Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1895-07-02
CAUGHT ON THE FLY.

VA OUA1A OAN IL 11 Il IL l.
Georgetown was going to celebrate the
Fourth Of July, and among other attrac.
tiops was to have a grand balloon ascen-
sion. When I, George Bates, heard of
this, I made up my mind that would
90 up In that balloon.
Twin say right here that never cared
for the society Of young ladies; conse-
qnently was called confirmed old
bachelor at the age Of 20 years. had
no relatives to dissuade me from making
such fool Of myself as to wish to 90 up
In = balloon, and no one to care whether
I came down again or not say did
not care for the society of young ladies,
but there was one-Judge Wells daugh-
ter Sallie-who, thought, was the best
looking and altogether the incest girl I
had ever known. was not acquainted
with her, however, and never expected
to be, but I liked her NIL the same.
I saw the owner of the balloon, Pro-
lessor Sears, and he agreed to carry me
up for 500. As I was in good circum
stances financially did not consider this
price too high, and at once agreed to 60
The longed for Fourth of July arrived,
and about 8 o'clock I stepped into the
balloon with Professor Sears =,
At just five minutes past 8 the signal
gun was fired, and Professor Sears lean
ed out and cut the cable that held u.s.
As he did so the grapnel slipped ont of
the car. He tried to catch it, but lost his
balance and fell to the ground, leaving
me, as I supposed, alone in the balloon.
was terribly frightened, for I had not
the slightest knowledge Of the workings
Of the huge gas bag, as had never seen
one closely before.
looked over the car to see where I
was going, when I noticed that there
was a girl hanging by her clothes to the
grapnel, the line of which was attached
to the car, while the balloon was sailing
rapidly toward the clouds
What was I to do? I made up my
mind in a second must draw the child
up into the car. Preached out and caught
hold Of the rope. could not move it.
The speed with which the balloon was
going made it impossible to raise it an
inch. There were some double tackle
blocks in the car, and ut once thought
Of a way to get the girl up. Hastily rig
ging the blocks, I tied the rope to the one
holding the girl and found that I could
hoist her up had to fasten the rope as
low down as could reach and then
hoist till the blocks came together. They
were hitched to the ropes that held tie
car to the balloon on top, and Of course
it was slow work. 1 think it took Is
minutes to get her into the car, when
judge Of my surprise to find that what
I had supposed to be little girl was
Judge Wells daughter, "a years old, and
the belle of Georgetown
A few moments after got her into
the car she regained her senses, and her
first words wero, "Where am I?''
II don't exactly know" replied,
but you are somewhere between heaven
and earth in balloon"
"How came / here-oh, remember
now! felt myself suddenly pulled up
into the air, and then I guess tainted I"
II should have thought you would"
/ replied, ard then I told her how Pro
fessor Sears had tried to catch the crap
mel as it fell and had fallen out in try
ing to do 80, and how got her into the
car.
"Then you have saved my life. -
mo; only prolonged it."
"How is that?''
I'VE are going rapidly upward, and !
don't know anything about the manage
ment q the balloon: ~,. We shall both be
killed. -
II don't think that. You surely can
find a way to stop it. Have you tried?"
mo, have been SO busy getting you
into the balloon that have not thought
Of It. Twill try now" l examined the
different parts, and finally found the
rope that opened the valve The balloon
began to descend very rapidly - too
much 30. I thought, and found another
rope which would close the valve. With
these ropes l regulated the descent very
nicely. After getting the thing under
control, looked down, toward the earth.
II was the first look since / had palled
Miss Wells into the balloon We were
long way up, but we were over the wa
ter. I told Miss Wells so. and she look.
I'd out : '.'
I'm that case I think we had better
90 down till we strike q different cur.
rent Of wind, don't your"
1told her yes, and very soon We struck
. different current and supposed we
1,>nSv> wsn.1
which we came. Then closed the valve,
but the balloon continued to descend I
threw out the bags Of sand that were 10
tho car, but still we were going down.
I'm afraid we are going to Land il
the water, said as ] gazed out Of the
ca. <N
''Then we must be drowned" she
said. .satssss .~~..>:~@5
mo, noteesssarily. / said. If /
can't cut thsballoon free from the car,
II may feat nj. till help comes. .
But what i'll syon, do ~
Il don't nlakesso much
with me- an alone IN til worth and
no one will care If do not retur
II think the car will hold us bath. =
We shall slhllxo . chanas to fiid out
Ia s very sfss~, minutes When tie car
strikes the water, you hold on with all
your might to this rope. Don't let 50 if
you can help il, nnlcss tho car turns
over. Il that case drol, the rope, and I
will look ont for you. 4 i.
- 70 ch'ance g ~ :! more. fd a'' IL