The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-09-14

and n,4fe matters worse. To humor him
wss Undoubtedly the vSissst course.
LOOK here, Jackp' cried. "You say
you want to see Ada. oan tSll you Of
better and surer way Of going to her than
this. II you will listen to me''-here in
voluntarily moved my hand toward the
valve cord-''if you will listen to me T.
"None of your blarney, man. I'm not
TO be wheedled 30. I'm too cid bird for
that. Leave the cord alone, can't your
I'm not going down again today. I'm
going TO soc what's up there, and don't
you Try to stop me. " and he glared flercely
at me.
The horrible nature of my situation was
now only too apparent. There could no
longer be any doubt of Tunnioliffe's con-
dition. 1 was In balloon with a mailman .
and about four miles from the earth.
felt tho cold sweat on my brow and my
brain began to reel. But with tremen-
dous effort pulled myself together, for my
only chance Of safety was in retaining my
self possession. To attempt to overpower
him was out of the question. The strength
Of a madman is so well known. My only
hope of escape was to outwit him. But
howf Forced into unnatural activity as
my brain was by my desperate situation
and by the necessity Of prompt action, I
could think Of no device or ruse that would.
do any good. I was completely at the
mercy Of the madman.
The hopelessnesso of my case paralyzed all
my energies. felt unable to move or
speak, and even the power to think was al
most gone. In my despair 1 glanced at
the valve cord. Owing to the rotary mo-
tion Of the balloon II had unfortunately
become tangled. To free 1t / should be
obliged to leave the car and climb into the
ring. But to attempt such thing even
II Iwere physically capable of ID, would be
certain to lead to q struggle which would
as certainly send one or both Of us out OF
the car.
We were now at such height that as
phyxia was imminent / could hear my
heart throb quite plainly. breathed with
difficulty, and a horrible sensation like
that Of seasickness came over me. The
cold was so intense that shivered, not
withstapding my wraps. The mental
strain was trerible. was almost frantic.
Knowing, however, that in few minutes
should be unconscious, and that then all
would be over with me, nerved myself
for one last effort
As rose from my scat my eye fell on
the grapnel. Fortunately it was on my
side of the car. A sudden idea struck mo.
Hero was a weapon to hand. 1t was an
awful thought. It would be terrible
deed. But there was now no alternative
no time for delay. My senses were going
stretched out my hand, but the mailman,
who never took his eye of me, had detect
ed my purpose.
With sudden movement he darted for
ward and seized the grapnel, but In his
eagerncss to forestall me he had precipitat-
cd himself too far over tho side of the car
and almost lost his balance He made
desperate effort to recover himself; but,
seized with q sudden and irresistible i'm
pulse, pushed him over, and with a hor-
rible yell, which rings in my ears when
ever recall the occurrence, the mailman
disappeared from my sight.
Almost mad myself am not sure that
was not quito SO just then-I climbed
into the ring to reach the valve line. But
my hands were SO stiff and numb with
the cold that could not grasp the cord
BY kind Of inspiration which seemed
providential, I seized the cord with my
teeth, and after two or three tugs tho
valve opened with a loud clang and the
balloon began to descend. Thank heaven!
was saved My hands being useless, /
was obliged to throw up my arms and drop
into the car, where lay motionless and
unconscious for awhile.
My swoon could not have lasted more
than a few seconds, for when l recovered
the barometer showed that 1 was still in q
high altitude, although the balloon was
descending rapidly. rubbed and beat my
hands until the circulation was restored.
Then set about taking the necessary pre-
cautions against too rapid descent. But
/ acted more like an automaton than a
conscious agent, for seemed in kind Of
stupor or trance all the time.
How and where reached the solid earth
cannot say. have only a dim hazy rec.
objection of being surrounded by crowd
OF people. Some were bending over me and
seemed to bo questioning me, but could
not make out what they said. 1 felt an
awful pain in my head and remember
nothing more until found myself in bed
in dark room and my wife bonding over
me. This was several days afterward, and
/ learned then that had been brought
home in a delirious state and had had
brain fover.
When recovered, my friends congratu-
lated me, and tried to persuade me that as
my homicidal act was done in self defense
1t was justifable. l hope it was but I
can never recall 1t without misgiving and
horror, and | have never made balloon
accent eiurn II 6p,l,,t,