The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-03-07
ADRIFT In MIDAIR.
A Frenchman's Adventure in sgd
ney, Australia

It was near midnight and the gates
OF the exposition would soon be closed
In the various pavilicns, 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 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 tho
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 Carrousel! l felt myself led into
temptation.
With my hand directed mechanically
toward my vest pocket had approached
still nearer. 1t was the ticket seller for
the aerial voyage who decided me by
tho apostrophe: make haste, gentle
men; it 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 incrmbered with chairs A loose
footbridge formed the communication
between the platform and the car sus-
pended over shallow ditch. l passed
across it amid the resounding accords
Of the brasses with a flourish, and
scarcely was installed in the huge
withdrawn and the door of the car,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.
It was my first aerostatic debut. and.
as 1 assembled on board the Condor
of the Andes, did not fail to ex-
perience certain apprehension. alto
gether nervous, sort of involuntary
fright. which, by reasoning and force,
Of will, was able to control l had
felt at first great sensation of empti-,
ness; my respiration seemed cut of,
and as 1 knew that was susceptible
to vertigo 1 only ventured with precau-
ton to look over the elbow rest of the
car.
Wholly contrary to my expectations,
/ found myself instantly at ease. Tho
sides of the osier basket. mounting as
high as my breast, seemed to me suf-,
fcient protection against my ambition;
and, completely resssured, realized
that was restored to myself.
From that time l looked toward the
earth, from which the balloon was NOV
ing away with a rapidity which I
judged to be giddy, although it was
methodically regulated by the number
of turns Of the gigantic bobbin of the
windlasA In the depths Of the night
below me / sought to distinguish the
different streets of the city over which
we were lowering; and the greater or
less intensity of the lights served me as
an indicating mark. l made out with
exactitude the park of the exposition,
the palace of the governor Lord Loft
us), with its double range of cande-
la bra, then George and King streets
then Circular quay.
''Honored monsieur" said the cap
tain, addressing me, whom, on seeing mo
step into the car, he had Immediately
recognized from my uniform as an Of
6cer of the French cruiser, do you see
down there in tho midst of the road
stead the position lights of your ship?''
Eyes, yes! l see it, captain; mon
sieur's French man-ofwarl'
Getting ahead Of mine, this reply
was thrown by the very fresh voice Of
a slight and slender woman, who was
me with her skirt, and whom
I had not yet 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 80. Nevertheless,
from the mere sound of her voice /
OWNED that she was quite young: her
diction and accent undeniably pro-
claimed that she was of good family
and lady.
l then had the curiosity to ascertain
how many travelling companions were
with me. walked through the circu-
lar gallery which below the hoop of tho
netting the car formed around largo
empty space, but found no other trev-
eler. And, not without stumbling
over the bags Of ballast Of
the Condor Of the Andes, / speedily re-
turned to the point of departure.
We were still ascending.
"Three hundred and ten yardsl' said
The captain, sententiously, pointing
put to me the registering barometer
fastened close to small lantern to one
Of the ropes
''The cable can resist . traction OF
one hundred thousand TONS" said tho
captain.
at is truly magnificent" TRANQUILITY
uttered the exceedin gly calm voice Of
The lady passens Il.
Three hund ed and sixty yaris!'
the aeronaut
Scarcely had he spoken when the bsd-
loon stopped for a second as If it had
struck against some very soft and elias
tic invisible buffer. Then with .
bound. it shot OF again into space with
IN impetuosity wholly new. and after
\ shock attended With vibrations so
'iolent that we all three fell on the |
bags of sand
Both the female passenger an be- |
yan 10 ask questions
fsWh1f do>a this rae1r1 What IN .t9 i