but with a flushed face which indicated
that he had perhaps indulged to some extent in
dissipation.
Dr. 0Hagan was thin. palld and careworn
He looked rs if lie were Ill. and as if all JOY were
dead in his heart.
Mr.. Jarnvilte appeared to be wOrkinrman
bet his cOuntenance. sad as it was was full OF
Intelligence and his manner was that of a man
who had occupied Il social position much above
the lowest.
Miss Dermott sat with an air of detection.
with her hands i'm her lap. with a thin and
faded shawl Irnned around her. and with her
pale cheeks suggestive of hunger and mental
suffering.
My hope said Captain Cowgirl. "is that
you will safely reach your destinations, and
safely return. But YOU fully understand that
the chances are against you For my own pro-
lection | will ask you to certify in writing that
-
Initiate the balloon Tomorrow. Day after to-
morrow come to this office at 9 o clock and you
Shall make the ascent at once"
On the appointed day the tour volunteers APP
peared. AMI Captain Cowgirl drove with them in
carriage ~ yard in the outskirts of the city,
where the balloon inflated and swaying to and tro
lin the wind. was held the earth with stout ropes
The three men were supplied with warm cloth
Ing. but Miss Dermott had only her threadbare
shawl, and Captain Cowgirl gave her his
Overcoat and two blankets, which he took from
the carriage.
While the vOyagers were taking their places i'm
the commodiOus Car attached to the balloon
youn. man entered the yard and hurriedly APP
preached Captain Cowgirl.
- am going with the balloon" he said almost
fercely, and hardly deigning to look at the
Captain.
Impossible :" said the Captain. "Tbe crew
b made up. You don't comprehend our pur-
pose"
Yes. do" said the young man. "These
people are would-be suicides. ard they are start
hE for the Pole / am going along.H
But, MY dear sir" began the Captain in
tone of expOStuatiOn.
Il will go or will Stay myself right here be-
fore you These people are not any more tired
of life than am
Let him come" said DR.. O'Hagan. gloomily
But" returned Captain Cowgirl, 81 am
afraid the balloon will be overloaded
- am going. anyhow" said the young man,
as he leaped into the car
Captain Cowgirl sighed and said: ''Well, have
your own way about it,
My name is John Winden.' remarked the
Intruder. i tell you, so that you will know if
ANY one inquiries after me- But don't imagine
anybody Will"
Then Captain COgwill babe farewell to the
party. the ropes We're lOOsed. and the balloon
went sailing swiftly toward the clouds Dr.
OHagan was the navigator i'm charge. Presently
nOrtheasterly current of wind struck the air
ship and it began to move with great rapidity
upon horizontal line.
For long time nobody in the car spoke In
deed the yOyagers scarcely looked at each other
and none had enough curiosity to peer over the
side upon the glorious landscape that lay be-
Meath. But. after awhile, Mr.. Crutter gazing
ct Miss Dermott. said
Are YOU fully resolved upon self-destruc-
ton ~
ayes" she replied.
so am l. said MFR. Crutter.
so am ], remarked Mr.. Winden.
81 So am L." observed Mr.. Jarnville
''And /. also" added Dr. OHaran
Even if we reach the Pole safely aud return.
shall not want To live" said Mr.. Crutter
Neither shall l." said Miss DermOtt.
"NOr ]. j" remarked Mr.. Winden.
Nor !. added DIR. O'Hagan and Mr. Jarnville
In breath.
Then there was silence for the space of half
IN hour more.
Mr.. Crutter then remarked: "Do YOU know.
find this to be rather pleasant experience
sailing alone here through the ether calmly far
not SO miserable think i should really enjoy
IT."
II am too unhappy to enjoy anything" said
Miss DermOtt- But this, l confess is not I'M
pleasant"
Pleasant enough remarked Mr. WiDden
" II man had no anguish IN his soul"
" had no idea that there was so much ex-
hilaraton in the upper regions of the atmos-
phere. said DR.. O'Hagan, rather cheerly
II think feel better myself" said Mr.. Jarn-
Vile.
1t Is very strange" observed Mr.. Crutter
addressing Miss DermOtt THAT young people
like you and Mr.. Winden here should be weary
Of life. That an old man like me should long
for death is comprehensive. But why do you
wish to die 2"
Neither Mr.. Winden nor Miss Dermott made
any response.
Il tell yOu," said DR.. O'Hagan, throwing
bag or ballast overheard to check the descent of
the balloon. we are all going to destruction
together: and why should we not, as companions
In misery. unfold our griefs to each other 2"
1T would be very proper. think" said Mr.
Crutter, land will begin If the rest will consent
10 follow