The Helena independent., 1892-06-26

wind violently drove ~ back toward tho
open sea. u was now daylight and We saw
nothing about us but water, sky aud inovi-
table death. II u true that our good star
sent quite number Of ships In our dirac-
tion, but - soon ~ they saw our floating
sailed away ~ fast a. possible. The
only hope left was TO reach the shores
OF DAlmatia, which were still far away.
Alas! This was feeble hope, and we
certainly would have been swallowed MP by
the waves II heaven had not sent in our
those that had fled, recognized tho fact
that orr machine was balloon and quickly
sent boat for our rescue. The sailors
threw ont heavy cable, which We attached
to our car and. by means OF 1t, raised our
selves. exhausted and dying, the balloon.
thus liehtsnsd. quickly rose in the mir
despite the efforts Of the sailors. who tried
TO pull It In. The boat was badly shaken;
the danger became imminent and the sail
ors hastily out the rope. The balloon im-
mediately rose with incredible rapidity and
Was lost from sight In the clouds. Il was
eight o'clock In the morning whom We
reachsd the vessel. Grassstti was like one
dsad, scarcolv showing any signs OF life,
and his hands wers mutilated; cold. hunger
and horrible agony had worn mo out com
pletely. Tho brave ship commander did
al! in his power to restore us. We we're
taken to the port of Ferrada, and then TO
Fo!a, where We were most affectionately
welcomed. and whore Z skilful surgeon
amputated my fingers"
On the 2lst Of September, 1872, while in
the air net far from Bologna. this unfortu-
nate and stoical Aeronaut's balloon WAS ig-
nited ~ the contact Of the initiating appar-
tus with the fre which he carried. A
broken and burned machine and a half
charred human body were found on the
= irn II r%y 70
beccari and his fortune.
Madame Blanchard substituted fireworks
for the colored glass used BY Garncrin. At
the moment OF departure, large circle OF
wood surrounded with fireworks was sus-
pended beneath the car by wire ten yards
was 90 arranged AZ to be best seen from be-
low; with the fireworks were mingled Benz
gal lights and colored famea. Doubtless
the sight was a beautiful one; but such
displays would be more prudently reserved
for unocoupied balloons. On the 9Th day of
July. 1873, there was grand fsts in the
Rue st. Lazare at Tivoli, on the
spot where the Western railway station
now stands Quite crowd was con-
RreRated round the balloon, and, after
the firing of several guns to announce its
departure. the place was suddenly illumi-
mated with Bengal lights, and the aeronaut
mounted her car to the sounds Of brilliant
D6ODk6
rendered enthusiastic by the fairy like
spectacle. The balloon rose slowly and
grandly. carrying with IL the immense star
which had been lighted. Some seconds
passed; the Bengal lights alone shone
about the brave voyager, then other flames
sprang up around the crown and rain OF
golden sparks fell from the balloon. Sud-
denly an unexpected gleam appeared, not
be.ow the balloon where the extinguished
crown was hanging, but in the car itself;
tnere, Notwithstanding the great height to
which she had now risen, the aeronaus was
distinctly seen struggling; the light in
creased, then suddenly disappeared, reap
top of the balloon like an immense gas
Jet, more than yard long. The gas with
which the balloon was filled had taken Dire!
Madame Blanchard, who was very small
and slight was in the habit of using q
ANAL balloon filed toithe neck with gas.
The hydrogen gas expanded, and left .
long trail in its wake, which must have
taken fire many times like powder. But
the day Of her last fatal experience she her
self set it on firo with her own hand. Az
she picked up the torch to light the fire.
works. she passed it through the train Of
gas. which at once ignited; then the coura-
geous woman was seen endeavorinR to
close the mouth of the balloon; but almost
Immediately column of fire appeared at
its top, and Madame Blanchard, ceasinp
her useless efforts, was distinctly seen seated
in the car and trying to discover the spot
where the balloon would alight. The
combustion of the hydrogen gas
lasted some minutes and the bal
loon. gradually collapsing, continued
to descend. and finally fell upon the roof
Of house. At the moment of collision
Madame Blanchard was heard calling
Help. Helpn' and these were her last
words. Fate had decreed that, az the car
slipped over the roof, it should catch on
one OF the iron cramps placed there for the
OF tilers; it suddenly stopped
and the unfortunate aeronaut. surprised by
the shock. was thrown head first upon the
pavement below and was picked up dead,
but with no traoes of fire on her person.
The car remained fastened where it had
caught and the empty balloon hung into
the street from the peak of the roof
CAMILLA EIAMMARroN