Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-01-04
A Desperate Adventure.

NTANTED-Four persons who are bent
w upon committing suicide, to engage
in hazardous adventure. Apply, ETC., to
Captain Cowgirl, No. - Blank street, after
8 O'Clock in the morning.
Captain Cowgirl inserted the above
advertisement in three of the morning
papers, with only faint expectation
that it would be responded to. But
the result was that between 9 o'clock
and noon five men and two women
called athis Office to inquire respecting
the nature of the hazardous adventure,
and to offer their services in the event
that it should involve nothing of a
criminal character. OF these seven,
Captain Cowgirl selected four, three
men and one young woman, and when
he dismissed the others, he shut the
door and said to the four applicants ::
What l wanted you for IS this l
have made up my mind that the n orth
pole can never be reached by an ex-
ploring party travelling upon ships
and sledges. The only route that is
possibly practicable is through the
air, and the only available vehicle, of
course, is the balloon. But an attempt
to reach the pole in a balloon must ex-
pose the explorers to desperate risks,
and it occurred to me that those risks
had better be taken by persons who
do not value their lives than by per
sons who do. 1t has always seemed to
me that part of the sin of suicide
lies in the fact that the lie wantonly
sacrificed might have been expended
in cause which would have conferred
benefits, directly or indirectly, upon
the human race. l have a large and
superbly-equipped balloon, which viii
be thoroughly stocked for a voyage to
the Arctic regions. and, among other
things, it will contain apparatus for
making fresh supplies of hydrogen
gas. Are you four persons willing to
make the required attempt in this bal
loon ?''
All four of the visitors answered
"Yes."
Were you going to sacrifice your
lives at any rate?'
An Affirmative answer was given by
the four.
q Permit me to take your names, .
said Captain Cogwill, and he wrote
them down as follows VIM. P. Crut-
ter, DR.. Henry O'Hagan, Edmond .Jarn-
vile, Mary Dermott.
Mr.. Crutter was apparently man
of about sixty years. handsomely
dressed, manifestly a gentleman, bat
with flushed face, which indicated
that he had perhaps INDUCED to some
extent in dissipation.
DIR. O'Hagan was thin, pallid and
eareworn. He looked as if he were ill
and as if all joy were dead in his heart.
Mr.. Jarnyille appeared to be a work
ingman but his eountenance, sad as
it was, was full of intelligence, and his
manner was that of a man who had
occupied social position much above
the lowest.
Miss Dermott sat with an air of de-
lection, with her hands in her lap, with
thin faded shawl pinned around her,
and with her pale cheeks suggestive of
hunger and mental suffering.
my hope said Captain Cowgirl,
I" is that you will safely reach your des-
tinations and safely return. But you
fully understand that the chances are
against you. For my own protection
| will ask you to certifyin writing that
you go with full knowledge of the
risks. 1 will initiate the balloon to-mor-
row. Day after tomorrow come to
this office at 8 o'clock and you shall
make the ascent at once"
On the appointed day the four vol
rnteers appeared, and Captain Cow
gill drove with them in a carriage to a
yard in the outskirts of the city, where
the balloon, inflated and swinging to
and fro in the wind, was held to the
earth with stout ropes. The three men
were supplied with warm clothing, but
Miss Dermott had only her thrcadbart
shawl, and SO Captain Cowgirl gave hel
his overcoat and two blankets, which
he took from the carriage.
While the voyagers were taking theil
i places in the commihe sls car attached
to the balloon, a ywhittonsan entered
the yard and huhnd the Sapproached
, Captain Cowgirl. set and
a am going with tie balloon hs
said. almost fiercely. and hardly deign
ing to look at the captain.
impossible r said the captain
"The crew is made up. 1ou don't
! comprehend our purpose"
Yes. do said the young man
- These people are woui.lbe suicides
1 and they are starting for the mole.