The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-05-25
SOME ODD STORIES.

rible Struggle In the Air and the Plunge
From the Balloon Dangling Head
Downward From the Drag Rope.
copyright, 1893 by American Press Associa-
toni
"No SIR" said the old aeronaut in reply
tomy question, Il shall never make another
ascension. My last trip ruined my nerve.
Il should live forever, the memory of
that terrible experience would be vivid
enough to turn my blood to ice water when
ever recalled the affair"
The professor had said quite enough to
arouse my curiosity. scented story, and
urged him to tell me Of the ascension that
had so WORKED upon his nerves. At first he
was reluctant, but he finally consented.
81 had been giving exhibitions through
the west" he began Everything ran
smoothly up to my final trip, and felt
pretty well, for ballooning was great card
In those days, and rhad made round little
pile of money
''My last ascension was made from a
small city in southern Indiana. The most
enterprising newspaper of the town OBJ
tanned permission to send up reporter
with me. did not see the fellow until
about five minutes before VIC We're to start,
and although did not like his appearance
refrained from objecting to his company
He was a man of 55 years, had a scraggy
beasd and restless eye. He had been drink
ing freely when he was introduced to me,
probably for the purpose of fortifying his
nerve. was told he had the reputation of
being one of the smartest newspaper men
in Indiana, but his habit of drinking kept
him in the ranks of the hustlers when be
bo1.1 Il S,sa
10 been inclined to moderation.
''The day was fine, and an immense
throng had assembled to witness the spec
tacle It was exactly 2 O'Clock p. m. when
Horton, the reporter. and I entered the
wicker car The airship was straining at
the ropes, as if impatient to be off. I gave
she signal to release her, and we slowly
sose above the crowd, which sent up tu-
multuous cheers, the men waving their
bats and the women futtering their hand
kerchiefs.
For some moments the reporter sat like
one dazed, gazing downward. Finally he
grasped pencil and pad and began taking
notes, now and then glancing down at the
marvellous panorama spread out beneath.
He became excited, his breast heaved, and
his eyes giistened. All at once he dashed
pad and pencil to the bottom of the car,
Z
uttering wild yell,
How long will it take us to reach the
sunP' he asked. Have you provided suff-
Gent provisions for the Journeys?
II realized in moment that the man had
gone mad. His restless eyes were now filed
with wild fire, and he pressed his hands
to his head as if it were throbMng with
pain Without hesitation replied:
"'Yes, we have all the provisions we
need. 1t won't take us great while to
make the trip
Sat the same moment pulled the es-
cape valve cord, knowing an immediate re-
turn to terra irma was the safest course.
He looked at me suspiciouslyi
"'What are you doing? he questioned.
Increasing our speed was my answer.
"'Thats right That's rightl' shouted
the crazed reporter You say it won't take
long to make the trip. Do you know how
far it is from the earth to the sun? Sir, it
is 90 900, GOO milesl We shall need plenty of
water to battle my head during ths jour
ney Have you brought along plenty of
water?'
Yes, SIR
Let me have some at once lam thirsty,
and the fires of hell are burning ia my
brain. / have possessed a burning brain for
more than year, but have kept it se-S
cret until I could make a trip to the sun,
which will surely cure me. 4 must have
some water to cool my burning BRAIN
IN a few moments, SIR
"'Now, now, nowp he shrieked. I must
have it at once! You do not know how
sufferl Bring forth the water, or I will hurl
you from the car and make the trip alonep
81 glanced downward and saw the earth
- II. a
from which we had assembled lay away to
the north. We were floating over river
that wound into the distance like silver
ribbon, dwindling to mere thread where
it vanished amid the hills.
HE saw me look down, and he did like
wise. That glance revealed to him the
truth.
Devil he snarled. you have deceived
mel
II made haste to cast out the ground
anchor, feeling that the mailman would
surely assault me in moment. In my
hurry l bungled over the affair. He saw
what was doing, and a screech of fury cut
the air. Then he leaped upon me, cltltch.
ing at my throat.
Never can forget that terrible battle
in the rocking car Of the balloon. I was
caught foul, and the crazed reporter seemed
possessed of the strength of a giant. He
choked me until felt horrible roaring
in my head and saw thousands of bright
lights bursting before my eyes All my
efforts to tear away his hands were vain.
And then heard his voice, seemingly far
away, saying:
You have deceived mel Down you go
to death, and I'll complete the journey to
the sun without your company
Il realized my fearful peril. but / was
like a babe in his iron fingers. He forced
mas to the edge of the car. and then was
hurled over feadlongl Down, down, l snotl
All of a sudden stopped with snap thst
took away my senses for a moment.
"When became conscious again, I found
L IS dangling head downward from the
drag rope of the anchor, which had been re-
leased from where it had fouled in the
wicker basket when was trying to cast it
free During my struggle with the maniac
the rope had become tangled about my legs,
and it saved me from plunging down to
death when Horton cast me over.
"But / was SO robbed OF my strength
that could not draw myself up, and there
r b1,nu T baor1 tho on i, n,