Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-12-15
4 DESPEH ADVENT RE.
The stor, Of -Four Wo"ld-bc Suicides

WANTED persons who are bent upon
Committing sncidc to engage in nazard on all
Bank street, after o O'Clock in the morning
Captain Cowgirl inserted the above adj
vertisement in three of the morning pa
pers, with only faint expectation that it
would be responded to. But the result
was that between Q o'clock and noon five
men and two women called at his Office to
inquire respecting the nature of the pro-
posed adventure, and to offer their SER
vices in the event that it should involve
nothing of criminal character. OF
these seven, Captain Cowgirl selected
four, three men and one young woman !;
and when he dimissed the others, he shut
the door and said to the four applicants :
"What ! wanted you for is this : |
have made up my mind that the North
Pole can never be reached by an explor-
ing party travelling upon ships and
practicable Ii through the air, and the
only available vehicle, of course, is a
balloon. But an attempt to reach the
Pole in n balloon must expose the ex-
plorers to desperate risks, and it occurred
to me that those risks had better be taken
by persons who do not value their lives,
seemed to me that part of the sin of
suicide lies in the fact that the life wan
tonly sacrificed might have been expend-
cd in cause which would have conferred
benefits, directly or indirectly, upon the
human race. have a large and superb
ly equipped balloon, which will be thor
oughly stocked for voyage to the Arctic
regions, and, among other things, it will
contain apparatus for making fresh sup
plies of hydrogen gas. Are you four per-
sons willing to make the required attempt
in this balloon ~
All four of the visitors answered,
yes"
"Were You going to acrificsyourlives,
at any rate -
An affirmative answer was given by the
four.
Permit me to take your names" said
Captain Cowgirl, and he wrote them down
rs follows William p. Crutter, DR.. Hen
ry O'Hagan, Edmond Jarnville, Mary
Dermott
Mr. Crutter was man apparently Of
about GO years, handsomely dressed, man
ifestly gentleman. but with IL flushed
face, which indicated that he had per
haps INDUCED to some extent in dissipa
ton.
Dr. O Hagan was thin pallid and care
worn. He looked as if he We're ill, ant
as if all JOY were dead in his heart.
Mr.. Jarnville appeared to be a work
ing man but his countenance, sad as i
was, was full of Intelligence, and hi
manner was that Of man who had occu
pied a social position much above tin
lowest.
Miss Uermott sat with an air of deicc
ton, with her hands in her lap, with
thin and faded shawl pinned around her
and with her pale checks suggestive o
hunger and mental suffering.
"My hope, said Captain Cowgirl 81
that you will safely reach your destina
lions, and safely return. But YOU full
understand that the chances are agains
you. For my own protection | will as
you to certify in writing that You go wit
full knowledge Of the RISKS. ! will in
fate the balloon Tomorrow. Day afte
tomorrow come TO this Office at O'Clock
and y on shall make the ascent at once.
On the appointed day the four volur
teers appeared and Captain Cowgi
drove with them in II carriage, to var
in the outskirts of the city, where the ba
loon, inflated and swaying to and fro i
the wind, was held to the earth with sto,
ropes. The three men were supple
with warm clothing, but Miss Dermo
had only her threadbare shawl, ind s
Captain Cowgirl gave her his overcoat an
two blankets which he took from tie ca
riage.
While the voyagers were taking the
places in the commodious car attached
the balloon, young man entered tn
yard and hurriedly approached Captai
Cowgirl.
~ am going with the balloon, he sale
almsst fiercely, and hardly deigning
look at the Captain.
Impossible ! said the Captain. 9Th