The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1893-11-11
TOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
INTERESTING READING FOR LIT
TIE MEN AND WOMEN.

INTERESTING READING FOR LIT
TIE MEN AND WOMEN.
Balloon Adventures ON Land and
WRter-Went Both ways Round
the Enrth-saved by Dream-A
Philosophic Query.
& The time has not yet come when we
can ride on the wings Of the wind and
defy the storm king. A skilled aero
naut, Prof. s. A. King, has been max
ing ascensions from the fair grounds
all the past summer. One day last
week a venturesome young lady, Miss
Joie Morris, wanted to try the novel ex-
perience and he took her with him up
into the sky. All went we'll for half an
hour, when sudden current of air
struck the balloon and carried it first
up, up, up and then out toward the
great lake which waits at the border of
the grounds, smooth and placid at most
times, but always source of terror to
the aeronaut For in times past u num-
Der Of daring men have been blown out
over it and night coming on and the gas
IN their balloons becoming exhausted
they have never been heard of again.
Prot. King knew the danger of being
down over the lake and made frantic
eHorts to bring the balloon to earth, at
tne same time dropping a long rope
WIN a graphing hook to the end, but
all In vain; the balloon was rapidly car
rled eastward, while the spectators saw
1t dropping lower and lower until it al
most seemed to touch the water. The
captain of one of the little steamers at
the fa1r grounds saw the balloon, real
1zed the danger Of it's occupants and
started at once to give chase. He had
only a limited amount of coal on board.
and after an hours unsuccessful pur-
suit was compelled to turn back. It
was rapidly getting dark, and the bal
loon was rushing along at a tremen-
dous rate of speed close to the surface
of the lake, now striking the water and
then rebounding hundred feet in the
air. Miss Morris was cool and COL
lected, even in this awful danger. The
professor threw overheard his anchor,
blankets, and everything possible to
Tighten the basket, so that it would ride
the waves. AS soon as the little steam
'er got into Chicago harbor she signaled
the revenue cutter, which had steam
up, and she started Immediately to the
rescue. The balloon was barely visible
some ten miles to the northeast, but
the wind had died down to a. slight
breeze, and after long chase the run
away was caught up with. When the
steamer was a hundred yards away
Prof. King shouted to the captain not
to come any nearer, as he feared that
sparks from the smokestack might ex-
plode the gas in the balloon. So a
small boat was let down and in a few
minutes the balloon and it's passengers
were safe on board the cutter, after an
adventure which neither the professor
nor Miss Morris would care to repeat.
Being blown out to sea is not by any
nauts are exposed. Here is a graphic
account Of an adventure at night in a
storm, told by Harper's Young Folks:
It was indeed the fierce buster Of the
gale, tearing it's way through leaf and
branch, that we heard. If the balloon
should dash against the hedge Of spears
wreck but the sharpest peril of life.
eve must trust to luck" said Donald
son, grinding his teeth; 1--WE can't do
anything. But be ready to spring for
big limb, and hold on for dear life
when I give the word"
We were not long in suspense. The
"downpour suddenly lessened, and our
balloon rose a little. 1t still Numbered
1;o1, 1,11++ 1o ~ chow
had spent itself. The captain clutched
my hand with hard grip. Were all
right now" with culver in his voice,
for his iron nerve had been shaken;
"but let me tell you, you will never be
so near death again and escape it,
He bent over the side of the basket.
II think there's a village close at hand.
Look sharp, anC you will see the twin
was so, surely. AS we moved On more
light shot into view. We were hoy
ching over valley between two noun
tain ridges, one of which had been so
nearly our ruin. 1t was an hour after
midnight, and the villagers were asleep.
Donaldson's gayety frothed like cham
payne after our recent danger. "Weu
wake the pc, pie from their dreams
with 4 blast from the Skies" He laugh
ed and seized a bugle which hung near
at hand. ''How's this for Gabriel's
horn?" He blew notes of piercing
sweetness Che had been an army bugler)
which rose and swelled and sent their
wild echoes flying among those mid
night hills. Lights began to shine in
every house, and moving lanterns and
the clatter Of voices betokened general
alarm. What this midnight summons
cut Of the skies might mean filed the
rural fancy with terror, and the note
of fear could be heard in many Of the
voices which doated up to us. We
were so near the earth that we could
hear the dragrope Shaping the sticks
and stones with it's tail.
Village aho-o-oy!' whooped the cap
tain, at the top Of his lungs. "Aho-o-oy
there! Bear hand, you land-lubbers
at the rope, and pull us down to earth
So our rustic friends with a hearty
cheer tumbled over each other in theil
zeal, to get hold of the rope-feal
now blown away by admiration--an6
we were soon safely on the ground
with orr nir-S11in anchored for tht