The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-02-17
ADRIFT IN MIDAIR.
a Erenchman's Adventure In sgd
ney. Australia

ney, AusCrallh
! II was near midnight and the gates
Of the exposition would soon be closed
In the various pavilions, with their
multitudinous attractions. the orches-
tras were already attacking that GOD
Save the Queen Of an altogether con-
ventional loyalty without which nc
British ceremony ends. And as. with the
aim Of getting nearer to the Macquarie
fort, where / thought more easily to re.
gain my vessel in the roadstead, had
made the tour of the galleries, found
myself unexpectedly before the circu.
lar grating Of the captive balloon.
Flaming, but beneath the force Of
the breeze which had arisen In the
evening. quivering greatly, line OF
gas permitted me yet to read upon the
triumphal panel Of the monumental
gate: sGovernment Of New South
Wales, Australian and Universal Expo.
sition Of Sydney. Captive balloon,
after the model of the Paris exposition.
Visitors ascend four hundred yards.
One hundred more than ut the Place
du Uarrousell ! felt myself led into
temptation. 80
With my hand directed mechanically
toward nv vest roocket / had approached
stSpl nearer II was the ticl,et seller for
i ! aar;.i vovaca who decided me bv
The apostronhe: .Malse haste. gentle
man. 4 = the last ascension Of the
evar,ro,,,
ResoIntalv / threw him the half
Mound exacted ms the price Of the pas
ssue and ,ntrodnced mvsalf into the
ring ;ncrmhered with chairs A loose
fontbridgc formed the communication
hetwean the nlatform md the car sus-
nendsd over = shallow ditch. passed
scross 4 amid tho resoupdinr accords
a the bfasses with ( flourish, and
scarcelv was installed in the huge
osier basket when the footbridQe was
withdrawn' and the door OF the car.
which was padded on the inside, was
closed again The enormous cable,
which alone was to bind us to the
earth, began to unroll very rapidly on
its windiass at the command OF the
cuptain. q Tf - 81
It was my first aerostatic debut, and.
Us | ascended on board the Condor
Of the Andes, did not fail to ex-
perience q certain apr ehension, alto
gether nervous, o sort Of involuntary
fright which, by reasoning and iorcs
Of will, was able to control. had
felt at frat great sensation Of empti-
ness; my respiration seemed cut of,
and Is knew that was susceptible
to vertigo only ventured with precau-
ton 10 look over the elbow rest OF the
car.
Wholly contrary TO my expectations, I.
I found myself instantly ut ease. The
sides Of tho osier basket, mounting ~
high q my breast, seemed to me sui
flcient protection against my ambition.
and, completely treasured, l realized
that was restored to myself.
From that time looked toward the
earth, from which tho balloon was NOV
Ing away with rapidity which /
judged to be riddy, although 1t was
nethodically regulated by the number
Of turns Of the gigantic bobbin OF tho
windlasA In the depths Of the night
below me l sought to distinguish the
differen. streets Of the city over which
we were lowering; and the greater or
less intensityof the lights served me as
an indicating mark. l made out with
exactitudc the park of the exposition,
tho palace Of the governor (Lord Loft
us), with It's double range OF candle
labra, then George and King streets,
then Circular quay.
"Honored monsieur" said the cap
tain, addressing me, whom, ON seeing me
step into tho car, he had Immediately
recognized from my uniform Is an Of
ficer OF the French cruiser, do you see
down there In the midst Of the road
stead the position lights Of your shipq"
"Yes, yes! see It, captain; mon.
sieur's French man Of war!"
Getting ahead of nina. this replv
was thrown by the very fresh voice OF
q slight and slender woman. who was
touching mo with her skirt, and whom
had not vet noticed. But ! could not
Judge of the features of the unknown:
the balloon, which cast shadow over
us and seemed like an immense sinister
mass Of vellum above our heads, pre-
vented me from doing so. Nevertheless.
from the mere sound of her yoice /
OWNED that she WAS quite Young: her
diction and accent undeniably. pro.
claimed that she was of good family
and 4 lady.
| then had the curiosity to ascertain
how many travelling companions were
with me, walked through the circu.
lar gallery which below the hoop Of the
netting the car formed around large
empty space, but found NO other trsv.
eler. and. not without stumbling
awkwarlly over the bars Of ballast Of