The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-02-17


continent to the Atlantic, and for
while all went swimming1y.
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 scanty; yet the gas held
out 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.
'We 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 a high altitude, in cloudless
sky, until nearly sunset, when there
came up a terrific storm.
'1n 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
nightfall found 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.
sit 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 I
fancied 1 saw lights and dwellings
down in the canyon, people and cattle
running alb when the lightning IL
lumined tn ne, but as l knew that it
was an unin liable wilderness l laid
it to excit Imagination, and l knew
that poor 0ert's bones would be
whitening u 9r the burning sun in
few days. was impossible to help
him. 1 cou1 My hold on and let the
balloon dri e. It became frightfulIy
cold, and found that had also dislo-
Gated my arm.
CATER time l became unconscious
and fell to the bottom of the car, which
was covered with ice. When recovered
consciousness l found myself in the
hands of Mexican cattleman, on whose
ranch the balloon had descended, near Al
buQuerque, New Mexico. Twas with him
for several weeks, very i'll and delirious
most of the time. But 1 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. It is
waterless, burning, alkali desert.
CHOW for the strangest part of my
story:
''One evening two weeks ago OBJ
served carrier pigeon, evidently a
stranger, endeavoring to enter my coop,
with message fastened to his tail in
the usual manner. went up and let
him in and recognized him at once as
the bird that had failed to return. Ny
heart sprang up in my throat, and my
hands trembled so that l could scarcely
detach the message. It was written on
some kind of small skin and read thus,
for here it is"
Pierce took from his pocketbook q
white parchment and unfolded it upon
the table. The others watched him with
an intense gaze. Then holding it up to
the light he read:
al. r. Pierce, San Francisco, California:
IF you are alive, help me. am in city of
ancient people in a canyon. latitude thirty
three degrees thirty minutes, longitude thirty
two degrees thirty minutes west from, Wash
ington, as near as I can make it. There is no
way of escape. The people know of no other
world or race and believe me supernatural,
but it can't last much longer. There's millions
Of dollars here in solid gold. 1t will pay re-
lief party. The population is about twenty
i've hundred. l have learned the language
and written q book that will make peoples
eyes open. If this falls into the hands of any
white man, for Gods sake forward to II. r.
Pierce, San Francisco, or, if he is missing, send
holp to me at ONE. ERIC L. GILBERT.
"Well, that's all there is of it. | am
going to find him, and you are the kind
of men should like to have Join me in
the endeavor, Tor believe he is alive. l
believe every word of this message. 1
should like to have you organize wag-
| Oh train and search for him while l
make the attempt in the balloon. It's
risky, know, but I've feeling that it
| will succeed. believe that it was the
same city that saw as 1 was whirled
away that night when we struck the
cliff. AS figure it, my friends, the To-
/ cation of this unknown city must be in
the San Francisco river region, one of
the most inaccessible places in the
| United States. It lies north of Fort
| Borie, where, think, we might make
| our start, and is bounded by. the Black
river on the north, the ella range on the
west and on the east by the Rio Salarosa
| and the White mountains.
''Clifton is the nearest settlement,
believe, to this arid wilderness, and
find that the chances for successful
balloon search would be best if begun
In that locality. The air current seems
more steadily southwestern than other
| wise, and I wish to start from there. Il
! is a tough country in which to travel
| from all accounts, but think we car
overcome all difficulties, and the venture
| will pay us if successful. l want t.
make business proposition to yor
l fcaliT1Cr SNTT