The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-05-19
A BALLOON STORY.
Chicago Mail.

ciation to make an ascension from the grounds on the big day of the fair, and he wanted me to go down there anh help him make things interesting. Of course I was glad to go. had made number of ascensions with him, and some way took fancy to bal looming. The day was beautiful one, :and the crowd at the fair ground was kthe largest by several thousand ever Reen there. Young had magnificent ship, one of the prettiest l ever rode ,in. We cut loose from our mooring about half past five o'clock in the evening, amid the cries and shouts of thousands of people who gazed won- deringly at us as we swiftly and si- lently sailed for the skies. Never before had felt so strangely as 1 saw the earth rolling away from us. l."
 "How was the wind?" the reporter ventured to inquire.
 'Never mind about the wind. was just going to say that some way felt as in dream. We were going up so rapidly that, despite all efforts, I could not get my eyes fixed upon the earth. can just remember hearing Young say, rather carelessly Well, we are going to have great sail this time.'
 "Some time later--probably five or ten minutes-Yo Young passed flask to my lips and took small draught of brandy. Its action was speedy, and in minute or less time 1 was entirely myself again. peered over the bas- ket, and, Great Scott I could see nothing below but rolling clouds
 "How high are we?' said to Young.
 "'Higher than you ever were be- fore; over mile, and still going up.'
 "We sailed along and upwards for probably half an hour, during which neither of us spoke word. The bal loon had ascended to height of nearly three miles. Our hands grew numb with cold.
 "My God,' exclaimed Young, i've must get the balloon down, or we'll freeze.'
 "It seemed to grow colder and colder as he spoke. The clouds below us seemed to be hummocks of ice and the stars appeared to hang in the heavens like icicles from shingle roof.
 "'There's but one thing to be done,' said Young, and that at once, or both of us will be called to another world And with this hurried exclamation he grabbed 16,00O,000 feet of rope and dropped it down towards the earth.
 "It was an awful moment to us, yet as let the rope down Young said not word.
 "I knew what he meant by letting the rope down.
 "'My God,' I thought to myself, what an awful thing to contemplate
 "The balloon was still bounding through the air and the cold grew in- tensely painful.
 "It is downp he at last exclaimed. Now for the descent. Pll go first.'
 "Young grasped me by the hand, and with a solemn, earnest, yet sort of shivering farewell, securely fastened the rope to the basket and swung out into the air.
 "'Good- -bye,' said, as I watched the brave fellow slide down the rope towards the earth. Throw the rope around tree or house, any thing to stop the balloon.'
 "These were my parting words.
 "ln moment Young had disap- peared.
 templated the awful fate which might befall my brave friend, but could tell from the action of the rope that he was still going down safely.
 ssSixteen thousand feet!
 "Just think of itl
 "But at last, almost frozen, could tell that Young had reached the earth, but whether he had fallen several hundred feet or had reached the ground in safety, could not tell.
 "Minutes seemed to be hours. breathlessly awaited some sign from Young. Half an hour went by-an hour-yet not sign camel q grew desperately fearful lest he had lost his hold and fallen. could . not contain myself in the balloon any longer. Awful as was the fate which scanned to await me, I grasped the rope ; and Swung out of the basket and be- gan to descend. would eee what had become of Young. I went down, z downi Oh, 1t seemed milesl Twas maiesf I passed from view of the , 67pnds and down into the dizziness. < could not SC the rope down which \ was sliding. Unsxpectedly my feet ! stxuck An ohject. IL occntred to me < tnetaatiy Int 1t wAs tho anchor. But s - eee tEoe ID anchor on tho rope 3hQp6Rt which clnes to mt
 hsm Almost on fhe