Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-01-19
4 DESPERATE ADVENTURE.


WANTED-Four persons who are bent upon com
mitting suicide, TO engage in a hazardous adventure
Apply to Capt. Cowgirl, No. -, Blank Street. after
O'Clock In the morning.
Capt. Cowgirl inserted the above advertise
ment in three Of the morning papers, with
only faint expectation that it would be re-
sponded to- The result was that between
nine o'clock and noon five men and two wom-
en- called at his Office TO inquire respecting the
nature of the proposed adventure, and to Of
fer their services il it involved nothing of
criminal character. OF these seven, Captain
Cowgirl selected four-three men and young
woman; and when he had dismissed the 9th.
ers, he shut the door and said:
What wanted you for is this | have
made up my mind that the North Pole can
never be reached by an exploring party trav-
elling npon ships and sledges. The only
route that is possibly practicable is through
the air and the only available vehicle, there
fore, is a balloon. But an attempt to reach
the Pole IN balloon must expose the ezplor-
ers to desperate risks, and it occurred TO me
that those risks had better be taken by per.
sons who do not value their lives, than by per
SOILS who do. 1t has always seemed to me
that part of tho sin of suicide lies in the
fact that The life -wantonly sacrificed might
have been expended in cause that would
have conferred benefits directly or indirectly,
upon the human race. l have large aud
superbly- equipped balloon, which will be
thoroughly stocked for voyage to the Arctic
regions, among other things containing appa-
ratus for making fresh supplies of hydrogen
sas. Are you four persons willing to make
the required attempt in this balloon"
All four of the visitors answered, YES"
Were you going to sacrifice your lives any
way T.
An affirmative answer was given by the four.
Permit me TO take your names" said Cap
tain Cowgirl, and he wrote them down as fol-
lows William p Crutter Dr. Henry OLA
gan, Edmond Jarnville, Mary Dermott.
MIR. Crutter was man apparently about
sixty years of age, handsomely dressed, man
ifestly gentleman, but with a flushed face
which indicated that he had perhaps indulged
to some extent in dissipation.
Or. o Hagan was thin, pallid and careworn.
He looked as If he were i'll, and as if all Joy
were dead in his heart
Mr.. Jarnville appeared to be a working
man but his countenance, sad as il was, was
full Of intelligence, and his manner was that
of man who had occupied social position
much above that of the lowest.
Miss Dermott sat With en- air of detection,
with her Aands IL her lap, with thin and
faded shawl pinned around her, and with her
pale cheeks suggestive Of hunger and mental
suffering,
My hope, said Captain Cowgirl, sis that
you will safely reach your destination, and
safely return but you fully understand that
the chances are against you. For my own
protection l will ask you TO certify in writing
that you 60 with full knowledge of tho risks
will initiate the balloon to- EsorEow. Day af-
ter tomorrow come % this office at nine
O'Clock, era you shall make the ascent at
i once"
On the day appointed the foaE volunteers
| appeared, and Captain OoWgill drove with
! them in u carriage TO a yard in the outskirts
| of the tity, where the balloon, inflated and
awaying to and fro in the wind, was held to
the earth by stout ropes. The three men
were supplied with warm clothing, but Miss
| Dermott had only her threadbare shawl SO
| Captain Cowgirl gave her his overcOat and two
blankets which he took from the carriage.
While the voyEgers we're taking their places
in the eommodious car attached to the bal
loon, young man hurriedly entered the yard
and approached Captain Cowgirl,
II ala goiAg wiiE the balloon, he said, al
most Aercely, and hardly deigning to look al
the captain.
Impossible" :" said the captain "the crew
is made up. You don't comprehend our pur
pose,
''Yes, do, said the young man YThes,
people are would-be suicides, and are starting
for the Pols- am going along
l But, my dear sir" began the captain, il
a tone Of expostulation.
~ will go, or will slay myself right her,
before you These people are not any NOR
tired of life than am"
LET him come, " said D. Q'HagAn, gloom
lily.
''Eat an afraid the balloon will be over
loaded, said the captain.
II sm going, anyhow, " said sAa young man
as he leaped into the cSy,
Captain Cowgirl sighed, but said, "Well
have EoGr own way about it.
MY name is John Winden," remarked tn
intruder II tell you SO that you will kno'
it if any one inquiries after me; but don
imagine anybody will"
Then Captain Cowgirl bade farewell to th
party, the ropes were loosed, and tha balloo
went sailing swiftly toward the clouds. Dl
O'Hagan was the navigator in charge. Pre-
emily Q northeasterly current of wind struo
the all. ship, and it began to move with grel
rapidity upon horizontal line,
For long time nobody in the car spok'
Indeed. the voyagers scarcely looked at oac
. other, and none had sufficient curiosity
peer over the side upon the glorious landsoaI
that lay beneath. But after while Mr.. Cru
ter, glanoing at Miss Dermott, said
'Are you fully resolved upon self-destru
tiony'
: "Yes," she replied.
! 80 am l, " said Mr.. Crutter."
, $50 am ], remarked Mr., Winden,
$50 am l, observed Mr.. Jarnvine,
"And ], alsa, added DIR. 0'Hagan,
9 Even if we reach the Pole safely and r
J, turn, l shall not want to live" said Mr.. Cru
i ter.
Neither shall l." said Miss Dermott.
Is "Nor l." remarked Mr.. Winden.
= "Nor 1, added DR.. O'Hagan and Mr.. Jar
vile in a breath
There was silence for the space of half
10 hour or more. Then Mr.. Crutter remarked
l. do you know, find this rather pleasa
J experience, sailing along here through
+ ether, calmly, far above the distrRctioaa
g the world IT l were not 90 mtGerable,
>, think l should really epioy H.
t 81 am too unhappy to enjoy anything
@ s0id MiGs permott "but this, confess,
/ not unpleasant"
ID Pleasant enough, remarked Mr., Wind1
IS "if man had no anguish in his soul.
~ had no idea there was so much eXhila
D, tion in the upper regions of tho atmosphere
)T said Dr. O'Hagan almost oheertully.
ID II think feel better, myself added
rs Jarnville.
st ut is very strange" observed Mr. Orutt
to addressing Miss Dermott, THAT young peoI
a, like you and Mr.. Winden, here, should
y tired of life. That an old man like me sho
til long for death is comPrehensiblei but "
rs do you wish 70 die ~
is NeitheG MIR. Winden nor Miss Derm
40 made any response.
n ''In tell you, said DR.. O'Hagan, throw
ly a bag of ballast overheard to check the
n scent of the balloon. 1--WE are all going
! destruction together, and why should we l