Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-03-09

Ill over the continent. Gale Whitley
was not so easily read. lie was more
! beneath the surface and was harder TO
get at, but Pierce had seen too many men
Of learning and refinement adrift in these
western wilds to probe too deeply into
any mystery he might imagine in Gales
past. He was content to find in them
both materials that he might use. 1t
was nearly ten o'clock when he sail
II am here for purpose i'll which ysu
might, if you are inclined, aid me ma
terially. It's rather a long story, but |
rill make it as short as possible"
lie lighted his pipe. as the other two
had done, and smoked few minutes in
ilence, while they drew their chairs
closer. Then he began:
"Two years ago had balloon made
and left San Francisco in the month Of
June, with the wind taking us rapidly
eastward. With me was young man
named Eric Gilbert. He was about
thirty years old and ono of the bright
est men l ever knew. A linguist, n
scientist, mechanic, an artist in fact
he was possessed of more practical knowl-
edge and cultivated accomplishments
than any other man | have met; one of
the most daring yet genial, good tenn
pered fellows in the world. He was
nearly six feet in height and weighed
about a hundred and sixty pounds, and
he was an athlete too. He could shoot
we'll and ride well, Just the kind of man
in fact to undertake such an adventure
as we meditated. 1t was to cross tho
continent to the Atlantic, and for
while all went swimmingly.
1--WE had crossed the Rockies success
fully and were in the Wasatch range, or
rather between the Wasatch and the
Elk mountains. when the current, which
had been almost uniformly westward
for days, suddenly changed and carried
us down toward Arizona. We were not
alarmed, although our supply Of water
was somewhat soanty; yet the gas held
ont well, and we knew that we would
strike water at intervals. We had on
board when we started dozen carrier
pigeons. seven of which had already
been released and returned home.
I'VE released one in the Elk noun
tains Just before the current changed.
We drove south all day passing over
the widest and most magnificent canyon
scenery at high altitude, in cloudless
sky, until nearly sunset, when there
came up terrific storm.
In spite Of our attempt to rise above
it we were hurled along with dreadful
velocity and found ourselves nearing
the earth rapidly and in danger of being
dashed against the enormous cliffs Of
the canyons, whose cavernous depths
yawned below us. The lightning flashed
around us. and | feared every moment
that the balloon would be set on fire. 1t
became darker every moment, and
nightfan fonnd us very near the earth,
making mighty bounds up and down
and driving along at the rate of mile
a minute. The anchor was thrown out,
but failed to hold, the only results be-
ing to make the bounds and jerks more
fierce.
ut was totally dark and about eight
o'clock at night the car was dashed
against the ground with such force as
to tear apart several of the ropes, throw
ing Eric Gilbert out with all our instru-
ments, the pigeon crate and ballast. in
an instant The loss of so much weight
caused the balloon to rise at once and
dash away again, going higher every
moment. | was almost crazy and lost
control of myself. / looked down, and |
fancied | saw lights and dwellings
down in the canyon, people and cattle
running about when the lightning H.
lumined the scene, but as knew that it
was an uninha bitable wilderness | laid
it to excited Imagination, and / knew
that poor Gilbert's bones would be
whitening under the burning sun in a
few days. 1t was impossible to help
him. l could only hold on and let the
balloon drive. l. became frighttully
cold, and | found that | had also dislo-
Gated my arm.
After a time l became unconscious
and fell to the bottom of the car, which
was covered with ice. When ! recovered
consciousness | found myself in The
hands of a Mexican cattleman. on whose
,, ranch the balloon had descended. near Al
buquerque, New Mexico. Twas with him
for several weeks, very i'll and deliriour
most of the time. But recovered and
,, returned to San Francisco. where, to my
surprise, found that all but one of the
carrier pigeons had returned before me-
] heard nothing Of Eric and naturally
mourned him AS dead, for no man could
exist IN the region three days. 1t is q
waterless, burning. alkali desert.
"Now for the strangest part OF my
story;
zone evening two weeks ago I OBJ
7 served carrier pigeon, evidently a
stranger, endeavoring to enter my coop
with message fastened to his tail ir
, the usual manner. | Went up and lei
him in and recognized him at once as
the bird that had failed to return. My
heart sprang mp III my throat, and my
hands trembled so that | could scarcely
, detach the message, 1t was written OF
some kind of small skin and read thus
for here it is"
y. Pierce took from his pocketbook {
T. white parchment and unfolded it upol
the table The others watched him witt