St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-09
UP IN A BALLOON.
Gambetta's Historic Escape From
Paris During the Siege.

Gambetta's Historic Escape From
Paris During the Siege.
From the German.
Paris had been completely locked in
for several days by tho Germans, when
Gambetta. who felt shut in, concluded
to make his escape in an unusual and
the only possible way-through the air.
The balloon Armand BarbeS was chosen
and start was to be made on the 4th OF
October, but it was misty day and the
following days were also misty. They
believed it was more dangerous to make
an ascension at night and in misty
weather than in the bright daylight, al
though the mir SHIP was certain to al
tract the attention OF the besiegers on a
bright day. At night they might have
landed in the midst of the PruSsians
without knowing it.
Gambetta was impatient to leave on
the 7th of October and in any kind of
weather. The well known aeronaut,
Nadar, had made seyenty-eight success
full ascensionS and so had won conf
dence. He invited a certain Trichet to
accompany Gambetta aud Spuller in
the balloon. Nadar represented Trichet
to be a ballooniSt, although the latter
had only made aSeenSions on fair
grounds, and when once up in the air
no other thought occupied him than to
descend to the earth again as quickly as
possible. This thought occupied Trichet
on this historical trip also.
On the morning of the 18th of October,
shortly before 10 O'Clock, Gambetta,
Trichet and Spuller made an ascension.
The balloon first flew over Saint Quen,
upon which the beseigerS greeted it
Trichet wanted to come down then,
while Gambetta wanted 20 go further.
The first landing was attempted at
Chantiliy. The weather was splendid.
The farmers were working in the fields
in great numbers. They hurried to the
balloon and held the gondoia fast. Gam
BETA informed them of the state of at
fairs in Paris and asked if the Prussians
were in that neighborhood.
"Quite near, and you would do well
to get away" was the reply.
Again the balloon rose quickly in the
air. When it passed over Creil it was SHOT
at again. Trichet again wanted to land.
They noticed below the premises of a
farmyard in which there was ammuni-
ton stacked. Trichet thought he rec
0gniZed French soldiers. When the
balloon neared the earth the supposed
French soldiers turned out to be Prus-
SLAMS, who sent whole volleyS at the
balloon, and probably made severa
holes in it. The balloon rose again for
some time, when it notlceably lost gas.
The travellers saw that they must land.
They noticed a stream beyond which
they thought they would be safe. 1t was
o'clock when the balloon fell at Epin-
euSe. Here the farmers ran together
and helped GamDetta was saved. The
travellers were received and kindly en-
tertained by the MARIE of EpineuSe.
Gambetta, however, would not rest I'M
til he reached AmienS the same even
ing, where a consultation was held.
The oak at which Gambetta landed in
Epineuse became historically famous
and tourists gathered there in great
crowds. The owner of the woods to
which the "Gambetta tree" belonged
did not appreciate the enthusiasm
caused by this tree. The croNdng Of
strangers through the forest was eX-
ceedingly burdensome to him. In spite
of all protestations one day he had the
tree felled. Then money was collected
to erect monument on the spot.
Gambetta never forget the services OF
the Marie Dupuis. The latter often
visited Gambetta IN Paris and was
always admitted to the ministry or the
Palais Bourbon unannounced.