The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-09-06

vas undoubtedly the wiscst course
Look here, Jackp' l cried. "You say
you want to SEQ Ada. can tell you of u
better aud surcr way of going to her than
this If you will listen to mc''-here in
voluntarily moved my hand toward tho
valve cord-"if you will listen to mo I''-
None of your blarncy, man. Pm not
to be whccdlcd So I'm too old bird for
that. Leave tho cord alone, can't your
I'm not going down again today. I'm
going to sec what's up there, and don t
you try to stop me- ana ho glarcd fiorcely
ut me.
Inc horrible nature of my situation was
now only too apparent. There could 10
longer be any doubt of Tunniclifrc's con-
dition. 1 was in n balloon with mailman
and about four miles from tho earth.
felt tho cold sweat on my brow and my
brain began to reel. But with tremcn-
dous effort pulled myself together, for my
only chance of safoty was in retaining my
SELF possession. To attempt to ovcrpowcr
him was out of the question. The strength
of madmun is SO well known. My only
hope of escape was to outwit him. But
how? Forced into unnatural activity rs
my brain was by my desperate situation
and by tho necessity of prompt action, I
could think of no Device or rusc that would
do any good. 1 was completely Mt the
mercy of tho mailman.
The hopclessncss of my case paralyzcd all
my energies I felt unable to move or
speak, and oven tho power to think was al
most gone. In my despair 1 glanced at
the valve cord. Owing to the rotary mo-
ton of tho balloon it had unfortunately
become tangled. To free it l should DO
obliged to leave the car and climb into tho
ring. But to attempt such thing, oven
II Iwero physically capable of it, would DO
certain TO lead to Il struggle which would
ms certainly send ono or both of us out of
the car.
We were now Mt such u height that rs.
phyXia was imminent. l could hear INV
heart throb quito plainly. brcathcd with
difficulty, and u horrible sensation like
that of scasicEncss came over me- Tho
cold was SO intense that shiveret, not.
withstanding my wraps The mental
strain was trcriblo l was almost frantic.
knowing, however, that in a few minutes
L should be unconscious, and that then all
would be over with me, ncrycd myself
for one last effort
AS roso from my scat my ego fell on
the grapncl. Fortunately it was on nv
side OF tho car. "A sudden idea struck mo.
Hero was II weapon to hand 1t was an
awful thought. 1t would he a terrible
deed. But there was now no alternative,
no time for delay. My senses were going.
stretched out my hand, but the madman,
who mover took his eye of me, had detect
cd my purpose.
With sudden movement ho tartcd for
ward and seized the grapnel, but in his
cagcrncss to forcstall mo he had precipitat-
cd himself too far over the side of the car
and almost lost his balance He mndo a
desperate effort to recover himself; but
sclZcd with sudden and Irresistible i'm
pulse, pushed him over, and, with Il nor
riblc yell, which rings in my ears when
ever | recall the occurrence the madman
disappeared from my sight
Almost mad nysclf-I am not sure that
was not quito SO just them climbed
INTO the ring to reach the valvo line. But
my hands were SO stiff and numb with
tho cold thut could not grasp the cord
by Kind of inspiration which seemed
providcntial, seized the cord with my
teeth, and after two or thrco tugs tho
valve opened with u loud clang and the
balloon began to descend. Thank heavens
l was saved. My hands being useless, 1
was obliged to throw up my arms and drop
into the car, where 1 lay motionless and
unconscious for awhile
My swoon could not have lasted moro
than II few seconds, for wien / recovered
the barometer showed that l was still in a
ihSii diuloN'ti iiiuouSn INC balloon was
descending rapidly. L rubbed and beat my
hands until the circulation was restored.
Then set about taking the necessary pre-
cautions against too rapid descent But
l acted more like an automaton than a
conscious agent, for seemed in n kind of
stupor or trance all the time
How and where | reached the solid earth
l cannot say. l have only Il DIM hazy rec
election of being surrounded by u crowd
of people. Some We're bending over me and
seemed To be questioning me- but l could
not make out what they said L felt an
awful pain in my head and remember
nothing more until found myself in bed
in dark room and my wife hcnding over
me. This was several days aftcrward, and
l learned then that had been brought
home i'll delirious state and had had
brain fever.
When recovered, my friends congratu-
lated me, and tried to persuade me that rs
my homicidal act was done in self defense
it was justiflablc. l hope it was, but I
can never recall 1t without misgiving and
horror, and L have never made a balloon
ascent since.-London It'll Bits.
Sounds at Night