Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-03-08
ADRIFT In MIDAIR.
A Frenchman's Adventure In sgd
ney, Australia

ney, Australia
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 no
British ceremony ends And as, with the
aim of getting nearer 10 the Macquarie
fort, where l 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; Government 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 at the Place
du Carrousell felt myself led into
temptation.
With my hand directed mechanically
toward my vest pocket had approached
still nearer. II was the ticket seller for
the aerial voyage who decided me by
the apostrophe: make haste, gentle
men; II is the last ascension of the
EVENING""
Resolutely | threw him the half
pound exacted as the price Of the pas
sage, and introduced myself into the
ring incumbered with chairs A loose
footbridge formed the communication
between the platform and the car sus-
pended over a shallow ditch. l passed
across II amid the resounding accords
Of the brasses with flourish, and
scarcely was l installed in the huge
osier basket when the footbridge 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withdrawn and the door OF the car,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 windlass at the command OF the
captain.
II was my first aerostatic debut, and,
As 1 assembled on board the Condor
OF the Andes, did not fail 10 ex-
perience n certain apprehension, alto
gether nervous, a sort of involuntary
fright, which, by reasoning and force
of will, was able TO control. ! had
felt at first a great sensation Of empti-
ness; my respiration seemed cut Off,
and as | knew that i was susceptible
to vertigo ! only ventured with prccau-
ton TO look over the elbow rest OF the
car.
Wholly contrary TO my expectations,
found myself instantly Mt ease. The
sides of the osier basket, mounting as
high as my breast, seemed TO me sui.
ficient protection against my ambition,
and, completely treasured, realized
that was restored TO myself
From that time looked toward the
earth, from which the balloon was NOV
ing away with II rapidly which
judged TO be giddy, although it was
/ methodieally regulated by the number
l. Of turns Of the gigantic bobbin of the
r windlass In the depths of the nigh
: below me | sought to distinguish tn,
different streets of the city over which
we were lowering; and the greater o.
less intensity of the lights served INC u
an Indicating mark. | made out Will
exactitude the park of the exposition
the palace of the governor (Lord Loft
us), with its double range of candle
labra, then George and King streets
then Circular quay.
"llonored monsieur" said the cap
tain, addressing me, whom, on seeing n,
step into the car, he had Immediately
recognized from my uniform rs al Of
iiccr of the French cruiser, Edo You SCI
down there in the midst Of the road
stead the position lights Of your ship
! eyes, yes. | see 1t, captain; mon
sieur's French mau-of-warl
. Getting ahead of mine this rcpl,
% was thrown by the very fresh voice @
a slight and slender woman, who wa
, touching me with her skirt, and whoa
! had not yet noticed But could no
Judge of the features Of the unknown
the balloon, which cast shadow owe
us and seemed like an immense sinistc
mass of vellum above our heads, pre-
vented me from doing 10. Nevertheless
from the mere sound Of her voice
, OWNED that she was quite young; hc
diction and accent undeniably pro
claimed that she was of good famil
= and q lady.
lie then had the curiosity TO ascertai
q how many travelling companions wer
o. with me. | walked through tho circu
3 lar gallery which below the hoop of tn
netting the car formed around u larg
y empty space, but found no other tray
n. eler. And, not without stumblin
q awkwardly over the bags OF ballast q
- the Condor OF the Andes, speedily r,
turned to the point Of departure.
We were still ascending,
"Three hundred and ten yardsI" sal
the captain, sententiously, pointin
out TO me tho registering barometo
fastened close TO a small lantern 10 on
Of the ropes
1.-THE cable can resist traction {
one hundred thousand TONS" said I'll
|. captain.
!. sit is truly msgnifcentw tranquil
!, uttered the exceedingly calm voice {
} the lady passenger.
"Three hundred and sixty yards
=, announced the aeronaut
d Scarcely had he spoken when the ba
20 loon stopped for a second as II IL ha
6y struck against some very soft and ella
tic invisible buffer, Then with
- bound, 1t shot of again into space wi,
3 an impetuosity wholly new, and aft,
VI a shock attended with vibrations 4
X violent that we all three fell on Il
ID bags of sand
81 Both the female passenger and
W gan TO ask questions