The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-10-19

;, ;, ,r,,,,i1rlt.n as 81 S,ou known. nay oniy
hope of escape was to outwit him. But
howf Forced into unnatural activity as
nv brain was by my desperate situation
and by the necessity of prompt action,
could think of no device or ruse that would
do any good. 1 was completely at the
mercy of the mailman.
The hopelessness of my case paralyzed all
nv energies I felt unable to move or
speak, and even the power to think was al
most gone In my despair | glanced at
the valve cord Owing to the rotary mo-
tion of the balloon it had unfortunately
become tangled To free it l should be
Obliged to leave the car and climb into the
ring. But to attempt such thing even
if were physically capable Of it, would be
certain to lead to a 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. l 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 I shiyered, not
withstanding my wraps. The mental
strain was TERRIBLE I was almost frantic.
Knowing however, that in few minutes
I should be unconscious, aud that then all
would be over with me, neryed 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 me.
Here was weapon to hand 1t was ar
awful thought 1t would be terrible
deed But there was now no alternative,
no time for delay. My senses were going.
| I stretched out my hand but the mailman,
| who never took his eye off me, had detect
| ed my purpose.
With a sudden movement he darted for
ward and seized the grapnel, but in his
eagerness to forestall me he had precipitat
! ed himself too far over the side OF the ca
| and almost lost his balance. He made {
| desperate effort TO recover himself; but
| seized with sudden and irresistible I'M
| pulse, pushed him over, and, with a nor
| rible yell, which rings in my ears when
| ever recall the occurrence, the madmai
| disappeared from my sight.
Almost mad myself am not sure tina
! was not quite SO just then climbed
| into the ring to reach the valve line. Bu
| NV hands were so stiff and numb will
| tho cold that could not grasp the cord
| BY a kind of inspiration which seemed
| proyidential, I seized the cord with m.
| teeth, and after two or three tugs tn
| valve opened with loud clang and tn
balloon began to descend. Thank heaven
| was saved. My hands being useless,
| was Obliged to throw up my arms and drol
| into the car, where lay motionless ant
| unconscious for awhile.
My swoon could not have lasted NOR
| than a few seconds, for when l recoveret
| the barometer showed that I was still in
1 high altitude, although the balloon wa
descending rapidly. rubbed and beat m,
| hands until the circulation was restored
| Then set about taking the necessary pre-
| cautions against a too rapid ut. Bu
| I acted more like an autoh.--.on than |
conscious agent, for seemed in kind o
| stupor or trance all the time
How and where reached the solid eartl
cannot say. have only dim, hazy rec
objection of being surrounded by GROVE
of people. Some were bending over me ant
seemed to be questioning me- but coult
not make out what they said. I felt al
awful pain in my head and remembe
nothing more until found myself in be-
in a dark room and my wife bending owe
me. This was several days afterward, an
/ learned then that had been brouRh